Cold Blood

Being Human fanfic

Acceptance, a sense of belonging; we all crave it, the feeling that you fit in, that you belong somewhere, that you have a home. Nobody likes being the odd one out, the outcast, the local freak left out in the cold. It's crazy, the lengths people go to find that sense of belonging; they change how they look, what they do, who they are friends with; they change themselves to be accepted. It's natural, all part of nature, human nature. It's hard enough to change yourself to fit in with other humans, but when you have to pretend to even be one of them at all, that's a whole different game, an art, almost impossible to master. The art of being human.

Chapter 1 – The message

I unlock the door with fumbling fingers and hurriedly dart inside, seeking the warmth of central heating. I guess that’s odd…with the whole vampire thing…you wouldn’t really think I could feel the cold…I guess that just shows how cold Bristol really is. I stand by the door, trying to warm up a little and suddenly, something catches my eye. It takes a moment for it to register but when it does I know the culprit immediately. “Lauren.” I whisper, It must be her, I doubt Herrick would put three kisses, it could be Seth…but I doubt he can spell. I stare at the message, I can feel my hand shaking violently as the scent fills my nostrils; blood. I move towards the wall, scanning the words. ‘Run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run.’ The large, red letters snake over the wall, the dead bunny pinned up next to them. ‘You know where to find me. Xxx’ I run my finger over the last ‘x’ and bring it to my lips. My senses overdrive as the warm, metallic taste fills my mouth. I move my hand back to the wall, catching the blood as it trickles down the plaster and bring it to my lips. “Mitchell?” A voice says from behind me, snapping me out of my trance. Annie stands a few meters behind me, the expression on her face one of confusion and…disappointment? “Annie…I.” I stutter, moving back away from the wall. “What’s going on Mitchell?” She asks, giving me her serious look. I look from Annie to the door and make my decision. “I’m sorry.” I say before darting past her and out of the door, back into the coldness of the night.

The Rabbits Foot pub, old and forgotten, in fact, I didn’t even realise it was still here. “And what time do you call this?” Lauren asks, smirking as she spins around to face me on the bar stool. “I take it you got my message.” She smirks

“For god’s sake Lauren why won’t you just leave me alone!” I hiss but she ignores me, I guess I know the answer anyway, I abandoned her, this is pay back. “Herrick said to warn you, the clock is ticking Mitchell, come back while you still can.” She says.

“Or what?” I ask coolly and she smiles.

“Or we will hunt you down and tear you apart, limb from limb. We will put your head on a spike and dance around the fire drinking pints of your blood while the crows peck out your eyes.” She says, a bitter glee in her voice.

“Sounds…lovely. But why?” I ask. “Ask Herrick why he has such a bloody interest in me.” I spit quietly. “Oh I don’t know, he thinks you have power Mitchell, he still thinks we are that hero he used to work with, he can’t see how weak and pathetic you are, seriously Mitchell, you’ve let yourself go.” She says smiling and giving me that look of hers, that look that makes me shiver. “This obsession with humans, to treat them nicely, to live peacefully,” She says spitefully. “What do you want? Us to all hold hands and skip off into the sunset?!” She raises her voice and I grab her and pull her out of the bar, the only guy in there was asleep but I am not taking any chances. “You can’t keep this up Mitchell, it’s what we are! It is what you are and it’s what you made me! You can’t fight it, you are one of us.” She whispers, her lips suddenly so close to my face. I look into her eyes, her deep, dark eyes, Lauren’s eyes, the Lauren I knew before…before I turned her into a monster. I being too loose myself in those eyes, gazing deeper and deeper. No, no her eyes are not the same, now you can see it, dancing in the centre the devil lurks, although, if we are not the devils I hate to think what is. “No,” I say pushing her back. “I am not like you, I am not.” I say fully aware of how my voice is shaking. Lauren smiles “Keep telling yourself that darling, just don’t come crying to me when it doesn’t work out.” She says, pushing past me and walking off down the alleyway. “I’ll give Herrick your love.”  She laughs as she disappears into the darkness. I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Well…that went…ok. She is all mouth and no trousers of course. I mentally slap myself, not a good phrase to think about literally. I sigh, I need to get back, Annie is going to want and explanation…and its bloody freezing out here.

“Ah finally decided to join us did you?” Annie says, appearing next to me as I enter the house. “Oh hello Mitchell, where have you been?” George asks, sounding stressed and looking very…George. “Out.” I say calmly as I take my jacket off.

“Oh, oh that’s nice, I was just wondering if you could explain the rather scary, threatening message written on our wall! Oh, and the dead rabbit!” George cries in his forced calm voice that really is anything but calm. “Calm down, god it’s nothing, just…I needed to talk to someone, they won’t bother us again, I promise.”  I say as calmly as possible, god George can get worked up easy. George gives an exhausted sigh and falls back onto the sofa. There is an awkward silence for a moment before Annie springs into her usual self. “Tea? Anyone? Coffee?” She asks and I nod,

“Yeh, thanks Annie.” I say and she smiles before disappearing to the kitchen. I stand awkwardly for a moment before going and flopping down in a chair. I can still smell the blood on the wall; it’s not so strong now, but still there. Soon Annie is back, handing out streaming warm mugs and then settling down on the sofa next to George. “So…anyone hungry? I was thinking pizza.” I say breaking the silence but I can tell by the way they are looking at me…or not looking at me, that they still want answers. “It’s a vampire thing, honestly, it’s nothing.” I say before burying myself in the mug. “So…I’ll go and order that pizza shall I?” I ask and George nods,

“Margarita please” he mutters as I go in search of the phone. I can hear them talking behind me but I can’t hear the words. I know they are concerned, they have a right to be but I am sure telling them puts them in more danger. This will all blow over soon, it always does, and in the meantime, we have pizza. Pizza makes everything better, right?   

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So, that's chapter 1...I know it's not great...but i hope u liked it anyway. i am not really that sure where i am going with it. I have two main ideas really and i am not sure which i will do yet. So yeh....hope u liked it, please do vote and comment, thanks for reading, you're all amazing :)

                                                            HazelJ :)