"Of course I don't believe in vampires, El," I groaned, looking at my best friend. Ellie could be so melodramatic over our favorite show, The Vampire Diaries. We were on the beginning of Season 4, when Damon was trying to teach Elena how to feed now that she was a vampire. "They're not real."

"Oh, come on, Willa!" Ellie lay her head back in a groan. "You know they're real! Why else would there be so much fanfiction and books and movies and shows about them? Someone saw a vampire, maybe even turned into one, and wrote a book about vampires!"

I laughed. "Again. Melodramatic."

"I will just laugh in your face if some vampire attacks you and turns you. Then you'll be sorry!"

I rolled my eyes. "If that ever happens, and I mean if, I will jump to your window and tell you." I gave her a sarcastic look.

"I will be waiting with a couple blood bags." She gave me a knowing smirk.

That will so not happen.

I walked down the street after watching one more episode of TVD with Ellie. It was a cold, dark night. I had to get back home before my parents wigged out. My fiery red curls stood out against the dark of the night. I checked my phone. 11:47 , Mom is going to kill me. I called Mom, who instantly started wigging out.

"Willa Wendy Lancaster!" she scolded. "Get back home right now! You were supposed to be home by eleven o'clock!"

I stopped by an alleyway, leaning against a wall. "Ugh, Mom, I know. Ellie wanted to watch another episode of TVD before I went home. Cliffhanger, sorry."

"Just please, get home, Willa. You know there can be dangerous people out there this late." My mom sounded so concerned, I almost took her seriously. But I didn't.

"Mom, I'll be fine," I assured her. "I'll be home in five minutes. Come on, I'm seventeen. I can handle myself."

"Just be careful. Bye."

"Bye," I answered before turning off the call and putting my phone back into my pocket.

I started to continue walking before I felt an abnormally strong arm wrap around my waist, pulling me into the alley.

I couldn't scream because another hand clamped over my mouth, muffling any noise I made.

"Hello there, little human," a sneering voice whispered in my ear.