Melissa's head rolled to one side as Matt picked her up from the side of the road. He opened the door to the car, and set her down, taking his own place in the drivers seat. He looked at her before turning the car and driving back to the motel. Opening her eyes, Melissa saw him. Her ragged breath caught in her throat for a moment as their eyes connected. Almost whimpering like a child, she slowly moved and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I knew you'd come. I needed you." She said, voice heavy with pain, as her body became limp against him, and her mind stilled of thoughts. Matt drove faster, knowing he had to get her somewhere safe, the only place he knew of being the motel. Once reaching it, he carried her inside, and set her on the bed. Matt was relived to hear and feel a steady heartbeat beneath his hand. He drew back the tacky orange sheets and covered Melissa, as she stirred slightly. Matt sat down beside her, idly brushing the hair from her face. Her eyes fluttered open, and ran frantically around the room before finding Matt. She smiled weakly, and reached out for his hand.

"I waited…and I went to find you…"

"Melissa, quiet. I know." He smiled sadly at her. "I never wanted this to happen - "

"It did." She said, boldly. Matt sighed.

My first thrall, he thought, and it turns out like this. She had almost died on the side of the road, and again in his car. Now, she lay on the disgusting motel bed, with more than half of her life taken away. Matt watched over her. He couldn't leave, because it felt wrong. He had brought her here, and there was a chance she could die at any second, or if she survived to find him gone, go insane with need.

Melissa tried to speak again, but he silenced her.

"Don't say anything. Just rest. You need rest, and I'll be here if anything happens, or if you need me." She nodded, and fell into a painful, restless sleep as Matt sank down into an uncomfortable chair beside the bed, keeping watch over her, and rapidly changing channels on the small television. He wondered to himself what was going to happen. Surely now he couldn’t kill her. It had gone to far for that. Matt had never held a mortal in thrall before, but had experienced that longing for someone the night he was made. He had been locked away in the basement right after he had been made, and he needed blood. Only the blood from his maker, from Gangrel. But Gangrel had made him suffer for seemingly endless nights before evening coming to see Matt, and ending the insanity that couldn’t be escaped. Matt didn’t want to force a choice upon Melissa, but he didn't want her to die either. And so, he decided, that he should have never left New Orleans.