Shadows of Hearts

Unveiling Darkness

My mind was racing as I mulled over the recent events. The idea of vampires seemed like something out of a fictional world, a concept I had never truly believed in. Yet, the memories of that fateful encounter with the man who had attacked me, the unmistakable pain and the scent of blood, left me bewildered and questioning why I had survived.

Why didn't I die like Timothy Bradley? The inexplicable answers eluded me, leaving me in a state of confusion and a growing realization that there was more to my own existence than I had ever imagined.

"So, have you guys heard anything else about what happened to Timothy?" I asked as Savannah, Angel, and I drove to Angel's house. Our conversation revolved around the unsettling case of Timothy Bradley's death. I was filled with concern as I spoke from the driver's seat.

"Not much, just what we heard at the assembly. They said it was an animal attack, but something about it doesn't feel right," Angel replied, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. Fear traced her voice.

"Yeah, and those wounds they described... it just doesn't add up. I can't shake this feeling that there's more to the story," I added, nodding in agreement, my brows furrowing. My heart was still thumping in fear.

"I wish we knew more, but I guess we'll have to wait for updates. Hopefully, they'll figure out what really happened soon," Savannah sighed, her voice tinged with frustration.

"God, look at this busy road," Angel shook her head as she parked the car at the grocery store so we could buy some alcohol. Angel and Savannah did all the picking while I quietly followed them around the store. After we got what we needed, we immediately got back inside the car and drove off.

After a few minutes, we arrived at Angel's house and began bringing everything from the back of the car inside.

"I can handle this, go first," I told both of them after noticing a small box of alcohol was left inside the open car. I leaned to grab them and pushed the door closed. I was about to walk away when the wind suddenly blew strongly, so I stopped and closed my eyes for a second to avoid getting dust in them.

"Hurry, Yvieee!" I heard Savannah shout, which made me open my eyes. She was holding the door for me, smiling brightly. I took a step forward when suddenly, I felt someone's eyes on me.

I stopped and looked around the place, but saw no one. What the hell? I'm being paranoid right now.

"What's wrong?" Savannah asked me worriedly, roving her eyes around as well.

"It's nothing. I thought I dropped something," I made up an excuse before entering the house. Upon arriving at Angel's house, we quickly got to work preparing for the party. We dressed up, arranged the drinks, and cooked some light meals.

But I still couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. It was as if someone was watching me, but each time I scanned my surroundings, I found no one and dismissed it as paranoia.

"That dress really suits you well," Angel said after giving me a back hug while I was preparing some jelly shots.

"It's a shame you have to cover all of these!" I jumped on my spot when Angel suddenly grabbed my boobs, and I couldn't do anything as I had both of my hands occupied.

"Savannah!" I screamed for help, and Angel immediately released me, looking at Savannah innocently. She knew Savannah hated it whenever she did that.

"What?" Savannah asked innocently, raising the spoon she was holding in the air. I chuckled, and Angel made her way to Savannah to divert the topic.

"But seriously, Xylia. Where did that wound come from?" Savannah suddenly spoke after a few minutes. I gulped so hard, and sweat started forming on my forehead, even though I wasn't cooking.

"I- It's nothing..." I stammered, tracing and grabbing the tray of wet jelly mix in a shot glass and walking away to put it in the fridge.

"Does your mother still hit you?" Angel asked, using her serious voice, which made me immediately shake my head.

In this group of friends, Savannah is the softest, and I'm the toughest. But Angel? Angel is the craziest. The last time my mom hit me on my ribs, which resulted in me being hospitalized, Angel punched my mom so hard on the face that it bruised for a few weeks.

From then on, my mom never dared to hit me hard again. But she still does, and I never told them any of it.

"No—" I was about to make an excuse when the doorbell suddenly rang. Angel gave me a glare, like she was saying that she's not done yet, but eventually walked to the door to welcome whoever was outside.

The atmosphere grew lively as Angel's guests started to arrive, mostly guys with a small group of girls. In total, there were ten guys and six girls, including Savannah, Angel, and me.

Laughter and chatter filled the air as the party kicked off. We introduced ourselves to get acquainted with each other, but really... I couldn't remember anything that they had just said.

We played various party games, losing track of time as we immersed ourselves in the fun.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe I won again! You guys are no match for my charades skills!" Savannah burst into laughter as she exclaimed. Two girls looked at her with bitter smiles as the boys started crowding around her.

"Do you know them?" I asked Angel, and she immediately shook her head after taking a shot of the cocktail mix that we made earlier.

"Alright, alright, we'll have to step up our game next time. But you can't deny that my dance moves were on fire during that round of Just Dance!" Amira, one of the girls, said playfully rolled her eyes and grinned. It was obvious that both of their competitive asses were making their way to befriend each other.

"You were definitely in your element, Amira. I don't think anyone can top your moves on the dance floor." I joined in the laughter, feeling the weight of the evening lifting momentarily.

"Hey, Angel, remember when you tried to sing karaoke and accidentally hit that high note? It was a memorable performance, to say the least." Savannah chimed in, teasingly pointing at the girl beside me who started to turn red.

They all made their way to the big sofas and sat comfortably while holding their choice of alcohol.

"Oh, come on! Let's not bring up my failed attempt at being the next pop star. It was all in good fun, though." Blushing slightly, Angel replied.

It wasn't until we realized that the alcohol was running low that I decided to volunteer for a quick trip to the nearest convenience store. The party was in full swing, and we didn't want the fun to be dampened by an empty supply of drinks. Kevin, one of the guys at the party, quickly offered to accompany me, his friendly smile putting me at ease.

"Hey, Xylia, mind if I join you on the alcohol run?" Kevin asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Oh, Xylia, looks like you've got yourself a partner for the adventure. Who knows what might happen on the way?" Savannah and Angel exchanged mischievous grins, clearly enjoying the opportunity to tease us. Savannah chimed in.

"Come on, guys, it's just a quick run. We'll be back before you know it," I said, not trying to catch the other girls' attention. We both got up from our seats, but our friends continued teasing us anyways.

"You two make sure not to get lost in the candy aisle. We need those drinks!" Angel joined in on the teasing. I glared at her before putting my shoes on.

"Don't worry, we'll be back before you have a chance to miss us. Ready to go, Xylia?" Kevin chuckled, brushing off the comments.

"Yeah. Let's grab what we need and make it a swift trip." I nodded, my voice calm and composed.

As we stepped out of the house and started walking side by side, a comfortable silence enveloped us. However, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was off.

It was as if invisible eyes were watching our every move. Glancing around, I couldn't spot anyone suspicious, so I dismissed it as mere paranoia.

"So, Xylia, how are you enjoying the party so far?" Kevin broke the silence, cracking a smile.

"It's been fun. I mean, who can resist a good party with great friends, right?" I shrugged, a small smile forming on my lips, knowing that he's just trying to make this trip as comfortable as it can get.

"Absolutely. It's always a blast hanging out with Angel again. It's been months since we last saw each other. By the way, I just wanted to say that you looked good." He said softly. My eyes that were stuck on the road diverted to him, and I saw how shy his face was.

"Thanks, Kevin. You're not so bad yourself." His comment caught me off guard, and I felt a slight warmth rise to my cheeks.

I appreciated his effort, and soon he started making sly jokes that genuinely made me laugh. It felt good to let go of the tension for a moment and simply enjoy the lighthearted banter. As we reached the convenience store, we grabbed a shopping basket and began browsing the aisles, searching for the alcohol we needed.

"Hey, Xylia, any preference on what type of alcohol we should get?" Kevin asked, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Hmm, let's go for a mix. Maybe some beer, a bottle of wine, and a couple of flavored spirits. Variety is the key to a successful party, right?" I chuckled, scanning the shelves. He looked at me in amazement before laughing.

"Absolutely! Can't have a boring party with just one type of alcohol. Gotta keep things interesting." Kevin nodded, adding a few bottles of different drinks into the basket.

"You know, Xylia, I have a feeling this party is going to be epic. Thanks for letting me tag along on this alcohol run." As we made our way to the checkout counter, Kevin playfully nudged my arm.

"No problem, Kevin. It's always more fun with good company. Let's make sure everyone has a great time tonight." I smiled, feeling a genuine sense of camaraderie.

However, as we made our way back, an eerie fog began to weave its way through the surroundings, gradually shrouding everything in a mysterious haze. The air thickened with a sense of foreboding, and a chill crept up my spine. Through the mist that swirled around us, my eyes

caught sight of a figure in the distance, standing amidst the confusion, seemingly lost and disoriented.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from the girl, her silhouette blurred by the veil of mist. Her eyes, a haunting shade of crimson, pierced through the fog, locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Why is she standing there like that? Hey! Get out of there! You could be hit by incoming cars!" Kevin shouted when we stopped in our tracks.

"The f**k is her problem. Xylia, wait for me here," he whispered to me, but to tell the truth, I couldn't move even though I wanted to. I can't open my shivering lips to stop him from going there.

'No... Stop...' I whispered when I suddenly had the strength to open my lips. Suddenly, a chilling realization struck me. I know those eyes. I remember this scene. This scene was eerily familiar, reminiscent of the previous night's encounter with the vampire. The scent of fresh blood invaded my senses, confirming my worst fears. The girl standing there was not human; she was a vampire.

"What you're doing is dangerous. Are you from around here? W- Wait..." I heard Kevin say, followed by the sound of the broken glasses after he dropped the plastic bag that he was carrying on the floor.

"Kevin! Run!!!" I finally shouted at him. I could see the girl's eye looking curiously at me while her lips were starting to curve up.

"You're an odd one. Aren't you?" I heard her whisper.

"X- Xylia! Run!!!" He shouted back as he started running back to my spot. I bit my lip in distress as I tried to step my feet to run, but they didn't move. It was as if a snake was circling in my body.

"Kevin! Fast—" Time seemed to freeze as a horrifying scene unfolded before my eyes. The air grew thick with an overwhelming sense lack air consumed my lungs. The sight of another person's life being cruelly extinguished right before me was an indescribable shock to my senses.

"Run..." I heard him whispered for the last time after he was caught by the vampire girl. She smirked at me before she dug her fangs on Kevin's neck. Allowing his blood to splatter on the air.

The sounds around me faded away, like distant whispers, as if the world had become strangely quiet. But amidst the silence, my own heartbeat thundered in my ears, a constant reminder of my vulnerability in the face of unimaginable violence.

"How did you do that, pretty girl?" I heard her whispered at me after letting go of Kevin making his lifeless body collapsed on the wet, muddy road. She uses the back of her hand to wipe the remaining blood on her lips, before she slowly walked towards me.

A mix of intense emotions swirled inside me—horror, disgust, and a profound sadness that threatened to overpower me. It felt like the weight of the entire world was pressing down on my shoulders, an unbearable burden that I couldn't escape.

"P- Please... Somebody..." I whispered, as tears starting streaming down my wide open eyes. I can't look away from Kevin's lifeless body in the middle of the road. A big wave of wind passed by me and the vampire girl halt on her track and sniffed the air.

"Oh my god. You smelled so great..." she whispered as she started shaking while smiling with murderous eyes looking at me.

"It's making me thirsty again," she whispered before she started running on an incredible speed towards me. I can't close my eyes, and I can't move my feet. Am I gona die tonight?

"I'm going to suck you dry—" All of the sudden, the feeling earlier that I'm being binded by something suddenly went away. I tried so hard to stand up but after blood splurt out of her headless body, my knees suddenly collapsed on the floor.

I don't know what happened, she was running towards me, when suddenly another wind passed by me and suddenly she was standing in front of me headlessly.

"Y-You..." Suddenly my wound thumped so hard after I saw who's standing behind her. He looked just like how I remeber him. His eyes are now crimson red. He looked like devil incarnate, standing in the middle of the fog, holding a lifeless head on his arm.