Blood Sucker

Blood 2

Alas-diyes na ng gabi ngunit nasa daan pa rin si Elisse. Galing pa kasi siya sa bahay ng isa niyang kaklase. They needed to finish their project that's to be passed tomorrow and now she had to endure the eerie silence of the night at hindi nakakatulong na mag-isa lang siyang naglalakad.

May mga poste ng ilaw sa daanan subalit hindi iyon sapat para maibsan ang kaba niya. She's not afraid of the dark—she's afraid of what's hiding in the dark. If it's not for the project then maybe she'd be home already.

This is bad, she thought with a sigh.

Elisse shivered when she felt something passed behind her like a sort of slashing wind. Napalingon siya. There was none. She felt weird.

Elisse casually shrugged her shoulder, thinking that maybe it's just the imagination playing tricks on her.

She was about to walk when she felt it again. It's as if there was someone running on her back. Like a ghost and unfortunately, she could feel its presence. After a few seconds, she heard a tap. She didn't move.

Her heart started to beat fast. She heard a low growl but she knew it's not of any animal. Beads of sweat started to form on her forehead. The scary sound was too near for her that it made her knees wobbled. She tried her best to stood still. She took a few lungful of air before turning around but there's no one or anything. She frowned.

"What the—!" She almost screamed out of shock and fear nang sa pagharap niya ay tumambad sa kanya ang isang lalaki. Nakakatakot na lalaki. He's wearing a black shirt and pants. But something about him made her nervous. Something had felt off but nevertheless, she still greeted him out of politeness. "G-good evening."

Her voice was shaky. He really did scare Elisse.

Nanlilisik ang mata nitong tumingin sa kanya. The man took a step forward. As an impulse, Elisse stepped back. She gulped as she did her best to calm down but her heart won't listen. It's beating incredibly fast. Her mind was in haze. She can't think straight but she's aware of the fear infecting her system.

"Dugo." Para itong asong ulol na biglang naglaway. Tumingin ito sa kanya na akala mo'y gutom at natatakam sa pagkaing nasa harapan. Malalim at mabilis ang paghinga ni Elisse. Gusto niyang tumakbo pero parang ang hirap gawin.

"Dugo..." The man repeated in deep, hungry voice.

She took a step back. Her breaths were too audible. She's so afraid to even neither speak nor blink. She just wanted to go home.

To her horror, the man's eyes slowly turned into blazing red and his fangs grew longer. Elisse's eyes widened. She gasped. She can't believe what she's seeing. Is he a...

She gathered all of her strength to run despite of her knees shivering. She tried to escape but failed. Halos bumagsak siya sa malamig na palitada nang mapunta sa harap niya ang lalaking tinatakasan. He's smiling like a predator, ready to devour her.

She started to cry as she shook her head. She started to pray in her head, silently begging to let her end this horrible night. She just wanted to go home. She just wanted to see her Mother.

"Hindi mo ako matatakasan," The man chuckled darkly. Impit na napasigaw si Elisse nang hilahin nito ang braso niya. He sniffed her skin and exhaled in pleasure. "Ngayon..."

Elisse screamed in pain when the man bit her wrist with his long and sharp fangs. She felt her blood gushing out, being sucked by him. Napapikit siya sa sobrang sakit. Sinubukan niyang hilahin pabalik ang braso ngunit masyadong malakas ang lalaki.

She felt her energy leaving her, maybe even her life. Her sight started to blur, her breath fading. She knew she's slowly losing her consciousness but the pain was still there, getting unbearable.

"S-stop!"

Unti-unting nandilim ang paningin niya. Her heart was beating incredibly fast despite of the blood gushing out of her and the losing consciousness. In a second, her vision became a full pitch black.

Just nothing.

Elisse didn't know how many minutes have passed. But the moment she opened her eyes, she was shocked to see the scary man lying on the cold pavement, lifeless and bloody.

And worst, she was holding his heart.

What happened?

Something churned inside her stomach. She wanted to vomit and scream in horror but to no avail. She was trembling so badly that she slowly lost the capacity to stand still...

Marahas na napabangon si Elisse mula sa kanyang higaan. Pawisan siya at hinihingal. Maging ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso niya ay naririnig na niya. She sighed. A tear fell from her left eye.

Panaginip lang pala.

She hugged herself, trying to ease the fear lingering inside. She's safe. She prayed silently, thanking God that she's safe.

Naihilamos niya ang mukha sa kamay bago huminga ng sunud-sunod. Nang masiguradong ayos at nasa wisyo na ay saka siya dumiretso sa banyo para mag-ayos.

Pagbaba niya ay hindi na siya nabigla nang maabutan niya ang matalik na kaibigan sa kitchen s***h dining room nila—na nauna pa sa kanyang kumain. Elisse slowly broke a smile and shook her head.

"Good morning, Asha," she greeted.

"Hm!" Asha beamed, her mouth still full. She paused for a second, swallowing, then smiled after. "Good morning!"

She eyed her friend. Asha's taller than her. Two inches ang tantiya niya. Hanggang dibdib ang haba ng buhok nito, maputi at makinis ang balat, at may maamong mukha.

"Kanina ka pa?" Umupo siya sa tabi ng kaibigan at nakisabay na rin sa pagkain. She took a slice of bread at pinalamanan ito ng fried egg, and as usual, halos mapaliguan ito sa dami ng ketchup na inilagay niya. She looked around while munching her food. "Where's my Mom, by the way?"

"Running some errands, she said," her best friend answered, "Nga pala. Tita told me you're transferring school."

"Uhm, oo, eh."

"Bakit daw?"

Elisse paused for a moment. She suddenly remembered her dream awhile ago. Tingin niya kasi, isa iyon sa dahilan kung bakit magta-transfer siya.

She instantly held the wrist where the scary man bit her. Magaling na ang sugat na natamo niya noong gabing iyon but it didn't make her forget what happened.

Ipinagpapasalamat na lang niya na nagawa niya pang makauwi kahit hinang-hina na siya.

"Elisse?" Asha snapped a finger at her. "Okay ka lang?"

"Oo naman." She nodded and smiled. "Nag-space out lang saglit."

"You always do that, you know." Her friend said, stating the obvious. "So, anong reason?"

"Hindi ko rin sure." She chose to play safe her answer. And she made it more convincing by shrugging her shoulders.

"Siguro may magandang dahilan kung bakit gano'n." Asha smiled. "But seriously, I'm going to miss you so bad." She pouted, niyakap niya pa ng sobrang higpit si Elisse. "Dalaw ka, ah!"

"O-oo." Natatawang sagot niya. "You're squeezing me too much."

"Because I'm going to miss you!"

"But you don't have to kill me," she retorted playfully. Asha let go of her and giggled.

"But if ever that you need some help, rest assured that I'll be there for you no matter what."

_____