Sheila is but my own to use and abuse………. All the others are Charlaine Harris's and Allan Ball's wonderful creations!
Thank you for the reviews. I highly appreciate them all! I never thought anyone would find my little story even remotely interesting… English is not my first language, a lame excuse I know, but I promise to try harder and hopefully become better! J
*Minor updates to this chapter to correct errors and make it all flow better*
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Sheila had taken up night walking when first arriving in Dallas. It was impossible to sleep without the nightmares so she had simply opted out of sleeping. The dark circles under her eyes told the story but she was always very careful to change jobs every three months so as to not get too attached to anyone. Her past had taught her that was the safest way. You'd be surprised how many Walmarts there actually are in such a small area.
Another night, another walk. It was time to change jobs again. Frannie at work had started asking too many questions Sheila could not answer. It was such a shame really. She enjoyed her current place. Sheila pulled the fleece jacket tighter. The nights were getting colder and Christmas was around the corner. That would make it eight years since… Never mind, Sheila fucking hated Christmas anyway. A sound from an alley startled her. She must have walked this same street a hundred times but something felt different tonight. Sheila stopped. The sound was there again. A moan. Sheila looked around for someone but everyone was too busy with themselves. The clock had passed 2 am and everyone was going for the night bus or a taxi. No one else seemed to even have registered anything out of the ordinary. She shook her head; clearly she had finally started to lose it.
Sheila went to a coffee shop and got a black coffee to keep the heat in her body. Her red hair was loose under her black woolly hat. The big curls framed her delicate, pale face. When Sheila's landlord could be bothered to fix the water heater she might just actually be able to take a proper shower. The red nail varnish on her nails had started to fade. Sheila bit her nails when she was nervous – she had been nervous a lot lately. She really could do with a winter jacket but money was scarce right now and if she was to change jobs again she would have to be careful and not overspend.
A block from home she stopped dead in her tracks. She had to find out what the noise was. She just had to. She cursed herself all the way back to the alley. Sheila was practically begging to get raped and murdered and dumped in a container of some kind – not necessarily in that order. Had the past not taught her anything? It was soon morning and the party crowd had disappeared off the streets. The empty booze bottles and shards left behind. When she stood in front on the alley heard the moan again, it was not as loud any more. Slowly she stepped towards from where it came from. She should have taken a knife with her – oh Sheila what are you thinking with? This is beyond stupid and you will end up in the headlines just like the rest of your family…. A cat jumped out of a trash can and scared Sheila half to death. Fuck! She hissed and then she heard the moan. It was closer this time, still it sounded weaker. She could see a bundle huddled up against the wall. It barely moved. Was it huddling over something? Yes it was, was it not?
Sheila looked around for a weapon, something to hit the rapist in the head with while she ran away. Sheila stepped closer and the bundle discovered her. They stared at each other. Sheila swallowed hard. She might not have finished high school and she might work at Walmart but she was clever. See, the most clever people in the world keep it to themselves and did not become professors or lawyers. At least that was Sheila's opinion and she was damn sure of it. She could put two and two together. The creature was bundled up in a silver net. That only meant one thing: Vampire. Sheila stopped dead in her tracks. She could not breathe. She was shaking uncontrollably. She had to go, she had to run. The panic took command of her body. Blood, blood everywhere. Mum?! Dad?!? Joseph?!? Mum?? Blood. Blue lights. Snow and Christmas lights.
Please help? The net spoke to Sheila. She snapped out of it. This was a huge mistake and she was dead. Will you please let me out of the net? She saw him now. It was a boy. He could not be more than 18 or early 20s when he was turned. Sheila did not take her eyes of him He had dark hair and his clothes had once been white, now there were dirty and blood stained. She saw that the silver was burning into his flesh quite badly. He was tied with it both by the hands and feet. He looked pale. Get away from me, Sheila stuttered. Her feet refused to move. She felt the tears in her eyes. No, they would never make her cry again. She had made that promise eight years ago. Please, the boy asked again. Why? Sheila asked. So that you can feed on me and then kill me? The vampire shook his head and answered: I am very old – I require very little blood nowadays. Why don't you just make your own way out then? Sheila said. She knew a vampires strength all too well. The boy or man or vampire or whatever he was looked her directly in the eyes. I have been trapped for a long time and I have not fed for quite some time. The morning is coming and I am tired. His voice sounded weak.
Ha, I told you, you would come out and eat me like a pig to the slaughter! Sheila spat out. I promise I won't, the boy pleaded with her. I will let you take the silver off my feat first to keep it to protect yourself with. He suggested. Sheila slowly bent down. Why Sheila? Her inner voice was making an uproar. Why are you doing this? Use your brain woman! Or any common sense! He is a vampire! Don't you remember? Sheila closed her eyes. She did remember, all too well. Slowly she began to take the silver away from the vampires ankles. His flesh followed with it. Sheila grimaced. The smell was not pleasant. He was badly hurt and she saw him twitch once or twice when the chain had dug particularly far into his flesh. No way in hell was Sheila going to wrap this silver chain with flesh bits around her. She'd rather get bitten by a vampire than have slimy body parts wrapped around her body. His legs were finally free. Sheila looked up on him. He did not take his eyes from her. He looked very tired. My hands please? He asked. Slowly she moved closer to his body. It had been a long time since she had been this close to someone.
She missed closeness but she also knew that such closeness could only be achieved by trust and Sheila certainly trusted no one. She could feel his cold skin as she was working on the chain. They were both silent throughout the ordeal. Sheila figured that the less interaction that took place, the better. Her inner voice was talking again. She was going to burn in hell for helping this vampire. That she was sure of. After what felt like an eternity the vampires hands were completely free and he moved to get out of the net that kept burning his body. Sheila was unprepared for his sudden movement and got scared and fell backwards. Great Sheila, always the agile one, she thought…. He towered over her despite looking so small inside the net. Sheila froze. This was how it was going to end. Death by her own stupidity. She closed her eyes. As long as it was quick and somewhat painless she would be fine. Sheila felt his hands touch her shoulders and lift her up gently. You can open your eyes now little girl, the vampire said. Sheila opened one slightly. If she was dead, then heaven was a dirty alley although it could possibly be hell which would make more sense. There were no fires but then Sheila always thought the people in church might have over-exaggerated that part just a little bit. She opened her second eye. He was still standing there. Definitely hell she thought. Sheila didn't know what to say or do. Was she going to run? Scream or God forbid, shake his hands? Finally she mumbled: I am taller than you she said smile spread across his face – indeed you are little girl, he answered.