Thank you for the great reviews everyone! 3 Sorry for the delay but my boyfriend was over for a couple nights and I didn't get a writing opportunity!
Chapter Eight.
George woke with a gasp; it took him just a moment to realise why he'd awoken, the noise echoing in his ears, Mitchell's screaming. He sounded like he was in agony; George leapt to his feet, dashing toward his friend's room and finding the door open. Annie was already there, her hands on Mitchell's chest as he jerked in clear pain, face screwed up tight. "He won't wake up." She whimpered as George looked at his friend, grabbing his wrists as they twisted. "Mitchell!" he yelled, shaking the hands, staring at the vampire's face. He let out one last cry, closer to a choking gasp than a scream, and settled into harsh panting, trembling violently all over. George carefully released the wrists and glanced sideways, seeing the tears in the ghost's eyes. "Get me a damp flannel, please, Annie." He murmured, offering her an uncertain look, and wiping her eyes she turned and left the room.
Something occurred to George as he stared at that pale face, coated in a faint sheen of sweat. He bit his lip and looked at Annie, who opened her mouth as if to say something, but just let it close, handing over the damp towel. Gently, he wiped away the sweat and then laid the cool cloth on Mitchell's forehead. "I was thinking." He whispered, softly, "The werewolf, it's an infection... and that's what being a vampire is, too, isn't it?" he looked at her and she nodded uncertainly. "I think so. I mean, it works in the same way, a bite..." George nodded again, "So they're fighting." He whispered, taking Annie's hand. "The vampire and the... the 'wolf, they must be fighting inside him." There were tears brimming in his eyes and she shook her head slowly, pity burning strong in her brown eyes. "George, this isn't your fault. He'll pull through, you know how strong he is!" but George was letting his tears fall now, face screwed up, "But what'll he be, Annie? What've I done to him?" he sobbed, letting her wrap her arms around him.
He hunched over the pale, prone form laying on the cold grass in front of him. Mitchell was shirtless, bare skin chalky white in the moonlight. Then he bucked and twisted, and let out a groaning cry, as in front of George's eyes he started to transform. His screams were horrible, animalistically renting the air in front of him. Fur pushed through his skin, sleek and greasy as on his head, then George realised if the moon was out... he must be transforming! He felt the ghost of dream-pain as his mind made him twist next to Mitchell. Now in wolf form, he circled the pure black other wolf, which he noticed had far longer canines that normal. Then as they lunged he awoke, eyes snapping wide and staring at the bright red numbers on his alarm clock. He'd gone back to bed about four, after Mitchell seemed to be resting more soundly, and it was half seven now.
He rolled to his feet, padding into the bathroom, unnerved by the dream. Under the hot water he forced himself to think. He didn't know what else to do, so there was one option... go speak to the vampires. With any luck, they'd not hurt him... with better luck, he might just find someone, anyone who'd help him. Even a vampire's help... he couldn't let Mitchell die from this. It was all his fault. Clean, dry, he tugged on some clothes and stepped out the room to find Annie holding a cup of tea that she proffered to him. "Thank you." He murmured and she smiled back, but shakily. "George, I've made a decision," she announced, "I'm gonna go to the vampires." He blinked in surprise, opening his mouth, but she cut him off. "Don't try to talk me out of it! They can't hurt me, and I don't want Mitchell to... to go, so I'm going to go to speak to them! And you won't stop me from going so don't even try." She crossed her arms and nodded with a dead set expression to her face.
George smiled at her, "Alright. What's the plan? I'll go with you. Maybe we can get some help." Annie's face flashed through a range of expressions in a moment. Shock, confusion, happiness, worry and settled onto annoyance. "You can't go." She said and he raised an eyebrow. "George! You're the one who killed their leader. You think they're going to want to speak to you?" he shook his head slowly, "Annie, if we go, we go together. That's how it works now." He smiled, "And anyway, I've got you to protect me. Superghost!" he grinned and she laughed, genuinely. "Alright." He nodded, and drained his tea, "Let's go, superghost."
