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“I don't understand why none of you are listening to me!” Avid threw up his hands, glaring at the group in front of him. “In the beginning, fine, nothing had happened yet. But we've found blood! Animals are dying, found with chunks missing and twin hole bitemarks. Scott's gone!” He slammed his hand down onto the wall beside him. “Even if you still somehow don't think it's vampires, something is happening! And it's supernatural in origin!”
Legundo scoffed, shaking his head. “Plague, animals and wolves Avid.” His voice sounded annoyed. “Those can all be excused by these three things. Or,” He turned a glare on him. “A person who needs to be believed so badly that he manufactures events.”
Avid froze, staring at him with wide eyes. “I- you think I would do this?” His eyes narrowed, an angry petulance filling his eyes. “Fine. Whatever, I’ll protect myself, I’ll protect anyone who comes to me, but fine. I'll leave the rest of you alone to your plague.” His voice was mocking as he spoke the last word, whirling around and storming off.
“Where are you going?” Owen called out. “It's almost night!”
“I’ll be back before then.” Avid spit out angrily. “Just leave me alone.”
Avid was standing in the forest, breathing heavily and tossing sticks and stones farther in when he heard the crack of a branch behind him. He whirled around ready for a fight, before relaxing upon seeing who it was. “Drift.” He greeted. “Sorry didn't-" He scowled slightly. “Didnt see you there. I'm not coming back in yet, no one’ll want to be around me right now.”
Drift was silent for a moment more before she spoke. “That's fine, I actually came out here to apologize.”
Avid sighed, leaning down to pick up another rock. “For what?”
He heard her balance shift behind him. “For not believing you. About the vampires. And for making fun of how worried you were about them.”
Avid sighed, shoulders falling. “Its fine, everyone else di-”
“And also for this.”
Avid tensed, barely starting to whirl around before she had grabbed him. He let out a yelp, his back hitting the floor and knocking the wind out of him even as Drift pinned him to the ground. His arm was pinned to his chest by her hand. He wheezed, biting back the tears in his eyes as his other hand went for one of his weapons- but Drift also pinned that to the dirt.
Avid struggled, trying to get away, but Drift sat almost motionless. Her eyes gleamed in the dusk lighting, her frown parting her lips just enough to show the tips of her sharp canines.
Avid's breath picked up even faster. “Wh-when-” His words were choked despite nothing being around his neck. “How-”
“Its amazing what you miss when you make a fool of yourself.”
Avid yelped at the voice that came from behind him, his struggles renewing even as he knew they would do nothing. Scott walked around his head, his blood red eyes gazing down at his struggles with disinterest. “Ive been waiting for this you know.” He held up his hand, gazing at his nails as if interested in how they looked, flexing them so the low light would make their sharp points gleam. “Youve been annoying for a very long time Avid. You were saved by the fact that no one else believed you. Now, that's no longer an issue.”Scott leaned down slightly, grinning with his fangs fully on show. “Drift?” His smile turned sharp. “You know what I want for you to do.” He started walking off, waving his hand behind him. “It better be done by sunrise. Have fun.”
Avid was frozen, staring after the spot Scott disappeared into the forest, but a sigh from Drift snapped his attention back. He made a noise of fear, trying to press himself farther in the dirt, away from her.
Her mouth opened, as if to say something, but he spoke before her. “I trusted you.” His voice shook, his words quiet and fearful. “I-I trusted you. I-”
“I'm sorry.” Her voice spoke, brushing his words aside. “I didn't- I didn't want this to happen but it was either I do it or one of the others do it and-” She looked away. “I didnt-”
Avid's struggles increased again, eyes widening further. “No- no no no no- I- I don't want to be a vampire!” His cries got louder, tears welling in his eyes. “I don't mhph-” His words were muffled by her lifting a hand to cover his mouth.
“Shut up!” She hissed. “Do you want Scott to come ba-” She let out a shriek of pain as the small boot-knife he'd grabbed from his belt swiped at her stomach. Avid managed to shove her off as she recoiled, stumbling to his feet and holding the knife in front of him in shaking hands.
There was a moment where he stared at her, and she stared at him. Her, bleeding. Him, with the bloody knife.
Avid's breath caught, and without a moment of thought he turned around to run. He heard Drift call for him, but he didn't have the breath to respond even if he had wanted to.
He was all twisted around, unsure of where in the woods he was and just hoping he was running towards the town.
He heard a branch crack behind him, and knew with a dawning horror that this chase was about to be over. His collar was grabbed, choking him as he got clotheslined. He fell to the ground, his collar still in her grip, and yelped breathlessly as he was swung up and pinned to a tree, his hands being pinned against each other in one of her hands.
He breathed heavily, his sight swimming as Drift leaned in, a mean glare on her face. “That hurt.” She hissed it, fangs bared, and Avid's breath caught in terror.
There was no running from this. No getting out of it.
She glared at him, but it softened at his obvious fear. “I am sorry.” It was less sad than earlier, but the sigh that left her made him shake his head. “I can't let you go. Scott would find you and-” She shook her head. “He- he wouldn't be kind to you.”
“And you are?” Avid's voice was shaky, all his bravado gone.
She looked at him, something sad in her eyes. “Yes, I am.” Without any other warning, she leaned in, and Avid didn't even have a second to prepare himself before the pain hit.
The scream that leapt from his throat was involuntary, and his sobs echoed through the forest nearby.