Never Walk Alone : Chapter 2

Welcome for Chapter 2 of Never Walk Alone. Silakan membaca chapter 1 terlebih dahulu, karena cerita di chapter 2 ini adalah kelanjutan dari cerita di chapter 1 :). Sama seperti chapter 1, keseluruhan cerita ditulis dalam bahasa Inggris. Jika menemukan kesalahan gramatikal ataupun struktural, silakan email saya di sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com.

Selamat membaca :D

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"Father!"

I'm too shock to see the situation in front of me. My body can't move when I see Warren cut my father's head. Can't move when his head separated from his body. Blood pooled around my father and Warren. Then its flow toward me. A disgusting metallic smell, makes me want to vomit. But on the other side makes me shudder with desire to feel it.

What is it? Why I have an urge to taste blood? My father's blood?

I turn around and look at my mother. She stop crying, her gaze fixed on my father. She was quiet again, as if Father's death don't mean anything for her. Then she look at me, and like my father, she said, "Stay alive Alexandre. Stay alive for the sake of our lives."

Mother let go of myself and walk into Gregory's direction. Then she face Warren which body still covered in blood. My father's blood.

Mother walk through my father's body that lying on the floor, not stop to see him, her eyes fix on Gregory. And when she stand in front of Gregory, I am surprise to see her smile.

"Gregory, you've got what you want. Laurent's death is all that you want, instead of Alexandre's. Your pride were wounded and shattered because I chose Laurent, not you. "

"Marie, my love, you see so low on me. I always want you. You hurt me, yes it's true. But it will not happen if you and Laurent give your son willingly. "

"Willing or not, you will still kill my husband, Gregory. I know it, you forget that I can read your mind, right? "

Gregory jerked, wince, then look at her sharply. His uninterrupted composure began to waver.

"You will never own me, Gregory. Thirteen years ago, when I chose Laurent, I already knew this day would come. You can take the precious things of my life from me. But you will never get what you want the most. Myself, and also Alex. "

Mother then turn and walk toward my father's body that now lay lifeless. With her fragile hand, tremblely, she raise my father's head that lying on the floor. Mother stroked father's hair, closes his eyes, embrace him on her breast and said, "Wait for me, dragostea mea. Soon we will meet and will never be parted. "

Mother take my father's Claymore that still lying on the floor, near my father's dead body. And once again she walk to Gregory. Only this time she turned and face Warren.

"Warren, my friend, sorry I always make you worried, from when I live in Varuala until now."

"Marie ... I'm, I'm not going to apologize to what I have done. We both know that, when Laurent kidnap you from Varuala, this is the first thing I would do. "

"Kidnap? You wrong, Warren. Laurent never kidnap me. I go with him willingly." My mother just smile at Warren. Her face was calm, and serene. And now she point the Claymore toward Gregory.

"Well, well, what is it Marie? You want to kill me? "asked Gregory. He sound amused.

"Marie ..." Warren step to stop her.

Mother was not affected at all, she walked to Gregory, while still drew Claymore with her.

"You really want do this, Marie? Kill me? I know you will not be able to kill me. With your delicate hand. And those sword is so big for you to wield it "said Gregori.

Mother just shook her head, and then I see a strange aura surrounding my mother's body. Then, she suddenly scream with her hoarse voice, said something that I did not understand.

"Radu, my blood guardian! I give away my life for thee, by the old treaty!  With my blood, flesh and soul, I command thee to be Alexandre's guardian! Until his death! Until his descendant's death! Until your oath fulfilled! "

Then she do things I never think. Mother drive the Claymore to the her stomach!

"Marie!" Warren shout. While Gregory swore, "stupid, brainless woman! You kill yourself just to protect this child! "

Mother continue to hold the Claymore tightly. Blood was spill again. This time her body shaking. Her mouth spit blood, but she never budge. Her eyes look at Gregory with a deep hatred.

"Radu, wake up! I command thee to protect Alexandre! "

Mother pull the sword from her stomach. Warren try to catch her stumbling body, but Gregory told him to keep in his place with a piercing gaze. Mother then fall, dragging her body toward my father, and see me.

"Forgive...me... Alex ..."

I just stop to see my dying mother. Which means that two people in my life has gone. Two people who become the foundation of my life that will never go back. Two people, one die protecting me, one die for calling something that I do not understand.

I cry, but no tears come out, no sound speak. I become silent, stunned to see what was once my parents's body, this time like a broken doll. Unused.

"So sickening! She can choose me, she will still living with her son after that. But she choose to go to hell with that cockroach!! " Gregory's voice broke after the death of my mother.

"Master Gregory, what should we do with Marie's son?" ask Warren.

"Well, Warren, of course we're still stick with our first plan."

"But ..."

"You want to violate my orders, Warren?"

"No, sire!"

"Then kill him. His face is so like Laurent, make me disgust to see it! "

Warren walk toward me, pulling out his claws - a sharp claws from his fingers and said, "Sorry, son. As much as possible, I don't want to kill you. You are the son of a woman who once engaged to Master Gregory, my blood master. Even though I pledge my loyalty to him, I love her too. But I have to carry out the orders. "

If Gregory surprised to hear Warren statement, he never show it. Gregory remained standing like a statue. His violet eyes look at me like a hawk, so cold and calculated while watching its prey.

I trembled, and look around. Nothing I can use to defend myself. I can use the Claymore, but its too far, and I hesitate to pick it up. I then put the stance, and clench my hand forward, acting like a boxer.

"Hah, look at that! What a wonderful courage. Courage that is so foolish, young man. "Gregory sneer, laughing. Laughter that I find its disgusting.

Warren step forward to attack me, and I'm ready. He scratch my cheek, and blood come out. The putrid smell of blood makes me nauseous. So much blood spilled tonight.

Warren attack me again, but again he only scratch me. I see he's so reluctant to kill me. I stay in my place, hold up my fist, though I know it is useless, while Warren scratch my body. Again.

Hurt!

It's hurt!

Then, I smell a metallic tang of the blood.

It makes me sick, but once again I can't resist my desire to taste the blood.

Gregory apparently angry at the sight of Warren that so reluctant to attack me. His patience runs out, and he shout, "If you do not kill him now, you know the consequences, Warren. Anja will not be happy if she see her brother failed in the task. And I also know you will not be happy with what I do to Anja! "

Who's Anja?

I glance to my attacker. Warren just clench his jaw, then finally he cast an attack at me. And right on target! His hands now lock in my chest and I can feel his hands gripping my heart, ready to squeeze it at any time.

Blood emerge from my mouth, my awareness begin to disappear. I see Warren's body  slowly disappeared from my sight. Ah, soon I will follow my father and mother.

Heaven? Hell? I don't know. I'm ashamed. I just can not live like they want me to do.

But just at that moment, I feel there is something weird happen. Half unconscious, I hear Warren screaming in pain. And he let go of my beating heart. The pain was so unbearable, but that made me wonder. Why am I still alive, even though Warren hands was piercing my chest?

I try to concentrate. What things that makes Warren shouted? Is the sun on the morning has come? But it is not possible, it's still night. What things that makes Warren screams in pain like that?

"Help me, sire!"

Warren continue to scream, and I hear a no humanlike sound shredding Warren's body. I can't see clearly, but after some seconds I could see the glimpse of the shadow that move so quickly, and attack Warren for many times. It surprise me later, because even though the room was so dark, I could see  what happen to Warren.

Warren shouts grow louder, and now he sound like a human instead. But of course he's a vampire, not human. But hear the vampire who killed my father scream for help on Gregory make me shudder.

"What are you? Why are you doing this? "Gregory cried.

Warren screams again for the last time. Then all became silent.

"Are you Marie's guardian?"

The mysterious creature is silent. I can't see its figure. Only a towering black siluet and it look menacing. It hands, or I thought it was hand, flashing in red. Warren's blood.

I try to see what happened to Warren. And although in a weakened state, I almost faint to see Warren. The creature had been ripped Warren's body apart, and threw it into all corners of the room. A very bad way to die.

"What are you doing?" cried Gregory. This time I hear the fear in his voice. His fear is absolute.

The creature still silent, but then he said the most horrible sound I've ever heard, "I was ordered to protect Claire's blood, and that's what I do."



Claire? My middle name is Claire. And even in that moment I feel a little bit ashamed of my middle name that sound like girl name, hear that thing called me by my name make me think of my Mother.

I hear that creature roar with a ridiculous sound, then it attack Gregory. Panic, Gregory then ordered his men to attack the mysterious creature.

I saw it all with my blurred sight, clutching my badly wounded chest, punctured by Warren. Blood gushing over and over. I look at my father and mother for the last time, and said quietly, "I will stay alive".

Then, everything suddenly go black.

***

Where am I?

Everything is so blurry and I can't put a single coherent thought. Then, I realize I am in the hospital. My body was wrapped in bandages, and I smell the disinfectant. I could hear the constant buzzing of hospital's machine that connected to my body. Trying to hypnotize me to go back to sleep and forget the nightmare.

I try so hard to open my eyes and move my body. I have to know what happened, why I was in the hospital. Where is my father? Where is my mother? Warren? Gregory? That mysterious creature? The questions continues to spinning, playing in my head and make me dizzy.

I then push the button for the nurse, and a few minutes later a woman in a nurse outfit come, her face shaded. She see me and said, "oh, you awake? How are you? "

"Hi", I smiled, weakly, and the asked "what happened? Why am I here? "

"Calm down, son. You're safe here "she replied.

"But I want to know who brought me here? Then .. where both my parents ...? "

The nurse is silent, and look at me sympathetically.

"Your neighbor is who brought you here. He wanted to give some gifts for your family, but was surprised to see ... to see ... your house. You're the only one who survived. Your parents are dead. We can't help them..."

I know it. No need to describe their condition again. I saw it with my own eyes, my father and mother died. Also, it's impossible to help my father, with his head had been cut from his body.  They were gone for good. But, something bugged me.

"But my chest was ripped open!! I don't think the doctor can heal it. I would die alone from that!"

She look confused when see me. As to decide if I'm still lucid from my medicine. "Ripped open? No, son. You seems perfectly health. Just few scratch over your body. But you lose so many blood. That's why we connect the machine to your body. Weird indeed, you just have a few cuts, yet so many blood pool around you when paramedic come."

I'm stunned. I wonder, maybe the mysterious creature that heal me. The blood that pooled around me of course my own blood that fallin from wound Warren put to my chest.

The nurse then put the flowers in my room. Check my blood pressure, check the machine that connected in my body and after deciding she not worried about my situation, she left me.

Day by day in the hospital passed quickly, or I do not care. My neighbors visit me. My friends who always make fun and bullied me at the school came, and looked at me with pity look on their face. One of their parents offer me to life with them.

No, I thought. Why? I don't want the last incident to happen again. No way. Leave me alone. I don't want to see people who are dear to me die again. I see blood and I feel sick. Although on the other side, I think like if I craved it. It's disgusting.

Sometimes, once they are all gone, I cried uncontrollably. In my heart I promise myself, this is my last cries. From this time , I will not cry anymore. I will fulfill my parents's last words. Live alone and do not depend on others. Continue to survive.

Months  passed, the doctors and nurses decide I can be release out of the hospital. No relatives picked me up. No surprise after all. All of my neighbors offered help, but I'm resist them. I don't even want to see their faces that were full of pity.

After coming back from the hospital, I'm going to the grave of my parents. My neighbors kindly enough to look after them and provide a decent funeral. But I can't said thank you for them. My heart feels numb, I feel so empty when I see the grave. They were buried side by side. I just hope they will meet again in heaven, and will never be separated for the second time.

Before I leave the grave, I said, sobbingly, "Father, mother. I love you both. I'm sorry, you must give up your lives. I.. I  will never forget you. From now on I will start my own life. I will never forget that you've protected me until the last time. "

For a moment I felt like my mother's fingers stroked my hair. But I know it's just a feeling. There is no one stand in this cemetery besides myself. With a heavy heart I take my suitcase and start walking. I know, it may be difficult for 12 years old boy like me to take this path. But I'm sure I could.

I turn to the cemetery for the last time. Then look around. Peansville look so peaceful. Safe from the vampire attack, but still those filthy creatures that killed my parents.

Then I  walked and left Peansville. Go to Balkhas, like my father said in his last time. To go to the main base of Vampire Hunters.

Goodbye Peansville...

Goodbye, my home...

Goodbye... my parents...

The wind howled. Its sound like someone roar.

And I realize...

It's my roar of vengeance...