Here's Chapter 16 of Our Bloody Memories.
Summary, Rated, Warnings, Genres, Pairing and OC Profiles are in Chapter One if needed.
Disclaimer: StarlightAngel101, DOES NOT own Beyblade, and OCs that belong to any authors I mention along the chapters. StarlightAngel101 owns story plot, Jess (OC), and other OCs that belongs to me and mention along the chapters.
A legend to help out when reading….
"Hello" – Talking
Memories are to cherish forever. - Flashbacks
'Hello,' – Thinking, Announcements (on radio, PA, etc.)
"To be or Not To be," – Quotes (will appear at the beginning of chapters)
Any word that is in Italic – Empathize the word
God send me an angel, From the heavens above – Lyrics or a letter/note, e-mails, text messages, posters (Their BOLD AND ITALIC)
Chapter Sixteen: Truth Within
"The truth of him was to be keeping in the darkness, but now she knows."
Brooklyn was out on the rooftop of a building seeing the view of Tokyo at night.
He was relief that the competition was over, and can relax and breathe the air outside again. Along with this, he can be able to call Jess and go out with her.
With this thought, he brought out his cell phone; speed-dialing on the number Jess gave for him. He places the phone to his ear, as he heard the small and three second beep sound, indicating the phone was available at her side.
Beep…
…Beep…
…Be-
"Hello," a voice replied on the other side.
"Jess?" Brooklyn asked.
"Oh, hey Brooklyn," she said her voice a bit loud, "I see your back. How was it?"
"It was okay, nothing that was serious happened, and what about you?"
"Pretty the same as always, school, work, and hanging with my roommates and friends."
"I see, so what do you think if we can go out to unite again?"
"That's cool, is Friday night okay?"
"Sure what are you thinking?"
There was a short pause between the two, but Brooklyn had heard some pages flipping over, till "There's a movie that is in an action/romance theme. About a warrior prince in ancient times was in love with a female servant. What do you think?"
"It sounds interesting," Brooklyn answered, "What time and where should we meet?"
"The movie starts at around 10:20pm, so meet me at my place around 9:45?"
"Sounds like a plan, I'll see you Friday. Good night Jess."
"Good night Brooklyn."
When he heard her phone went off, he too turns his phone off placing it back into his jacket pocket.
'At least I have a chance to go out with her,' Brooklyn thought, 'I must be at her place at 9:45 on Friday, and for now I'll be hunting.'
Wednesday came, Thursday came, and finally Friday night.
After finishing his hunting for the night, he head to Jess's flat, to be in time for their date to the movies.
Arriving at the main doors of the apartment building, he went to the voice box to see a range of numbers and buttons for the corresponding number. Founding the number she was in room number 47, he press the button next to it for two seconds and pull back.
Waiting for a few seconds, he hears the speakers go on.
"Who is it?" Jess's voice appeared.
"It's Brooklyn," he replied.
"Okay, come in."
After she said that, a buzzing sound came from nowhere, but it was a signal for Brooklyn that it was okay to pull the doors opens, and that's what he did. He got in the apartment building, and head to the elevator.
He press the up arrow button, waiting till the elevator doors open, and after a minute or two, the doors open to see it empty and step in.
As he step in the elevator he press the number 5 meaning the fifth floor in which Jess and her roommates were at. Then he presses the button to make the doors of the elevator close, as they did automatically and felt the elevator moved up.
Half-way through the quiet ride, the elevator stops along a small ring at the third floor and when the doors open an elderly woman wearing a dark-blue outfit joined in, press the button needed for her destination. She waited standing in the opposite side of Brooklyn, as the doors closed once again, and moving up to the fifth floor.
It reached for the fifth floor, stopping and the same small ring came along with the doors sliding open as Brooklyn exit the elevator.
Brooklyn walk down the hallway of the fifth floor, as it was empty but you can still hear the noise of music, talking and arguments in some of the doors.
Reaching to door number 47, he gently knock on the door loud enough to be heard from the other side. Brooklyn took a step aside as he look at the empty hallway. It felt so quiet that you can hear some sound that is not known where it came from, even thought this apartment building was new around two years ago.
He then hears the sound of the door opening halfway, as he turn to face Jess. From her upper body, she wore a green top underneath a white low V-neck sweater that seemed to be baggy on the sleeves.
"Hi Brooklyn," Jess greeted him, "Come in, I just need to do a few things and we can be on our way."
"Thanks," Brooklyn replied stepping into the apartment that she lived in.
It was pretty big for an apartment as he thought it would be, as he looks at his surroundings.
The living room was in front of him, seeing at least one sofa and a matching chair. The couch had a crimson blanket folded and on the edge, along with tan cushions, one on each side. The single chair had a tan cushion as well. In front of the couches was a black mahogany coffee table, with two remote controllers, and magazines. In front of it was a flat screen television about 34 inches wide and was supported by a small table to support it. Below the TV was a DVD player, and next to the TV is a shelf-rack that had DVDs.
The floor was wood and polished, and a carpet was lying underneath the couches, coffee-table, and the television. There were six rooms, five of them with a door, he guess that one of the rooms without the door was the kitchen.
Jess look at Brooklyn's outfit for the night, a white jacket in navy blue trimming, yellow buttons that are put in place a belt hung loosely around his jacket and hanging. He wore white pants, a raspberry colour fingerless gloves and brown shoes.
"You can sit on the sofa if you want," Jess offered.
"Okay, thank you," he said as he sat down on it, and it was pretty comfy, he then see Jess left into one of the rooms thinking it must be her room. It was a while since Jess was in that room and a bit bored read some of the few magazines. Seeing every colour, word, pictures and titles of each magazine, and nothing was interesting to him.
"Jess."
"Yeah."
"Where are your roommates?"
"My roommates went out tonight attending a party."
"I see."
He checks the clock to see it was 9:52. He quickly got up and head to the door that Jess entered in; as he looks at the room she was in. It had a bed, furniture, and a balcony to see the city view. It felt welcoming. He notice Jess turning off the laptop that was on the desk, and she turn to get startled by him here in her room.
"I didn't notice you came in here," Jess said.
"Sorry about that, but we're going to be late to see the movie if we don't move along," Brooklyn said.
"Yes right," but Jess was nervous, not because of going out with him, but to ask him a question that she knew it would be easy and yet feel hard to say it to someone that you enjoy to be with.
Brooklyn was about to take one step out of her room when she said, "Brooklyn I have a question for you."
He stop at his spot, turning his head to see Jess, as he then notices she was wearing jeans with the tops she was wearing. But he didn't care about her clothes it was her expression. Signs of nervousness, hurt, and feeling betrayed.
"Something's wrong Jess."
"No, I just want to ask a question."
"Ask away."
Jess's eyes stare at the floor, thinking of how to ask him something about truthfulness. She felt to know the truth of his mysterious side and to show how she feels so close to and yet apart from him.
She then look up the then finally asked, "Brooklyn would you always tell the truth no matter what happens? Like if you had a secret that you fear and need to tell someone you care, love and protect, no matter how dark it is."
He turn his body to face her fully, astonished to here her asked that question. Even the last words she said, no matter how dark it is. His life was really dark for having a life of a vampire, drinking blood, waking during the night and sleeping in the day. Does she know about it?
'No, it can't be,' thought Brooklyn, 'If she were to know then she would of accused me sooner or won't see or talk to me again.'
"Jess," he began, he was walk toward her to gaze her eyes as he place his hands on the side of her arms. He notices that Jess's eyes gaze at him too waiting for his answer.
"I would tell you the truth no matter how dark it is. Even if I had a secret like that, I would tell you, only when the time is right. I feel that when there are secrets I want to tell, I do it when its' right to do so and whenever the person is ready to hear and react to it."
Wrapping his arms around her, he gave her a firm hug that didn't crush her, but showing he cares.
"Jess, I promise that if I had a secret, I would make sure you and I are ready to deal with it."
Those words that Brooklyn spoke to Jess, felt so real and understanding what he says. This feeling she has now was something that she was expecting relief and happy.
Placing on hand on his clothed chest, she rested her head next to her hand, wanting for Brooklyn to know how she felt close to him. Closing her eyes she smiles of this closeness between her and Brooklyn.
They both stood on that spot, in the same position for a while now…
The room, quiet, calm, something neither of them want to break.
A while later, Jess open her eyes, thinking of wanting to see her and Brooklyn in this embrace, she face her head to one side of the her bed that a body-length mirror was in place on the wall, that she purchase a while back.
Her crystal-blue eyes, that were calm, change dramatically…
Her eyes were in shock and fear.
Using both of her hands she quickly places them on his chest to push him away from her forcefully as she screeched in a pitch tone. She took a step back as Brooklyn did the same. Brooklyn was shock that she push him away from her, when the first minute they felt close and relax and the next minute this was happen.
"Jess, what's wrong?" he asked.
Jess didn't respond to him, as was scare, hoping this was a dream. She gazes back at the mirror and then him a few times to know this was real.
Brooklyn noting that Jess was looking at a direction a few times, he took a look at where she was looking at, to understand and something he didn't expect to see.
His ocean eyes glimpses at the mirror, where he saw one part of her room, her and what then made him realize that he didn't have a reflection. He only saw Jess's since she wasn't what he is.
He looks at her, trying to get closer to her, "Jess, please I can explain."
"Get away from me!" she yelled in fear.
"Jess," he said in a calm voice, "I know this is scary, but please I never mention about it because I want to protect you."
He tries to get closer to her, but Jess manages to pass by him and before she left her room she turn to face him and said these words.
"Who or what are you, Brooklyn?! I feel that I don't even know you, and you have been so close to me."
Her eyes began to water shedding some tears to express her feelings. To express how she doesn't know who Brooklyn is to her, feeling betrayed.
She shook her head quickly before she ran off.
"Jess! Wait!" Brooklyn yelled, hoping to stop Jess.
He ran out of her room, but he was too late as he heard the front door slammed, indicating she left the apartment.
'What have I done?' Brooklyn thought this question.
He felt ashamed of himself for what he did. He expresses her in a way that no matter how dark his secret is he'll tell her or he'll be ready to face the reaction when the time is right. To then knowing he couldn't be human since he doesn't have a reflection. Jess learning through the hard way of knowing he's not human but inhuman.
Without thinking he head back to her room, but this time to the balcony, opening its doors to enter in it to gaze down at the streets.
The night's cool air blew his hair, as he scans the streets to find her, and he did. She got out of the building and ran across the other side, which the streets were empty of cars moving pass by, and a few were only parked. Later, she vanished somewhere on the other side.
His head hung low meeting his arms that were cross and on the railing of the balcony. He felt the pain in him emotionally and mentally that this was his fault. That if he never had a chance to see Jess in the first place then she would be safe and happy along with those around her, like her friends, classmates, and her roommates. However, after he met her and dated her, he felt he was lifted from the clouds of boredom and depression of his vampire life, and brought him that there was hope to feel like a human to others. Ever since he felt the closeness of her before this all happened, he felt that they would be together.
These thoughts were broken from him as his ears perked to the sound of a cry, a voice screaming for help.
'That voice,' Brooklyn thought, 'its sound like…Jess!'
His head shots up, his eyes worried of what may soon happen to Jess's fate.
Without hesitation, and not caring what was soon to happen, Brooklyn jumped over the railing of the balcony, falling straight down to the ground. He meant to do that as he was prepared to land and then run to find her. The air was moving against him as he was closer to the ground.
His feet made it on the ground as he bend to his knees, and sprint away using the inhuman speed given as a gift to being curse as a vampire. The things around him were a blur and no one ever realize his passing by so fast, but his thoughts were on Jess, hoping he doesn't come too late.
Jess was trapped…
She was in a dark alley that not only had a dead end, but she couldn't escape, because her way to escape was blocked by a group of five to eleven men, ranging from seventeen to early twenties.
Some of them had whistle at her, cat-calls and hooted her like she was something they have never seen in their lives.
In fear, Jess backed up, till she was against the rough brick walls, trapped for good, giving them an advantage.
"Well, well, well," one of the men said, as he steps out of the group, looking like he's the leader of the gangs or thugs, "Looks like we got a beauty trapped and out of hope."
Some of the men agreed, and Jess felt disgusted. She tries to push herself against the wall to stay away from them or for them to get closer to her.
"But no matter how beautiful she is, we'll have our fun with her. And we can do it the easy way or…" the leader lift from his pocket a pocket knife; sharp and in search to dig into one's flesh to release the blood, the life of the unfortunate soul, as he finished, "the hard way. But no matter what she'll be like the other girls and women dead."
The whole gang then moved towards Jess getting closer to have their fun, as Jess was closer to her death.
'Someone please save me,' she thought, in need of someone to save her from her fate.
Then as if on cue, or someone had listen to Jess's plea of help, there was a growl, groan, and cry in pain as the leader and the rest of the thug gang turn to see three of their crew beaten up. After a few seconds, the three men who were beaten up like a pulp were thrown against the side of the alley walls and tumble into a pile, groaning in pain.
Then in a flash, someone was in front of Jess, as she notices who this person is… Orange-red hair, and white jacket, it was Brooklyn. Yet, it came to Jess's thought of how did he stand in front of her now that if a second ago he was from the other side of the thug gang. Was this another thing Brooklyn didn't mention to her about, but it wasn't a good time to say that to him since herself and him are now surrounded by eight members.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" yelled the leader.
"Someone who's giving you options," Brooklyn replied, "Option A; leave the girl alone and never place your eyes on her again. Option B; you leave here the hard way."
Some of them laugh at the words Brooklyn said to them; thinking it was a joke, but Brooklyn's face was serious, tense.
"We'll take option B," the leader said.
Without warning the leader was knocked out by Brooklyn punching him so hard that he flew and hit the ground, groaning in pain but was stable condition.
"You could have gone with option A," Brooklyn said.
"GET HIM!" the leader yelled, as his crew obeyed like robots and one guy came to attack Brooklyn first.
The guy flings his curled fist at Brooklyn a few times at him, but each time Brooklyn moved swiftly, missing his punches. Getting tired of this child play in Brooklyn's view, he knocked him out like the leader and the other three members, sending him to the walls and in pain.
Next, a group four members went to attack Brooklyn, thinking they have the higher advantage to fight, and boy they were wrong. One by one each of the members were beaten up by him with strength, skills, and agility that they never seen or ever thought of. Each of them landed on the ground in pain, as for the rest they were in fear of facing someone who had the guts to hit their leader and knocked out a group of guys who outnumbered him.
Jess who stood seeing this was amazed, thinking how Brooklyn did that. Yet, she was scare because she never saw this side of him. This mysterious side that made him looks like a warrior fighting alone with no need of help. His inhuman side…
The leader manages to get up, angry by the fact that his gang is getting beaten up by this person who simply gave them options, and the one to knock him out in a flash. Not caring the possible outcome of this fight, he prepared his pocket knife, ready to attack him with a weapon and charge at him.
The leader flings the weapon at Brooklyn trying to get him pierce by the weapon. But Brooklyn didn't do much and yet the leader misses each fling he inflict on him.
It was about ten seconds later that Jess notices Brooklyn back against the wall, needless of doing this accidentally, causing the leader to strike the knife at Brooklyn's face. Instead it crash into the brick wall, and the knife was close to one of Brooklyn's cheek, but a red line appear on it, then it trail of a thin red ribbon down his cheek.
The leader see thing felt satisfy, that he was able to cause some damage on him. That he took a step back and said, "Well it looks likes you aren't untouchable as I see."
Brooklyn didn't pay attention to his comment, for he rubs his hand on his cheek to wipe the blood away from the cut and by the time he fully wiped it off, there wasn't a red line appearing on his cheek at all, or a scar to show he was hurt.
The leader was freaked and Jess was gasp terrified, the rest of the gang didn't understand since they weren't at the side were Brooklyn got cut. The leader drops his knife of the cold ground of the alley, taking a step back his breath wavered in terror.
"What kind of freak of nature are you?!" he asked yelling at Brooklyn.
Without any warning the leader then felt something pierce his flesh in his chest, gasping in pain as he looks what has happened to him.
A dagger, was pierce into his chest fully, and a hand held on the dagger. He then looks into a pair of ocean eyes, feeling cold as he was going into death and seeing those eyes.
Few seconds had past as Brooklyn withdrew the dagger from him, leaving a line-shape hole in his shirt and chest. Then Brooklyn pushes the leader to the side crashing into the ground in front of his members.
The members scared that their leader was soon to die but mostly of themselves if they were to face him again. Making the final choice they grab their dead leader, and flee out of the alley way and into the night.
Brooklyn and Jess stare at the empty space where the gang members once stood, Jess who was down with her knees bending, stand up slowly, scared what she witnessed tonight. And what was worse is standing in front her was the guy that she dated, who didn't have a reflection and fought a gang member on his own along of killing one of them.
She couldn't decide what to do, run or wait to see what may happen to her. One side of her wanted to thank Brooklyn for saving her life, but the other side wanted to stay away from Brooklyn because he wasn't normal.
Brooklyn then gaze his eyes on Jess, his eyes showing worried, concern about her safety, and wanting to know everything for what he did back there. He walks toward her slowly, as he place the dagger caked in blood away, trying to tell her in his body language that he doesn't want to harm her. She didn't move at her place but was scared, and couldn't decide what to do.
"Are you okay Jess?" was all he asked, his voice worry like if there was something wrong with her.
She couldn't respond anything at all to him to tell her she's fine or wanted to know more about him. These emotions of fear, and curiosity took her, as her vision became black and the last thing she saw was Brooklyn catching her as she falls down.
Crystal-blue eyes flutter open, but her vision was blurred, but she notices it was bright.
'Was I outside when I was close to being attack and then be alone with Brooklyn after he got rid of them?' Jess thought, 'Was this all a dream, well a nightmare I'm waking up?'
"You finally woken up, what a relief," said a familiar male voice.
Jess moved her head to the owner of the voice, but still blurred of her vision she only saw orange-red hair and a faceless face. She close her eyes for a few seconds before opening them up, and notice that her vision was getting clear.
The next thing she knew as her vision was back is that she was inside, in her apartment. No longer outside in the night. She then got a chance to see who the person is the faceless face now had a mouth, a nose and eyes. His mouth was in a warm smile, and his bluish-green eyes sparkle like a pool in a community center.
Her eyes that were in focus became fear as then she knew it wasn't a dream after all.
Hurrying to stand up, Brooklyn smile was wiped away as he holds her by the shoulders keeping her into place.
"Let me go!" she yelled, struggling to be free, but his arms was in place, with Jess thinking where did this strength come from.
"Jess relaxes," Brooklyn said, his voice trying to sooth and calm her down, "Please! Forgive me for what I'm about to tell you, and it something I have been keeping from you since the day I first met you."
Although she stops squirming, Jess's eyes didn't look at him for one second. After a moment, Brooklyn releases his hands off her shoulders, and turns his head away so he too wasn't facing her. His emotion was pain and sorrow for getting Jess in this situation and to face her reaction of the truth.
"You deserve to know who or what I am, for all you have been through this night," Brooklyn said.
He took a deep breath before he tells her the secret he kept and is now going to change his and her life.
"I am not alive, nor dead. I am the damned, the one who hunts in the night to drink the life source of human blood. My life is blessed and cursed for I am what people call leeches, bloodsuckers…I'm a vampire."
'He's a vampire?!' Jess thought.
Her eyes were surprise of this, but it was all true to her. Everything has too made connections that he was a vampire. Only coming at night, refusing to eat, and the fact vampires don't have a reflection.
Her eyes then face Brooklyn, but her mouth was slightly open to see Brooklyn's face in pain and sorrow.
"Jess I'm sorry to put you through this, but I want to protect you and myself from this. I shouldn't deserve someone such as you…"
His hands ball into fists resting on his knees, for he was sitting on the couch next to Jess.
"I'm a monster."
His head bent down casting a shadow to cover his eyes.
Jess was too sad, but only because how Brooklyn call him a monster. She felt to be the blame of asking him what he is simply. Wanting to express that he isn't one, Jess moved to a position where she was to her knees but still on the couch facing Brooklyn's side.
Her warm hand touched his cool hand, for this was a fact that a vampire's skin were to be cold one arise from the dead. Gripping it softly, Brooklyn felt this but didn't made a move, which then with her other hand she place it on his cold pale cheek and moving his head to see her face.
"No monster, even if he drinks blood have a heart of pure gold," she said her voice calm. Her hand that was on his cheek went to brush a few strands of his hair saying, "But you Brooklyn aren't one. Although you killed people to live, you haven't killed me for I am here."
His eyes were shock of her words, telling him he isn't what he calls himself to be.
"Jess," he wavered, as tears began to form and shed. Something he hasn't done for too long in his vampire years. It was then he hugged her tightly, but not too much to make her not breathe, and sober.
He was crying…
Jess too was sad, but no tears shed in her eyes because Brooklyn's sadness had an affect on her. Jess wrap her arms around him returning the hug, and eventually smoothly rub his back to comfort him. The embrace they shared right now felt the same thing she felt a while ago before she look at the mirror that have started to break the wall of silence upon his secret.
"Jess, I'm sorry," Brooklyn pleaded, "I am very, very sorry for you to be scared and to know I wasn't human."
"Brooklyn, its okay," Jess said, "I forgive you to keep you vampire life a secret, but I am too sorry for freaking out and making you feel like a monster."
Both of them stay in their embrace feeling relaxed to have each other being as close as before. Brooklyn got himself to stop crying for which he needed that, but there was something he had to do right now.
Leaning close, his mouth was a few centimeters from Jess's ear his whispered, "Jess."
"Yes Brooklyn."
"Since I told you that I am a vampire, there will be some people who will cause you to be in danger. What I'm saying is that will you promise not to tell anybody, no matter what happens who I am?"
Understanding, she then replied, "I promise."
Awww… I want to cry at that part cries waterfalls. I'm glad that not only I finish but this is the longest chapter I have ever typed.
Thank you for reading and hope you can review!
StarlightAngel101
PS – Stay tuned for the next chapter of Our Bloody Memories.