Page 100 of This Blood That Binds Us

“Yeah. . . short . . . red hair . . . our friend . . . ?”

His tone didn’t match his words. Worry had dispersed in his eyes, and he panned to the woods.

I still had no idea who he was talking about. My mind was still playing catch-up. I strained my brain, trying to push back the fog and think harder.

“Guys . . . g-get over here. Now,” Presley called out.

“What? What’s wrong?” Zach appeared, and I stumbled back onto my heels.

“Something’s w-wrong with Aaron . . .”

Presley had only stuttered a handful of times in my life.

“Luke. Get over here. Now,” Zach muttered.

“What?” I said slowly.

Their seriousness was unsettling.

“Aaron, where is Kimberly?” Luke pulled me close to his face.

“Kimberly...” I closed my eyes, trying to remember. Kimberly. Of course. Kimberly Burns. How could I have forgotten her?

Luke shook me. “Can you hear me? Where is she?” His grip was firm on my shoulders.

“Why do you keep asking me that? I don’t know! What’s happening?” I pulled away from them. I didn’t like the wide-eyed stares they were giving me.

“Aaron.” Luke’s voice was strong, and he stood in front of me. Time was passing quickly, and I didn’t even see him appear. “I need you to focus...What happened?”

“Wha—what happened, when? Why are you looking at me like that?”

He shook his head and got closer to my face. “You left with Kimberly...What happened to her?”

Like the quick snap of a rubber band, my thoughts fell into place. Everything came back at once. My dull senses kicked back into overdrive, and I could smell the sweet scent coming from my shirt. I’d know that smell anywhere. Blood.

I looked down, afraid of what I would find. Red stains, shining brightly in the dark night, smeared my hands, almost as if it were glowing. Shock hit, and I threw my hands in disgust.

“No! No, no, no. This isn’t happening. What the fuck!?” I fell backward, but Zach stopped me.

“Tell us what you remember,” Luke said, his voice sharp.

They crowded me, and I closed my eyes. “I-I walked with her, and we were talking . . . I think . . . It was getting dark . . . and . . . I don’t remember.”

Her blood was so sweet it was almost repulsive. I couldn’t take my eyes off my hands.

Luke and Zach were staring at each other. “You smell that, right?”

“Blood,” Luke said as he peered back toward the forest again. They weren’t talking about the blood on my hands.

“We have to go get her.” My voice shook with fear that was slowly consuming me. I had hurt her. I was sure of it. Nausea erupted in my stomach.

“Okay, show us.” Luke moved us out of the circle, and we headed for the forest.

As I ran farther into the trees, memories resurfaced. I followed the familiar feelings until we reached an opening. The stench of blood was all over the ground.

“Kim...” I meant to say it out loud, but it didn’t come out as more than a whisper.

“Kimberly!” Presley yelled, his voice echoing in the trees.