Sixteen - The Turning Point

The Turning Point

Abbie walked up and down the hallway, her pace quick and agitated. For the past five minutes, she had been doing nothing but circling the space, her mind racing in endless loops. She could practically hear her mother's voice in her head if she had been around—"What on earth are you doing?" But her mother wasn't home, and right now, Abbie couldn't care less. She was lost in her thoughts, trying to solve the puzzle that had been plaguing her since the night before.

Yesterday, she had reluctantly admitted to Kai that he was right. Carrie needed to be stopped, and the only way to do that seemed to be killing her. But Abbie couldn't shake the nagging feeling in her chest. She couldn't bring herself to kill Carrie. There had to be another way, another solution. The weight of that truth sat heavy on her, the thought of blood on her hands haunting her every step.

She turned back to pace the other way, frustration building. How was she supposed to find a solution to this? She wasn't even sure how they'd ended up here, fighting for their lives. She had to think, she had to figure this out. Her mind wouldn't stop turning, each new idea crushed by the reality that she just didn't know enough.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, she suddenly realized she was going to be late for school. Abbie sighed and grabbed her bag, rushing out the door. The walk to school was a long one, longer than most of the other students, and it gave her plenty of time to try and organize her thoughts. The isolation of her house was both a blessing and a curse. It was far from Kai, far from the bustle of the city, far from distractions, which gave her more space to think but also more time to obsess over her predicament. The woods were the only thing close by, and right now, the peaceful, quiet path through the trees didn't feel comforting—it felt claustrophobic. Every step felt like a reminder of how trapped she was.

Abbie turned down the narrow road, the silence of the morning pressing down on her. The emptiness gave her room to think, but it also fed the anxiety building in her chest. What would they do about Carrie? How could they stop her without resorting to something they would never be able to take back? Abbie tried to focus, but her thoughts just kept spiraling. It wasn't until a sudden sharp sound broke the quiet that she snapped back to the present.

The world around her seemed to tilt, her body going rigid in shock before a crushing impact hit the back of her head. Everything went black. The ground beneath her feet disappeared, and the weight of the world seemed to press against her, dragging her into darkness.

The last thing she remembered was the echo of the blow and the terrifying certainty that someone—something—was after her.

Abbie slowly stirred, her senses muddled and sluggish. The damp, earthy smell of the forest filled her nostrils, and a chill in the air prickled her skin. As her vision cleared, the overwhelming sense of déjà vu crept over her. This place—this forest—had become synonymous with danger, with traps and betrayal. Her body ached as if it had been through some kind of violent storm, but it was the restraints binding her to the tree that reminded her of the present danger. She tugged against the ropes, her wolf strength throbbing within her, but it was no use. The knots were tight, and she was trapped.

Trying to calm her racing heart, Abbie's thoughts scattered. Was she concussed? She tried to remember what had happened—she'd been walking alone, lost in thought, and then... the blow to her head. And then darkness. She had to focus. She could hear the soft rustling of leaves, the distant birds, and—there. A figure emerged from the shadows, silhouetted by the moonlight filtering through the trees.

Carrie.

Abbie's breath hitched. She had known something was off, but to be captured here, like this... Alone, with no Kai to save her this time.

"Hello, Abbie," Carrie's voice purred, dripping with cold venom. She sauntered in front of her, each step measured, controlled. She seemed so confident, so poised. Abbie's stomach churned with a knot of dread.

"Last time," Carrie continued, her voice suddenly more malicious, "I wanted to execute my evil revenge plan, but then Kai had to ruin everything." She sneered, her eyes gleaming with fury as she paced back and forth in front of Abbie. "That little trick of his, with all the magic—" Carrie waved her hand dismissively, her lip curling in disdain. "I realized something then. No matter what I do, Kai will always be there to ruin my plans. So this time, I didn't include him."

Abbie's pulse quickened. She knew what was coming next. She could feel it in the air. It was the same game Carrie had been playing, and it was about to reach its most dangerous point.

Carrie's expression darkened, eyes turning colder. "After all," she said slowly, her voice dropping into a dangerous whisper, "you were the one that killed my brother." The words hung in the air, each syllable a sharpened blade.

Abbie's heart clenched. The guilt weighed on her chest like a boulder, suffocating her. But Carrie wasn't interested in guilt, not now. She was interested in something far more sinister.

"So," Carrie went on, as though working out her plans aloud, "I thought long and hard about how I could make you suffer." She paused dramatically, her grin widening as she looked down at Abbie, relishing every second of her torment. "And then it hit me. I'll turn you. I'll make you one of us." She walked in a slow circle around Abbie, savoring the moment. "And then, I'll torture you. Forever. Physically, mentally... until you beg for it all to end."

Carrie's words were like ice running through Abbie's veins, each sentence sinking deeper into her bones. "No... please," Abbie stammered, her voice trembling. She had heard about vampires turning others, and it was always bad—always. But the thought of becoming one of them, of being trapped in an endless cycle of suffering... It was more than she could bear.

Carrie's gaze darkened, the smile on her face turning cruel. "Oh, there's every reason," she said with a twisted grin. "A very big need, Abbie." Her eyes flared with an unholy light as her fangs began to extend, sharp and deadly.

Before Abbie could protest, Carrie's wrist was at her mouth. Without warning, she sank her fangs deep into her own skin, tearing open the vein. Blood welled up from the wound, dark and rich, and she pressed her wrist to Abbie's mouth.

Abbie recoiled instinctively, but the pain in her head left her weak and disoriented. She had no choice. Carrie forced the blood into her, making her drink, her own blood filling Abbie's mouth, thick and metallic. Abbie's stomach churned at the taste, but the forceful pressure kept her from stopping.

Carrie took a step back, watching with satisfaction as Abbie's face became smeared with blood. "How does that feel, Abbie?" she sneered. "Ready to join us?"

Abbie's head spun. Her heart raced. She felt it—something inside her shifting. The blood was coursing through her, spreading like fire, igniting her veins with something darker. She could feel the change starting to take root.

Carrie walked to Abbie's side, her fingers curling around her skull, gripping it as if she held her fate in her hands. "Welcome to eternity," she whispered, her voice thick with malice.

Abbie's vision blurred, the world spinning around her. She tried to focus, tried to push through the haze, but she felt her body growing weaker, her heart slowing. "Please..." she gasped, her voice barely audible, "I don't want this."

But Carrie only laughed, her voice cold and mocking. "It's too late for that," she purred, her grip tightening on Abbie's head as the darkness claimed her completely.

"Ready to meet your maker?" Carrie whispered in the silence, the words hanging in the air, heavy with the promise of a new nightmare.

Abbie's breath caught, and everything went black.

Meanwhile, Kai was sitting on his bed, still processing the bizarre conversation with Jo. She had always been frustrating in her own unique way, confident and stubborn, convinced that she could outsmart everyone—especially when it came to the supernatural. But Kai knew better. The girl had a habit of digging herself deeper with every decision, and this time, it seemed no different.

"So, what you're saying is that you're an idiot?" he had remarked, his voice thick with sarcasm as he tried to hold back his exhaustion. Jo, of course, wasn't fazed. She merely glared at him before storming off, muttering about how he just didn't get it.

"Obviously," she had retorted, disappearing into the hall.

Kai rubbed his face, his thoughts still lingering on the strange tension between them. But the moment passed, and the weight of what was happening to Abbie loomed over him again. He couldn't afford to get sidetracked. There was a dangerous sense of urgency, and he knew it. He had to protect her—no matter the cost.

He stood up from his bed, his muscles stiff from the long night. Reaching into the drawer of his desk, Kai pulled out the stake he had crafted the night before. It was simple—a piece of wood, sharpened to a point, with a makeshift handle wrapped in leather strips. Kai had found the branch just outside his house, near the woods, where the air always seemed heavy with something that didn't belong. A reminder of what was at stake.

Kai placed the stake carefully in his bag. It was going to be useful—perhaps more than he realized. Abbie needed protection, and he'd be damned if he wasn't prepared for whatever came next.

As he swung the bag over his shoulder, Kai stepped into the hallway, intent on grabbing his shoes and heading out. That was when he spotted Sarah, his seven-year-old sister, sitting on the floor by the stairs, her tiny hands clutching a pile of crayons and paper. Her innocent face lit up in concentration as she scribbled furiously on the page. But the moment she saw Kai walking toward her, her face froze in fear, and she scrambled to her feet, darting into her room without a word.

Kai raised an eyebrow, watching her retreat. "Brat," he muttered, shaking his head. His sister had always been a little skittish around him, a result of his long absences and the cold distance he had kept over the years. But it was nothing new.

In frustration, Kai kicked one of Sarah's scattered pencils with his foot, sending it clattering across the hallway. He couldn't care less. Not today. Not when everything felt so wrong. His mind was far from home. It was fixed on Abbie, on finding a way to protect her from whatever hell Carrie was planning.

Kai descended the stairs, his thoughts racing. He had no idea where Jo had gone, or what she was doing for the day, but he didn't care. His priority was to make sure Abbie didn't fall deeper into the hands of someone like Carrie.

Waiting for Jo was becoming tedious, and Kai hated being idle. Every second felt like an eternity.

"Let's go," he mumbled to himself, already thinking about the next steps.

In the morning, Kai noticed Abbie was nowhere to be found. At first, he assumed she was just in one of her moods—maybe she'd decided to skip school for the day. He didn't give it much thought. Abbie was always unpredictable, but that was one of the things he liked about her. She could be tough to read sometimes, but he knew her well enough to know she could handle herself. So, he pushed the thought aside and carried on with his day as usual.

It wasn't until lunch break that his unease began to grow.

He was sitting with Jo and Harmony when he overheard Harmony's voice, laced with worry. "She's never sick," she said, her eyes darting around the cafeteria as if she might spot Abbie in the crowd. "Not like this."

Kai froze, instinctively knowing she was talking about Abbie. Harmony was right—Abbie never got sick. It was one of the perks of being a werewolf, a blessing in disguise that meant she could take on the world without worrying about colds, flu, or anything else that might slow someone else down. But today, it seemed something was off. A gnawing feeling settled in Kai's stomach.

"I'm worried," Harmony continued. "With all the serial killer stuff popping up on the news lately... it's making me freak out."

Jo, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "I haven't seen Abbie either," she said, sounding puzzled. "I thought maybe she just skipped today, you know, something's probably bothering her."

Kai couldn't help himself. He leaned forward into the conversation. "Abbie doesn't skip school," he said, his voice steady but laced with concern. He knew it was true. Sure, she'd cut a class or two in the past, but never without a good reason—certainly never for something as trivial as a mood swing. "She doesn't miss school unless she has a good reason. And you guys know it."

His words hit the mark. Harmony and Jo both turned to glare at him, their eyes sharp. "Abbie doesn't skip days, Kai," Harmony retorted, her tone biting, as if she had suddenly become the self-appointed protector of their friend. "Except, of course, when it's for you. But you're here, so..." She trailed off, eyes scanning him with disdain.

Kai grinned, amused by her sass. "Glad to see you too, Harmony," he said with a shrug, trying to brush off the tension. But even as he tried to act casual, the worry gnawing at the pit of his stomach only grew stronger.

Jo was quieter now, her eyes narrowed in thought. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice quieter, more serious. "Kai," she said, her tone shifting, "can we talk privately for a second? I need to ask you something."

Kai raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Sure," he replied, knowing that whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good.

They both stood up and made their way outside, where the cool air hit them. As soon as they were alone, Jo turned on him. "What did you do?!" she demanded, her voice sharp and filled with worry. "Did you hurt Abbie? I swear to God, if you did—"

Kai immediately threw his hands up in defense, shaking his head. "I did nothing! I would never hurt her." His voice was firm, but Jo wasn't convinced. He could see the fear in her eyes, the concern that was clouding her judgment.

"Then what's going on?" Jo pressed, her fists clenched at her sides. "Where is she?"

Kai's expression hardened, his mind racing. If Abbie really was in danger, he knew exactly who was responsible. His voice dropped low, almost a whisper. "Carrie," he said grimly. "She's starving for revenge, and she's not going to stop until she gets it."

Jo's face drained of color. "Oh God," she whispered, her breath catching. "You don't think she—"

Kai shrugged, not bothering to finish the thought. "I don't know. But I do know one thing—Carrie's not just going to let Abbie go. We need to find her. Fast." He reached into his bag and pulled out a small bracelet, the leather strap worn from use. He slid it off his wrist and showed Jo the vial it contained—a dark, rich color that could only belong to one person.

"This," Kai said quietly, holding it up for her to see, "is Abbie's blood." He couldn't help but soften for a moment, his eyes lingering on the vial before he quickly tucked it back into his bag. He looked away, his thoughts suddenly clouded with memories of her. "She gave it to me, so I could always track her. Always know where she is. It's a gift—just in case."

Jo's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. "You've had this all along?" she asked, her voice filled with awe. Kai nodded, his face tight.

"Yeah," he said, looking down at his hands, his mind a million miles away. "Now we just have to use it."

Jo's face lit up with excitement, the weight of their situation finally sinking in. "Perfect! I can do a locator spell!" she exclaimed. Her voice was full of energy now, the magic bubbling in her blood. She could feel it—a sense of purpose that had been lacking earlier in the day.

Kai gave her a tight smile, his eyes reflecting both hope and fear. "We have to move fast. If we don't, it might be too late for Abbie."

Jo nodded, her expression serious now. "Then let's get to work," she said, determination filling her every word.

Kai had no idea what kind of trouble they were walking into, but one thing was certain—he wasn't about to let Abbie slip through his fingers again.

They sneaked into the topography classroom, hearts racing. The school was quiet, and the lights flickered overhead as Kai and Jo moved cautiously. Jo was the first to act, her movements precise. She grabbed a large map of their hometown, unfolded it, and laid it flat on the table. The edges were worn, the paper yellowed from years of use, but it would serve its purpose.

Without a word, she grabbed the vial of blood from Kai's bag and poured it carefully across the map. The dark liquid spread over the streets, staining the map with an eerie sheen. Jo stood still, watching the blood pool, her fingers twitching slightly as if unsure how to proceed.

Kai stood behind her, watching as her lips parted, but nothing came out. "I... uh, don't know the spell anymore," she muttered, clearly embarrassed. Kai raised an eyebrow and gave her a smirk, as if trying to hide the amusement. She was always the one in control, the one with all the answers. It was rare to see her flustered.

Kai's smirk faded as he stepped up beside her. "Don't worry, I've got it." Without another word, he placed a hand on Jo's shoulder, siphoning some of her energy to help him focus. The spell needed power, and he wasn't sure how much Jo had left to give, but he could do this on his own. He sat down in front of the map, and the blood shimmered beneath his gaze as he began to chant in a low voice.

"Phasmatos Tribum, Nas Ex Veras, Suquita Segenis, Amentes Ase Nichan, Egapetos," Kai's voice grew stronger with each syllable, his eyes fixed on the map. The blood began to stir, twisting in patterns, as if the map itself were coming to life.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, suddenly, the blood in the center of the map pulsed before stopping, hovering over a small patch of the woods near the edge of town.

"It's her," Jo said, her voice tight with anxiety. "What is she doing in the woods?"

Kai didn't look up, his eyes narrowing on the spot where the blood had stopped. "Possibly getting murdered by Carrie," he said flatly, the weight of the words sinking in.

Jo's expression shifted from concern to disbelief, her eyes widening with panic. "We need to go quickly!"

Kai stood up abruptly, his thoughts shifting. He knew he had to act fast, but there was no way Jo could come with him. Not now, not with what he was about to do. The stake was meant for Carrie, and he didn't want Jo anywhere near that confrontation. She wouldn't understand why he had to finish it, why he had to stop Carrie from becoming the monster she was destined to be.

"You can't," Kai said, his voice firm, turning to face her. "It's too dangerous now that she's a vampire."

Jo's mouth fell open. "Carrie... is a vampire?"

Kai sighed, frustration flickering across his face. "Of course. Where else do you think she was for three months?"

Jo's expression twisted in shock and disbelief. "I don't know, but I definitely didn't think that," she replied, her voice shaking with both fear and anger. She paced back and forth, her mind working through the information. "Fine. Go without me, but go quickly! Abbie could be dead already for all we know!"

Kai didn't have time to comfort her or explain further. He gave her a terse nod, acknowledging her concern, but his mind was already on the task at hand. Abbie was out there, and she needed him. He rushed out of the building, the cool air hitting him like a slap across the face. Every second counted now.

The woods were a mere ten-minute walk away, but every step seemed to stretch out, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The world felt heavier now that he knew Carrie had turned, knowing what that meant for Abbie. He pushed through the underbrush, barely noticing the branches scraping against his skin, his focus entirely on the faint sound he could hear in the distance—a voice, low and menacing.

It was Carrie.

Kai could almost hear the satisfaction in her voice as she spoke. Her words were muffled at first, but as he crept closer, the distinct cadence of her villainous monologue grew clearer. The urge to roll his eyes and charge forward was overwhelming. If she was going to do this, at least let her skip the speech and get to the action.

Pushing aside a thick bush, Kai finally saw them.

Carrie stood over Abbie, her hands gripping Abbie's head. Abbie's eyes were wide with terror, her body tense as if trying to fight, but she was helpless against Carrie's strength. Carrie had a cruel smile on her face, and for a moment, Kai almost couldn't believe what he was seeing. She was about to snap Abbie's neck, and there was nothing he could do in that split second to stop it.

Everything happened too fast.

Before he could react, he saw Carrie twist, and with a sickening snap, she broke Abbie's neck. The sound was unbearable, as though the world itself had shattered.

"No," Kai whispered, his heart sinking. He hadn't been fast enough.

Carrie stood over Abbie's lifeless form, her fangs gleaming in the dim light of the woods. She met his gaze with a smug, self-satisfied look that made Kai's blood boil. "Too slow, Kai," she taunted, her voice dripping with malice.

He stood frozen for a moment, the shock paralyzing him. Abbie... No. This couldn't be happening. His hands clenched into fists as a wave of rage swept through him. There was no time for hesitation now.

Carrie was dead. He wasn't going to let her walk away from this. Not this time.

Abbie had never felt anything quite like the sudden relief that washed over her when she saw Kai burst through the bushes. In the haze of her panic and pain, she had forgotten just how much his presence meant, how much of a lifeline he was. But seeing him now, his face a mixture of concern and determination, it was like a weight lifted off her chest. For a brief moment, she thought that maybe everything would be okay. She would get away from this. She would laugh about it later, maybe lie on the couch with some popcorn, and watch a cheesy movie with her mom. The worst would be behind her. But as she made eye contact with Kai, she saw something in his eyes—genuine worry—and suddenly, a sinking feeling crept into her stomach.

Could it really be that bad? Was it possible that the danger wasn't over, that she wasn't as safe as she thought? No, it couldn't be. This was just another close call. It always was. But then, reality hit.

In an instant, everything shifted. Her vision faded, the world around her blurring into a dark abyss. Her heart, once thumping wildly in her chest, stopped. The silence that followed was deafening, and for a moment, she felt no pain, no fear. It was as if her body had become a distant memory, floating far away from her consciousness.

Kai was too late.

The world had already swallowed her.

Kai saw it in an instant—the moment she went limp, her body going still in his arms. There was no denying it now. She was gone.

His heart skipped a beat, a surge of panic flooding his chest. He could feel the weight of her lifeless body, the coldness of it sinking into him. There was no time to mourn, no time for anything except survival. Carrie, her body still writhing in agony, was not a threat anymore. With a swift, determined movement, Kai grabbed the stake from his pocket, his fingers tightening around the rough wood. He could almost feel the tension in the air, as if everything in the world had paused for that split second.

He didn't hesitate.

With a single thrust, he drove the stake into Carrie's chest. She shrieked, a guttural, animalistic sound, her body convulsing as the sharp pain shot through her. It was a familiar feeling to Kai—the satisfying thud of a stake finding its mark—but it felt hollow this time. Carrie's body crumpled to the ground, her form becoming still, her life extinguished.

Kai didn't look back. He couldn't. There was no time for reflection, no time for grief. Abbie needed him, and he needed to get her out of here.

He scooped her lifeless body into his arms, holding her close against his chest. The weight of her was unbearable, not just physically, but emotionally. His mind was in a whirl of conflicting thoughts. He wasn't sad, not in the way most people would be. Abbie had been his friend, and more than that, a part of him had always felt responsible for her. But as he carried her, he realized just how deeply he cared for her. How much she meant to him. She had never been someone he could easily dismiss, no matter how much he tried to keep his distance.

Every step he took felt heavier, the reality of what had just happened starting to settle in. He couldn't let her die. Not like this. He couldn't bear it.

But then, as he stumbled out of the woods and into the clearing, something strange happened. The air around him seemed to shift. The weight of Abbie's body grew lighter, almost imperceptibly at first, but it wasn't just the physical weight. It was the sudden shift in the energy surrounding her. Her skin, once cold and lifeless, started to feel warmer. Her once-pale face began to regain a faint flush of color. Kai's breath caught in his throat as he watched her transformation.

What was happening?

Her heart, which had once been still, began to beat again. Slow at first, like a whisper, then louder, more insistent. It was unmistakable.

Abbie wasn't dead anymore.

He had seen her die. He had felt her life slip away from him, like sand through his fingers. But now—now she was alive again.

And as that realization hit him, the only thought that screamed in his mind was that she had turned. She wasn't the same girl he had been trying to protect. She wasn't just human anymore.

Abbie had become a vampire.

The knowledge hit him like a punch to the gut. He hadn't known for sure—he hadn't been prepared for this. But as he carried her, her heartbeat grew stronger, her body warmer, and the unmistakable scent of her changing nature filled the air.

He had done it. He had saved her, but in doing so, he had condemned her to this.

A part of him wanted to be angry, to shout at the world for this cruel twist of fate. But another part of him—deep down, the part he didn't want to acknowledge—knew that this was his fault. If he hadn't made that decision to save her, she wouldn't have turned. She wouldn't have become something else, something dangerous.

But now, he had no choice. This was her new reality. And they would both have to live with it.

Kai looked down at Abbie's face, her eyes flickering beneath her closed eyelids as if she were dreaming. Her body had changed, but somehow, she still looked like the same girl he had always known. But he knew the truth. The truth was staring back at him, hidden in the delicate features of the girl he once called his friend.

Her transformation was just beginning.

And he had no idea what to do next.