The Bloodsucker Next Door

New Evening Friend

He glared down at me and wiped the corner of his mouth as if trying to be rid of whatever it was that he was eating before I could see.

I watched as his tongue swiped across his lips in a slow motion.

"Take a pic kit, it'll last longer" I shook my head and looked into his eyes.

"What are you doing out here?", I trailed, "In the woods"

He shrugged, "Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing?"

I let out a big yawn, "I thought I heard screaming so I came out. What's your excuse?"

"I don't have to explain myself to the likes of you so if you'll be kind enough to leave, that would be great" Vince gave me an intimidating stare.

He took several steps closer and stared so that we were making straight forward eye-contact, "Leave and forget that you saw me here and heard screaming"

My body shook for a second as my mind had totally gone blank as to why I was there.

Why was I here? My feet suddenly began to burn feeling the twigs and dirt below me.

What? The woods? I felt a rush of wind past me as I looked around to see nothing. I buried myself into my pajama sleeve taking in the little warmth it gave.

Trying now not to gain anymore splinters, I went home feeling empty- as if I had just missed something.

I wrapped myself into the warm duvet and went to sleep feeling a protective presence in the room.

***

I was sitting on my bed thinking about what went down last night in the woods. I just couldn't stop thinking about why I would just randomly leave the comfort of my own home just to come back three seconds later.

What was I thinking? Or was I even thinking at all?

The door to my room slammed open as the unknown- angry man- walked in and began to scream.

I popped up and looked at him, but he looked past me as if I weren't even there.

Wait, was this a dream? Am I dreaming?

"Nikolai" the man yelled looking behind me, "What have you done?! You have disgraced this family in ways unknown"

I turned around to see a girl who looked almost exactly like me and I couldn't believe it. I rubbed my eyes and looked around.

I mean, I was in my room, but it looked slightly different. The stuff there looked as if it belonged to someone from the Pilgrim Times.

The girl was wearing some small rugged dress that was ripped up and filthy. She looked as if she'd been trapped in this room for almost forever. She was dirty and looked unfed.

"I had to!" The girl screamed through her teeth with tearing eyes, "I love him!"

I backed up from their argument.

Why out of all things, was this popping up in my head at night?

The father slapped her across the face causing me to gasp in horror.

So this was a nightmare, "You know nothing about love! How could you do this to our clan? You know what we must do!"

She picked up her dress and ran towards him, "Father! Please no don't kill him! I'm sorry"

A man then ran in as quick as lightning. I didn't even see him come through the door.

"Marco!" She smiled not even flinching at what pain should have lingered after the hit.

The father turned around in horror and tried to grasp whatever was in his back pocket out, but he was too slow.

Marco grasped onto the girls fathers neck and snapped it as if it was nothing.

I gasped.

Nicolai screamed, "You didn't have to do that, he's my father"

The guy looked up, cuts, bruises and all but I couldn't quite meet his gaze. I couldn't even see his face.

"He didn't accept you or what you've become. We need to run now before the rest of them come after us"

And that was the end of my recurring nightmares. Every night this month, in this very room- I relived the murder of that girls father and her running.

I had no idea why, but it was like every time I closed my eyes, I would black out into that dream.

Whether it was in class or anywhere else, that dream was not afraid to pop up everywhere I went.

It was only my first night and I had already gained a new nightly friend.

What annoyed me the most was that not only was I not seen, but I could never put a face to Marco.

I still have no idea what she became or why they were running.

But I felt like some part of me had to know and find out.