Burning My Heart Chapter 2

I was so overcome by my scorching, unyielding thirst as I raced toward the innocent bald man. I ran so fast that there wasn't even time for a flabbergasted expression to form on his familiar face.

Suddenly, I remembered.

I recognized him. I was somehow able to momentarily forget my thirst and stopped, my face inches from his.

He was Jefferey King, my best friend Noelle's dad. Only he looked different. I guess it was because my old eyes hadn't been quite as sensitive as these new ones. My new superhuman eyes could clearly detect every blemish on his face, every miniscule hair in his five-o'-clock shadow. He had an almost microscopic shaving cut that looked about a week old just above the left corner of his thin-lipped mouth. I'd never have been able to notice it... how long ago had it been? A few days? I couldn't be sure.

I'd lost track of time when I'd been burning.

Mr. King's jaw dropped like he no longer had control over it. Shock lit up his jade green eyes. Although he didn't appear to recognize me for some reason. Oh yeah, I thought. I've only been out in the woods for a few days. I'm sure to look exactly the same. I'd always had a habit of thinking sarcastically.

"It's me," I said. Woah. That was weird. Before the burning my voice had been a low, smoky alto. Now when I spoke I sounded like a soprano singer, though it was smoother, clearer, and more ringing than any voice I'd ever heard.

I didn't think it was possible, but his jaw dropped even lower at the glorious sound of my new voice.

"Mr. King." I still sounded like a chorus of angels. His face was frozen in shock. I gave him a gentle smile. "It's me, Becky. Remember? Becky Fisher? Noelle's friend?"

"No..." His voice sounded weak with disbelief. "No, you can't be her." He closed his eyes for a second and cleared his throat. When he spoke again, his voice was stronger.

"Becky Fisher went missing three days ago. Noelle's so upset... Besides, you don't look anything like her."

I felt my brow furrow with confusion. How could I not look anything like myself? Had the burning made my face look totally different? I couldn't doubt it, since it had changed my voice so much.

"Mr. King, look in my eyes." For some reason, he had been avoiding them. Now when he looked directly into them, he flinched.

"Please listen to me. I really am Becky." I said this in a firm but soothing tone.

Now a glazed look came over his eyes as he mumbled, "Yes, Becky."

"Please let Noelle and my parents and everyone who might be worrying about me that I'm okay. But don't tell them where I am because... well, I just need some alone time." I needed to figure out who I was, And I needed a mirror.

Mr. King just nodded.

"Okay, you can go now." Mr. King's eyes looked normal again. He blinked and glanced at me nervously, then turned and ran away. I would have thought he was fast before, but he seemed like a snail compared to how fast I could run now.

This whole conversation had lasted less than a minute, and most of that had been Mr. King's shocked silences. Everything I could do seemed so much faster now.

I had so much to take in. Luckily, my mind now had room for all of it.

What had he been doing in the forest all by himself anyway?

Why was I so thirsty? As soon as I thought this, my throat felt like tongues of flame were licking it. The only reason I'd rushed at Mr. King had been because he smelled so appetizing, and I was thirsty for him. For his blood.

Why had I all but forgotten my thirst when I realized who he was?

Why did I apparently look so different?

Why did I sound like an angel now? Before the pain, I couldn't sing to save my life. Now even when I was talking, I sounded like I was singing. I figured that if I actually tried to sing now, I could kill someone with the sheer beauty of it. Not that I would want to.

Where did people think I was the last three days? Why hadn't they looked in these woods?

Why did Mr. King's eyes glaze over and why did he immediately obey me? Had I somehow hypnotized him?

And the question that nagged at me the most was... Why did I thirst for his blood?

My new enhanced mind had no trouble putting the pieces of this puzzle together.

I was a vampire.