Episode 20

Charlie found Dale sitting by a tree, sobbing and holding his sister's moon necklace. He looked at Charlie and pulled him into a hug without a word.

"I'm sorry, kid," he sobbed, and Charlie started crying.

"You know she is going out of her mind. She wants to see you and thinks you're not coming back."

Dale sighed, rubbing the boy's back, and sniffed.

"Yeah, kid. I'm coming back. I just needed to gather my thoughts," Dale breathed.

"Do you love her?" asked Charlie, and Dale held back an upcoming sob.

"Yeah, I think I do."

"Then tell her before it's too late," Charlie cried, and Dale squeezed him.

"Okay, I will. Just give me a few more minutes, and I'll be out there."

Charlie nodded, let go of Dale, and went into the house.

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Bella was buzzing hard, and she lit a cigarette. Her father and the others were moving the bodies out of the road, and Steve approached the truck.

"Bella, come on, girl. You don't want to spend the last moments of your life tied to some truck," he said, and Bella looked at him.

"I'm not going to turn into this thing and hurt anyone. Especially my family. Are you stupid?" she laughed and blew a hit.

"Oh, Steve, you're the only person who doesn't get me. That's why you want to get rid of me. I'm the oddball and look. You get your stupid wish. I'll be gone soon."

Steve chuckled, ignoring her words, and looked around.

"But do you really want to be out here, drunk, alone, and with no one to talk to?" he asked, squinting in the sun.

"You're talking to me," she snorted, and Steve rolled his eyes.

"That's not what I meant."

"No, I don't want to be tied to a truck, but if it means protecting my family, Dale, and the others, then it's all worth it. Besides, Dale and my Dad will be back soon," Bella snapped, and Steve chuckled.

Bella glared at the man and took another drink.

"That's right. The biker kid who follows you around like a damn puppy on a string. If I were you, I'd let that boy go. He doesn't have a chance with you," he sneered.

"Shut up, Steve! It's none of your business what's between me and Dale," she yelled, starting to sweat.

"Well, look at the position you're in now. Either way, the kid got the shit end of the stick."

Bella took a drag of her cigarette and blew it out.

"I hope I'm the thing that bites you, and my Dad lets your pathetic ass turn or force you to kill yourself!" she growled, and Steve leaned against the side of the truck, sucking his teeth.

"Darlin, I hope you turn so I have an excuse to put a bullet in your pretty face."

Bella searched his eyes and realized Steve was the one who knocked her and her father out. He would kill her, her Dad, and Charlie to make Megan his.

"Stay away from Charlie!" she screamed, and Megan ran onto the front porch.

"Keep him away from Charlie, Mom!" Bella screamed, and Megan nodded.

Steve chuckled, running his tongue over his teeth, and looked at Bella with crazy eyes.

"You just made a huge mistake, bitch," he sneered, grabbing his gun and pointing it at her head.

"Steve, don't you dare!" yelled Megan.

"I'm sorry, Megan, but this is the way it has to be," he yelled.

Bella looked at her mother and started sobbing. Suddenly, Charlie ran out of the house, grabbed his mother's gun, and pointed it at Steve.

"No, Uncle Steve. You're not going to shoot my sister!"

"Charlie!" yelled Megan as Abraham and the others ran toward them, and Charlie pulled the trigger.

The bullet sailed through Steve's neck, splattering Bella's face with blood, and she gasped, watching his body fall to the ground. The group stopped, and Dale climbed into the back of the truck. He scrambled toward Bella, and she looked at him frantically.

"Are you hurt? Did he shoot at you?" he asked, grabbing her face and looking into her eyes.

Bella shook her head, and he rubbed her cheekbones with his thumbs.

"Okay. You're okay," he breathed, and Bella rested her head against his chest.

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"Oh, my god. Charlie!" Megan whispered, staring at her son, and Charlie looked at her calmly.

"He was about to shoot, Bell," he said, shrugging and putting the gun back in his Mom's holster.

"But you didn't just shoot him, Charlie. You killed him!" she scolded, and Charlie shrugged.

"Eh, he needed to go anyway."

Megan watched Charlie run to his father, and Bonnie ran out of the house.

"What happened?" she asked.

"My son killed Steve," she breathed, sliding down to the steps.

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"Charlie, what were you thinking?" asked Abraham, and Charlie looked at his father thoughtfully.

"You said I have to protect the family when you're not around. Uncle Steve was gonna shoot Bell, so I shot first. It's not my fault I've got good aim," he said and climbed into the back of the truck.

Bella looked at her little brother and smiled.

"Just like you taught me. It's not a headshot, but pretty close," said Charlie, and Dale chuckled.

He gave Bella a clever look and raised an eyebrow.

"You've been teaching him how to fight?"

Bella put her finger to her lips, and Dale laughed.

"Well, now I know the sergeant's daughter has a rebellious side. You're not as innocent as I thought you were," he said,

Bella giggled, took a swig, and sighed.

"Can I see it again?" asked Charlie eagerly.

Bella pulled her shirt up and the gauze off. Surprisingly, the bite looked better than it did before and looked like it was healing before their eyes.

"Oh, look at that. I've smoked and drank so much, I'm hallucinating," she said, and Charlie and Dale stared in awe.

"Bell, you're not hallucinating, your healing," said Charlie, and Bella busted out laughing.

"Dad! You gotta come see this," exclaimed Charlie, and Abraham walked over to the truck, seeing his son and Dale looking at his daughter's wound.

"Bell, I love you, but I don't want to see the thing that's gonna kill you," he sighed.

"No, seriously, Dad. It's not spreading. It's healing," said Bella.

Abraham reluctantly looked at his daughter's wound and stared in awe.

"What the?"

The wound was healing, but Bella was pale and sweating profusely.

"Does that mean I'm not going to die?" she asked, leaning her head against the back window, and Dale shook his head.

"I don't know. You haven't turned yet, and from what I've seen, it only takes a couple of hours," said Dale, and Bella thought for a moment.

"Okay. The plan stays the same. I'm staying out here tonight, and if I turn, then you know what to do," she said, and Charlie looked at her sadly.

"But I don't want you to turn into one of those things!" he cried, and Bella gave him a serious look.

"I've been bitten. You have to accept that!" she snapped.

Charlie's eyes filled with tears, and Bella's heart broke.

"Listen, why don't we hang out? Just you and me?" she asked softly.

Charlie huffed a sob, climbed out of the vehicle, and ran into the house sobbing.

"So much for your star kid," Bella sighed, looking at her father, and Abraham touched her face.

"You'll always be my star kid, little bird," he cried.

She searched his eyes and nodded sadly.