Chapter 3: The Predator
1517 Words
Every hair on my body stood on end. I spun around, my heart in my throat.
A waiter was approaching our table with a tray of food. I let out a shaky breath, my shoulders slumping with relief. It was just the waiter.
Still, why was he smiling like that? It was a wide, empty grin that didn't reach his eyes. It was so unsettling it made my skin crawl all over again.
"Hey, Elara, spacing out again?"Sadie nudged me."So, what do you think of my suggestion?"
My mother’s warnings were a cold knot of dread in my stomach, but a rebellious part of me, tired of being afraid, wanted to ignore them. The two feelings churned inside me, leaving me flustered and confused.
"I don't know,"I mumbled."We'll see."
But just as Sadie had predicted, I kept catching Liam’s eyes on me throughout the dinner. Every time I looked his way, he’d offer a soft, charming smile that made my cheeks burn.
After dinner, our group migrated to a private karaoke lounge downtown. As we all piled onto the plush couches, Liam made a point of sitting right next to me.
He held out his hand, his voice smooth and polite.“I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’d love to get to know you, if you’d let me.”
I stared at his outstretched hand for a second, then quickly took it.“Hi, I’m Elara,”I said, my own hand feeling small in his.
Faced with someone so handsome, gentle, and utterly gentlemanly, my heart started hammering against my ribs, threatening to beat its way right out of my chest.
Seeing that Liam and I were hitting it off, Sadie gave me a subtle wink and cleverly moved to the other side of the room, leaving us to ourselves.
As we talked, I discovered Liam and I had a ton in common. He seemed to know something about everything, from obscure bands to classic literature. No matter what topic I brought up, he could speak about it with an easy intelligence. I found myself completely captivated, a feeling of pure admiration blooming in my chest. My gaze was practically glued to him.
Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that another pair of eyes was on me. A heavy, persistent stare that followed me no matter where I looked, making the hairs on my arms stand up.
The night wore on, and I noticed we were getting dangerously close to the dorm’s curfew. I knew I had to leave.
When I announced I was heading back, Sadie, instead of offering to come with me, started teasing.“Oh, look at the time! Liam, you have to make sure our Elara gets home safe, don't you?”
My face flushed hot with embarrassment. Liam, however, didn't miss a beat, graciously accepting the role of my chauffeur.
"Let's go, Elara,"he said with that perfect smile."I'll get you back long before they lock the doors."
Looking at the kind, handsome senior, I could only nod shyly.
As Liam and I were walking out of the noisy lounge, I overheard a snippet of conversation from our friends behind us.
"Hey, who's that guy sitting in the corner? Did one of you bring him?"
"What are you talking about, man? You’re seeing things. There’s nobody in the corner. Stop trying to find excuses and take your shot."
"No, I swear I saw someone…but he’s gone now…"
"Dude, you've had way too much to drink."
Their voices faded as the door closed behind us.
Liam had driven, and a quick look at my watch confirmed we had just enough time to make it back. But as soon as I got into his car, a strange and unsettling shift occurred.
The talkative, charming Liam from the party vanished. He didn't say a word, and the gentle smile was gone, replaced by a stony silence. The dim light from the streetlamps cast strange shadows across his face, making his expression unreadable and dark.
Suddenly, I didn't dare speak. Did I say something wrong? Did I do something that turned him off completely?
He pulled the car onto the road. He remained silent, his face a grim mask, but I could see him in the rearview mirror, his eyes flicking over to me every few seconds.
Honestly, a real panic was starting to set in. I turned to look out the window, hoping to distract myself, only to realize I didn't recognize the road we were on. This wasn't the way back to campus. The car was cruising down a desolate, tree-lined road with no buildings in sight.
A cold dread dropped into the pit of my stomach. Something was very, very wrong.
"Liam!"My voice was tight with tension."This isn't the way to the university. Where are you taking me?"
He still didn't answer. Instead, his foot pressed down on the accelerator, and the car shot forward into the darkness.
I gripped the door handle, my knuckles white with fear. After what felt like an eternity but was probably only five minutes, he slammed on the brakes. The sudden stop threw me forward, and my head cracked against the dashboard. A painful lump immediately started to form.
I didn't know what was happening, but my instincts were screaming at me to get out of the car. The man sitting next to me radiated a terrifying, predatory energy.
Thankfully, the doors weren't locked. I scrambled out of the car and into the night, only to find myself in the middle of nowhere. It was a deserted country road, surrounded by dark woods. The only light came from the car's headlights cutting through the pitch-black.
My mind flashed with every news story I’d ever seen about young women being murdered. A wave of regret so powerful it made me sick washed over me. How could I have been so stupid? So blinded by a handsome face that I willingly got into a car with a stranger?
Just then, Liam got out of the car. He leaned against the door, watching me with a faint smile that held no warmth at all.
"Liam, what is this? What are you doing?"I asked, my eyes darting around, desperately searching for an escape route.
He slowly brought a finger to his lips, wiping at the corner of his mouth. Then he started walking toward me. His voice was still soft, but now it was laced with ice.
"Just thought this was a better place to have a bite. No one to interrupt us out here."
Have a bite? My blood ran cold.
I stumbled backward, my voice trembling."I…I don't understand what you mean…"
Suddenly, Liam vanished. He was there one second, and the next, he was simply gone. Before I could even process it, he reappeared directly behind me, his arms locking around me in an iron grip.
The moment he touched me, a bizarre weakness flooded my body. My limbs turned to jelly, all my strength draining away as if pulled by an invisible tide. It was so unnatural I wanted to cry.
He buried his face in the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply."Mmm, you smell divine,"he murmured, his voice thick with a horrifying ecstasy."Absolutely delicious."
I was shaking uncontrollably. He was a monster. A complete psycho.
"If…if you hurt me, my friends will call the police,"I stammered, trying to sound brave."They know I left with you."
Liam let out a low, soft chuckle against my skin."Let them call. By the time they find anything, I'll have drained every last drop of your blood. There won't be a single piece of you left. What will they possibly find?"
His words finally clicked. The bite, the draining…this wasn't human.
An excruciating pain suddenly erupted from my shoulder. Liam had sunk his teeth into me.
The agony shocked my system, clearing my head for a terrifying second. Oh god, he’s a vampire.
Elara Miller, I thought with a hysterical burst of dark humor, what a pathetic way to go. Most people get a nice urn. You’re going to end up as monster chow.
A sob of pure pain and terror tore from my throat. He was literally eating me alive, and I was too weak to even struggle. The coppery scent of my own blood filled the air.
The car's headlights lit up the empty road like a stage. My eyelids felt heavy, starting to droop. But as my vision blurred, I saw the ground at my feet. In the harsh light, I could see two shadows cast beside Liam's:my own, and another one. A third shadow, tall and impossibly large, that didn't belong to anyone here.
As I stared, the tall shadow moved. A blur of crimson flashed past my eyes.
The crushing weight on me was suddenly gone. Liam was ripped away from me, lifted into the air by the red shadow, and then slammed violently onto the pavement.
A cold, ancient voice echoed in the silent night, dripping with contempt and rage.
"You worthless stray. Did you really think you could touch what is mine?"
- Writer
