Darkness always terrified me. No matter how hard I tired to tell myself to overcome my fear, it never seems to work. I just simply hate that blackness, the feeling of emptiness. It always make me feel that I will never be happy again. As if I was drained from all the living on this Earth.

“Hey, Kit, we are going to the Haunted Mansion, coming?” My sole-enemy, Rex shouted across the hall towards me. I took my eyes off the detective book I had been reading and onto him. His smiling facade he gave me made me knew, right at once, he was going to pull a trick on me again.

“Where?” I asked, picked myself up and walked towards him and his group of friends, who whispered to each other as they watched me.

“I thought I said it already,” He grinned.

“Which mansion?” I asked unhappy at his answer. Our neighborhood was quite well-known for haunted places. Some of which had frightening stories such as children who went in was never found again.

“The Air Mansion,” He grinned even wilder as he watched my face turning ghostly white. Just great, he just chose the one which had the worst legends. The Air Mansion is the most well-known haunted mansion in the area. The one with the legend that came true. People who entered that mansion never came out alive. Children, however, was exceptional. Children who went in, some went insane, some never wanted to enter the mansion again. Only a small group remained alright.

I had been in there once, when I first came to this place. Still young and mischievous, I went in without the idea of danger. What happened next seems like a dream. Or so, I didn't really remember much about it. I was knocked out. The only thing I remembered was seeing a person's face. A boy's face.

“Hey, Kit, coming? Or are you too timid to take up this game?” Rex asked.

“I'm coming! Who say I am timid?” I shouted, not in anger, but more of the embarrassment this conversion was driving to. He smiled for the last time to me and signaled the group of his friends to follow. I tagged along quietly. I felt my hand turned all sweaty and cold by the minute as we walked down the path towards the mansion.

No sooner, we were in front of the mansion. The mansion was still the same as when I came. But the only different was the feeling I was feeling at the moment. Fear had sent shivers down my spine. I cursed under my breath. I shouldn't had agreed to come along.

“So what are we going to do here?” I asked, when I finally found my voice back. There was shiver in my words but it went unnoticed.

“Exploration,” Rex replied without looking at me.

'Exploration?' I thought in my heart. I really shouldn't had agreed. The only thing that was on my mind now was to get of here.

We were split into 2 groups. We agreed to meet at the doorway before the night fall. I was with the second group while Rex was in the first group. The group suggested that we should explore the basement. I cursed miserably in my heart. I hate darkness. Especially the darkness in the basement.

We walked down the dark corridor. It was darkness beyond darkness in front of us. Even with the torchlight we had, the place still feels dark and creepy and the path seems ever-lasting.

“I think we should not be here,” I warned them as I stopped sharp.

“Why, are you scared?” Alice from the group asked smiling.

“Look it's not about scared or not. It's about our safety here. You know about the rumors don't you?” I shouted.

“So, you are scared...” Alice smiled, “Rex was right about you being timid.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. Alice was Rex's girlfriend. Even though Rex didn't really like her much. Rex was the most wanted man in the school. Girls(both students and teachers) want him. I was an exceptional on that rule.

“Okay, I might be timid,” I admitted, “But this is about the danger we could face.”

“You can stay here if you are so afraid,” Alice told me off as she signaled to the rest of the group to followed her. I stood there as I watched them go. I felt myself shiver again. I was alone, in the darkness with only my torchlight. I had a bad feeling about this. Should I stay here and wait? Will they come back for me? I sat down and looked at both side. The corridor was submerged in the darkness. I was struggling with myself. Stay or leave?

In the end, I chose to wait. I worried that they might really come back for me. I sat there and waited. Time went by fast as I sat in fear, leaning against the corridor wall. Hour by hour, they never came back. I was feeling a little worn out and hopeless. I stared at my watch. It was almost time to meet the rest. There was still no sign of them. Letting out a sigh, I got myself up and walked down the corridor back to the surface. As I walked, I felt the cold breeze that surrounded the area. I felt the coldness against my skin.

'It couldn't be. ' I thought. 'This is an enclosed area. Where does the air come from?'

Just as I wondered, I saw from the corner of my eyes, the rows of candles along the corridor lighting up on its own. I turned around and stared down the corridor. A person emerged from between the darkness and light. A lady, I should say. But her facade was white, her brown hair was let down to her waist. Her lips was rose red. She was beautiful yet I felt fear building in me the moment I saw her. For a moment our eyes met. Red eyes with golden eyes. I swollen my saliva hard as I watched her move towards me. I found myself grounded, unable to move.

“I see a prey for me,” The lady smiled.

'What is she talking about?' I found myself getting the answer as I thought. My body trembled a little as she got closer to me.

“Kit, move!” A familiar voice shouted from behind me. That voice made me feel at safe at once.

“Rex!” I called out as I turned to him. He stood there, panting for breath and looking at, not me, but the lady.

“A hunter?” She asked.

“Back away from her,” He replied, “You should not hurt her.”

“I fail to get her the last time. I am not going to let her off this time,” The lady shouted as she dashed towards me. But Rex was faster as balls of fire flew towards the lady, hitting her off.

“I told you once before, that you can never get the girl. She is mine, and will continue to be.” Rex said as he walked towards the lady. The lady looked at Rex in hatred, bitting her lower lips, causing it to bleed. “Bye.”

With another blast of light, the lady vanished into thin air. I slided down against the wall and stared at the floor. What was going on?

“Kit, are you alright?” Rex's gentle voice startled me. I looked up to find myself face-to-face with him. I blushed a little at the closeness of the two of us. I had never been this close to a boy. I felt my heart racing against my chest. “Kit?”

“I'm fine,” I replied, still blushing, “What's going on? Who is that lady? Why did she say she fail to get me the last time? Why did you say I was...” I stopped. He just said that I was his, didn't he?

“Wow... That's a ton of questions you gave me,” He smiled, “And your last question is: Why did I say that you are mine, I assume?”

His words caused me to blush deeper. I wanted so much to hit myself with something or hide myself. This conversation was embarrassing.

“I can answer you that when I sent you home,” He told me as he stood up, “But for now, let's get back to the group. I don't want them to wait.”

I nodded in agreement and followed. When we got to the group, the rest of the gang was glad that I was alright except Alice. We walked out of the mansion and bid goodbye to each other. Rex and I walked down the same path towards our houses. As soon as we were away from the gang, Rex started to speak.

“So what do you want to know?” Rex asked, smiling.

“Who is that lady? What was going on back there?” I asked immediately.

“A woman that shouldn't exist,” Rex replied, “To be more precise, a vampire. That's what people called them isn't it?”

“A vampire?!” I shouted in shocked. I couldn't believe my ears. I thought vampires exists in stories.

“Vampires are just people who committed a lot of sins and are unable to free themselves from their lives. They lives on while continue to take people's life,” Rex explained. “And what happened back there, don't go spreading it around. It's not wise.”

“I don't think anyone will believe,” I told him.

“Don't be so sure,” Rex replied seriously.

“Fine, I wouldn't tell anyone,” I promised him. I knew even if I tell others, no one will believe me in any cases.

“Right for your next few questions back there,” Rex continued, “I interrupted her back when you entered the mansion. I don't think you remembered. After all, you were knocked out. Even though I have no idea why she was after you. And the reason I say you are mine, is for the fun of it.”

'For the fun?' I thought to myself. 'And... HE WAS THE PERSON WHO SAVED ME BACK THEN?'

“But there is something I am sure now,” He replied,stopping his steps. I stopped a few steps before him and turned to face him in confusion. “You are timid after all.”

“OH!! SHUT UP!!”