But as I stepped out of the school entrance into the parking lot, she was Vic, waiting on her Harley-Davidson Iron 883. She looked every bit the rebellious spirit she always was. Clad in her usual attire—a crop top with a leather jacket, ripped jeans, and sunglasses—she exuded an effortless badass vibe. The faint glow of her cigarette punctuated the dusk, a thin wisp of smoke curling around her like a halo of defiance. She took a drag, the ember flaring briefly, illuminating her face in the twilight. Her presence was a stark reminder of the duality of our existence: the calm before the storm.
I knew she was going to ask about my day. I just hoped she wouldn't ask where I was heading. But by her face, I knew she knew I was hiding something. She'd probably run me over with her Harley if I didn't spill it or make a run for it. And I didn't want to look like roadkill when I officially introduced myself to the girl. She put her cigarette down and said, "Vinnie, you better spill whatever you're hiding," she said in her usual tone of an older sister. I knew her weakness was usually my emotions, and she knows I never lie about them when they're overwhelming. I also hate lying to my sisters, especially Vic, but this whole day screamed abnormal. If this day is going like this, I might as well just go with it and lie.
"Look, sis, you weren't here in school with me today, and it's been one emotional explosion after another. I just need to hit the woods for a hunt, clear my head, and get some peace away from all the commotion. I'll meet you at The Den when you finish your night shift, alright?". She sighed, patted my hair, and messed it up a little. Then she took a drag, hopped on her Harley, and rode off.
I thought I was in the clear as I was going past the road's asphalt towards the woods and followed the trail to the mysterious girl. I heard the unmistakable roar of Vic's Harley engine, a deep, guttural growl that sent vibrations through the asphalt. All I could think was, shit, she knew me too well. I knew I would get run over, but crossing the road, I realized I should just give up and end up as roadkill. Sighing, I lay down on the ground, waiting for the inevitable. All the lying, grief, and love all in the same day. I lay there with my eyes closed and waited for it to end.
I woke up. I thought I would be at home with Vic patching me up again, but my head was buzzing, and I knew I wasn't home. I was lying down under a bunch of trees. It was dusk. My body ached, and I was craving blood. I tried to get up, but I could feel that my legs were still shattered. I twisted my fingers back into place. I suddenly heard a bittersweet humming from the distance mixed with a heartbeat. The hunger and adrenaline rush helped me heal. Without a second thought, I rushed toward the source of that heartbeat. With my vampire speed and my thirst for blood, I pinned whoever it was to the tree.
In an instant, I noticed I pinned a girl about my age against the rough bark. My fangs bared and ready to strike. Her scent hit me first, and then I opened my eyes and froze. I saw her face, those wide, mesmerizing green eyes lined with dramatic black eyeliner, glistening with a mix of terror, curiosity, and a bit of fearlessness, her lips slightly parted in a silent gasp. It was her, the girl I was tracking from before. She looked so helpless, so vulnerable. I could hear her chest heave with every rapid breath, and I could feel the warmth radiating from her body. I froze, my mouth hanging open, unable to move. My mind raced as I stared into her eyes, captivated by the sheer intensity of the moment. Her heartbeat was like a heavy drum solo, echoing in my ears, pulling me deeper into an unexpected wave of tenderness and longing. Tears welled up in my eyes, realizing I had almost taken the life of someone who had stirred such deep emotions within me. The thought of harming her was unbearable, yet my primal instincts screamed otherwise.
Suddenly, she bit my neck. It didn't hurt. Instead, it sent an unexpected rush of pleasure through me, a sudden, intimate sensation that threw me off balance. The spontaneity of it all distracted me enough for her to push me away with her strength. I stumbled and fell back, landing hard on the ground. My legs are still shattered and fragile from getting run over by Vic's Harley. My legs protested with sharp, searing pain. I could feel the bones knitting together, painfully slow, each movement sending jolts of agony through my body. Yet, I laughed, a light, almost childlike laugh, because the pain was nothing compared to the maddening desire that the mysterious girl made me feel. Her scent lingered in the air, easy to track with my heightened senses. I knew I could still follow her trail. We were deep in Raven Woods, and running away from the woods would be hard for her. At that moment, the line between love and the thrill of the chase blurred into something dark. She was my obsession, my dark desire, and I was determined to find her again.
I got up and brushed the dust, stretched myself, helping some of my bones back into place. Even with my legs healing and my slow start, I reached her. I had forgotten how pathetically slow humans are. I stood in front of her, towering at 6 feet 1 inch. She was around 5 feet 6 inches, trying to hide her fear from me, but failing as she shook slightly. The darkness I had felt all day faded. All I wanted was to know who she was, to make her feel happy near me, maybe even be my friend. I could just wipe her memory and make her mine, but that would lack genuine thoughts or feelings. I could tell she wanted to run by just listening to her drumming heartbeat. I couldn't help it. I just stood before her, admiring every subtle noise her body made, her heartbeat, and her breathing. I was mesmerized. I decided that if she ran, I would let her go.
She took a short, deep breath and stopped shaking. Then, in a shy but determined voice, she asked, "So, aren't you going to kill me or suck my blood?" I stood there looking at her. I was too mesmerized to answer, but I didn't know what to say. The wind of the forest was blowing my messy hair, as was hers, so she tidied it. Instead of running or talking, she stared deep into my eyes longingly as if searching for something, probably because I didn't speak to her. Her gaze was intense, her green eyes piercing into mine, making time seem to stop, all my lust and bloodthirst. I could see the slight tremble in her lower lip, the way her chest rose and fell with each breath. The beating of her heart slowed down to a steady beat. The trees and wildlife noises around us faded like we were the only two beings in this place, staring into each other's souls for what could be an eternity. Her eyes were deep and mysterious, trying to call upon all the deadly secrets, my dirty little secrets, desires hidden in the shadows of my soul, never meant to see the light of day, with unspoken words and hidden emotions. I could feel her trying to see past my exterior to find out if I was ever a human or if I always was a monster.
I pondered if she saw the vampire, the serial killer, the predator that lived within me, the darkness that craved her blood as much as her. Her bravery, standing there, not running, made my frozen-dead heart ache with a strange, painful longing. Did she find some twisted thrill in being near me, a creature of the night, or was she one of those girls who fantasized about serial killers? Or was there a part of her that understood the loneliness I had, aching from the painful emotions that came from my dark side? My thoughts spiraled with the possibilities, each one making me more entranced by her.
Then, I made a decision, one that was as terrifying. I decided to give this mysterious, enticing girl the answer to her search. I couldn't describe it to her, so I entered her mind, sharing a moment of this day with her, of me sitting beside her in history class. This time, I made sure she could hear my thoughts, feel the intensity of my emotions, the silent yearning that had built up every moment I spent near her. When the moment ended, I could see streaks of tears in her eyes. Her face turned away from me. I wondered if I had pushed too far. But then again, no one had ever pushed me this far regarding my feelings.
"I thought I was the only one who saw you in this school. Since you entered school in junior year, I've wondered who that quiet kid under the bleachers was. I tried calling you many times but could never reach you," she confessed, her voice a mix of strength and vulnerability, trembling with the weight of her longing and fear. "It felt like you were in your little world, and I was in mine. I always tried to peek into your world, to understand you," she added softly, "I'm Annabel." She said more confidently, as if offering her name would bridge our chasm.