What is wrong with me? Do I have some deathly disease that the science can't identify? What is wrong with me? My skin, which was once a beautiful shade of tan, now pale and sickly. My eyes, changed from chocolate brown, to red. My hair, is now bone straight and black as night. Have I been possessed? If so, please let this evil do what it wants with my body, then leave me forever. I don't want to be a monster! What is wrong with me? I need to find someone who can help. Why am I constantly craving ... blood?
Murderous screams filled the air, as I scrambled down each hallway, searching for my next victim. My shirt gleaming red, but... that's not the way I had come dressed for work this morning. Scarlet drops of sweat, mixed with blood, trailed down the trough-like gash on my cheek. I heard sirens emitting from the outside. Bright, rotating flashes of light, streamed through the windows. It carved into my skin like a knife, burning me with every beam that hit my skin.
Pulling a sweater from a motionless body, I yanked it down over my head. Placing the hood down tightly over my horribly disfigured face. The doors were wide open. I struggled to see through the cascades of light as I stumbled down the steps. I could just barely make out the silhouettes of three figures moving around frantically in front of me. I heard a gun shot, and another, and another! The sound reverberating in my ears. Looking down I watched as a big circle of fresh blood, MY blood, oozed from my stomach, through the shirt.
I lifted my shirt, revealing the fresh wounds. Thrusting my fingers inside, I found two warm bullets, lodged between my ribs. I closed my eyes tightly, and pulled them from my body. Tossing them on the ground, I smiled, bloodied hands out at my sides, as the serge that healed my wounds washed over me. Lights exploded as the men dropped there flashlights in shock. I opened my eyes to near total darkness. Perfect!
Three men stood in front of me, shaking, limply aiming their guns towards me. My voice rang out in laughter. The men stared up at me in horror. I walked slowly down the stairs, towards the first of three. I licked my lips, refreshing the taste of my first feed, as I did so. He stood there, this pathetic human, unable to move as I closed in.
Temporarily distracted, I sensed,…something, some one. Not my prey, no… A familiar face. There, perched on the trunk of an abandoned police vehicle. That face, those eyes, that smile. I know I had seen him before, but where? I pushed the cowardly officer to the ground, knocking his gun from his hands. I looked back up at this new figure. He moved closer. My eyes trailed his perfect jaw, down to his lips. They parted, to reveal a half crooked smile. Beneath his lips, a pair of ivory smooth…fangs.
I turned the page slowly, my eyes trailing across the many rows of words. Sitting down with a good book always kept my spirits up. Fantasy novels are my biggest passion. Lost in another world, where no one could follow me. I looked up at an aggravated Penn, 'Break', I glared at her.
"Tarra ... Customer! .. .Aisle 5 ... NOW!" Rolling my eyes, I slammed my book shut in my hands. Penn always had it in for me. Ever since my first day, I knew she hated me. Plus, I made the mistake of making a rude hand gesture, which unfortunately, she saw. She is my boss after all, so I suppose I am going to have to get used to this kind of treatment.
I placed my book up on the shelf behind me, that already held an assortment of books.
On the other end, paint cans and storage supplies. I stepped out of the dingy little back room and into the dimly lit store. It was virtually deserted, as usual. Only a few customers gracing the tiny aisles. I headed towards the fifth. Peering down the empty aisle, I spied a customer standing at the far end, leaning against the shelves. I closed in.
"Can I help y-…" my thoughts interrupted me, That face, those eyes, .. that smile. I know I had seen him before, but where?. I snapped out of my momentary trance and repeated my question, "Can I help you?" His face was not that of an old man, as I had assumed it would be, complaining that he couldn't reach the canned peaches, but, of a young man, no older than myself ... or so I thought.
He had long dirty blonde hair that was held up in a pony-tail. Around his forehead was a dark black sweatband, a cap placed just so on the top of his head. He looked at me. I fell in a trance again as he examined me with his eyes of dark brown. For a moment, I thought I saw … a hint of red glimmering in his stare as he turned towards me.
"Actually,… you can…" he answered after a long pause, never braking connection with my eyes. I tried to look away, but couldn't. He stepped closer to me as he spoke, which caused me to instinctively step backward. "You can accompany me to 'MatZ' after your shift." I was shocked! Here I was, with some guy I just met, and he was already putting the moves on me?
"Excuse me ...What? No thank you," I snapped. "Now, Is there anything else I could assist you with? This is my break, and I'd rather not waste it here with—"
"I've been watching you!" These words slipped from his mouth before I could finish. I froze.
"You've been what?!" It was weird enough that this stranger had just asked me, but now I find out that he's been watching me! "So you've been stalking me? I … But … What the heck is wrong with you!" I started to raise my voice. The realizing that I was still in the store, I repeated myself in a whisper, "What the heck is wrong with you?"
"Well ... I have always found you rather … Hmm, how should I put it? Well … 'intriguing'. Yes, that's the word I was searching for. Intriguing…" He licked his lips, "… and I wouldn't call it 'stalking', as you say. Not yet…" The look he gave as he said these last words, was more then
disturbing. "More like 'observing'." His words flowed from his mouth, to my ears, as he pulled a pair of dark glasses from his pocket and shielded his eyes. Remaining in the shadows as he did so.
"Well, if the only reason I was called out here is so you can hit on me, then I'm going to leave now." I turned my back on the stranger and took a step toward the back room. Back to my book, 'I shouldn't have been called off my break anyway! My break is my own, I'm entitled to--'. Stopping suddenly I glanced down at my arm. His fingers enclosing it firmly.
"Let go of me before I call security," His grip loosened but he did not let go. "I'm serious!! I will report this!" I looked up at the man. He had a this 'grin' on his face, flashing his bright white teeth. I wanted to scream, but even if I tried, nothing would come out. His teeth, there, at the sides… 'No, couldn't be'. His smile grew; his lips pealing back as he bared his fangs. He polished them once over with his tongue. Pulling myself from his grasp, I stumbled backwards. He was coming closer. I searched for someone to help, But there was no one there. The door to the storage room! I hurled my body towards it, thrusting myself inside. I turned to close the door, he lunged towards it. I closed it just in time, hearing him hit it with a sharp crack. My eyes raced around the room, for, I'm not sure what. The room was piled with boxes and crates (I had to get out of here!). This was not something I anticipated happing when I woke up this morning. 'I hate the night shift!'
My breathing slowed, I listened… The thuds coming from the other side of the door had ceased. The silence should have been comforting, but it wasn't. 'Had he given up on me, or was he looking for another way?' The back door! Yes!', Thank god! I'll just slip out there! I reached for the knob and began to turn.
There he was! As if he had been there all along! His long hair was still neatly wrapped up in his cap, his breathing calm. Effortlessly, he had managed to find my only exit, and block me from it. He stood there, just looking at me. He was not moving. My eyes darted, sizing him up,
trying to get some idea of just how I was going to get out of this. And there, clipped to the left breast pocket, was a small white and orange card.
I stood petrified, as I read it in my head, 'Thomas B. Payne'. The store logo and name, in bright red lettering. 'Penelope Betts Manager' in small text beneath it signified her approval. The tag, the same as I wore as an employee of this Mart. It was then that I had to face the horrifying fact,
"I guess we're going to be seeing a lot more of each other, Eh ...Tarra? " Still trying to process this, I slammed the door shut. Confident that he couldn't re-open it. This door only opens up from within the store. However, He had managed to get to it with frightening speed. Could he not do the same, arriving where I had entered, trapping me once again? I had to take the chance. I opened the door and looked out.
"Figures you'd be hiding in there, shirking your duties! I'm locking up, lets go." Penn, without a clue. Nothing new. I was just glad to not be alone, even if she were the company. I grabbed my things and headed out, closely followed be Penn. My best friend Amber was waiting, as usual, to pick me up.
"So how was work today?" I hesitated to tell her what really happened. But, I couldn't stop myself, It all kinda' just spilled out.
"There was this really creepy guy. Penn told me to help him out, I was on my break so I was pretty annoyed at her. He apparently asked for me specifically. So, I go to talk to him and he tried to,… he… Tried to eat me!" I sounded a lot more believable in my head. Than when I actually spoke it, I sounded like a 5 year old, tattling a made-up story to the teacher. Amber looked at me like I had miraculously sprouted two extra heads.
"He tried to 'eat you'?" I nodded to confirm that she had heard me correctly, while I got into the jeep. "Right, sure. One question; Tarra, were you drinking in that little back room of yours?"
"Amber! I'm not joking. He tried to bite me. His teeth were … well … he had … he had fangs, okay!" I screeched, as the vehicle sped off down the road. "I think he's a vampire!"
"Tarra, you gotta stop reading those silly books of yours, they're effecting your brain. Vampires don't exist!" No matter how many times you tell yourself, Me, and everyone else, it won't change that. There's no way you are going to ever see one. Let alone, stumble across one in a Mini-Mart! There is just No Such Thing…" Amber practically screamed this out. She had said things like this to me before, I was determined to prove her wrong.
"I know what I saw." I quietly spoke, my head down.
"Look, Halloween is only week away, maybe he was... trying out a costume or something …" She was just placating me. She didn't believe my tale.
"Maybe you imagined the whole thing. You know how you get sometimes. And I still think that my 'alcohol' theory might not be too far off." Amber, tried to lighten my mood. At the end of my ride, we pulled into the driveway.
"I had nothing to drink, honest." I lifted myself from the car and closed the door. 'I know what I saw.' Did I? How could I have? Was I letting my fantasies rule my mind? Hmm,…well he was in the 'Frightful Freaks' aisle, that I myself had set up for the holiday. I pondered this in my mind. 'Ya, that's it. Long day with some crazy freak to polish it off.'
I pulled out my keys and shoved them into the lock. Looking, once over my shoulder to make sure it was Amber behind me, just in case my 'imaginary admirer' came back. Amber closed the door behind us and activated all the locks. I hung my coat on a hook on the back of the door and turned around to see a tiny white, four-legged fluff ball heading for me.
"GIBSON! Hey baby! How's my girl today?" I scratched firmly behind her ears causing her to roll over, exposing her spotted belly. Amber took over, knelling down to rub her belly, as I headed for the kitchen to get her some food. Isabella, the family house keeper, was cleaning in there. It smelt heavily of disinfectant.
"Izzy, didn't you just clean this yesterday?" she ignored me as if she had a music player jammed into her ears, drowning out the world. I peered around in the fridge for food for my poochie. Nothing. I had to resort to last months Kibble. I'm sure it's still fine. It hasn't even been opened yet.
As I searched the cupboards for Gibbs food dish, Amber entered from the living room holding a small, slimy green ball, Gibson chasing after her, then, realizing play-time was over, she sat down obediently at my feet. Amber set the saliva dripping toy on the counter. Gibson's bright
eyes watching intently as I scooped the kibble from the bag, onto her dish and then she began mowing it down happily.
Now that Gibb was satisfied, Amber and I headed into the living room with our 'Easy Oven' dinners. Izzy didn't cook, a fact made clear upon her hiring. It's been just over three years since I had moved in with my 'BFF'. We had decided from day one that we were going to avoid burning the house down, by avoiding cooking So far, the T.V. dinners were holding up and proving very useful.
I took a seat in the bay window (against my better judgment) because Amber had stolen the couch, stretching out with her tray in hand. Clearly posturing against sharing this space. I was the first to finish my food, and was about to take my fray to the sink. I stood up, glanced out the window, then I turned to make my way to the kitchen. The glance was quick, nothing registering at that point, but… I stopped dead in my tracks and turned my gaze back at the window. I had thought that I had seen (sensed) some one! There was nothing there. 'Nah, … probably just my mind playing tricks on me.'
Amber and I usually watched a little TV to settle down before bed. We both worked night shifts, so we also shared the same sleep hours, a schedule that worked quite well for us. Amber had fallen asleep on the couch (as she always did). I was beat too. I went straight to my room, bypassing my regular bedtime rituals.
I woke up drenched in sweat. I had had a terrible nightmare. This was the third time it's woken me up tonight! I'd spring up from my bed, examine my surroundings carefully and then sink back into my pillow. But ever time I shut my eyes, the same sight greeted me. My dream would pick up just where it had ended. I tossed my blankets aside, instantly giving a chill. There was a continuous stream of cold air, breezing through my open window. Funny thing is,…I never opened it.
'Thomas B. Payne',… I threw the thought from my mind and replaced it with a situation much less terrifying. Amber probably had just opened it. 'Yes! That must be it!' I searched my room just the same. Nothing out of the ordinary. Everything seemed in place. Comforted, I tried to reclaim some lost sleep. No good, I'm awake now.
I leapt from my bed, to the floor, and switched on the light. I felt much safer with the room now bathed in a warm yellow glow. I smiled to myself. 'that was an over reaction.' Making my way over to the door of the ensuite, I pushed it open. Sitting on the counter, was a statuette of a tall building made of crystal.
Held inside, a small clock. The time in blue light, emitted through holes that signified windows and reflected it onto the wall opposite to where it sat.. Engraved on the side was, 'To my baby girl, Tarra-Lynn, Love Daddy'. I had gotten it for my 'Sweet Sixteen'. That was only three years ago and it still worked perfectly.
I reached my arm in and around the shower curtain to turn the knob. A fountain of sparkling water sputtered from the spout. I let it run, giving it time to heat up, and me time to remove my left over makeup. Tossing the now slightly blackened cloth into the laundry shoot, I stripped from my oversized t-shirt and undergarments and stepped into the shower. The water was nice and hot as it hit my back. I stood there for a moment with my eyes closed and my face upturned, the water raining down over me.
'Ahh... Much better!' I turned so I was facing the streaming faucet and pressed a small gold button above it. The water became thick with bubbles (automatic soap and shampoo dispensers. It's good to be the only daughter of a multi-million dollar tycoon!). I gathered some froth in my hands and rubbed it thoroughly through my golden hair. Closing my eyes tightly to keep the soap from burning them. I began to sing quietly to myself. I had a habit of doing this, complete with dance. Dancing in a slippery shower, not exactly safe, but hey...
I spun around and nearly fell over.
"Wow!…Tarra…This is defiantly a side of you I've never seen before ..."
Peeking through the small gap between the wall and the bright, purple shower curtain, was 'Thomas B. Payne"! I screamed so hard, I wondered if any sound had actually come out. It did, seconds later, Amber came rushing in!
"What in the h--… What's going on?" I'd pulled the plastic curtain around me as best it would stretch to cover my bare body. My eyes locked on Thomas. I pointed at him with a shaking finger. Amber looked towards where I pointing, then back at me.
"What?" Could she not see!?
"It's him! The guy I told you about! Get him out!" I cried. 'Phft, right… as if Amber could do anything'. His laugh more like a cackled as he hosted himself up onto the vanity and had a seat.
"Okay Tarra ... seriously. Pretty soon, you'll have to admit to the alcohol thing. I mean really…"
"I'm not drunk! He's right there!!" I pointed again.
" Oh, stop, stop…" He seemed to be the only one thoroughly enjoying , holding his side as he continued to laugh "…She can't see me!" He hopped down from the counter top and sauntered over to where Amber stood hands casually behind his back. She didn't move.
She didn't even flinch. She continued staring at me. It was as if time stood still for all but me and this 'evil'. He brushed her hair back gently with his hand exposing her neck.
"Don't! Please!!" I pleaded,
"What? Don't? Don't!! What makes you think that you are in any position to tell ME what to do?" My heart was racing. "Let's assess the situation, shall we?" He licked his lips and moved a step closer to my friend. He was now directly behind her. He bared his teeth, I could see a glint of sliver on his lower lip, a stud, his lip pierced (how had I not noticed that before?)
"Please ... no ... don't!!" My tears were streaming from my eyes now. This 'Tomas' was inching closer to Amber's neck, mouth open wide and ready. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at me.
"Hmm …Why rush things. I'm going to have a little bit of fun with this. You win … for now. I won't bite her. But… in exchange … I want you!" He presented this deal to me like it was an ordinary, everyday proposition. Selling your body & soul to a demon! My first instinct was to say no, but once I did, what would happen then? What would he do to me? Even worse, what would he do to Amber when he was through with me? I wasn't getting a real 'trustworthy' vibe from this,…'being'. I stood there silent, staring into his piercing red eyes.
"Tic Toc…Nothing to say then, eh? Well … what do you say to this?" He lifted his hand up slowly, just behind Amber's head. 'NO!' I went to take a step. I didn't matter that I was still naked, he'd seen me anyway. Amber's life was being threatened! My anger now surpassing my fear. I lunged forward, or tried to, I couldn't. Something was stopping me from moving. A smile spread across his face as he watched me struggle. Oooh, he was wicked! His hand continued to move closer and closer. So methodical, as if in slow motion. I knew how fast he could move, he was just taunting me!
Finally, it was clasped around her neck. From his other hand, he flashed me a razor sharp talon-like finger nail and drew a small incision on the tender skin of her neck. Immediately, from where he had touched, blood trickled out. Eyes locked with mine, he drew the nail he had cut her with to his mouth. Wrapping his lips around the tip of a long slender finger, he sucked Amber's blood from his nail. I winced and looked to her face. Still frozen! Was she feeling any of this? I watched as he leaned in closer. With the tip of his tongue, he licked the blood from her neck in one swipe. Her neck was red and moistened with saliva that seemed to cauterize her wound.
He left her then, and walked over to where I stood, cowering behind the curtain. He put his hand on my chin and lifted it so we were eye-to-eye,
"Next time… she won't be so lucky!" With those last few words, painfully grated into my memory. He turned, and with that, he was gone from the steam filled room. Slowly, I regained control of my body. The sense of his presence gone.
."…there is no one here but the two of us! Honestly Tar - …" Re-animated, Amber finished her sentence, like nothing had happened! "What the…" she checked her reflection in the mirror, touching the small cut to her neck.
"What the heck did I do? Hm… It's drafty in here, you really should close that window Tarra." Amber bounced out of my room, ignorant to all that had taken place.
I bent to shut off the water, then ventured out of the tiled shower cabin. Snatching up my robe from the wall before rushing over to the window. I slammed it shut, and flipped the lock. I can't believe she didn't see anything, nor feel it! Amber was the only person I had to turn to. If she can't help me. Who can?