Blood Awakening Read online

  Blood Awakening

  A Short Story

  By Wenona Hulsey

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Copyright © 2011 by Wenona Hulsey

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  1 Happier Times

  “Come on, let’s get this party started,” shouted Kat from her Jeep as she pulled up to the curb in front of Nicole’s apartment. Her long, black hair was pulled up into a ponytail and her bright orange bikini top seemed to glow against the black interior.

  The top was down on the Jeep, giving Nicole a full view of her best friend’s beaming face. She jogged to the waiting car, slinging her overnight bag into the back before jumping in. “I’ve been waiting for this all week,” Nicole said excitedly. “The sand beneath my feet, a strong drink in my hand and my best friend by my side.” She grabbed Kat in a quick hug then leaned back, slipping her sunglasses on as they pulled onto the road.

  “So the truth comes out! I knew you loved my spontaneous side! You just act indecisive, when in reality, you’re a wild woman looking to have some fun,” Kat grinned at her.

  “No, I’m not crazy like you, but I’m looking forward to getting away for the weekend.” She shrugged her shoulders as she pulled her long, curly, brown hair up into a ponytail, putting an end to the wind’s incessant whipping of it into her face. “You’re the yin to my yang, Kat; we balance each other out. Together, we make for one hell of a time,” she laughed.

  “You and I are gonna find us some hot eye candy at the beach and eat em up!” giggled Kat as she pulled to a stop. It was the only red light in their small home town of Double Springs.

  Nicole sprang up from her seat, throwing her arms over the roll-bars with a mischievous smile on her face. “Goodbye Alabama,” she waved, using a perfectly executed “beauty queen” wave at the scarce traffic. “Hello Panama City, Florida!” She exclaimed as she took a deep breath of the humid, early morning air, letting the scents of honeysuckle and pine fill her nose.

  “Come on,” Kat urged, pulling her hand and dragging her back to her seat as a horn honked from behind them, “Let’s put this puppy in the wind.” She pulled out of the small town and headed south for a weekend of sun and fun.

  The duo pulled to a stop in front of their hotel just as the sun was beginning to set, casting beautiful hues of orange and deep purple across the horizon, where it kissed the ocean waters. A few wrong turns and more than one pit stop at clothing shops Kat couldn’t ignore had them running behind schedule. But Nicole didn’t complain; she was enjoying every second of the time she had away from her country town. She loved the place where she grew up, but after losing her mother a few months earlier, she was ready to get away from all the pity-filled eyes that constantly reminded her of her loss.

  She knew everyone meant well, but it sometimes made it even more painful for her and her father to move on with their lives. The many heartfelt condolences followed by “How are you holding up?” and “We are praying for you and your dad, honey,” only made it more difficult to keep from crawling into a deep, dark cave somewhere where she could grieve openly for her mother. Sure, both she and her father knew the fateful day was near, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

  As soon as she realized her mother wasn’t responding to the chemotherapy, Nicole began to prepare herself for the inevitable. Although she continued to pay rent for her small apartment, she practically moved back in with her parents, just so she could be by her mother’s side. Day by day, she watched the life fade from her mother’s sparkling, blue eyes as she slowly deteriorated. It all happened so fast, yet so slow, at the same time. It was hard watching her suffer each day, growing thinner and more frail, but Nicole continue to pray for a little more time together before death finally arrived at her mother’s door.

  “Hey, are you okay?” asked Kat as she placed a comforting hand on Nicole’s arm. She knew just how tough things had been on her friend and was hoping to get her mind off her sadness, even if just for a few days.

  Nicole smiled softly as she realized she had zoned momentarily, “Yep, I’m ready to have some fun,” she said, shaking away the thoughts of her mother. “Let’s get dressed and find something to eat, I’m starving.”

  “I second that.” Kat jumped from the Jeep and began dragging suitcases from the back while Nicole grabbed her overnight bag.

  Nicole laughed, “We’re only staying two days Kat, do you really need this much stuff?”

  Kat pursed her lips, then stuck out her tongue, “ I packed enough for the both of us, because, frankly, you dress like crap.”

  Nicole looked down at her torn, cutoff shorts, bright pink tank-top and black flip-flops, then back at her smiling friend. “Just for that, you can carry your own damn closet,” she smirked, blowing a kiss at Kat before walking toward the hotel.

  *****

  An hour later they found two seats at Schooners, a tourist-packed bar and grill that sat right on the beach. Their table gave them a perfect view of the waves crashing onto the shore, each crest sparkling in the bright moonlight. Couples walked hand and hand in the sand with a glow all their own, the glow only people in love could create. Nicole thought it was one of the most magical images she had ever seen. She turned to see if her friend was as mesmerized by the view as she was, but Kat was too busy picking out the hottest guys in the place to notice.

  “Look at that one,” Kat whispered as she flashed a quick glance toward the bar. “He is yummy,” she purred.

  Kat turned her head slightly, catching a glimpse of the eye candy in question, “Yep, he is a good one. Blonde hair and blue eyes, just like you like them.” Nicole giggled and turned back quickly as the guy looked over at them and smiled, revealing two cute dimples in his dark tanned cheeks. Kat gave a flirty wave, displaying her usual boldness, while Nicole looked back over in time to see eye candy number one elbow his friend, who was more of the rugged, surfer-type, and point at them.

  “Oh my God, I think they’re coming over,” gasped Nicole.

  “Of course they are,” said Kat with a wink. “His friend is hot too. I think we just found our candy store,” she giggled.

  “Excuse me, ladies,” eye candy number one said with a wide smile, “do you mind if we join you?”

  “Not if you buy me a drink,” said Kat as she patted the seat next to her.

  Nicole rolled her eyes at her brash friend. Always the flirt, looking for a good time, ignoring the “what ifs?” that blasted into Nicole’s head like giant caution signs, hanging over the highway she called life. She adjusted herself in her chair as surfer-guy took the seat beside her.

  “Hi, I’m Nick, Nick Read and this is my friend Matt.” said surfer guy as he offered Nicole a hand.

  “Nicole Keenan.”

  “Nice to meet you Nicole. What are you drinking?”

  “She’ll have a Margarita and I’ll have a Sex on the Beach,” Kat announced as she looked over at Matt, biting her bottom lip seductively. Matt’s hand shot up like he was flagging a taxi, trying desperately to get the waitress’ attention.

  Nicole giggled at the pair, then, as she turned to thank Nick for the drink, she felt a cold chill run up her spine. Her shoulders stif
fened and her muscles tensed, as if preparing for a fight. She fought the inner voice telling her to flee, as she tried to trace where this gut-wrenching feeling was coming from. Her eyes darted around the packed restaurant, quickly colliding with eyes as dark as night that belonged to a man sitting alone at a dimly lit table in the corner. He held her gaze, unblinking as he stared directly into her face.

  Fear washed over Nicole, like the waves crashing on the beach outside of the picture window next to her. She studied his black, shaggy hair and the unkempt beard that outlined his broad face, trying to memorize his features, but it seemed the harder she stared at him, the more out of focus he became.

  “Nicole….Nicole, honey.” Kat touched Nicole’s arm causing her to jump, almost knocking over the table. “Are you okay?”

  “Um….Yes, I’m fine. I think I’m just tired from the long ride.” Nicole pasted on a fake smile for the group that was beginning to stare at her.

  “Do you want to call it a night?”

  Nicole turned back around searching for the man, but he was gone. Still, the uneasy feeling remained in her stomach. “Do you mind? I mean, I don’t want to ruin your night but…”

  “No problem. I’m sure Nick and Matt will meet up with us tomorrow on the beach.” Kat smiled at Nick as she ran a finger playfully along his forearm.

  Matt grinned like a school boy who just discovered his dad’s stash of Playboy magazines. “Sure, we’ll catch up with you all tomorrow.” He pulled a black cell phone from his pocket. “How about I get your number so I can give you a wake-up call?”

  Kat pulled out her bright pink iPhone with a wink and said, “How about I get your number and I’ll call you when we hit the beach.”

  Nicole scanned the room again as the two played footsie with phone numbers, looking for any sign of the man who had her skin crawling moments before. He seemed to just vanish into the air, while the disquiet in her stomach remained a reminder of his visit.

  *****

  A dreamy haze overtook Nicole as she slept. She knew she was dreaming but at the same time, everything seemed so real. She turned her head from side to side, taking in the miles of deserted beach that surrounded her. The sands were pristine white, with only small ripples breaking the smooth surface where emerald waves lapped the shores. She looked down at the sand around her feet, eyeing the shimmering crystals that powdered her toes and reveled in the feel of the granules beneath her.

  The shriek of a seagull echoed in the air as it flew overhead, drawing Nicole’s eyes to a cliff that created a wall behind her. Bright green grass dotted with large, violet flowers flowed over the natural wall, but the real beauty was a stone castle that loomed above her. Two large towers, each featuring arched windows and beautiful rose and emerald stained glass, seemed to touch the blue sky on either end. A large balcony hugged the edge of the cliff in the center of the gray stone wall.

  Nicole’s breath caught in her throat when she saw a beautiful woman staring down at her from her stone pedestal. Her fair skin seemed translucent, like porcelain, and long, brown curls cascaded around her shoulders. The woman wore a deep purple dress with a silk shawl draped around her arms. The ends of the shawl danced in the breeze around her. She smiled softly at Nicole, then turned her head, staring back at the castle.

  When she looked at Nicole again, her face was full of fear. The woman leaned forward, over the edge of the balcony, as if she were about to jump, but was yanked back rudely by a man with a sword sheathed at his side. The woman’s eyes found Nicole’s again. In her mind, she heard “They are coming for you!”

  Nicole started backing away from the cliff, not knowing where to run, but only that she needed to get out of there. The knot in her stomach and the tightness in her chest told her this place wasn’t safe. She turned to run but collided with a solid mass. The mysterious man from the restaurant stood in front of her, surrounded by blackness with eyes that were dark, bottomless orbs. He reached for her as she backed away, shaking her head. “No! Don’t touch me!” she shouted.

  “Wake up!” The voice echoed in her head as she felt fingers wrap around her arm. She jerked wildly, trying to escape the grasp.

  “Nicole, wake up!”

  Nicole’s eyes shot open as she pressed her body up against the headboard of her bed. She looked around frantically, trying to figure out where she was.

  “Honey, are you okay?” asked Kat. Her eyes were wide and searching as she released her grip on Nicole’s thrashing arm.

  Nicole nodded her head as she realized it was all just a dream. She was still in her bed at the hotel, not on some faraway beach trying to escape an unknown attacker. “Sorry. I was having a nightmare, I guess,” she said as she straightened her rumpled covers.

  “I would say so.” Kat smiled gently at her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “No, it was just a crazy dream, that’s all.” She slid back down onto her pillow, pulling the covers back up around her. “Thanks anyway.”

  Nicole lay there awake, listening to Kat’s breathing as she settled back into the slow, deep rhythm of sleep. She kept seeing the woman’s frightened face in her mind. She wondered what would scare her so badly that she would be willing to jump to her death to escape. What fate could be worse than death?

  2. Awakening

  Nicole and Kat spent the morning lounging in the pool outside of their room. Nicole shrugged off any lingering thoughts of last night’s dream quickly as she allowed herself to start enjoying the mini-vacation as well as quite a few poolside drinks adorned with umbrellas.

  “Wow, that’s what? Drink number three for you? And it’s not even noon yet,” teased Kat as she dried off and took a seat in the white lounge chair next to Nicole.

  Nicole smiled as she took a big sip from the straw in her Margarita, “I am vacationing, Kat.”

  “You’re absolutely right and I’m so glad to see you’re finally letting your hair down. I know it’s a hard thing for you to do.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Well, after the way you practically ran out of the restaurant last night when we met those two hotties, I was sure you’d put your granny panties on for this trip.”

  Nicole’s mouth dropped open as she glared at Kat over the top of her white rimmed sunglasses. “I did not run out of there. I just wasn’t feeling well.” Nicole pursed her lips into a dramatic pout.

  Kat chuckled, “Okay, I believe you.” She sighed, giving Nicole’s leg a playful pinch. “Think I’ll get me one of those drinks, too.” She waved a hand toward the patio bar and pointed to the drink in Nicole’s hand. When the bartender gave her a nod, she turned back to face her friend. “Seriously though, you seemed a bit upset last night and then you must have had one hell of a nightmare because you were totally freaking out.”

  Nicole observed her friend’s concerned face as she thought about the man at the restaurant who managed to reach into her sleep, turning a nice dream into a nightmare. The more she thought about it, the sillier it all seemed. She waved a dismissive hand as she took another long sip from her drink, “I’m fine, really. I just had a bad dream but… thanks for worrying about me.” Nicole gave her friend a warm smile as the waitress walked over, handing Kat her drink.

  “Well then, let’s toast to having a good time,” said Kat, holding her drink out.

  “And to best friends.”

  “And to hot guys,” said Kat as they clinked their glasses together.

  “Speaking of hot guys, what happened to our eye candy from last night? I thought you were going to call Matt today?”

  A sly grin crept over Kat’s glossy pink lips as she leaned back into her lounge chair, “What, and tie myself down to one guy when the candy shop is full? I don’t think so,” she giggled.

  After spending the day on the beach with Nicole tanning while Kat flirted with every cute guy that came within eyesight, they did some shopping for a night of clubbing. By the time they finished hitting all of the clothing stores, the sun had begun
to set.

  Kat was getting giddy with excitement. One of the numerous guys she had flirted with had given her VIP passes to La Vela, the hottest club in Panama City, with plans to meet up later that night.

  “Can you believe that guy gave us VIP passes?!” said Kat as she spun around in front of the full length mirror in their hotel room. She had picked a short, skin tight, black satin dress with an open back and tall, black boots with super thin stiletto heels. She looked like she just stepped off the runway at a fashion show.

  “Well, the way he was looking at you, I’m surprised he didn’t offer you the keys to his Porsche!” Nicole said as she put on a pair of Kat’s diamond earrings per her bossy friend’s instructions. Kat had also dressed her for the night in a dark blue dress that dipped so low in the front, they had to used double-sided tape to keep the dress from falling out of place. Nicole insisted on preventing the exposure of her assets to the world and her resulting death from embarrassment on the dance floor. “Are you sure this is going to hold?” asked Nicole for the third time since Kat taped it securely.