Young Writers Society

*This story is underneath my folder titled “Christopher + Morgan’s conjoined bond”. Gacha Club character designs are underneath my forum titled “My character designs<33”. Enjoy!*

Chapter One-In the shadows

Morgan and Sabrina walked through the rubble of what was once a prominent school back in the 1800s, Sabrina held the phone and spoke, Morgan lit the way with her flashlight.

“Back in the 1800s, this was a school for boys run by Elijah Mortem, who was always thinking of ways to better the world with his inventions.” Sabrina narrated.

Morgan almost tripped over a loose piece of wood, but continued on.

“Most of his inventions were not big successes. One invention of his, the softest chair in the world, had sucked in a woman completely, leaving only bits and pieces of her flesh.” Sabrina said.

Morgan and Sabrina had to continue with their channel. When they were younger, they always wanted to explore haunted places, find the soul of what made a home shine.

“Another invention of his was a meal that when eaten, was supposed to grant the eater a strong body. Unfortunately, the young boy who ate the meal was poisoned, and did not wake up.” Sabrina said solemnly.

Of course, their parents didn’t appreciate their online paranormal channel, as they wanted their daughters to get “real jobs”.

But Morgan and Sabrina were adults, they would do as they pleased.

“It is rumored that Elijah had given his wife, Grace, the same meal that had killed the child. But that is not the greatest rumor of all. The biggest speculation is that when Elijah’s son, Christopher, was twenty-six, he had given the man a drink that was supposed to give him “instant intelligence”, but instead, turned him into a winged vampire that drank blood and ate organs. But again, it is only a story.” Sabrina said.

Morgan stopped. Perhaps it was in her imagination, but was there something moving in the shadows?

“Sabrina, come closer. I think that you should see this.” Morgan said, gesturing Sabrina over.

Morgan stayed fixated on that one particular spot in the shadows where she had seen the movement. She could hear Sabrina’s excited footsteps as she got closer, for they had never caught the paranormal on camera.

Morgan didn’t move. She had to watch closely…make sure that nothing was amiss…had it only been an animal? There was nothing, absolutely nothing.

Were her parents right? Was she destined to be broke and alone? Was-

“SABRINA!” Morgan cried out, for something had latched onto her and blackened her view of the outside world….

Chapter Two-Lost soul

Morgan couldn’t feel the ground beneath her. Something was holding onto her tightly, but she couldn’t see. Her heart raced as she floated in the darkness, thoughts of dying a lonely death swimming in her head.

If I die, no one will believe Sabrina. What if they arrest her? Keep her locked up in a mental hospital? What’s going to happen to me, anyway? AM I going to die? Where am I? What’s going on?

Suddenly, the darkness subsided. Staring back at Morgan was a pale, gaunt man with yellow snake eyes, thick, black curls of hair framing his face. Blood spilled from his parched lips and onto his dark suit, which looked to be something from the 1800s. On his back were two enormous leathery bat wings, draping him like an expensive coat.

“Why are you here?” The man asked in a raspy, faraway voice, as though it belonged to a million demons echoing from inside him.

He didn’t sound hostile, only curious.

“Me and my friend explore abandoned places in the hope to find the paranormal. If I see you now, does that mean you’re Christopher? Are the legends true?” Morgan asked.

For although most would run, she was not one to pass up on the paranormal. Besides, he hadn’t done anything to hurt her. He only wanted to talk, that was all.

The man nodded.

“Care to explore what was once the gardens with me? I haven’t had company in a long time.” Christopher said.

“I’d like that.” Morgan said with a smile.

Even though he was a vampire, even though he had snatched her away, he had asked so politely if she’d like to see the garden, and who knew how long he was in the shadows? In the end, he still had a heart.

In the end, he still had the feelings of a human.

Chapter Three-Changed for good

Morgan and Christopher walked through the garden of dried-up, brown flowers. There were beds upon beds of the broken-down stems, and Morgan couldn’t help but wonder what the flowers looked like when they were alive. What the entire school was like when it was whole.

What Christopher was like when he was alive.

“My father wanted so much in life. A family. A school. Inventions. He never stopped pursuing what he believed to be his right, all the way down to the very end.” Christopher said.

Morgan perked up, prepared to hear what he had to say. If he was truly all alone, then he may have had to live with burdening truths for most of his existence.

“I just wanted to be an artist. I wanted to paint away my emotions, so I wouldn’t have to carry them all my life. I didn’t even want to be famous, I just wanted to make art. It was a way for me to drift into my own world…”

Christopher trailed off, swallowing down his tears.

Morgan felt a pang of sympathy stab her heart. Him keeping down his tears sounded like a wounded animal struggling to breathe, just barely holding onto life.

“My father didn’t approve of it. He wanted me to help with his inventions, he trying to convince me that it was purpose in life. He never stopped creating, not even when it killed my mother.” Christopher said.

“That is, until he poisoned me. Until he forced me to drink the “Instant Intelligence” in front of all the young boys that attended his school. He kept going on and on about how I was going to “choose the right path” after drinking it.”

Christopher laughed darkly, his eyes glinting with resentment.

“Well, I chose the right path alright! That didn’t give me Instant Intelligence, but it made me a vampire, and it gave me the strength to kill the man who so boldly called himself my father!” Christopher cried out.

Out of his eyes came tears, out of his lips came laughter. Except, his laughs sounded more like strained sobs.

Morgan didn’t say a word, for sometimes, people needed to do certain things to let out their emotions, to vent.

After a few minutes, Christopher seemed to remember Morgan and asked:

“Did I bore you?”

Morgan shook her head.

“No. In fact, I think I get a little bit of where you’re coming from.” Morgan said.

Chapter Four-Towards the sky

Christopher stopped in the middle of the garden, his eyes seeming to encourage her to speak.

While Christopher was telling his story, she was reminded of her very own.

“My parents think that I’m a disappointment for trying to find the paranormal. In their eyes, people shouldn’t chase what can’t be seen. “ Morgan said.

Thoughts of her Mom and Dad warning her of her “fruitless future” swarmed Morgan’s head. They always said that if she kept up trying to search for the paranormal, she’d get nowhere in life. They always said that she was setting herself up for failure in the world.

“They say that I’ll end up homeless, that I’m not going to become anyone important, that following my dreams will only harm me. I know that I shouldn’t worry too much. I love my life. I love looking for what’s in the shadows. But sometimes…”

Morgan trailed off. She had to sleep in an apartment with Sabrina, as they couldn’t afford homes of their own. At night, the words of her parents would linger in her mind.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m doing something wrong. Like I need to have a certain job to be happy. Sometimes I feel like I’ll be nothing but a failure in their eyes. I know that I don’t need their approval, but it still hurts.” Morgan said.

Tears were stinging her eyes, but no, she wouldn’t cry. Not in front of Christopher. As her parents always said, crying in front of people was an embarrassment. No one wanted to see snot and tears mixed together. No one wanted to hear her bawl out her heart.

“It’s alright to cry. Here, I know just the thing to make you feel better.” Christopher said, concern and care in his eyes.

In a flash, Christopher wrapped his arms around Morgan and flew to the sky, and in that moment, she realized that the darkness was his wings, and he was merely flying her away from Sabrina.

Sabrina…

Chapter Five-Flurry of stars

The sky was a world of speckled stars and thin, cotton-like clouds. Morgan felt almost all of her worries ebb away. Somehow, with Christopher, she felt as though she would never fall, as though she could drink in the air around her and become more than what she already was.

An angel, perhaps.

But what about Sabrina? Wasn’t Sabrina worried about her?

“Are you going to take me back to my friend?” Morgan asked.

Christopher’s face took an expression of utter dread, as though there was nothing but torment waiting for him.

“Yes, I will. I’m sorry that I took you away from her at all. I just…I just wanted someone to talk to. I’ll take you back now if you’d like.” Christopher said.

He was starting to lower her down, the world was pushing itself onto her body, as though it wanted to crush her.

She could see it in Christopher’s eyes that he didn’t want to let go, that he was longing to spend time with her, and yet there he was, prepared to take her back to her friend and face his own loneliness.

“We can fly a little longer.” Morgan said.

She couldn’t help but beam at how Christopher’s face instantly lit up, how his wings took flight to the sky, how he grinned so innocently.

As he flew up, she felt the world part for them both, gravity falling away.

In the sky, they were free to fly.

Chapter Six-The touch of a forsaken angel

“The thing about drinking blood and eating organs is that one never feels fully satisfied. Hunger has been satiated, and yet, in the end, there still lies the dead bodies.” Christopher said.

Morgan wiped a tear away from his eye. An existence doomed to live as a monster must have made one fearful of their own actions, frightened to make lasting connections.

“My father must have mixed up so many things that he did not fully understand to make me such a creature. He created far too much, and look at where it got me.” Christopher said.

She could see a fire within his eyes, a great, blistering anger at what had become of him. Like the place he once called home, Christopher himself was forsaken.

“At least I have you. I understand if you’re a tad afraid of me, but rest assured, I won’t hurt you.” Christopher said, caressing her cheek with his claw.

Though they were long and bony, they felt…gentle. Like the fingers that would soothe a bunny to sleep.

Christopher brushed his claw away, his face blushing into a deep gray with embarrassment, but she brought it back next to her cheek.

“I don’t mind your touch.” Morgan said.

A soft, hesitant smile was beginning to form on his face, but then, it spread into that charming, adorable grin Morgan saw earlier, and he continued to stroke her cheek lightly.

Chapter Seven-Conjoined hearts

“I search for the paranormal to find what the world leaves behind. Only the famous people really get heard. Everyone else is in the shadows, the living and dead.” Morgan said.

She had a firm belief that everyone and everything had a story to tell if one just paid attention enough, if one cared enough to learn.

Though he was a vampire, Christopher was so open, so honest with her. He didn’t once break through her flesh even though he could have any given moment, and he was so sweet, listening to her and carrying her to the stars.

Never had Morgan ever felt as free, as magical, as she did with Christopher.

“I’m glad to have found you. Everyone only knows the legend of you, but they don’t know you. The real person, with hopes and dreams. You don’t have to be good to me, and yet you are. I appreciate that.” Morgan said.

Appreciate didn’t seem like an appropriate enough word to say. It was something more, something far greater than she had ever felt before.

Could it be that Morgan felt…love?

Chapter Eight-To be completely vulnerable

There was only one way to find out.

“I’ve never felt as boundless as I do right now with you, Christopher. You make me feel like I talk about anything, like I don’t have to be ashamed for anything.” Morgan said.

Christopher twirled a strand of her hair in one of his claws, his yellow eyes glittering like stars.

“The feeling that I feel, the joyous, infinite feeling…I believe that it might be love. I love you, Christopher. I’ll love you no matter what, with or without blood pouring from your lips, because in the end, your heart is still pure with tenderness.” Morgan said.

It all came out in a rush, but she didn’t stop herself. She’d rather let it all out than let it fester in her, like the rot that ate away at the abandoned school.

“You don’t have to love me back. You can let me go and never have to speak to me again. I just wanted to let you know before we part.” Morgan said.

It was said and done, her feelings were laid bare for him, like fresh scars on a frail body.

All that awaited was his response.

Chapter Nine-Blood and wings

“I love you too, Morgan. It’s so nice to find someone who understands me.” Christopher said.

He placed his lips upon hers. With his kiss, she tasted the blood of the lives that he taken, sugary and sour, but also, the saltiness of his parched lips, the kiss of a damaged faerie.

It was her first kiss, and she wouldn’t exchange it for anything in the world.

“I can turn you into a vampire if you want to be with me.” Christopher whispered in her ear.

Morgan nodded.

The next thing she felt was his teeth upon her neck, forming her into someone more, opening her up into who she was meant to be.

Just as she knew that she wanted to be a paranormal investigator, she knew in her heart that she wanted to be with Christopher.

Chapter Ten-It all unfolds

After Christopher turned Morgan, he taught her how to hide her wings within her flesh, so that Sabrina wouldn’t be alarmed.

When Morgan returned to Sabrina, she only told her about Christopher’s story, and nothing that went on between them.

The two women continued to be paranormal investigators, except Morgan was the one filming and Sabrina was the one in the video. They caught more of the otherworldly on camera and with their views, came more followers and more money, and with more money came their own houses.

But Morgan’s favorite paranormal find would always be Christopher, for she visited him every day and night, and even tied the knot with him. They had one child, a girl named Elanssa Mortem, whom they loved very dearly.

But again, that was only Morgan’s life in the shadows. To the world, she was humbly known as an online paranormal investigator.

To Christopher and Elanssa, she was mother, wife, vampire, and most importantly…

A woman who never stopped searching for the beauty in the broken things.