023. Alone

The morning sun. The bright orange colored rays cast upon the musky morning. Bringer of warmth and gentleness as it slowly rises from the horizon beaming down on the sleepy planet. Most people would find the sun inviting, bringing peace and tranquility to the world even for a moment.

Luka gazed upon the rising sun, knowing now how much he had missed this great feeling. The years that he spent hiding in the shadows of twilight always brought him sorrow; he had forgotten how happy the sun made him. As he knelt on one knee on the grains of sand, feeling the ocean breeze wisp through his fine raven hair, his eyes gazed upon the horizon as the sun came dangerously high to cast its rays. At this moment, he could careless. It was over for him; no more running, no more hiding, no more lives to take to satiate a hunger that was never ending and far too painful to describe.

"This is what it looks like... It's been so long, I'd forgotten... It'd be beautiful in the sunlight. The waves sparkling…" Luka mentioned. Kei stood next to him, his light crimson jacket blew in the breeze and his dirty blonde hair swishing around his face. The concerned look on his face was eminent as he watched his friend not even try to budge. He was fearful that Luka was serious about him finding another "friend"; he always referred to that term in a loose fashion since Luka was the one responsible for turning him into what he was today. Kei's eyebrows knitted together as he started to become scared; the sun was just about high enough to burn through the remaining clouds. He fearfully bit his lip and turned to him.

"Let's go. The sun's coming out," Kei told him as if he didn't know. He knew it was long enough and they needed to get to shelter quickly or the pain of the UV rays on their skin will burn immensely.

"You go. I've had enough," Luka says nonchalantly as he made his final decision. Kei wouldn't have any of it, he tried to grab his friend's hand and beg him to come. But Luka pushed him away and looked at him.

"Go... by yourself," Luka demanded, his eyes stern as he stared at the other vampire. Kei bit his lip as he felt the tears behind his eyes threatening to come forth. With a quick sob he turned around and ran as the sand kicked up beneath his feet, giving his friend his final wish. Kei only ran so far though, enough to leave Luka alone to spend his last minutes, but just enough to keep a watch on him. He knew he should have just kept running and never looking back, but guilt flushed over him as he stood ankle deep in the cool sand, watching as Luka caught fire from the sun's flames, never once did the fire seem to faze him as he softly sung a song that he had learned years past; a song that had some deep meaning to him but never would explain why. Kei recognized the words and it took a lot to hold back the tears that were threatening to come forth; he ended up breathing heavily instead. As he watched the flames grow from Luka's body as they grew higher and higher, he could start feeling the burn on his own body from the sun. No longer able to stay in the sun, Kei started to run and hid in a shaded area. He panted out of being out of breath and from sorrow. The regret of letting him go set in, but it was far too late…

He had forgiven Luka for what he had done long ago.

Many years had past for Kei, though he never really knew. For a vampire, time never matters since they don't age. He let himself succumb to starvation at times and didn't even care anymore if he died.

In a dirty part of town, Kei had collapsed onto the ground, unable to move any longer. It had been countless days, maybe even weeks, that he had starved himself. He couldn't bear killing people just so he could eat, that was always the bad part about being a vampire was to be the hunter stalking your prey at all times.

He was alone… that is, until a little boy tried to steal his watch…