Chapter 36: Distraught

Candice could hear Beth calling her name, telling her to wake up and she tried to respond but everything was heavy and foggy. Her mind tried to hold onto consciousness but the pull of darkness was strong, her limbs all too heavy to move, even her eyelids seemed to weigh a ton. She could feel a prick in her arm and the sensation of blood flowing into her system as her mind tried to wake up. There was something important going on, something bad, but she couldn't break through the fog.

David. She was with David, they were about to make love for the first time since her mother had passed and her sex drive had gone empty but then…something happened. Another prick and more blood spreading its way through her body and pushing the fog away as her eyes begin to flutter.

"That's it," Beth encourages as she pulls Candice to sit up against the back of the couch. "Come on Candice you need to get more blood into your system to flush out the drugs." Beth looks over at Mick, "She's waking up but do you think I should keep up the injections? I've given her two bags already."

Josef walked to stand beside Beth to examine Candice more closely. "Candy if you can hear us blink for me," she blinked still unable to move her arms or form words. "She can hear us, hand me another bag." Beth did as Josef said and handed him the next bag of blood which he then opened and pressed to her lips letting it flow down her throat. Candice began to drink, natural reflex to the blood and her reawaking limbs. By the end of the last bag of blood Beth had brought Candice was able to hold the bag herself.

As she set the bag down she was still weak, muscles still waking from the drug but her mind was becoming clear. "What happened? Where's David?"

Beth sat next to her friend taking her hand in hers, "What do you remember?"

"Where is he Beth?" Candice was worried that David wasn't with her.

"I don't know Candice. We need you to tell us what you remember." Beth gave her hand a squeeze trying to reassure her they were doing everything they could to help.

"I don't…we were here…we were about to…" Candice looked down and realized she was still in her red lace bra and undone jeans. "There was someone at the door…David answered and it was blood…from Josef. We decided to have a glass before and then…it all goes fuzzy."

Josef squats down in front of Candice, "The blood wasn't from me. It was drugged and you've been passed out for a while."

"Where is David?" Tears began to spill from her eyes.

Beth knew her friend would be devastated by the news but that she needed the truth. "David managed to dial Mick before he passed out but Mick didn't have his phone. It went to voicemail and when we got it we heard everything and got here as fast as we could."

Taking a deep breath she looked Candice in the eyes and said the words as gently as possible, "When we got here David was gone. It was only you."

Seeing the truth in her friends eyes Candice began to cry, her body still weakened from the drugs was limp with pain. Beth held her friend close as Mick came closer and put his voicemail on speaker, "I think you should hear this."

Candice sniffed back some tears and took the box of tissues Josef offered as she listened to the message. Once they passed out she thought it was over but then hearing the people enter her home she became focused on the recording. The first word the woman says set her on fire, "That conniving bitch. She took David."

Mick hit pause, "You know who this is?"

"Mia…Fartona. She's an ex of his that came back into his life to try and steal him back and he told her to take a hike."

"That's Mia?" Beth looked concerned.

"I'd know that sluts voice anywhere," Candice's anger was helping her regain her strength faster pumping the blood.

Mick looked at his phone, "There's more to the recording. I'd like you to listen and tell me if it makes any sense to you." Candice nods and Mick hits play and Candice listens to the rest of the message. "Mia didn't take David for herself it seems like she is working for or at least with someone, someone who doesn't want you harmed."

"I don't know who she could be working with but I can tell you one thing she wanted David." Candice was sure of this. Sure she might be working with someone but Mia had her own agenda when it came to David she was sure.

Mick nodded, "We have people going over footage from all buildings nearby to try and get a vehicle description or direction of travel. We will find him," Mick assured.

Moving her legs to the edge of couch she stood up happy to have feeling again. Her body was still slightly shaky but it was clearing up faster that she was awake. "Thank you. I have to help."

Beth sat forward, "You will. We need to get you some more blood delivered, we're all going to need some and we don't want to risk it with what you have in the fridge."

Josef rocked back on his heels, "Yes that blood is probably good, well as good as bagged can get," he amended. "It seems the delivered blood was the infected batch. She was clever enough to use my name, she knew you would trust it."

"The delivery guy," Mick spoke as he walked towards the door. "Do you remember anything about him? Chances are he doesn't know anything but I'd like to follow up."

Candice shook her head as she thought back, "I never say him. David was at the door in a second and before I knew it he was back with the package. I wasn't…still not really in the best dress to be answering the door." Beth reached over and snagged Candice's blouse off the corner of the chair and handed it to her so she could slip it back on not even realizing that she had been in only her bra the whole time.

Beth looked to Mick, "You can run down the delivery guy with building security, I'll call for the blood and—"

"The blood has been handled," Josef interrupted. "It should be here momentarily." Everyone looked at Josef and he smirked, "I sent out the order while you were injecting her."

Mick looked at them all, "Now we find David."

To Be Continued…

Evilous