A cold sneer disturbed Michael’s usually handsome features as he caught sight of Alicia at the other side of the room. This was perfect. He was bored anyway, and Alicia was the perfect victim. Nothing to get a party going like a little game of ‚Diss The Unpopular Kid‘.

He sneered again as he made his way through the crowd, if you could even call it that. The party had been organized by the college to welcome some new students or something, and it was about as boring as a party could get. No booze, all the lights on, and the buffet was lousy. And the Campus Whores hadn’t even showed up yet. Michael licked his lips. If he managed it right, he could bring Alicia to tears and still get it on somewhere in the bushes with Shirley or Lauren. Maybe even both of them. He just hoped they got drunk before arriving, otherwise he would have to go buy them some Wodka at the gas station. And then someone else would get them first that evening, and Michael despised that. He hated sloppy seconds.

Silent as a cat, he appeared next to Alicia.

„Some party, huh?“ he asked, grinning at her.

Alicia shrunk back. Fear was written all over her eyes as she stared up at him, pulling her plate closer to her chest defensively. The yucky food from the buffet was heaped onto her plate, all of it vegetarian, all of it healthy. Rabbit food. No wonder she was flat as an ironing board.

„What’cha getting?“ he asked sweetly, and she carefully extended her arms so he could see her plate. He grinned at her, but she knew it was false, he could see it in her eyes. Right on top of the heap of food was a green pepper, towering over potatoes, tomatoes and cucumber. Michael knew she loved green pepper, she ate some for lunch every day. And, apparently, she had managed to get the last one.

„Oh, that looks delicious! Do you mind?“ Without waiting for a reply, he swiped the green pepper from her plate and bit right into the middle of it, taking time to enjoy her horrified look. But what was she to do? She barely reached up to his chest.

He smiled again , pretending to savor the taste.

„Delicious;“ he proclaimed with a content sigh and laid the rest of the green pepper back onto her plate.

„But you really need something more nutritious. You want to grow tall and strong, don’t you?“

Before she could say or do anything, he grabbed on of the grilled steaks –raw – and slapped it onto her plate. Red blood oozed over her food and hands as she stared at it, petrified.

Michael laughed. „What’s the matter? Never seen blood before?“

She hadn’t recovered when he suddenly advanced, forcing her to lean over backwards.

„Oh, I forgot. You’re a virgin, aren’t you? You’ve never seen this before.“

Tears welled up in her eyes. With amazing strength for such a small person, she shoved him away, bolting for the door. He roared with laughter and strolled after her, not minding the concerned looks.

---

The air outside was cool, just right after such a hot day. He ran his hand through his short black hair and over his chin. Alicia was just in front of him, short, her wavy dark hair falling open onto her back. It was a shame she hid herself behind self-knitted sweaters and jeans, he mused, she would probably even be pretty if she bought some new clothes, went to a tanning salon and did something with her hair. Not that he cared. There was definitely more to torture if she didn’t.

He caught up with her just as she reached the little wood that covered part of the campus. He grabbed her arm to scare her, but she didn’t stop walking. She didn’t even seem to notice. Her eyes were fixed on the red stains on her hands. Slightly nervous, Michael tightened the grip on her arm and this time she came to a halt, not raising her eyes.

„It’s blood,“ she muttered.

Michael was starting to feel very queasy now. He glanced around and quickly pulled her into the cover of a tree. It was after dusk and the shadows were lengthening, thankfully. He didn’t want to be seen with the college dork, especially when she was completely entranced by a few drops of blood on her fingers.

„Look, I’m sorry, okay?“ he muttered, „I wouldn’t have done it if I’d known you have issues with it.“

„It’s too late,“ she whispered, he hardly caught it.

„No, it’s not too late, we’ll just wash it off. Okay?“

„No.“ She was desperate, and scared, and that frightened him.

„It’s too late. You’ve woken it. It’s there now. It’s too late.“

A cold chill ran down his spine. She was delusional, or something. It was just blood, for Heaven’s sake. He quickly looked around for help, but there was none. In the distance he could see a few lights where the party was, but nothing more.

He looked back at Alicia, and his heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t staring at her hands anymore, but directly at him.

Her eyes were red.

---

Cold fear dug its claws into his intestines. His legs didn’t move, no sound came over his lips. He watched, helpless, as Alicia came closer and closer, her red eyes growing larger and larger, until they were the only thing he saw.

„You woke it,“ she hissed into his ear, „and now you better satisfy it.“

„I-“ he stammered, but suddenly Alicia was right in front of him.

„Don’t be frightened,“ she whispered, „It’s just blood.“

She smiled, revealing long, sharp teeth.

„I’ll just wash it off.“