Dark Famiglia

Sabrina walks dazedly into an abandoned alleyway. Thunder and lightning ravage the sky. The rain pierces Sabrina’s already deathly cold skin. Suddenly, she bumps into something, or rather, someone. She looks up and sees a young man in his twenties leaning against a dumpster. Sabrina sees the bruises that covered his face. The young man glares at Sabrina and mumbles a spell, which flings Sabrina against the wall. He knew that Sabrina was a vampire and wanted to hear her scream in pain. Sabrina slowly stands up and smiles at the young man. The young man takes this chance to let his anger out and cast every spell he knows, sending Sabrina every which way in its wake. Sabrina stood back up after each blow. Then, the young man realizes that Sabrina’s eyes are devoid of emotion, as if she’s somehow switched off her humanity. Suddenly, Sabrina starts crying and falls to her knees. The young man stands up despite the pain from his injuries and runs over to Sabrina. He embraces her in his arms as she flinches at his touch. “It’s alright. I’m not going to cast another spell. It’s clear that you don’t want to fight.” says the young man with guilt in his voice. “I want these memories that plague me to disappear. I don’t want to feel anything. Every time I close my eyes, I see my foster parents beating me. It hurt so much. Jayden left me all alone. I can’t stand this loneliness.” Sabrina confesses through her sobs. Hearing that Sabrina was abused as a child enraged the young man. “Shh! It’s alright now. No one’s going to hurt you ever again. If you want, you can erase your memories. Or if you don’t have the courage, I can erase your memories for you.” the young man suggests. There’s a long silence until Sabrina starts speaking. “No. I don’t want my memories erased," Sabrina replies through her sobs. “Listen carefully. What you’re going through and feeling, that immense sadness you feel in your heart, is called despair. You’re in so much despair that you have switched off your humanity. If you allow me, I can help you regain your humanity. It will take time. It could take weeks or even years before you feel ready to turn your humanity back on, but if you let me, I will stay by your side until you’re ready to turn it back on.” the young man says as he smiles at Sabrina and wipes her tears away. “Okay,” replies Sabrina. “My name is Brett McCarthy. I’m a warlock.” says Brett as he introduces himself. “I’m Sabrina Abrams. Would you like to hear my story?” Sabrina asks. “Only if you wish to tell me?” replies Brett. “It all started when I met Jayden at the orphanage where I lived. I was a timid child then and didn’t speak to the other children. So, I had no friends to talk to or play with since they bullied me. Jayden protected me from their insults but never spoke. It wasn’t until we were taken in by the same foster parents that Jayden started talking. It turned out that our foster parents were traffickers who sent children to other countries as slaves. It was then that Jayden told me the real reason he became my friend. His Master ordered him to get close to me and gain my trust. Jayden never wanted to hurt or deceive me, but he couldn’t just disobey his Master. That’s also when Jayden told me that he was a vampire. He even confessed his love to me but told me that it was a love that was not to be and to never search for him once he was gone. I was so scared of what was going to happen to me after he left the orphanage with his new family that I begged him to turn me into a vampire. Of course, he said no. But I still kept asking. I told him that even if he hated me for it, I would still keep asking him to turn me into a vampire. Jayden gave in to my request and turned me into a vampire. I’ve known for a long time that I hurt him terribly by forcing him to turn me into a vampire. And I must live with that for the rest of my long life.” Sabrina explains as she remembers her life in the orphanage. “I see,” replies Brett. Brett thinks to himself. After hearing about Sabrina’s past, she reminds him of how he used to be after vampires killed his wife and unborn child. He was so consumed by despair and self-hatred. Brett decides to follow Sabrina as her friend and bodyguard until she turns her humanity back on. “Then I will serve you as your bodyguard. I will stay by your side until you don’t need me anymore.” declares Brett. Sabrina weakly smiles at Brett. “Thank you,” replies Sabrina. “Anyway, let’s get you home,” says Brett as he picks Sabrina up in his arms and starts walking. Sabrina gives Brett her address, and he takes her home. That’s how Sabrina and Brett met for the first time. Now it’s present day, and Sabrina is in her bedroom getting ready for her first day at her new school.