The Last Bloodline

Episode 3: Maverick

ISANA LOUISSE STELL

“What’s going on, mrs. Jackson?” I inquired when I see mrs. Jackson, the village president, together with the other officers doing errands in the vacated house just next to me. 

The old woman look at my side and smiled, “You’ll have a new neighbor, girl!” she shouted because I am 6 feet away from her. I nodded then continued to water the plants. 

The house I am currently living is quite big but the vacant house mrs. Jackson and the others’ cleaning is much bigger. The exterior design of the said house is tall and with narrow windows and the exterior color is all-white, which makes it like a Victorian type but it’s more modernized. And as far as I know, traditional Victorian houses are dark and gloomy but this one has neutral light outside and the mirrors are placed strategically making its ambiance calm and I am pretty sure the house cost an arm and a leg. Why wouldn't be? This is not just a village. It’s an exclusive village that only power people can live in here, so I don’t know why I do own a house here. So fancy. The thing is, in our village we don’t have gates like the usual. Once you’ll buy a home here, the president’s staff will give you your own stamp that will serve as the gatepass of the outsiders who wanted to visit you. Besides, only those with identification cards can enter this place. I must say, they’re very strict when it comes to the policy. 

I rubbed my palms to my jeans as I finished re-organizing my plants. I looked at my wrist watch to see if I what time is it ’cause I needed to look for a job. Well, I was supposed to, yesterday, but our new mathematics instructor gave officers a task, and obviously I am part of it, so I got no time to go on to see job vacancies. And now that it's Saturday I will be busy strolling around the city after my shift at Coffee Hub. 

Without wasting any more minute, I entered my home and prepared my self for another day.

As usual, I came early at Coffee Hub. I don’t know why but my it’s my body clock who likes to be early before the call time. And I’ve been like this since I was a kid, I prefer going early because I’m always afraid that I might miss anything important. 

I was busy cleaning the counter when I accidentally eavesdropped on a group of peeps just near my spot. Their voices are loud and the topic made me curious so I came a lottle bit closer to clearly hear what they are talking about. 

“Have you heard about the woman who died near Saxton Street? Gosh, the authority said the woman was brutally killed! Her toungue's sticked out, it was said to the report that her body blood was sucked up leaving not a single tear of her blood and the heart was gone!” the girl who described the event exclaimed exaggeratedly making everyone around her gasped and looked at her disgustingly. 

“Could be some weird creature or....Jack the ripper was reincarnated?," says the blonde guy sitting next to the girl who told the story. I silently laughed.

‘What a stupid idea.’ I thought. 

I am sure it was just some addict who tripped the girl but ended up killing her brutally. I feel bad. May her soul rest in paradise. I just shoved off their topic into my mind and continued my work. 

When the afternoon came, I bid a goodbye to my manager to go on as I planned. Linda even reminded me to take care and go home early and she even said, “as much as possible don't go to any secluded places.” but I just shrugged off my shoulder. It’s not that I am not afraid but I know I am careful enough to dodge that kind of possibilities. 

“It says here that you are currently working at the Coffee Hub and still a student, how will you going to work here if your schedule is already full?,” the manager asked. 

“Not really, ma'am. My school schedule is only on Monday-Thursday-Friday and all from 8:00-12:00 in the afternoon. And my hub’s shift can be adjusted as long as you hire me. So, to say, my schedule is not that full.” An amusement crossed the manager’s faced before putting down my resumé and leaned forward. 

The woman scanned me for a seconds before opening her mouth to say something.

“You don’t look like someone who badly needs a job to me. So, why would I hire you?,” again, the voice of the woman seems to challenge me. I licked my lower lip before speaking, 

“My life is way too different from what you see, ma’am. My father was gone and I am all alone by myself. I need a work or I won’t live. That’s why I am here, hoping that you’ll give me a chance to prove myself and give the job to me.” I honestly answered. 

They say, humans are empathetic in nature. So if you can’t get them with your intelligence, then try to hook them with your sad stories. The woman stared at me before she sighed, 

“Okay. You’re hired.” 

My eyes widen and a full sweet smile crept into my face, “Really, ma'am?!” I confirmed that made her chuckled.

“Yes. And your working days will be on Saturday and Sunday. It’s a night shift. Are you okay with that?,” 

“Yes, ma’am! Thank you so much!” I replied ebulliently. 

‘Thanks, God! I got a new job!’ 

“Okay, then. We’ll see each other next week at 6 P.M sharp. Don’t be late.” 

I am happily humming with the plastic bag swaying whilst I am walking in a street when I passed to a group of men drinking liquor. I stopped midway thinking if I should turn around and look for another way not until I realized this is the only street I could pass to go home. 

Even I feel so uneasy I continued to walk and when I got near to them I bow down my head, avoiding their gaze. When I’m about to pass them, a man with no t-shirt on stepped in front of me, initially blocking my way. A devilish smirk flashed into his face. I feel little nervous when he started stepping forward making me stepback. 

“Pretty girl, would you like to join us?” he said as he point his finger towards his gang who were also watching us. One of them mumbled something incoherent, but I am sure it was some kind of insult as his companions began to smirk. 

I sniggered before rolling my eyes to them, “No, thank you.” 

I immediately started to move when the guy infront of me grasped my wrist. It was like my hand has its own mind when my free fist landed to his face making him square on the nose, an eruption of blood flowed down to his shirtless body. The guy staggered backwards, his shaking hands touching the swelling lump at the center of his face.

“Don’t just sit in there, idiots!” he coughed. 

Before I could even run to save myself I felt the heavy forms of men surrounded me, grasping my arms like they are desperate to restrain a wild creature. My body shivered with fear when the guy I just punched regained his composure and angrily lumbered forward, swinging his fist towards my face. I closed my eyes, accepting my fate that after I got a new job, I’ll be the next star news on the front pagr of the magazine tomorrow and that my chances of them letting me go lies somewhere between impossible and miraculous. 

A moment had passed but I felt no pain. 

‘Did I just become numb?’ 

A few more seconds but still no pain. Something's not right. I slowly opened my eyes, squinting into the only post light on the street, and only to witness the most bizarre scene I’ve ever seen. 

“W-what the hell..” my eyes widen in shock as I unbelievably look at my front. 

Before me stood the freezing body of the man who was about to avenge me. My jaw literally dropped as I turned to see his companions streak from view, they are all wearing the same expression I have right now before their pathetic screams ring into my ears as they fled. Leaving me alone with the man who just turned into an ice. 

“I-is this for real?,” I shakily mumbled to myself as I tap the man’s frozen body. I blink twiced, still can’t believe what I am seeing. 

“s**t. This can’t be real.” I said, talking myself, trying to convince that this is not real. 

“What you’re seeing is real, miss.” my body jolted when a man’s voice speak behind me. 

I turned my back only to see a towering man in front of me. He’s taller than me that I needed to look up to see his smiley bright face. The lime light didn't bother to cover his absolutely good-looking face and strong physical features. He is wearing a white v-neck t-shirt that matches his black tattered jeans and white shoes. And even if it’s already dark because of the night, his fair complexion still glow. 

“What?” I am bewildered. The man widened his smile revealing his perfect white teeth. 

“I saved you, darling.” 

My mind went blank with the words he just said. Does that mean he was the one who froze this guy?! 

I opened and closed my mouth trying to look for words to come out. The man chuckled. 

“I don’t know what’s running in that head of yours but you are welcome!” he exclaimed before he started to walk away. 

“Who are you,” I muttured through the both corner of my lips. And it was like there was a cue that he heard me because look back with still, his bright smile plastered into his face. 

“Maverick. Maverick is my name, pretty girl.”