don't walk away

A few days after Hannya freed him Hector swiftly returned to his apartment to pack a small bag of belongings. He was living on borrowed time. Magnus or Luc would be out there looking for him. The only option for him was to leave, but it was difficult for him to start formulating a sensible plan. His thoughts were scattered everywhere and he couldn’t focus. His thoughts were locked into one thing only. To kill people. His limbs were twitching as beads of sweat formed on his brow. He’d virtually given up trying to fight the virus and now he was just an addict looking for his next hit.

Hector climbed into his car, tossing his bag on the passenger seat. His hands gripped tightly around the steering wheel as he tried to focus on getting the hell out of Mystic Falls. The decision was to keep driving south until he hit Miami. His boat would be there and he could go anywhere he wanted. Somewhere far away from Magnus and Luc.

He never expected to wake up after going for Linc. Hector thought Magnus would have torn his heart straight out of his chest, but he took mercy on Hector. It was kindness Hector didn’t deserve or at least he thought. Guilt was present somewhere inside of Hector, but it was hidden beneath the virus.

The journey to Miami took a slow start as his attention was drawn to a diner just outside of Mystic Falls. It was nearing midnight but the open sign was still flashing. There were a few people inside. His next victims. His car came to a harsh halt in the parking lot and he climbed out.

The waitress inside greeted him with a warm smile and a menu, which he took. He moved past her, accounting for everyone in the diner. The problem was nowadays everyone was carrying a phone. Within seconds they could call 911. It was hopeless though. They’d be dead long before the cops turned up. He walked past an empty booth, picking up a knife and fork. His gaze settled on a man sitting alone who was flicking through a newspaper. Hector launched the knife into the man’s forehead. He slumped in his chair as the waitress let out a piercing scream, grabbing the attention of everyone else in the diner.

Within a minute everyone in the diner was dead, either with their throats ripped open or a snapped neck. His shirt was saturated in blood. His mouth was red, with drops rolling down his neck. The only person left alive was the male line cook from out the kitchen. Hector had come to realise that killing people wasn’t enough to satisfy his addiction. He wanted his victims to suffer until the bitter end, like a predator playing with its food. He’d dragged the man out of the kitchen, compelling him to sit still before slamming a fork through the man's hand. “I could remove your eyes with this fork.” His hand gripped the handle, driving the fork deeper into the man’s hand who cried out in pain, which drowned out the sound of the door opening.

The only reason Hector turned around was because the man’s attention jumped off towards the door, “Call the cops!” The line cook screamed out. Hector jumped to his feet, spinning to face the door. “I’m going to assume you're not here by chance. Your tea leaves reveal my location?” His hand reached out, picking the knife up off the table, “Cassie. I know there’s some part of me that doesn’t want to kill you but I will… please go.” It was easier for him to drive a knife through a stranger's forehead, but when it came to people he considered his friends it was harder. It was in those moments he found himself fighting the virus, desperate not to kill someone he cared about.


CASSIE LUANNA