My Vampire Companion

Chapter 2

Nina narrating:

— Yes... — I had said with a shrug — It just stopped all of a sudden.

Which was strange because James had just bought it for me yesterday and he assured me that Tomas Martín had made sure it was in perfect working order. It was odd that this incident happened less than twenty-four hours later.

Bruce had the audacity to mock my words.

— This Beetle is so old, it’s unreliable and unsafe. What did you expect?

I simply resisted the urge to show him the finger. Not everyone wants or can afford to drive the latest model of a Volvo, Mr. Crapper! I was extremely happy with my old, unreliable, and unsafe Beetle. Thank you very much.

— Do you have a cellphone with you? — I went straight to the point. His 'I’m better than everyone' attitude was really irritating me — I need to call James.

It was simple. The faster I called James and told him where I was stuck, the faster Bruce would disappear from my sight. It would be a win for everyone.

I could tell from his expression and the way he stood rigid that he didn’t like me very much, and the feeling was mutual here.

He shook his head, looking genuinely apologetic.

— I’m sorry. I don’t carry one.

— Damn. — I whispered softly, thinking of other alternatives.

— If it’s not too much, — I started, gathering my courage to say the words. It wasn’t pride, but I really didn’t want to accept help from someone who had already treated me like trash. It was just against my beliefs. I had done that before and wasn’t in the mood to repeat my mistakes. — Could you give me a ride home?

He immediately nodded, his pleased expression a little unsettling.

Why was he so happy about this?

I quickly grabbed my belongings from the Beetle before walking towards the passenger seat of his car, when suddenly he stopped me by calling my name.

— Hey Nina, did you know there’s a shortcut through the woods that goes straight to the chief’s house from here?

— Seriously? — I questioned in disbelief — Wait. How do you know where I live?

Was he some kind of crazy stalker? I tightened my grip on my jacket in response. This felt like the beginning of a bad horror movie.

He let out a short laugh.

— Nina, this is Sin City. Everyone knows where the police chief lives.

Okay... yeah, that made sense.

I felt like a fool for questioning that.

I gave him a brief nod.

— So? — he raised an eyebrow at me in question, waiting for an answer.

I looked at him in complete confusion. How could I provide him with an answer when I wasn’t even sure what the question was in the first place?

He sighed, his tone giving me the hint that he thought I was a complete i***t.

— Can I tell you the way to your house through the shortcut in the woods? It’s a five-minute walk.

I shook my head instantly.

— Can’t you just drop me off at home in your car?

He sighed at that.

— Actually, I’m late for an appointment. Your house is almost ten minutes away and I can’t afford the extra twenty minutes that would cost me. I don’t want to be rude, but... I can just show you the way through the woods. It will be easier for both of us. You’ll get home in under five minutes.

I was half tempted to tell him to go away. I could always wait for another car to pass by. I wasn’t stupid. I wouldn’t go into an unknown forest... especially not with him. He looked like he was ready to kill me this morning.

But the fact was that no vehicle had passed in the last forty minutes I had been here. What was the guarantee that help would come soon? I risked a glance at the time. It was getting late. I should be home by now. James would be very worried if I got home after him.

— How do you know about this shortcut? — I finally asked him.

He shrugged.

— My brother, Luke, likes to scout around the area where we live. He told me about this shortcut. He probably knows all the trails that exist in that woods.

I could hear the honesty he was trying to portray in his voice, and then, despite my better judgment, I decided to accept the offer. I had to get home soon, and a little risk wouldn’t hurt me, right?

He didn’t seem like a serial killer. He was the son of a doctor. He’d probably just show me the way and leave.

— Tell me the way. — I said finally.

He gave me a small creepy smile.

— Sure. Walk straight from that tree over there and then turn right...

He rambled on about the route for almost five minutes. For a five-minute walk, this surely had a lot of instructions.

I looked at him with wide eyes in confusion when he finally finished. I was tempted to ask him to repeat everything once more. I hadn’t understood a word he had said the first time.

He sighed, shaking his head, making me feel like I was a burden dropped from the sky to t*****e him. His expression of frustration and pain also mixed with that thought, however.

— How about this, I’ll just drive you home. It won’t take me more than ten minutes to drop you off and come back.

— But your appointment — I asked, giving him a suspicious look.

Somehow, it was hard for me to believe his excuse.

He shrugged.

— I’m already late. I can hold off a few more minutes.

— So? — he asked again when I didn’t respond for a good five minutes.

I didn’t trust him, not one bit, but the temptation to get home was more than enough to decide me. I didn’t want to unnecessarily worry James. This was literally my second day back here.

— Alright — I murmured.

He once again gave me his creepy smile before getting out of the car. I slung my bag over my shoulder as I walked to where he was leading me.

'This is a trap,' a part of my mind screamed at me, but I brushed it aside. I was probably just being paranoid. Bruce Crapper might be rude and annoying, but that didn’t make him a murderer or something worse.

I shuddered at the images of him killing me in my mind. I had always had a creative imagination.

— It’ll only take a few minutes. — He said when we entered the woodland path. James always told me to stay away from that forest, and his warning was ringing in my head.

I let Bruce walk in front of me because, obviously, he knew the way, and more importantly, the countless books and movies I had seen always specified to never let the aggressor out of your sight. It was safer that way.

We had barely walked a few minutes, the leafy trees surrounding us, when he suddenly stopped and turned to face me.

— I’m sorry, Nina. I’m not a monster. It’s just that your blood... it’s like the best chocolate... the juiciest fruit. I can’t resist. I’ve tried so hard.

He groaned in pain.

I didn’t understand. I trembled. This wasn’t good. I could feel that something bad was about to happen. I stepped back in fear.

Why the hell did I agree to come here with him?

I was the daughter of a police officer, for God’s sake.

— Bruce. — I whispered in shock.

— I’m sorry, Nina. I wish I didn’t have to do this. I wish I had more control.

I opened my mouth to stop him... to make him... to beg him to stop, but the words never had the chance to come out, because faster than I could blink, he was standing beside me and his mouth was on my neck.

He opened his mouth and soon sharp teeth were slicing into my skin.

What was he? He definitely wasn’t human.

I closed my eyes as I felt my life draining from my body.

I never expected to die like this. I thought I would live... to go to college, get married, see the world, probably have kids...

This was definitely not how it was supposed to end.

He fell to the ground taking me with him. I wanted to scream, but it felt like my voice had abandoned me. I had no more energy in my body to even lift my hand and push him away. It would have been useless anyway. I could feel that he was stronger than me.

I felt myself losing consciousness and a part of me registered that I was now alone. I didn’t know where Bruce had disappeared to. I didn’t even want to know where he had gone. He had killed me.

I just hoped that James and Emma would get through this. I just hoped that Bruce would pay for this, although the likelihood of that was slim.

No one knew I had entered this forest, no one but Bruce.

Soon I felt something shift inside me, an electric current ran through me, and then the burning began.