Shadows of Hearts

I sat alone in my small bedroom, my gaze fixed on the peeling wallpaper and the fading light filtering through the cracks. Outside, I could hear distant laughter and music, reminding me of a world I had yet to know. "One day, I'll escape this place. I'll find a way to be free," I whispered, my eyes scanning the view outside my window. "Xylia! Get your lazy ass down here and greet my friends!" My mother's voice echoed from beyond my room, followed by her loud banging on my door. Desperate to create a temporary sanctuary, I covered my ears, trying to drown out the noise. The relentless banging continued, and I retreated to a small corner of my room, hoping that my mother, clearly under the influence of drugs, would give up and leave me alone. Each thud against the door reminded me of the suffocating atmosphere I lived in. Thankfully, my door offered some protection from their intoxicated state. After a few minutes, the banging suddenly ceased, allowing me to breathe again. Hastily, I put on my old black sweater over my bra and slipped into my fitted jeans and shoes before carefully climbing out of my window. As I descended cautiously to the ground, I crouched and silently moved away from my house. I heard the distant sound of the school bus and quickened my pace, desperate to catch it. "Wait!" I shouted, running towards the moving bus. "Wait!" I shouted again, banging on the side. Luckily, a girl seated near the window spotted me and immediately alerted the driver to stop. "Mrs. Mars..." I mumbled gratefully as I climbed aboard the bus, my breath still catching from the exertion. I scanned the bus, searching for... "Yvieee!" A familiar high-pitched voice called out from the back, and there I saw my best friend. "Why are you taking the bus again? And stop using that nickname, my god. My name's Xylia Yvelle, there's no Yvie in there," I said as I settled down beside her. Her sweet vanilla scent enveloped my senses, a perfect match for her personality. "Because you don't like me picking you up. Let's just ride this bus together, Yvieeee," she said, emphasizing her little nickname for me. Savannah Suacillo, one of the wealthiest girls in our school and city, her family owning a grand mansion with an ornate fountain outside. Her parents had bought her a car for her sixteenth birthday, which she eventually stopped using after I insisted that my parents couldn't see her picking me up. "Whatever," I sighed in defeat, slumping against the bus seat. Looking around, I noticed that every student on the bus seemed to be in a situation similar to mine, unable to afford a car and bearing the weight of their family's struggles. "Here, I made it because I'm pretty sure you won't eat it if our chef did," she chuckled, handing me a disposable bento box. I looked at her in surprise, wondering why she was so attached to me, to the point of riding a bus filled with people who couldn't relate to her. "Thank you," I smiled, opening the box. A different aroma wafted out, making my stomach growl. I grabbed the disposable spoon and began eating. Savannah smiled at me and patted my head before turning her attention to her phone. "Stop riding the bus, girls..." Angel exclaimed when she saw Savannah and me disembark from the bus. "Anyway, there's a party at my place tonight. I won't take no for an answer," she declared before I could respond. Savannah giggled, and I groaned in response. Unlike Savannah, Angel's family wasn't as well off, but they still had a car and a decent house. She lived with her father, who was frequently out of town for their small business. "Don't worry, it'll just be us and a few of my friends from other schools. Chill," she assured me, noticing my unhappy expression and groan. "Can you not block the hallway?" We halted in our tracks upon hearing that spiteful voice. "There's plenty of space, Amber," Savannah retorted, glaring at her cousin. "Oh, really? But your poor friend here is so big, I can already see her double chin coming out," she sneered, accompanied by a fake smile. Savannah was about to reply when the bell rang, saving us from further confrontation. "Move your fat ass and dirty clothes out of my way," Amber snarled, shoving me aside before strutting off like a true mean girl. "God, I hate your cousin..." Angel muttered, and I let out a small laugh. "You are not the only one." Savannah exhaled, linking her arm with Angel's. "See you at lunch, smarty pants," Angel said as they walked towards the stairs to their classes. They shared the same classes, while I took AP (Advanced Placement) classes. My day continued like any other until the dean called for an emergency assembly. Since my class was the first to attend, I texted both Savannah and Angel to let them know where I was seated in the Performing Arts Theater (PAT). I waited as students from other grades and sections filed in, until someone took the seat beside me. "What's this all about?" Savannah whispered, leaning closer to me. "I don't know. I think they're going to make an important announcement," I replied quietly as the dean took the stage. "Sorry for disrupting everyone's classes, but I have an important matter to address," the dean began, as teachers locked the doors and took their seats. "Last night, one of your classmates tragically passed away due to an animal attack. Here to provide further details is our chief." My eyes widened, and whispers filled the room. "We're not in Texas, what the hell?" Angel whispered to Savannah, her words reaching my ears. Although we weren't in Texas, animal attacks were still possible. Our town was surrounded by forests, after all. "Timothy Bradley, one of your fellow students, was found dead in the forest. The animal responsible for the attack is still unknown, but it is most likely a wolf or coyotes. A bear would not leave the same kind of marks." Images of the incident's location flashed on the TV screens beside the stage. "What the hell is that?" "That's not a wolf bite! It looks like a human bite, bro!" Students from other classes started sharing their thoughts, some too disturbed to look at the pictures of one of our own lying lifeless on the grass, with vacant eyes and pale skin. My heart pounded in my chest, and I absentmindedly rubbed my left shoulder, where I could still feel a faint ache. "Silence!" I jolted in my seat as the Chief's voice boomed through the microphone. Everyone fell silent and settled back into their seats. "We are currently investigating this incident. For now, I urge you all to go home as early as possible. Stay at home, and if you must go out, do so in groups. I don't want another body added to my case file! Understood?" The Chief exclaimed before leaving the stage. The dean announced that classes for the rest of the day were canceled, allowing everyone to go home early. "Let's go," Angel whispered to me. I got up from my seat and followed behind them, my heart still racing. "You guys go ahead. I'll just go to the bathroom," I said, causing them to stop in their tracks. "Hurry up," Angel urged, and I nodded. I hurried to the bathroom, relieved to find it empty. After checking the stalls, I locked the door. I sighed and studied my reflection in the mirror, removing my sweater. Carefully, I peeled off the large bandage on my left shoulder, and my soul nearly left my body when I saw the bruised wound beneath it. "It's the same..." I whispered, examining it more closely. The same bite mark as Timothy Bradley's. "It's not an animal... It's a monster..." I whispered as I recalled how his fangs dug deep on my flesh. I never imagined that their kind would exist in real life. I thought they are only in novels, but they are here. Vampire are starting to kill people.