Yuree
I sighed deeply , feeling comfortable under my blanket .
My body was warm and slightly lucid from sleeping .
I turned my body to the side but then I froze .
I had felt the blanket on my upper skin , which was strange because I never slept without my shirt .
And as I shifted my attention , I realised my legs were also bare .
Was I naked ?
No , I was wearing a boxer , I realised , but why was I sleeping close to the nude ?
I opened my eyes and looked at the sidewall where there was a poster of a hummingbird on a dry tree branch . It was something I had gotten a long time ago . I couldn't remember if it had been mom or dad who put it up for me though .
I turned around and went on my other side and I froze again .
What is he doing ? I thought bewildered . I had good reason to bewildered .
Bee was in my room and , oddly , he was shirtless . The shirtless thing was strange enough but what Bee was DOING was stranger .
Bee was in the middle of my bedroom right infront of my window . The light from the window shined behind him and gave his skin a gleam. He was on his knees , his hands on his lap and his head down .
He looked like someone waiting for the hangman .
What was wrong with him ? I wondered . I opened my mouth to ask him when I saw a red stain on his short . It looked like ... blood .
That's when it hit me ... and I mean it HIT me !
The memory came back like a physical blow and I moved as if I had been punched . I remembered it all ;
Me and Bee in the bathroom . Bee cleaning me and then getting this vomiting fit . Bee's grey like skin tone , his hollow dead eyes and the violent behaviour .
I remembered his look of anguish and his frenzy , it had scared me .
But then I had wanted to help him and then I'd ... let him eat me .
I remembered his cold lips and then his teeth sinking into my flesh ... and the pain !
I remembered the blood loss and lightheadedness that came as he started to drink from me . I remembered asking him to stop and just deciding to wait for him to finish .
Then everything had gone black .
Now I breathed slowly and carefully raised my eyes back at the boy on the floor . Or whatever he was .
I realised he was waiting for me to speak and that he was probably going to wait on the floor until I did.
But what could I say to him ?
I couldn't say ; ' Thanks for not completely drinking me. And by the way , how did I taste ? Too sweet ? '
I could not fully believe what had happened , let alone think of what to say .
But I had to say something ...
" Bee ? " I said softly , and he dropped his head lower and I realised what he thought was going to happen.
He thought I was going to punish him ! I realised.
" Bee , I'm not going to ... I mean ... I don't think I could even ... I mean ...it's just ...oh my gosh ." I blundered like a buffoon , I didn't know what to say or how to say it .
Think , we were in a very awkward position right now , I told myself , he's expecting punishment and you just want answers ... mmm... answers ?
An idea flashed into my head , it was stupid but it would break the tension in the room .
" Bee , do you want to play a game with me ? " I said and he looked up at me .
He was close enough that I could see his eyes were filled with anguish and slightly red rimmed ... he had been crying .
This knowledge only made me more bewildered , why would I punish someone who seemed to be suffering already ?
" A...game ? " he asked confused and I nodded my head . " But , " he continued , " Are you ...not afraid ...don't you ... hate me ? "
" Let's play my game first , and maybe I'll be able to answer those questions . " I said solemnly .
I couldn't have been sure of my feelings right then , whether I was afraid of him or not was something I needed to find out . My mind was whirling with alot of questions and emotional analysis was the last thing I could do .
" I... accept ." he said nodding his head slowly .
" Okay , the game is called ' 20 Questions ' " I said , " It's another self-explanatory game like ' Truth or Dare ' . I ask you 20 questions and you have to answer me honestly . Deal ? "
He nodded his head slowly whilst looking reluctant , But it wasn't reluctance though ... it was fear . He was afraid I would ask too much .
But I would find out if there was too much to know first .
" Okay , first question ... Did you stop ? " I asked and he raised his head confused , " When you drank ...me - my blood . I fell asleep after awhile , so I didn't notice but I want to know . Did you stop drinking from me ? "
This was important more than anything , it meant he was not dangerous . Well he was , I thought , but if he could stop ... if he could not fully drain me and KILL me , then he had a conscious . And that was really important .
Sure he had been crying but it was more important to know that he had tried to not kill me .
He frowned thoughtfully ," I ... did but you were ... very weak ."
I nodded my head , so he had drained me alot but he had stopped and not killed me .
I felt a bit of my fear ease but still a part of my emotions raged with cautious fear . Maybe the next questions would help , I thought .
" Did you want to drink more ? " I asked him . Another important one , if he had wanted to drink more and possibly kill me but then held back , it meant he had control and some restraint .
" I did ... but then I heard you call me and I snapped out of my mind and when I saw you ... I couldn't ... I DIDN'T want to drink anymore ." he said his hands in fists .
Okay , so far so good , I thought , I honestly couldn't believe the questions I was asking but there we were .
" Okay , then ... Now , for something more serious ... who are you and what are you ? " I asked , this should have been the first question I asked but knowing I wasn't in complete danger of him feeding on my flesh had been more important .
Even if he did start now , he would not kill me ... if I believed him that was . But since I wasn't dead now , he had to be telling the truth .
" I ... am Bee ." he answered and I frowned , was this the truth or a lie ? Should I believe this , I wondered , but his next words ... were beyond belief .
" I am ... a ... ghoul ." he said and I sat straighter with my eyes wide open and my mouth hanging loose .
Did he just say he was ... a ghoul ?
" You mean ... like a-a zombie ?" I stuttered and he nodded his head slowly , his face in a frown as if thinking .
But I was too stunned to pay attention to that . A zombie ! Oh my gosh !
He was the undead ! I thought shocked , I couldn't believe it but ...I had too .
If it was true ... but it had to be ... oh my gosh , I ... I couldn't ... it was too much . I shook my head and realigned my focus . Ask something else, I told myself .
But with his statement alot of questions popped into my head but I quickly set them straight . I had to ask important questions . I only had 16 more left anyway .
" Okay ... How did you ... become a ... a zombie ? " Oh my gosh , that's one question I never thought I'd be asking anyone in my life .
" Olibia brought me back ." he answered .
" Who is Olibia ? " I asked .
" She is the one who brought me back . " he replied and I frowned at this .
Those weren't clear answers !
But that was the problem with '20 Questions' . You had to ask something specific or everyone gave some vague answer out of spite... but with Bee I think it was just the way he was .
" What is Olibia ? " I asked changing tact .
" She is powerful and she is meant to help me . " he replied and I felt frustration at this short information but atleast it was more elaborate than before .
" Is Olibia ... A goddess ? " I asked tentatively , but he shook his head ,
" No , I don't think so . "
Okay , then she wasn't a deity . That didn't offer much to go on but it was something .
I had to change questions , ask something more important .
" Why ... did she turn you ...into a ..
ghoul ? " , Saying ' ghoul ' was not better than saying ' zombie ' , both terms made me uncomfortable and shudder .
" I asked to come back and she brought me back ." he answered and I raised my eye brows .
Come back ? ...
" Are you ... Did you die ? " I asked but automatically regretted it . Of course he died dumby , how else was he a zombie ? I thought sardonicly .
" Yes , I did ... but I came back ." he said .
Okay , now I registered the fact that I was talking to a dead guy . To say I felt creeped out would not have been a lie however I was slightly familiar with Bee so it wasn't too creepy .
But it was still creepy .
" How did you die ? " I asked slowly , I hoped it wasn't something horrible like being burnt alive or strangled to death .
Bee lifted a hand and touched his chest but I didn't see anything at first . Only as I looked closer did I see some faint cut marks that seemed to be healing .
" Olibia said i died because of this ." he said moving his hand and touching his chest and I nodded my head understandingly and kept my face passive , but I still shivered and cringed inside .
He was stabbed to death ! Oh my gosh , that was horrible ... it wasn't ' burnt alive ' horrible but it was still pretty close .
" Okay ... Do you eat ...I mean did you eat people before we met ? " I asked , I wanted to know this really badly .
" No , I have never eaten ... anyone before you ." he said and I felt a bit of relief and realised I had been worried he was a murderer .
If I was his first then he had not killed people before or atleast eaten anyone before me .
Strangely that made me also feel slightly vain .
" What did you eat before ?" I asked , he clearly didn't eat vegetables . I knew that much about zombies , they weren't vegetarians .
" I have only gotten hungry once before ... and when I did , I ate some rats in the trash bin ."
" Oh my gosh ! " I said outloud , that sounded HORRIFIC ! I blinked my eyes to erase the idea of Bee in a dumpster catching rats and chewing on them like sandwiches ... I shuddered in revulsion .
" Okay , okay ... If you are ...a ghoul ... why are you here ? " I asked , " Is it to eat people or do you have something else to do ? "
That was two questions I knew and I was now down to 6 questions .
" I came back to finish my unfinished business . " he said and I frowned .
" Unfinished business , but I thought that was for ghosts ? "
" Olibia said I could not come back as a ghost . "
I processed this information ... Ghost were real apparently , well I should have guessed that sooner .
I was talking to a zombie afterall .
" Why did you ... Why did you agree to stay with us ? " i asked suddenly ," If Olibia is meant to help you why aren't you with her ? "
" Olibia did go ... She became weak and had to go . I was alone ."
" Is that why you decided to stay with us ? Because you didn't want to be alone ? "
Gosh darn it ! I was burning my questions fast . One question left .
" No , i ... didn't come to stay with Mrs Rosi and Gus but I wanted to be near you , Yuree . I came for you and ... yes ... because I didn't want to be alone ... I didn't want to be alone anymore . "
" I ..." that was sweet on so many levels , as well as strange on alot more levels but it didn't answer my question completely .
" Why did you want to be with us - to be with me ? You could have been with any family out there in the world . " I said , he could have stayed with hobos or been put in a shelter , " Why us ? Why me ? Please don't tell me it's because I'm beautiful because ... that won't cut it this time . I need a real answer . I need the truth . "
Bee stayed quiet for a moment , his head shaking from side to side as if in deep contemplation . He clearly hadn't thought about this question before , I thought , but just as I was about to open my mouth and ask him if he had thought about it before , he spoke .
His answer was world shattering .
It shattered MY world .
" I want to be with you ... To care of you . " he said looking at me and I was captured by his eyes aswell as his words ," I was afraid when you did not wake up ... I thought you were going to depart but I did not want you to go ... I understand death is not the end but when I thought you were going ... I could not accept it ... I did not want to lose you . You make me feel less lost , less broken and I do not feel alone when I am with you . I do not want to lose you but I almost did and it broke me ... I had felt so lost , I had wanted to not exist anymore ... I need you ... I feel nonexistent without you . But I hurt you and I will accept any punishment you give me ... even if you want me to go . I am sorry Nymph , I am sorry Yuree . I never wanted to hurt you , I DON'T want to hurt you . You are the most amazing human I have met since I came back into this world . You make me feel like ... I am human again ... like I am not broken ... not lost ... I care about you ... I ... I love you . "
What could I say to that ? What in this world could I have said to that ?
I sat on my bed stunned , no , shocked to my core !
I looked at Bee , he had his head held down again and was waiting for the punishment he expected me to give but I couldn't punish him .
I didn't even want to ... I ... I was too stunned to even think of it .
' I love you ' he had said ...
How many nights had I sat on the roof in Summer , wishing on shooting stars to hear those words ? How many times had I imagined sitting down with the love of my life as he whispered those words into my ear ? How many nights had I cried because someone mocked me for liking guys or nights when i sighed as I felt my hope for love fading ?
How many years had I wanted to hear those words ? I wondered fleetingly .
I looked at Bee again and thought about him .
He was an undead stranger who had appeared in my life when I was in danger . He had lifted me when I couldn't walk , he had helped me when I needed him .
He made me smile and laugh with his strangeness . He cared about me , he listened to me , he was there for me and ... he apparently loved me .
I knew there was alot I still didn't know about him but I knew more now than I had when we first met .
ALOT MORE .
Bee had laid himself bare infront me now , each question revealing the truth about him that he had kept hidden from everyone .
He had made himself vulnerable and I could easily just have told him to leave or waited until mom came back and told her everything .
He'd be locked away and I'd never see him again .
But I didn't want that .
I didn't want to lose Bee , the same way he didn't want to lose me , maybe .
I bit my lip and waded through my swirling emotions . What did I feel for him ? I liked his company and he seemed to like mine .
Did I LOVE him though ?
I ...I wasn't sure but I knew I didn't hate him .
So what did that mean ? What would I , no , what would WE do ?
What could we do ?
I looked at Bee again . He was still on his knees , I hadn't told him to get up this whole time .
Maybe that could be his punishment , I thought wryly .
I smiled and lifted the blanket off me , turning in my bed until my legs hung over the side .
" Bee , " I said and he looked up with anxious eyes that made me shake my head ruefully .
" Yes , Yuree ? " he said nervously .
" Call me Nymph . " I said and he looked startled .
" But ... are you not going to - "
" No , " I said , " I am not afraid of you , atleast mostly . I would be crazy if I wasn't alittle bit . But I trust you and I know you didn't mean to hurt me , which was actually MY choice by the way . I chose to feed you , so you have no reason to be worried or feel bad . "
" But I - " he started but I cut him off .
" No , I don't want you to feel bad about this . " i said quickly , " I want you to make sure that next time , you and I won't have to deal with all that pressure . I think we should deal with your hunger together . Even If I have to give you a piece of myself again ."
" No , I will not harm you again ." he said firmly and I felt warmth in my chest .
" Too bad , it will be my choice when that day comes . As for now though , we have to talk ... about what you just said . About loving me ."
" I do love yo- "
I raised a hand to stop him .
" I don't doubt it . You haven't shown me anything to the contrary . No wonder everyone thought you were my boyfriend . " I said wryly , but then in a more solemn voice ," But besides you loving me , I'm not entirely sure how I feel about you . You're not human for one thing and there are things i still don't understand . You also feed on flesh which is very ... unique . I also don't want to rush a relationship . It's something I always told myself , and I have only known you for less than a week . "
" Okay , I understand if you do not feel the -"
" Wait , I'm not done . I may not be sure I love you but I know I like you . I don't know whether I'll fall in love with you or not but it would be good to try . I've never been in a serious relationship so I wouldn't know. But in the meantime ... we could just hang out . A human and a ... ghoul , I guess . "
" Nymph , does this mean ... I can stay with you ? " he asked hopefully and I nodded my head .
" Really ? "
" Yes , really . " I said chuckling , " Now , can you get me my crutch or help me up ,so I can get myself some clothes . It's a bit chilly . "
Bee smiled and I liked his smile . It was so open and nice that I almost didn't notice him shaking his head . But I heard his words, " No , I will not ."
" What ? Why not ? " I asked confused , I wasn't really cold though , I just didn't want to stay in my boxers whilst he was shirtless like that . It made me feel like the situation was weird .
It is weird , I thought wryly .
" Because I did not finish cleaning you . " he said solemnly and my cheeks turned hot .
Oh my gosh , not that again .
" Well , I ... I guess it's okay . " I said reluctantly ,
Bee smiled and came up to me and before I knew what he wanted to do , I was picked up and in his arms again .
He really liked picking me up like this , I noted .
" Nymph ? " he said and I looked up at him ,
" Yes , Bee ? " I said softly .
" Thank you ... for not making me be alone . " he said softly and I blushed again .
Oh my gosh ! This guy was alot ...
I sighed and rested my head onto his chest as he carried me back to the bathroom .
Strangely enough , I realised something then , something that I should have known earlier about Bee . How I missed it , was beyond me . As my head rested on his chest , I realised ... he had no heart beat .
...
" So how was your day ? " Mom asked as she walked into the dining room .
I sat at the dinning table with Bee and Gus . The two of them had come back earlier and found me and Bee watching another movie .
Bed couldn't get enough of them .
" Well , how was it ? " mom said taking her seat .
I thought about the question , should I tell her the truth ? The truth being ; I just found out that the guy sitting next to me is an undead creature who feeds on human flesh and apparently is in love with me ... but I couldn't say it .
" It was fine ." I said and I reminded myself not to look to the side . A habit I had when lying , but i had sworn to fix it, if I wanted to lie to my mom properly . Especially then because I couldn't tell her the truth .
I couldn't tell the truth because of two reasons ; One reason ; it was crazy and sounded crazier . Also two ; if mom found out she would kick Bee out and possibly have a heart attack that she let such a creature into the house in the first place .
But I didn't want Bee to leave . Even though he was something I had never seen before and something i didn't understand . I liked his company and didn't want to oust him .
Also he said he loved me so maybe I was just being fickle .
" Bee did you drink the beer bottle I left for you ? " Gus asked Bee whilst patting his shoulder .
" Yes ... but I found it unpleasant ." Bee said politely and I smiled smugly at Gus .
" I knew he wouldn't like it . " I said triumphantly .
" Now , hold on a second . How do I know that you didn't tell him to say he didn't like it ? " Gus said accusingly and I drew back in fake shock .
" Why uncle , why would I ever do such a thing ? Does that sound like me at all ? " I said looking hurt but he shook his head so I dropped the pretense .
" Okay , fine . The truth is Bee drank the beer and he didn't like it . It even made him through up ." I said and mom looked at Bee quickly .
" Bee , really ? Are you okay ? " she asked and Bee nodded his head , " Okay , that's good . I guess you found out you're not a beer fan . But don't judge us when we take a few shots , okay ? "
Mom and Gus both had beer bottles on the table already .
" Mom , when are you going grocery shopping ? " I asked her and she frowned .
" Why are you asking ? Do ... you want to come along ? " she asked confused and she had reason to be . I didn't really like grocery shopping , except maybe for fish .
" Yes , I want to come with you ." I said , I could try to get her to buy more meat for Bee later incase he got hungry . Since he said he had eaten rats , I assumed he could eat animal flesh just like human flesh .
I shuddered , these are thoughts I never thought I'd think .
" No , you can't go . You're still in a cast and sling . You're barely two days from the hospital ." she said shaking her head .
" But I'm better now , alot better." I countered . And it was true , alot of my stitches had just faded in the last couple of hours and my leg and shoulder weren't hurting as much .
" Doesn't matter , I'm not having you walk around in the shopping market just so you can pass out . " she said and I grumbled internally .
" I can come and look after Nymph ." Bee said , " I could make sure that he was okay ."
" Well ... if you're sure Bee . Then I guess it's okay ." mom said smiling softly but I was incredulous .
" How come if I ask , you say no but when Bee asks , you say yes ? " I asked her and she smiled again .
" Because Bee is reliable ." She said and I opened my mouth to refute her but I closed it again .
She was right , Bee was reliable .
I looked at Bee sitting next to me . Big surprise , for once he was not looking at me and instead sat completely gazing at his food . He wasn't eating it though .
Bee had taken off his bloody clothing , it would have drawn mom's attention .
Bee wore a dark blue t-shirt with brown trousers . He had his mask on again but earlier I had seen that his ... spot was gone and that there was only a faint scar that ran along the side of his face . It made him look rough and tangible .
Atleast if he hadn't started looking somewhat abashed it would have . Like right now , he looked deep in thought and somewhat distracted .
I decided to try to bring him out of his head .
" Bee , could you feed me my carrots ? " I asked sweetly and he blinked in shock but he wasn't alone .
Gus spluttered out a portion of the food he had been eating and a trail of gravy ran down the corner of his lip .
" Why does he have to feed you ? " Gus asked and I personally didn't know either . I didn't even know why I had said that , but there was no going back now .
" Because my shoulder hurts and Bee is reliable ." I said using mom's words .
Gus shook his head and mom chuckled lightly . But Bee swallowed visibly and picked up a fork.
He picked up one sliced piece of carrot from my plate and held it out to me . His eyes held an anxious look and I understood it. I was feeling anxious too , this was the first time a guy was feeding me something .
But I dutifully opened my mouth and took the offered slice .
Bee picked up another slice , his eyes glowing with glee , because I'd eaten the first piece . I chuckled and ate the next carrot slice .
So dinner was spent with me being fed by Bee and Gus trying to raise the beer issue again. Mom shut him up by smacking him on the head.