CHAPTER 2:

For a moment, my heart stopped beating.

Whatever was in these woods was going to give me a heart attack.

My body was deathly still.

Something deep down wanted to ask who's there but it's best not to.

At least I would keep my life if it's a vampire.

"please don't hurt me" was all that came into my empty head.

The footsteps were getting closer and closer.

Next thing I felt were arms wrapped around my shoulder and I shrieked.

"calm down damsel" a familiar voice teased.

I turned around and met-

"Eri? Why didn't you say it was you? I almost died" my heart was still pounding.

"yeah I saw that" she laughed and sat next to me.

Her golden hair was flying everywhere.

Eri's more like my sister than a best friend.

This was where we met couple years ago and from time to time, we meet here.

Her parents don't like me so much.

Turns out no one does and I honestly didn't mind until I met her.

She was the only person to talk to me and we became best of friends really quick.

"so how was work?" she took off her cloak.

"nothing new to report" I sighed.

Sometimes, Eri helps me with food from her parents' stand other times she serves as a distraction.

So, we're both thieves.

"was it enough? I could always get you more if you like"

"it was. Thanks for the offer" I laughed nervously. 

"this whole thing is becoming more difficult" her smile dropped.

"what do you mean?"

"I mean how vampires take more and more humans. I heard they were coming today" Eri tied her hair in a messy bun.

"well don't believe everything you hear. Similar thing happened a while back" someone spread a false rumor about vampires coming to take more of us.

Me-maw and I didn't eat that day because we were too scared to leave the house.

"true" was all she said.

"how're you holding up?" her sister was taken a while ago and it almost shattered her family.

I knew this wasn't the right thing to discuss but I just wanted to make sure she's ok.

We were like three sisters.

For some odd reason, I felt a bond between me and her.

"I'm getting better thanks" Eri had a weak smile on her face.

Deep down it still hurt but she was trying her best to move on.

"I just hope the priestess will guide her" I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"yeah (!)" I was a bit sarcastic.

If you know me, you"ll know that I'm not exactly in good terms with the priestess.

Deep down I believe in her but with everything that's happening, how are we sure she's going to come back from her vacation?

If she really loved us, she would have taken us to the Light Kingdom.

So, all humans would have to survive.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I felt water splash on my face.

"whoops (!)" she giggled.

"you're gonna pay for that" I took a handful of water and splashed it on her and we began our splashing contest.

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"I think we've got to go home"

We were still out frolicking and behaving like children.

The sun was setting and Eri and I were still out.

Sundown isn't the best time for us to be out.

"yeah you're right" she did the finishing touches on my hair.

We decided to decorate our hair with flowers to kill time.

Eri wasn't done with mine.

Maybe because she had to walk a while before finding really good flowers that would brighten my dark hair

"see you tomorrow" we said our goodbyes and parted ways.

I made sure that I ran back home for some reasons:

I didn't want to lose my life; make me-maw angry and finally miss dinner.

Maybe she made some apple pie.

A soft sigh escaped me when I saw the dim lights of our house.

From where I was standing, I could smell something delicious was cooking.

"you took longer today" she rolled her eyes when I wanted to surprise her with a hug.

"we were adding flowers in our hair" she turned around and gave me a 'disappointed' look that made me role my eyes.

"what're we eating?" I rubbed my hands together.

I'm starving.

"well it's just apple pie-" she stopped when she heard the sounds of carriages from a distance.

"Lyra, the lights!" me-maw whisper yelled.

Without hesitating, I sprung and began blowing out the candles.

This was what we did whenever we heard vampires coming.

Guess Eri was right.

We went under the table, held our mouths and listened.

The distant sound of people crying and the soldiers yelling filled our ears.

The only thing we could do was hope that we weren't caught.

Eventually, the disturbing sounds died down and we heard the vampires whip their horses and the carriages driving away.

When the cost was clear, we let out a sigh of relief.

"me-maw that's the second time this week. It's becoming too much" panic filled me.

No one wants to get caught and taken to the castle.

"I know and I think it's time I told you" she lit a candle and kept it on the table as well as the pie.

"tell me what?" I rose a brow.

"with how things are going, I don't think it's safe for us to stay here" me-maw avoided making eye contact.

"and?"

"and I've decided we leave. No one would know and no one would care" she did have a point.

At this rate, we couldn't stay here anymore, it's too risky.

But I didn't want to leave my only friend behind or not tell her about it at least.

"just the two of us?" my voice was a bit squeaky.

"I know what you mean. If Eri decides to come, I don't have a problem with that" she ruffled my hair and a smile crept on my face.

I wouldn't want Eri to abandon her only family because of me but if she was willing, then there's no problem.

"where would we go?" I looked at her with weary eyes.

Running without getting caught was half the problem but finding a place to stay, was the real problem.

She sighed.

"Noie"...

Yep of all the names I could think of, 'Noie' was all that could come into my head.

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