"Laddie didn't do anything!" Star insisted, slamming her fist onto the table.

"I know, but I don't think David cares," I sighed, repositioning in my seat. "He'll hurt Laddie to get to you."

"When?" Star asked.

I shook my head. "I don't know but if he took the others last night he may be at the door by the time the sun sets. He doesn't have much patience when he wants something."

Star ran a hand through her hair as she got up from the table. She began pacing back and forth as worry grew on her face. This was bad and she knew it. But she also knew we didn't have the manpower to win. We were sitting ducks waiting for slaughter.

"I have to get Laddie out of town. I have to get him somewhere safe," Star said to herself.

"And how do you plan to do that?" I asked. "He has nowhere to go and won't want to be left alone. He'll want to be wherever you are, which means you both have to get out of town."

"I can't just leave you like this," Star said, motioning to my weak state.

"I'll figure something out, but I can't do that if you're in harm's way. They already have the others, I can't let David get you too. You need to get out and don't tell me where you're going. If they torture me, I don't want to give you away."

Star began to cry, shaking her head frantically. "Don't say that. You've been through enough this last year and I will not stand for more being piled on. You don't deserve that."

"Thanks, Star," I said, tears coming to my eyes. "But my life is worth less than yours. You need to care for Laddie. You deserve to grow old and have the life you've always dreamed of. I won't let that be snuffed out before you truly got to live."

Star was hesitant. She didn't want to abandon me to the wolves but knew what I said was true. She had not just herself but Laddie to think about. She would not let him get hurt again; never again.

Star nodded to herself, mumbling something, as she walked over to the fridge and pulled out a plastic container. She placed it in front of me as I looked at her with a raised brow. She motioned to it as I opened the lid and the scent of blood filled the air. It wasn't human but it was definitely blood.

"It's from a pig," Star said with a shrug. "Sam got it from the butcher a few days ago. He planned to give it to you but I guess he never got the chance. It won't taste great but it should help you heal. Give you a fighting chance."

Star made her way from the kitchen toward the front door. She grabbed for the keys as I peered through the doorway, yelling after her. "Thank you, Star."

"Thank me by staying alive and getting our friends to safety," Star said, turning back to meet my gaze. "I'm picking Laddie up from school and then we're leaving. Please, be careful."

"Always."

She nodded with a faked smile before heading out into the front yard. I listened as she unlocked the door and started the engine of the car Sam's mother helped her purchase. I stayed listening until the roar of the engine turned into silence.

I reopened the container as the scent of blood filled the air. It wasn't as sweet as human blood but it awoke the needy hunger inside me. I brought the container to my lips and took a sip. I winced at the cold temperature and bland flavor but it reduced the pain and that's all I wanted.

Swearing under my breath, I brought the container to my lips once more and chugged the rest. It was gag-worthy and I was tempted to give up but I needed my strength. I needed to be able to fight if they came looking. I wouldn't give up on Star and Laddie.

When I drank the last drop, I slammed the container down on the table and wiped my hand across my lips, blood staining the back of my fingers. I took a ragged breath as I stretched my worn muscles and cracked my back with a twist. I had at least 5 hours until the others came looking and that meant I had time to prepare.

I stumbled up the stairs and into the bathroom, barely getting through the door before my clothes were on the floor. I turned the shower on to its highest setting and let the scolding water wash away the blood and grime.

I stayed like this, allowing water to flow over my face until the water turned cold. I dried off and went into Star's room, borrowing some of her clothes so I didn't have to wear the clothes that I arrived in. I took a simple pair of pants, a sweater, and a jacket. I didn't need anything snazzy but long sleeves helped if something like this happened again.

After drying my hair, I put it in a high ponytail and realized I still had a few hours before sunset. I explored the house as I had never been inside until today. I found a door at the end of the hall with Sam's name on the door.

I slid my fingers over the sticker letters and slowly opened the door to the small room. It was exactly as I would expect Sam's room to look. None of his belongings were ruined in the vampire fight a few months ago so his new room was decorated much the same way but with more stylization. There was more life to this room; more Sam.

I kneeled beside his bed and pulled out a chest that the Frog Brothers had gifted him after the fight, in case he ever needed to protect himself. I threw the lid open to find crosses, holy water, a makeshift bow, arrows, and a crossbow that looked military issue.

"Where did they find this?" I muttered to myself.

I picked it up and studied the weapon. Definitely not handmade and it was heavy. I decided to not think about where the hell they got it and decided to set it in my growing pile of weaponry. I shoved a few stakes in my belt loops, holy water in a squirt gun, a bow strapped over my shoulder, and the crossbow in my hand. I looked like a female Rambo and for the situation, it fit perfectly.

I sat down on Sam's bed and decided to get some shuteye for a few minutes because vampires still needed their rest. I set an alarm and laid on Sam's pillow, smelling him all around me as I fell asleep.

Edgar awoke and noticed he was tied to a bed, his arms and legs bound to the posts. He struggled against his bindings but they just seemed to get tighter the more he struggled. There was a rickety nightstand beside him with a candle casting the only light in the room, making the shadows look eerie against the dirt walls.

A noise came from the opposite wall of his bed, Edgar's head turning toward it as the beads covering the door moved away to reveal two of the leather-clad girls; Silas and Alice. Their skin almost glowed in the dim light, glinting off their visible fangs.

"Where's my brother?" he yelled, pulling tight against his bindings.
The blonde, Alice, appeared sitting beside him on the bed. She caught his gaze and stroked his cheek, which he flinched away from.

"It doesn't matter now," she whispered.

"Tell me where he is or I'm going to kill you, you bloodsucking freak!" Edgar yelled, soaking venom into every word.

The brunette, Silas, appeared on the other side of the bed, sitting in the same fashion as Alice. Her hand shot forward grabbing Edgar's chin so his eyes would meet hers.

"You cannot kill us, Edgar Frog. You are trapped as are your brother and friends. You have lost and there is no need to fight us any longer," Silas said matter-of-factly.

Edgar leaned as far forward as the bindings would allow. "I will never stop fighting."

"Too bad," Silas muttered, her eyes turning to Alice. "Would you like the honors?"

"I'd like nothing more."

Silas released Edgar's chin so he could look at Alice. Alice smiled as her face transformed, baring her fangs. Her hand slid up his chest and rested on the left side of his neck. He struggled harder, screaming no at the top of his lungs.

She smiled even wider at the begging tone of this voice. She moved her head into the crook of his neck and bit deeply into his flesh. He screamed as the pain hit him and then bit his tongue when pleasure replaced it. He would not let himself show pleasure, not for them.

Alice's hand slid down his chest as Silas leaned forward sinking her fangs into the other side of his neck. The sensation was more than Edgar could handle. He couldn't hold back the noises that came next.

I awoke to the blaring sound of the alarm and the sound of scratching, like that of nails against glass. I slammed my fist into the alarm clock, cracking it in half.

"I'll buy him a new one," I muttered.

I quickly rose to my feet and made my way into the hallway. I got down the stairs as the front door burst from its hinges and landed on the floor. David stood just on the other side, his expression changing to surprise when he saw me standing a few feet in front of him.

I pointed the crossbow at him and shot off an arrow directed at his heart, but he caught it just before it made contact. He looked from it to me and back again, using his strength to snap the arrow in two. He took a step inside, his gaze never leaving mine.

"Where's Star?" David asked.

I reloaded the next arrow. "Somewhere you'll never find her."

"I'm proud of you, Dawn. I really am," David said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Crawling out of that pit, walking here in broad daylight, and warning Star of our plans was heroic."

"I call it dedication," I sneered, lifting the crossbow again.

David saw my motion and laughed, his laugh echoing in the dark space. "You already tried to shoot me, Dawn. What makes you think trying again will get you a different result?"

"Who said it was for you?"

I spun around and shot off the arrow in the opposite direction. It embedded itself in the stomach of Tatiana who had been sneaking up behind me. She hit the floor as I turned back toward David who was now right in front of me. He grabbed the crossbow from my hand and threw it across the room, using the other hand to grab my chin so I couldn't look away from his gaze.

"You just continually keep causing problems, don't you?" David said.

"Then why don't you kill me?" I gasped.

"Because killing you ruins the fun. I want you to suffer as I had. You killed my family and now I'm going to kill yours. Tit for tat if you will," David explained.

"I wasn't the one that killed them. It makes more sense to have Sam or Edgar, maybe even Michael, watch this slaughter. Why have you decided it should be me?" I asked.

His gaze left mine. "Maybe, it's because I still want you by my side."

"And you think killing those I care about will make that happen?" I exclaimed, shaking my head as much as I could with his hand on my chin. "You don't know me very well if you think that would work."

"I get rid of them then you have no one else to turn to. I am the only one who truly knows your condition. I understand the hunger. I understand the pain. I understand the loneliness," David egged.

"You and I are nothing alike, David," I said, enunciating his name. "I thought you realized that last time when I jumped in front of Sam."

"We are more alike than you realize, Dawn, and I'm willing to try again. I turned you because I saw something in you and I still see it now. You may be a pain in the ass but I don't think I can bring myself to kill you," David admitted.

"Then what are you going to do? What's your next move?" I asked.

"You're coming back with us. This time I won't let you escape. Not until you watch the final act," David said.

"Final act?" I asked.

"Where all your friends die."