Hoax Read online

She had no idea what was happening. All she did know was that August was scaring her and he was hurting her.

  “August” Erina called, but it came out a whimper.

  He let her go so fast he could, as though she was contagious. She stumbled onto the couch, sitting down and staring at him as he stared back at her. Both of them were breathing hard and fast.

  Erina straighten. “August”

  “Damn it Red!” he yelled, his eyes had turned back to their normal shade of blue. Erina took that as a good sign as she stood up from the couch. She again took a step toward him but he held his hands up, stopping her.

  He sighed. “Do you -” his hand went through his hair, tugging them at the ends. He was frustrated. But so was she.

  What the hell happened last night – she screamed inside, huffing – what did I do? Did I sleep with you?! – she wanted to ask but stopped. She shook her head, remembering that she had woke up with her clothes own. So what happened?

  “Do you believe in Vampires?” August’s voice rang through the air. Erina slowly moved her green eyes to meet his blue ones.

  She stared at him, forgetting to breathe as the whole last night’s adventure played inside of her head. She thought, no she was sure – that everyone was playing a prank on her. An elaborate and cruel prank. Because things like this don't just happen.

  But no, it all just felt like it was all a big hoax.

  Erina’s fingers brushed the side of the note in her pocket and just like that everything went black.

  * * *

  Chapter Seven

  In & Out

  * * *

  Have you ever known that you're awake but you’re also asleep? You can barely open your eyes but you can hear everything that’s happening around you. It's as if your senses are just working on overdrive. Like if you've slept for too long and now you were tired again.

  It’s a weird feeling.

  August was pacing in the background. Talking to someone in phone. She could hear him yelling, cursing and shuttering then yelling again.

  Eventually she had enough of it.

  Erina groaned, sitting up. “Red!” August yelled and then next thing she knew he was at her side. “How are you?” She shook her head, looking at the clock. It was 6 pm.

  “How is Lynette?” she asked him instead.

  “She’s OK. Are you OK?”

  Erina didn’t answer. She stood up instead, her legs wobble but August hold onto her. Erina lets go, stretching her arms. “I want to see her.” The redhead looked back at him. He’s confused. He should be.

  “Erina do you want to ask- ’’

  The red head placed her hand in front stopping him. “No. We’ll talk” August nod, “But I want to see Lynette first”

  “OK”

  And that was that.

  * * *

  They reached the hospital in the next twenty minutes. They would've reached sooner but August wouldn’t leave the house until Erina ate something. Suddenly he knew more about diabetes than her. But she didn’t argue, she didn’t have the stamina.

  The redhead wasn’t even out of the car when she heard her voice, screaming her name. Erina groaned. She really was too tired for this. But she did owe her an explanation.

  Getting out of the car she mentally preparing herself. She turned and smiled at her.

  That was when she felt the slap on her cheek. Shouldn’t had smiled – Erina mustered, rubbing her right cheek.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” the petite blonde yelled. “I have been calling you all night! I thought you died!” Erina dared herself to look up. Sara was red. Her hands on her hips as she glared at Erina. Parker stood beside her, hands covering his chest. He didn’t look that happy either.

  “Every time I called, it rung but you didn’t pick up. Do you know how worried I was? How worried Lynette was? I couldn’t sleep because I kept on thinking that you might in an alley, dead! Then you don’t show up at school” here she gave an angry chuckle “cause you never made home in the first place. Then I get a call from my mom saying that, there are police in your home and Lynette's in the hospital, half dead.” She pokes Erina’s chest with her index finger. “What the hell did you do this time, Erina?” She was panting by the time she was done.

  Sara opened her mouth again but this time stopped. Her eyes went wide as she looks past Erina. Erina too turned. Something that had the capacity of shutting up Sara was a thing to be seen.

  August stood there, hands in his pocket leaning against the car. He straightened up when they look at him. Sara looked at the redhead then at August, back and forth. Parker just arched an eyebrow at Erina, nothing more. Sara straightened, smoothing down the invisible wrinkles in her skirt. It means she was thinking. “Who is he?” She whispered.

  “August.” Erina answered with a shrug.

  She shot her ‘the look’. “Who the hell is this August?”

  Erina’s hands went through her hair, “He found me last night. I was out cold in the street. He took me in. When I got up this morning he drove me home. That’s when we found Lynette. I-I was a mess” she glanced at August “He called the cops and spoke with them and everything.”

  “You barely had two shoots.” Sara scoffed.

  “I know. But” Erina braced herself for another slap, that’s going to come when she will open her mouth. “I have diabetics. For months, now. I didn’t told you guys cause, I didn’t want your pity.” She didn’t dared to look up. “The drinks last night probably messed up my blood sugar and –and I faint in the middle of the road. And August took me in.” Erina bit her lip.

  Sara was quite the entire time. Her face expressionless as she stared at the redhead. Then she looked at August. She wasn’t gushing at him, she was sizing him up. She was deciding if he could be trusted or not. She turned at Erina then, nods her head. “C’mon, let’s go inside.” She took Parker's hand in one and Erina’s in another, dragging both of them with her. August following them closely.

  * * *

  “Why couldn’t you tell us?” the blonde asked. They were waiting for the boys to return.

  “I-I’m just sorry”

  Sara nod. “You're still wearing yesterday’s clothes.” Sara sighed, fishing through her bag. “Did you eat anything? You look like hell, Erina”

  The redhead snorted, hell was an understatement. “Yeah.” Sara hands her a Granola bar.

  “Thanks. I ate an apple though. August won’t leave until I ate something. I’ll shower once I go back home.” Sara nodded, turning back looking at August and Parker.

  “He’s okay, I guess” Erina smiled.

  “Lynette’s in room 305” Parker said as he walks over to them from the reception. August walked behind him. He smiled when he saw the Granola bar. “Eat it up” Erina rolls her eyes but took a bite anyway. She was hungry.

  * * *

  “Room number 305” Erina mumbled to herself as she walked the endless corridors of the hospital. Sara and Parker beside her. August was somewhere at the end of the line.

  That was when she spotted Lucy, sitting in one of the visitor’s chair. She looked like hell. Her blonde hair a mess, her dress wrinkled and she was nervously chewing on her nails.

  “Lucy!” Erina belted, running toward her.

  The young girl stood up seeing her. Erina wrapped her arms around the young blonde. It was just us now – Erina thought – Whatever that was happening we had to face it together. Lucy didn’t move. She was stiff as a board as Erina hugged her. Was she scared? Erina let go of her, to look at her face. She did look like hell. She wanted to ask Lucy how she was holding up, ask her about how Lynette. But before she could the blonde stopped her.

  There was a loud thud when Lucy’s hand collided with Erina’s cheek. The redhead gritted her teeth, making no noise. The second slap of the day in less than fifteen minute.

  “It’s because of you” the blonde spat, shoving her away “my Mom was supposed to be at work. But she stayed home because of you! Because she was so wo
rried what happened to Erina” her name sounded like vile coming from Lucy’s lips. “She is dying in there because of you! I hate you!” She shoved her away.

  “Shut up, Lucy” Sara yelled beside Erina.

  But Lucy swatted her away, still glaring at the redhead. Then her eyes widened. The hate in them seeming to ramp up. “So this was what sweet 'Erina' was doing. When my Mom was pacing around the house, worried, that Erina was sleeping around town” her glare aimed at August. “That’s why you are two hours late. Refreshing last night’s memories while my Mom fought to stay alive”

  Erina flinched at the mention of last night. But August stood like a statue. He held her. She didn’t know when he ended up next to her or holding her, but she didn’t care. Erina was just glad he didn’t let her fall. He wasn’t talking, because it wasn’t his place to talk. He was just holding her. But the moment Lucy said those words she could feel him going even more rigid under her hold.

  She looked up at him, her green eyes pleading him to do nothing. He turned away. His jaws clenched tight. But he didn’t answer Lucy’s accusations.

  “You know I always knew you were selfish. I always knew you were trouble. I just knew it!” Lucy’s voice rose octaves. “The day my mom brought you home, I knew it. You bring a suffering to everyone around you. That’s why no-one likes you. That’s why; you had to change what - like 14? 14 homes in ten years. Because you are a pain to be around. Maybe your parents were killed just so they could get away from you”

  That was the last straw.

  “Lucy!” Sara yelled.

  August hold on Erina tightened. He didn’t know anything but even he understood that it was pushing her nerve. But Erina couldn’t help herself. She just couldn’t. The redhead removed August’s hands from her shoulders and slapped Lucy, hard and fast. Lucy gaped at her, hand on her now red cheek. She didn’t believe it and neither did Erina, or did Sara and Parker or August.

  Erina’s breathing was jagged as she stared at her hand.

  In that moment, a crowd had gathered around them. A few nurses telling them to either get out or to shut the hell up. Others were just standing and watching the show. Enjoying it.

  “August” Sara grabbing Erina’s hand pushing it in his. “Take her home.” August nodded, happy to do it. He pulled her with him, away from the crowd, away from Lucy.

  “Yeah, do that!” They heard Lucy yelled, her hatred clear in her voice, “Just get away from us and don’t come back! Ever!”

  Maybe that wasn’t such a bad idea.

  * * *

  Erina stopped halfway out of the hospital, when she heard Allie’s mom calling her from behind. She turned, looking for the middle aged woman.

  “What happened?” August asked.

  “I heard –” Then she saw her, Mrs. Butcher, walking toward her. “What happened?” she asked, taking a few steps toward the woman in light green skirt.

  “Erina, what did you do?” she asked. Erina frowned, turning to August but he looked as much confused as she was.

  “What do you mean?” they can’t be talking about her slapping Lucy, can they?

  “There a was note” she went through her purse, before bringing out a piece of paper just like the one Erina found in her room. Her heart dropped as she stared at it. She felt sick. Her hands shook as she took the crumpled paper from her.

  Next it’s gonna be you. Say hi to your sister for me.

  Erina felt light-headed, as if there wasn’t enough oxygen in her lunges. She blinked, trying to focus on the note but her vision was blurred.

  “We found this in the door step with Lucy’s name on it and then we got the call from the police saying someone had attacked Lynette. Erina, did you do something?” her eyes darted back and forth from Erina to August.

  The redhead shook her head. Suddenly Lucy’s slap wasn’t the worst thing she felt today. August took the note from her hand and she could see the way his lips made a thin line, eyes darkening.

  “Then what did you do?”Mrs. Butcher asked.

  Again Erina had no answer. What was she supposed to tell her. That there might be a vampire trying to kill her because she saw him killing an innocent girl last night. But since he can’t get me, he's trying to kill everyone else.

  Or maybe she was still dreaming.

  “I-I am sorry. I’m gonna fix this” Erina looked at her. “Can you take care of Lucy?” she asked then turned around walking toward the car, not waiting for the woman’s answer.

  The ride back home was like the ride to the hospital. Silent and painful. Full of tension, one can cut it with a knife. “I want to know what happened, last night. All of it” she spoke quietly.

  August hummed, not taking his eyes of the road. Or maybe he was just avoiding her eyes.

  * * *

  Chapter Eight

  Chances & Choices

  * * *

  “Sit” August motioned to the couch. Erina sat down, eager to know everything. August didn’t sit next to her or in front of her. He was pacing again, hand going through his raven hair. He sighed, “You were attacked by a Vampire last night” he started.

  Okay, no beating around the bush then – she thought. “Why were you lying?” Erina sighed, her head aching.

  August let a humourless chuckle. Then he stopped, turning to look at her. His blue eyes looking far too bright. Erina gulped. “What did you want me to tell you Red? Hey! Last night a vampire tried to suck you dry. Or Hey! Do you know he’s lusting after your blood?” he sneered. “Or that he tried to kill you foster mot-” he stopped, breathing heavily.

  In the back of Erina’s mind, she knew it too. Yet it still came as a shock. Because it only meant what Lucy said to her earlier was true. She was causing suffering to people around her, intentionally or not.

  “He did this” her voice a whispered.

  Both of his hands went into his hair, going through then tugging the ends of it. He looked helpless, pitiful when he looked at her and that was when she realized that the look was for her. “I’m so sorry” he spoke hoarsely.

  She shook her head, standing up. “I don’t need pity. I need answers. Why doesn’t he kill me and get this over with”

  “Because he's crazy. To him this-this is some-some sick game. He's enjoying it, seeing you like this. Killing you will be ending the game.” he explained, hairs tugging.

  “So what am I suppose to do? Wait until everyone I know ends up in the hospital like Lynette? Or worse, someone dies?” She yelled back.

  August suddenly stopped pacing.

  “What?” She asked.

  “Lucy gave me an idea.” He mumbled.

  “What are you talking about?” she demanded.

  “I think you should get away from here” he responded, his eyes meeting her.

  “No!” she argued.

  “Listen” he held her hand, sitting next to her. “He's following you. You leave, he leaves. This is a game to him. But leaving is your chance of getting out of this, saving everyone you love and yourself.” Erina open her mouth to speak but he beat her to it. “I called my brother – Vytas. It’s what he said to. I’ll call him to come and make patrols around here. Keep some eyes on everyone, if that'll make things better for you.” He explained.

  “Where will I go?” Erina laughed at him.

  August shook his head. “Well you are not going alone for starters.” she gave him a look, he rolled his eyes. “Please, you won’t survive a day. Plus you don’t have a car or anything.” he laughed.

  “Why-why are you doing this for me? I’m not saying that I’m not glad that you are helping. Because I am.” Erina gave him her most sincerest smile. “It’s just – why? Last night I tried to save someone. Guess what happened.” she shook her head. “Lynette tried to help me. Guess where she is now. So, why are you helping a stranger? What’s the catch?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I like being a hero. I get to brag about it.”

  “I’m serious”

  “Me too.” But she
kept giving him the ‘I-don’t-believe-the-shit-you-are-saying-look’. He sighs “okay, would you have helped me, if I was in you place?”

  “Hell no!”

  Now he gave her the same look. “Maybe” Erina shrugged.

  He shook his head, “think of it as I used to owe you. Now I’m returning the favor,”

  “What?” Erina asked with utter confusion. The black haired boy slash man just laughed. “Fine. Don’t tell me. Where the hell are WE going then?”

  August shrugged. “I don’t know. We can go anywhere we want. Think of this as a road trip.” He waved his hand between them. “A bonding road trip for us”

  Erina made a face. “Don’t say it like that. The whole cliché of it makes me itch” August just started laughed. Erina smiled. She liked his laugh. But there was an important matter. Another question was tugging in her mind. “Why is he doing this to me?”

  August licked his lips. “He's…did you ever read twilight?” he asked suddenly. Her brow frowned as she looked at him. Is he kidding me? – She thought. August shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. “Just answer me, Red”

  She exhaled, rubbing her eyes. She was too tired for this. “Yeah”.

  “Good. There, Edward was what - infatuated with Bella’s blood. It’s like that, but the problem here is that. He - our vampire tasted yours. When I got to you, he-he was already drinking from-you.” August spoke slowly, making sure she was with him, watching her reaction. “His blood lusts for you. No blood will ever taste as good yours to him until you die. The longer he waits to drink you, the better it's going taste to him”