Chapter 4: The Culprit

Trey

Oh, Kylie, how could someone do this to you...?

I sat next to her bed, worrying. Her chest was barely moving, and she was really pale.

"Hey, Blue Boy. Can I ask you something?"

I looked up, and a girl with violet eyes and a hairband looked at me. She looked curious. Then, I noticed there were two short fangs sticking out of her mouth.

A vampire.

"Um, what are the things you need to ask me?" I asked.

"First of all, what's your name? I'm Scarlet, Ky's vampire friend." the girl, now identified as Scarlet said.

"I'm Trey." I said.

"Second of all, how do you know Ky?" the vampire girl asked.

"She was in my trail-group, and my cabin." I answered.

"Hm... I see. Last question. I'm sorry if this question is personal to you, but I'm going to ask this anyway. Do you...like Ky? You know, like, like-like?" Scarlet asked.

Suddenly, in the corner of my eye, a vampire boy perked up. Wait, does HE like Ky?

Oh in the name of the Dragon Race... I looked at Kylie. To be honest... I do like-like her, but will she like me back if I confessed?

Instead of saying the truth, I simply replied to her question, saying, "No. She's just someone I met just a few days ago."

Scarlet nodded, and said, "Alright."

As soon as we got to the hospital, I followed my friend's doctors. Then, they went to the emergency room. As Ky disappeared into the room, I watched, hopeless. I sat in one of the chairs near the emergency room, staring at the floor, and racking my brain on what to say to Kylie when she's done with her surgery.

"Hey, are you okay?" I heard a male voice.

I looked up from the floor, startled by the voice. A boy with really pale skin and red eyes smiled at me. Not the evil-ha-ha-ha smile, the kind, caring smile.

"I'm Ray, Scarlet and her twin's big brother. You're Trey, right?"

I nodded. "Yes."

Then, I said, "Hm... we gotta track down that person who shot Ky."

Ray's face turned grim. "I agree. Hold on for one moment."

He snapped, and 3 hologram photos appeared.

"I had caught these photos when the culprit attacked." Ray explained.

I saw one photo of the attacker. He wore nothing but black. His eyes were a dark, almost-black purple. His spiky hair was black, like his robes.

Now I know what the attacker looks like...

Kylie's Attacker

"So, did you get Scarlet?" My boss asked.

I reported, "There was a problem."

My boss grunted, "Do tell."

I told him, "I aimed for Scarlet, but a dragon girl blocked my way, and the arrow struck her instead."

"Hmm..." My boss rubbed his chin. "Actually, once all of Scarlet's comrades are destroyed, strike. Bloodfang, you must not fail on this."

"Yes, sir. " I bowed, and left.

Ray

Finally! The doctor came out.

"Doctor, how's Kylie?" I blurted out.

He said, "The surgery was a success."

Trey and I high-fived.

"But! There was a problem." the doctor said.

I asked, "Huh? W-what's the problem?"

The doctor replied, 'The arrow that injured her was coated in a very dangerous poison. If Ms. Nova were a mortal, it would take her 2 months to recover. But since she's a dragon, it will take her only a few more months."

"WHAT?!" Trey and I shouted in unison.

"You can visit her tomorrow if you wish."

The doctor left us to our misery.

Suddenly, Scarlet and Starlight rushed to us.

"Ray, did the doctor come out yet?" Scarlet asked.

I nodded. "He told me it's going to take Ky more than two months to recover, because the arrow that struck her was covered in really powerful poison."

Starlight shouted, "WHAT?!"

"Oh, yeah. I also found what the culprit looks like." I reported.

Scarlet spun around, and said, "Ray! Quick, what did he look like?

I described what he looked like to her.

"If I find him at our school, I'll kick his sorry butt!" Scarlet raged.

"I agree. We're going to take him down by force." Starlight nodded.

"Yeah. We have to." Trey and I agreed.

"Well, I'm awfully tired, so let's sleep here." I suggested.

We all nodded and agreed to the idea, and curled up in the chairs to sleep. It was uncomfortable, but it was better than the floor.

The next morning, I woke up in a curled position at the hospital. I looked around, and I found Trey, Scarlet, and Starlight sprawled out across their chairs.

I crept around the place, wondering where Ky was sleeping. Once I found it, I memorized the room number, 513.

I slowly opened the door.

There she was, her eyes closed, as if she was only sleeping, and not majorly injured.

I sat down next to her bed, and examined her. Ky had bandages wrapped around her back and her stomach. Her mouth was enveloped in an oxygen mask.

"Ky, you won't be able to hear me, but I found what the culprit looks like." I whispered.

Her eyes remained closed. My answer was her heart monitor, beeping.

"Once you get better, we'll all track him down." I looked at her for a brief moment, and then, I left the room.

When I got to where the others were sleeping, I turned into a bat, grasped the ceiling with my legs, and hung upside-down, watching the others stir in their sleep.

"I know how you guys feel." I thought.

I closed my eyes, but I heard someone yawn.

I opened my eyes, and Trey was awake.

"BAT! B-bat!" he yelled.

"Shh! It's me, Ray." I told him.

"Oh, okay. Phew!" he sighed. "So, did you visit Ky yet? How is she?"

I replied, "Yes, I did. She's fine."

"*Yawn*... Oh, hi Trey and Ray." Scarlet yawned, and was awake.

"Hi." I said.

"How's Kylie?" She asked.

"I visited her, and she's fine."

You know, judging by all these questions about the next Protector of Dragons, my sisters and friend were really, REALLY concerned.

Suddenly, Trey said, "I'm going to go visit Ky now. Wait, what room is she in?" I answered, "513."

Scarlet nodded. "Take your time."

Trey walked away from us, leaving me hanging upside down, Starlight sleeping, and Scarlet thinking.

"Um... so what do we do now?" I asked.

"I dunno, but I wanna read." Scarlet replied.

I sighed.

"Oh, yeah. Wanna tell me that you like Kylie?" Scarlet asked.

I blushed. "Stop it, Scar! Seriously! I'm tellin' ya! We are friends!"

Which, by the way, was a lie. I treated Kylie like we were more than friends.

Scarlet laughed. "Okay, I'm just kidding."

I turned back into my human form, and fell onto the floor face-first.

"Owwwwwwwwwww..." I groaned.

When I did that, Trey's voice said, "Yowch. But anyway, I have some really good news."

I quickly got up and said, "What is it?"

"Kylie's awake."

WHAT?!

"Oh my..." Starlight yawned.

I ran from the group, and into 513.

I opened the door. "Ky?"

The girl was sitting up in her bed, her dark blue hair down. Her blue eyes looked happy.

"Ray...?" she mumbled.

I nodded. I was too stunned to speak.

"I heard it's going to take more than 2 months for me to recover."

"I...I'm so happy you're awake." I said.

"Me too." Ky nodded.

"I...I found the culprit." I stammered.

Ky's attacker

Argh!

That vampire boy found out what I looked like!

"Dang..." I muttered.

One thing for sure, is that I have to take him down. That dragon girl survived, even though that arrow was covered in a lot of poison.

"I shall hunt you down..." I muttered.