Hunted
Blood. Blood was everywhere. It was my blood, all over the floor. I didn’t want to believe it, but it was true. I knew what was causing me to bleed; you’d have to be stupid not to know. The infestation of vampires all over the planet was creepy, but it was happening, and they were planning something… something big and dangerous. I had no idea who was in charge or who the vampire elder was, not a clue. As much as I hated it, I’d have to kill him or her no matter what.
I gasped in pain as I made for the exit in the old skyscraper. All the lights were out, vampires were behind me, and I had no sense of direction. But I could see light. That might guide me somewhere safe, I thought. And once I’m out of here, the vampires can’t follow me.
Staggering, I took one more agonising step towards the light, and collapsed in a heap on the floor. I heard hisses like snakes filled with pure excitement, waiting to devour their prey (fat chance of that happening). I wouldn’t let them. Wincing, I fiddled in my pocket for the sharp wooden stake.
“There’s no point in trying to escape little girl,” a male vampire shrieked, eager to approach me, but taking careful steps anyway. “I’ve drunk your blood! I can trace you anywhere and have you anytime I want! Don’t try and escape! You’re mine for the keeping!”
He laughed hysterically, and I saw a glimmer of red in his demonic eyes. Those eyes could easily hypnotise if the vampire knew how to, but he was going in for the kill too soon, not thinking straight. Vampires were pathetic. Presides, that’s what made them so easy to kill; they’re like dominos you can knock down one by one. Myths make out they’re all vile and scary, yes they can be, but if you use your brain, you can trick them. You can stake them.
I laughed. “No… if I’m going to die, I’m taking you with me,” and with all my strength I came to my feet, ignoring the excruciating pain, and lunged forward with the stake. The vampire screamed as the wood pierced his skin and penetrated the heart. I twisted and wiggled it around, then yanked it out.
The vampire’s body flopped to the floor, and I collapsed beside it. I smiled… I’d come so close. So close to the light, and yet I was going to die anyway. Life is a bitch. Nothing’s fair. There were more vampires, and they were advancing, excited to gulp down the meal of the day. There was the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere behind me… maybe near where the light was. The vampires hissed and fled.
Stars scattered my vision, I embraced the blackness, and triumphantly I slid away into nothing. I hardly noticed the feeling of being lifted from the ground.
***
Voices. There were perhaps… two people? Males? I didn’t understand where I was. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, only realising I couldn’t when a terrible pain throbbed in my skull. What on earth had just happened? I’d been running for my life, hurt myself… and then… something had happened. Something weird. I knew I’d been somewhere dark… an abandoned building?
I grunted in pain as I struggled to remember what had happened. Homelessness sucks, especially when you have to steal, kill and live on the streets. I’d been attacked many times by, quite often, a vampire. But sometimes, the odd human would think ‘what the hell? I’ll kill this person for the fun of it, they won’t be missed.’ They do try, but they end up dead themselves.
I tried to make sense of where I was, some sort of… cubicle? It was warm… and I heard a weird bleeping somewhere. Bleep. Bleep. Bleep.
It was beginning to annoy me, I wanted to roll over and smash the bleeping machine. But when I tried, I couldn’t. I smelt something coppery. It made me want to be sick. Whispers. Ouch!
Something pricked me! I tried to feel for the source, it was coming from my neck. Throbbing.
“Get… off… me…” I croaked as I opened my eyes. Two men… one a teenager and one an adult, were they father and son? Where the hell was I? A hospital? It couldn’t be, that didn’t fit. I tried to piece things together.
The young teenager had blond shaggy hair and gorgeous blue eyes, his face was structured and he had high cheekbones. He looked quite tall as well. His father wasn’t much different; he just looked like an older version of his son. And he had glasses… and a beard.
“Hello,” the older man said with a warm smile. I glanced over to what he was doing; he was sticking a sewing needle in my neck! I tried to move away, but I felt still and numb. “Please don’t fret. I’m fixing you up,” he said reassuringly as he did what seemed like one final stitch, then dabbed my neck and moved away. “You’ll be as good as new in a few moments…” he slapped his son on the back and moved away, leaving the two of us together.
Silence filled the room. I didn’t know who these people were or what they were doing. But they seemed professionals at something... The boy smiled at me, but it seemed forced, and he sat next to me slowly.
“Don’t worry,” I croaked. “I won’t bite.”
He looked startled for one moment, and then laughed. “I’m Dylan.”
“Dylan… I’m Mandy,” I felt woozy for a moment, and then realised I should be questioning him not talking to him like this. I should be mad. “But what are you doing with me?”
Dylan’s expression hardened, and he bit his lip. “We’re making sure you ok. We know everything about what happened in there. We know who attacked you,”
“As do I Dylan,” my voice sounded weak and feeble. “I hunt the damn buggers. They hunt me. If you know what I’m saying?”
Dylan nodded. He looked as if he was frightened to say anything, like if he did, he’d get his neck wrung. Starting to open his mouth to speak, he stopped when a clash was heard somewhere nearby. “I’ll be right back.”
And with deep anticipation, he escaped the room to see what had happened.
That was one of the shortest conversations I had ever had, too short. It made me suspicious… why did these people save me? They could have left me for vampire dinner. Everything was messed up; I didn’t understand any of it. I wanted to so much. But they just weren’t telling me much, just that they “know who attacked me and that they know everything about what happened.” And? I was being chased! Big whoop. Or was I forgetting something important? Had I completely forgotten one important detail from last night? Was it last night? What day was it? What month was it?
My head ached as I struggled to remember. Trying to wiggle my fingers, I noticed the numbness had gone. I sat up slowly and glanced around me properly. It was some kind of… lab. There were jars and chemicals in triangular beakers, tripods, needles and… stakes. Great. Vampire hunters. Maybe they were more experienced than me at this whole thing. I was after all only a fifteen-year-old vampire hunter. I’d been hunting them for at least two years on the streets.
Reviews would be helpful, i might have posted a bit of this before. I'm not sure. Hope you like this bit of chapter one anyway. Yes, chapter one is long!!!
Don't be put off reading this
