Life after Death
Ten.
Jack's arms wrapped around Kim's torso as she watched the swaying branches outside. She sighed. A week had passed since the tragedy. She still couldn't wrap her head around what happened. There had been so much destruction that day.
"It is so sad, Jack," she stated, turning to face him. "It is just so sad."
Kim caressed the side of Jack's cheek, eyes soft. She looked over his shoulder at the opened door. A few individuals strolled past on their way to bed. Kim checked off a mental list in her head as each face registered in her mind. They've lost so many. She bit her lip, heart heavy.
Many were afraid after the attack and didn't trust Life after Death. A few individuals left in groups, hoping to make it on their own. She frowned. She wished they would change their mind and stay. She begged them not to leave, but they were adamant about their decision.
"We'll get through this," Jack promised.
"Where is Jerry, Jack?"
Jack tensed and Kim sighed. One other thing manifested after the attack. Jack's suspicions about Jerry increased tenfold. The name of the male never failed to send Jack into a mood. Jack pulled away from her.
"You know I don't know where he is, Kim," Jack responded, eyes on a spot behind her head.
"Jack you are being ridiculous," she commented. "I'm not saying you are a liar. Or that you didn't hear what you heard, but I can't believe that Jerry –"
"You don't believe he is a slayer?" Jack questioned, brows raised "Kim, a slayer called him the best. Slayers don't dish out compliments for just anyone, especially not a vampire."
Kim shook her head.
"Kim, it would explain his behavior in the beginning," Jack pointed out.
"You mean when he was scared, frazzled, confused?" she questioned, eyes focused on him. "You mean the normal behavior after a human is turned? The transition actually causes most of that."
"No, not just that," Jack stated, pacing. "I mean the things he said sometimes. It never made sense. It never made sense to hear it from a vampire."
"Most of the things he said never made sense. He isn't the only one who speaks nonsense Jack. Even you do that sometimes."
Jack flushed. "I do not."
Kim chuckled, taking a seat across from the desk. She admitted that she was weary of Jerry after his disappearance. Jack's constant theories led her to almost believe his suspicions. The idea of a 'vampire' slayer didn't sit well with her. She couldn't imagine slayers inviting vampires with open arms. In fact, slayers hated vampires. She did often toy with the idea of Jerry being a slayer, but the idea that he knowingly led the raid didn't seem right to assume.
"I'm just saying a stake showed up in our building, Kim," he remarked. "I'm not saying he wasn't a vampire when he arrived that first day. Of course he was a vampire. I'm just –I just think he wasn't telling us everything. He is the only one whose back story we don't know."
Kim shook her head. "You know that isn't true. Look, the stake showed up days after Jerry's arrival. If it showed up a day after I would be concerned, but I'm not."
Jack didn't respond.
"I think we should go find Jerry and bring him back."
"Kim, you know we don't have time for that!" Jack spat. "We are still trying to get things back to normal over on our side. We can't go frolicking around out there. I mean – think about it. Two slayers knew him by name. One called him an excellent slayer."
"We don't have time?" Kim eyed him. "Do you hear yourself? Jack we are a part of support. We always have time for a vampire in need. There is a long list of missing that we are combing through. How could you take Jerry off that list?"
Jack froze.
"You think I didn't notice what you've said to the others?" Kim questioned. "You told them not to look for him. That isn't fair, Jack. He has only been a vampire for a month. He was having a hard time before the attack. He is vulnerable right now. I can't believe you don't want to find him. Don't be a jerk."
Kim arose, heading toward the door, but Jack caught her wrist. She eyed the hand, lips curled into a snarl. "What are you doing, Jack? Are you grabbing me now?"
"Kim, we have to think about this. Rudy –he wasn't keen on the idea, but I think we have to focus on our people here first and when we are done. We'll go looking for Jerry."
"You want us to put him at the bottom of our 'to-do list?" she asked, ripping her wrist from his hand. "How could you say that?"
"Kim."
"For the record, Jackson," Kim glared. "Jerry is our people. He became our people when he turned. Excuse me, I'm going to have a talk with Sam. He has been worried about Jerry."
"Kim."
Kim slammed the door behind her. She slumped against the outside of the door. This wasn't like Jack. Jack never turned a vampire in need away. Jack had his moments of skepticism, but he had never reached such a low before. She ran her fingers through her hair.
There were evil intentioned vampires out there. Of course they weren't naïve. They were always on their toes when it came to rogue vampires, but for the rest of the vampires they never turned a single one away. She bit her lip. Jack wanted to break their code, the code the support group adopted fifteen years ago.
Her Jack would never do such a thing, but it seemed they didn't know each other as well anymore. She straightened her cotton tee and headed down the hall. She waved to vampires as she passed. She wouldn't allow Jack's new found paranoia to drag them down. Several feet away, Jack called out to her. She didn't turn back.
"You and Jack have been fighting a lot more," Taylor said.
Kim looked up from her meal and looked at Taylor. Taylor's eyes were red from crying, but there was a sense of strength lingering there. Kim held her hand. Taylor smiled and sighed. Since Taylor stumbled into support she had been a lighthearted presence in their lives. She was an excellent new member of staff.
"We are only fighting because Jack is trying to ostracize a fellow vampire," she remarked, pointing her fork. "Look, I understand he is suspicious. Heck, I was suspicious too, but I just can't sit here and believe Jerry meant us any harm. He was a typical human having a terrible time transitioning into vampire life."
Taylor nodded.
"I just don't like the idea that Jack is forgetting the code of Vampire Support," she commented. "I don't know this Jack, Taylor. The Jack I knew used to invite vampires without question. I'm not saying be naive about things. I know not everything is as it seems, but I know for a fact that no one should be forgotten because of it."
"I agree," Taylor replied.
"Centuries ago, my life fell apart. I wanted to be angry. I was angry and I wanted others to suffer. I lived my vampire life the wrong way, but I grew tired and decided to choose a different path. For Jack, it took him a little longer. I saw him at his worst. But this Jack that I am seeing now worries me."
Taylor frowned, resting her eyes on her forgotten meal. Kim noticed her gaze. She knew how horrific it must have been to see Al. She wrapped an arm around Taylor's shoulders, pulling her closer. Tears trailed down Taylor's cheeks. Kim looked up, tears in her own eyes. Everyone was still hurting. Healing took time. She knew healing took time.
"It is going to be okay, Taylor, everything," Kim shared. "Jack and I will be fine and we'll find Jerry and the others. We'll rebuild and be even stronger than ever."
Kim was determined to set things back on the normal path. She was certain they would be back to normal. Taylor's quiet sobs drifted around them, but Kim was still optimistic.
"I don't care what Jack said, Elliot."
Elliot raised a single brow as he analyzed the clipboard in his hands. Kim wanted to pull her hair out. She didn't know how he did it. Jack convinced their staff that leaving a member behind was the right thing to do.
"It is like no one remembers the code, what we believe and stand by," Kim pointed out, wanting to jab Elliot in the chest with her finger. "Add Jerry Martinez to the list, Elliot. I'm serious. It has been a week and we haven't seen him. I know you are searching for a lot of individuals for us, and thanks, but please just – Don't make Jack's misguided mistake."
Elliot ran fingers through his sandy brown locks. He shoved his clipboard underneath his right armpit and groaned. Kim opened her mouth to add a few more words of persuasion, but Elliot shook his head. He raised a hand. Her eyes widened, her voice growing quiet.
"Jack told me his suspicions and I can't say anything he said make Jerry look good," Elliot remarked. "We had a big hit Kim. We can't act like everything is going to go back to normal."
"But it has too," Kim said. "We are support. We are supposed to support not leave vampires behind."
"We aren't leaving vampires, just one," Elliot reminded. "If you excuse me, I have to meet up with my team. Sorry, we'll catch up later."
"Catch up?" she questioned, brows furrowed. "Elliot!"
She rubbed her temples with her fingers. Elliot was impossible. She noticed the stares from the other vampires in the hall and gave them an assuring smile. They waved in return and continued on their way. Kim frowned. She couldn't believe how skeptical and paranoid her fellow vampires were acting. She headed toward Taylor's office. Her eyes widened at the sight of a new male sitting beside her in the office. Days ago, Taylor had rejected any offer of help.
"Hey, Taylor, Michael."
Michael turned his attention from the monitors and grinned. She smiled. Michael had been at support less than a month. He had expressed his interest in becoming a staff member, but Rudy suggested the older vampire try out group for a few more weeks. The elder vampire insisted he was transitioning well and wanted to give back.
"The screens are clear, Ms. Crawford," he pointed a pen at the monitors. "It is looking nice out there. Good weather."
Taylor rolled her eyes and Kim laughed.
"Yep, clean screens—hold on," he called out, shooting up.
Kim's heart stilled, turning her gaze to the screens. Slayers wouldn't hit a location twice. No, they had destroyed a fairly large part of their organization. They accomplished what they thought they wanted to accomplish. Although horrible things happened, in Kim's eyes they failed. Life after Death was still standing. She analyzed the screens.
"You both, stay put," she commented, watching Michael rise. "I mean it, you too Michael."
Michael hesitated before he took a seat. Taylor gave her a look, eyes wide. She grasped Taylor's shoulders. The teen's body shook as she stood, grabbing onto Kim's wrists. She begged her to stay, but Kim declined.
"I'll be fine, Taylor," she promised. "In fact, if I run into Jack, then we'll check it out together."
Taylor insisted she stay, but Kim hushed her gently and moved away. She took a deep breath and headed into the hall. It seemed luck was on her side, luck or misfortune. Jack Brewer spotted her from down the hall and sped up to her before she headed out the door.
"Hey, Kim, we should talk," Jack shared. "I feel we have been –"
"Quiet, Jack."
"Okay, direct and blunt, nothing I'm not familiar with."
"No, I mean I think we have some company."
Jack narrowed his eyes.
"No, not the slayers."
Jack clenched his fists, eyes on her. "That is even worse."
Jack pushed the door open, entering the pristine lobby. Kim remembered the time where the lobby was in disarray. The couch cushions overturned and pillows torn to shreds. She bit her lip, trying to push the memory from her head. She arrived just before the entrance, opening the door. She growled at the presence of Kai at the door.
"What no, Carson?" Jack questioned.
Kim knew Jack wanted to throw Kai out. She was glad he didn't. Their support had seen enough violence. Kai didn't seem to be interested in a fight. She watched him inspect the lobby, lifting items and putting them back. She clicked her tongue at his nosey behavior.
"Carson would have tagged along, but there are so many new support members we are taking on all of a sudden," he shared.
"Since when did you call those beasts you hang with, members," Jack spat. "You never cared about anyone, but yourself."
Kai shrugged. "True. We aren't a team, we just happened upon each other. But I'm shocked that you all are still standing. I heard about the terrible tragedy. How many dead?"
Jack snarled, stepping forward. Kim curled her arm around his waist. He paused, eyeing her contact. They hadn't been on the best of terms with each other, but it didn't mean she didn't care about him anymore. He should know better than to think that. Kai looked between the both of them and snorted.
"You know, I don't know why you all are surprised," he shared. "There are over a hundred vampires in one location. This is a treasure trove for those mindless slayers. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't attack twice. I can understand why some of your vampires gravitated toward a more stable life style."
"Stable? If you are talking about your band of blood thirsty trouble makers," Kim began. "I'm going to laugh."
"Laugh then," Kai remarked, lips curled up. "I mean it. Go ahead and laugh. But I'm serious, if you are missing any they aren't far at all. And for the record any vampire is blood thirsty. We all thirst for blood. Well, I better get going so many new faces to teach and mold."
"Kai, don't you dare," Jack shouted. "They are just lost. You leave them alone. They'll come back here and we'll guide them like we've always done."
Kai shook his head. "Jack, Kim, I pity you both really. Vampires don't need support. What they need is to be vampires. This little hand holding club you got here, is the opposite of vampire. No wonder you all were attacked. You are weak. The weak deserve it. It'll teach them not to follow both your trash advice."
"Only trash here, is you Kai."
Kai paused, looking over his shoulder. "Maybe, maybe not, but I haven't been staked yet."
Jack shook his head. "They'll drift back to us, Kai. They'll realize that you could care less about them. I'm certain they'll know something is wrong when you leave them to die."
Kai shrugged. "Not my fault if they can't keep up. You join me then you have to keep up the pace. Have a nice day, cousin. We should meet real soon. Maybe I'll drop by Acheron's."
Jack stiffened. Throughout the entire ordeal he had visited the older vampire a couple of times. News traveled fast in the vampire community. Word of the attack drifted to the elder vampire. Acheron could care less about the tragedy. He was embarrassed by the outcome more than saddened. If Jack could sever ties with the old man, then he would. But Acheron gave his word. None of the angered vampires could lay a finger on their support group. Ask for the slayers, he had no power over that.
Kai exited, waving them away with a limp hand gesture. Kim bit her lip, fidgeting as Jack closed the door. She rocked back and forth on her heels. She didn't want to believe Kai's words. She didn't want to remember the sneer on his face, but it floated around her head. She feared for those young and lost.
"Do you believe him?" Kim asked. "Do you believe some of the missing on our list are with him? The rogues?"
Jack sighed, banging his head against the door. "Yes, because if they don't feel safe here I can imagine their priority would be searching for an alternative."
"When you join Kai it is every vampire for himself," Kim said. "Kai doesn't support any of the vampires he recruits. He just teaches them how to wreak havoc, cause chaos, and confusion. If even one gets staked, he doesn't care. You heard what he said about the weak. They deserve it."
Jack sighed. "Elliot and the other search parties have brought many home again. They were terribly off, and needed to be rehabilitated, but they found them. I believe they'll find more."
"They have to," Kim stated. "Jack, we have to find them all."
Jack sighed, embracing her. "I'm sorry."
She looked to the frown on Jack's lips. She sighed.
"I'm sorry I'm suspicious and paranoid," he stated, shoulders slumping. "But I just can't bring myself to let Jerry back within our walls. He was basically going off to who knows where on his own anyway."
Kim sighed. "We leave no one behind, Jack. No one."
And for a while they stood in the middle of the lobby, holding each other. They ignored the chatter drifting from the cafeteria and the office rooms down the hall. When they pulled away, they retreated behind the door and began to get ready for another night of group. The search party will bring their own home. It was up to them to guide the vampires that remained.
Hey Everyone! Here is another chapter! Hope you enjoyed.
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