CHAPTER 15: Virus

**ALICIA**

Ross?

No. If it's Ross, then why did he not knock? What is he doing without answering my phone?

I tried again. I called his phone again. I heard the ringing outside. And, when I stopped it, it also stopped.

What is happening?

I moved backwards, preparing the dagger.

"Ross?" I called. "Ross, is that you?"

Nothing. There's nothing. Am I dreaming? Is this just a coincidence?

"Ross?" I called him again. "Come on, this is not the time to play pranks on me! Answer me! Ross! What's happening?"

I counted one...two...there...but there was nothing. So, I decided to open the door hoping nothing will happen to Ross.

I inhaled deeply and rotated the doorknob, slowly opening it.

"Aaaaah!" I quickly screamed when I thought Ross will attack me, but he fell unconscious on the ground.

"Oh, my gosh! Ross! What's happening to you?" I panicked as I checked his body. He was blazing hot like he's been trapped inside a fireball.

He's sweating at the same time panting. He still has his pulse but it's so weak.

"Ross, what happened to you?" I pulled him inside but I was shocked by a force that's keeping him outside.

"What the..." I whispered, looking at his state. "Are you a vampire?" I blinked, pulling the sleeves of his polo.

I immediately dropped his hands when I saw that dark lines in his arms and the bite was turning gray. It was the same with his other arms and when I removed his top, all the dark lines were scattered in his back.

He's starting to be like the low-life vampires I saw. And, it cannot be! I cannot let it happen.

"Ross, Ross!" I tapped his face but there was no response. I went back inside the house to get the keys. "Ross, please...don't die on me!" I said as I was lifting him up.

He was too heavy, but due to my adrenaline rush and perhaps the fear that he might turn into a vampire in an instant, I managed to put him inside the car.

I cannot risk giving him my blood as I still don't know the power it holds. It might be risky, but Akihiro is the only one I can ask for help.

But, where is he right now? Is he fucking dead? He said he's going to protect me yet he's not answering my phone.

I was driving towards Akihiro's residence when a car appeared from the side and started following us. I pressed the acceleration harder, but it's still following us.

The car is on high beam and it's tinted so I couldn’t see clearly who was driving.

"Alicia..." I turned to Ross when I heard him. He started vomiting blood. "Stay...a...way..."

"What?" I said, "Stay still. I am going to find medicine for you!" I told him. "Don't say anything. I am going to save you!" I drove as fast as I could.

"I will not let you turn, so please...Ross, be sane!" I begged him.

He coughed blood. When I turned around, he was biting his arms and blood started flowing, but it's dark now. It also smelled rotten corpses.

"Oh, my gosh! What are you doing, Ross? Why are you biting your arms?" I shouted at him. "Stop that!"

"Go..." He muttered. His eyes were teary as it slowly changed into red. I had to stop the car to focus on him. "A...li...cia..." He shook his head.

"R...un..."

We were cut off when someone jumped on top of our car. Ross started to get wild. He was about to bite me when someone pulled me out of the car.

"Ross! NO!!" I yelled when I saw it was Hades who pulled me out. Akihiro was holding me on my waist. "No! Don't kill him!" I begged him.

"Please, Akihiro....don't!" I turned to him. "He is my best friend!"

"He is now a low-life vampire." Akihiro eyed me as his men were pinning Ross on the ground. "Sooner, he will turn and will surely kill you. There is no chance left."

"No!" I started crying. "I don't believe you. There has to be a way to save him! He cannot die! Ross, don't you die there!" I shouted at him.

He's started to lose control of himself. I almost bent on my knees when Hades clawed his fingers into Ross's back, making him scream in pain.

"Alicia..." He called me. "G...o..." He slightly smiled.

"I will not leave you alone!"

"You cannot go near him!" Akihiro tightened his grip. "He is dangerous and he is attracted to your blood. He will surely—"

"My blood might save him!" I suggested. "We can try that, please..." I begged Akihiro. "Save him."

"Don't listen to him, Akihiro!" It was Leah, holding a dagger and pointing at Ross. "She doesn't know what she's talking about! This guy is already dangerous to the town now!"

Ross' eyes are fully red now and his face are starting to have dark lines and his mouth started to rot. Instead of being a vampire, he looks like a zombie now. Is this what happened to humans after being bitten by vampires?

"No! You cannot decide on that!" I glared at Leah. "You don't have any right to decide on that!"

"Akihiro has the power to do so, now tell me...what should I do with this, Young Master?" Hades seriously looked at the both of us.

"Ali..cia..." Ross muttered. "L...eave...me..."

"No!" I cried. "I will help you! Akihiro, why aren't you saying a thing?" I turned to him. "You said you are going to protect me, but what?"

"I said I am going to protect you, but not him."

I scoffed. "I cannot believe that's how you are as a person." I was disappointed but what did I expect, he doesn't have a heart.

"Alicia, I cannot save him. No one can save low-life vampires. They are bound to die so the best thing you can do is to accept—"

"I'd rather die than accept it!" I cut him off and pulled the dagger on my pocket.