Not yet edited, so sorry, please point out the mistakes that distract from the story!

This chapter seemed much longer than the first two while I was writing it....enjoy. 

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3.

You’re out of your mind, the voice of reason whispered in the back of my consciousness. I sighed, trying to keep the worry away. I knew I was acting impulsively, but I had nothing to lose. I just had to keep reminding myself of that.

I glanced out the incredibly tinted window, trying to figure out where exactly we were going. Stores and warehouses whizzed by as Kaz effortlessly steered us through the streets of Detroit. There was some traffic, but he seemed to know exactly which route to take to avoid most of it.

We’d been in the car about ten minutes now, and it had been mostly silent. Kaz and Adam had exchanged a few murmured words but I had tuned them out, focusing on my own misgivings instead. 

“We’re about twenty minutes away,” Kaz said, his intense dark eyes meeting mine in the reflection of the rearview mirror. So it was a thirty minute drive, then. They were taking me far from the hospital. There was no turning back. I squirmed with nervousness, berating my think-before-acting nature.

Perhaps it was the blood in my system that made me act like this.

 Even to me, that sounded like a feeble excuse.

“Where are we going?” My voice was hoarse and evidently nervous. It was the first time I’d spoken since I recklessly climbed into the car with two indescribably handsome, unnerving strangers.

 “Patience is a virtue,” Adam cut in, interrupting whatever Kaz had been about to say. I scowled at him darkly, despite my unease. His careless and sardonic attitude was grating on my raw nerves.

 He ignored my stare, going back to doing something on his cell phone. Remembering belatedly that I had mine, I pulled it out. No missed calls yet…that was slightly surprising. Perhaps my father hadn’t returned to find me missing? The nurses evidently hadn’t checked on me in a while.

I would have assumed there was some way for the hospital to know if I wasn’t in the room, outside of going in there and seeing my bed noticeably empty. I was hooked up to machines, after all.

It was strange. They usually would have checked on me by now. Didn’t they have some way of knowing if their patients went wayward? I felt a trickle of suspicion but pushed it aside. There was no way Kaz or Adam could have anything to do with that..right?

 I remained silent for the rest of the ride, trapped within my own contemplation.

“We’re here,” Kaz finally said, interrupting my train of thought. The car slowed to a stop, the engine smoothly cutting off. Kaz unlocked the doors and opened his, and I quickly scrambled out of mine, feeling the urge to get some fresh air.

As soon as I saw where we were, I immediately wanted to get back in. We stood in front of an large, old, and indisputably creepy cemetery.

It was a decent size, surrounded by a rusted, iron-wrought fence. A narrow pathway stretched directly in front of us into the heart of the cemetery. It was mostly overgrown by grass and scraggly weeds. Nearby, directly over the path stood a crumbling stone archway. It must’ve been grand once, but now it looked unsafe, as if it would collapse on the first unwary traveler walking under it.

Oh god. They’re going to murder me. They’re going to do it right here! My paranoia kicked in and I instantly began to panic. I glanced around, wondering where the heck I would run. I still had plenty of energy from the vial of blood, but how long would it last?

“Lucy, it isn’t what you think…” Kaz began. My eyes snapped to his tall figure, outlined by what little moonlight there was. Shadows obscured half of his face and he looked more menacing than anything. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Jesus. She’s about to have a heart attack,” Adam said, clearly amused. “Hear how fast it’s beating?”

I gasped despite myself. Sure, my heartbeat was loud, but there was no way he should be able to hear it. Adam was fifteen feet away from me. I felt a shiver travel down my spine along with a sense of impending dread. No human could hear that well. It was impossible.

With that thought, I panicked. I had reached my personal limit of crazy decisions for the night, and I was regretting ever climbing into that car.

I turned to run, taking off in the opposite direction. My nerve endings were alive, driving me to get as far away from the two men as possible. I tended to follow my instincts and right now, fear was overtaking any sense I had left. Or perhaps fear was acting as my common sense for the moment.

I sprinted as fast as I could, the blood in my system giving me newfound vigor. In fact, I was surprised just how fast I could run. I hadn't run in....a very long time.

I only made it about thirty feet before I felt a brush of air next to me and suddenly Adam stood there, just in front of me, bringing me to a screeching halt. His blue eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and amusement. I hadn’t even seen him move…he’d just appeared. I gaped at him, not caring how ridiculous I looked.

“What…you…” I stammered, completely incoherent.

“You can’t outrun Kaz, and you certainly can’t outrun me. Don’t even try.” His tone bordered on condescending. “No human can ever hope to match us.”

I gasped yet again, feeling like the typical damsel in distress in all those horror movies I used to watch, but I just couldn’t help it. He’d moved so quickly…it was impossible. This blood had to be a hallucinogen of some sort.

“Adam, you’re scaring her,” Kaz’s deep voice emanated from behind me, and I turned slightly to where I could glance back and forth between them. Kaz’s face was set in an expression of irritation. “You know how annoying it is when you do that.”

“I’m just having some fun,” Adam drawled.

“You’re being a dick,” Kaz snapped in return. Adam shrugged, completely unperturbed.

 “If she’s going to be one of us, she needs to get used to the superhuman speed,” was the blonde’s retort.

“Become ONE of you?” I managed to squeak out, my voice much higher pitched than normal.

Kaz sighed, running a hand down his face in evident aggravation. “This isn’t how I wanted the conversation to go.” His eyes flicked to Adam and irritation glimmered in their depths. “However, since Adam is about as subtle as a punch to the face, I guess this is how it’ll go.”

Adam flashed a grin, the glint of white teeth momentarily throwing me off balance. I mentally cursed him for being so good looking. It was distracting and I shouldn’t be distracted right now.

“Yes, Lucy, we want you to be one of us. We aren’t human, as you’ve guessed. Our blood is….different, in every way possible. If you become one of us and our species, you will no longer be susceptible to human disease.”

 I stared at him mutely, lost for words.

 Kaz, probably used to the shocked looks he got when he told people absolutely insane things like this, pressed on. “I know it’s hard to believe but…”

 “Hard to believe? It’s crazy!” I exclaimed, unable to help myself. I felt delusional.

Adam made an impatient noise behind me. I turned to face him just as he said, “Kaz, I don’t want to waste all this time convincing her of our existence. I’ll prove it to her.”

Before I could say anything, Adam took off at lightning speed. I stared, alarmed, as he reappeared in less than a second at the other end of the graveyard. As I watched, eyes practically bugging out of my head, Adam reached up a hand to grab a low-hanging branch overhead. It was pretty thick, and likely too sturdy to easily break. Adam jerked his arm swiftly. With a groan and a snap, the branch was severed from the rest of the tree.

I practically choked on my own spit. Adam returned to my other side in the blink of an eye,  a small rush of air accompanying his presence, and I sidled away from him despite myself, staring at Kaz as I non-verbally demanded an explanation.

  “We have enhanced senses, speed, strength, everything.”

 I could only stare, rendered speechless. This could not be real.

 “Enhanced stamina definitely comes in handy,” Adam cut in cheekily. Kaz tossed him a dark glare, which the blonde ignored.

 “However, the process to become one of us can be quite….dangerous. I have to warn you about that before you make any sort of decision.”

 I had no clue what to even say to that. I was still trying to wrap my mind around the whole “not human” thing. Yet, there could be no explanation. The blood, Adam hearing my heartbeat, and his insane speed and strength led to no other conclusion.

“What exactly ARE you?” I blurted out. Ideas came to my head, bidden by all the movies I’d seen and books I’d read. “Vampires? Werewolves? Faeries?” I sounded utterly ridiculous.

 Adam snorted with derision. “Faeries don’t exist, and werewolves are nothing like the depiction in movies and books. They are really dangerous.”

 I noticed his lack of explanation for the other creature I mentioned. “….vampire?” I prodded, scarcely believing what I was saying.

 “That’s a harsh word,” Kaz said solemnly. “Vampires are usually portrayed as being inherently evil. We actually try to help society.”

 “So you drink blood, then.” I sounded oddly calm, given my inner turmoil. I itched to run away from them; perhaps it was my instinctive fear of a predator. Yet, I knew running was useless. Perhaps I’d signed my death warrant when climbing into that car.

Kaz sighed, closing his eyes briefly. “….yes.” The look on my face must’ve given him some clue, for he hastily continued, “But we don’t drink from live humans. Unlike the movies, human blood does not nourish us any more than animal blood. It may taste better, but it isn’t better for us. We drink from animals just fine. Blood is blood.”

He seemed to have given that speech multiple times. I still felt suspicious.

If I got out of this alive somehow, I was going to need some serious therapy. Not that I would be around much longer, anyways. The thought of dying soon, and all of the reasons I came here in the first place, made me feel slightly braver.

“So…basically…” I scrambled to form words, and this time it wasn’t because of my fear of attractive men. This was a whole new level of discomfort. My poor brain was still struggling to comprehend the concept. “I would become a vampire, so I no longer would be sick. In return, you said I would have to work. For you.” My voice had become fairly steady, surprisingly. Kaz nodded, waiting for me to go on.

 “What kind of work are we talking about?”

 Remembering my question about “sexual services” the other day, I tried not to blush.

“We aren’t the only things out there. Humanity needs to be protected from things a lot worse than we are.”

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more surprising. My brain was so overloaded at this point that I didn’t think I could feel any more surprise. I just accepted his words without comment.

“So what, I fight evil in return for getting to live?”

 Adam rolled his eyes at my question. I couldn’t blame him.

The words sounded so ridiculous that I could barely take myself seriously. I pictured myself with fangs, a cape streaming out behind me as I stood atop a mountain in one of those cliché superhero movies. I had to force down a snort of derision.

“Basically. You’ll train and everything, with us. There’s a lot more than just Adam and me. You’ll get to meet all the others. You’ll be fed, and sheltered, and you’ll train. When the Commander needs you to go on a mission, you’ll go.”

This was all so much more than I could have anticipated. “What about my parents?” I sounded a bit weaker, now. If I were forced to go with Adam and Kaz, would I see them again?

 Why are you even THINKING about this? My logical brain snapped.

“You can still see your family, though I’d advise to keep your contact with them limited for safety reasons.”

“But how-”

“Just tell them you’re going back to college,” Adam broke in, still sounding impatient at my continuous stream of questions. I didn’t care at this point. I couldn’t just accept this whole “vampire” thing in a couple of seconds.

 “They’d never believe it.”

 “I can be quite convincing. Why do you think your father let us see you in the first place?” A smirk hovered on Adam’s sculpted lips. I wondered if this was some sort of vampiric power, charming the normal folk. When I first saw him, I had been completely lost for words. I’d assumed it was because of my incompetence around men, but it seemed Adam had that effect on everyone. And he knew it, too.

 Asshole.

 “Lucy, I understand this is a lot. But we won’t force you into anything. You can still turn back.” Kaz’s eyes bored into mine, sincerity oozing from his words. “I can tell you though, it’s a good deal. If you want to live as badly as I think you do, it’s worth it.”

“What are the drawbacks?” I questioned, still wanting to reason through everything. My heart had started pounding in my chest again as I realized I had another big decision to make; a decision I never would have thought possible thirty minutes ago. Unease blossomed deep within me.

Adam made an exasperated sound. “For Christ’s sake. We’re wasting time. It’ll be close-”

“I thought vampires couldn’t take the Lord’s name in vain?” I cut him off, curious. At least I seemed capable of forming complete sentences now. Perhaps I was just in shock.

Looking irritated at being cut off, Adam shook his head. “Myth. But like I was saying, even if you say yes now, we’ll be cutting it close to sunrise. We need to hurry.”

“Adam basically just answered your question, but the only major drawback is sunlight. It won’t turn us to ashes instantly, but it will irritate and burn your skin. The longer you’re out, the weaker you’ll be. Eventually, sunlight will kill you if exposed for more than a couple of hours. It helps to wear dark clothing that completely covers your skin.”

“Wonderful. So I would never see the light of day again,” I muttered, mostly to myself.

“You’ll barely be seeing it anyways. You’re dying,” Adam said callously. There was no mercy in the depths of his icy gaze.

I actually felt a deep pang of hurt as he spoke so heartlessly about my impending death. I saw Kaz scowl at him from the corner of my eye as I looked down at the ground, silent.

“I wish you had more time to decide, but Adam’s right, unfortunately. We need to know your decision so we can start the process now.”

I felt my heart pounding, and I interlaced my hands so they wouldn’t see them shaking. There was clammy residue on my skin, and dread unfurling within my stomach. This was all so surreal. But I knew I could never imagine anything like this in my own mind. Worse, I was beginning to feel slightly cold, and not as energetic as before. The blood’s effects must have been wearing off.

The question was, was it worth the risk? Was it worth this ridiculous notion of being turned into a creature that I thought was a myth, that could barely stand sunlight? According to them, I would be some heroic vampire instead of a bloodsucking fiend. I didn’t think they were lying to me about the “work” I would be doing as repayment. Kaz had no reason to lie and Adam had been brutally honest so far.

“Will it hurt?” I asked softly, almost against my will. Don’t be a baby, the very small, brave part of me chastised.

“Oh for crying out-” Adam began, but Kaz spoke quickly and loudly, drowning out the blonde’s words.

“Not really, though, but I won’t lie to you. It’s not the most pleasant process. It’s not painful, but it will probably scare you.”

“Plus, it’s not guaranteed to work,” Adam remarked. I spun on him. “What!?”

It was Kaz that answered. “This is often the hardest part to understand, Lucy, so listen closely. The power we have….it isn’t exactly “earthly.” Not entirely. It comes from elsewhere, other planes of existence. We call them the Otherworld. The process you undertake to become a vampire will call on the other planes of existence, the Otherworld, asking to provide you with the Otherworldly power necessary to become inhuman.”

I was shaking my head, refusing to believe in this new information. “That just seems so…”

“Impossible? I know. But it’s true. The process operates something like a summoning to the Otherworld, and if it works, you will be one of us. However, not all humans are considered capable of becoming a vampire. Some are not worthy.”

“Who decides?”

“Honestly, I think telling you right now would only confuse you more. It isn’t something you need to know to make your decision.”

First vampires, now other planes of existence. There was so much underneath the surface of what I thought was real. I had no clue what to believe anymore. I wondered if nearly every myth I’d ever heard was based on truth.

That thought threatened to drive me into a pit of insanity, so I tried to drive it away.

“And if I’m not deemed worthy?”

“You won’t become a vampire, but you’ll be fine. We’ve done this before, and we know how long the process takes. If it hasn’t been completed within four hours, we will stop it before you get hurt.”

So I had to trust the judgment of two vampires, then. Wonderful.

“We need to go,” Adam grit out, shifting from foot to foot impatiently. “Our window is closing.” His icy gaze snapped to me. “You ask too many questions.”

“Sorry I just learned that mythical creatures and alternate dimensions are real,” I retorted, very low on patience. Right now, I didn’t even care that I was talking back to a being that could probably snap my neck with a flick of his wrist. “Us mere humans have a hard time understanding such things.”

“You humans have a hard time understanding most things,” He said snootily. I got the impression that he just wanted to argue more than anything. I rolled my eyes in exasperation at his immaturity.

Kaz, acting as if Adam had never spoken, continued. “If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. Like I said, you won’t enjoy the process. But if it works—and it usually does—you will no longer be sick. You’ll have to work and train with us, but you’ll still have time to yourself. You just have to ask: is being a vampire, as you humans call it, worth it…worth the chance to live?”

Deep in my heart, I already knew the answer to that. I had come this far. I had seen inexplicable things. And some part of me had accepted the fact that everything was going to be different from now on. I didn’t want to die, I was too young, and I wasn’t ready. I wanted to see my family again. What I was about to undergo was crazy, but Kaz was right. To me, any life where I had my health and strength was better than death.

Did I trust them? Well no, not completely, but I was pretty sure that if they wanted me killed they would have done it by now.

Or so I hoped. Again, I blamed the vampire blood in my system for my reckless decisions and seeming lack of self-preservation.

“It’s worth it,” I whispered before my logical brain could make me turn and run again. The side of Kaz’s mouth quirked upwards: the first sign of emotion I had seen from him. Somehow, I realized he had known I would accept the bargain all along.

I bet the people they brought here always accepted the deal, when they had witnessed the terror of impending death.

“Finally. Let’s go,” Adam said abruptly, jerking his head towards the entrance to the graveyard. Feeling a sense of trepidation as I stared upward at the crumbling stone archway and realized what I was about to do, I followed.

Kaz walked close by me as Adam led us towards the back of the cemetery. I still felt somewhat unnerved with these two inhuman beings next to me. I understood now why they only picked terminally ill patients for their proposition; we were the only ones desperate enough to accept.

 Oh, if my grandmother could see me now! For the tenth time tonight, she was probably turning in her grave.

Maybe I shouldn’t think about dead people in graves right now…I realized, perturbed.

The three of us walked in silence towards the very back of the cemetery, following the winding, weed-infested pathway. I noticed that there was tall grass and ivy clinging to a lot of the graves. It seemed as if nobody ever came here to visit their lost loved ones. In the back of my mind, I wondered who was buried here.

Kaz turned to me when we were near the very back, indicating that I stop.

“Remember. This whole process will seem daunting. But you’ll be fine; I promise. Even if it doesn’t work, or if something goes wrong, we’ll help you. Our blood is magical, remember?” He tried to make his tone light, but it didn’t work with the naturally serious set of Kaz’s features.

“It was your blood that I drank, right?” I asked, almost absentmindedly, just trying to distract myself from whatever the hell was about to happen.

“It was mine, actually,” Adam cut in, taking me by complete surprise. His expression was unfathomable. “I’m the one that will be Turning you.”

For some reason, the thought of Adam “Turning” me sent shivers up and down my spine, and it wasn’t altogether unpleasant. “Why not you?” I asked Kaz before I could help myself. I wasn’t comfortable around either vampire, but Kaz was much nicer than Adam.

To my surprise, I thought I saw a flicker of emotion on Adam’s features before he masked it and turned away, walking a few feet away from us. I couldn’t be sure, but he almost seemed irritated at my question.

“I can’t.” Kaz replied shortly. That was it, no explanation. His jaw was clenched and I got the impression he did not want to pursue the subject.

“Let’s get this over with,” Adam cut in. “Kaz, bring her over here.”

Kaz’s hand, icy cold to the touch, gripped my shoulder and I jumped at the contact. I could feel the cold emanating from his skin even through my clothing. As he steered me towards where Adam was standing a few feet away, I felt myself beginning to shake like a leaf. I knew it was pathetic how terrified I was, but I was facing the unknown! Who knew what this “Turning” process entailed?

“It’s okay. Deep breaths,” Kaz muttered quietly next to my ear.

I couldn’t focus on the surroundings now, although I knew there were headstones on either side of me. All I could look at was Adam.

The thin moonlight threw his features into dappled shadow, obscuring most of his face. Adam’s blonde hair looked slightly silvery in the moon’s glow. His icy gaze penetrated the darkness, honed in on me. He looked like some sort of fallen angel. It did not lessen my fear.

“He’s going to bite you,” Kaz continued, still speaking quietly. The graveyard was ominously still, although I wouldn’t expect anything else in a place of the dead.

 Maybe this is how they get off—tricking young damsels into thinking they’ll be vampires before they kill them, the paranoid voice in my head said.

 If they wanted a damsel, they’d pick someone who wasn’t sick and who looked like a supermodel, I argued back. Great, now I was arguing with my inner voice.

“Don’t worry, I don’t bite hard,” Adam said, a smirk pulling on his lips, breaking into my morbid thoughts. I almost huffed in exasperation; could he not be serious, even in a time like this? I didn’t think he was trying to make me feel better, either.

“The bite will not hurt too much, but you will eventually lose consciousness. Don’t worry. We’ll be right here,” Kaz stated. I began to step forward, but his iron grip held me back. I turned slightly to face him, confused.

Kaz’s lips were slightly turned down at the corners, a frown marring his handsome face. “There is one last thing I must tell you. It’s a lot to take in, but if you remember anything, remember this: stay in control.”

I blinked at him, bewildered.

“The power of the Otherworld…it will be very tempting. It will try to take over your mind and drive you to follow your hunger and instincts without regard for the consequences. Whatever you do, do not let it. Those vampires you’ve heard of in the stories, the ones that prey on weak humans and enjoy bloodlust? They do exist, and they are those that were too weak to remain in control of their impulses.”

“But you said-”

 “I know what I said, but this is important. Remember to keep your wits about you. You’re strong, and you have the will to live. I know you’re capable of resisting the temptation.”

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish, soundless. I could think of nothing else to say, now. I felt numb, long past the point of understanding what the hell was going on.

“Ready?” Adam asked, eyes glinting coldly. I knew he was impatient to get this over with….to bite me. And whatever I faced next, I would have to fight to prevent it from taking over. I’d had no luck fighting the pulmonary fibrosis; I could only pray I’d be stronger now.

 I didn’t think I’d ever be ready, but I nodded anyways, shakily.

There was no going back. Turning into a vampire was my only shot at life—and I was going to take it. Realistically, I didn’t have another choice. They’d given me the most powerful gift they could: Hope. The hope to live was driving me to do whatever I could to stay alive.

With a blur of movement, Adam lunged faster than I could blink. One of his hands came around and gripped the back of my neck. His hand was cold, but my body warmed considerably at his touch, to my surprise. There was a gleam of white in my peripheral vision as Adam’s lip curled upwards. An instant later, I felt two sharp pricks in the side of my neck as his fangs sank in deep.

For one second, maybe two, I felt a burst of hot pain emanating from the wound. I opened my mouth to cry out but no sound emerged. There was a throbbing ache emerging from the bite and my body stiffened. A second later, however, the pain faded away to be replaced my incredible warmth, mixed with something very close to pleasure. Heat seared through my veins, and I inhaled sharply.

My eyes fluttered closed against my will as I basked in the warmth. This was not at all what I was expecting. I could see why vampires would have an easy time seducing women in all of the stories, if vampire bites were this pleasant. Instinctively, without regard to what exactly I was doing, I tilted my head back to give Adam better access.

His teeth were still deep into my skin, and I felt blood beginning to trickle down my neck. I was very lightheaded, and I felt worries ebbing away as the seconds passed. I dimly wondered how long he was going to drink from my neck, and then I no longer cared. He could kill me right now, and I wouldn’t be able to stop him. This would be a very pleasant death. I raised one hand and blindly gripped Adam’s arm, feeling the hard contours of muscle underneath. To my shock, I thought I heard something akin to a growl come from deep within his throat.

I must’ve been imagining things.

“Enough, Adam,” I heard Kaz’s voice as if echoing from a distance. Seconds later, Adam wrenched his head away and the fangs left my neck. I felt very cold then, except for the splattered warmth on the side of my neck that must’ve been my own blood.

I still could not open my eyes. I felt dizzy and weak, and all I wanted to do is sleep. Adam’s hand was still behind my neck, and his other arm wrapped around me, supporting me before I could collapse.

With one smooth motion, Adam lifted me into the air. I felt my stomach plummet at the abrupt movement. My eyes were still closed as my head lolled to the side. His temperature was very cold, and pressed up against his torso like this, I felt something stir within me that made me feel increasingly uncomfortable.

I tried to wrench my eyes open, but to no avail. None of the muscles in my body would cooperate. Perhaps it was a side effect of the bite. A cool breeze whispered around us and brushed up against the warm stickiness on the side of my neck, making me shudder at the odd sensation.

I felt Adam tense beneath me and then there was a jolt as he moved. As disoriented as I was, I couldn’t tell what the heck was going on, but I was getting colder and colder as the seconds passed. I almost wanted him to bite me again just so I could be warm.

Almost immediately after he moved, Adam lowered me until my back rested on something slightly uneven and cold. The ground. Why was I laying on the ground?

I fought against the impending blackness, wanting desperately to open my eyes. I had to know what was going on. I didn’t want to be unconscious for this whole process! My neck was still bleeding, and the wound was beginning to sting a bit, worsening my nervousness. How deep was the bite for it to still be streaming blood?

 Gritting my teeth, I dragged every ounce of my remaining strength together, counted to three in my head, and wrenched my eyes open.

 What I saw nearly made my heart stop.

I was in a freshly dug grave, several feet below the surface. There was no coffin; just me, lying on the cold hard ground. Staring straight up, I could catch a glimpse of the night sky and scattered stars. The grave was several feet deep, mud-caked walls fairly even and steep, and I knew I couldn’t climb out. What the hell was going on? I opened my mouth to call Adam and Kaz, but then shut it as the two came into view, leaning forward to stare into the grave.

“Don’t worry, Lucy. It’ll be okay,” Kaz said encouragingly, but I barely heard him. My panic was rising. They hadn’t said anything about me sleeping in a grave! I knew that went with the legend, but still! I tried to move, to scramble to my feet, but I was far too weak. Blood still trickled from my wound, and I was worried I would pass out.

I was like a bug pinned to a board. Strong enough to barely move my limbs, but not strong enough to force myself upright. And I was only growing weaker by the second as my life essence trickled into the dirt next to me.

I made a choking sound as the hysteria threatened to overwhelm me. “H-how…” I began to stutter, but I could not form words. My brain couldn’t process anything right now. Was it Adam’s bite doing this to me, or my sheer terror?

At that moment, as I began to thrash around to try to get to my feet as my strength continued to ebb, the worst possible thing happened. Adam brought something into view. It was a shovel, and it was heaped with dirt. Kaz moved position and I saw that he, too, carried a shovel heaped with dirt. I opened my mouth to cry out, to protest, but the sound that emerged was distorted.

Kaz tried to look reassuring, but failed miserably. His eyes were hooded, mouth twisted in a grimace. Maybe he didn’t have faith in my strength after all.

Adam said nothing, just staring at me with an unfathomable expression before he moved, flinging the shovel in a downwards motion until the heap of dust and dirt landed near me. Kaz did the same, and this time some of it landed on my legs, making me recoil and try to kick them to get it off. There was a bit of mud mixed with the dirt as it had rained recently, and the grime stuck to my jeans.

Adam returned with another shovel full of muddy dirt, and I bit my lip so hard that there was blood in my mouth as well as on my neck. As he turned the shovel over, I flinched away in terror as I realized what was happening. 

They were going to bury me alive. 

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Please remember to vote and comment!! Next chapter should be tomorrow night, I just have to write the very end of it.

Song: Born to Die by Lana Del Rey

Cover: by vampirebunny2154. Looks awesome!