Areej

[***Vampire System is activated***]

Alliyah was starting to regain her senses and slowly opens her eyes.

A voice in her mind suddenly informs her about the activation of the Vampire System.

Though, the lifeless body of the orphan children that Alliyah treated as her only family are revealed to Alliyah's sight.

There was nothing but the smell of death lingers and deafening silence surrounds Alliyah and the lifeless bodies. Alliyah started crawling towards the nearest lifeless orphan.

It was a sickening sight to behold. She looked around and checked if there could be someone who is still alive. She slowly moves around as she tries to gather her wits.

Panic and desperation were pouring in Alliyah's emotions. It was like a nightmare that she does not want to be in. She kept telling herself to wake up!

But Alas!

The image of the lifeless orphans was still there.

Cold.

...

Covered with blood.

...

Their fate was sealed by a bite mark which was apparent …

Tears started to fall.

Alliyah started to shiver and embraced the lifeless orphan tightly. A lifeless body coldly lying within in her arms.

When Alliyah was about to break down, she remembered Areej. She remembered that she made her hide within the bush. A promise she made with her, which she will return for her.

A sudden ray of light came rushing into Alliyah's heart.

Fear, desperation, and panic left Alliyah's soul and she started moving.

[***Urgent! Energy is low. –Life Force– is at risk!***]

Alliyah thought she is hallucinating now from the injury she received from the bite of the vampire. She kept thinking that it is just due to the loss of blood.

The heat of the sun was radiating all over the place.

Every sun rays that latches on her pale skin feels like a pinch on her. It is tolerable but it feels new sensation for her which she never felt towards a ray of light from the bright sun.

Only the thought of Areej came rushing into Alliyah's mind which makes her forget the other sensation that she is currently feeling at the moment. She is a little bit disoriented and starting to walk wobbly.

Despite the feeling weak and hurt all over her body, Alliyah kept walking towards the spot where she last saw Areej hiding.

The brightness of the sun and the weird loud chirping of birds are distracting Alliyah. She held on to the nearest trunk of the coconut tree.

Sharp nose and severe dryness of throat are causing extreme discomfort to Alliyah. But, she kept her mind firm in finding Areej.

"Areej! Areej! It is me, Allie! You can come out now. Areej!!" desperately screamed by Alliyah.

Constant screaming for Areej's name could be heard all throughout the woods. Only Alliyah's voice echoed all over the woods.

There was nothing else but the chirping of the birds and the dominant voice of Alliyah which was calling for Areej.

Among all the orphan children, Areej was always clingy and followed Alliyah like a shadow. Areej was also orphaned like Alliyah because the mother of Areej died giving birth to her while her father was considered dead after not returning from the Central Region.

The father of Areej informed the mother superior of the orphanage that he will come back within 2 months for his daughter. He just had to secure some important stuff in the Central Region.

Memories came rushing into Alliyah's mind how much time she spent with Areej while the little girl was growing up. Alliyah had to keep reminding Areej that her real mother is already in heaven because when Areej was still an infant and toddler, Areej thought Alliyah was her real mother.

Even though the time came Areej accepted that Alliyah was not her biological mother, Alliyah comforted Areej that she can always be her older sister. They may not be sisters in blood but they can be sisters at heart.

Those moments were the happiest days of Areej because finally, she felt like there was someone who wanted her at last.

The young girl always has thought that her parents left her because they did not want her presence. Her immaturity did not allow her to understand why certain things happen in real life.

It was Alliyah who made her see things differently. That is why hearing from Alliyah that she can be her older sister made Areej the happiest girl that day.

A burst of gleeful laughter and eternal embrace were showered to Alliyah that seemed like it took forever.

'I love you ALLIE! Yehey!! Allie- is my big sister!!'

'Of course! I will be forever, your older sister! You will never feel alone because you have me!' Smiling brightly at Areej.

Alliyah reminisces such joyful memories that she has with Areej while she kept looking and calling for Areej in the woods.

Finally, Alliyah arrived at the spot where she parted with Areej.

There was simply nothing around but only bushes and trees and birds that would not stop chirping.

Alliyah started to breathe deeper and panic ensued.

"Areej!! Where are you? Come out now! Allie is here!"

Tears started to fall in her desperation. There was this fear in her mind that she may find Areej lifeless just like the other orphan children.

Alliyah saw blood on a trunk of the tree.

"Arrreeeeeejjj !!! WHERE ARE YOU !!!" Alliyah broke down in tears.

The realization of losing all the people she cared and loved in her entire life in just one night was unbearable.

Screams of loss and pain took over. "AHHHH!! NOOOOO!!!"

Flood of tears kept falling and Alliyah's voice echoed all over the forest.

Alliyah looked at the blood of the orphan children covering her skin around her arms. She started rubbing it off hardly as she hysterically cries and breaks down.

Haunting screams of tears was resonating all over the place.

"aaaaaaahhh!! aaaaaahhhh!!!" Alliyah's senses slowly disappearing from her cries until …

...

...

...

...

...

"Allie? Is that you?" a familiar voice came in.

Alliyah was not sure if it was real or just a creation of her longingness or maybe a figment of her imagination.

Silence fell for a moment. Until the source of the voice was hesitantly checking on Alliyah behind the tree.

After a few moments, Alliyah felt a familiar warm embrace.

It was indeed real.

Alliyah gently touched and felt the warm body of Areej. Then, it came rushing in.

That Areej was still alive.

"You are alive!" Alliyah gratefully expressed.

"Allie- You came back!" Areej started crying while hugging Alliyah.

"Of course! I promised remember?" Alliyah wiping the tears of Areej.

As Alliyah wiped the tears of Areej, a new sensation was rushing all over her senses.

Thirst …

A thirst that Alliyah wanted to quench.

Alliyah was trying her best to get a grip on her senses.

Until a coppery scent of blood was starting to invade Alliyah's senses.

Areej hugged Alliyah tightly while Alliyah was stunned from the new sensation trying to invade her system.

"Allie- my knee hurts! I tripped when I stood a while ago." Areej tells Alliyah.

An internal battle ensued within Alliyah while she hugs Areej tighter.

The coppery scent of blood just became more dominant in the air.

[***Urgent! Energy is low. –Life Force– is at risk!***]

[*** Blood Source Available! ***]