The Tainted: A Story of Those Under Evil's Curse

CHAPTER 5: Neon Lights and Lyra Heartstrings

A loud and steady beat fills my ears.

It slowly gets louder and faster.

"Get back here!"

My heart feels like it's going to burst.

"Where is she?!"

My hooves pound underneath like thunder.

"I don't know! she couldn't have gotten that far!"

I look around frantic knowing that I'm lost, there are so many twists and turns around; walls around me closing in.

Falling on top of me.

Crushing me.

A set of hoof steps draw me to the current hallway, seemingly empty.

Where are they?

A sudden warmth on my neck makes me tense.

Like a spring I spun around and bucked forward.

Thump!

"Ouch!" I saw a quick as lightning motion and his mouth was covered.

"Lights? I... I thought you were dead" I embraced my friend in a hug.

It was returned for a short moment and then I was pushed away gently and he was silent looking around.

"Hey, are you okay?" -no response- "do you know what's going on around here?" still no response... something is wrong with him... if only I had my contacts to see his eyes, you're eyes always give you away.

"I'm..." -his voice sounded almost animalistic- "not normal" that doesn't make any sense.

"What are you talking about?" I found myself squinting trying to get a read on why his presence felt different.

"We..." -again that animal like voice- "can talk about that later" he started down a hallway and I found myself fallowing behind.

"What are we doing?" -pause- "I mean I thought you were dead" -something was wrong as we continued to walk- "I mean the gun shot and then..." -something is extremely wrong- "the brain matter... on the floor where..." keep calm Lyra, there must be some kind of explination.

I got a little carried away and walked forward quickly pulling him to turn around; that's when it all made sense.

I didn't expect the length of his fur... that's something I could have overlooked easily but his face wasn't something I could overlook.

"You, and fur... and then... fangs... what the buck are you?!" the sound of nearby hoofsteps made me regret the outburst.

"What was that?"

"I don't know, why don't you go and check it out?"

I watch as slowly a pegasus turns the corner.

I watch not breathing as Neon Lights starts to react.

Reacts by caving in the skull of this pony.

I try not to scream as blood starts to fall to the ground.

I found that blood makes me salivate now, I needed to drink that blood but I was denied that need by Neon Lights strong body "stop" -I became tense ready to rip from his grip- "you're not used to the urges of being a vampire yet" I groaned wanting nothing more than to eat.

"Hey you alright?!" my hunger disappeared in that moment.

Neon Lights looked to me and we both had the same thought that came out as a whisper "shit."

I hear the hoofsteps coming closer and steel my mind and then a unicorn rounds the corner.

He isn't one for long though.

I tore his horn off and then shoved it down his throat.

I nearly scream as blood sprays over my face, but then I licked my lips.

I see the sweet blood pouring from his mouth and can feel myself salivating more than before.

In that moment I did something I thought I would never do.

I kissed a stallion.

I kissed a dead stallion.

I kissed a dead stallion that was bleeding into my mouth.

I moaned at the taste filling my mouth and warm sensation pouring down my parched throat.

Moaned for the first time ever at the taste of blood and kissing a stallion.

This beautiful dark kiss.

The kiss of a deadly hunter and her pray.

The bloody kiss of hunter and pray.

This horrid kiss of death.

I started gagging and coughing as I pushed the body away from me and then doubled over "what is wrong with me?!" I look back waiting for an answer and only see his form somehow less blurry than before.

I don't think Bon Bon could ever look at me again if she saw this but that isn't even the worst part... I'd do it again.

With anypony at all... even Bon Bon.

Something hit my sense hard; the sound of hoofsteps, the scent of sweat, the taste of blood in the air, and then I saw everything crystal clear even the look of disgust and fear on Neon Lights face.

I surveyed my surroundings and knew that if anyone was getting out of here tonight I'd have to act quickly.

I walked towards Neon Lights and before he spoke I ran forward with a hoof over his mouth "go, get help from the outside" he looked at me stunned and I started to make it look like I had been attacked by something with sharp claws "ow... look I'm going to make it seem like I was dragged from my cell and barely escaped..." -still he wouldn't move- "run for it. Look for Vinyl or Bon Bon... just bring help" he nodded and then turned quickly and ran.

I started to do things I didn't want him to see.

I broke a shoulder, a hoof, teeth, and my jaw.

It hurt which helped me shed tears while I used the corpse I had fed from as if hiding from something.

As they turned the corner I had fallen into the role of the poor and mistreated mare afraid of the beast that had taken her away from safety of her cell.

I was escorted to a new cell, one without a lock, one where I would be stuck just as much though; a hospital...

I was stunned seeing none other than Nurse Redheart tending to other patiants even if her smile was obviously forced no one else would notice with their own worries on their minds.

I wanted to cry for real in that moment.