Bitten

I wasn't stupid nor could I be called stupid there were other things you could call me naive but not so naive to be in the woods without pepper spray. Not that I worried about being attacked I was invisible. Not really invisible people could see me if they wanted to, most just didn't. Thankfully I liked it that way that meant I could read my book in peace mostly I read in porch swing at my house. But, today the noise mother talking in her self important voice about a up incoming beauty pageant my sister was in was just to much. I needed to get away from it all.

Gina, my sister was a freshman in high school already had a crewed of people following her, I was a senior and know simply as Gina Del Mauro older sister. I hated that now not only was she the prettiest girl at home but at school too. It wasn't my fault that I was born a diabetic. That I had to check my blood sugar three times a day, that my meds caused me to be overweight. It was only eleven pounds but I was short, 5 feet and two inches unlike Gina who was taller then me by five inches. She played basket ball I had zero hand eye coronation and should never touch a ball. Or wear tight clothing or a skirt that went above my knee. Also I couldn't wear the tank tops because my arm fat would show.

Still what I lacked in beauty I made up for in smarts, Gina could barely do her per-algebra but I would help her she said my brain the most beautiful in the house. I could speak four languages and three in three like right now I was reading the Devin Comedy in Italian. I dream of being archeologist digging up the past fascinated me form the time I was very young. Gina wanted to be a artist, she was very talented and sweet. Most people would think of her as snob because everyone told how pretty she looks. They would be wrong she was the most caring and compassionate person I knew.

"Hello?" A male voice that sound like the smoothest velvet. I look up to see a man he is handsome too, like George Clouney both of them could be handsome no matter the age. "You know its not safe to out here alone." He said sitting next to me.

"Trust me no one would kill me," I say closing my book.

"Why?"

Rolling my eyes I smile at him "I'm not pretty enough to kill."

That makes him chuckle "I'm Peter."

"Toni," I shake his hand it feels warmer like he has the beginnings of a fever.

He looks at my book "Do always read your books in Italian?"

I blush "No, my grandmother sent to me for my birthday."

"You must be pretty smart."

"If I were smart I wouldn't be talking to strange man in middle of the woods were people seem to die or go missing, or run naked though."

"Sarcastic and smart." He smile at me not like someone who is impressed but like a someone who has found what they had been looking for.

"I should go," I say "My moms probably looking for me."

Peter stands "I don't think so. She still talking with your sister about how she should do her hair both of them thinking your read on the porch"

My reaction a surprise to both of us I laugh. "So, your going to kill me while my mom and sister debate hair spray."

He smile a sicking smile "No."

"I can't outrun you can I?"

"No." He said his tone is calm.

"I have pepper spray but that won't help either would did?"

His smile widens "No that would piss me off."

"What are you are you going to do to me?"

Peter' eyes change from a light hazel color to a cold electric blues "I'm going to help you."

"How?" I don't get the full word out because he hits me harder then I've ever been hit in my life.

The first thing I notice when I wake-up is that I'm not alone at first I thought the groans were my own. They sounded painful like I felt but slowly the world becomes clear again. I was on a bed I the groans belonged to a boy who was cross the room on a couch. Looking around I don't see Peter if that is his name, I tip-toe over to the boy.

"Aiden?" He asked as I touch him.

"Aiden," Gently I move his arm. I recognize this boy, he goes to my school along with his twin brother.

"Aiden," He said again his voice small.

"No," My voice shakes. "My name's Toni."

"Ethan." He said moving slowly.

"Do you know were we are?"

"Derek's loft," He said his voice clearer.

I don't know any Derek's "That men the one who took me did he take you too?"

He nods feeling his ribs wincing at a certain spot "How bad is it?"

"Its..." Its bad a small cut that already look infected. The veins are turning black making his side look at a spiders web. "We need to get out of here." I stand up a little to quickly my head rushes.

"What's wrong?" Ethan asked me through his labored breath.

"I'm a diabetic I just stood up to quickly my blood sugar must be low." slowly I stand up "I'll be fine."

"Your lying," He said as I help him stand. His full wight falls on me making my knees buckle. He lands on top of me "Sorry."

"Its"

"Don't say its going to be alright." Peter said from a door way.

I feel my heart pounding against my chest "What do you want with us."

He smile that sickening smile walking over to Ethan and I "I want a new games piece." I stand Ethan could barely stand if he wanted to do anything else to him he would have go though me.

Ethan growls at Peter "She not a game piece."

"Oh but I choose her so well. See her tying to protect you when she doesn't even you." Peter try's to touch my face I slap his hand away well I try to a least. He catches it "That's not nice. I knew you would fight that will be good for what I have planned." Pulling my arm to his mouth I feel his hot breath across my smooth olive-toned skin I see his teeth are sharper more animal then human.

"Stop it," Ethan said in deep voice that was so like a animal.

A breath of relief escape my lips "I'm not going to bit you that wouldn't work." Peter pulls my hand toward Ethan's mouth. "Bite her."

"No." We both say.

"Fine you can both die," He said as causally as I would've said I'm going to order pizza. His hands or claws since rake across my thigh sending waves of pain across my whole body.

Before the darkness swallows me again I hear Ethan "Toni I'm sorry."

"What was I suppose to do just let her die?" Ethan said he sounded better but also very angry.

"We have to kill him." Another male voice said.

"You'd kill him?" Ethan or maybe it was Aiden he sounded more like sarcastic not that I really talked to either of them.

"I killed him once didn't I?"

I found my voice again "Who?"

"Toni?" My mothers voice floods my ears. "Oh my beautiful baby." Beautiful? She hasn't called me beautiful since I was twelve.

"Mom?" I open my eye its my Mom leaning over me tears in her eyes.

"Yeah its me baby." Baby? She never called baby unless she was referring to the baby-fat I still had on my cheeks.

"Mom were am I?"

"Your in the hospital." Her hand wrap around my hand.

The doctor comes in "Ms. Del-Mauro I need to examine her daughter."

"Right," Mom nods walking out of the door.

"How long have I been here?"

The doctor looking into my eyes "You and another boy were found on the preserve three day ago. He was fine just a small cut. You however, where almost dead this black blood was everywhere but your a fighter you pulled though stopped bleeding last night."

I sit up "Three days."

"Yes," He said giving me a shot. "I have other patients but a nurse will be in hear soon to give you a full check.

"Okay."

"Your mother is piece of work." A nurse said coming.

I laugh "I know."

Her smile is forced I can that "How are you feeling? Can you stand?"

"I think so." I stand up looking up at the woman. Melissa that's her name she taller then me most people are.

Looking at my hand it looks smaller my arm is smaller too "Are you alright?"

I hear the question but I can't help but to look down past my chest I see my flat stomach. "This might sound vain but how do I look?"

Melissa smiles "You look you did before but now your different."

"Different?" Slowly I make my way to the bathroom the mirror shows me that I am the same only better. That's what mom would say I was the me she had always wanted the me I could be if I wasn't sick. I was still short, still had the same brown eyes that looked like honey. But my face the baby fat was gone my heart-shaped face was framed by my black hair that was so soft. When seventy-two hours ago it was course and didn't shimmer like was now.

I recognize the face its me "Come on Toni."

She pulls me back to the hospital room "I look..."

"You look different and you might feel different."

She wants to say more but mom walks in carrying the smell of coffee. I was different but I could tell I wanted that coffee. "Is that."

Mom puts in my hands "Decaff."

I put on the table "Really, I almost died I can't was real coffee."

"Doctors orders on caffeine till your back on your meds." She said in her business tone that always seemed to be associated with me.

Rolling my eyes "When can get out here?"

Melissa speaks this time "They want to watch you over night but I'd guess tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

"Wonderful," Mom said as her phone rang. "Its your sister."

I nod this felt normal "Tell her I said hi.

"What's the big deal with your sister?" Melissa asked before she could stop herself.

Sitting back on my bed I smile "Let me guess she been talking of that phone non-stop for the last three days."

"Yeah."

This was always hard for most people to get "My sister, is really into beauty pageants they enter local pageants. It just so happens that this weekend is there is pageant in San Francisco. They've been planning for a month even got a hotel."

"So,let me get this straight you almost died and have been in coma but now your Mother and sister are still going to a beauty contest."

"It sound like it." I say turning on the TV.

"That's cold," Melissa said.

I shrug "I did pageants when I was little too."

"Why'd you stop?"

That was a good question that had a bad answer "Mom pulled me out when I was nine she said it was because I was a diabetic and my meds cause me to gain wight. Baby fat is only cute on children ages 5-8, I was ten."

"Did she tell you that to your face?" Melissa is shocked.

"Yeah, if she did then who would and then people would laugh at me for thinking I was more beautiful then I really was. Did the police find my book?"

"What book?"

"My copy of the Devin Comedy it was printed in Italian." Since I was okay Mom would go home to help Gina pack they would come get me tomorrow then drive to San Fran.

"You can read in Italian?"

"Yes, I can read in three languages English of course, French, and Italian. Also I 'm learning Spanish at school."

"Sorry no book was found at the crime scene."

"The woods?"

"Yes."

"Great." That means it most be at the other crime scene the one Ethan did tell them about ego I should keep my mouth shut.