THE BRISK AIR swept across my cheek as I turned and stared at her body. The cool breeze intermingled with her hot breath. Eyes flickering, she gasped for air. She tried lifting her fingers from the gravel but failed.
I sat next to her, fixated on her stiffened body. Wondering how much time was left.
I’d never done this before. The anticipation surged through my body as I stared at her face, waiting patiently for a sign. A blinking eye. A breath.
This was what she desired. I hesitated at first. A part of me wanted to grant her wish. Another part of me knew the consequences. But I relented. I gave into her pleas and grabbed a hold of her life force.
I waited. Time passed. My heart struggled with my decision. Did I do the right thing? As I sought solace from the moon’s glow, a cough escaped her lips.
She struggled at first, trying to raise her head from the ground. Her eyes opened, then closed. Her lips parted. “Tabitha?”
“I’m right here,” I grabbed a hold of her hand.
“Is it over?”
“I think so.”
“Help me up.”
I took hold of her arm as she lifted her back up off of the ground. Her breath grew heavy as she sat up, hunched over, attempting to move her legs.
I placed my hand over her heart and jolted backward. “It worked!”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Check your pulse.”
Raising her hand off of the ground, she brought her fingers to her neck. A smile spread across her face as she glanced in my direction. “I was worried it wouldn’t work.”
“You were worried? I would have been the one charged with murder.”
She laughed as she forced herself off the ground. “How do we tell the others?”
“I’m not sure.” A part of me thought it would be easier now that it’s done. But no one had intentionally created a vampire before. It was forbidden. My fear of the inevitable backlash no longer mattered. It would soon be time to face my punishment.
I sat next to her, fixated on her stiffened body. Wondering how much time was left.
I’d never done this before. The anticipation surged through my body as I stared at her face, waiting patiently for a sign. A blinking eye. A breath.
This was what she desired. I hesitated at first. A part of me wanted to grant her wish. Another part of me knew the consequences. But I relented. I gave into her pleas and grabbed a hold of her life force.
I waited. Time passed. My heart struggled with my decision. Did I do the right thing? As I sought solace from the moon’s glow, a cough escaped her lips.
She struggled at first, trying to raise her head from the ground. Her eyes opened, then closed. Her lips parted. “Tabitha?”
“I’m right here,” I grabbed a hold of her hand.
“Is it over?”
“I think so.”
“Help me up.”
I took hold of her arm as she lifted her back up off of the ground. Her breath grew heavy as she sat up, hunched over, attempting to move her legs.
I placed my hand over her heart and jolted backward. “It worked!”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Check your pulse.”
Raising her hand off of the ground, she brought her fingers to her neck. A smile spread across her face as she glanced in my direction. “I was worried it wouldn’t work.”
“You were worried? I would have been the one charged with murder.”
She laughed as she forced herself off the ground. “How do we tell the others?”
“I’m not sure.” A part of me thought it would be easier now that it’s done. But no one had intentionally created a vampire before. It was forbidden. My fear of the inevitable backlash no longer mattered. It would soon be time to face my punishment.
Waiting is a flash fiction story that is included in The Devil’s Grave: A Collection of Short Crime & Horror Stories. I hope you enjoyed the story. Feel free to leave a comment or feedback.