had two bathrooms, three bedrooms, a kitchen diner and an open living

I wasn't exactly d

ng, he had a habit of jumping onto the first cruise he could find with wife number four, Dahlia; admittedly the nicest stepmother to date.

. It only took a month or so before I was in the bright lights of New York, and I never looked back. I found an ad for a job at a starter company specialising in the marketing of Broadway shows. It had very little pay and

and my father a retired journalist from Ireland. I didn't grow up hungry nor did I wa

s dad went missing in the night. The marriage only lasted a year after Issac's passing. Twenty-fiv

twenty-two

d welcome questionable stepparents into the fold didn't help either. At fourteen everything

sion, whilst our bi-weekly family game night was abandoned without another mention; the b

nk she fully understood what was lost, and for that I'm glad. But even so

lting in us being practically strangers as children. But all that changed when she called me

erational roots in Catholicism had ruled out abortion in Sophia's mind. It was only a matter of days before my prediction came true, my sixteen-year-old sister sobbing down

g my cluttered bedroom as I lay facing the ceiling. I did nothing but stare blankly upwards, willing myself to get the sleep I

, the attack kept playing over and over in my head like a broken record. I blamed myself for being so stupid as to try and help him in the first place, my a

problem with controlling my temper, but recently I'd improved tremendously. I'd mainly channelled it through arche

d to use a bow-and-arrow in

o-hand combat, plus shooting inanimate object was strangely therapeutic for me-however much Dr Patel disapprov

n better. Even with everything that had happened we just fell into a

over all the possible scenarios that could've happened had I not managed to escape. The frustration gre

. Wishing her all the best, I carried on into the weekend, still a little bit tense from the incident but determined not to bother her during her family time. To make up for it, I headed to th

pressures at work it had been one that I'd much rather forget. The onl

, putting a dent in my work inbox. The clients were due in on Wednesday, and I had at least a dozen things to

d band T-shirt. I hadn't changed out of leggings since that morning, determined to be comfortable as I paire

hink? God, I need a b

elt my back pop as I sat back down in the wheelie chair, the Excel sheet finally done and ready to be sent off for

ould I make

r in, Sophia popped her head out of the bedr

that dec

d, finishing off the last of my

ticularly pronounced in the new blue cotton jumpsuit she'd pu

ars don't

Really? Ew okay, um...

the crust. Domin

sure, whatever. I'll order it

e hilarious," I re

declared, ducking back into

a guy had arrived. Sophia emerged with her wild blonde hair tied up in a messy bu

eard her talk to the guy before buzzing him up, "Eve! He's on

ds against my t-shirt. Two minutes later there was a knock on the door. I passed the bathroom only to hear lo

t likely planning to be sat on h

ically, rolling my eyes as I went to find my purse to pay. Ano

, I glided to the do

liding about my apartment

r knock sounded, his impatience annoy

sure to check the peephol

reath caught

the purse slip through my fingers and fall to the ground with a dull thud. My heartbeat spiked for what fel

the freak

Earth did

tood a few feet away with nothing but a door between us. I g

e happening. Thi

He's

aky hands, I slowly and quietly reached out to slide the deadbolt across-ensur

my foot squeaked loudly in protest. The noise caused my entire body to tense and my

"Eve

knows m

oes he kn

door," He persisted, knocking

the console table that sat across from the entrance; black as ink e

w is h

could he

ed, before vague mumbling began from the other s

the pizza

et him in, I had

gh my head that before last wee

I even have a crucifix? Don't be

e if he managed to get in. But everything was just too heavy or

the back of my mind, but after a brief deliberation it wasn't a guarantee I could afford to tak

the whole door shook violently with each hit, "Evelyn, please! I

proved that it wouldn't be enough to keep me safe. Something told me it could 100% get

and called the police. My phone was in the bedroom, but the gun was closer. Taking one deep breathe for courag

nuinely pissed at this point as it sl

twist of fate-- the socks I had once considered the highlight of my day brutally betrayed me. Turning the corner at full s

arily seeing stars, I blinked slowly to straighten my vision before slowly turning onto my front, utilising my hands for a better grip as my feet could not catch a

stumbling to my bag whilst holding my head to lessen the bleeding. I t

n as I yanked it out with shaky fingers. I hurriedly aimed it at the entering vampire, taking

"H

nce and adjusting my aim to the best of my abilities. The three vam

ants, the hairy vampire stood stock still, his eyes widening before fill

unding growing more pronounce from the sheer impossibility

riously hurt your

dle a gun?" I challenged shakily, sidestepping to get closer to the door. The usual autopilot that took over when I held

s is im

bout ten seconds, the annoyance visibly turning to anger in front of my very eyes. After what see

e to take a few steps before his eyes flew open, my attempt to make it to the bedroom, and therefore the

didn't see how terrified I was. I'd dealt with men before. I'd dealt with wild animals before. Heck I've dealt

surely, but weakly put his hands up

u listen he

render dropped for a momen

snapped, getting annoyed that the gun wa

No, E

name!" I demanded, "

s hands back up more prominently, "This wasn't me

de in disbelief, "Didn't know? What the hell d

y really not that of someone who had a gun pointed at their head,

me all of them alphabetically? Maybe then I'll get it right," I snapped sarcastically, gest

to himself before taking a deep breath. "Listen, we haven

real. I could feel my heartbeat drumming heavily in my head, the sheer pressure of it makin

en can you just look me i

e final warning, my index finger landing on t

lmost condescending, "Go f

my eyes shut as I was fully prepared for the loud bang that was to follow. It was

hing but a dull click followed. My eyes snapped open as I realised the gun had jamme

g even further as the threat was still very much present. Instead of answering, I attempted to sho

er jammed... how can to

r changing as he looked at me with a blank f

t begin to heave as I tried to think of what I was going to do. Neither of us moved as I stared at him with blatant fear.

... is

s he

ground and suddenly threw the gun at him, the action obviously c

the realisation that the hallucinations hadn't stopped. I felt the room begin to spin as I processed what had gone on. On the one

"Well that f*c

together. There was no physical way this man knew where I lived, the only explanation was that the hallucination wasn't a one-

pulling against it to try and work against the pounding headache that was

en my eyes, h

uddenly called out from the b

ld once again paused for a spilt second. My eyes flew open after only a moment's notice, scanni

words echoing whilst my mouth filled with a metallic taste and my whole body went into sh

"W-w

t tears of fear roll down my cheek

e guy was just staring at me throughout this entire

upon me. If Sophia wasn't there, I'm pretty sure I would have fully peed my pants at that point,

my eye, I watched the man as he turned his at

mall step forward as I braced myself to attempt and take him on manuall

in return of my request, I gla

way towards her. The floor kept tilting as I tried my best to make sure she was safe, the pressure in my head making it seem like i

"Cra

Evely

the ground wit