1. The Recruit

I was living in Seattle when It happened. It was the Day that my whole life would change; for better or for worse? I don't know. My Name is Ryan Reeves and up until that day, I was just like anybody else. I was eighteen years old with a world of opportunities ahead of me. That day started out normal enough, my mother Omega, called me down for breakfast, and as usual I was out like a light.

"Ryan! If I have to scream up there one more time..!" My mom threatened

"Alright, Alright!" I half-yawned, half shouted as I ripped the blankets from my all too comfortable body. The cold hit me like a speeding car and I shivered as I threw on a blue hooded sweatshirt.

When I arrived downstairs, the usual smell of bacon, eggs and toast wafted through the air, making me salivate almost instantly. Omega had already set my place at the table and had a plate waiting for me, as was the case almost every day. As I sat down, my Mother gave me one of her many stern looks. Omega was very pretty. She stood at 5"6 with caramel skin, and a smile that could light up the abyss. Her eyes were dark brown, almost black, and her nose was slightly round…but not big. She had her hair styled up into braids so it was easy to maintain.

"Why do you insist on setting the alarm, If you're not gonna' wake up?" My mom cracked a smile as she asked this but kept her ground.

"Well I do intend on waking up…it's just the alarm isn't loud enough to penetrate my sleep." I tried to sound as angelic as possible as I answered her question

"We'll just have to get a louder one. But seriously Ryan…you do this every day…aren't you tired of arriving late to your classes?"

"It's not like I can't keep up with the work--"

"That's not the point" Omega cut me off before I could finish my defense "Your getting later and later each day…are you sure you can handle school and work?" My mom looked worried as she said this

This was my routine, classes in the morning and work at night. It was very draining, but I couldn't let my mom know that. I wanted to pay for my own school bill. My mother and my father didn't make much money, as they both worked full time at my father's own church.

"Yes mom, I can handle it." I tried to sound as genuine as possible. It worked. My mom gave me a kiss on the forehead, told me to have a good day and left to meet my father at the church.

I shoveled down my breakfast and ran upstairs into the bathroom. I paused and stared into the mirror, grimacing at my reflection. I was short for my age only about 5'8 and I shared my mother's caramel complexion and her dark brown eyes. My nose was round like hers, but kind of big. A trait I blamed my father for. My hair was dark and very curly…and it threatened to become a retro afro.

"I've got to remember to stop at the barber shop today" I thought to myself

After a quick shower, and throwing on some clothes I headed out the door and began my walk to school. Fortunately the community college, my job---a little convenience store---and the church were within walking distance. My little gold 97' cavalier was usually stationary in the driveway. My mom insisted I drive, especially with the sudden surge in murders, but I told her I needed the exercise.

I walked into class ten minutes late and my professor gave his usual "Have a nice sleep, Reeves?" greeting as I took my seat. Calculus was my least favorite class, but I always managed at least a B or low A. The professor was a short, balding man with thick glasses that gave him the appearance of an owl. His loud, Hawaiian, button down shirts added to his strange look.

"Hey Buddy, today were working on the Sin Curve".

"Thanks Ray!" I said graciously to the boy sitting beside me.

Ray was one of my best friends. We'd been in classes together since High School and we always had each others' backs. Ray was of Filipino descent, and was almost as dark as I was. He was approximately my height and always wore the most stylish clothes.

"So, any plans for tonight?" Ray asked grinning at me.

"We'll I'm stuck at work until 10, but after I'm game for anything."

Ray and I conversed through the entire class—without getting caught of course—and pretty soon the bell rang signaling the next class. All my classes were pretty much a blur and before I knew it, it was 4 O'clock.

The sun was starting to get lower in the sky and it began to darken as I walked my way to work. The little convenience store –Mikey's—was situated on a corner. The usual missing posters adorned the walls of the shop, reading Have You Seen this Boy? The boy in the picture was a blonde boy, with slightly handsome features . His name was Riley and up until a few weeks ago he was my co-worker.

I walked into the shop and approached my boss who was standing behind the only register in the store.

"Hey Mr. Fitzpatrick, what do you want me to do today?" I asked shrugging out of my coat and pulling on a brown Mikey's apron.

"Go ahead and begin straightening up aisle 4." He sighed and stared at another poster of Riley taped next to him on the counter.

I could tell that Mr. Fitzpatrick missed him a lot. He was almost like a son to him. I never had the relationship with Mr. Fitzpatrick that Riley did. They went on fishing trips often together and were always laughing and joking at work. When Riley disappeared the atmosphere became very gloomy, almost dismal.

The night pretty much continued on in that fashion, with Mr. Fitzpatrick giving me orders…and staring blankly at the missing poster on his desk.

When Ten O' Clock came around I gladly shrugged out of my vest and headed out of the door without a second glance at the sad scene that was Mr. Fitzpatrick mourning the loss of Riley.

It was pretty dark as I took my usual path home, but I knew I would be okay if I stuck to my normal route. I was about half a block away when I heard it, The low but distinct sound of someone crying . It was a while before I figured out that it was coming from an alley just to my left.

Against my better judgment I began walking towards the sound. At first I couldn't see anything, but then In the distance I spotted her. She had flaming red hair and her face was buried in her hands. She was sitting on the ground sobbing loudly. Feeling braver now I walked to her and sat down next to her.

"Hey, Miss…..are you ok?" I asked hesitantly placing a hand on her shoulder.

She stopped sobbing and turned to face me slowly. What I saw when I looked at her was a shock. Her skin was paler then anyone's skin I had ever seen . Her eyes were a crimson red, the likes of which I had never seen before. When she spoke it was very high-pitched almost child-like…yet it was beautiful.

"Yes I'm fine my dear….I just need a friend…I'm very lonely…will you be my friend?" she spoke in a sorrowful voice. She then placed her hand on my face waiting for my answer.

I gasped. Her touch was like plunging my face into the Arctic Ocean. Still taken aback by the coldness of her skin I answered slowly.

"umm…of course I'll be your friend"

"Oh good…Riley , darling, looks like we've got us another recruit"

I looked up confused at her words. What did she mean "Recruit?" and Could she be talking about the same Riley who went missing weeks ago?"

I soon got my answer as another figured walked very gracefully into the alley way. He had blonde hair and he looked like he should be a model. There was no flaw to be found on his face and he shared the same pale skin and crimson eyes as the woman sitting next to me, but I knew that this was the same Riley I once knew.

"You're…you're alive." I stammered as he drew closer

"Alive, and better than ever." He responded. His voice was almost unrecognizable. It had become a smooth tenor…the likes of which would make any girl swoon.

"Hello Victoria, My love." He continued. "So who shall we be recruiting tonight?" He looked down at me and when He saw me, a slight smile formed across his face.

"Is there something amusing about this one?" asked Victoria in her child like voice

"I used to know this one…In my other life"

" Other life! ? Riley it's me Ryan!" I blurted out before I could stop myself.

In one swift movement Victoria covered my mouth with her ice cold hand and stopped any sound from escaping. "There, There" she said "We don't want anyone to hear you scream."

At this I began to panic and struggled to get free, but Victoria was impossibly strong and held my waste with her free hand and my mouth with the other.

"May I have the honor?" Riley chuckled as he bent down, his face now level with mine.

"Of course, just don't kill him." Victoria commanded.

With her hand she lifted my shirt and revealed my upper body. A startling growl came from Riley as he looked hungrily at my exposed flesh. He leaned his face to my side and assessed a good place to start. He took one last look at Victoria and sank his teeth into my side. My scream was muffled by Victoria's hand and unconsciousness began to overtake me as Riley drank my blood.

Blackness took over as I gave in to my death. What a mysterious way to go. Was the last thought in my head. Before I completely lost consciousness there was an excruciating pain in my side as if riley's teeth were forcefully being ripped off of me. The Last thing I heard was Victoria screaming "I told you not to kill him!" and I then I lost all consciousness.

Dying wasn't so scary. It was just like falling asleep, forever.

But that's when the real pain started.

It started from the wound on my side, working its way up to my shoulder. It felt as though lava was circulating through me instead of blood. "Could lava be this painful? " The horrible burning was taking over the whole right half of my body and my heart began to beat at an alarming rate. "If I'm dead…why does it hurt so much….am I in …hell?"

All these thoughts flooded my mind as the pain took total control over my body. My heart was practically fluttering now as it threatened to break through my rib cage. I don't know what it was that stopped me from screaming--my will power, or the fact that I was dead--but I stayed silent and endured my personal torture.

At that moment the burning began to recede into my chest….into my heart. If possible, it seemed my heart started thudding even faster and harder, all the pain receding from my limbs yet all concentrated in my heart. It was then that there was a last dull thud from my chest and all the pain ended—along with the beating of my heart.