Prologue

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        It was around nine o'clock at night and I was sitting on my favourite bench in the park. Hugging my knees up to my chest, I stared into the water of the lake. The shimmering reflection of the moon and stars was hypnotic. I could just lose myself in the sparkling lights for hours. And I often did so. It was the only way I could really think. Or more like, it was the only way I could organise all the thoughts that had been going through my head for that day. And there were always so many. It just went on and on. I couldn't stand it. The thoughts were always so dark. It seemed like lately all I could really think about was getting away from it all. Just ending it.

 

        That was probably the reason why I always went to the park at night. For years there had been rumours about how dangerous it was. People were always going missing or turning up dead. It had been happening for centuries, supposedly. And no one seemed to be able to do anything about it. The police and government had tried, but they always came back with nothing. So, no one ever came here at night because of it. And if they did, it was either because they had been dared by their friends, or they were suicidal.

 

        I fell onto the latter category.

 

        There was just something about knowing that this place was dangerous. It, comforted me. I supposed you could say that I had a death wish. Either way, as I sat there, getting lost in my thoughts, a part of me hoped that one of those dangerous things would happen to me.

 

        It's not like I had anyone that would miss me. I had no friends and my dad didn't give a s**t about me. So, there was no one that would miss me. No one at all. Actually, in all my eighteen years I never had anyone. I was always alone.

 

        Always alone...

 

        I could feel the familiar tingling of my eyes. The feeling of the tears about to start. I had nothing. I had no one. There was really no point to being alive. I bit my bottom lip, trying to stop the tears from coming. It never worked though.

 

        "Well, well, what do we have here..."

 

        I was jerked out of my thoughts and turned to where the silky, feminine voice had come from. All I saw was a shadowy figure. Then she stepped into the moonlight.

 

        I have to say, she was gorgeous. Standing there with a confident, elegance about her. Her long, dark flowing locks, shimmering in the moonlight, complimenting her pale skin. She was beautiful, but even so, there was something off about her.

 

        She smiled at me and I involuntarily shivered.

 

        "A little girl like you shouldn't be in the park at night," she said in a seductive, yet condescending tone. She sat down on the other end of the bench as she continued. "it is a very dangerous place you know."

 

        I inched away from her. Then I reached into my bag and pulled out my pepper spray. "I'm fine. I can take care of myself."

 

        The woman raised an eyebrow and an amused smile appeared on her perfect blood red lips. "you really think that will work against the monsters lurking around here?"

 

        I frowned, "...monsters?"

 

        "Oh yes," she replied, inching closer. "they drain all of the blood out of your body. It's quite... Terrifying..."

 

        Now I could tell there was really something wrong with woman. Her tone was almost loving. And there was a hunger in her dark eyes as she looked at me. Everything in my body was screaming for me to run, to get away. I never usually listen, but I figured that this time I should.

 

        "Well then," I replied, trying to keep my voice calm, the complete opposite of what I was actually feeling. "I should get going..."

 

        Keeping my eyes on her, I grabbed my messenger bag, slung it over my shoulder, and turned to start walking away.

 

        I immediately stopped. She was suddenly standing right there in front of me. My eyes widened. How the hell did she do that. That was impossible. It had taken me a second to turn around.

 

        She licked her lips and a throaty chuckled escaped them. "I haven't eaten for long. So, I'm afraid you are not going anywhere."

 

        Fear shot through me as an open smile appeared on her face. In the moonlight, I could see them. Fangs. I shook my head. I started to back away. It was impossible. There was no way they were real. No way.

 

        She licked them. I turned and ran.

 

        My breathing quickened as I rushed through the park. This couldn't be happening. It had to be a dream. Vampires didn't exist. They were fiction, fantasy. It just wasn't possible. I looked behind me. She wasn't there. What the hell? Turning back, I came to a stop.

 

        The vampire was standing right there. My heart was pounding. I couldn't get my breath. All I could think about was that this couldn't be possibly happening. There was just no way!

 

        Quickly looking around, for something I could use to defend myself, I saw a tree branch just a metre away from me. I swiftly grabbed it. She laughed.

 

        "How cute, but you have no chance," she growled. She had suddenly changed. Her features were no longer beautiful. They were dark, crazed, almost animalistic. Then she lunged at me.

 

        I squeezed my eyes shut and waved the branch. I kept on waving. Any second now and she would be on me. Holy s**t, I was going to die.

 

        I kept on swinging.

 

        Then there was a sudden grunt. A scream of frustration. It was inhuman. The sound of what seemed like animals fighting, growling. I opened my eyes just in time for something liquid to hit my face. What was going on?

 

        Throwing down the tree branch, I focused my eyes. I wish I hadn't. The vampire was on the ground, a few metres away, and there was something on her. I watched in horror as the thing bit into her, ripping at her. Blood was going everywhere.

 

        I stood there frozen. Then suddenly, it was over. The thing that had been on her got up. There was nothing left of the vampire. The thing had eaten everything. No, wait. There was on outline on the ground.

 

        I looked down at my clothes. There was no blood. In it's place was dust. The vampire had turned to dust. I started to shake. Then the thing spoke.

 

        "You do know it's dangerous for a little girl like you to be out at night," it growled.

 

        I looked up at. It was walking towards me. The way it walked was, strange. It was like the vampire just before it had lunged at me. Could it be another one? I couldn't be sure. This one seemed different, darker, more terrifying. I couldn't see it properly either. The trees were hiding the moon.

 

        I took a breath and suddenly it was right in front of me. I found myself staring into all black eyes. It looked like an animal, just living on basic instincts. Then it's hand was around my throat, or should I say, claws. I could feel them pressing into my neck, puncturing the skin. I couldn't breathe.

 

        "You want to die, don't you..." the voice was so hoarse, I almost didn't understand it. "so then, why did you run?"

 

        My mouth opened, as if to speak, but nothing would come out. I couldn't move. I wasn't in control anymore. Was it the monster, or was it the fear. I couldn't tell. A whimper escaped my lips.

 

        It closed it's eyes and breathed in. "You smell, different. Just one taste can't hurt."

 

        Before I could do anything, I felt pain. I closed my eyes as it bit into the skin just below my neck. A few stray tears slipped from my eyes and down my cheeks.

 

        Then all of a sudden it stopped. I cautiously opened my eyes and let out a gasp of surprise. I was no longer looking at a creature. Instead I saw stormy grey eyes looking back at me. His handsome features looked confused. He was about to open his mouth when a voice rang out. The man turned his head towards it and cursed. Then he looked back to me.

 

        "I should erase your memory, but there is no time," his voice was quiet, almost a whisper. So clear, deep, smooth and different from the hoarse one from before. He shook his head as if in wonder. "What are you?"

 

        The voice rang out again, but I couldn't make out what it was saying. He closed his eyes in frustration. "Run!"

 

        I didn't need him to tell me twice. As soon as he let go of me, I ran home as fast as I could.

 

        Once I got back to my apartment, I slammed the door shut and locked it. Resting my forehead against the door, I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself down. Before I could though, a voice said something from behind me.

 

        "Taia?"

 

        I whirled around. My dad was standing there. It was then that I finally noticed that the lights were on. I let out the breath I hadn't realised I had been holding.

 

        "Where the hell have you been?" he yelled. "Do you know what time it is? It's dangerous for a young girl to be out this late at night!"

 

        I looked at him in disbelief. The last time I had seen him had been about a month a go. Even then it had only been for a day or two. And i couldn't believe he was yelling me, trying to act like a father. Couldn't he see the state I was in? I couldn't take anymore.

 

        "You have no right to speak to me like that!" I yelled back. "You are never here! You are not a father! So, stop trying to act like one!"

 

        I angrily pulled off my bag and threw to the ground. Then I ran into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. Quickly getting my clothes off, I turned on the shower, getting the right temperature, I got in.

 

        I sat on floor, letting the hot water rush over me. Hot water had always had a calming effect on me. It felt almost healing. Not this time though. As I watch the blood from the puncture wound flow down my body and down the drain, I felt the tears start. And I just let it all out.

Author's Note

This is just a really rough draft, so please ignore any mistakes and things like that. I would love to know what you think of it and yeah. Thanks.

Reviews

[R.R.Louderback]

So far, this is engrossing. "What are you?" is a great hook for later developments. This is well written and seems to be developing naturally. The dialog seems natural and not forced... the words are words as people might well speak them.

Thus far... good job!