8 Unrecognized (Part 2)

The car door clacks shut. Looks like he didn't come to check on the racket I made while colliding with the machine but he took way too long! I'm not waiting any longer for him to put his keys in that damn ignition!

I let an involuntary growl loose and get ready to rip that car door from the hinges. Eyes still tightly shut, a part of me is bellowing 'Stay put!', but it's not enough this time. I feel bad that all this agonizing effort was going to be for nothing, well, I *almost* do.

That blood is as good as mine. I taste that grand flavor in all it's splendor on my taste buds as I position myself for the kill, eyes still closed envisioning his throat crushing under the pressure of my dominating jaws.

I move to swing around the side of the machine and snatch him from the driver seat, but something locks onto both of my wrists keeping me in place. I'm flabbergasted, beyond startled. I instinctively expose my rows of teeth with a snarl as my eyes snap open only to meet a pair of fierce eyes matching mine.

My mind goes blank for half a second like I had been lobotomized, again in full shock. The car engine roaring to life reminds me that taunting, endless heartbeat is still there, pounding away in my ears. The heartbeat *I* should be drinking in.

I lunge in the direction of the car before he can drive away. It's all his fault for not leaving sooner! I'm stopped mid lunge forgetting about the grip on my wrists. Ohhh, whoever is holding my wrists is going to *die*!

I snap my jaws at the figure getting in between me and my meal. Strong hands pull my wrist farther apart moving back a bit then hunching over to snarl back, the masculine figure towers over me and I can't help but feel a little intimidated. Angry looking pale, green eyes shine brightly down on me, the rest of his face is comparatively shadowed to those glowing irises.

Though terrifying I didn't coward, but it did seem to shake my foundation. I just stare blankly feeling fundamentally broken, beyond repair. Rage, grief, shame, fear, hopelessness and an unquenchable hunger rattling me senseless and unable to do anything about it.

"Help me," the words slipped out as a bleak whisper.

Tears roll without warning down my cheeks. I am so pitiful and weak, that was something that didn't change when I turned into this. I'm still so *weak* and simply inadequate.

His harsh eyes soften, empathetic and sorrowful, though the intense green irises swirled even brighter than before. I felt entranced but not enough to erase the horrible longing as the vehicle began to ride away with it's inexorable cargo that I needed so. I peer in the direction of the car as it heads for the main road to zoom away, feeling this hole grow in my chest. I try to pull away again to chase after him, his heartbeat, *my* heartbeat, but the mysterious man continues holding me in place.

"Let go of me, I need him!" I wail desperately.

"Is that really what you want?" asks a rich but somber voice.

Still tugging away with very little success I sputter in frustration,"Yes...! NO! Arrgh!"

The lovely smell I long for gradually dissipates and the drumming fades into ambient obscurity, blending with all the rhythms of the night. A depression creeps over me like a ghost, settling in to posses. I'm no longer tormented by the near temptation but still haunted by it's lingering spirit. I close my eyes as more tears escape. The stranger's grip eases on my wrists as my internal fight subsides.

I begged to be saved, but I didn't ask for this.

I fall into the mans arms, lightly sobbing. The fact that I don't know this guy doesn't seem to matter, I feel defeated.

His muscular frame tenses, obviously not expecting me to cling on to him that way. He just stands frozen, hands no longer restraining my arms, just kind of hovering stiffly like branches on a tree while I cry into his chest, my fingers entwined in his cotton shirt.

I feel his torso relax through the dampened cloth. He slowly wraps his arms around me, gently placing a hand on my shoulder blade and the other delicately curling around a lock of my hair on the back of my head. His feather-like touch make me feel like a butterfly he's afraid to crush.

Barely an embrace but I feel a much desired comfort from it, like he's shielding me from the world... or maybe shielding the world from me.

I keep myself cradled against him for a good while, his nice scent helps me regain my composure. Lost in his pleasant smell it dawns on me I'm not trying to rip him apart in order to get to his sweet life. I blink, something else is off too, he doesn't have a heartbeat, no pulse. I narrow my eyes trying to listen for the pulse that should be there. Nothing, just stillness.

He removes his delicate hold, arms falling to his side. I feel a bit of embarrassment flare up. 'It must be so awkward having some unstable woman grab on like that. I clung to him for a long time too...'

I let go, not looking him in the eye, flustered I reach for my right biceps. Wrapping around in attempts to shelter myself from the shame, keeping my gaze lowered.

"Thanks..." My utterance reserved, a foot fidgeting in the eroding pavement.

He must be as unsure of what to say as I am or maybe I really did weird him out, because I don't get a response for a few moments.

"Sure."

I finally build up some courage to look at him directly. I turn and my jaw drops, brows furrowing with disdain as I spit, "*You*!"