It's dark. I can feel the damp air; it rained yesterday. My eyes are not as acute. I only see shadows the street light is flickering. Through the flickering I can see a trash can it's over flowing with cardboard and soft drink cups. Nobody bothers picking up trash down here anymore. They say it's too dangerous.
Most animals and sane human beings strive to stay far away from this place. In the daytime hours teenagers dare their friends to run and touch the back wall of this alley. Nothing ever happens to them I guess it's just for thrill. No other sane person would come here at night, not even the homeless scavengers and those crazy old women that try and sell you a "cure for your diseases" come close to this alley.
Luckily my outfit, along with the broken street light shields me from passing cars and wandering eyes. I'm wearing a black leather jacket, which cost me a small fortune but provides great warmth and disguise when called to. Along black tee shirt under that provides me with even more protection from suspicious eyes when I will need to take the jacket off. I am wearing black jeans. They fit so tight to my body. These are the type of pants that the skater and emo boys wear so they can catch the eye of on looking girls. My pants actually do the opposite, especially in the wee hours of the morning. My shoes are, yes black, and the are metal-toed, that should give you a pretty good idea about how heavy and thick they are. Their rubber soles are heavy and you could easily swash a bug or someone's toes, if one was not paying a bit of attention when wearing them.
Like I said before, no human being would be caught dead in this alley at one pm in the morning. Not many people are even in the streets at that hour. The only people out are in the coffee shops studying for the un-passable test or they are completely stoned or close to that state falling over in a bar.
So, what am I doing here? Why am I dressed like a goth kid? And what the heck am I doing here at 1:07 in the morning? I promise you will know soon.
I am not the only one that stands in alleys at night; in fact somebody is probably standing or will be standing an alley near your house tonight. People like me have one sole job. To keep people like you safe from one of the most ancient of diseases. Vampirism. It has been around since the time humans came to this earth. Most people think about pointy teeth and black capes and blood. But vampirism is much more than that. When a person contracts the disease they start crave different things, like really salty meat or coffee or other "ancient foods. Ancient foods are foods that have been around a while and are usually simply made for example tea, coffee, chocolate, anything with chili powder and of course meat. Once the disease wears on the person will start to loose most of their human nature. They want to be violent or have impulses to do things. Garlic does not necessarily keep vampires away, garlic and other plants with thick odors distract the senses from what they are really attracted to, blood or meat. Vampires do not attack in the night and bite you neck leaving you stranded on the floor. Correction, most don't. Sometimes a person will contract the disease and do not tell anybody. They let the disease wear on until they loose all sense and run feral through the town. Its our job, the other vampires to capture the stray ones and to take them for treatment.
I still remember the night I contracted "the disease". It was an accident of course. It was two years ago, it was my 21st birthday and I was with friends. I was walking back to my apartment. I was in the storefront part of town and I was busy looking into a window of a local store, I hoped my friend was there. He was and employee if the store. I hadn't seen him for a while. it was like he just dropped off the map.
The last time I had seen him, he was in a hurry his eyes where bloodshot. He looked pale and the only thing he said to me upon this encounter was "hey" and then "I have things to do catch ya later"
I peered into the door and the lights were out. I stuck my head to the glass unaware of the danger behind me. I whipped around. I met a pair of bright yellow eyes and an eerie smile the next thing I felt was a piercing feeling on my jaw. Who ever it was bit me on the jaw. I fell down on the pavement. I opened my eyes and saw my friends face and body, but his clothes were torn. His eyes were wild and inhuman in appearance. I yelled then he kicked my head. I knocked out partially because of the kick and also due to the fact that I was bleeding badly. I woke up in a hospital room the next day. I was hooked up to machines that looked like they were from some sci-fi movie. I tried to sit up but I was strapped onto the bed. I was also in a strait jacket. I started to feel the huge need to escape and tried to pull away then I started screaming struggling.
A doctor finally walked in and informed me that my friend had bitten me and that I was a vampire (basically everything I am, telling you now). Eventually I got landed with the job of standing in the alley waiting for the vampires that went wrong to pop up.
Vampirism does not have a cure. You can ease you symptoms by doing something really distracting. Like sniffing garlic, the smell of garlic can make you forget any desire you might have. Another easy thing is to be busy all the time. Vampires that do not wish to be so, usually over schedule themselves so they have no spare time to think about doing. Sunlight actually does bother us. But we know if we stay in sunlight at least we won't grow to fear it. A great way to get over this symptom is to go to the beach and sit out near the pool all through the summer. If we ever have the huge urge to eat some raw meat right off the meat counter or pounce on someone the last thing we can do is to slip on some headphones and listen to some wailing electric guitar and long guitar solos that make even the most hardcore person get a headache. This takes your mind off of the distraction without seeming odd.
I must focus. The light has gone out. The alley is deep. I take one step. Then another. My breath is cold and silent. I feel tense, this is not new for m, but being alone in a dark alley is always unnerving. I am now half way through the alley. I stop. Nothing yet. It's 1:17 now. I have to keep my energy focused on the back wall.
The light flickers on again. The alley is clearer now. I can see graphitti on the wall Then I let my guard down. I can feel my toes unclench in my boots. I gently slip my fingers in my pocket.
My only weapon clenched in my hand. I remember learning how to use it. Everybody has to carry a weapon in this city, vampire or not. I choose a switchblade. Some people prefer a heavily decorated pocket knife or even a huge blade that has to be carried in a small back case. Everyone has a weapon that fits them. This one is mine. I know if I was attacked that my blade could easily be used to fend off the attacker.
You would think that if there are so many vampires then why isn't the news full of horror stories and why are people still out at night without a care. Well, vampires rarely resort to biting. Usually they dodge their attacks or they get scared and retreat. Some vampires may be inhuman but they are not stupid. They know that people should not see them kill someone. They usually stay in hiding until nighttime and choose to break into a store and steal some meat. That is why we are here; we keep the vampires at bay and from eating people.
The light has flickered off again. My hand slips out of my jacket pocket. I keep on walking deeper into the alley. With each footfall I am more aware of y surroundings. I am in the trashiest part of the alley. My hyperactive senses make the place smell even worse. This place would make the bravest dumpster diver cringe. I can feel trash and other unknown objects underneath my feet.
Three hours of waiting in this stupid alley has payed off. I can see movement on the back wall. I pull out my knife and with a swipe of my wrist. My knife is very well taken care of so it doesn't make a sound.
It is plain to see that the movement on the wall was not a rat or a stray cat. It was a person. This is what I have been waiting for.
This has happened many times. I am ready.
He lunges at me. I throw my jacket off and make a run for it. He jumps at my jacket while I jump across the alley. He lands on the ground and makes a screeching noise. This screech would make a lot of people cover their ears and run away. It is eerie and inhuman, but I am used to it.
He lunges again. He tackled me and tried to bite me. I then felt his hands on my shoulders (I use the term hands loosely, they are mare like claws) I fell the pain as his nails dig into the meaty part of my shoulder. His breath indicates he has not eaten a breath mint in months. My blade is still in my hand. I move my arm across my body and my blade slashed his face. I just cut him. He hissed and grabbed his face. The pain is gone. He finally has removed his hands from my shoulder. I grabbed his neck and try to pinpoint his pressure point. I missed.
The light flickers back on; it is apparent that he has already been in a scrap this week. He ran to the wall. I run faster and catch him. I push him to the ground. I get him on his front and use my knee to press down on a pressure point on his back. Then I sit on him. He uses a free hand to scratch my chest. He rips my shirt. I yelp. My chest is bleeding. I cut his hand with my knife and bear down harder on his back. I stick my knife into my jean pocket.
I sit for a while and taunt him. I tell him "You thought you had me didn't you?". He hisses and groans. They hate it when I have power over them.
My adrenaline rush is wearing off and I am getting cold. My jacket is too far away to reach. I pull out my cell phone and dial a number. The operator answers. It is lady with an accent, but I can't really tell where it's from. "May I help you"
There is no need for an introduction. Chances are, if you are calling this number it's not an accident.
"I got one between 47 and 6," I say.
"We'll be there in a minute, sweetie," she says.
I press the red button, ending the call. I close my phone and check the time. 1:30 on the dot. I hate waiting. I am freezing now and the guy under me is moaning. I am still bleeding form the scratch but, it not too bad. The smell is also bothering me. I would really like a steaming cup of black coffee. Over the trash I can smell burning coffee coming form a near b 24-hour coffee shop. This does not help at all.
After about two minutes three people are here. One is standing next to me. The other two a checking to make sure this poor guy is not a crazy hobo or a completely drunk student. They carry him out of the alley. The guy standing next to me is asking "Dude do you need us to clean that up for you?" He points to my shirt.
"No, I'm fine man" I say, while I am grabbing jacket. I put it on and zip it up and start walking to my apartment. On the way I spy a coffee shop there is nobody there except for the man at the register. I think to myself. "I deserve this" and I walk in.