Chapter Twelve; farewell
"I guess this is it, uh?" Darren commented, "We're going to die now."
Both vampires didn't respond to him, Larten and Gavner staring out of the window through squinted eyes. The sun was burning down upon them, a beautiful summers day which failed to reflect how defeated they all felt.
"Darren, I want you to make a run for it," Larten ordered, using the wall to climb up and onto his good foot, silently hobbling over to the window and peeking out. Those zombie bastards were everywhere but it was Darren's only shot at surviving. "You can get away but Gavner and I cannot,"
"I'm not leaving you! We said we'd stay together!" Darren shouted, a roar downstairs answering him as the horde ploughed their way into the house in search of the stowaways, "Please, Larten, please, I'm not going anywhere without you."
Larten squeezed his eyes shut, hearing the monsters charging up the stairs, destroying everything as they passed. "Darren, you have to go. I will throw you outside if I have to! This is your only chance at life. You could survive. Please, be reasonable!"
"Never!" Darren shouted, shoving Larten back from him, "You touch me and I'll kill you faster than those bastards downstairs!"
"Darren! Stop being such a chil-"
"Larten, go with him," Gavner commented, cocking the pistol he'd given Darren the previous evening.
"Gavner, you cannot stay on your own," Larten growled.
"The hell I can't! I'm barely keeping myself together, Lart-" he stopped to throw up violently once more, "I'll cover for you up here. I'm a good shot," he said as he lifted up the rifle from the floor, "I can give you cover to flee."
"Gavner, I will not make it far enough with my leg," Larten argued, though sound of the stairs cracking did nothing to steady his nerves. In truth, Larten wanted to run, he didn't want to fight. His only obligation to stay would be to keep Darren safe and Darren refused to go unless he went to.
With sad eyes, Larten stood straight and saluted Gavner, "You are a fine Vampire, Gavner. A true friend,"
"As are you, Crepsley," Gavner bowed, "You would have made a fine Prince if ever you accepted the invitation. I would have followed you,"
Larten chuckled at that, shaking his head as he limped over to the window with Darren's aid, gripping the boy's shoulder as he unlocked the latch.
They all exchanged one last glance and a soft smile, a silent farewell before Larten made the first jump. Darren followed swiftly behind, landing on his feet in a crouch.
The minute they hit the floor, Zombies went for them but Gavner was faster.
One fell with a bullet to the head.
A second.
A third thought about going for them then spied Gavner and ran inside to follow the rest of the mad bastards downstairs baying for his blood. He used a dressing table to barricade himself in as he focused entirely on his friends.
Another bastard went down.
He used the pistol Larten and Darren had left behind, killing another two in closer range before reloading the rifle and continuing to fire for his friends, hope swelling in his chest as they cleared the main farm land and headed towards the hill.
Licking his lips, he could see nothing now but the black figures of Larten and Darren. The rest was as red as the blood leaking from the corner of his mouth and from his crying eyes. His head was pulsing, about to explode but he remained focused regardless.
Only when the change fell upon him did he drop the gun. In a savage rage, he turned round as the door broke down and the beasts charged forwards.
However, rather join them and go through the window after Larten and Darren, he let out a ferocious snarl. With mighty power projecting him forward, Gavner leapt for the leader of the pack and met him with his fangs, the world going red as he lost his mind, ripping into the pack before becoming overwhelmed.
