Chapter Text
Avid stumbles through the undergrowth, head pounding, vision blurring. He feels sick, worse than he's ever felt before. He swallows, trying to soothe his sore throat, grumbling at the slowly growing headache. Raising his hand to his head, he lays a hand on his head, feeling the slowly gathering heat. He lowers a hand down to his neck, and winces at the fire radiating from the old, open wound across his neck. It's never been this bad. All he can hear is the thud of his own heart in his head, all he can feel is the intense heat, and the sweat rolling off his body. It feels like wool's being pulled over his eyes, cotton stuffed into his ears and making its way into his brain, pushing any rational thoughts from his mind.
He needs to eat.
He growls softly, taking a step forwards. Everything's fuzzy, yet all his senses are somehow on high alert. His breathing's heavy, and his grip on his dagger is tight. His dagger-? when did he get that? he doesn't know- His eyes lock onto movement in the bushes, and all rational thought flies out the window as he lunges, sinking his teeth into the creature as it lets out a loud squeal. He doesn't even hear it, so focused on fuelling himself, focused on eating, focused on the taste of the animal's blood filling his mouth, the taste of iron thick and coating his tongue. The blood spills from his mouth, staining his chin, running down his vest and seeping into the fabric, turning the rich green fabric maroon. He knows he looks feral right now, but he doesn't care. The life slowly draining out of the animal beneath him fuels him. It's disgusting, but he needs to do it. Taking another creature's lifeblood to use as his own... it's kind of poetic, isn't it?
As the hunger fades, he slowly starts to regain rational thought, and he stares in horror at what he's just done. Blood continues to drip from his mouth, and he quickly wipes it with his sleeve, the dirty white fabric being streaked with red in the process. He should be okay now... at least he hopes so. Tears run down his face, as he starts hysterically sob-laughing. For who, he isn't sure. For Elle, for the townspeople, for Drift, for Shelby? If they saw him now, in a pool of blood, crimson dripping down his chin and staining his clothes, what would they think? Would they deem him dangerous, would he be kicked out of Oakhurst? Would they send him to the vampires? Would the vampires even take him? Him, a freak of nature, a creature unsure of what it truly is? He sinks to his knees, crying into the wool of the drained sheep, weeping for all he's lost and for all he's done, weeping for Elle. She would know what to do. She would have a cure, or at least something to help him, to get rid of this hunger...
He's so out of it that he doesn't notice the footsteps in the undergrowth, the blond head of hair peeking through the foliage, the blue eyes focusing on him and narrowing in anger. "Avid?!" The voice calls. Martyn. Avid's head snaps up, quickly focusing on the man. "Oh- Uh- Martyn!" He stutters, quickly attempting to cover up the carcass he was sobbing into just moments prior.
"Avid. What is that."
Avid freezes at the pure anger in Martyn's voice. He scrambles for an excuse, eyes wide with panic. "I- It's nothing- i just- I just found it like this-" He stutters out, but it's no use. "Avid, you were drinking from that sheep. I saw you. You're one of them!"
"No- No I'm not!" Avid yelps, waving his hands, spotting the blood on them seconds too late. Martyn's eyes zero in on the blood coating the supposed 'vampire-hunter,' and he steps forwards, summoning his lantern, the cage of fire swinging from his hand. Avid looks at the lantern, pure unbridled fear in his eyes. "Hey- Martyn- We can talk about this! We can talk-!"
The sound of crackling fills the air as the lantern swings in a large arc, Avid quickly scrambling back in order to avoid the blazing hot fire. "Martyn! Martyn please-"
"Don't you say anything, you filthy vampire! You've been lying!" The man screams, advancing step by step. "How long have you been lying to us? How long have you been one of those- those beasts?!" He yelps, lantern continuing to swing. It barely misses the boy, who hisses at the close contact. Martyn's eyes narrow, and he continues to advance, trapping Avid against a tree. "What do you have to say for yourself?!"
"Martyn- I'm not a vampire-"
A sharp-left hook to the face.
The back of Avid's head slams against the trunk of the tree.
"Martyn please-"
"I'm not gonna listen to you! I won't hear another word of your lies!" Martyn hollers, pulling out a wooden stake and lining it up with Avid's heart. "Give me one good reason why I should listen to you." He thunders, causing Avid's ears to ring painfully. "Martyn- please- I'm sick, I've been sick for a long time- I don't know what this is-"
"...you're just like Owen."
"Wh- what..?"
"You were 'sick.' That's why you turned? Avid, how long have you been lying to us. Tell the truth, or I will not hesitate to plunge this stake into your heart."