THE BEGINNING

"Shit,shit,shit",I kept pressing down on my power button praying that a miracle would happen and the phone would come on,I was so frustrated.How does one fall asleep on a park bench for 4 hours?Just how does that happen.

I took in deep breaths trying to control my heartbeat but i don't think it was working because i was so scared.Today is a really bad day to be out by 10pm,why do i have no luck?.

There was just no way to make it out of here without being seen.I was racking up my brain for tips on how to survive the outdoors,problem was I wasn't only trying to avoid the outdoors but also trying avoid the.....

Thud,I heard a sound in the bushes in front of me and I instinctively took a step back.The leaves began rustling,I took several steps back until my back hit something and I instantly froze.I turned around and released the breath i didn't even know i was holding when i saw it was a tree.

The tree had long branches and thick leaves so it provided shade.I quickly took off my hoodie and pink vans and tossed them far away from me so I could blend in with the darkness in my black leggings and black sports bra.

The rustling in the bushes finally stopped and from my spot under the shade of the tree I saw a figure step out into the night,I held my breath trying to stay calm and hopefully make no movement.

Barefoot and shirtless,he stretched his body and licked the fingers on his right hand in ecstacy.

"That was so good",he proceeded to lick his lips maniacally.He started walking toward the entrance of the park,a movement caught his eye and he stopped.He looked towards his right,his eyes landed on the park bench.

I followed his eye movement and caught a little shuffling under the park bench.Oh shit is someone under the bench?My mind was hazy as I tried to comprehend what would happen in the next few minutes.

He made his way to the bench and stopped in front of it,He went down on his knees and looked under the bench.

"PEAKABOO",he said and pulled something or rather someone out from under the bench.I heard a blood curling scream that sent shivers down my spine and I was frozen on the spot.

"Please,please",I heard a whimpering.He held her by the neck suspending her in the air.Her face was red as she was struggling to breathe."oh really",he said to her face as he pulled her close.

"OK",He dropped her like she was nothing.

She looked like she couldn't believe it but still picked herself up and ran regardless.I almost breathed out in relief but in that split second from the corner of my eyes I saw him yank her back by her neck and sink his teeth into her neck,sucking the life out of her brutally.

My eyes widdened out of their sockets as I bit down on my tongue to suppress a scream,I could taste the metallic taste of blood. Oh no I bit down too hard,I started sucking the blood and swallowing in an attempt to erase every trace of it.

"OH SHE'S SWEET BUT A PSYCHO,A LITTLE BIT PSYCHO AND NOW SHE'S SCREAMING MY MY MY MY MY MY."My face paled,that's my ringtone,that's my fucking ringtone.How?.My mind was in frenzy,I looked towards the bushes where I threw my hoodie and sneakers and saw the screen of my phone lit up.

"No,no,no",I chanted repeatedly in my head,this can't be happening.He carelessly tossed her lifeless body away and made his way to the source of the sound.He got to the bushes in just five steps,reached his hand into the bush and pulled my phone out from the pile.He sniffed the phone and turned his neck in a creepy way facing my direction.

At this point my heart was in my mouth and I became deathly still.He began taking slow steps towards me and stopped when he was about 3 steps from me.

"Well,well well,Aren't you good in hide and seek?".He cackled.

"Now step into the light little deer",His face morphed into a serious one,he put his hands on his hips and started taping his feet.I was still frozen,I mean what if he's not talking about me but then I reveal myself?there might be someone above me who he sensed instead.So if I reveal myself,I'll be handing myself to him on a platter of gold.

"Okay,I'll count till 3 for you.If you don't come out I'll come to you and snuff the life out of you."He started counting.

"1"

I gulped and remained calm,I was in a 50-50 situation.

"2"

And if I'm the one he's referring to,then I'm toast.

"3"

I held my breath and closed my eyes expecting a pair of arms around me strangling and dragging me out into the open.But it never came,I peeked with one eye and saw him in the bushes.He reached into the bushes and pulled someone out.

I inaudibly released the breath i was holding.He was holding a guy this time around.I looked closely and recognized him.

Ouhhh,he's the guy that sells ice-cream outside the mall.I felt pity for him,he was such a nice guy I wonder why he's out this late when he knows what day it is.

"You should have just come out when I told you to",He looked pissed off and tightened his grip on him.

The ice cream guy's face became as red as a tomato,his legs were dangling.Suddenly his eyes focused on me and he opened his mouth like he was about to say something.

Oh shit,I swear if he rats me out to save himself I'll haunt and kill him in his sleep.He started spluterring and trying to loosen his captor's hold on him.

"Oh,you want to say something?"Mr barefoot and shirtless grinned hauntingly and dropped him."Go ahead,there's freedom of speech afterall".The ice cream guy bent over trying to catch his breath.

I felt a hand cover my mouth,my heartbeat spiked at an alarming rate.I wanted to elbow the person in the stomach but I also didn't want my cover to be blown.

"Calm down",the person whispered.

The voice sounded familiar,I took a whiff of the sir.It smelt like Dior.My brain clicked,it was Lisa.

"Lisa",I whispered back.

Mr barefoot and shirtless must have heard the whisper and turned his neck.But he didn't get a chance to look behind him fully,he was interrupted.

"Hey dean",I heard Kai's voice.

Lisa took the opportunity and we escaped.

We were back in my house in no time.Once the door was slammed shut,she exploded.

"What the hell we're you thinking"She said with her hands on her hips tapping her foot on the floor.

Hmm that must be a vampire thing, I thought to myself as I tried to defend myself.

"I....",I was cut off.

"You could have gotten seriously hurt before I made it there",she glared at me.

"I....."she cut me off again.

"Or worse killed",Her eyes were becoming glossy and I felt extremely bad.

I closed the distance between us and threw my arms around her,I couldn't hold the tears back.

"I'm sorry Lisa,I really am.I don't know how I fell asleep on the park bench,I-I-I-I woke up and it was already late "i was bawling and she was too.

"It was so scary out there,I really thought I was going to die"she released herself from my hold and cupped my face into her hands.

"Shh,shh,I've got you no one's dying anytime soon",she wiped my tears away.She pulled me in a hug again"Now go get some rest,you look drained and exhausted".

I managed a laugh which actually sounded like a snort."I am",I looked like a 5 year old with mucus dangling from my nose but I honestly didn't care.I just survived one of the most dangerous nights in the history of dangerous nights.

"I have to go now,I still haven't found a uhm",she shifted uncomfortably.

"Meal?",I said and she smiled.

"Yeah,meal".

"Oh my God,I can't believe we're actually calling human beings meal"we laughed easing the slight tension.

"Lisa,you could drink from me you know that"She stepped back.

"No,definitely not"she shook her head vigorously declining my offer."I've told you this times before number Vanessa,I won't drink from you".

I wrapped my arms around myself."Okay,okay,I'm sorry for bringing it up".

"Its fine,I have to go now but I'll be back with the girls tomorrow.We have to go shopping for the Retz ball,stay safe okay! "She pulled me into a hug again and left.

I headed over to the couch and slumped down on it with heavy sigh,I just remembered I hadn't called home in a while.

I picked up my phone and scrolled through the contacts dailing my mom's number,she picked up at the 5th ring.

"Vanessa,all this while you haven't called.What happened"She yelled in a shrill tone."Do you know how badly I've been worried?. I was even considering flying over to come greet you",her tone had taken an emotional turn.

My eyes widened!come over to visit?oh hell no!!! "Momma,I am so sorry I've just been busy with huhn stuff".I tried to calm her down.

"Nessa,what do you mean you've been busy??you're literally there to take gap years.Its supposed to be stress free",she said in a concerned tone.

"Mom,I know but I work at a shop in the mall now.Even though I'm here to take gap years I still have to meet people and socialize,I can't be hooled up in my room all day",I smiled slyly,knowing I was doing exactly just that!.

"Working?",she sounded surprised."isn't the money we send enough?do we need to increase it"she asked in a panicky voice.

"Diane for chrissake,let her be"I heard my dad's voice in the background and then some shuffling in the background followed by a shushing sound"Hey Vanessa,don't mind your mom.She's just been overly stressed because she hasn't seen you in 4 months",my dad said reassuredly.

"Hey dad"I and my dad might be disconnected a bit,but I know he cares about me so much."Please tell mom I'm fine and that she doesn't need to worry herself".

"I will,I will.How's everything over there?You doing fine"He asked with a concerned tone.

"Yes sir"I did a salute even though he couldn't see me and mimicked a soldier's voice.

He laughed,"okay little soldier"I smiled.

"Please take care of yourselves for me"I said in a concerned tone too.

"We will sweetheart,we love you bye".my mom made kissing sounds and I laughed"Yeah I know bye guys,I love you too"I ended the call and made my way to my room.

I dropped my phone on the bedside table,plopped down on my bed pulling the covers all the way up to feel cozy and I dosed off.

A/N:Hello,please sit back and enjoy the ride😗