Counting Our Stars • Tyler Joseph •

Chapter 17

          •  Claire  •

Days had gone by and with each passing one, Tyler's condition worsened. His eyes had dulled and around them were hollow shadows. His frame had gotten thinner and more skeleton like. She hated the glazed look in his eyes and the lack of coherent thoughts or ones that didn't quite make any logical sense. His body and mind was beginning to break down and she was afraid. It killed her to see him like this.

She had to do something. Tyler wasn't going to survive much longer like he was. Josh refused to let up on the double doses of wolfsbane. He didn't care what state Tyler was in but he should considering his supply of blood would be diminishing soon.

She had to find a route out of the lab to the outside world. She needed to find Tyler's family and hope they would take her seriously. But who would help her escape?

She hadn't seen Mark lately and that was also concerning but she had to focus on getting reliable help.

Claire quietly exited Tyler's room and scanned the area to her left and then to her right. She chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip. She decided to follow the right hallway first.

Claire winced as her shoes softly squeaked against the tile floor as she tried her best not to make too much noise. However, being surrounded by vampires who could hear a pin drop probably a few miles away, probably wasn't a surprise. She followed the bare, stark white hallway until she stopped at a door, it had a glass window just like Tyler's. Another holding room?

She dared a peek inside the room and nearly gassed as she saw Mark lying in a bed, his veins the same black color as Tyler's were. Was Josh already starting to experiment on his vampires? She placed her hand on the door handle, giving it in experimental Turn into her surprise, Aunt slowly creeped open. She pushed inside before quietly closing the door behind her. Mark hadn't moved or acknowledged that he knew she was there. She crept over to his bedside and gently shook his shoulder.

"Mark! Mark, come on. I need help finding Tyler's family so I can get him out of here." She said in a hushed whisper and shook him again. Finally, the vampire opened his eyes and stared up at her for a moment.

"I can't help you in this state. Find a vampire named Brad, tell him I sent you and he will help you locate the Wolfpack. This experiment will kill every single vampire and Josh doesn't see that." He said.

"Josh seems to be very power-hungry from what I've seen so far. I promise I will get tie out of here and we will put a stop to this." Claire promised, managing a small smile at her new friend.

"If the wolves can stop this, then that is what has to happen. We aren't meant to have the power of both creatures. We would end up slaughtering all of the humans, with so much unhinged abilities." Mark urged, his eyes reflecting terror.

She placed her hand upon his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Will you be okay?"

"For now, the wolfsbane is slowly coursing through my body but I haven't completed the transition yet." Mark told her before smiling at her. "Go find Brad, he lives in room 325. Take a left once you leave this room and take the elevator up to the third-floor, don't let anyone see or hear you. Tell him that it is urgent that he helps you track the wolves down and you must convince them to stop this." He stated firmly. Claire nodded and pressed a gentle kiss to his head.

"Thanks Mark. I'll come back for you, I promise."

She shifted her stance, standing straighter with her head held high. She felt a rush of a newfound confidence.

Tyler had saved her once, now it was her turn to repay him.

     •     •     •

Room 325.

Claire swallowed hard and quickly wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans. She was so nervous now that her plan was moving. She just had to hope Brad would help her. She knocked on the door. Her shoe tapped anxiously on the tile floor and her head moved from one side too the other. She had to keep a careful eye out for anyone that could mess up everything.

The door suddenly swung open a few inches and she could only see half of the person's face. Claire quietly cleared her throat, realizing how dry her mouth was.

"Brad?"

The person's features remained blank and they only blinked at her.

"M-My name is Claire. I was brought here with Tyler. Mark sent me here, said you could help me." She explained, her fingers fidgeting with a loose string on her shirt. She felt so small and intimidated up against these creatures. She would often forget that they all used to be just like her, human with a limit on life and always having the heavy countdown over their head for when they reached the last second. It was always a daunting reality but vampires didn't have that constant fear of death. It was strange to think of Tyler only gradually aging. He wasn't frozen in time, he was still alive. For the moment. 

"Come in."