Midnight

Slow Recovery

*Justin's POV*

As Erin brought me home, my thoughts swirled around in my head.

How could I have been so selfish?

Erin needed me just as much as I needed her.

Letting myself burn up in the sun wasn't fair to her.

A splitting headache now pained me.

My limbs feel too weak to move.

"Don't you dare quit on me Justin," I heard Erin mumble, and though I couldn't see her face I could tell that she was on the brink of tears.

I closed my eyes and tried to ignore everything.

Focus Justin.

Focus.

Maybe if I pretend that I'm not on the verge of death, I'll be okay.

But another part of me soon spoke up.

I couldn't abandon Erin like this.

If I wanted to survive, I had to try and help myself too.

So with the feeble strength that I had left, I stood firmly on my own two feet.

Erin seemed surprised that I could walk, but she said nothing.

And even though it hurt, I took every step of the way home with her.
-
A long thirty minutes later, we managed to make it home, Erin and laid me down on my sofa.

She gingerly placed her hands on my cheeks, and whispered to me.

"You'll be okay, I promise." She murmured.

It sounded like she was trying to reassure herself more than me.

"You'll be okay..." She repeated.

There was a moment's pause before she spoke again.

"I'm going to look for some medicine, a cure, something," she said.

Erin stood and tried to walk away, but I grabbed her arm.

"No," I insisted.

I coughed heavily.

"Stay with me, please."

"Justin, I-" She tried to explain, but I refused to listen.

"You don't have to look for anything, you won't find any medicine in my kitchen. Besides, you're the only cure that I really need."

"That's irrational-" She tried to speak up again, now blushing.

"Just listen to me," I stated, growing impatient.

My eyes changed to a dull red.

"Calm down Justin, right now you're too weak to lose your temper," I thought.

"Erin, I don't need medicine, I've been in the sun before. The ultra violet rays make me really sick, so all I need is rest," My voice was barely a whisper by now.

Staying in the sun for so long was the worst thing that I could possibly have done.

"Right now, all I want is for you to stay by my side," I stared into her eyes and lifted my hand to hers.

It hurt to move.

"Is that so much to ask?"

Erin shook her head and smiled.

"No, it's not," she said.

My eyes traveled to her lips.

I wanted to kiss her so badly, to change the dynamics between us for good.

But I can't.

I'm too afraid of what I know I could do afterwards.

I might end up biting her and... I don't even want to think of what would happen.

Fatigue and exhaustion weighed down my eyelids.

It only makes sense for me to be sleepy.

Vampires naturally sleep during the day.

Though my pattern of sleep has been off lately.

And I still need to find out why.

But right now I should rest.

Because tomorrow is going to one heck of an adventure.

*Erin's POV*

I watched Justin drift to sleep in my arms.

Carefully, I released him from my grasp.

I then brought a blanket and draped it over him.

He doesn't deserve this.

Even though he's meant to be a creature of violence and terror, Justin has to be one of the sweetest people that I have ever met.

He tries so hard not to hurt anyone or anything.

I don't want him to suffer like this at all.

And without me around, he won't.
-
I spent the next hour pondering if I should leave Justin for good.

My plan was to write a note to him before leaving, explaining that it was better if I wasn't present.

I finally acted upon my plan, moving swiftly over to the house's front door.

But before I could open it, I stole a glance at Justin.

I wish I had never done that.

He looked so pure and innocent, how could I ever do this to him?

I backed away from the door and sat on the floor.

Tears began to fall from my eyes.

I can't do this anymore.

I care about Justin way more than I should, and it's affecting my life.

And not in a positive way.

A knock on the front door interrupted my thoughts.

Who could possibly be knocking on the front door of a house in the middle of the woods?

I stood slowly and answered the door.

Standing there, under a dark black umbrella was a young girl.

She had wavy brown hair, a fanged and full smile, and kind blue eyes.

Those eyes, they hid something in them.

But I wasn't sure what.

She had to have been a vampire.

"Oh!" She spoke, clearly surprised.

"You're not who I was expecting?"

"Hello," I replied, hoping that she didn't notice how tear stained my cheeks were.

"Who are you?"

This was her answer:

"Me? I'm Vanessa, Justin's cousin."

That's the end of Part 13 :)
Comment what you think!