One
979 Words
Chapter One — New Orleans, Present Day
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Thea groaned and smacked the snooze button. Groggily, she swung her legs out of bed and shuffled toward the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. In the corner, Ace, her energetic Pomsky, barked in protest.
“Too early for that, Ace,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes. Ace whimpered, clearly disappointed that breakfast hadn’t yet arrived.
“Give me a minute, sheesh,” she said, raising her hands in surrender.
The hospital had been a warzone last night — a pileup on the Expressway during the storm left her elbows-deep in blood, adrenaline, and heartache. Her reflection in the bathroom mirror did nothing to lift her spirits: long, dirty-blond hair sticking every which way, amber eyes red-rimmed and puffy from lack of sleep.
“Ah, aren’t you looking hot this morning,” she muttered sarcastically, running fingers through the tangled mess.
A quick fifteen-minute shower later and three cups of coffee coursing through her veins, Thea crouched to scratch Ace behind his ears, rewarding him with a slice of bacon. His delighted yips made her smile despite the lingering exhaustion.
Her phone buzzed. GIRLS NIGHT OUT, CLUBBING. Four words that spelled trouble. Another buzz: NO EXCUSES!!!!
Thea sighed. “Well, Ace… looks like mommy is going to be late again tonight.” She glanced at the clock, groaned, and rushed to get ready. Scrubs, makeup, messy bun, raincoat, messenger bag — keys, phone, and stethoscope secured. Fifteen minutes flat. A personal best.
“Twenty minutes to spare,” she told Ace, lifting him into her arms. “How about we swing by Patel’s for your favorite treat before I drop you off?” The dog yelped, spinning in excited circles.
The ride to the convenience store was dark and wet, the remnants of the storm clinging to every surface. Inside, Mr. Patel greeted her warmly. “Morning, Thea. How’s your family?”
“Doing well, thank you,” she replied, handing him cash and collecting Ace’s treat. Distracted, she fumbled with her change… and collided with someone.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t—” Her words died as she looked up.
A tall man, hood drawn over his face, smirked at her. There was something in the curve of that smile that set her nerves on edge.
“That’s okay,” he said, his voice smooth and unsettling. “But you should be more careful. You never know who you might bump into next time.”
Thea forced a polite smile, scooped up Ace, and hurried out, her heart hammering. She didn’t know why, but the man unsettled her in a way she hadn’t felt before.
By the time she dropped Ace off at Mrs. Pembroke’s, the rain had lightened to a drizzle. She pedaled quickly to the hospital, chaining her bike with shaking hands. As she approached the main entrance, that same creeping unease returned. She scanned the darkened lot, but saw nothing.
And then—someone stepped into view.
“Hi.”
Thea jumped, heart in her throat.
“Faye!” she exclaimed, relief flooding her. Her best friend grinned, waving her hands.
“You okay? You look pale,” Faye asked, concern etching her features.
“Yeah… just tired,” Thea murmured.
“You think you can sneak out of girls’ night like that? Not a chance,” Faye said, swiping her ID and opening the locker room door. Thea sighed. Yesterday had been her birthday, but she’d rather have spent it in pajamas with a giant bowl of popcorn than in a crowded club.
Before she could argue, a blue code blared overhead. “After the shift, my house. No excuses,” Faye called as they dashed toward the chaos of the ER.
Hours passed in a blur. When Thea finally stepped into the waiting room, she froze. Across the room, slouched in a corner chair, sat the hooded man. The same smirk. The same aura of danger.
Her chest tightened, vision blurred. Someone steadied her.
“Thea?” Stephanie, the charge nurse, leaned close.
“It’s… it’s nothing,” Thea said, forcing a weak smile. “How long has he been… there?”
Stephanie looked around. The chair was empty.
“No one there,” she said, frowning.
Thea’s voice trembled. “I swear he was just—never mind.” She rushed to the bathroom to gather herself.
Faye followed. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Thea admitted, eyes darting nervously back to the waiting room.
By the time her shift ended, dusk had fallen. Drizzle slicked the parking lot. Thea pulled the hood of her raincoat over her head and approached her bike, jumpy and on edge.
Footsteps approached. Hand instinctively in her bag, she flicked out her pepper spray. “STAY BACK!”
“Whoa! It’s me!” Faye’s startled voice made Thea’s heart pound faster.
“Jesus, Faye! How many times have I told you not to sneak up like that?”
“I didn’t know you were armed to the teeth. Who were you gonna use that on?” Faye teased.
Thea exhaled and started unlocking her bike. “I thought… I thought it was that hooded guy from earlier.”
“Hooded creep?” a new voice drawled from the shadows.
Three more hooded men stepped forward. Then another three. Laughter echoed, low and menacing.
Faye pressed back against Thea. “What… what is happening?”
Thea placed herself between Faye and the approaching men. “What do you want?”
The men froze, staring. Then the tallest, who had called himself Xavier earlier, pulled back his hood. Blonde hair, ghostly pale skin, and eyes like burning coals. Slowly, unnaturally, they glowed. Fangs glinted in the dim light.
“YOU,” he whispered.
Horror spread like ice in her veins at his words.
- Writer
