I woke up with a scream stuck in the back of my throat. I sat up, gasping for air, and realized I was lying on something cold and damp in the dark. Somebody’s motorcycle jacket had been draped around my shoulders.
With a shiver, I slipped my arms into the jacket and groggily stood up. My legs wobbled underneath me, and my whole body felt like I was moving through thick mud.
“Hello?” I called out, my voice echoing.
No answer.
I took a step forward and blinked a couple times, hoping my eyes would adjust to the dark. My foot knocked into something, and I bent down to pick it up, realizing it was conveniently a flashlight.
I flicked it on, and looked around. I was in some sort of hole, maybe a cave.
“Hello?” I repeated, louder this time.
Nothing, but my own voice called back to me.
All the horror movies I’d seen over the years flickered in my brain. I imagined whoever brought me here intended to kill me. It was only a matter of time.
I needed to get out of here.
I shined the flashlight all around the room looking for a way out. The cave was small. There’s wasn’t much space to move around, but as I ran my hands along the wall I found a small crawl space that might lead somewhere else.
I maneuvered my way through the crawl space, using one hand to hold the flashlight, and the other to drag my weakened body toward the other side of the tunnel.
I was certain the crawlspace would lead me to the exit, but when I finally reached the other side, I realized it led to an even smaller dead end. I couldn’t even stand up. And to make matters worse, my flashlight suddenly went out. I flicked the one and off switch a couple times, and banged it against my palm, but it wouldn't turn back on.
Defeated, I slumped on the wet ground with a sigh, sitting against the wall with my knees curled up to my chest. The tears spilled down my cheeks automatically as I let the despair take over.
Through my tear-streaked vision, though, I noticed the cave I was in had started to glow. Instead of pitch black darkness, the cave seemed to glisten with a sparkling, blue light emitted from the millions of crystals adorning every inch of the walls. A small, hiccuping sob escaped from my chest as I took in the incredible sight.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?” a guy’s voice asked in a Brisitsh accent, and I jumped, startled.
Wiggling his way through the crawlspace was the most attractive guy I had ever seen. But then I realized that this was the same guy who had rescued me, only I hadn’t gotten quite as good of a look at him before.
He wasn’t wearing a shirt, just a pair of black, tattered pants. I could see the lines of the powerful muscles running up his torso and along his arms. I swallowed. His skin was so pale it seemed to glow, his long, white-blonde hair only a few shades lighter. This seemed to make his cobalt blue eyes sparkle as much as the crystals lighting up the cave as they locked onto me.
Terrified, I backed up as much as I could against the wall, wishing I could fall right through it and disappear.
“Who are you?” I questioned. “What do you want with me?”
“Whoa there, love. Relax. I’m not going to hurt you.”
As he dropped into the small cave, he placed his hands on the ceiling, and suddenly the room expanded, allowing him to stand up. I gasped. How did he do that?
“Ah, that’s better,” he said, his smile revealing a perfect row of gleaming, white teeth.
“What are you?” I asked. “What…what are you going to do to me?”
My eyes flickered to the opening of the crawlspace behind him as I considered whether I would be able to make it through without him catching me first. I didn’t think so.
“My name is Jay Sullivan, and I promise I’m not going to hurt you. I’m sure you have many questions. This whole situation must be quite confusing for you. Let me think, hmm. How can I explain this without terrifying you even more? You saw what happened at the hotel, no?”
I blocked the tears as the image of Grandpa came into view. I wasn’t going to cry now. I wasn’t going to give this...thing the satisfaction.
“Grandpa…my grandpa. He was killed by some man who drank his blood like it was water. And the concierge…that woman…”
He put his hand on my shoulder, a sympathetic look in his eyes. I squeezed my eyes shut, cringing at his touch.
“I deeply regret what has happened to you. What you’ve had to endure. I know it is difficult to lose the ones you love,” he said. “Can you tell me your name, love?”
I shook his hand off my shoulder. “Please just tell me what you want with me.”
“Let’s make a deal, love. You tell me your name, and I promise I will explain what is happening.”
“Grace. My name is Grace. Now just tell me, please!”
“Ah, Grace. How sweet the sound. Lovely name. Very lovely.”
“You promised you would tell me now.”
“Ah, yes, Grace. Indeed I did. I was trying to think of a way to explain everything to you that doesn't sound completely mad or terrifying, but I suppose I’m just going to have to come right out and say it then.” He exhaled deeply through his mouth. His eyes shined as they met mine. “Grace, I’m a vampire. And I intend to make you one too.”
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