AN: Heres chapter 2. More confusion and questions await. One more chapter of setup before we get to the main storyline. Enjoy.
Chapter 2: A Bloody New Day
June 2nd 2015
I woke up the sound I've hated all my life, an alarm for school. I'd slept pretty well last night all things considered. I got up and went about my usual routine. Morning run around the neighborhood, shower, breakfast, I was about to leave until my mother stopped me.
"Hey Charles?"
"Yes mom?"
"Did you cut yourself last night? Also, did you go out the sliding door last night and didnt shut it all the way?"
"Umm, no?"
"Hmmm, must have been your father then. I'll ask him when he gets up"
"Okay, im off to school then" Theres no way dad cut himself to bleed enough for mom to notice it on the floor. Hes a paper pusher. As for the door, Dad's know to drink after work, so it could have been a drunken smoke break... but the blood? what was that from...
This was my thought process for most of my way to school. I couldn't think of a good explanation for it. Almost nothing made sense. However, my thought process was interrupted when Shaun appeared out of nowhere and greeted me with his usual slap on the back.
"Sup Chuck?" he said with his usual beaming smile.
"I will kill you for that this early in the morning..."
"Yeah, I heard"
"What do you mean you 'heard'?"
"Dude, evryones talking about what you did to Chad, he must have called you something a hell of a lot worse than Chuck. So what happened?"
"its a long story"
"C'mon dude, I've heard everyones version of the story, now I want to hear it from the source."
"Fine... He was being a jackass to Cynthia again, I was just tired of hearing him talk. he swung first, so I fixed him for awhile."
"Dude... you've got problems..."
"Yeah, so I've been told"
We share a laugh and talk about the details of what happened, he talked about the awesome party I missed out on the night before. I listened until I caught a glimpse of blonde hair go into an alley ahead of me. And I turned my thoughts back to my own night before. Even now I cant wrap my head around what happened. I can't come up with a logical explanation. I just want to forget it, but for some reason I can't stop thinking about her. There's just something about her that just draws me in.
"Uuuhhh, earth to Chuck?"
"Huh? Oh sorry, you were saying?"
"You alright man? You seem more tense than usual. Is it finals next week?"
"Something like that..."
"Well, don't wory about it, your going to ace those tests like you always do man"
"Yeah, I know."
We talked like that until we arrived at school, and as soon as we stepped inside, I could hear the wispers, and see the glares and sideways looks. it was gonna be an especialy annoying day.
It started in homeroom. I was looking out the window, and could have sworn I saw a flash of blonde hair in the trees. This continued all day and was driving me insane. I swear I must be going nuts. unless... she's following me... is that why she sniffed me? To get my sent and hunt me? Just saving me for later? It would explain the blood and open glass door...
And then, it happend. In my math class, as I looked outside, she was there... just standing there, looking directly at ME. I froze where I was. My heart began to beat faster as panic set in. Im going to die... she knows how to find me, she knows where I live. im going to be hunted to my death... by a vampire?
"Mr. Jones... Charles!"
"Uh... Yes Ms. Hunter?"
"Class was over three minutes ago. You can go home now."
"Oh, sorry"
I take a quick look out the window to see if shes still there. but there is no trace of her. I quickly made my way out of the classroom, and run into no other than Shaun. He obvioulsy had been waiting on me to come out.
"Hey Chuck."
"Hey Shaun..."
"Are you alright man? You seem way to out of it for just finals stress."
"Yeah, just have alot on my mind."
"Whatever you have going on, you know you can talk to me about it bro."
Yeah, sure. Talk to you about a vampire stalker, and how I could be killed at any moment...
"I know man. But its nothing really."
"Okay then..."
We walked and chatted until I turned to go to work. The walk was both peacefull, and unsettling. I was constantly checking the treeline for... her. I thankfully didn't see even a glimpse of her. I went to work as usual, stocking and cleaning everything. The next thing I knew, it was closing time.
"Well, have a good night Cynth."
"Hey Charles, you want a ride home? it is pretty late..."
It would be nice not to walk home with all thats going on...
"No thank you, I wouldn't mond the walk."
"Okay then, I'll catch you tomorrow then?"
"Yeah, see ya then"
I still don't know what compelled me to turn her down. I walked away and went down my usual path. I had the same ominous feeling like I had the night before... And still walked on...
I am going to die... Im a dead man walking... Why did I turn her down? Why not at the least take a different route?
As I walked into the clearing, I stopped at the edge and looked at the dead deer from the day before. It only served to solidify my fear from the night before. As I turned to keep walking, I noticed something moving next to the deer, And yet again I couldnt stop my self from getting a closer look. I moved in and got about five feet away before I realised what it was... and what a mistake I had made. Standing there before me was a 5' long timber wolf... enjoying its free meal...
Shit, shit, shit, shit... it hasn't noticed me yet... maybe I can...
As I turned to move, I broke a twig, and knew I was a gonner. In the time it took turn back to the wolf, it was already leaping for me. I rolled to my right and got to my feet as quickly as I could. I stared it dead in the eyes as it circled me. Im fucked...
I was ready to accepet my fate. I was going to be killed sooner or later, why not get it over with? It leapt at me a second time, and I closed my eyes, ready to die... and nothing happened. It was so quiet those few seconds. Then I heard a yelp and a sickening crunch. I quickly opened my eyes, beyond confused, And there she was. My stalker, turned savior, was standing there with the wolf in her hands like it weighed nothing, neck broken... and staring at me.
Yep... still dead...
"A... are you... okay?" She spoke in a soft voice, but even though it was barely a wisper, it rang like bells in my head. A soft sweet medeloic voice.
"Uhhhh... Y-yeah..." I was beyond stunned. She stalked me, saved me, and is asking if im alright?
"Are you afraid?... Why didn't you run?"
"I... don't know..."
We stood in silence. I could see a million questions behind her eyes. Her eyes looking me over, sizing me up. I could see something else in her expression... hunger...
"T-thank you... for saving me..."
That brought a smile to her face... right before she sunk her face in the wolfs neck. In that moment I remembered that I could be her next meal... I took a few steps back, about to turn and run...
"Wait..."
I looked back at her and could see a new expression... loneliness...
"Please don't run... I won't hurt you. this wolf is more than enough for toinght."
"O...kay?"
I was torn between my instinct to survive and my sudden feelings of trust, it was something in her voice that made me seem... soothed. I watched as she went back to drinking. She seemed to be savioring the taste as she finished off her... meal. once she had her fill, she tossed the wolf to the side like a candy wrapper and whiped her mouth.
"My name is Bethany... Whats yours?"
"Charles..."
"As in the prince?"
"I guess..."
"I assume you have questions of your own, so I'll hold off on mine for now. I promise to answer yours, as long as you answer mine after."
I had so much going through my head that I didn't know where to start. I looked at my watch and saw it was 10:32. I needed to go home, I needed to get out of this situation at the least...
"I have to get home. My parents will worry."
"Oh, Okay. How about I meet you there?"
What? Before I could voice my disomfort, she was gone. How does she do that? Just up and vanishes. And then it hit me.
"Oh no... Mom." I took off, running faster than I ever had before. I had to save Mom. Who knew what that killing machine would do to her.
I ran and came busting through the door, slaming it open. scaring my mom about 10 feet away.
"Jesus Christ, Charles! Dont do that. I thought you were a burgular there for a second..."
Shes okay? Then wheres bethany?
"I-im... sorry" I took a couple steps forward, and felt a small gust of wind blow past me. I turned around and shut the door. I moved to walk upstairs, I needed to get some rest. Am I going crazy or something? Something like Bethany couldn't exist, its just impossible...
"Im going to go to bed... its been a long day..."
"Dont you want to eat something first?"
"I ate at work. Just really want to get some rest."
"Okay... I'll save your dinner to eat tomorrow."
"Thanks mom..."
"Are you alright Charles? You've seemed kinda off the past few days,"
"Yeah, just kind of stressed is all. School, graduation, work. Its starting to take its toll."
"Well, don't worry about it much. Just go get some sleep kiddo, okay?
"Yeah, goodnight mom."
"Goodnight."
I walked up the stairs, ready to just sleep, to forget today along with yesterday. I walked into my room and set down my pack, I turned twards my bed, only to see Bethany sitting in the chair at my desk...
Fuck...
AN: Well, have to cut it short there. I didn't want to make this chapter extremely long. I may post another chapter this weekend. Dont forget to rate and review, or PM me with suggestions or questions, I'll answer as soon as I can. Semper Fi - Charles