Life after Death

Four.

Early the next morning, whispers and loud chatter rang out in the dimly lit basement cafeteria. Fifteen years ago, Rudy received the office building as a donation from a recently deceased vampire friend. Four years ago, Jack stumbled upon a cafeteria in the basement. Many suggestions had been made about the room's usage, but Rudy insisted it stay a cafeteria.

"I went over to the infirmary. Jerry was gone."

Jack looked to Kim and sighed. She held a tray of bacon, eggs, and toast. Vampires had minimal need for food, but some still had the palate for human delicacies. Kim was amongst the few that still partook in three square meals a day. All Jack needed was a thermos of blood and he was ready to greet the day.

"Look, Kim, we can't force anything. I confess I may have been a little insistent last night," Jack said, clenching his thermos. "Just the thought of us losing another one, I just couldn't bare it."

Kim's fingers slipped through his own and he sighed.

"I understand. I'm sorry about Brody too," Kim replied.

Brody showed up at support, wide eyed and nervous. He always looked over his shoulder, but spared a smile each visit. He remembered the teen pulling him to the side for a private chat. Over the days and weeks Brody's visits decreased. His behavior changed right after his encounter with Kai. Jack knew it had been Kai's influence. Kai ruined Brody.

"I don't want anyone to go down the path that Kai has chosen," Jack shared. "It is a path where anyone can lose themselves. Those vampires are far too removed from human society. They were humans once, but it doesn't matter to them anymore."

"Maybe I spoke too soon," Kim remarked.

Jerry sat with a tray of eggs, bacon, and toast. Jack sighed, relieved. He still had another chance to turn Jerry's outlook on life around. On his way toward the teen, a few vampires greeted him on the way. Of course he smiled and waved to them, but his focus was on the disgruntled teen in a blood stained white tee-shirt.

"Well, morning," Jack greeted, taking a seat across from the teen.

"I had no food in the fridge back home," Jerry commented, brow furrowed at the food on his plate. "I didn't feel like searching for food when I got back."

Jack smirked, uncapping his thermos. "Wouldn't dream of any other explanation."

Jerry's lips quirked at the comment, but he returned to his emotionless expression seconds later. Jack snorted. There was obviously something hidden beneath all the opposition. Kim sat next to him, a large smile on her lips. She flipped her hair from her face as she partook in breakfast.

"Blood thirsty beasts eat eggs and bacon?" Jerry asked.

Kim stilled, eyes narrowed. "Sorry?"

Jerry shrugged, arms crossed. "I wondered what things like you would want with a cafeteria. When Rudy showed me the serving line, I almost couldn't believe it. Buffet style and everything. Almost better than the food at my old place."

"Watch your mouth, new stuff," Kim pointed. "You're a blood thirsty beast too. Just be glad you're new. I'd kick you in the face if you weren't."

Jerry scoffed as a response.

Jack chuckled. Despite her gentleness with the newbies, Kim could be a spitfire too. She didn't let anyone talk down to her, especially a new vampire. She had no problems with acting the part of mother hen, but when it came to respect, she made sure others new how to give it.

"We'll let you eat before we chat," Jack stated.

"I'm not talking with any of you."

"Look," Kim said. "It seems to me you've forgotten who was in an alley last night and who stopped by and helped. Sure, I didn't get there beforehand, but I made sure you weren't implicated in a crime. The law may not discriminate, but it is quick to prosecute us, so be grateful."

Jerry's eyes widened.

"Kim," Jack said, setting his hand upon her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I should know better," Kim replied, pushing her tray away. "I –look, let's just forget what I said. Have some bacon and eggs and we'll go have a chat, yeah?"

Jerry's eyes clouded with something, but cleared. Jack smiled when he nodded. He picked at the food and put pieces into his mouth. Once he was finished, Jack and Kim led him to their office. Once again, they greeted a few of the vampires they saw and promised to meet with some of their more needy cases.

Within the office, Jack offered Jerry a seat. Kim pulled a chair behind the desk, allowing two chairs to seat across from Jerry. Jack sat in the computer desk, fingers laced as if he had an ingenious plan.

"There is much we still don't know about you, Jerry."

Jerry sighed.

"We only know that you were recently turned," Jack stated. "You disappeared for a day and Kim found you in an alley. What happened?"

Jerry stilled but recounted the events of what happened. Jack noticed the moisture in the other's eyes and realized the loneliness there. It was a common thing to see on a new vampire. The life of a vampire often was a lonely one. Once one turned, they either left their life behind or tried to assimilate. Most of the time, their families opposed their new nature strongly and there was no hope for a normal life.

"When you said you had a home to go to," Kim said. "Is there someone to go to as well?"

Jerry shook his head. "I had family."

Jack nodded, understanding. He didn't expect Jerry to disclose everything like the support group attendees. Not everyone was forthcoming with their information. He had to coax a few individuals into sharing. Usually his tag team with Kim and someone opened up. There were a few that remained as quiet as the day they began to attend.

"You are young. Are you still in school?" Jack asked, curious eyes on Jerry.

"I'm young," Jerry called out. "You both look like your seventeen."

"We are anything but young," Kim stated, a twinkle in her eye. "Jack and I are centuries old."

Jerry's eyes widened. "Wow, that is – wow."

Jack nodded, leaning back. "So when we talk about vampire things we know it well. So, like I asked before, are you still in school?"

Jerry shook his head. "Graduated and got a job, it is uh –physically demanding."

Jack paused at the little fumble in the male's words. He pushed the phenomenon aside. He wished he could read minds, but the ability to read one's mind came with age. He was considered too young to have the trait. He leant forward.

"I see," Jack remarked. "Well, I see you are looking a lot more at ease. Still very pale, but – nothing a little more days here can't fix."

"Pale? Aren't vampires pale?" Jerry asked.

"Yes, but you are sickly pale," Kim pointed out. "There is a grand difference."

Jack scanned Jerry's appearance again. Kim was right. There were varying levels of paleness for a vampire. Vampires could be as white as snow, but only when they were starving. He reached for his thermos and produced a Dixie cup from the expensive dispenser. He poured a generous amount of blood into the paper cup, pushing it to the edge of the desk. The familiar scent of blood filled the atmosphere as he gestured toward the cup with his head.

Jerry paled more at the sight. Jack sighed. He may have been starved enough to attack last night, but the repulsion in his face was clear. Kim produced a manila envelope from a drawer near him. He noticed her going into some much needed administrative duties. He rolled his eyes.

"You know you can hold off, right Kim?" Jack commented.

Kim snorted. "Jerry must have documentation. How else can we see his progress?"

Jack chuckled. "Jerry, go on. Have a drink."

Jerry pushed back his chair, eyes on the cup. He shook his head.

"I'm fine really."

"You aren't 'fine really', you are hungry," Jack promised. "You'll descend into madness soon if you ignore any more offers of blood."

"This is already madness so," Jerry remarked, lips curled. "I don't see any difference."

"I'm not joking, Jerry."

"I'm not joking either –I don't remember your names, but I'm not joking."

"Jack and she is Kim," Jack shared. "Look, you are new. We have been through this song and dance before. You have to drink. You saw what happened when you didn't."

Jerry paused, cup in hand.

"If it helps, we get our blood donated to us. We partner with Seaford Regional. The government frowns upon it, but allows us the necessary blood to keep the many mouths here fed. Nothing about this blood was received in a hostile environment. No one died. Please consider your health and drink."

Jerry whimpered. Red liquid sloshed within the cup as Jerry's hands trembled. Jack watched the confliction upon his face. He arose from the desk and sat on its edge. He leaned forward, eyes set on the hesitant vampire before him. There were many parallels between Jerry and Brody. Like Brody, Jerry hesitated before blood and like him he also resisted his vampire life.

"You are hurting, Jerry," Jack shared. "Your hands are shaking and I see you wincing every once in a while. If you want the pain to go away, you'll drink."

Jerry nodded. He tossed back the Dixie cup, rivulets of blood slipping past his mouth and down his chin. He gasped and leapt from his spot surging for the waste basket in the office. He dry heaved for a few seconds. Kim knelt beside him, rubbing soothing circles into his back. Jerry had to keep the blood down.

"Sh, I know," Kim said. "You must feel so repulsed right now, so confused and worried. You think you are monster."

Jack smiled, watching her ease the tension in the other's mind.

"You must think you are a monster and a beast, but you aren't."

Jerry pulled back from dry heaving, eyes moist. "I don't know why I'm still alive. They shouldn't have let me live. I shouldn't even want to live, but I do."

Jack narrowed his eyes at the 'they', but brushed his curiosity aside.

"You deserve life just as much as the next man, Jerry," Kim said, eyes soft. "You aren't a monster. It is okay to want to live, you hear me?"

Jerry nodded, wiping the back of his hand across his eyes. Jack got to the ground by Jerry and Kim. He gave the teen a pat on the back and then two more consecutive pats.

"We are here to help you," Jack remarked. "But only if you want help. We don't force anyone here. Or at least we try not to force anyone here."

Jerry chuckled. "I met some of them. They seem happy."

"They struggle just like you Jerry," Kim promised. "But they are transitioning in the healthiest way and that is what you should do too. This new life will seem less bleak if you embrace yourself as you are now."

Jerry arose from the floor. "I—I have to get home."

Jack nodded. He led Jerry toward the lobby, Kim following behind. The teen rubbed the back of his neck, eyes focused on the ground. The parallels between Brody and Jerry continued to astonish him. His hope was they weren't as alike as it seemed.

"Group meets at eight every day," Jack shared. "You're welcome to skip. Many of our regulars have other responsibilities, some have some closure they are seeking. We won't come hunting for you if you missed a day or four."

"But after a week," Kim said. "You better believe I'm coming out there and hauling you back."

"She is kidding," Jack promised.

Jerry opened the door, half way out, before he looked at them.

"We hope to see you tonight," Jack said.

Jerry didn't make any promises. Jack understood and allowed him to disappear out the door. When eight came around and Jerry entered the lobby with many others, he didn't admit to feeling overjoyed. Instead, he clapped Jerry on the back and handed him a cup.

"Welcome officially to Life after Death," Jack said.

XIXIIXIXIXIIXIXIXI

Hey Everyone! Here is a new update! Hope you enjoyed it! I have fun writing it!

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Until Next Chapter,

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