The motel room was small, little more than space for a bed with a barely functioning light. Much less a comfortable bed, but just what the couple was looking for at that moment in time.
Owen, on one hand, was exhausted. Having fled his home with Abby and taking a 10-hour train ride to get as far away from Los Alamos as humanly possible for the time being. The motel couldn't have been closer to the train station to Owen's exhausted mind.
Meanwhile, Abby was completely energized and ready to prowl the night after having slept the day in her trunk by Owen's seat on the journey. Not wanting to be too close to the station in order to get food. She looked out of the small window, trying to find anything that moves that could satisfy her growing hunger.
After putting the trunk down, Owen got into the creaky bed with his bulky clothes and put his face on the pillow. Trying to cover his face from Abby. Not from just being overtired, but the fact that he was nearly drowned by bullies and left home to face an uncertain future with someone who he had only met less than a month prior. Much less the fact that the person was an undead murderer.
"Owen?" Abby noticed her boyfriend's state and suppressed her growing urges. Going into bed after him. But not before taking off her clothes. Reminding her of the moment where they officially became "a couple". She winced at the term. She didn't know if it could work, but she had never been as close with someone such as Owen. Even Thomas, one of her closest companions, was always slightly cool to her and knew to give her distance. But now, Owen was someone who genuinely cared about her, and vice versa. She saw that with the candy incident, and with him preventing the police detective from getting too close.
"Owen? Are you good?" Abby asked again, gently gliding her fingers along the pale boy's neck. Trying to gauge some sort of reaction out of him.
"Yeah." Owen tried to have a strong tone but failed before beginning to quietly sob into the pillow. Knowing it was not worth his energy to lie. "No, I'm not."
Concerned, Abby scooted closer to the boy. Beginning to spoon him with her arms around his waist. Tying the two together. She knew he was going to be cold. But she wanted to further this conversation. While she usually was concerned for herself first and foremost, she wanted her companions to be at least well. Made sure they wouldn't try and sabotage her. Plus, she and Owen were now something more than companions, or even friends for that matter now. It was in her interest to help him.
"Are you… homesick?" She could barely remember her own home, not that she could bother. It had been centuries. But with Owen, it had been less than a day. He was probably just sad about the whole ordeal. Packing up and moving quickly. Not that she can blame him, of course.
"It's just-" Owen stuttered to get the words out between his quiet tears. But had difficulty with her freezing body around him. He tried not to sound angry at the situation he was in. After all, it was his choice to leave Los Alamos with Abby, a vampire. He was miserable there, why should he try to shirk the blame onto someone else?
Abby rested her head against his shoulder. Trying to use her presence as a means to try and calm Owen down.
"Owen-" Abby began quietly before being interrupted by Owen, with his thoughts more straight now.
"How do I know that I'm not just going to become another Thomas?" Owen became brash. Emboldened by the environment away from the ever-watching eye of his mother. "You met him at the same age as I. How do I know I'm not just throwing away my life for you? To be disposed of once I'm no longer useful?"
Abby grew silent at that statement. He wasn't wrong from his perspective. In fact, she wasn't even planning on taking him with her to begin with. After nearly getting attacked by the detective, she just wanted to leave Los Alamos, to keep Owen safe from her carnage. But,something drew her back to the town. To Owen. Originally, she presumed that it was because Owen could be manipulated. With a little prodding, Owen could have easily become another Thomas.
But that wasn't the case. Abby didn't feel the same with Owen than she did with Thomas. She actually felt a connection with Owen. Wanting to be with him as a friend and more, not just as a human body to get her blood.
"Turn around." Abby implored Owen. She wanted to see him face-to-face, to show that she cared about him differently. "I want to see you."
Not wanting to come off more offensive than he already was, Owen turned around and locked Abby in the eyes. Not of an angry person who was forced against their will, but like a sad puppy desperately trying to find comfort.
"How do I even know you love me?" He tried to put on a macho attitude but it was clear that he was struggling on that.
"I love you differently than Thomas." She combed her fingers through Owen's black hair. Admiring how someone can still have such clean hair even after going through numerous physically traumatizing incidents in such a short period of time.
Something went through in her at this moment. For the first time in a while, she felt what it was like to be in love. She loved to see Owen for what he was and wanted to be. Not gently pushed for her own agenda.
"How-" Owen didn't even fully ask before Abby cupped her hand on his cheek, smiled and pounced into him. Putting her lips on his. Kissing while rolling him onto his back.
Is this a dream? While Abby did kiss him a couple times already, it was never like this. Her tongue messily got through his lips and was busy exploring his mouth. Owen's eyes opened wide to see her lost in her attempt to show love. He began kissing her back. Managing to get her to open up as well.
After a minute of silent making out, Abby broke off the kiss and smiled at both of their newfound joy as she faced Owen. She was glad that at least he wasn't hysterical anymore and closed her eyes for a moment before he spoke up.
Owen gently nudged her arm. Forcing her to glance back at her partner. "Is this even going to work?"
She frowned at that question. Knowing what he was inferring. While she would always be 12, Owen wouldn't. He would likely continue to age and get old. Eventually suffering a fate like Thomas. Yes, Abby had no qualms with her lost friend getting older, But Owen was not Thomas. She wanted to be with him because he was Owen. Not a random kid who she managed to take under her wing to groom and become a killer.
But she didn't know if Owen wanted that. To be forced into her life. Drinking blood to survive. Never seeing the sun ever again unless he wanted death. She never wanted any of her companions to suffer like what she went through. So she never asked. Owen was different. Perhaps this time, it would be different.
She didn't want Owen to age and her to not. She saw when young girls would marry old men who would die within a few years, they wouldn't be able to mentally recover. When he would inevitably pass, she would probably go into an incredibly depressive episode that sounded too much for her tween mind.
"Owen?" Abby whispered. "Would you want to be me?" She put her right hand on his and intertwined their fingers together. To indicate what she was trying to tell him.
"What do you mean?" He knew exactly what she was talking about, but was hesitant to give an answer at that time. The prospect of never aging almost excited him to a degree. But at the cost of killing people and never being able to eat candy again? He wasn't sure if he could live with that. But then again, he never had anyone like Abby before. Someone who cared for him like she did. "Be you?"
"You know what I mean." The dim light of the room gave out. Leaving the two to talk about their future in a nearly-black room. With Owen being blinded while Abby empowered with night vision. "We could be together forever."
Owen didn't answer. While the prospect of being a creature of the night entertained him to a degree, he was still 12. With a potential life in front of him. One that did not involve killing innocent people merely for food.
"What would you be missing?" Abby gently whined. She knew that certain vocalizations brought different reactions from all of her capturing of prey. Plus, isn't love supposed to be a lot of teasing the other?
Owen continued to think, but not before closing his eyes. She did have a point after all. His parents were borderline negligent to him, most food seemed bland already. Except for candy. Whenever it was summer, his skin always became mildly burnt after a few minutes in direct sunlight.
Plus, he wouldn't be alone. Abby would be with him every second of the way. She wouldn't turn him in if she saw him as a tool and nothing more.
To hell with it.
After a few more minutes of silence, Owen nodded. Trying to fight back tears in his eyes at the magnitude of the decision he just made.
"Don't just do it because of me. I'm only going to do it if you want this." Abby wanted to give Owen the illusion of choice. At this point, she was going to turn him while he was still young. She was considering orchestrating some elaborate "accident" where she would have to "revive" Owen. At least for once she could be the heroine in the story.
But this was much easier. She was glad that they could both agree on sharing their unlife together.
"Yes, Abby. I want to do this. To be with you." Owen, following Abby's example of lacing his fingers in her brown hair. "What would I be truly missing other than you?" She quietly giggled at that in adoration. He loves me enough to give up candy.
He turned onto his back to expose his neck to his lover. Who was now trying to keep her distance. "Just- don't drink too much. Please."
"Ok". Abby didn't know if she could abide by that. But she had to try. For Owen. She saw the remnants of his tears on his cheeks and gently wiped them off. He was scared, and she could see it. Scared for what was to come. The eternal pain that would follow both of them."Owen, don't be scared. We'll both be happy for the rest of our lives because of this."
After receiving another confirmation nod from Owen as he closed his eyes, not wanting to see her other form. Once she saw stillness, Abby leapt onto Owen and injected her fangs into one of his carotid arteries. Beginning to suck up his blood while giving him her "gift". The boy began to scream at the excruciating pain. To which Abby responded by putting her hand over his mouth. Not only an attempt to not get neighbors to notice the ritual taking place under their notice, but also to keep him in place so he couldn't have an epiphany and escape. Not that it wasn't too late now.
She hated that he tasted so good. Maybe it was just because it was blood. But Abby wanted to think it was because it was Owen. She was tasting his essence. Which melted her metaphorical heart. After a few seconds of struggle against her victim, she unclasped her jaw from his neck. But not before leaving a small kiss and nuzzling at the wound. Trying to show that she wasn't just using him for short-term food.
Immediately, she felt guilty. Owen didn't deserve a fate like her. He didn't deserve to never eat candy again or never be able to witness the wonders of adulthood. But alas, he insisted, and she wouldn't be kind to herself if she prevented herself from having a partner like Owen. Especially when he made his choice to be with her. If it took her hundreds of years to find Owen, how much longer would it have taken to find someone even close to him again?
Owen, not feeling her sharp fangs in his neck anymore but still feeling a searing pain, turned over to find his girlfriend staring back at him. The only major difference being blood on her lips. His blood. She smiled. Not of malevolent joy of getting food, but of the fact that they would now be together forever. There would be no need for another "companion" like Thomas now that they had one another.
He would have tried to talk if she didn't put two fingers to his mouth.
"Shh." Abby hushed. "I'll take care of you now." Before taking Owen in for a final, goodnight kiss. A "consummation" of their now-eternal relationship. 2 vampires who are now permanently connected to each other.
He was able to taste his own blood on her lips. While the thought of having blood so close to his mouth repulsed him before, he felt oddly at peace now. Perhaps the virus was already beginning to kick in and started to change his body. Or maybe he instinctively knew it wasn't worth it to make a fuss. Either way, he was now submissive to Abby and the ways of being a vampire now. No going back.
Now even more exhausted than before, likely from the blood loss, Owen began to drift off into sleep. Placing his hand over Abby's to keep her from leaving him. Not that she minded of course. She always wanted to be with him and was in no rush to get more food now.
Neither knew when the other fell asleep. But it didn't matter. They'd probably stay confined in the dark room for another day or two so Owen can get past the painful stages of the transformation. Once he was mobile, they'd leave. Just like when Abby was forced to flee, but it is different now. She had Owen to make the years better, and he had her to make existence on the Earth more bearable.
As long as they had each other, that's all that mattered for now and forever.