A/N: So sorry for not updating sooner, I had a bit of writer's block, but I'm going to try to post more regularly again.
Chapter 4
Vlad had no idea where he was going. His first thought was to sleep somewhere near the school, but then somebody might notice and he would have a lot of questions to answer. He decided to take one of the back streets, where nobody went, and make himself comfortable for the night.
Shouldering his bag, he walked slowly through the school gates. A few street lamps lit the way for him but he still felt nervous, as if somebody was watching him, or waiting to attack him. The wind blew straight into his face, making his eyes water. Gritting his teeth, he carried on walking. Mindlessly wandering around the town in the dark was not his idea of fun, not to mention it was getting colder by the minute. Had he been paying attention, he would have noticed that he was about to walk into the rough part of the town and turn back immediately. But he was so caught up in his own thoughts that he paid no attention as he turned the corner.
And quickly realised he had made a big mistake.
Around the corner stood a group of boys, half-concealed by shadows. They were swearing and from where Vlad was standing, they looked like they were smoking. They were dressed in leather jackets, trying to recreate the tough guy look, but that wasn't what made Vlad nervous. It was the fact that they had noticed him, and were now nudging each other and pointing at him with smirks on their faces, as if to say, "Him. That one."
'Well, well, well,' the biggest one of the group sneered. 'It's one of the famous Garside Grange kids.'
Vlad swallowed. Garside Grange was one of the best schools in the town, and he had once heard Miss McCauley explaining to the Count that it was important to let the students out earlier than most other schools to avoid any fights or students being beaten up by the rougher kids. Clearly Vlad had just come across some.
'Yeah?' Vlad's throat was dry, but he wasn't going to show them he was afraid. 'So what if I am?' If he had still been a vampire, he could have taken out the lot of them before they'd even had time to blink … Idiot! he thought to himself. It's no good you thinking that now, not when these guys are about to make mincemeat out of you!
One of the boys eyed Vlad in disgust. 'My mum said they were snobby, but she didn't say they were wannabes too.' This raised a burst of laughter, but there was no humour in it somehow.
'You've made a big mistake, coming here, Garside geek,' the leader of the gang snarled. 'This is our turf, and no snobby posh kids may come through here.'
'Yeah, well, if you care so much about your precious turf, couldn't you at least get better street lights?' Vlad countered. 'It's way too dark, I can't tell one gang's turf from another.'
The leader of the group walked over towards him and punched him in the stomach. Vlad doubled over in pain. As if on cue, the rest of the gang members closed in around him, kicking him, punching him, not letting him get up. Vlad had no chance of raising a hand to defend himself.
The blows rained down on him, harder and harder. Vlad felt his eyes filling with tears. It will be over soon. Luckily for him they were too busy beating the hell out of him to notice. His vision blurred, he could feel the blood on his face and he was pretty sure he would be covered in bruises the next morning.
When they finally let go of him, he simply slumped to the ground, lying in a bloody, battered heap on the pavement. He didn't know if it was day or night. He couldn't tell the difference between the sky and the pavement. He could feel the blood oozing from the cuts on his face. He blacked out.
When he woke up again, a blonde girl was leaning over him, concern written all over her face, and for a wild moment Vlad thought she was - 'E-Erin?' he asked stupidly. The girl shook her head. Now that Vlad was regaining consciousness again, he saw to his disappointment that this girl was not Erin. Her hair was longer and wavier, and her face was paler.
'Someone's done you over good,' the girl was saying, as she pulled out a wad of tissues from her pocket and began gently dabbing at his face. 'What happened?'
'I was … walking …' Vlad replied. 'Then some guys … a gang … made fun of me … beat me up …'
'Well, you can't stay here,' the girl replied briskly, helping him up. 'You'd better come with me so you can sort yourself out.'
Taking her hand, Vlad rose unsteadily to his feet. 'Thanks.'
'No problem. By the way, what's your name?'
'V-Vlad. Yeah. Vlad. Yours?'
The girl turned around, the sun shone through her hair and made it look like it was on fire. She looked at Vlad for a long time, and he began to wonder if she was ever going to reply. Then –
'My name is Estelle.'