Chapter 4: Blood on the Ground

  Twenty minutes later, Sarah paced her room, sheets tangled, mirror cracking her reflection. Jake’s absence gnawed at her, the silence a weight. Her skin still burned from him, but fear clawed deeper. Where is he? She grabbed a jacket, flashlight tight, muttering, “Where the hell are you, Jake?” and bolted out, floorboards creaking.

  In the living room, shadows sprawled, Halloween stalled, beer and popcorn souring the air. Maya and Caleb sat tense, movie forgotten. Sarah burst in, light trembling. “Guys, Jake’s not back,” she said, voice quaking. “It’s been twenty minutes. He was just outside!”

  “Shit, sugar,” Maya said, sitting up, worry thick. “We told him not to go. Earlier, this guy Elias knocked, askin’ for directions. Total creep, kept tryin’ to get inside.”

  “Yeah, gave us bad vibes,” Caleb said, knife ready, eyes sharp. “Said weird shit about the night, knowin’ our names. Sent him packin’, but he might still be out there.”

  Sarah paled, breath catching. “You think he did something to Jake? We gotta find him!”

  “Hold up,” Maya said, firm. “He might just be drunk, lost in the woods.”

  “Or not,” Caleb said, low, grip tightening. “We should get Dan and Priya, go as a group.”

  “No way,” Sarah said, panic rising. “Jake’s out there now. If he’s hurt, he needs help. I’m going.”

  Maya blocked her, steady. “That’s a bad call, darlin’. Let’s wake the others first.”

  “There’s no time!” Sarah said, breaking free, light raised. “I’m not waiting.”

  “Don’t be stupid,” Caleb said, grabbing her arm, voice hard. “That Elias guy was trouble.”

  Sarah tore away, eyes blazing. “Fine, I’ll go alone. Keep your asses on the couch.”

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  She stormed out, door slamming like a thunderclap. Maya and Caleb stared after her, silence heavy. “She’s gonna get herself killed,” Maya said, voice tight.

  “Watch from the window,” Caleb said, jaw clenched. “If she screams, we move.”

  They pressed against the glass, fog blurring the clearing, the night a void.

  Outside, fog choked the air, pine needles slick, blood and rot tainting each breath. Sarah swept her light, voice trembling. “Jake?” she called, swallowed by the mist. “Jake, where are you?”

  A crack, sharp, close. She froze, light catching a figure—Jake, back turned, body twisted, wrong. His posture was broken, movements jerky, a marionette unstrung.

  “Jake!” Sarah said, relief surging. “Thank God. Why didn’t you come back?”

  He turned, slow, deliberate, face pale, sweaty, shirt torn. His neck was a ruin—bone jutting, blood crusted. “Sarah,” he said, voice low, alien. “I’m sorry, babe. I can’t come in. Somethin’s wrong with me.”

  Sarah stepped closer, light shaking. “What do you mean? Are you hurt? Come inside, we’ll figure it out.”

  Jake lurched forward, hand trembling, eyes too bright, ravenous. “I’m so fuckin’ hungry, Sarah. It’s like I’m burnin’ inside. Just... invite me in. Please.”

  Her light hit his neck—torn flesh, bone gleaming. Panic twisted her gut. “Oh my God, Jake, what happened to you?”

  Jake grinned, not his grin—something dark, feral. “I need you, Sarah. One taste, and I’ll be whole.”

  Sarah screamed, turning to run. Her foot slipped, and she fell, flashlight tumbling. Jake pounced, hands cold, grip iron, slamming her face into the ground. A rock glinted, slick with blood. “Caleb! Maya! Help!” she screamed, voice raw.

  Jake’s boot pressed her neck, grinding her face against the rock. Her jaw shattered, blood and bone spraying. Sarah moaned, body slack, breath ragged.

  From the window, Caleb and Maya saw her fall, faces ashen. They ran, door banging open. “Sarah!” Maya shouted, voice breaking. “We’re comin’!” Caleb yelled, knife gleaming.

  They stopped dead, horror seizing them. Jake crouched over Sarah, fangs in her wrist, drinking, red eyes glowing, blood dripping. He looked up, locking eyes with Caleb, voice a growl. “She’s mine, Caleb. You’re next.”

  Maya sobbed, clutching Caleb’s arm. “Caleb, we can’t save her! Move!” she cried, voice shattered.

  Caleb froze, mind spinning. Jake’s neck cracked, resetting, smirk twisted, evil. “Tastes like heaven,” he said, purring.

  “Caleb, please!” Maya begged, pulling.

  Caleb broke, running with her, fog swallowing them. Jake stood at the forest’s edge, wiping blood, eyes wild. “Time to hunt,” he said, laugh sharp, slicing the night.

  Sarah lay broken, blood pooling, breath faint.