On the Edge of Humanity (25 page)

He may have been right, but still my heart hammered against my sternum.

“Come on, buddy, move,” Ben called out. “Is this guy going to a funeral?”

I laughed nervously. I wondered if Ben realized what he had just said. Maybe we were going to a funeral and the car in front of us was leading us to it—maybe our funeral.

My pulse went into overdrive. I had a fleeting thought that we probably should’ve stayed with the Sentinels. They were irritating and intimidating, but their presence might be better than the potential nest of trouble we were driving into.

Ben tapped his right hand on the steering wheel. I imagined he was trying to release some of his nervous energy. I hadn’t told him about the mysterious man in the hospital garage leaning against a black SUV. I had forgotten all about it until now. But what were the odds?

“You’re still pale. Did you see something else?” he asked, looking in the rearview mirror.

“It’s probably nothing,” I said, shaking my head.

“Nothing? I recently found out that vampires are real. What else is there?” he asked, shifting his gaze from me to the road.

“I just remembered something from the night when Sam and me left the hospital. It involves the car in front of us.”

Ben slammed on the brakes and the car jerked forward. Thank God for seatbelts.

“What the heck are you doing?” I shouted. “You trying to kill me?”

“You’re telling me the car in front of us, or one like it, was also…what? At the hospital the night you left?”

I nodded. “There was a person in the hospital garage, leaning against a black SUV that night. I think the same person followed me and Sam the morning we took a cab to your house.” I peeked at him through the corner of my eye.

His eyebrows lifted, practically reaching the top of his hairline.

“Um, Ben, do you think you should pull over?”

“So who are they?” he asked as the car accelerated slightly.

“I don’t know. But it’s good we’re behind them. It may be nothing.”

“Let’s hope so.”

Ben began tapping the steering wheel again, only this time, it was louder. Between his impatience and, I imagined, his nervousness, I prayed he wouldn’t explode. He kept his gaze peeled straight ahead, staring at the vehicle in front of us.

We rounded a curve and a stop sign stood sentinel ahead. The leading car’s brake lights illuminated, then Ben tapped on his brakes, almost stopping the car. It seemed he didn’t want to get any closer to the mysterious vehicle than he had to.

I gnawed the inside of my cheek, praying the chills that skated up my spine and down my arms were all for nothing.

“Do you know how to get to the funeral home?” Ben asked with a shaky voice.

Not taking my eyes off the road, I said, “Not sure, but I don’t think it’s that far outside the State Forest. I remember some big park across the street from it.”

“Park? You’re kidding, right?” he asked, snapping his head toward me.

“No. Why?”

“There’s only one park in Westport and it’s in the worst part of town.”

Bingo!
I remembered thinking how Neil had dumped Sam and me in a trashy part of town with shady-looking people and abandoned homes.

“Do you know how to get there?” I asked.

Ben nodded. “Yep, but it’s not a place I want to hang out in, even during the day. Gee, you’re full of all kinds of scary info, aren’t you?”

“It can’t be any worse than what we’ve been through already,” I said, with a bit of hesitation in my voice.

The SUV stopped at the stop sign ahead of us.

“Is there another road you can take?” I asked.

“There is. But not until we get past this stop sign.”

I sucked in some air, waiting for the vehicle in front of us to move. My pulse beat rapidly. I prayed I was being paranoid.

“The area has a couple of gangs and there’s a lot of drugs in that part of town. You think the vamps are bad? Let’s hope we don’t run into any of the gang members,” Ben said, keeping his focus on the black SUV.

Great! It was just my luck that more drama would be added to the day.

Then their blinker indicated that they were making a right turn. The green sign on the corner read
Fall River – 15
and an arrow pointed to the right. The black SUV turned and, as if someone had pumped a load of oxygen in the car, Ben and I released a huge sigh at the same time.

The Explorer rolled to a stop. Ben looked both ways before crossing over the intersection. Every ounce of tension disintegrated from my body and I let out another deep breath.

“See, it was nothing,” I squeaked out.

“Maybe,” Ben said as his body relaxed against the back of the seat.

As we made our way to the park, I couldn’t help but think of Sam. We had to find him before Webb asked me again about my decision. I stared at the hood of the dented Explorer. My mind was a medley of confusion, fear and anticipation of what lay ahead. Several questions peppered my thoughts.
Will we find Sam?
Can I overlook the fact that vampires exist? Or that my father is a powerful vampire?
If I don’t change into a vampire, how much longer will I crave blood? Will the vampire puberty ever go away?
Not only was I trapped in a world where I didn’t belong, I was trapped inside myself, inside this pseudo vampire body complete with blood cravings and emotions I couldn’t make sense of. I closed my eyes and inhaled, trying to release the rising tension that began to itch inside of me.

“Jo, we’re almost there,” Ben said.

I blinked a few times and rows of abandoned, boarded-up three story homes came into view, making for a gloomy landscape, exactly the way it was a week ago—with one exception. There were no homeless people sleeping on the porches. Today, the neighborhood was deserted. It looked as if we were driving through a ghost town. Not even the gangs Ben spoke of were anywhere in sight.

“The home should be up ahead,” I said, pointing to my right.

“What’s wrong?” Ben asked.

“Nothing, why?”

“Your eyes are black. You’re not vamping out on me, are you?”

“No. I was thinking about Sam. My emotions just got the best of me, that’s all. Besides, I’m not a vampire.”

“It better stay that way, too,” he replied.

He had no idea how much I agreed with him. “Let’s focus on Sam.” I didn’t want to talk about me.

The park came into view on our left. The car slowed as Ben pumped the brakes, his head shifting, surveying his surroundings.

“This place gives me the willies,” he said. “Where is everyone? It looks like we’re crawling into some kind of horror movie.”

“Just imagine sleeping in the funeral home. In this neighborhood,” I added.

Ben parked the car on the street in front of the home. I slid out and stood staring at it, admiring the Victorian style with its wraparound porch and the pyramid pitched roof, which I didn’t get the chance to see the other night. I had acquired an appreciation for architecture of old style buildings and homes thanks to Mr. Zee, my history teacher. He had spent the entire last semester teaching us the history of Fall River. Part of the class was dedicated to the different architectural styles of the homes and buildings that inhabited the area. Aside from the paint chipping off the shingles, the funeral home was the best-looking structure in the neighborhood.

“So what now?” Ben asked as he scanned the park. “It doesn’t look like anyone’s here.”

I started walking up the path to the front porch when Ben grabbed me.

“What?”

“How’re we getting in? What’s our plan?” he asked with trepidation in his voice.

I wasn’t thinking about any of that. I just wanted to get in there and check out the place. “Look, we don’t have much time. We’re only going in and looking around, okay?”

“I don’t like this,” he called out as he followed behind me.

Up to this point, Ben had been on an emotional rollercoaster, wavering between fear, anger, disgust and acceptance, ending with a bravado attitude toward the vampires, even standing up to the alpha vamp. But now his bravery turned into mush—about a funeral home?

The wooden steps creaked as I climbed. I stopped abruptly at the top. The front door was ajar and the scent hit me, as I stood frozen in place. My breathing became shallow and I reached up and covered my mouth and nose.

“What’s wrong?” Ben asked as we stood side by side.

My gums began hurting and I winced. The drug addict in me took over and I wasn’t sure I could control myself. The urge to drink blood overwhelmed me. Suddenly, I wanted Ben. I wanted to sink my teeth into him. My gums were throbbing, yearning to release the fangs I didn’t have—or did I? I dipped my fingers into my mouth searching my gums, but nothing. Wet from the saliva, I wiped my hand on my jeans.

“Gee whiz, Jo. It looks like you’re about to pass out.” Ben threw his arm around my back. “Sit over there.” He motioned to a loveseat on the porch.

I shook my head and slid out from under his arm. I needed to get away from him. While I didn’t have fangs, I still didn’t trust myself. “No, I’m fine. I mean, I’ll be fine. Let’s get this over with.”

A puzzled look washed over him. “You sure? We don’t have to do this.”

Get a hold of yourself,
I repeated silently in my head. But the smell of blood wafting out drove me crazy, drawing me inside. I wanted to scream, to run. How long did this pseudo vampire puberty last? It was a good thing I was asking myself that question and not Webb. I was afraid I wouldn’t like his answer.

Propping up my courage, I walked into the funeral home, the smell of dried blood and decay washing over me. I sensed something happened in here recently.

The sound of Ben’s heartbeat echoed as he approached from behind, his blood raging through his veins. I turned and the vein in his neck pulsed with every heartbeat. I stood deathly still, making sure I had control of myself.

“It stinks in here,” he said as his voice became nasal.

He had no idea what the smell was doing to me.

“Why don’t you check out the rooms down here and I’ll check the rooms upstairs?” he said. “We’ll meet back here in a few.”

“No. I’ll go upstairs.” Before Ben could protest, I disappeared around the corner. The smell dissipated a bit as I climbed, taking the steps two at a time. My mind wandered, pictures of the body bags Dr. Vieira showed us flashed before me. I had a feverish feeling that some of those killings took place here.

Once at the top of the landing, I surveyed the hallway. Out of the three rooms, one had its door closed. I walked over to the white paneled aperture—the room Sam and I had slept in—stopping in front of it. I swallowed, grabbed the doorknob, then pushed the door in. The stench hit me like a tornado and I gagged, trying to catch my breath. The pungent smell of vinegar covered the underlying scent of blood.

I covered my nose, breathing in through my mouth as I looked around the room. The large assortment of books that had been neatly tucked into the bookshelves was now a cyclone of piles spread around as if someone were hunting for a lost treasure.

I walked over to one stack and knelt down. There was a book opened with its pages splayed. I picked it up with my free hand and turned it over. My eyes bulged out when I read the title—
Vampire Genetics.
I sat down on my heels and released the hold on my nose.
Who the heck writes this shit?
Vampires were one thing, but I wasn’t aware that someone actually documented it. But, hey, what did I know? My knowledge and history of the vampire species was only one week old and that knowledge was a tiny speck on the radar.

I grabbed the book and stood up. I had to get out of here or I was going to puke. I grabbed my nose again and began to walk out when outside a car door slammed. Excitement stirred in me. Maybe it was Neil and he had Sam with him.

I ran over to the window, stopping short of it. What if it were Webb and his team? My detective work would be over. A curtain rod had come loose and the curtain panel hung at angle ready to fall off. What happened in here?

I tiptoed the rest of the way as if they were already in the house. I peeked around the panel and looked out, but didn’t see any vehicle. I shifted my gaze out to the park where a few die-hard runners were jogging around the melted pond. Maybe I was hearing things. I shook my head a few times and turned to walk out when I spotted something familiar.

I pinched my eyebrows together, walking over to the red couch. A smile emerged on my lips as I remembered Sam trying to tease me, pretending there was blood on my neck, as if a vampire had bit me. As it turned out, it had been the red velvet lint from the couch.

My smiled faded as I bent over and gasped.

A red t-shirt lay balled up on the couch. I dropped the book and picked up the t-shirt. I shook it and held it up. Dried blood splattered the front just below the words
Got Milk?
Tears streamed down my face. Sam was here, or at least had been here. This was the t-shirt he wore to school yesterday. Was he still here? I turned on my wobbly heel and stopped cold.

“What the fu…What are
you
doing here?” I asked as my eyes widened.

“Is that any way to greet your doctor?” Dr. Case said with a sinister smile.

My feet were frozen in place and so was my tongue.

“I’ve noticed you’re healing well.” His gaze roamed my body. “Your stitches are gone. I have to say I do good work.”

I touched the newly formed scar on my left cheek, and returned the gesture, sizing him up as he stood leaning up against the doorjamb. He was wearing blue jeans and a black button down shirt, which hung loosely over his jeans. The last time I saw him he had on one of those surgeon caps. Today, his dark, wavy brown hair hung loosely just above his ears and his brown eyes were alight with pleasure.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“I’m here for you,” Dr. Case replied with maliciousness to his tone.

“Get in line,” I blurted out. I wasn’t sure what he was talking about, but there was a tingling of menace prickling my skin.

“I see you found something?” His thin lips were curled at the edges.

“Do you have something to do with this?” I held up Sam’s t-shirt.

His half smile indicated he did. What was Dr. Case’s role in all this?

As if the trees parted and the light shined through, I remembered a tattoo on the back of his neck. I couldn’t see all of it when I first met him, but a puzzle piece snapped into place.

“You’re one of them.” My body tensed and I squeezed Sam’s shirt.

“You need to be more specific, Jo,” Dr. Case said as he pushed off the doorframe, stepping inside.

I edged back and my left foot slipped. I fell onto a pile of books, straight down on my butt. Books, picture frames and boxes surrounded me as I tried to stand up. But the box I used as an anchor was too squishy and collapsed, causing my right hand to puncture through. Panic set in.

I tried to pull out my hand but Dr. Case yanked me by the left arm. The force of his strength sent fear whistling through my veins. He wasn’t helping me; he was hurting me.

Why did I always get myself into this kind of mess? Why wouldn’t people leave me alone? As he pulled me out of the mountain of books, my hand came free, the cover falling. I swung my arm around and punched him in the stomach.

His smug smile was gone, replaced with a murderous expression. He squeezed my arm tighter and dragged me towards the door.