Welcome to Paradise Chapter Six- What Now?

For what seemed like ages, there was no change in Trey, nor a change in Roy. They seemed to be lifeless forms lying around, yet breath still reached their lips. I tried not to dwell on it too much, but it was hard. Everytime I left my room I had to see Trey lying on the couch in the same position he had been in for two days. Two days! He should have woken up by now, that's what Carl had said. Derek seemed worried, but not as much as I would have expected. He seemed to be forming some sort of opinion in his head, some sort of reason for Trey's unconsciousness. I didn't bother him; I stayed away as much I could to allow him space to think. A few people dropped by every so often, and I didn't recognize them. When they were there, Derek told me to go to my room, and I always complied. For about an hour I would hear them talking, and then they would leave and Derek would tell me that I could come out. I wasn't sure what it was they always talked about, but I didn't question it. I rarely spoke, as Derek seemed far away most of the time, trapped in the deep crevices of his mind, and everyone else was unconscious. What was I supposed to do? Talk to myself? Okay, I talked to myself a lot now, but it was only because there was no one else to speak to. Another day passed by; still no change. I spent most of my time in my room, only leaving it when I felt it necessary. I would have to start classes soon, I knew. This school gave you a little while to get used to the school, and then you would have to start classes. I wondered, briefly, if Trey and Derek and Roy went to classes, for none of them seemed to be leaving anytime soon. Derek was like an overprotective mother, guarding over her children, when it came to Trey and Roy. I could feel him getting suspicious of me, too. Everytime I left my room, his gaze would follow me. What did he think I was doing in my room? Throwing some sort of party? No. Mostly I was just lying on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Most of the time I wasn't doing anything except letting my thoughts wander where they pleased, but only far enough into my mind that I could draw them back should the thoughts become too negative or too painful. Another day passed by in a blur, me staring at the ceiling, Derek somewhere in the other room, probably pacing around like usual. It was now a Thursday, and Trey had been out for four days, going on five. Sighing, I threw my feet of the side of the bed and stalked over to my dresser. Sniffing the air, I flinched. "Is that me? Ugh, I smell terrible." I grabbed some clothes and left my room, not even glancing at Derek or Trey as I went down the hallway to go to the bathroom. Once I had showered and was changed into a green shirt and khaki jeans, I left the bathroom and made my way back down the hall, where I got a surprise. Derek was sitting on the floor next to the couch, looking up at the ceiling, talking quietly. Was he talking to Trey? Was he awake? Or was he just trying to get a reaction out of him? Shrugging, I went over and joined him.

Derek smiled at me, which he hadn't done in a while. Whatever news he might tell me, it could only be good. "Hey Shadow," he said. "Look who finally decided to join the land of the living." he gestured at Trey, and I frowned, looking at my roomate. Indeed, his eyes were open and looking at the two of us.

I smiled. "Finally," I murmured, trying to keep the relief out of my voice.

"Bout time you woke up," said Derek, looking at Trey. "Sleep for days, why don't you...did I say you could take four days off? Hmm?"

Trey cracked a smile as he sat up slowly. "Didn't know I had to ask permission."

"Well, ya do."

"Fine, fine..." he sighed and yawned. "On the upside, the headache isn't so bad now."

Derek rolled his eyes. "It should be gone, Mr. I-took-a-beating-to-my-head-so-now-I-have-to-sleep-for-days-on-end." Though Derek didn't act like it, I could see in his eyes that he was relieved.

Trey let out a chuckle. "Not my fault. I decided to play the role of hero and save the day, thus getting a pounding in my head."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, that was stupid of you, going out there like that."

"Actually, when you live, it gets reclassified as heroic," said Trey matter-of-factly. I laughed and Derek gave my roomate a playful shove.

"Whatever," said Derek. "But you need to speak with Tavon, and then we have a new member. Um...the new member is recless, and..." he gave a cough and nodded his head in my direction.

Trey frowned. "I see."

"What?" I asked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing," said Derek. "We just-" he was cut off by a knocking at the dorm door. Frowning, he rose to his feet and made his way toward it, opening it. Outside stood a tall male gripping a younger male by the arms. The younger male looked fierce, snarling under his breath, and Derek sighed. "This is the new one," he murmured to Trey, who stiffened and rose to his feet. "Hello Raz," Derek said to the taller male. The male, with blonde hair and green eyes, nodded his head in silent greeting.

Trey came over to the door. "Who is this?" he asked, gesturing at the younger male.

"This is Loop. He's new, as you may have noticed, and um..." Raz trailed off as Loop gave a jerk from his arms, glaring at me. Raz tightened his grip. "You might want to get that human out of here."

Trey nodded. "Shadow, go to your room and lock the door."

I frowned. "Why?" What was going on?

"Just go," said Derek, and it was at that moment that Loop broke free from Raz's grasp and charged toward me. I froze like a deer caught in a bright light. Trey snarled and rammed into Loop, and they both crashed into the ground, snarling at each other. Derek came toward me and grabbed my arm, pulling me toward my room. "Go."

"No," I said as I struggled.

"He is food!" Loop cried, and I flinched at the look in his eyes. His eyes, which had once been blue, were now a blackish color that seemed to hate me. He knocked Trey to the side and charged at me again. Derek snarled, stepping in front of me, but Loop pushed him aside as well. I closed my eyes, waiting for impact, but it never came. Opening my eyes, I saw that Trey had tackled him from behind. The two of them were lying on the ground, snarling at each other. My eyes widened when I saw Trey's eyes. They were red. Crimson red. "He is food!" Loop cried again.

"No he's not," snarled Trey. Loop lunged for me again, and Trey threw a punch at his jaw, landing it. Loop stared at Trey in shock, and then snarled at him, lunging at him. Long, sharp fanges protruded from his lips as he went to snapping at Trey's neck. I took a step forward to help, but Derek grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"What are you doing?" I asked, trying to pull away.

"He can take care of himself," said Derek.

Sure enough, Trey kicked Loop off of him and tackled him, pinning him to the ground, snarling something. I couldn't understand what it was he was saying; it didn't sound human. Loop glared at my roomate and then nodded slowly. "Good," said Trey. "We understand each other." he pushed at Loop's arms again, and then let him up as he got to his feet. Looking at Raz, he said, "Control him. He is your responsibility."

Raz nodded. "I know that Trey. I was just going to ask where you want me to take him to train..."

Trey nodded. "Ah, okay then. The usual place, I guess, so long as he's controlled enough and there arent' that many humans around. But keep an eye one him, we don't need him killing anyone."

Raz nodded again. "Aye sir." and then he left. Trey turned to face me and sighed.

"I knew I should have stayed asleep," he mumbled to himself as he walked over to the couch and sat down. Derek moved away from me and sat down next to him. I followed after, of course.

"Hey, you stopped him though," said Derek.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"That's a good thing."

"Okay--what the hell is going on?" I asked suddenly, catching their attention. They looked at me silently for a moment, and then looked away. "And who was that? No, a better question...what was that?"

Trey sighed. "A vamp," he murmured.

My eyes widened. A vampire. It had tried to kill me. The world spun, and I heard them shout my names as the ground came to greet me. Arms wrapped around me, catching me, and then everything went black.

I passed out. It was just too much so fast.