Blood Donor
Chapter 15
I groan as I look at all the new applications in front of me. Back to square one with no idea of what I want. I didn’t necessarily quit my old job, but I’m not going back. I’d be an idiot if I did.
“If this is making you so miserable you don’t have to do it. I can support us now,” Frank says from where he’s laying sideways in our armchair. He has a notebook in his hands and a pen between his teeth, clearly brainstorming lyrics. He’s so cute.
I sigh, “That’s not the point. I’m not contributing. I feel useless.”
I do feel useless. And it’s only been two days that I haven’t had a job. During that time all I did was sit around the house. If I ate real food I’d be worrying about getting fat. What’s the point in eternal life if you aren’t doing anything useful with it? There isn’t one.
“You sound confused to me. You want to contribute, but you don’t want a job?”
“I do want a job! I just don’t know what job. There aren’t a lot of options, and none of them sound particularly appealing.”
Frank makes a little “hm” noise, tapping his pen against his lips. Then, out of nowhere, he throws the notebook at me. I stare at him like he’s crazy, hoping for an explanation.
“Sing that,” he says simply.
“Frank, I don’t sing.”
“Just do it. I have a feeling you’ll be good.”
“I don’t even know the tune.”
“Make one up.”
I shrug even though I’m sure he’s making a huge mistake. I haven’t sung since elementary school. There’s no way I’m any good. Yet when I open up my mouth the words tumble out in a way that almost sounds…appealing. It’s the weirdest thing. Soon I’m lost in the makeshift song, adding things to it as I see fit. Frank just stares at me with a cool expression until I run out of steam. Then he claps slowly.
“Gee, that was…amazing. I told you you’d be good.”
I shrug, not wanting to admit that he’s right. What good would it do? So I can sing, big whoop. I still don’t know what I’m doing with my life.
“You really don’t get where I’m going with this, do you?” I shake my head, and he sighs, “Well, you don’t like any of the jobs that are available at night, but…What if I could get you gigs at the place I work? You could probably even be added to my shows. You’re a way better singer than me.”
Work as a singer? I could probably give it a go. It was better than the alternatives, and it wouldn’t even require too much human interaction. I’d have to talk to my boss, but that’s about it. And it would mean more time with Frankie. I am always up for more time with Frankie.
“I could try,” I say.
A grin splits his face and he hugs me, “Great! I’ll talk to my boss tomorrow. I know once he hears you sing he’ll be okay with it.”
…
Frank doesn’t talk to his boss the next day. He doesn’t even get the chance to go to work. Because when he opens the door to step out, someone is waiting. Two someones, actually, and they look pretty fearsome. I’m glad I walked him to the door, because his little human senses don’t pick up on the presence. I’m just barely able to jump in front of him before one of them lunges.
I’m thrown to the ground and hear a very inhuman growl, “Get out of the way, Gerard. I’m not here for you.”
Mikey. Somehow I knew he’d find me again. But…He’s not here for me? Then why? What purpose could he have with…
“Gee, help,” the strangled sob is obviously Frank’s. In seconds I’m off the ground and pinning Alicia to the wall. I squeeze her throat, and she laughs.
“Come on, Gerard, you know you aren’t strong enough to fight us both. I know about your diluted blood habit, remember?”
“What do you want with Frank?” I snarl.
“I’ll answer that,” Mikey says, “For one, I was going to come here anyway. My brother living with a human? That’s just wrong. You should have given him a taste of the life you have. That’s what I was going to do. Until I learned that I can get something better out of him.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him crouch down and stroke Frank’s face. I throw Alicia to the side and charge him next. He sees it coming this time and puts up a hand to stop me. I grab his arm, ready to snap it. But he stops me.
“One move and I’ll snap his neck!”
I sigh and slump to the ground, “Why are you doing this? What are you getting out of it?” I whisper.
He smirks and licks his lips, “Well, a little birdy told me the truth about this tiny human. He’s not just your blood supply, is he, Gee? You get a little extra out of him, too. That’s even more disgusting. Anyway, that birdy…Or should I say Berty,” he chuckles as my eyes go wide, “Gave an offer I couldn’t refuse. Endless supply for the small price of Frank Iero’s life.”
I blanch, “Mikey, no. You can’t kill him!” I know he’s telling the truth. Now that I’m looking, I see how strung out he is by his eyes. Bert has him on some strong shit. A part of me yearns for it, but I shove it down.
“Oh, but I can. I plan on sharing him with my lovely little bride over there. You can join in too. Or just watch.”
He leans down, clearly intent on biting Frank’s neck. But he pulls back hissing. Sticking from his neck is a small blade. I can smell the silver reacting with his blood, and it’s sickening. Every instinct in me screams to take it out, to save my little brother. But all I can do is sit there and watch as he writhes in agony. As Frank stands up on the other side of him.
“Don’t think I’m just a helpless human, bastard. I’ve been in this game a long time,” He looks at Alicia, who looks just as shocked as I feel, “And you…You should have known better. I learned from the best, after all. Grab your filthy boyfriend and get out of my sight.”
She does as she’s told, scrambling out of the alleyway and trying to get the blade out of Mikey’s neck. It keeps burning her when she does, and I get the urge to help again. He’s my little brother. He has to stay alive. He has to. I can’t lose him again.
I feel Frank’s hand on my shoulder and flinch, “How long have you been carrying that blade around?”
“Since it first started. Alicia and I trained together, learned the vital spots to hit with silver.”
I feel myself shaking with tearless sobs at that, “Please tell me you didn’t hit a vital spot. Please.”
“I…honestly don’t know. Why? He was going to kill me, Gerard!”
“He’s my brother!” I howl, “Or did you forget that?”
He looks genuinely shocked, as if he didn’t put two and two together. I get up and push past him into the house. I’m having trouble comprehending the situation. Frank knew what he was doing, and he was aiming to kill. Mikey could be dead. For real this time. And it’s all my fault.
“If this is making you so miserable you don’t have to do it. I can support us now,” Frank says from where he’s laying sideways in our armchair. He has a notebook in his hands and a pen between his teeth, clearly brainstorming lyrics. He’s so cute.
I sigh, “That’s not the point. I’m not contributing. I feel useless.”
I do feel useless. And it’s only been two days that I haven’t had a job. During that time all I did was sit around the house. If I ate real food I’d be worrying about getting fat. What’s the point in eternal life if you aren’t doing anything useful with it? There isn’t one.
“You sound confused to me. You want to contribute, but you don’t want a job?”
“I do want a job! I just don’t know what job. There aren’t a lot of options, and none of them sound particularly appealing.”
Frank makes a little “hm” noise, tapping his pen against his lips. Then, out of nowhere, he throws the notebook at me. I stare at him like he’s crazy, hoping for an explanation.
“Sing that,” he says simply.
“Frank, I don’t sing.”
“Just do it. I have a feeling you’ll be good.”
“I don’t even know the tune.”
“Make one up.”
I shrug even though I’m sure he’s making a huge mistake. I haven’t sung since elementary school. There’s no way I’m any good. Yet when I open up my mouth the words tumble out in a way that almost sounds…appealing. It’s the weirdest thing. Soon I’m lost in the makeshift song, adding things to it as I see fit. Frank just stares at me with a cool expression until I run out of steam. Then he claps slowly.
“Gee, that was…amazing. I told you you’d be good.”
I shrug, not wanting to admit that he’s right. What good would it do? So I can sing, big whoop. I still don’t know what I’m doing with my life.
“You really don’t get where I’m going with this, do you?” I shake my head, and he sighs, “Well, you don’t like any of the jobs that are available at night, but…What if I could get you gigs at the place I work? You could probably even be added to my shows. You’re a way better singer than me.”
Work as a singer? I could probably give it a go. It was better than the alternatives, and it wouldn’t even require too much human interaction. I’d have to talk to my boss, but that’s about it. And it would mean more time with Frankie. I am always up for more time with Frankie.
“I could try,” I say.
A grin splits his face and he hugs me, “Great! I’ll talk to my boss tomorrow. I know once he hears you sing he’ll be okay with it.”
…
Frank doesn’t talk to his boss the next day. He doesn’t even get the chance to go to work. Because when he opens the door to step out, someone is waiting. Two someones, actually, and they look pretty fearsome. I’m glad I walked him to the door, because his little human senses don’t pick up on the presence. I’m just barely able to jump in front of him before one of them lunges.
I’m thrown to the ground and hear a very inhuman growl, “Get out of the way, Gerard. I’m not here for you.”
Mikey. Somehow I knew he’d find me again. But…He’s not here for me? Then why? What purpose could he have with…
“Gee, help,” the strangled sob is obviously Frank’s. In seconds I’m off the ground and pinning Alicia to the wall. I squeeze her throat, and she laughs.
“Come on, Gerard, you know you aren’t strong enough to fight us both. I know about your diluted blood habit, remember?”
“What do you want with Frank?” I snarl.
“I’ll answer that,” Mikey says, “For one, I was going to come here anyway. My brother living with a human? That’s just wrong. You should have given him a taste of the life you have. That’s what I was going to do. Until I learned that I can get something better out of him.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see him crouch down and stroke Frank’s face. I throw Alicia to the side and charge him next. He sees it coming this time and puts up a hand to stop me. I grab his arm, ready to snap it. But he stops me.
“One move and I’ll snap his neck!”
I sigh and slump to the ground, “Why are you doing this? What are you getting out of it?” I whisper.
He smirks and licks his lips, “Well, a little birdy told me the truth about this tiny human. He’s not just your blood supply, is he, Gee? You get a little extra out of him, too. That’s even more disgusting. Anyway, that birdy…Or should I say Berty,” he chuckles as my eyes go wide, “Gave an offer I couldn’t refuse. Endless supply for the small price of Frank Iero’s life.”
I blanch, “Mikey, no. You can’t kill him!” I know he’s telling the truth. Now that I’m looking, I see how strung out he is by his eyes. Bert has him on some strong shit. A part of me yearns for it, but I shove it down.
“Oh, but I can. I plan on sharing him with my lovely little bride over there. You can join in too. Or just watch.”
He leans down, clearly intent on biting Frank’s neck. But he pulls back hissing. Sticking from his neck is a small blade. I can smell the silver reacting with his blood, and it’s sickening. Every instinct in me screams to take it out, to save my little brother. But all I can do is sit there and watch as he writhes in agony. As Frank stands up on the other side of him.
“Don’t think I’m just a helpless human, bastard. I’ve been in this game a long time,” He looks at Alicia, who looks just as shocked as I feel, “And you…You should have known better. I learned from the best, after all. Grab your filthy boyfriend and get out of my sight.”
She does as she’s told, scrambling out of the alleyway and trying to get the blade out of Mikey’s neck. It keeps burning her when she does, and I get the urge to help again. He’s my little brother. He has to stay alive. He has to. I can’t lose him again.
I feel Frank’s hand on my shoulder and flinch, “How long have you been carrying that blade around?”
“Since it first started. Alicia and I trained together, learned the vital spots to hit with silver.”
I feel myself shaking with tearless sobs at that, “Please tell me you didn’t hit a vital spot. Please.”
“I…honestly don’t know. Why? He was going to kill me, Gerard!”
“He’s my brother!” I howl, “Or did you forget that?”
He looks genuinely shocked, as if he didn’t put two and two together. I get up and push past him into the house. I’m having trouble comprehending the situation. Frank knew what he was doing, and he was aiming to kill. Mikey could be dead. For real this time. And it’s all my fault.
@MayMayChan
Oh its fine! Sorry it took 6 months for me to reply, this website is messing up for me so much.
4/1/17