I'm Not a Savior, I'm a Vampire (Jalex)

Shallow Graves for Old Dead Rats

His mind blanks for a second as Alex realizes the thought that just ran through his head. Jack did say he'd be willing to spend eternity with Alex. Then again, Jack doesn't remember saying that...

Brendon raises an eyebrow, impatiently waiting for a response from Alex.

If I learn the ropes, maybe Brendon will let me go and I can go find Jack when it's all over, Alex thinks.

A sinister smirk spreads across Brendon's face.

Alex takes his hand.

*****

Jack should've known Brendon was behind the whole thing. Why the fuck wouldn't he be? Brendon is the one who turned Alex in the first place. Why shouldn't he be the reason Alex goes missing again? At least this time they have a vague understanding of where Alex might be.
If he's even still alive that is.

When the guys had found Brendon's text to Alex, Ryan R. was beyond pissed.

"That mother fucking son of a goddamn shiteating bitchass loser!" He had shouted. "A winky face? A goddamn winky face? How the fuck can he just send that after I said we needed a break like a day and a half ago!"

"A break?" The other Rian had asked.
"Yeah. I mean, we mate for life, and I love him more than anything. I just kinda wanted him to hurt for a while," Ryan R. explained. "He told me he slept with Alex a week ago and I didn't think anything of it, ya know? We've been together for like a century. We've both slept with our fair share of people but he's the one I love. And then I found out he turned Alex and I just... I dunno. I wanted him to feel the kind of pain I was feeling."

Then Rian and Zack were trying to convince Ryan to take them all to wherever the fuck they went, but Ryan said they wouldn't until Jack had fully turned. But Ryan had to leave that night because he could already feel himself starting to lose control over himself around Jack.

"Look, I can't stay or I'll unintentionally hurt him," Ryan had said before he left, "but when he turns and goes all crazy for blood, just shove a rat in face before he can bite either of you. And keep him hydrated, okay?" And then he was gone. Zack's supposed to call him when Jack goes full vampire.

It's getting close to that time though, Jack can feel it. His fangs grew in not too long ago, and his reflection faded shortly after now he's just waiting for his mind to turn. Jack's not really sure how it worked for Alex, but he's pretty sure something just sort of clicked and he realized he needed to be drinking blood.

Then again, Jack isn't Alex. So....

Zack and Rian are both keeping their distance while Jack watches old black and white TV shows. Jack doesn't blame them for staying away. He could literally lose his mind at any moment. If Jack knew how it would've played out with Alex, Jack would've done the same.

Then again, he's starting to feel whatever loneliness Alex was feeling when he texted Brendon.
The idea that Alex could ever think Jack hated him... that scared Jack more than the fact that he was a vampire.

Fuck, Jack feels terrible just knowing it's basically his fault Alex even went back to the asshole. And probably even Jack's fault that Alex ever went out drinking with Brendon before this all started.
It didn't click until Jack read through that last text again, but when Zack told him about the hallucination Jack had after Jack passed out a few days ago, he knew the hallucination Alex had was from before Brendon turned Alex.
Alex had to have been talking about Jack. There was no way he wasn't.

Maybe if Jack had reached out way back when Alex started disappearing...

But isn't that how everyone thinks after a tragedy?

Maybe if I had reached out when he started getting distant, he wouldn't be dead now.

Everything always makes more sense in hindsight. Once you know how things play out....

Something in Jack's vision changes suddenly, like everything's too clear and a little too dark. His senses are too heightened. The tv's too loud. Zack and Rian... Jack turns to them.

Zack pushes Rian behind him. Jack blinks. He's not thinking straight. He's not thinking at all.

But an image of Alex in the same state appears in the back of his mind.

Alex. The only thing Jack can remember suddenly. He can't even remember his own name. Just Alex. Jack's not even sure he knows who Alex is, but he knows he must be important.

Zack, on the other hand, is doing metaphorical backflips to keep Rian out of harms way while still trying to get Jack out of this state.

He doesn't want anyone to get hurt, nor does he want Jack locked in a broom closet while he and Rian try to form a better plan.
Rian is now currently locking himself in Alex's bedroom while Zack holds a live rat in one hand, mentally thinking of ways to shove the thing in Jack's mouth.

The scene would be comical if it wasn't so terrifying.

But somehow, Zack manages the task at hand.

Human-ish Jack returns after a while and drops the now dead rat and jumps nearly fifteen feet away. "Did you-" he looks between Zack and the dead rat, thinking of that one Against Me! song that fucking slaps.

Rian emerges from Alex's room, looking more than a little spooked.

"Are you good now?" Zack asks.
Jack nods. "That was... weird." He blinks a few times and then looks around. "Where's..." then it clicks. "Oh."
Rian looks concerned, Zack just seems curious.

Jack forces himself to his feet. "We need to find Alex," he states. "Now."