Chapter 159A Choice that Fails

The girl in my arms was really dead. There was nothing I could do, nothing I could have done to save her. No right path, only wrongs. I didn't want to leave her here but there was nowhere I could take her. Were there no solutions?

The only possibility I saw was call the police, let them find out who she is, warn the parents and everything. She had a purse with her, a mobile phone that was on and still working. I never felt really comfortable using them but this wasn't my choice. Something should be done and I was the only one who could.

With the phone in my hands I thought one last time. Yes, this was the only way.

I dialed. "Emergency line, what are you reporting?" An almost robotic response.

I tried to sound panicky. "There's a girl here, I think she's dead. There's blood all over here! You have to come quick!"

"Calm down, ma'am. Where are you currently?"

Drat, I didn't know where this was, I guess they'd have to track the phone. "I'm in an old building on the street of... Aaah!" I screamed at the end and dropped the phone, making sure it didn't go out.

I heard the faint voice of the operator. "Ma'm? Are you still there? Can you confirm your location? Ma'm?"

I couldn't stay here, I had to go. Completely confused I walked out of the building and onto the street. It was quiet here, no people around, so I started running. I wasn't exactly sure where I was, but I knew where Hitori's house should be.

I ran.

Some people might have seen me, a girl with blood on her clothes running by. I wasn't running as fast as I could. It wasn't about speed. I just needed to run. Away from what happened. But I could never truly run away. Why did it hurt me so much to see that girl dying? She hadn't been anything but prey to that guy. Just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

And now he escaped, able to kill more.

It was all my fault.

I ran.

My feet resounded on the streets. It wasn't long now until I finally reached Hitori's place. How could I explain this? The blood would do part of it. All those good feelings gone. I still felt the girls heart beating against mine. An echo of her existence in my heart. I felt awful.

The door to my salvation was closed, Hitori was still awake, there was light upstairs. He must have stayed up for me. I rang the doorbell, it's sound cutting in my being. I felt fragile, broken, alone.

It was all my fault.

Hitori opened the door with a smile, an expression that changed as he noticed my bloodied clothes. He didn't ask me what happened, I was grateful, but instead he simply dragged me upstairs and let me into the room.

What I saw there surprised me.

Nuru was in her bed sheets again, looking a bit sleepy, playing cards in her hands. She was sitting on her knees in front of the low table. Two stacks of cards, one neat and one chaotic, were near the middle of the table. And some cards were, face down, on the opposite side. They had been playing a game?

The surprise threw me off balance for a moment, my horror only momentarily forgotten.

Until Nuru saw me. Her expression changed to shock. She didn't say anything but let Hitori handle me. She just cleared up the cards dutifully and made room. I didn't sit down, not wanting to soil the fabric of the sofa.

At least I wasn't dripping.

Hitori very gently stood in front of me, looking in my eyes. "Is it your blood?" I shook my head.

He sighed a little of relief. "What happened?"

For a moment I took some breaths, hoping to calm myself. It wasn't working very well.

"It was a vampire, one I'd seen before. He was part of a group that killed people when they sucked blood. I knew he was going to kill her so I had to do something, we fought and I defeated him. But the girl was wounded, so much blood spilling on the ground..."

I sobbed. "I held her as she died..."

Hitori thought quickly. "Did you leave her there?"

I nodded. "Yes, but I called the police and they should find her."

He smiled. "That was very smart in the circumstances. Did you know the girl?"

Silently I shook my head.

"Alright, we'll all go to bed. Nuru, will you be able to sleep?" Hitori took charge. Nuru nodded.

"Amy, come with me."

He took me to the bedroom and undressed me. I was still too confused to really notice I was standing naked before him within a minute. Even my underwear was tainted by the girl's blood. He walked away, saying something about a washing machine and came back quickly, undressing himself and putting me in bed, holding me tight.

My head switched off, all those thoughts without any space or time to mill around. Silence and his warm embrace was all I wanted.

All I got.

Sleep.