My Vampire

Kyle ducked behind a tree with a few loaves of bread in his hands, watching as a couple of vampire soldiers passed by. His heart raced with fear as he quietly looked around to make sure no one was coming before speeding down the road toward his house. Since vampires invaded the world and enslaved humans, there had been no peace. They were not given enough food—or enough of anything. He raced down the road until he reached his house. He quickly entered and locked the door behind him, breathing heavily. “Mum, I’m home,” he announced, taking off his hoodie. “Kyle,” his mother, Carissa, called, coming down the stairs. “Where have you been, sweetheart? I’ve been so worried.” Kyle raised the three loaves of bread, showing his mother. “I needed to get us some food,” he said. His mother shook her head. “Son, I have told you to stop doing this. It’s too dangerous.” “If I don’t, then what are we going to eat?” He tore open one loaf of bread, splitting it in half. “Son, that is why I work my ass off,” she explained. He remembered the night his dad died, when he was just ten years old. He had been in the sitting room with his parents when they heard police cars and sirens outside their house. At that moment, his parents had ordered him to go upstairs to his bedroom. But he had a feeling something was wrong, so he hid at the top of the stairs, watching as pale men burst into their house—some holding guns—demanding his parents surrender. “Mr. Raven, this is your last chance. Pledge your allegiance or meet your end,” the vampire snarled. Kyle turned his gaze to his father, silently wishing he would just agree. “Never,” his father sneered, breathing heavily. The man in front of him smirked cruelly. “As you wish.” He opened his mouth, revealing two sharp fangs. Kyle watched as the vampire sank his teeth into his father’s neck, draining every last drop of his blood. His mother screamed, begging them to stop, but it fell on deaf ears. They turned to her, asking the same question. Between tears, she agreed, pledging her allegiance. Kyle could only watch as his father’s lifeless body slumped to the floor. His eyes widened in horror as tears fell, landing on the hands covering his mouth. He was now twenty years old, but he still remembered that day as if it had happened yesterday. His chest tightened as tears burned his cheeks. He knew this feeling would never go away until the vampires responsible for his father’s death were punished. He curled up on his bed, crying nonstop as his chest tightened from the memory. He hated those bloodsuckers. His skin crawled with disgust whenever he thought about them. Now his mother worked for them, helping them capture young boys and girls to add to their collection of pets and slaves. He felt disgusted by her, but deep down he knew she did it to protect him. Because of her service to the vampires, they had agreed to overlook him and let him live peacefully. But that didn’t stop the hungry looks he received from those perverted bloodsuckers whenever he left the house. He always acted like he didn’t notice them, but deep down, they terrified him. He constantly wondered, What if one of them jumps me? There would be no consequences. They would only apologize to his mother—and probably kill her if she tried to rebel. Kyle fell asleep with tear-stained cheeks. He knew he would have nothing but nightmares tonight.