I drop my bag of supplies onto the tables that have been set up in the gym, Jen and Kaitlyn do the same, as the rest of our group gradually enters. The faces of those returning from the supply run are pale, leaving more bloody footprints on the wooden floor. Mr. Jones, Kaitlyn's history teacher, whom I met earlier, has unwittingly become our leader.

Each group begins to unload their supplies, with other students and staff helping to sort them into piles. Our piles are cleared quickly since we only managed to grab some extra food from mini-fridges, dissection kits from the science room, and some locked-away medical supplies. I also took some plant books from the library, just in case.

The bulk of the food is transferred to the large fridge and pantry in the home economics room. The medical supplies are organized and stored in the weight room, which now serves as our makeshift infirmary since our school doesn't have one.

As everyone is preoccupied with sorting the supplies and transporting them to their designated areas, I slip away unnoticed—it's time for some personal matters.

~

Days pass as the hope that we'll be saved slowly diminishes. Classrooms become rooms for sleeping on mats. The gym becomes the new commons. Carrying some sort of weapon soon becomes a habit after the first night. No one slept due to the banging and growling of the zombies outside kept everyone wide awake, hearts pounding.

I assisted in whittling the brooms and mops into points. Some people even taped a knife at the top. Unknown to them that you cannot kill a zombie by stabbing it in the head, but they will help in keeping the zombie from biting you, hopefully.

Four days after the zombies came Jen, Kaitlyn, and I are sitting in a back corner of the library reading some books on plants. Now and then I glance down at the zombies' below, some walking past others going up to the doors to try their luck unsuccessful in opening the doors. "Hey, Kaindra was that you who blocked the doors with tables when the zombies first came?" Kaitlyn asks casually flipping through her book.

Taking my eyes off the scene below I nod "Yeah that was me."

She nods flipping through her book and stopping on a page that looks interesting. We fall into silence again our eyes on the pages. More people have come to the library lately as the cell tower must have gotten knocked down in the past few days cutting off our connection to the world.

Kaitlyn takes her eyes off her book closes it and places it on her lap hand on the page she was reading. "Kaindra I was wondering, why did you keep coming to school if you're immortal? You could have dropped out without a problem, you have eternity to learn things, why did you keep coming?"

Jen lifts her gaze, her eyes shifting from Kaitlyn to me in anticipation of my reply. I set my book aside, lean my head against the window, and tuck my feet beneath me as I perch on the table, my back facing the open sky. With a sigh, I answer. "Well I may have eternity but my life will forever have started with this one. I don't want to stop my human life just because I became immortal. I started here and I plan to let this life end with the people I care about and the ones I first started with before moving on to continue my life as a vampire." They nod their eyes filling with emotion "Plus life sounds boring without seeing you guys every day." They laugh as I grin at them.

Jen shakes her head "But of course, life would be boring without us we are your best of friends, and might I say, longest-lasting friends."I find myself agreeing with her statement. Maintaining friendships has never been my strong suit, yet they have stood by me since we met in fifth grade. From that moment, we have been inseparable. Jen slides her chair closer, resting her chin in her hands. "Kain I was wondering since you're a vampire how are you still able to eat food since you're technically dead?"

As the questioning commences, our books are left forgotten. "Well I can still eat, food just doesn't do anything for me. I don't get nutrients from it. But it helps with the thirst for blood. Plus food tastes good why give it up."

"What about your other body functions like breathing or your heart?" Kaitlyn asks.

I sit up straighter, getting more comfortable in preparation for the long series of questions ahead. "I don't need to breathe but most vampires make ourselves breathe to blend in and to just feel more normal, I do. Our hearts don't beat, if someone were to check there would be nothing there. My blood still flows due to magic...And my digestive system works I just don't get nutrients from food only blood as I said before. The nervous system still works, and that's about it...everything unneeded for someone dead does not work. The worst part that still works is our pain receptors, like why do I still have to feel pain I'm dead, it's not as bad as when I was human but it still hurts."

They laugh reaching over and pinching my ankles "Hey stop that, it's not nice, OWWW Jen did you just stab me with a pencil?"

She laughs "I did not," she giggles throwing away a pencil. "So you don't need to sleep?" Jen asks.

I shake my head then stop myself "Well...I don't know do humans need to sleep. I sleep like humans do to heal and replenish myself, I get tired as people do. A theory for why vampires sleep that I friend told me was for the magic to rest and replenish in our bodies, but I think we can go for a loonngg time without sleep."

Kaitlyn nods, likely tallying in her mind which of my organs no longer function. Meanwhile, Jen squeals, clapping her hands together in excitement."What about your magic how does that work?"

With a sigh, I tap my chin, how do I explain this? With a snap of my fingers, I extend my hand conjuring a small flame. "Well as a caster my power comes from the earth and air around us as long as it exists I can conjure and use my power. Basically, the earth is like my mother and power source and me her child, she gives my kind an element or elements in my case to wield."

"Ohh so that's where the term mother earth or mother nature came from?" Jen asks.

I shrug "Maybe I don't know but that sounds plausible."

"If your power comes from the earth and it's gifted to you do you have an infinite amount of power to use?" Kaitlyn asks.

I shake my head "No, my power comes from the earth but each has its limitations. Earth and air are my weakest elements whereas shadow and ice are my strongest. I was only given a certain amount of power but cannot draw on what is not there if I run out of power it has to be refilled naturally I can't pull in more by force and can only get refilled quickly if someone else gives me some of their power as a lone."

I demonstrated a few of my abilities messing around in the vacant library.

"So Kain why don't you burn in the sun like in stories? Do you sparkle like in Twilight?" Jen asks her eyes twinkling on the last line.

I scrunch up my face "Eth no I do not and I mean do not sparkle. We do burn as light is the angles domain and vampires were created by witches and demons."

"Then how can you be out in the sun without burning?"

"That's easy I have a charm placed on me by a friend who is a witch."I lower the collar of my shirt to reveal the mark of the sun charm on my left collarbone.

Jen's eyes widen "Wow it's so pretty. So that's why you always wore something that covered your collarbone."

I nod, allowing their fingers to trace the elegant lines of the sun charm. The black charm stands in stark contrast against my pale skin, resembling a small tattoo about the size of three fingers. The two figures, one a sun and the other a moon, are interlaced; the moon in a crescent form melds into the sun, which is marginally larger than the moon. The ancient script meanders in graceful cursive, weaving through and around the two figures.

Kaitlyn follows the inscribed words on my skin and asks, "What does it say?"

I pull up my collar hiding the charm once again "The one in the dark may reside once again in the light. It's actually quite nice, and it looks pretty." I grin patting the charm "But with it, I can look like a normal human walking in the sun without covering myself up like a mummy."

"Did it hurt to get it?" Jen asks.

I shake my head "Not really, the worst part was having the sun hit me. The spell requires a vampire to be burned by the sun well a witch casts the spell. If the sun deems you unworthy it will burn you on the spot if it deems you worthy it will mark your skin permanently, but if at any time it deems you unworthy the mark will vanish and you can be burnt again. No witch or other supernatural being can remove the charm only the magic in the sun can."

Their faces scrunch up at my words "So the sun is like an entity of magic?"

I shake my head and nod "Yes and no, It's confusing I don't even fully understand." I scratch the back of my head slightly embarrassed "I have only been in this world for around a year. But in simple terms, each object not created by humans possesses some magic, the sun, light and life whereas the moon is darkness and death."

"So vampires and demons are beings of death so they reside at night and angels and witches are beings of life so they reside in the daylight, right?" Kaitlyn says.

I nod clapping "Exactly the only exceptions would be werewolves and casters or dark/blood witches. Casters are...were the beings that kept the balance but that role got transferred to the werewolves when the casters were annihilated thousands of years ago."

Jen pipes up "And dark witches are witches that practice dark arts right?"

I nod "Yep instead of practicing the art of keeping the flow of life and death they do spells that would negatively influence one's life only. I'm not a witch so that's about all I know on that subject." I clap my hands together "That's enough talk on that subject let's switch it to something a little less...supernatural."

Jen groans, collapsing onto the table like a doll. Kaitlyn appears slightly disappointed but agrees, pondering the information I gave her.

Suddenly, Jen sits up, her eyes wide with realization. "What about our family? I've been so engrossed in the zombie dilemma these past few days that I haven't even considered them. Kaindra, could you do something, please? At least check if they're safe," she pleads, clutching my hands, her eyes clouding over in worry.

Kaitlyn's head snaps up at Jen's words, anxiety creasing her forehead, yet she remains silent, her eyes pleading with me. I pat Jen's hands, offering a reassuring smile, "Don't worry, I've already taken them to a safe place; you don't need to be concerned, either of you."

"How, and when?" Kaitlyn interjects before Jen can.

With a smirk, I toss my loose hair over my shoulder, "Remember the first day back, when everyone was busy sorting supplies? You remember I was absent for a while, right?" They nod, their expressions tense. "Well, during that time, I ventured out of the school and found both your families, and mine, alive and unscathed. I've moved them to my friend's place; they should be safe there. Would you like to visit them after supper?"

"YES," they both exclaim, latching onto my shoulders and shacking me.

"O-ookk-kay you g-guy-ys can y-you st..op shak...ing m-me." They stop shaking me mumbling a quick 'sorry' as I shake myself out. "Thanks now lucky for you supper is starting any minute now so the quicker you eat the quicker we can go."

Without further ado, Jen grabs Kaitlyn's hand, yanking her to her feet and through the door with astonishing speed, leaving their books scattered on the floor behind them. "Oh, and Bella and Jordan should have food there too so don't eat too much here," I call as they leave the library heading to the home economics room on the floor below us. I chuckle "If they were this excited I should have told them days ago, whoopsie."

The gym is filled with the tables that were once in the commons. Students and staff filter in slowly, plates in hand with food. No plates are stacked high with food as our limited supply won't last. By my best guess, I would say we will be out of food at the pace we are going in two or three days. The portions are smaller than what most are used to and if we go any smaller people will start to get unhappy.

Following behind Jen and Kaitlyn's hurried figures a grin spreads across my face. Jen continued to lead Kaitlyn, their plates holding the least amount of food compared to others. Kaitlyn might be a more reserved person, but her excitement was unmistakable to me. The smile on her face and the sparkle in her eyes a dead giveaway of her excitement.

We take a seat on the bleachers, not a word being spoken as Jen scarfed down her food. Kaitlyn eats faster than normal, not as fast as Jen but rushed in her way. I chuckle picking at the minimal amount of food on my plate. Jen's cheeks are stuffed contorting her face into a chipmunk. She grabs at Kaitlyn's shoulder shaking her slightly as she points at her wrist rapidly chewing the food in her mouth before swallowing.

Kaitlyn rolls her eyes getting to her feet plate in hand. Jen hops up swallowing the last of the food in her mouth and hurriedly leaves the gym to clean her plate and cutlery Kaitlyn not far behind her. I leisurely walk behind their rushed figures eating the last of the food on my plate.

As I walked into the home economics room, Jen, noticing my relaxed pace, hurried over. "Come on, Kain, stop being so slow; we have places to be," she says, taking my plate and cutlery to clean them herself. Kaitlyn shrugs, her dishes already dried and stored away neatly. Dinner concluded in record time. Jen, beaming with pride, skips over and asks, "So, how do we get to them?"

With a sigh, a small grin appears as I shake my head, gesturing for them to follow. They do so unquestioningly as we go to our temporary bedroom on the second floor. After ensuring the coast is clear, I let them enter before me, closing the door firmly. Clapping my hands to draw the attention of the two others in the room, my grin broadens as Jen excitedly bounces on her toes. "Just stand there while I take us to Jordan and Bella's house. And don't panic; it might feel a bit strange." Without waiting for a reply, our vision fades to black, and we meld into the shadows. Moments later, we emerge into the foyer of a grand, old house with modern touches, far from our high school.

Jen shivers and mutters to herself, trying to shake off the sensation. I chuckle and glance down the hallway as the sound of three pairs of pitter-pattering feet rush over, drawn by the arrival of new visitors within the barrier. Three young children dash toward us, beaming as they shout, "Kaindra, we missed you!"

Laughing I crouch my arms open wide as the three little witches rush into my arms. "I missed you three too, have you given Bella and Jordan any trouble?" I ask after releasing them.

They shake their rusty brown hair the white and gold highlights shimmering under the light. "We have been good, hey Kaindra who are those two behind you?" Everly says grinning as she points at Kaitlyn and Jen behind me.

I stand to my full height draping my arms around my two friends "These are the friends I told you about, and the four people I brought here are their parents."

Their eyes widen and little Jaylin is the first to come over shyly taking Jen's hand. "I'm Jaylin and that is my older brother Josh and my old..."

"I am the oldest Everly nice to meet yeah," Everly taps her chest standing up a little taller.

I grin hiding my smile behind my hair. Jen smiles at little Jaylin squeezing her hand "Hi there I'm Jen Kaindra's friend."

Jaylin smiles, pulling Jen further into the house. I let my arms fall as the triplets guide us into the sitting area where our families, along with Bella and Jordan, are conversing. As the triplets return with the three of us, Jen and Kaitlyn's parents' faces light up; they stand and rush over to embrace their daughter, tears streaming down their cheeks. I smile, making my way to my parents and sister to greet Bella and Jordan. A glass filled with a red liquid is handed to me, and I nod in thanks to Jordan.

Shortly after the reunion, Jen and Kaitlyn join me on a couch, claiming it just for us, their eyes red and swollen. Kaitlyn leans in and whispers in my ear, "So, who are those three?"

I look over as she points to the triplets "Triplets Everly is the oldest as she stated, Jaylin is the youngest, and Josh is the middle child."

"And are they their parents?" She points at Bella and Jordan.

I shake my head "They took them in after Jordan and I found and rescued them from some bad people. We watch over them now, by the looks of it they don't remember their family so Bella and Jordan kind of are their parents now."

She leans away taking some food from the finger food laid out on the coffee table. Jen then leans over "So he's the one that saved you right." I nodded taking a sip of my drink. "So he's a vampire what about the others?"

Licking the blood off my lips I whisper so both beside me can hear "Bella and the triplets are all witches."

Jen nods watching the three children play, now and then they would cast some spells Bella taught them her eyes widening at the sight. Bella smiles softly watching the children play and conversing with the others in the room as she leans comfortably against Jordan. Her ears prick up her attention turning to us. "A witch can be noticed by their hair and eyes." As she speaks she points to the white highlights in her black hair as well as the gold shimmering around her pupils making her blue eyes look like the bright blue sky and sun.

"Oh, so a witch is born with white or gold in their eyes and hair?" Jen says.

Bella shakes her head "Only the hair can have either white or gold the eyes will always be gold-rimmed."

Jen nods tossing a grape into her mouth and grinning. We converse with each other for a while the sky slowly getting darker. Taking my empty glass to the kitchen I return empty-handed "Well this has been nice but it's time to go back. Jen, Kaitlyn do you guys want to stay here?"

Jen's face falls as she looks at her parents "I don't want to leave them but I also don't want to leave you alone at the school."

I look to Kaitlyn who's already hugging her parent "I am going with you, what are you supposed to tell the teachers about our disappearance."

"It's up to you I have my ways of convincing people," I shrug saying my goodbyes to Kaitlyn's parents.

Jen hops up waving to her parent's eyes glazed "I'm going with Kain and Kaitlyn we'll come to visit again soon, can't have the students suddenly disappearing now can we." Jen waves to the triplets giving little Jailyn a high five as she says her goodbyes.

I wave to Jen's parents "I promise I'll keep them safe." They nod waving.

The triplets run over tackling me to the ground "Don't leave again Kaindra it's boring when you aren't here." Josh says squeezing my neck as the other two nod against me their heads resting on my sides.

Patting their heads I slowly peel them away "I'll come back, and next time I'll bring you guys some candy." I whisper the last part winking at Jordan behind them.

He grumbles scowling at me. He comes over pulling me into a tight embrace "Do not bring them candy."

I laugh "Sorry a promise is a promise once the words are spoken." He holds me tighter my spin screaming under the pressure. Not feeling like having my spine broken today I vanish reappearing behind him shadows dissipating behind me. Embracing Bella we say our goodbyes.

"Is there no other way we can get back?" Jen asks shivering as I walk over.

"Nope, this is the quickest method, plus we won't get caught." Jen grumbles at my words her skin turning prickly "Haha sorry Jen I can't change the way it feels."

"Why? It feels so weird like I am turning into sticky slime but also like I weigh a thousand pounds. It's weird" she exclaims fake barfing.

"At least there's no motion sickness," I shrug.

She gives me the evil eye "I would rather have that."

Laughing we once more vanish into the shadows. As our vision clears, we're again standing in our temporary bedroom empty as I predicted. We get ready for bed as our roommates enter the room as well. Our spirits lifted. Once more Jen skips around showcasing the happiness Kaitlyn and I feel but don't care to show.

As we change our vision goes dark as the lights turn off. People screech as their vision suddenly goes black. The power has officially gone out.

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