Rage {Chapter 1: Hateful}

The next morning, I woke up very confused. It took me a couple minutes to remember exactly why I was sleeping on the floor. I sat up and saw that Chris was sitting up too, it looked like he had just woken up.He yawned.

"Why are you sleeping on the floor?"

"When I came back you were asleep in my bed."

He started blushing again.

"You could've woken me up."

I gave him a reasurring smile.

"No, its okay." I got up and started stretching.

"After I'm done with my shower I'll make you some breakfast if you want me to."

"Ok." Chris left and I hopped in the shower and got dressed. I was thinking about going to check on Rage when I remembered he wasn't here. I went downstairs and started making breakfast.

Chris finally came downstairs.

"Where's Jaydin?"

"He left. After his temperature went down he felt better."

Chris smiled a little. I still felt so bad about making Jaydin mad like that. As I was making some eggs, Chris walked up beside me with a paper in his hand.

"He left you a note."

I grabbed it from him. I was hoping it said something that included forgiving me. It didn't.

"What is he talking about? What kind of training?"

I wondered why Jaydin was putting me in such an akward position. He knew that Chris would see the note, so I knew he did it on purpose.

"Um, it's, like, self defense."

Sure. Why not.

"Ok..."

After we were done with our breakfast, I was wondering why Rage still wanted to have training. He was probably planning something. Grrr.

"So do I have to go with you?" Chris asked.

"I guess."

Would Rage still fight me if Chris was there?

"Do you know what building he means?"
"I think."

Chris gave me a very unsure glance.

"Let's go."

We walked around and around the alleys and streets by my house. I kept trying to remember where in the world we had been. Finally, we found it. We walked in and I was shocked to see that it had changed. There were some scattered chair around the room and a small safe tucked into one of the corners. As I scanned the room, my eyes fell on Rage sitting in one of the chairs. He stood up and walked over to me and Chris.

"So, you ready?"

"Mm-hmm."

Rage and Chris nodded at each other and Chris slunk off to sit in one of the chairs against the wall.

I looked up at Rage again, expecting him to still be mad at me, and noticed that he had at least two other sets of the strange marks on his neck. He pretended like he hadn't seen me looking.

"Ok, today we're gonna do things a little different. Do 10 push ups." I did as he asked and then bounced back up. I was kind of hoping Chris would get bored and leave so we could actually fight.

"The skills you already have are pretty good, and you only need to get a little stronger, but you have to be able to expect whats coming. What I'm gonna do is try to hit you, but my hand will be open like this." He held up his open hand. "You have to block my hand with yours. If you're hand doesnt stop mine, I'm going to be able to hit you. So be ready."

I nodded. He didn't give me much time to be ready. The second after I nodded his hand came toward me. After a couple minutes, I had to admit I was doing well. I hadn't missed his hand once. Then he started trying to hit me with both hands. That was a little more challenging. We probably looked like morons giving each other high fives. I still hadn't missed, but it was getting harder and harder to meet his hand. Before I could bring my hand up, he hit my face. He had even pulled his hand into a fist so it hurt really bad. It knocked me back and I almost fell.

He must of been expecting my reaction, because he tensed up as I got ready to hit him back. He started talking in a low, instigating voice that I knew Chris couldn't hear.

"Come on princess, you dont want to dissapoint your little boyfriend. Wouldn't wanna lose him too." The next thing I knew we were on the floor. I was fighting with all the strength I had.

This fight was different though. He didn't try to hit me, push me, or pin me. He just kept blocking the shots I took. It was pretty boring. Eventually Chris stood up.

"All right, stop!"

I looked up at Chris, he had stood up and walked over to us, his hands in fists. He looked really upset. Rage pushed me as he stood up and Chris came over to help me up.

"What is wrong with you! You know she can't beat you! You could've killed her!" Chris yelled at Rage. Then he put his hands on either side of my face and gave me puppy dog eyes.

"Are you okay?" He ran his thumb over the side of my face where Rage had hit me and I managed to keep myself from flinching.

"Yeah I'm fine." I pushed his hands away and stomped out the door. I didnt look back to see if he was following me. The fight had made me really mad. Then I thought that maybe it wasn't the fight itself, but what Chris had said. He had no right to yell at Jaydin like that! He was keeping other people from killing me. And it really pissed me off when he said that I couldn't beat him. I would someday. I knew I would.

After a couple minutes I heard footsteps behind me. I expected it was Chris and stopped for him to catch up. I was wrong. Rage glared at me and rammed into my shoulder as he walked by. Why was he being such a jerk? What was up with everyone lately? I waited a couple more seconds and Chris came out. Before he could say anything, I started to apologize, "Chris, I'm sorry I was so harsh. I was just a little mad."

"It's okay. You had a right to be mad." We started walking again and he softly wrapped his hand around mine. I looked at him and he smiled shyly at me. I faked a smile back. If Rage had walked up and held my hand I probably would be at the hospital right now recovering from a heart attack. But when Chris held my hand it didn't seem to matter.

When we got home, Chris looked very proud of himself. Or maybe he was just happy I held his hand the whole way home.

"I'm gonna go unpack some more of my stuff." The way he said 'more' gave me a new thought.

"Chris, how long are you staying?"

"Well...I, I dunno. As long as you want me here I guess."

I didn't say anything. I felt like he was indirectly asking to actually move in with me. True, if he went home he would have to go back to sharing an apartment with his brother, but I didn't know if I could deal with him for long.

While I was preparing lunch Chris came back down.

"Lie I have to talk with you."

"Um..ok."

We sat down across from each other at the table. At first I thought he was going to take my hands, but he stopped himself.

"Liabeth, I really like you." Oh crap. Not this already. "And I need to know if you like me too. Do you want to go out with me?"

What should I say? I knew that if I said yes, it would make me feel horrible, but if I said no, it might be for nothing, and it would hurt Chris.

"Do you?" I couldn't say no. He looked so anxious for me to say yes.

"Yes." He smiled and grabbed my hands.

"Great!" He stood up and pulled me into a hug. He gave me a big smile and then went to finish unpacking. I felt guilty. He was so happy, and I...wasn't. I felt like it was over, like I had sewn shut some chance at being with Rage. I didn't have a choice now.

For the next couple weeks, everything was normal. Chris didn't act any different, and for the most part, we just hung out at the house all day and talked. I was starting to get worried though. This was the longest I had gone without seeing Rage since we met. It seemed odd. Chris picked up on my nervousness and asked me repeatedly what was wrong with me. I usually just told him I didnt feel good.

One night me and Chris stayed up extra late to watch a movie. I soon found out that it was pretty boring, and since I was already tired from worrying about Rage all night, I fell asleep. I woke up and realized that I was laying next to Chris on the couch. He had fallen asleep too. I turned the tv off and tried to fall back asleep. Then I heard a scream. I jumped up. I knew that voice. I loved that voice and I had never heard so much fear in it. I ran out the front door. I heard Chris yell something to me as I raced out onto the sidewalk, but I couldn't understand what it was. I ran in the direction it had come from. I circled around aimlessly. It had sounded pretty close. I heard it again, and jumped when I realized it was almost right next to me. I snuck over to peek out onto a small opening inbetween the buildings, and saw Rage laying on the ground. There were tons of people around him, and I shuddered when I figured that they were probably vampires.

I didn't know what to do. I had no weapons, and I certainly couldnt fight all of them. Should I call the police? I swore quietly when my hand only found my empty pocket. No phone. My heart started beating faster as someone walked over to Rage. She bent down beside him and I heard him whimper.

I jumped out of my hiding place and ran as fast as I could over to Rage. I pushed the girl away from him and stood in front of him.

"Who are you?" The girl asked. She had pale red hair and deep blue eyes.

I jumped when I heard another voice behind me.
"Does it matter who? We're really lucky tonight..."

I smacked away the hand that had come out of the darkness to reach towards me. I heard a snarl. Some of the vampires standing around me and Rage had started to drift closer.

"Stay away from him!"

The girl with the red hair grabbed my arm and started dragging me away from Rage. As I tried to hit her in the face, she snapped me back and brought her arm around my neck.

"Now you just go home and forget about this!" she hissed in my ear.

I bit her arm as hard as I could and she dropped me. I ran back to where Rage was. He still hadnt moved.

I screamed as I felt at least three different sets of hands grab my arms. Suddenly there was a loud bang and me and everyone holding me fell to the ground. I heard a scream and then the sound of many footsteps running away. I heard a loud voice coming from somewhere in the crowd, "All of you leave! NOW!"

In seconds there was no one left but me, Rage, and the man who had commanded everyone to leave. He had deep black hair that fell to his shoulders and sparkling brown eyes. He walked over to me and smiled. My first thought was to protect Rage. I put myself inbetween Rage and the man.

"Don't worry," he said in a very comforting, nice voice, "I'm not going to hurt you. Or Jaydin."

That surprised me. How did he know Jaydin?

Jaydin looked up at the sound of his name. I was startled when Rage groaned, "No!"

He jumped to his feet and pulled my with him. He started to walk away, pulling me along by my arm. I could tell it really hurt him, but he was trying not to let it show. As soon as we were out of sight of that man, he let go of me. I thought he was going to fall, but he leaned against a wall. He slowly slipped down it. I fell on my knees next to him. The moonlight gave the blood on his neck and shirt an odd shine.

"Jaydin, we have to get you to a hospital. Can you walk? Do I have to go get help?"

He didnt move.

"Come on Jaydin! You're hurt, you have to get to a hospital!" I stood up, but he grabbed my arm.

He shook his head a little. "No."

"You need help-"

"No."

"You have to!" My voice was starting to sound a little pathetic. Why wouldnt he go to a hospital? He could die if he didnt!

"Just take me back to your house." He winced and grabbed his ribs.

"I cant-"

"Please."

I didnt know what else to do. I wasn't going to leave him, and even though he was hurt, I still wouldnt be able to force him to go to a hospital.

I helped him up and we started for home. I almost screamed when someone appeared from behind a building.

"Liabeth! What happened?! Where have you been! Wh-" he saw Rage and his eyes got big.

"What happened to him?"

"Just help me get him inside."

"But-"

"DO IT!"

I couldnt help but yell. I wasn't going to let Rage down.

Somehow, we managed to get him inside. I told Chris to run upstairs and get a towel, guaze, antibiotic ointment, and band aids. I could hear him running all the way up to the bathroom and back down. As soon as he handed me the towel I started wiping off some of the blood on Rage's neck. I almost puked.

He looked horrible. I continued to wipe off some of the blood and used the ointment. It seemed like he had already stopped bleeding, which was unbelievable. I folded some guaze and put it on his neck.

"Are you hurt anywhere else?"

He didnt answer and my heart almost jumped out of my chest.

"Jaydin! Are you hurt anywhere else!?"

He blinked his eyes. He just nodded and pointed to his shirt. He sat up and somehow managed to take his shirt off, and then grabbed his ribs again. There was a series of deep purple bruises across his torso and sides.

"Jaydin! You have to go to a hospital! What if one of your ribs are broken!"

"They're not..." he mumbled.

"How do you know?" I could feel tears starting in my eyes, but they stayed in my eyes, making everything blurry.

"I-know what broken ribs feel like, and I already-checked them."

I inspected the bruises again, and noticed that there was only one bruise actually close to his ribs, and it wasn't one of the worst bruises.

I noticed for the first time that Chris was standing behind me, staring at Rage with a mixture of disgust and horror. He flicked his eyes over to mine.

"Y-you should take him to the hospital."

"He won't go. I think he's gonna be ok."

Rage sat up and gently put his hand around his neck. The look of pain and misery on his face made the tears that had gone away in my eyes come back. I didnt want to start crying, because Chris would be jealous all over again.

Rage had his head in his hands, and when he spoke his voice was low and scratchy sounding.

"Lie, can I stay here tonight?"

"Of course you can! Do you wanna go lay down upstairs?"

He nodded and stood up. He wrapped an arm around his ribs and I followed him up the stairs. I opened the door for him and turned on the lamp beside the bed. He sat down, but didnt take his arm away from his ribs.

"Are you sure you're gonna be ok?"

"I'll be fine."

He layed down and I leaned down to turn off the light. I turned to leave and he grabbed my arm. He held it for a couple seconds and then dropped it. I heard him sigh and by the time I was closing the door he was already asleep. I got downstairs and was attacked.

Chris hugged me ferociously.

"I'm so glad you're not hurt. I was so scared, I didnt even know where you were. Dont ever run out by yourself like that!"

"I'm fine Chris. I'm sorry I made you worry." He took half a step back and looked into my eyes. He had so much care and worry for me in his eyes it made me feel better about saying yes. He bent down to kiss me quickly on the lips.

He stepped back and we walked upstairs. We both said goodnight out in the hallway and then walked into our rooms. Now that I was over the adrenaline rush from earlier, I felt exhausted. I got changed into pajamas and felt grateful to crawl into my comfy bed.