We shouldn't be

"Skai, I know you’re here somewhere.”

Father yells in search of me, causing a shiver of fear to run through my spine.The closer he got, the more my heartbeat intensified.

There’s no telling what he'll do when he finds me.

Looking down from the cupboard top, I could see his thick leather boots.

Thinking quickly, I lay flat on my back.

The board made a cracking sound, but luckily he didn’t hear

“Little girl, I’m going back to the bar. You had better be out when I return.”

He warns, his voice evident in his anger. The door then slammed shut.

I waited for a while to make sure he was gone before climbing down.

Father’s going to punish me and there’s no way to stop him. Trust me, and he won’t be pleased till I’m black and blue.

Laying in bed, tears cascaded down my face.

Why Mommy, why? Father wasn’t like this when you were here.

Now, closing my eyes, I go to my happy place.

Sleep!

“Darling, you don’t have to stay, leave like I did”

Someone said in my dreams, and I awoke and began packing my bag, my whole body trembling in fear that he might catch me.

This was my first time attempting to run away.

But why should I stay and accept the constant abuse for no reason?

Mom didn’t.

Packing the last of my belongings, I took one last look around before leaving my home.

A place I’d known for 18 years of my life.

My heart shattered to pieces. All the memories of when Mom was around are gone.

Yet as I stepped through those doors, I knew there was no turning back.

With a sigh of victory, I proceeded to walk along the dimly lit road.

The chilly night air seeping through my sweater sends an instant wave of shivers through my body. I can only cling to the sweater closer to my skin and move faster, my teeth now chattering.

It’s a chilly night in January, with barely any snow outside, but the wind is brutal. When the bus stop comes into view, I release a sigh of relief.

Almost there!

I made it to the bus station and sat down on the bench.

What next?

My mom’s nowhere in this country, believe me, I’ve searched for her and I know no family here. The one friend I had, Dad, prohibited me from talking to her. Lost in thoughts, something flashes past. My senses came back to reality.

I glanced around, I was stunned to see a boy who appeared to be just around my age, sitting on the far end of the bench.

"Hi”

I am trying to be friendly, and am also curious about why he’s here. It’s cold and lonely outside.

The boy turns around to face me, a smirk across his sweet face before it changes into one that isn’t very human-like.

His once-bright blue eyes darkened black as midnight, his teeth protruding out of his mouth. I screamed and started running, frightened by what I saw.

Amusingly, the thing didn’t chase me. Noticing that, I started to walk, trying to catch my breath.

Then, in such a sudden movement, I was shoved to the ground and the human-animal-looking thing was standing over me.

I crawl backward to get away from him, but he only steps closer and pouts a little

“This is no fun. You’re not running and screaming as much as the other girls I’ve fed on, and I enjoy playing a little with my food before I devour it”

Those words paralyzed me. What the heck?

Somebody better wake me up from this dream.

Because this isn’t real, no way it is.

“Bye”

The thing says, moving closer to me. I closed my eyes, preparing for what was to come, but then I heard growling, growling.

Peeping through one eye, only to see more like him.

“Brain, there’s a way to deal with this hunger. You can’t go around feeding on innocent humans,”

One of the monster-looking things says, two other ones beside him standing in a defensive stance.

“This was your last strike. I’m afraid we’ll have to kill you.”

One of them said, and the boy only laughed, then flung himself at them. The scene was gruesome as they sunk their teeth into his neck, ripping it apart.

Blood oozes out instantly, making me dizzy.

I struggled to stay conscious but failed

***

Holding my head in pain, it throbbed like I’d been hit with a brick.

My brain took a while to process what was going on.

Panic seeped in when I found myself on a cold bench in a cell, a very dirty-looking one, I might add, with bloodstains and claw marks on the wall.

The monster-looking thing must have brought me here, for sure.

Searching for an entrance.

The hairs on my hands suddenly stood up, an indication that I’m being watched.

I looked up, only to see a man’s figure with very unusual hazel eyes. It appeared to have a slight glow.

Staring at me, it took everything in me to not scream

The only light in the place is the light from the moon shining through the window.

“You’re up.”

The man says, his voice displaying a hint of an accent.

Wow, that accent was quite sexy. He chuckles somewhat knowingly, then pulls the cell and steps in. I step back, still terrified.

“What sort of idiot must you be, to ever wander on the road, in the middle of the night alone?”

“Hey," I crossed my arms, taking offense.

“I’m not an idiot, and I wasn’t wondering,”

“Then what were you doing?”

The man asks, finally coming into view.

Not only does he have a sexy monotone voice, but he’s also extremely handsome. Striking eyes, juicy pink lips, and a perfectly structured face. I blushed and looked away, feeling shy.

Back to the question, what am I supposed to tell him? He’s a stranger, and frankly, it’s none of his business.

“If it wasn’t for my men-“

He starts but stops. That’s so annoying. Why say something if you’re not going to finish it?

“May I ask what you remember from last?”

He steps closer to me, and I step back until my back hits the blood-stained wall.

How disgusting!

“Nothing,“

I lied as he shook his head.

“Lies your heart skipped a beat”

Can someone tell tha, wait?

“You’re one of t- “

“SSH,”

He placed a finger over my lips. The alluring scent of this stranger and his eyes trapped me in a daze.

Without thinking, I touched his face, and surprisingly, he leaned into my touch.

“Fear smells lovely on you little human”

He growls, fangs protruding from his mouth.

“W-what are you?”

I stutter

“What I am doesn’t matter love, hang tight, you’re my new possession”

And that’s the last thing I remembered before he sunk his fangs into me.