Hey people!!! :P So here's my chapter seven and I want to say that I might re-do my chapter six because there was more that I wanted to add. But I don't know if I will so keep a look out for it. Anyway, I was listening to dramatic, sad songs while writing this so that's why I felt the need to make it this way. Anyway, I'll give you a hint as to what's going to happen in the next chapter: just kidding! You really thought I would tell you? Just kidding about just kidding. The hint is: Rose must confront her fears. Okay, well I want to thank all my reviewers and I really appreciate everyone who does review because the more reviews I get, the more motivated I get to write another chapter. Well, I'm going to stop babbling now and let you read. Onward forth to the chapter!! :)
Chapter Seven
Pulling the keys out of the ignition, I stepped out of the car and turned to look at my new location.
The airport.
I had to confuse my tracks just incase anyone decided to come after me. I knew for a fact that it was highly unlikely that a Strigoi would actually ride on a plane filled with humans. If they were to fly anywhere, they'd need their own plane and with their savage ways, I felt that it was highly unlikely that they would own one.
Dimitri was definitely in America. But since I wanted to keep everyone else safe, I decided finding Dimitri could wait for now. I bought a ticket to Siberia--a typical place that Dimitri could be. Would they fall for it? Yes, I decided.
As I walked up to the desk--well, actually to the line forming in front of it--I could feel someone watching me. Out of instinct, my hand began feeling the outline of my stake hidden in my belt. Which reminds me, how would I get the stake through the security?…
I looked around the room. Nothing. I gave an exasperated sigh as I turned my attention to the ever-so-slowly moving line. After about ten minutes, a total of three out of about one hundred people--okay so I'm exaggerating, sue me--had gotten their turn. My anger was rising and it took a whole lot of my control to not yell at the people in front of me for taking so freaking long.
My foot reflexively began tapping and I crossed my arms over my chest, my attention drifted off.
What if when I'm gone, Dimitri forgets about me? Could that happen? It felt impossible for either of us to forget our love. It was so strong and felt like an impossible force of gravity. We had it all, we were just about to fall farther in love, but then that blonde Strigoi ruined it for us. I know I won't forget, but what about him? A tear escaped my eye. Our love felt like a song. Beautiful and unforgettable. But what if he did?
Please Dimitri, I prayed mentally to him, don't forget.
The line abruptly moved and I was pulled out of my internal debates. There was now approximately thirty people in front of me. Sigh. Then a quick motion flashed in my peripheral vision and my eyes darted around the room defensively. I caught sight of the cause--a Strigoi. What was he doing out during the daylight? Let alone in a place full of humans…
He snaked around the crowd, looking behind himself--straight into my eyes. I caught sight of those crazed crimson eyes that all Strigoi were a home to. He turned away, continuing his escape to wherever he was going. I looked at the line behind me. Crap. If I went after him, I'd be waiting behind a never-ending line and then finding Dimitri would probably be put off another day. I couldn't afford to wait another day--each day he would lose more and more of himself, and I couldn't let him lose all of his humanity.
Reluctantly, I kept my place in line, deciding that I'd search for him after I bought my ticket.
I was growing impatient--another person could be getting killed by that blood sucking parasite every second that I wait in this line--when they opened an extra lane for ticket purchases. Hurriedly, I rushed over to the next lane, but there were still around six people in front of me. I groaned, but, hey, it was better than thirty.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it was my turn. I bought a two-day round-trip to Siberia. Hopefully Dimitri wouldn't do too much changing in those two days. I mumbled a quick thank you and then set off to find the Strigoi.
I followed the trail that he went through earlier, trying to think of where he would have gone. I remembered that the underground hideout at Spokane was hidden in a janitor's closet. Desperately wanting to make my flight and kill the creature, I rushed around, looking for any suspicious places or janitor closets.
I couldn't spot anything out of the ordinary, except…there was a crowd of security officers surrounding something in one of the corners of the airport. Paramedics were also coming in with stretchers.
Curiosity and suspicion taking over, I walked over to see what all the commotion was about. They loaded something onto the stretcher. A body. Well, duh, it's going to be a body, I thought, but the body was bloody and the person's eyes were seeing nothing. It was kind of creepy actually, and I knew that this was because of the Strigoi. But why would he leave the body in such a public place like that?
I remembered how he saw me when he looked back. Was he trying to tell me something; lead me somewhere? I looked around, trying to find the Strigoi.
A feeling of fear crept over me as I peered over my shoulder. There he was, standing right behind me in a stiff stance. I grabbed for my stake, but before I could even take a step, he was rushing toward the exit. I looked around, no one had noticed him. I sneaked around the guards at the door--they were too busy with everyone else trying to get in and also because so many guards were investigating the whole dead body situation, so they didn't notice me. Maybe the Strigoi had anticipated that and that's why he left the body in public. (Yes I know in reality there would be many guards around and there would be an ultra slim chance of getting past them without notice, but let's just say that she beat the odds.)
I ran out through the doors after giving the attendant, (what were they called again?) my ticket. The Strigoi was standing in the shadows of one of the corners in the building, hiding from the sunlight. I grinned evilly, he had no way out now. I walked up to him, checking to make sure no one was watching me, and put the stake up against his heart. He had no choice but to stand there because he was trapped by the sunlight.
"What are you following me around for?" I questioned roughly.
"You're Rose Hathaway." He responded.
"How does that answer my question?" I pressed eagerly.
"If I killed you then I'd be famous. Think of all the rewards I'd get." He was off in his own daydream and I laughed without humor.
"Well isn't it sad that you're in this situation then?" I pulled my stake back, but before I plunged it into his heart, he stopped me with the one thing that could stop me.
"They'll get your friends." My arm froze in midair and I instantly grew worried for my friends safety.
"Who? Who's going to get them?" He chuckled and I growled.
"Sorry, can't tell you." I was aware that they were calling everyone to get on the plane to Siberia, but right now, my friend's safety was more important.
"Tell me, damn it! What are they going to do?"
"Like I said, I can't tell you. Besides, there's no point. You're going to kill me anyway, and I wouldn't want to give away the plans." Plans?
"What plans?" He snickered and I narrowed my eyes.
"Hey, you're lucky I told you that they were going to get them in the first place. If not for my warning, you'd be off to who knows where while your friends get massacred." He shrugged. "But now, you'll be here when they get massacred." he grinned darkly and I struck him with the stake. He gasped and fell to the ground and I dragged his body off to the bushes, no one catching sight of this unusual event.
Damn, I'd missed my flight. But, at least now that I got through the doors, they'd think that I left…but then they're going to chase after me to Siberia…and then that would leave them unprotected and whoever was going to try and kill them would have the chance to kill them!
Eagerly, I ran back into the airport, attracting attention as I did it. I could hear many people trying to get my attention, but I ignored them, my goal being my car in the parking lot.
I have to get there before they get hurt. I drove the car out of the parking spot but after I exited the parking lot and entered the highway going sixty, I was sucked into Lissa's head. It had been a while before I was sucked into her head so this must be something big. I was vaguely aware that I was probably going to skid off the road and cause some big crash, but I couldn't get out.
I tried desperately to get out of her head, but I couldn't. She was in the library with Adrian and Christian. She was reading some notes or something on St. Vladimir. Adrian was on the phone, trying to be secretive about whom he was talking to. Christian looked bored as he watched Lissa read.
Lissa's emotions were filled with worry and extreme excitement. Adrian hung up the phone and looked like he had exciting news.
"Rose just bought a ticket to Siberia." He reported happily. Lissa's face filled with relief.
"Maybe we can get to her in time." In time?
"Hopefully." He said wistfully.
I finally managed to get out, but it was at the wrong time. I was about twenty feet away from the person in front of me, stationed at a stop light. I was going sixty miles per hour and I knew that I was going to crash. I swerved the car to the right, slamming on the brakes.
The car crashed into the steel bars that blocked the cars from sliding into the river that was flowing heavily beneath us. With the speed of the impact, my car flipped over the edge and I knew I was going to die. Everything felt like slow motion and I laid down on my side on the seat, figuring it would be better to land that way than head first--the car was upside down--and I covered my head with my arms.
The car landed in the water with a huge splash, sinking to the bottom. The rushing waters carried my car tumbling along with it. Water rushed in through the rapidly turning car and I was amazed that the windows hadn't shattered. I knew I had to get out of there or else I'd either drown or the car would be crushed on a rock, crushing me along with it.
I grappled for my seatbelt, my hands shaking uncontrollably. It wouldn't come unfastened and I started tugging at the belt. It was extremely hard with the tumbling. The water swirled around inside the car, splashing my face and blurring my vision.
I couldn't get out. I was going to die. Who knew that after killing so many Strigoi, that I'd die from drowning. It just seemed so dumb and…embarrassing.
My hand found the buckle and I tried once more to unfasten the belt. I heard a small click and was immediately thrown forward by the car. I grabbed the door handle, tugging back and forth to open the door. It wouldn't budge. I looked for the lock, grabbing for it to unlock the door.
The water continued to make things harder for me as the level grew higher. It was up to my neck when I finally was able to unlock the door. I grabbed the door handle again and pulled it back and forth. It was stuck.
I brought my foot above the water--I could get more power that way--and put as much force into it as I could. I managed to kick out the window, but in doing so, a bunch of water rushed in. Shit.
I took a deep breath of air, maybe my last breath for all I knew, bringing my leg back and kicking a bigger hole through the window--big enough for me to crawl through.
I gripped the edges of the glass--feeling the cuts in my hands--and pulled myself through, swimming to the surface of the water. I'd made it out of the car, but now I had to make it out of the rapids. I was pulled under so many times as I struggled to get free.
I kicked against the rocks that resided at the bottom of the river. I managed to get somewhat close to the right side of the waters edge. I could feel my whole body getting scratched up, but I ignored all the pain in my desperation to get out of there.
There was a big rock coming up and I stretched my feet out, readying myself for the impact. My eyes closed and then I felt a crunch in my left ankle. I cried out in pain but used my right foot to push my self to the waters edge.
My arms reflexively grasped for something, catching grass and rocks. I pulled myself ashore and coughed as I tried to get rid of the water that filled my lungs.
I crumbled to the ground, the cold being overwhelming. The pain was unbearable and I wished I could slip into a numb blackness, but I couldn't. I remained conscious and well aware of the screaming pain coming from my ankle.
Suddenly, I felt light-headed and my vision blurred. Finally, I thought, I won't have to feel anymore. I welcomed the blackness, as long as it took away the pain.
Then someone towered over me, but I didn't care. The blackness was filling my vision and I was eager for it to be over.
I closed my eyes and never opened them, the black waters finally overtaking my senses.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to see that it was dark outside. My ankle was still filled with pain, but I could feel that it was wrapped in something other than my pants.
I sat up. It was covered with gauze along with all of the major cuts on my body. How did I get bandaged up? More importantly, how long had I been out? I willingly slipped into Lissa's mind this time.
She was in her room, packing the necessities. Necessities for what? Then she took out a map of Siberia and Vladimir's notes. She packed them into her suitcase and walking around her room, looking for any other things she might need.
No! I left her head in a rush, needing to be there before she could leave. I attempted to stand, but my ankle protested angrily. I let out a small whimper but continued. I stumbled as I limped toward the highway. I called out for help, stretching my thumb. Thankfully, someone slipped over the shoulder in front of me.
They were a couple, probably in their early thirties. "Hey, kid, are you okay?" the man in the driver's seat asked.
"No, I need to get somewhere. Can you help me?" I requested eagerly.
He contemplated for a few seconds, and then nodded. "Where're you headin'?"
How was that?? Sorry about all the cliffhangers, I know you all hate them, but I love them!! :P Anyway, please review and tell me about this chapter. I think I did a better job on this one than chapter six, but that's my opinion, tell me yours with a review! :) You know what's weird is that when you're writing, it feels like whatever you're writing is longer than it actually is. Because after I finished typing it up, I re-read it and it went by a lot faster than I thought it would. I tell you, six pages of typing goes by like that! *snaps* well, I'd better go, remember to review!! :)))