Water gushed over me, staining the white tiles of the shower floor. Mud, blood, and who knows what else swirled down the drain. The water ran clear but I stayed put. Water from that faucet mingled with my tears. It was silent anguish, inside my head I was screaming but not a sound escaped. The warm water soothed the aches across my body, but nothing could soothe my shattered heart. I remained in the shower playing over the final events in my head.

"Syd, we have to get him out of here," Peter said, sitting next to Noah's still form.

A new silence settled around us. Even the raging inferno behind us seemed to cease its loud roars. And in that quiet my heart shattered into a million pieces. Hysteria built up in my veins making my heart feel like it was going to burst.  

"Syd! What's going to happen to him?" Peter's voice was on the edge of panic.

"I don't know!"

I ran my fingers through my hair, pulling the strands in frustration. I told Peter I didn't know but I had an idea. It was rudimentary at best, but it was all we had now. The one place we could have gotten any answers was burning to the ground.

I took a deep breath, "Actually, before Miranda died she said something. Those who got the serum would either die or change."

Peter stood up and walked over to me. He grabbed my arm and his eyes never left my face, "Change into what exactly?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, "Change as I did or change into a monster."

"So we still have time?"

I didn't miss the hope in Peter's voice but unlike him, I knew the chances for that was very slim. Miranda had said that I was the only one who held on to my humanity. Even those who had been bitten didn't change into what I was.

"Syd, how long did it take before you changed?"

"I don't know, I can't remember. I have twelve hours of my memory gone. It could have been anytime between passing out and waking up."

Peter nodded his head, "Okay let's get him out of here before the cops show up."

In the distance, I could already hear the sirens approaching, Peter was right, we needed to get out of here. Each of us grabbed one of Noah's arms and lifted him off the ground. The wound on Noah's neck had stopped bleeding, but the edges were raised. The gash itself looked almost black. The serum was already working, the only thing we could do now was hope it worked out in our favor.

Peter guided me to a white truck standing behind some trees. He fumbled but pulled a set of keys from his pocket. Without saying a word, I took Noah's full weight on me. Peter made quick work of opening the back of the truck. When the doors swung open I sucked in a sharp breath. At the back of the truck, chains had been secured to all the walls.

Peter and I looked at each other but remained silent. We didn't have to say anything, this was how they must have transported the creatures. Inside was devoid of any color and exactly what you expect a delivery van would look like. That is except for all the equipment and coolers built into the walls.

Peter took Noah from me, his limp form going willingly and set him down inside the truck.

"Let's go to my place, you can clean up and then go home. I'm sure your mom is worried."

My head snapped to Peter and my eyes welled up. My walls were cracking under the pressure, soon they would shatter. It took everything I had to hold off. I didn't want to leave Noah alone, not now when he needed me most.

"Don't worry, okay, I'll take care of him tonight and keep you updated. Go home, talk to your mother and get some rest."

I nodded my head, knowing Peter was right. My mother was probably furious and my phone had been gone since the accident. So we left the burning building behind making our way to Peter's hotel room.

The water had gone cold but I had yet to make a move to get out. Inside the shower, I could fall apart. Outside I had to fight reality again and as gruesome as it was.

I turned the faucet off and stepped out. There was a fresh towel in the corner of the small bathroom which I quickly wrapped around my body. Peter had given me a set of clean clothes. I dried off and got dressed. The clothes hung loosely on my thin frame but at least they were clean. After I tied my shoelaces I went to look for Peter. He was sitting on the sofa in the open plan bedroom and living room. Peter stood up when I came out of the bathroom.

"How are you feeling?"

I just shrugged my shoulders, "I..."

No words would come out as my throat closed up. Peter pulled me close and I felt even more tears spill from my eyes. I don't know how long I cried in Peter's arms. So many feelings were swirling around inside of me but I couldn't even start to decipher one of them. Let alone the entire storm.

My sobs ebbed and I only heaved. Peter finally let me go and I wiped my eyes with the sleeve of the hoodie.

"It's not over yet, we still have tomorrow okay? If he can just make it through the night he'll be fine,"

After everything, I knew better than anyone nothing was ever that simple. But I wouldn't give up on Noah. He hadn't given up on me so I wouldn't either.

Peter dropped me off at home and I stepped up to the porch. I opened the door and saw my mother pacing the kitchen.

"Syd!" she rushed to me and pulled me in for a hug.

"Where have you been, I've been calling everyone but no one has seen you?"

My mom looked at my face, concerned etched onto her face. Luckily most of my wounds healed, rather impressively. But it was the inside wounds that still bled profusely.

"Honey, what happened?"

I shook my head as tears spilled from my eyes. My mom pulled me close and I cried my heart out. Guilt, anger, and anguish made nauseating swirls. My mom didn't ask any questions yet, but I knew she was burning to. I am glad that she didn't. I wouldn't have been able to lie.

After I cried for almost an hour mom told me to go to bed. I went and even though my body was dead tired I couldn't sleep. Hell, I didn't even have an appetite. The buzz in my mind wouldn't let me rest. So I stayed awake, praying to whatever or whoever would listen. Eventually, I couldn't lay still anymore and I threw the covers off and trudged downstairs. Mom was already busy making coffee. She was dressed for work and almost on her way out.

"Morning, I didn't know you would be up so early."

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep"

"Syd, I can see something is wrong, I won't push you but we're going to have to talk. You had me really worried, okay?"

I nodded my head, "Okay."

Mom grabbed her keys off the counter and slung her handbag over her shoulder, "I'll be home later tonight," She walked to the door but before she left she turned around, "And Syd, we will talk tonight."

Mom left and I was alone again. I had no way to even contact Peter so I used the landline to contact the hotel. After they patched me through to his room he picked up after the second ring.

"Hey, Peter how is he?"

He sighed, "Not good, Syd I have to move the truck he's starting to attract attention."

I sucked in a breath, "Where do you want to take him?"

"By the lake, its the only place I could think of where no one will find him."

"I'm leaving in ten minutes, I'll meet you there."

I ran upstairs and got dressed in five minutes. Running back down, I grabbed my helmet and keys and was out the front door.

Starting the engine, I revved the gas and sped out of the driveway. It took about twenty minutes to reach the lake, but I didn't care. Reaching the lake I kicked out my stand and removed my helmet. As I pulled it off a car door opened and Peter climbed out of the truck.

I walked over to him, "How is he?"

Peter drew a breath, "He's quiet now, but Syd, he was going crazy. Smashing against the walls trying to get out."

"I have to see him," I said, trying to move past Peter but he just blocked my way.

"Peter, he won't hurt me."

"I know, but you have to be prepared for the worst."

He pulled a large hunting knife from the waistband of his jeans and handed it to me. I started shaking my head and Peter grabbed my hands. He placed the knife in my hands and closed my fingers around it.

"I'm not saying use it, okay? But I won't let you go in there without it."

Peter's eyes were pleading with me to comply. I didn't have the energy to fight so, I saved us both the time and stuck the knife in my own waistband. I walked past Peter to the truck and opened the latch. Stepping inside, I quickly closed the door behind me. The latch clicked back in place and Peter knocked on the door.

"Tell me when you're done and I'll open for you."

"Okay."

I slowly turned around and came to a stop as a pair of hollow red eyes studied me. My breath whooshed past my lips as the air got sucked out of my lungs. Noah was crouched in a corner his eyes devoid of any emotion.

I whispered, "Noah?"

He hissed, moving side to side in the confined space. It was like he was looking straight through me. I took a careful step forward until he hissed again. His skin was deathly pale and he seemed to age overnight. The gash on his forehead was black and the skin around it cracked. His skin was pale and black inky veins ran in crisscross patterns across the surface of his skin. 

"Noah, please say something," my voice quivered as my tears threatened to fall again.

I had thought that my heart had already broke but seeing Noah like this proved me wrong. My Noah seemed to be lost inside this creature. He stood up and took a few steps forward. Instinct drove my body as my hand reached for the hilt of the knife. I kept searching his eyes, hoping to find a glimmer of the boy I knew.

Searching for the boy I loved.

I couldn't find him and as he took another step, I pulled the knife out, keeping it behind my back. My body started to shake and my hand quivered. He wouldn't want to be this. My vision started to blur as the first teardrop fell, followed by another. I knew what I had to do, my body was driving the decision but my heart wouldn't budge.

My breathing accelerated along with my heartbeat. Clutching the knife, I stepped forward and Noah's body stilled as if he was waiting for my next move. My internal debate felt like it was ripping me apart. Piece by vicious piece.

Then, I dropped the knife and it clattered to the floor. I rushed back against the wall, trying to get away from the object that seemed to cause me so much pain. Noah retreated back to his corner and I slid down the wall. Pulling my knees close to my chest. I pulled at my hair and shook my head.

No, it wouldn't end like this. I wouldn't allow it. I jumped up and grabbed the knife from the floor. Noah seemed startled but was still void. A predator pushed into a corner, ready to strike at any given moment. I didn't care how long it took. I was going to bring Noah back. And God help whoever stood in my way.