We stood staring at each other for long moments, the vampire and me. Neither of us moved, not a muscle, I hardly dared to breath. Seconds ticked by. Half-a-minute. A minute. And still, nothing. Unable even to stand straight any longer I allowed my gaze to slide onto the floor, my eyes half shut.
My ears caught a sudden scurry, followed by a door banging, and footfalls fading off into the night. I blinked stupidly, staring at the spot where my foe had stood. He was just there, towering over me. Bigger, heavier, more experienced. He waited, as if to taunt me with my helplessness. I was right there in front of him, more vulnerable than I can remember being in my whole life. He could have killed me, but he didn't. Why not? Too moral? To stupid?
Too scared?
My mind ticked over a beat. Yes; he was scared. What did I do that most people wouldn't? I tried to stake him; I wasn't surprised by his strength. Maybe, I'm a real threat. One of the few real threats to his life.
If I were him, I'd want a threat like me eliminated. Fast.
My heart beat faster, as I sank to the ground, sliding backwards along the floor, to hide myself behind the door for all the good it would do me. I was still shaking, hugging myself, sobbing dryly. All at once, I could feel each and every bruise. I touched my cheek, and blood came away on my finger tips.
It brought me back to life. I stood, ignoring the screamed protests of my muscles. Forcing myself upstairs I switched on my small, battery-powered kettle. Searching through my few clothes, I picked out a tatty t-shirt to clean my cuts with. Washing it in the boiling water I ripped into shreds. At the bottom of the bag was my precious tube of antiseptic cream, painkillers, and a couple of other things I'm scavenged from home. Dabbing the cream on the worst of my cuts, I carefully wadded the strips of shirt over the still bleeding wound on my cheek.
Normally, I'd have taken something like this to a first-aider to have it checked out. But under the circumstances that was all I could do. My body was still on battle alert, making me reluctant to sleep. But I knew couldn't stay awake forever. Throwing myself to the ground, I fell into a fitful sleep.
That night I dreamt of the vampire; but in my dream he didn't run. In my dream I died, and my sister waited in vain for my return. I woke in a sweat, determined that no vampire would triumph over me.
It was time to go hunting.