Bitten

The city is awake.

People talking as they roam the streets laughing and gossiping over the day’s events.

Peering down onto the street I see that a couple is making their way back to their place, or at least I hope they are a couple.

The apartment is full of heavy breathing and two hearts beating in a relaxed manner as Mason and Hannah are unconscious. One willingly and the other one forced.

Not wanting to scare the child I decided to leave the lamp on the side table is on.

I don’t know what to do. I have never been in charge of a child. Are they supposed to sleep on their back or stomachs?

I glance over at Hannah. Hannah is asleep on her side. The fact that her body lifts and drops with every breath she takes seem to calm me.

Stepping closer to her I sit at the edge of the couch and tower over her. Her face is peaceful she’s probably having a dream. I glance at the wall clock it’s four in the morning and I haven’t been able to sleep.

I get up and walk to the window and look out at the dark city once again. There is no one out this time. My shoulder is press against the wall as I sigh.

What am I doing?

I look over at her and her eyes flutter open, the cheek she was sleeping on is red, and her eyes are in a sleepy haze. I walk to her and sit next to her.

“Shh, go to sleep Hannah I’m right here.” She looks at me and a whimper escapes her lips. “What’s wrong?” I whisper. She sits up and wraps her arms around my neck, I pull her closer and rub her back rhythmically. She shakes in my arms and soft sobs make their way through her lips, “You’re safe, you don’t have to be scared!”

She is safe now, and I won’t let anything happen to her.

“Machon?” Her big eyes are on me.

“He’s...” unconscious, “asleep.”

She rests her head on my chest and I look down her eyelashes are wet from the tears, she blinks a couple of times. I wonder if she is going to go back to sleep this is no hour for her to be awake. I stand up and she stiffens in my arms, I walk around bouncing her gently trying to soothe her back into slumber.

Instead of a yawn, I get a giggle. “You think this is meant to be fun?” I pull her away and she looks at me and nods. “Oh, yeah!” I push her up to the ceiling, my hands around her stomach and she squeals in delight. I pull her down and do it again her childish laugh brings a smile to my face. I lift her shirt and do a raspberry on her belly and she explodes in laughter. I lift my head to look at the tears of laughter on her eyes and I lower my head when the front door opens and I feel Hannah be pulled out of my hands, a hiss erupts.

Wes is standing in front of me with Hannah in his arms. Hannah is squirming in his arms trying to get away from him.

“What are you doing?” He says through his clench teeth.

“Nothing,” I don’t understand.

“Are you trying to kill her?”

“What the f...” I stop myself looking at Hannah. She has her arms stretched out towards me begging me to get her.

“Give her back!” I snap.

“Abigail, what if you would have bitten her? You wouldn’t be able to stop yourself. I thought you wanted to save them, not kill them yourself!” He leans to the side and looks at my bedroom, then settles his gaze on me. I know he’s checking if Mason is still alive. I don’t have to turn to hear his breathing and heartbeat. Just like I can hear Hannah’s heart beating against her chest as she struggles to get away from Wes.

“She’s scared just give her back.”

“You weren’t trying to hurt her?” I give him a perplexed look, walk up to him, and take Hannah away from him.

“No, I was trying to comfort her.”

“Her cheeks are flushed and her heart is beating loud and you have no urge to go after her,” he runs his finger through his hair and shakes his head.

“No, why are you even here? I didn’t let you in!” I question.

“You didn’t let me in earlier either, I have my ways.” I huff and turn away from him.

“Don’t be like that, I’m trying to help you out with your guest. See!” I turn and look at him and he points to the door. I look at the open door and there are grocery bags on the floor, he must’ve dropped them as he was making his way towards me. “I brought you some food and milk for the girl. I remember that you have nothing editable, at least for them.” He smiles.

I don’t find that funny.

“Erm thanks, but you didn’t have to I was going to go shopping later today.”

“It was no problem, and I needed an excuse to...” he scratches his neck and doesn’t finish his sentence. I frown I know where he is going with that. He wanted to check up on me and make sure that I was still alive. I open my mouth but decide against it.

“Are you hungry?” I cooed at Hannah, she smiles and her eyes brighten up. “Let’s see what we have.”

I am about to walk to the door but the bags are gone. I look over at Wes and he is sitting on the couch with his hands behind his head looking straight ahead. I look at the table and the bags are there.

Wow, he is fast.

I sat Hannah at the table and start going through the bags; milk, cereal, eggs, bacon, pancake mix, apples, bananas, bread, and ham. I look over at Wes and he still doesn’t look at me. He brought things that he thinks Hannah might like. I grab a bowl and spoon and serve Hannah a bowl of cereal. The sound of her crunching can be heard throughout the apartment. I sit on the chair next to her trying to wipe the milk that isn’t able to make its way to her mouth. Wes sighs and stands up, I look over at him and so does Hannah.

“I’ll be right back,” he walks out the opened front door and reappears a couple of seconds later, he closes the door with his foot and he has two paper bags in his arms.

“What’s in there?” Wes places them on the table and shrugs.

“Some essentials,” I peek into the bag and there is toothpaste, toothbrushes, and the soap I stop looking.

“You don’t owe me anything Wes, they’re my guests I can look after them,” he rolls his eyes.

“Abigail all you have to say is two words that’s all!” He goes back into the couch and sits down as if he was at his place. I sigh and lower my shoulders in defeat.

“Thank you,” I whisper and he nods his head. “How’s the cereal?” I look down at Hannah and she doesn’t pay any attention to me she is chasing the last bits of fruit loop around her bowl. A groan comes from my bedroom, “Stay away from her,” I say in the direction of Wes but he waves me off and is flipping through the channels.

I walk into my bedroom and Mason is rubbing his temples and looking around in confusion. “Where am I?” I turn on the light as I walk in and he squints and rubs his eyes.

“Sorry,” I turn the light off.

“Hannah! Where’s Hannah?” I shush him.

“She’s in the kitchen eating. I brought you here after you got beat up by some guys in the street.” It appears his sight is focused now because realization hits him.

“Oh my god, are you okay? How’s Hannah?” His eyes widen and he tries to get out of the bed quickly, but he clutches his side and lets his body go down on the bed.

“Easy now, we’re fine. She was a bit shaken up but she is fine now.”

“I want to see her.” He must be a great brother, I nod. I walk to the door, and Hannah is looking at me.

“Come on sweetie,” she climbs down the chair and walks towards me. Her eyes widen when she sees Mason.

“Daddy!” She screeches and I gasp. Daddy? He’s her father? She’s his daughter. He picks her up and kisses her cheek.

“Hey, sweetie!”