A Vampire's Mark

The Awakening.

A figure emerges-tall, dangerous, mesmerising. His eyes glow crimson. His grip tightened, trembling with fear. I tore myself free and ran. Running as fast I could, my scar was still dripping blood. Ethan's words returned to my memory and now I wished I listened to him.

The figure was terrifying and looked like it had not been fed for thousands of years. With the last strength in me I continued to run, looking back I did not see anyone. Maybe it was just my imagination. Maybe it was just a dream. I paused resting my back to the wall trying to search for anything I could use to stop my bleeding. I saw it.

It ran in a way that was humanly impossible, maybe faster than the fiction character FLASH. As I tried to pick up pace, he caught up to me grabbing my neck and lifted me up. Fingers like iron locked around my throat. I kicked, twisted, nails digging into my skin, fighting the chokehold with every ounce of strength.

“Please, please I don't want to die let me go” I uttered as I tried to free myself. He did not respond, he just looked me in the eyes like I took something that was his. He slammed me against the wall.

“Where is my throne?” The creature asked, his voice was dry, like the echo of wind through the crypt, brittle yet sharp enough to slice through silence.

“I have no idea where your throne is sir?” my voice trembled. Sir? Is he even human?

He groaned, a dangerous warning sound that promised violence. He dropped me to the floor. Panting heavily, I stood up with the remains of strength in me not to run but to hide.

He was distracted searching for what he only knows, I tiptoed to the nearest vault I could see and I entered, on my trial to close it quietly it made a loud thud.

“b***h!” I said frustrated covering my mouth with both my hands as I stayed there like a baby in her mom's womb. I heard his footsteps towards the vault and with all confidence I was sure he couldn't locate me.

His footsteps resided and as I opened the vault, he appeared in front of me. Eyes hungry and needy he grabbed me by neck again, not to ask questions or slam me on the wall. He sank his teeth into my flesh, the sharp sting swallowed by the terrifying rhythm of him drinking from me.

I blacked out, hearing him whispering “Mine.”

*****

“No please, don't kill me, don't kill me pleaseeeee!!” I jolted up from my dream. Looking around, I saw myself in my dorm room, on my bed with my nighties. Ethan came rushing in.

“How are you?” He sits beside me, taking my hand into his.

“What happened Ethan?” I asked, clearly remembering what happened last night but could not remember how I got here.

“The school gardeners found you blacked out in front of the school gate, the dorm mistresses took you from them.”

“How did I get there?” I murmured not with intention for Ethan to hear it but he did.

“I should be asking you Aria, what happened when you were inside there?”

“I don't remember Ethan, what I can only remember were the bats and then some drawings on the wall I saw that's all.”

“I warned you but you didn't listen. You could have died just because you wanted to prove Jenna wrong.”

“I'm here now and that's what matters right? Thank you so much Ethan I love you”

“Anytime. Hurry up and prepare for today's class.

Ethan left. I began looking for evidence of an encounter with a stranger but I couldn't see them. My scar healed, his claws marks, even his bite. All were gone. Who was that? That was the question I kept asking myself.

The first half of classes were done, so we were on break. Our classes were always four, two before break and two after break.

“Hi Aria, surprised to see you are not dead yet.” Jenna scoffed. “I’m not in the mood Jenna” I snapped, focusing on my food not being able to eat —how can I, when I could vividly remember what happened last night.

“What happened? Poor baby is still traumatised from my dare?" They laughed as they walked away. The whole cafeteria was booming with murmurs and looks from students. I pushed my food, running out.

“Aria! Aria!” Ethan called out as he followed behind me.

“What?” I stopped, turning to face him. “You don’t have to let Jenna get to you, this is what she wants.”

“Do you think I care about what Jenna says or not? I'm still traumatised from what I saw down there as she said and it's eating me up.”

“Maybe telling me what you saw will lessen the burden instead of carrying it alone.”

I can't tell him what I saw. I did not want to share my burden with him. Ethan has been my best friend right from childhood and he has always stood up for me. So protecting him from this information was my mission.

“The images are blurry Ethan, you think if I knew everything that I would hide it. My mind is going feral.”

“Aria Bennett reports to my office now!” Principal Ral’s words echoed through the intercom cutting Ethan from his replies.

“See you later then?” He asked. “Of course.” As we parted ways, heading to miss Ral office, the intercom crackled to life before principal Ral spoke again saying. “Ethan Hale reports to my office too.”

We paused on our way, looked at each other and laughed as we marched to her office.

“Aria what were you doing down the crypt yesterday night?” Miss Ral asked, her stare very intimidating. She was known for brutal punishment against laws and all students feared her.

“I was following a dare ma'am, I never intended to cause the school harm.”

“A dare? Can you listen to yourself Aria? So what if you got killed or injured?”

“I'm so sorry Miss Ral, I promise it will never happen again.”

“And you Ethan, why would you participate in a banned activity in this school and still allow Aria to go ahead with such a deadly quest.” Her voice filled with disappointment from Ethan.

“I'm sorry Miss Ral, I tried telling her but she could not listen. I will do better next time.”

“There won't be a next time, I hope so.” they continued to discuss. I stood mentally drained. His voice, his face, his bites. All those memories from that night came attacking me. Dizziness clouded my head, the world blurring around me. They paid no attention, until the sharp echo of my fall cut through the room.

“Aria? Aria?” Ethan called out as he shook me. “Take her to her room and call the medics, something is wrong with her.” Miss Ral instructed.

As he was about to head out to my room. Miss Ral whispered “Tomorrow, tonight.” That was her last words to Ethan before I completely zapped out.

It was night already when I woke up, the school was having its gala night. A night where students could have fun and the best outfit for both boys and girls were picked and awarded. However I could not go because I was down. As I was about to head to my bathroom, he appeared to my room window mouthing “You can't run from me.”