Monday 20 May 2013

2. What Would You Do?


*Thanku so much for all the comments left on the first chapter, I hope this is okay for you guys :) I'm not paying out vampire fiction or anything but sometimes it can come across as a little corny to me lol so PLEASE if it is, let me know and I'll try and sort it out! >.<*



June 13th 1997

Sitting in the bustling waiting room at the doctors, Nicki tried to keep her attention on her magazine. She was sat in there thanks to yet another introduced law which stated Vampire folk were required to receive regular checkups and shots designed to harness their carnivorous and cannibalistic ways. She only saw this new law as a way of trying to shape them into a human mould in which they don't fit. She continued to think angrily as she read.

"You'll be fine." The deep voice penetrating her mind shocked her from the fearful thoughts running through her head. Glancing up from her magazine she let her eyes scan the room in wonder. There was no doubt in her mind that the voice belonged to another Vampire since he'd wandered into her thoughts, she just didn't know where he was. The silent search ceased suddenly when she locked eyes with him. He was extremely kind on the eye and his voice echoing in her head was beyond comforting.

"Excuse me?" Answering back with a hint of attitude she narrowed her eyes at him across the room. Everyone else was completely oblivious to their private conversation.

"You look petrified. You'll be okay."

"I'm fine. I've done this before."

"I know you're fine." He licked his lips and smiled whilst looking over her curvaceous body. Anyone next to him would have been slightly worried about his actions, being unable to hear his thoughts.

"Stop intruding on my thoughts. You have any idea how rude that is?"

"I was just trying to make you feel better. I'm sorry." The look of sincerity on his face made her feel bad. "What's your name?"

Their internal conversation was halted immediately when a young nurse entered the waiting room.

"Onika Maraj? Dr. Ireland will see you now."

Nicki stood and placed the magazine back on the table, smiling with her back facing him as his voice once again took over her thoughts.

"It was nice meetin' you, Onika. I'll definitely see you around."

She shook her head deliberately for him to see before she entered the doctor's office. Wondering just how much of his statement was true.

December 4th 2012 - Present Day

"You were so prickly towards me that day." He smirked when she flinched, not knowing he was there.

"And you're at it again now, butting into my thoughts. Get out, Aubrey."

"If I hadn't been so nosy, we wouldn't be sat here together today. Baby on the way." Smiling lovingly he placed a hand on her bump.

"I know." Her happy face soon turned worried as she began to fret. Things could so easily go against them, they could lose one another and their unborn child with a simple finger snap.

"Hey, everythin's gon' be okay. We're abouta go to New York, Nic."

"Did you get everythin' we need from the apartment?" She followed his frame with her eyes as he sat beside her on the cool, damp ground.

"I grabbed what I could. They're still doin' random checks up there, we can't go back."

"Oh my God."

There were a few moments of silence as he pondered what to say. Honestly, he didn't know what to say anymore. He was running out of hope himself, he couldn't let her know that though. That's all she was riding on.

"Right, we gotta go. We have a boat to catch." He smiled and helped her up as he slung the duffel over his shoulder. "Drape this over yourself, try'n stay hidden."

"You can still see my bump though."

"It's alright, we're gonna move quickly. You gon' be okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'll be fine." He felt her squeezing his hand as she exhaled shakily. "I'm ready."

There was no way of describing the fear within his being as he led her cautiously out to the street. The riots had died down a little but the chaos was still very much present. Her hand tightened around his, signalling her fright.

"You good?"

The simple head nod let him know he could continue. Thankfully he'd pre-planned their foot-route. Only a few open streets to manoeuvre and the rest of the way was alleys and darkened footpaths. His whole body relaxed when they reached the dock. Only for panic to consume him once again. Paying careful attention to his thoughts and stance, Nicki tensed up with him. There was a boat already heading away from them.

"That's not our boat, right?" She looked up at him worriedly as he checked his watch.

"No, it can't be."

"But there are no other boats here, Aubrey."

"It'll be here. It has to be." He trailed his gaze along the edge of the water but she was right. There were no other boats around. Just empty cargo containers and vessels in for maintenance. "Fuck." Whispering to himself he was about to start talking aloud when a voice jolted him.

"You're too late, Drizzy." They whipped their heads around speedily. It was Harlan.

"Too late? But you said-"

"I said ten and it's now ten past." He tapped his watch and sighed. "There ain't no other boats goin' out that'll be unmonitored from now on. You missed your chance." There was a hint of anger in his voice. He was angry at the fact that he'd been given this chance and he'd missed it by such a little amount of time. Seeing a pregnant Nicki stood exhaustedly behind him wasn't helping the matter much either.

"Surely, there's gotta be another boat leavin' soon?"

"I told you already. That's it." His anger was partly resting on the fact that he was going behind everyone's backs here. His work colleagues, his boss, even his country. But the fear residing in Nicki's eyes was killing him.

"Please? I'll do anything, you know that already."

"Drake, it's not a question of what you'd do for me to help you. I'm sayin' I can't. There's nothin' I can do for you that won't jeopardise my job or my family."

"Aubrey." She tugged at his sleeve quietly but he dismissed her.

"Just a second, Nic." He turned his attention back to Harlan. "Please, I'ont wanna beg for this-"

"Aubrey." She pulled harder, catching Harlan's attention too as they both looked at her. She had her eyes focused on the cargo containers beside them.

"What?" Both he and Harlan looked off to the side to try and pinpoint what she was staring at. "Nicki, what is? What are you lookin' at?"

"There's someone over there." Her voice was visible on the cold crisp air, even though she was whispering worriedly as she edged closer to Drake.

"I don't see anyone."

"I can hear them, Aubrey." She looked pleadingly at him and he new not to ignore her instincts, for just like any pregnant woman, her senses were heightened. Even more so for her since she was a Vampire.

"Nicki, there's nobody over there. I checked when I got here." Harlan tried to place a hand on her arm comfortingly as he spoke but she moved away shyly.

"No. We need to go." Drake strengthened his grip on her small hand and backed away a little bit, still trying to scan their surroundings.

"You can't be serious?"

"Well, what else are we supposed to do Harlan?! What would you do?!" Now only a few inches from him again Drake stood angrily before him.

"Aubrey, please! We have to leave!" She could feel eyes watching her from the shadows.

"Wait!" Harlan's loud bellow stopped them both. "You can't go back out there. They'll find you in a matter of days."

"What then? We have no choice."

"There's a spare room at my place. The wife'll hate me, but I'ont want any lives lost because of me." His tone of voice was one of pure defeat. Tapping into his thoughts, Nicki could tell he was apprehensive but she wasn't about to let Drake refuse the offer.


***


Nicki didn't let go of his hand for the whole car journey. It wasn't a long drive thankfully and they were soon entering the two storey home. It was perfect. Big and spacey but perfect in Nicki's eyes.

"I'll go 'head and show you your room." Dropping his uniform hat on the kitchen counter along with his keys he clicked the kettle on to boil whilst they were downstairs.

"Thank you, for everythin' I mean."

"Yeah? I kinda had no choice, did I?" He sighed before smiling at Nicki. She looked petrified. "I'mma warn you both now. My wife, Kristin, she really don't like your type. She's a nurse. Deals with a lotta shit caused by Vamps. "

"Will she mind us bein' here then?" Drake's voice was more husky with fatigue as they followed Harlan down to the basement.

"Soon as I tell her you're the guy that saved our boy I'm sure she'll come 'round." He chortled a little, unaware that Nicki was reading his every thought. His wife was going to kill him.

All Vampires were blessed, or some would say cursed, with the ability to read thoughts but Nicki however, was different. She could read anybody's thoughts. Not just fellow Vampires as Drake could, but even regular people such as Harlan.

"Anyways, I know it ain't much but it's warm, spacious and it has a bed." He pulled the light cord and led them further into the basement.

"It's perfect, thank you." Drake immediately sat the duffle on the bed as Nicki let go of his hand and roamed the room.

"No problem. I'll let you both get settled and prepare yourselves to meet the ball and chain." He widened his eyes before laughing. "Just come on up when you feel at home."

"Thanks." He nodded gratefully and watched him leave before turning back to Nicki. She was sat nervously on the edge of the bed. Her hands holding her rounded belly.

"His wife is gonna go off."

"Word?"

"He's petrified. I can tell." She sighed and let her blue eyes wander over his muscular frame. "You think the boy will remember you?"

"Nah, it was a while ago. He prolly doesn't even remember the accident." He smiled before kneeling before her. "How's my boy?"

"Aubrey, we don't know if he's a boy yet." She laughed weakly and rubbed his cheek as he lay his head on her bump. "But to answer your question, the baby is fine." She looked down lovingly and caressed his head.

"How d'you know?"

"I can hear him."

"His thoughts?"

"No, his heart. I can hear it beating." Her gaze followed his head as he looked up at her again.

"You never told me that."

"That's 'cause I only just realised today, when you left me in that alleyway." Shedding the blanket from her shoulders she tried to relax a little more. She could feel the stress eating at her. "I was tryin' to block out all the noise from the streets. That's when I heard him."

"You think I'd be able to hear?" His hopeful face was the picture of sweetness to her as his eyes flicked over hers.

"I'ont see why not." Shrugging cluelessly she lifted her jumper up, revealing her bump. "Lay your head down and see."

He did as she asked before talking sadly. "I don't hear anythin'."

"Just wait, babe."

There was a long silence as he listened intently. Still nothing.

"I can't hear him." Lifting his head up again he kissed her bump and tugged her jumper down.

"Maybe it's because you're not physically connected to him like I am?" 

"Yeah, maybe." He smiled and kissed her lips gently. "You wanna head upstairs?"

"Not just yet." She pulled the blanket to herself again and yawned. "I think I'm gonna sleep for a lil' bit."

"A'ight. Well I'll be right here. I'm not goin' anywhere." He began unpacking the little amount of stuff they had with them whilst she curled up on the bed, attempting to sleep off some of her worries and exhaustion. Not all Vampires slept. Only those who needed to recover, such as the sick and injured or in Nicki's case those who were pregnant. Luckily, unlike most, she had Drake to watch over her whilst she slept.

The hours rolled on quickly and by the time Harlan's wife arrived home from her shift at the hospital it was almost 2am.

"Nic? Nicki, babe we gotta move upstairs. Kristin's home." He gently tried to lull her from her slumber but she was sleeping heavily, which was actually a good sign that she was getting some decent rest. Something she'd been deprived of recently.

"Hm?"

"Harlan's wife? She's home."

"She's here?"

"Yeah." He laughed at the back and forth conversation before helping her up. "Come on."

He led the way up the stairs and into the hallway, following Harlan's voice into the kitchen. Drake had half expected him to have gone to bed, but he was obviously waiting on his wife to tell her about their temporary lodgers.

"Dave, what have I told you? With the hours I work and the time spent with Jackson we do not have time to be worryin' about lodgers!" 

Drake and Nicki exchanged looks as they overheard the couple's conversation. Nicki was right, she was going to flip out.

"Baby, please? Could you just hear me out?" He sounded desperate, which made Drake feel bad but he owed him. It was only fair. A life for a life. Hearing her sigh with annoyance they both relaxed when they heard her sit down.

"I'm listenin'."

"Thank you." He cleared his throat before sitting too. "I owe this guy a huge favour, and I mean huge."  Stopping to let her nod he continued again. "You remember when Jackson fell in the lake that time?"

"Please, don't remind me."

"Well, the young man that saved him needs a place to stay for a while. Him and his lady, so I kindly offered them the basement room."

"You offered? So they're here, right now?" The anger was layering her words again, making Nicki quickly become nervous.

"I think you should at least meet them before you go makin' any decisions, Kristin."

"Well it looks like you already had this stunt planned out. I haven't got a choice now, have I?" She shook her head furiously and snatched her name badge off. "Well, go get them then."

"I'll tell'm to come on up." He breathed out and shook his head whilst she wasn't looking before moving into the hallway. He jumped nearly a mile when he came face to face with the couple.

"Holy shit! You tryin' to give me a damn heart attack?!" Steadying his breathing he stared between them both. "Y'all had better come say hello."

He took them through and pulled out a chair for them both as Kristin stared them down. She couldn't believe it. Her own husband bringing this filth into their home, with their child under the same roof. She didn't need to be told what they were. She could tell. Nicki's blazing blue eyes matched with her blonde locks in contrast to her dark, rich skin were dead giveaways. Not to mention Drake's piercing stare. They were Vampires.

"I don't want them anywhere near me or my child. They're not stayin' here."


...


*I hope this was alright for you guys :/ I've never really wrote something as fictitious as this so fingers-crossed it's alright and YES this is MY fiction story so the Vampire stuff might be all wrong to some people but I'm in charge lol so I apologise if there are some mad Vampire experts reading and I'm not following by the facts that you know haha*