The Park

Henry stood quietly in the shadows of the trees. Mike said there was something odd happening in the park. Though he would not admit it to anyone, Henry did trust Mike the cop. He could not, however, trust Mike, the man, especially when it came to Vicki. So for the third time in a week Henry waited alone for something to happen. Vampire senses were on high alert. Even the rustle of the owl's wings hunting overhead were felt. Henry heard the screaming and tried to locate the source. Stunned, he realized the noise was coming from his own throat. The human in Henry was fighting for life against a foe the vampire could not sense. He clawed his own neck tearing shirt and coat away from his body. He fell to the ground wreathing in pain. Every nerve in his body burned. Vampire lay dormant unaware of its' human's plight. Seconds or minutes passed and Henry lay unmoving on the ground as one of the park's nightly inhabitants came up to him.

A surprisingly gentle hand rested on his shoulder. "It got you. The pain eases, but comes back."

Henry listened to the voice barely breathing and unable to move. He moaned out, "What?"

The old man shook his head in sorrow, "Don't know. None do. Tried to tell cops but they don't listen. Don't ya know. No home. No money. No body cares." The old man tried to pull Henry to his feet, "You heavy for a small fella. Come on you gotta help. Cold damp ground makes it worse. Up" With that the man tugged harder on Henry's arm and helped him up.

Henry looked down at his torn clothes, throbbing legs, and bloody fingers. "Same for everyone?"

"Not all. Most can't breath like you. Some just fall stiff. Pain for everyone. It's worse than a blood sucking vampire."

Henry's eyes clouded, "Vampires?"

The old one shook his head, "Stories, movies. Make believe. This is real. Not movie made up. If you gotta home. Get outta here. Them's that don't die the second time."

Henry tried to take a deeper breath and started coughing. The old man waited until Henry said, "I haven't heard about any deaths."

"That's cuss there's nothin left when it gets ya twice. I'm leavin. Been got once. Been here long while. Home like, but not ready to die. Go on now you're gonna feel worse in about a minute. Don't come back here less you wanna die."

The old man walked off. Leaving Henry standing alone, torn, bloody, and for the first time in years very, very afraid.

Vicki heard his hesitant unsteady steps as he slowly climbed the stairs. She ran to the door and all but screamed as she beheld her beloved Henry, battered and bloody. He whispered, "Help me." And collapsed at her feet. Vampire gave her the strength to drag Henry into the room. He didn't move as she ran to the bathroom for wet towels to wash his bloody neck and hands. His breathing was uneven and his naturally pale color was ashen gray. "What happened?" He moved his head no, but didn't talk. "Do you need to feed?" Again he slowly moved his head. "Rest." She started to move away thinking to get a pillow and covers. His hand reached out and clutched at her shirt. "Don't leave me." Vicki sat next to him on the floor. Not know what else she could do. She turned and draped his arm over her shoulder so that she hold it and put her head near his ribs. The room grew quiet as he drew comfort from her presence and she drew comfort as his breathing eased. Toward morning he asked Vicki to help him to her bed room. Dawn was near and the living room was not secure. "Can I share you bed. The attic steps are too much." Vicki didn't say anything as she sat him on the edge of the bed and helped him undress. She eased him back, lifted his feet to the bed and pulled the sheet to his chin. She quickly undressed and joined him as the sun rose.

Evening found Henry weak, tired, and still very frightened. He again pulled Vicki close to his heart as she started to move. "If you leave, I'll die." Vicki placed her wrist to his lips and demanded he feed. Henry looked at her with sad eyes, "I can't." She moved to bite her own wrist. He placed his hand between her teeth and her wrist. "No." Vicki not comprehending said, "What do you want me to do?"

"Stay as close to me as you can get."

"I need to contact Jamus and Lana first. Get reports and give assignments." He nodded, "Do it from here. Then call Mike. He needs to come." The work a duties were completed and she placed the call to Mike.

Mike answered with a curt, "Haven't you said enough?" Vicki replied, "Evidently not. Henry needs you. So do I. Come here. Come now." She hung up and placed her head head on Henry's chest for a moment then said, "We need to get dressed and you need to be sitting in a chair before Mike gets here. Are you planning to feed from him."

"I can't feed from anyone. The vampire is numb. I can't pull up the hunger or anger." Vicki opened the attic steps found clothes and helped him to dress. She pulled on jeans and tee, then helped him to the living room and his favorite chair. She brought him a glass of water and forced him to drink it all.

Placing a kiss on his forehead she whispered as the downstairs buzzer sounded, "Don't you dare die on me."

Henry gave her a wane smile, "I won't. Let Mike in and I will tell you both at the same time."

Vicki pressed the door release and heard Mike come up the stairs. "Damn Vicki this better be good."

Vicki responded through pursed lips, "This is so not good."

Mike walked into the living room and froze in his tracks as he beheld who he assumed was Henry. The wrinkled, trembling old man with thin white hair sat dwarfed by the size of the chair. The eyes were Henry's and so too was the ghost of his charming smile. Mike turned to Vicki as she looked away saying, "Henry needs to talk with us both."