The Sweet Vampire

August 12, 1818, the old English settlement known as Shrewsbury was dark and wet that morning when Aaron decided to walk to the local bakery and get his usual pastries. Aaron was tall, 6’3” and with a muscular build, dark hair, blue eyes and olive skin. He was wearing a brimmed hat with a long black overcoat to keep out the cold and wet rain that was sprinkling down. From the glowing yellow gas lamp posts he saw a dark faint figure between two stone buildings. It was typically dark in the early morning around 5:00 a.m., Aaron could only make out the outline of the person, but something was not right, and he could feel that in the pit of his stomach. He picked up his pace and thought to himself ‘should I turn around and go back to my flat?’ As he was debating whether to turn around or keep walking at a fast pace to the bakery, he decided to keep walking. He enjoyed his pastries in the morning, and maybe he was just paranoid. Keeping his eyes in the direction of the bakery, ignoring the sounds of footsteps behind him. He isn’t the only one out and about at 5:00 am, people are going to work, and the village will start to come alive soon. Trying to convince himself not to get worked up over the sounds and the strange person he just noticed. Suddenly, his sight went black. It felt like just a few seconds later his eyes opened, he could feel his head aching like a slab of stone had dropped on it. “My f*****g head” he was touching his face and the top of his head. The pain was splitting. Trying to look around with his blurry eyes, reaching to rub them, his hand brushed along his chin. He noticed he had a week’s worth of beard growth. Feeling his face down to his neck, he felt something had dried up on his skin. Rubbing it with his fingers, he took it into his blurry eyes. “Blood? Is this blood on my skin?” asking himself, bewildered as to what happened. “Was I robbed?” “How did I get into this alley? Wasn't I on the walk near the bakery?” Confusion set in, trying to make sense of why he was there with a pain all over his body. Trying to sit up, he looked around and noticed his clothes were shredded, still intact but shredded like he had been attacked by an animal with talons. He was lying behind some barrels that blocked any passerby’s view from the street. Managing to get up, his arms shook, half holding on to the cold stone building wall while he walked to his flat a few blocks away. He kept his right hand on the side of his head since it was hurting. Finally, he reached his front door for his keys in his pocket, realizing the pockets were shredded and not much was left to keep a key safe. Letting out a big sigh, he turned the knob and it slowly swung open. “What the hell? I know I locked it when I left” Still holding his head with his right hand. “Maybe I didn’t lock it.” Standing there looking inside his flat from the doorway, still trying to make sense of what happened to him. Walking slowly inside, he headed to the kitchen sink where a pitcher of water was sitting on the counter. Pouring some water into a bowl, he headed to the side table and placed the bowl of water on it. A mirror hung above the small side table. Stopping, he looked at himself. ‘Damn, what the f**k happened to me? Turning his head slightly to the left, he noticed puncture marks on the right side of his neck. His skin was no longer olive but milky white and his eyes were a deep brownish black. Blinking, noticing his eyes were no longer blue anymore. Leaning in, he rubbed his face with his hand. Like a robot, Aaron turned and walked into his bedroom. He changed his clothes and washed up and noticed the sun was coming up. Looking into the bright light from the sun, his eyes started to burn. He decided to close the curtains, making the room as dark as he could. Laying down on the bed, he instantly fell asleep.