My heart curls in anger at even the thought of her anywhere near Colton in his office. I’m fed up of that bitch, this is all her fault.
No, she never goes in my office.
If she was involved in this, I will kill you. Ray’s threat rings in my ears harshly. I need to wake up, now. I try moving but it’s useless. Something inside of me is screaming out in anger, boiling my blood past crazy.
I think Layla is waking up.
Layla ? Colton asks worriedly, his voice close. I can feel his hand on my forehead, lightly brushing my hair away. I want to see him, no, I need to see him.
Finally, the lock keeping my eyes closed springs free and I’m able to open my eyes and take in my dim surroundings.
The lamp that is on in Colton’s room blinds me for a moment, but my eyes adjust quicker than they usually would.
There are five people in this room and it startles me for a moment, but I relax when my eyes meet Colton’s dark brown ones.
Hey baby. He tries to smile, but can’t. He looks so pale as he places a kiss on my cheek. I always have a reaction whenever Colton kissed me, but this one is more intense and it leaves me wanting more. Ray is here.
My brother steps forward and I move my eyes over to him. He looks worried, his brown hair dishevelled as he looks at me with watery eyes. It’s an expression I’ve never seen on his face before.
Hey, he mumbles, crouching down beside me. Are you okay ?
Am I okay ?
Now that is a question I can’t bring myself answer. I feel…alien. I can hear and now see everything perfectly. But it’s my body that’s scaring me. I feel nothing but a burning pain that is searing my bitten shoulder constantly. Not only that, I feel beyond disorientated and angry.
I grit my teeth, every nerve ending on my body firing red. I move my eyes back to Colton, wanting him to somehow know.
You didn’t come, I whisper. I need
Him to somehow know how much of the hurt I’m feeling inside.
She’s slipping ! Mike cries out, and before I can stop it, the room goes black and I’m falling back into darkness.
My back hits a damp floor. I cry out as my back cracks from the impact.
I breathe out and look around frantically. I’m in an alley, the same alley were Toby kissed me to cover up Colton’s scent that day.
I look and jump in fright to see Toby is standing in front of me. His mouth is moving but I can’t hear any word.
W-where’s Colton ? I ask
Him, standing.
Toby’s mouth continues to move quickly, but again I can’t hear his voice.
I’m terrified as darkness starts closing in around me. Monstrous growls echoes around me, but I can’t see anyone but Toby.
I scream when he suddenly grabs me around my throat and slams me into the wall hard.
Toby, stop ! I cry, but I soon realise that it isn’t Toby who has hold of me. It’s Carlos.
He’s back.
I start thrashing and try kicking him away. Not again. I can’t take this again. He throws me against the brick wall.
Do you think Colton will love you when you shift into a moonwalker, Layla ? Do you think he’ll love someone that lusts after human flesh and a species that killed his parents so brutally and enjoyed it ? I scream out, but Carlos chuckles coldly. Colton will hate you, doll. Your infection will spread and you will shift into a one of us. He’ll hate you forever.
No, I love him !
He will never love you, he won’t even get rid of Jenny for you, Carlos taunts and draws back his fist as if to hit me. As for me, I want you… I want you so fucking bad.
Please don’t, not again ! I shout, fear pumping through my veins. I can’t take this again. I squeeze my eyes shut and scream, fighting with all my might as I wait for the blow.
Layla ! Colton’s voice shouts in the distance, making Carlos drop me to the floor.
Please don’t hate me. I slump to the ground and hold my head in my hands as I cry hysterically, rocking back and forth. I can’t get out of the darkness. Don’t hate me.
Open your eyes. I’m here, Colton’s voice comes again and he sounds in pain.
Breathing heavily, I open my eyes, trusting him, even though I fear it’s a cruel joke. I’m so confused. But it is real and relief sweeps through me seeing that I’m now back in Colton’s bedroom.
But something is really wrong. Colton is on top of me once again, pinning my hands down beside my head. He’s out of breath as he holds my body down with his own.
I look around, seeing Ray rise from the floor, groaning as cement from the wall crumbles around him. It looks as if he’d been thrown across the room.
Toby is clutching hold of his stomach, blood dampening his thin t-shit as he rests against the chest of drawers breathing heavily. He removes his hand, long enough for me to see he’s been clawed.
Mike is also pressed up against the wall, looking fearful and shaky.
They’re afraid of me.
Colton be careful, easy now.
Be careful ? What was he going on about ? Did I do this ?
I start hyperventilating, fear riding though me once again. No, I didn’t mean to hurt anybody.
I look back at Colton, who is still sitting on top of me assessing the situation. Even he looks wary of me and I don’t like it.
W-what are you doing ? I sob. His hard eyes soften immediately and he lets go, scooping me up in his arms and hugging me.
It’s okay, you had another hallucination, he whispers into my ear. I cry into him, grabbing at his bloodied shirt and bury my head in his chest.
When will… t-this end ? I shake from my fits of tears.
I need you to tell me something. He pulls me away from him so he can look down into my eyes.
Those dark eyes of his say so much and I can’t help but to shake my head. I know what he’s going to ask but I feel so scared and angry. What if I tell him and it doesn’t change anything ?
No ! I shout and push him away, but his arms wrap around my waist tightly, stopping me from moving away from him.
Did Jenny have anything to do with this ? Please tell me, Layla. I need to know.
…Yes, I sob. She did.
I bow my head, unable to look at his reaction as tears fall down my nose and drip onto my hand. I sniffle as his fingers wipe my tears away even though his body has completely stiffened.
She thought we were sleeping together. She said you always cheat on her so she made… She needed me out of the way, so she wanted to turn me into something you hate. He…it was on her orders. It was all her fault.
I lift my head to see Colton’s face go paler. He opens his mouth and breathes out heavily. Anger and hurt flicker over his expression. I’m so sor-