WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

"Baby, your brother's heading to the party now!" Cherry's mom called out from downstairs, her voice laced with excitement.

"I'm not following him, Mom. My ride is arriving soon," Cherry replied, her words dripping with a hint of mystery.

Cherry's mom couldn't contain her curiosity. She rushed upstairs, bursting into Cherry's room without knocking. "Don't tell me..." she trailed off, her eyes wide with surprise.

Cherry's cheerful smile only fueled her mom's excitement. "Oh, I'm telling you!" she said, her eyes sparkling.

Cherry's mom squealed like a teenager, her hands clasped together in delight. "Oh my gosh, you finally have a boyfriend! Tell me everything about him!" She eagerly offered to help Cherry with her hair, her fingers trembling with anticipation.

As she gazed out the window, her eyes landed on a sleek red convertible parking in front of the house. "Is that him?" she asked, her voice barely containing her enthusiasm.

Cherry nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Yeah, wait here until I call you. I want to make a dramatic entrance."

Cherry's giggles echoed through the room, amused by her mom's enthusiasm. The doorbell rang, and her mom hastened to answer it. As she opened the door, her eyes widened in admiration. Before her stood a tall, handsome figure, his dirty blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes radiating charm. His sleek suit accentuated his chiseled physique, leaving Cherry's mom momentarily speechless.

"You must be Cherry's mother," he said, his voice low and smooth, as he gallantly kissed the back of her hand. "I can see where she gets her beauty from." He presented her with a bouquet of flowers, and Cherry's mom couldn't help but be impressed. "I'll call her for you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Cherry!!!" she called out from downstairs, her excitement palpable. Cherry's mom couldn't help but think that her daughter had excellent taste, probably inherited from her own good judgment. She smiled, feeling a sense of pride and delight at the prospect of her daughter dating such a charming young man.

With graceful elegance, Cherry descended the stairs, her stunning appearance captivating all eyes. Her cream-colored gown flowed like silk, accentuating her curves as she moved with poise. Her light green eyes sparkled like diamonds, and her cheeks glowed with a soft, rosy hue. Her hair, styled in a chic bun by her mother, added a touch of sophistication to her already-ethereal beauty.

Travis was enchanted, his gaze fixed on hers as if mesmerized. He presented her with flowers, which she kindly handed to her mother for safekeeping. As they walked towards the car, Cherry's mom couldn't help but admire the lovely couple, her heart filled with joy.

"Don't forget to bring her back by ten," she reminded Travis, her voice laced with a hint of playful sternness.

"I will, Mrs. Keller," Travis replied, his smile reassuring as he opened the car door for Cherry.

Cherry stepped into the party alongside Travis, the music and laughter enveloping them like a warm embrace. The night was still young, but the festivities were already in full swing. Travis offered her a drink, and she nodded, her eyes scanning the crowd for Troy, the host and her potential escape route.

As she searched, her gaze landed on a dark figure slipping away from the party, towards the darkness. Her mind raced with the possibility that it was Troy, and she felt an inexplicable pull to follow him. Without hesitation, she trailed behind the mysterious figure, the music and chatter fading into the distance.

But as she rounded a corner, the figure vanished into thin air. Cherry paused, disoriented and alone, realizing she had strayed far from the party's warm glow. The darkness seemed to close in around her, and she knew she had to find her way back before things went awry.

Why did his estate have to be so vast? Cherry thought, her feet carrying her back towards the party. But her relief was short-lived. A blur of motion caught her attention, and she spun around, but there was nothing there. Her heart raced as the air grew thick with tension. She quickened her pace, but the sensation persisted. Suddenly, a figure materialized before her, sending her crashing to the ground.

Fear paralyzed her, but curiosity forced her eyes open. A terrifying visage loomed over her: bulging purple veins, eyes darker than humanly possible, and razor-sharp teeth. The creature growled, its hot breath on her face. Cherry's eyes snapped shut, but the sound of a struggle and a dull thud gave her the courage to open them again.

Troy stood over her, his chest heaving, the creature lying motionless beside him. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. Cherry nodded, still trying to process the horror she had just faced.

"What a creep! He wasn't even invited to this party. Probably some drunk trespasser," Troy said, offering Cherry a helping hand as they walked towards the party area.

Cherry nodded, rubbing her sore wrists, a subtle hint of discomfort on her face. Travis, who had been searching for her, rushed to her side, his eyes scanning her face with concern. "Cherry, where have you been? I went to get you a drink and you vanished. Did he hurt you?" He shot Troy a suspicious glance, his tone laced with protectiveness.

Cherry brushed off the incident, her journalistic instincts kicking in. "I'm fine, just a sore wrist. Thanks to Troy, I managed to escape." She scanned the crowd, her eyes searching for Troy, who had slipped away once more. Determined to uncover his story, she resolved to execute Plan B: sneak into the library and dig up some dirt.

Travis sat down beside Cherry, offering her a drink and wrapping his arm around her waist. She leaned her head against his chest, and they sat together in comfortable silence for several minutes. When Holland called Travis away, Cherry saw her chance and slipped away, making a quiet exit into the house.

She moved stealthily through the passageway, her heart pounding in her chest. As she turned a corner, she accidentally knocked against a vase stand, sending the vase teetering precariously. She managed to catch it just in time, breathing a sigh of relief. "Phew, that was close," she whispered to herself.

Cherry continued on, her memory guiding her to the library. She pushed open the door and stepped inside, surrounded by shelves upon shelves of ancient books. A large portrait of Troy hung on the wall, and a personal study desk sat near the window. She approached the desk, noticing an open book with Troy's picture on it. The book was dated 1936, and the name "Diavro Dos Santos" was printed on the cover. Cherry's curiosity was piqued. She took a photo of the page and began to explore the library.

The room was filled with rare, ancient texts from the 15th to 17th centuries, including works from the Renaissance and classical periods. Cherry's eyes widened as she scanned the shelves. She noticed a large, old book lying open on a small table, its pages yellowed with age. As she approached, she saw a terrifying image: a person screaming, their face clawed by their own nails, their eyes dripping with blood. She reached out to turn the page, but as soon as her hand touched the book, it was mysteriously cut, and blood dripped onto the page. Cherry gasped, searching for a handkerchief to clean the wound. But when she looked back at the book, the stain was gone.

As the library door creaked open, Cherry's heart raced. She ducked into hiding, watching as Troy burst in, his footsteps urgent. Sweat dripped down his forehead, his veins bulging as he panted heavily. He ran his hands through his hair, then covered his face, pacing around the book as if trying to contain himself.

"I don't need this today... I only need to feed once... I can control myself for this night," he muttered, his words laced with self-rebuke.

But as he opened the book, his eyes narrowed, sensing something amiss. His gaze darted towards Cherry's hiding spot, and she knew she'd been discovered. Panic set in as she sprinted for the door, hoping to escape unnoticed. But Troy was too quick, closing the distance between them in an instant. Cherry's heart sank, realizing she hadn't gained enough ground to escape his notice.

Troy's piercing gaze bore into Cherry, his eyes seeming to probe deeper than usual. A hint of worry creased his brow, and he sniffed the air as if seeking answers in her scent.

"Cherry, what the hell have you done?" he exclaimed, his frustration palpable. He released her, running his hands through his hair in exasperation, allowing Cherry to make a swift exit.

As the door closed behind her, Troy groaned, his body tensing as if struggling to contain a dark force. "I knew this party was a bad idea," he muttered to himself.

A shadowy creature materialized on his shoulder, its eyes fixed on Troy with a curious tilt. "I know, Chomp," Troy said, his voice low and urgent. "She has no idea what terrible thing she's done."

The creature's gaze never wavered, as if it shared Troy's concern for the unsuspecting Cherry.