Chapter 5
1014 Words
I could not sleep that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I kept seeing his red eyes that looked like burning fire. It felt like something touched me in the woods and refused to let go. Who was he? Why did he look so lost? And why did I feel like I had to see him again?
The next evening, when my brothers thought I was inside, I slipped out quietly. My heart was beating fast, but something stronger than fear was pulling me into the woods. The air felt strange, almost like it was holding its breath.
Then I saw him....
He was leaning against a tree, hiding his face in the shadows. His eyes glowed faintly, like weak embers. The moment I stepped closer, he looked up. He looked scared, just like me. I froze, but I didn’t run.
“Who are you?” I asked. My voice shook, but I didn’t look away.
He didn’t answer. His jaw tightened. His eyes dropped to the ground. His whole body looked tense, like he was trying to fight something inside him.
I took a small step forward. I knew my brothers would kill me for this. And they would kill him too if they saw him. But I couldn’t stop myself.
“What happened to you? Why do your eyes look like that?” I asked, even though I knew the answer. He was a vampire.
He finally spoke, but it came out soft, almost broken.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
That was it. No name. No explanation. Just a warning. I should have listened, but I didn’t.
“You didn’t answer me,” I whispered. “Why are you hiding in the woods?”
He lifted his head slowly and looked straight into my eyes. My stomach twisted. It wasn’t anger. It wasn’t hatred. It was something raw and full of pain.
“I… I don’t want to hurt you,” he said.
My breath caught. Why would he say that? Did he think he was dangerous?
But his words didn’t scare me. They only made me want to understand him more.
I stepped closer. Now I could see the way his hands shook. He didn’t look like a monster. He looked like someone who had lost everything.
“What’s your name?” I asked gently.
He hesitated. Then he whispered it.
“Kael.”
His name sounded sharp, like it carried something heavy. When I repeated it under my breath, he looked away, almost like hearing it made him sad.
We stood there, quiet, until.....
There was a snap.
A branch broke behind me.
My whole body froze.
I turned slowly and it was
Brendan.
I knew it instantly. I recognized his scent, his posture, the way he stood like he was one second away from exploding. His eyes moved from me to Kael. His fists were clenched but he didn’t say a word.
My heart dropped.
“Brendan…” I whispered.
He didn’t reply. He stared a moment longer, then turned and walked away without a sound.
I almost collapsed. Fear rushed through me. What would he say tomorrow? What would he do?
I turned back to Kael....
But he was gone.
The shadows looked empty, like he had melted into them.
I ran home with my chest aching so much it hurt to breathe. I didn’t know if I was more scared of Kael… or of Brendan’s silence.
That night, I didn’t sleep. I kept seeing the look on Brendan’s face. It wasn’t anger. It was disappointing, and that hurt me more than any punishment.
**************
In the morning, I tried to avoid him. I stayed close to Brian. But Brendan watched me the whole day. His eyes followed me everywhere and I felt guilty every time I blinked.
Time moved painfully slowly. Then, when the sun started going down, Brendan finally cornered me outside.
“What were you doing with him yesterday?” he asked, his voice low and firm.
I swallowed hard. “I… I just wanted to know who he was.”
His jaw tightened. “What do you mean you wanted to know him? He’s a vampire, Braya. I smelled his scent. Do you know how dangerous he is?”
“But he didn’t hurt me,” I said quietly.
“That doesn’t mean he won’t!” Brendan snapped. His anger was sharp, but behind it I saw something else, it was fear.
“He said he didn’t want to hurt me,” I whispered.
Brendan froze. His eyes narrowed. He didn’t want to believe me.
“Stay away from him,” he said coldly. “If you don’t, I’ll tell Bradford and Brian. And you know exactly what they’ll do.”
My chest tightened. I knew they wouldn’t talk. They would kill Kael on sight.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about him. His voice, his broken look and his name.
Kael.
That night, I sat by my window, staring at the dark trees. I knew I should follow Brendan’s warning. I knew I should forget everything.
But I couldn’t.
Because the spark he left inside me wouldn’t die.
It only burned brighter.
And right when I thought the night would stay qui
et....
I heard something, it was a soft sound.
A whisper.
My window creaked and
Someone was outside.
- Writer
