11 o'clock on Wednesday found me huddled in an emergency supply closet, arguing in hushed tones with Veronica Mayes. She was a night shift nurse, and my sole accomplice in the hospital. I didn't care much for the woman. She was whiny and simple-minded, but she did what she was told. In my book, that was all that mattered.

"Jesus, Veronica," I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I asked one thing of you. All that I needed was back-up. I'm only here for two hours every night; you could at least help me blend in while I'm here." Veronica, who was a relatively plain woman with a crooked nose and shallow brown eyes, frowned. This was what I liked about her; she detested disappointing me.

"I'm trying, Mr. Michaels," she insisted, taking a step closer to me. "It's no help, though, that you won't tell me why you're here." I sighed, backing up against the emergency catheters and syringes. Veronica would have to die, eventually. She did not smell particularly pleasing, but she would do.

"There's not a big secret," I lied, easily fooling the dim-witted woman. "I need some money, and I do not have the time to go back to university." Veronica eyed me skeptically, placing her fleshy hand on my cheek. I resisted the urge to step away; I needed her unfaltering devotion if my plan was going to work.

"But you're so smart, Dr.," she cooed, leaning in and breathing in. I glanced up at the ceiling desperately, ignoring the dryness in my throat.

"Damnit, Veronica," I groaned. "I'm not a doctor." Veronica let out a cackling laugh that made me sick to my stomach. Why did all of the humans have to be so unbearably aggravating?

"So modest," she whispered, hitching her right leg around my thigh. I froze. I could only pretend for so long... and this was pushing it.

"Look, Veronica," I muttered, pulling her hand off of my face and stepping away from her suggestive position. "This is not going to work unless you help me out. I need you to cover for me. Got it?" The ugly nurse pouted, making me want to vomit. Humans were so ridiculous, yet so easy to please.

"So, what you're saying is... If I get you the night shift for the rest of the week, you'll be more..." She let her voice trail off, tracing the contours of my chest with her index finger and smiling provocatively. I gulped, pulling my lab coat tighter around me.

"I suppose we could make that work," I agreed warily, bowing my head. Veronica let out a nasally laugh as I threw the closet door open, gratefully inhaling the uncontaminated air. Room 26A was locked and quarantined for the night, so I took advantage of my free time. It was time to hunt.

In room 421, on the fifth floor, there lived an extremely senile old man named Rodgers. He spent most of his time shouting at non-existent people, and he smelled like a fresh T-bone steak... simply mouth-watering.

Easily enough, I lured the 5th floor nurse to the fourth floor undetected. How easily I could wrap them around my finger... Robert Rodgers was in his bed, staring vacantly at the ceiling, when I walked in.

"Good evening, Mr. Rodgers," I muttered briskly. The foolish human did not turn his head. Damn. I enjoyed seeing the rush of terror in their eyes as they realized what I was... what I could do.

I closed the door again, with more vigor this time. Click! The noise startled Rodgers. He awoke from his trance-like state and stared me straight in the eye. I could see the fear filling his every wrinkle.

I crossed the distance between us in less than half a second. I wondered what it must have looked like to the elderly man. It was like I had disappeared and reappeared somewhere else, I decided. Terror twisted around his features, confirming my thought.

"Please..." he pleaded. I laughed, more of a snarl than a giggle. It was always the senile ones that sensed what I was- who I was.

"Don't worry, Mr. Rodgers, everything will be just fine,"I said in my most evil voice. I leaned closer to him, teeth bared in a deranged smile. He attempted to crawl away, but that was no problem. I lifted him above the floor by his neck. He struggled and gasped for air, attempting to pry my fingers off of his throat. I threw him against the opposite wall, hearing a loud crack emit from his crumpled form. He was coughing up blood, and I could resist no longer. I moved in for the kill.

Ah... this was my favorite part. I was finished toying around with the fear of a meaningless human, and my patience was being rewarded. Slowly yet desperately, I leaned in and pressed my teeth to his neck, savoring the rich taste of the man's blood. It was like the finest century-old gin... mouthwatering and timeless.

After disposing carefully of the body, I took off into the night. I left a box of chocolates on Veronica's desk, but only to ensure that I had her trust for next week, when I would choose my next victim. Another day had passed, and another life was gone.

With the pride of a job well done, I flew off to my sanctuary to wait out another never-ending night.