Draining people.

CHAPTER 4

   We slipped through the shadows of the buildings, Cade moving with easy grace and a silence that was astonishing. I wasn’t quiet or graceful, but at least I wasn’t a blundering idiot. Not this time anyway. I followed him as we made our way through the streets. I did not feel the rumbling approach of those monstrous things, but I kept alert for any sign of their return, or any sign of something elsecoming for us.

   The streets were not as cluttered with people now. I did not know what they did with the bodies when they were done with them, but thankfully they did not leave them behind. Guilt filled me for feeling relieved about the disappearance of the frozen people, but I couldn’t handle seeing their broken remains cluttering the street. Not on top of everything else.

   Cade slipped around a corner; my heart picked up a beat as he momentarily disappeared from sight. He was waiting for me when I turned the corner, his long fingered hand stretched behind him to hold me back.

   I stopped, my breath trapped within me as I strained to hear anything out of the ordinary. It was unnaturally still in the fading light of day. I wondered if the aliens had retreated to their ships for the night, or if they would be returning soon to start collecting the people still within their homes, and stores.

   Cade moved forward again. We made our way out of the center of town, slipping into backyards, staying to the woods as we swept through the shadows with more speed. Excitement and trepidation hammered through me as we neared my house. I didn’t know what to expect, I tried not to get my hopes up too much, but it was impossible.

   I almost broke into a run when my house finally came into view, but Cade held me back, his arm encircling my waist as he kept a tight grip on me. “Getting yourself killed won’t do you, or your family, any good.”

   I nodded, biting on my bottom lip as I ignored the strange sensations his touch aroused in me. Or at least tried to ignore them. It was impossible. My body tingled with unfamiliar currents of electricity when his fingers momentarily brushed over the bare skin exposed by the slight uplifting of my t-shirt. I forced myself to focus on something other than him, now most certainly was not the time to be thinking about this stuff.

   My house looked ominous in the fading light. It appeared empty, cold, and dark. My home was neverdark. Abigail was forever turning on lights, but she always forgot to turn them off. It wasn’t unusual to come home and find every light in the house blazing brightly, spilling from the windows, and lighting the night like a homing beacon. My mother and Aiden were constantly lecturing Abby to turn the lights back off; I remained silent on the matter. Though I never said it, I secretly liked the welcoming warmth of the lights when I came home. There had been enough darkness in our lives, I wasn’t about to tell Abby that she should keep the house dark too.

   The complete absence of them now was enough to make me want to cry.

   “Cade,” I breathed, choked by the lump in my throat.

   “They wouldn’t turn the lights on Bethany, not tonight.” I wanted to find solace in his words, but there was none. It was too dark, too quiet. I didn’t want to go in there, I had to. “Come.”

   He entwined his fingers with mine, pulling me slowly through the trees. We moved swiftly across the street, darting around to the back. For the first time I realized just how rundown my home had become. Paint was peeling off in flakes; the back porch sagged beneath the weight of years and weather. I was overwhelmed by sadness; a sense of helplessness filled me.

   I crept up the stairs, wincing when they squeaked beneath my weight. My heart hammered as I twisted the knob and pushed the door slowly open. I didn’t know what to expect, I was terrified of what I would find. The hinges creaked, the kitchen floor groaned slightly as I stepped inside. The familiar scent of my mom’s perfume, food, and scented candles washed over me. In the dim light I could make out the tidy kitchen counters. I could see the outline of pictures, report cards, and magnets that covered the fridge. Plants hung in the window over the sink, dishes were stacked neatly in the dish drain.

   It was my home, and for the first time it felt cold and lonely. Vacant.

   I made my way slowly through the kitchen. Though there was enough light to guide me, I moved mostly on instinct through the darkening rooms. Cade followed as I crept cautiously up the stairs. “Mom.” I was afraid to speak too loud in the foreboding silence. “Mom.”

   I heard the choked tears in my voice, the slight note of panic that was clearly audible. We reached the top of the steps, the house remained completely hushed. I swallowed heavily, forcing myself to speak louder. “Mom?”

   “Bethany.” I jumped slightly, startled by the response. I had truly believed that I was never going to receive one. Cade placed a hand in the small of my back, steadying me before I crashed into the banister. “Bethy?”

   “Abby?”

   There was a soft shuffling noise and then my little sister appeared in the doorway of our mom’s bedroom. Relief filled me, a small cry escaped as my knees nearly gave out. And then I was moving, running, fighting back tears of joy as I grasped hold of her. At fifteen, she was only two years younger than me, but she seemed much younger. Maybe it was her far more petite, and delicate build, but I felt it had more to do with her innocent, youthful air. She was nowhere near as jaded as I was.

   Her small arms wrapped around me, clinging tight as she sobbed against my shirt. “Oh Bethy I was so scared! I didn’t know what to do, I couldn’t leave her,” she moaned.

   I closed my eyes, my heart breaking as Abby confirmed my horrifying fear that our mother had not been as lucky as us. I could barely breathe, but holding Abby gave me a sense of strength that I hadn’t felt until this moment. I had to be strong for her; I had to keep her safe. No matter what, I hadto make sure that she survived. “Aiden?”

   Abby shook her head, her coffee colored hair fell about her shoulders in a tumbling mass of long curls. “I don’t know, he went to see Bret earlier but he hasn’t come back.”

   My hands tightened on her as I clung to her, taking solace in the fact that at least she was still moving, still ok. If Aiden was able to move he would come back here as soon as he could. Bret’s house was farther away than the antique store; it would take Aiden longer if he decided to wait for nightfall too. If he wasn’t still moving then I would find him at Bret’s, but I was in no hurry to rush out of here. Not right now. I was heartbroken, tired, and I wanted to see my mom. “Where is she?”

   Abby nodded toward our mother’s bedroom, but it was obvious that she didn’t want to return to it. She was shaking, terrified, and unlike me there were tears coursing rapidly down her face. I ached for her, she had probably spent the entire day standing guard over our mother, terrified and confused. And completely alone. I didn’t blame her for not wanting to return, she’d done enough already.

   “Stay here,” I said as I gently squeezed her shoulder.

   I moved past her, creeping into my mom’s room. The room was dark, but I saw her instantly. She was sitting on the bed, her head bowed over the papers spread out before her. Her reading glasses were in place, a pen was clasped between her lips. Her dark hair had been pulled into a lose bun that hung against her slender neck. The resemblance between her and Abby was unmistakable. They both had elfin, striking features, dark hair, and a petite physique. Abby and my mother had always reminded me of delicate faeries. I often felt awkward and out of place around them due to my clumsiness and larger build, a part of me was convinced I would accidentally hurt them one day. I was slender like them, but taller than and not as dark, as Aiden and I had inherited our dad’s height and honey blond hair.