Blood Awakening Chapter 3: Secrets Revealed

Heavy breaths and fingers bent against the wooden door. She wasn't sure if she was going to knock or just wait till her Aunt Lily found out she's gone and would bombard her phone with calls and text. But she is considering another option: to suddenly disappear without a word.

Mari knew this would surely hurt the person she considered a mother, the only one whose life is devoted to her. However, if she presents herself before her eyes, she's afraid of her aunt's reaction upon seeing her with furs on her body. How would she react if she tells her about growing fangs? Or will she still accept her niece if she learned of her consuming human blood or worse her own blood? On top of all those overthinking, what's stopping her most is the daunting thought of the possible inability to control herself—the what ifs of being beastly and inflicting pain to her beloved aunt.

One...two...three—knock.

It took a lot of courage to do that; however, it is well compensated as a pair of arms immediately warmed her disconcerted heart. It's so comforting that the moment those arms embraced her, her tears cascaded on her cheeks. Mari has been through a lot in a span of less than forty-eight hours.

“I'm so s-sorry...I—I didn't mean to...” Mari said in between her sobs, still engulfed in her Aunt's hug. She cannot finish speaking nor reveal to Lily what she has done.

“No, it's okay. I understand. Hush now, my sweet child.”

“N-No, you don't understand... it's not about going out without asking your permission nor about coming home this late,” she explained.

There wasn't much light in their front door and the hood of her jacket was covering her head. Mari thinks her Aunt Lily hasn't noticed the furs peeking on the brim of the hood. And she's apologizing for the lives she had taken with the same hands tasked to save lives.

“Okay, Mari. But for now, come inside. I don't want you to catch the cold.”

Her Aunt Lily ushered her to the couch and had turned on the television for her. Afterwards, Lily strides to Mari's room and then to the kitchen.

Mari sat on the couch simultaneously feeling nervous and relieved. This is her safe place—she is her safe place; but, her mind is clouded with thoughts and vivid memories of the agonizing cries her victims had. Then again, she feared what she could possibly do to her Aunt Lily.

Picking up the remote control resting on the circular glass table that is within her reach, she changed the channel one after the other. She endured a few minutes of unease until she decided to stop on that one particular channel with a newscaster whose face she considered full of worries and fright.

“Triggered or worse to say, alarmed. The government had received three reports of killing...”

Mari neared the television's screen, pulling down the hood from her head to lucidly watch the news.

“Luckily, the police had found a lead through the CCTV from the nearby establishments. Here's a quick look at the suspect. Take a close look and report to the numbers on your TV screen, if you had recognized that person or I must say a beast.”

A picture of a person dressed in blue jeans, a pair of sneakers, and a black hooded jacket was flashed on the TV screen. Mari's mouth is widely parted. Though the culprit's face is unseen, she knew it was her; she's still in awe knowing how fast the government had acted on it; for worse, she hadn't told her Aunt Lily. Coming home was already a risk, but now she's putting Lily's life into danger.

“Mari, change your clothes and...“ Lily suddenly took a step backward as Mari abruptly faced her out of being startled. "And have some food,” she continued walking towards her as if she didn't see something unusual.

Lily continued talking but realizing Lily's actions, her confusion muted her words.

“Why? Yo-you're not afraid. Stop pretending you don't notice these furs!” Mari exclaimed while peeling off the jacket that hides her not exactly metamorphosis but visible changes on her physique.

“Mari... what are you saying?”

“Stop it, Aunt Lily! Stop! I know that trick. You'll pretend as if you didn't see anything and would reason out it must be a result of stress or what happened the next morning. But, I saw how you reacted earlier. I've been through some shits and I need someone to lean on!” She heaved a deep sigh trying to compose herself, making her think straight. “Why does it seem like you saw this coming? Do you know something, don't you?”

Lily doesn't know how to respond as if she is deprived of every word she learned. Does she know something? That question repeats in her mind. She's not in the position to tell Mari the answer. What she's trying to know from her isn't supposed to happen.

“Stop silencing yourself! You surely know something. Have pity on me! I just killed people whom I was supposed to help, but I—I...just tell me what you know!” Tears came flowing, unstoppable. Mari had an extreme gut-feel that Lily probably had some information. It's evident in how she acts.

“We're not human,” Lily uttered in a lifeless voice.

A window to a deep secret covered in lies slowly has been opened. A deafening silence stood between them.

“What?! I don't understand. I am human. I act, think, and eat like a human.” Maridelle broke the silence with deep confusion.

“I hid something from you. It's your true identity, Maridelle. Your mom is a vamp and your dad is a wolf. You have to accept it.”

“No. I am a human!” Every word has been emphasized. Mari won't accept being other than a human. She has seen herself brutal in ways she cannot control nor ever imagine.

“No! You're not a human! I'm sorry if I hid it from you. It is for your sake after all. This should have not happened if not because after that rainy night,” Lily blurted that perplexed Mari.

“What about that night? What do you mean this should not have happened?”

Questions piling on top of each other. Confusion after confusion, but Lily doesn't want to spill more beans. Deep sighs in silence became her sole response.

Soon enough, it was only the voice of a newscaster delivering a flash report that occupied the silence.

“Breaking news. The government had put a bounty on the head of the suspect. Whoever has information leading to the success of justice shall receive a million dollars as reward. Again, take a good look at the culprit's photo.”

Beholding Mari's attire, Lily quickly commanded Mari to change her clothing.

“Oh, God, Mari! You're still lucky your face wasn't seen in those CCTV footage,” Lily fretfully shouted.

“Where are we going?” asked Mari as she witnessed Lily stuffing clothes on two black bags she had prepared for a case like this to happen.

“Somewhere safe at least. Soon enough, they'll find out.”

“No. I'll surrender. It's my fault. I'll pay for taking innocent lives.”

“Listen, Mari. I didn't do everything I could just to make you appear normal. You ain't gonna surrender,” Lily said adamantly.

“Then tell me things first. I'm so confused! I won't leave until you tell me.”

“Not now. You had enough on your plate. Devour everything in it before you take more. We're going to the Caruso pack and that's final.”