Nightmare

It was a dark and stormy night. I lay on my bed, gazing out the window, watching the rain pound against it. Lightning flashed every few minutes, illuminating my room. Thunder rumbled and roared, shaking my house’s foundation.

Becoming bored, I jumped off my bed and ran to my dresser, rummaging through it.

“Ah, here we go,” I murmured to myself. I pulled out a black turtleneck sweater and matching black sweatpants. I slipped off my clothes and slithered into the new ones.

On my way out, I slid into my favorite pair of hiking boots, and, holding my breath, cautiously closed the door.

I stealthily tiptoed down the stairs, being careful not to wake my mother and father, who were sleeping soundly in their bedroom across the hall. It was a wonder what they would do when they caught me sneaking out. Again.

Quickly, I snatched my black, bulky coat off its hook and opened the front door. Placing one hand on the big, oak front door, I closed it, hearing it click.

Raindrops hit my face as soon as I stepped out into the night. The air was chilly, so chilly that I could see mist as I let out a deep breath.

Why did I even bother doing this? I thought to myself. Why was I chosen out of everyone else in this miserable, terrible world to be able to see vampires? What makes me so special? I’m not that different from any other, normal eighteen-year-old girl.

Normal.

I sighed, putting my hair into a high ponytail. There was one thing I knew for sure: I was never going to be normal. Nowhere near normal. The farthest thing from normal. I sighed again, setting my New York Yankees hat on my head, shielding my eyes from the rain. It was really pouring down now: large puddles were collecting at the bottom of the porch steps, creating thick mud.

I walked with my hands in my pockets across my front yard, preparing myself for what I would be facing. These vampires better be prepared: I tended to take my anger out on them when I wasn’t in the greatest of moods.

The vampire slayer, as they referred to me. The one girl no one messed with, whether they were human or not. The crazy girl.

I sauntered on, passing a few streets. I was nearing my destination: a popular hangout for the local vampires. They went there in packs, executing plans of where they would strike next.

As I turned the corner, rain still pounding down, dampening my clothes, I heard a faint sound of rustling leaves. I spun around, realizing the sound had come from behind me. There, standing about a foot away from me, was a tall, lanky boy around my age. He wore a torn, blue button-up shirt and straggly jeans, his auburn hair a disorganized mess. He was calmly leaning against a tree, hidden in its shadows.

As he moved away from the gloom, I saw his long, sharp teeth glisten in the moonlight, knowing immediately what he was.

A vampire.

“What do you want?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. My pulse quickened, as it always did when I spotted a vampire.

He advanced towards me, his lips turned up into a smile. My eyes fixed on his teeth and nothing else.

“To chat,” he replied coolly, spreading his already wide smile, “and nothing more.”

I raised a black eyebrow, giving him a skeptical look. “Right,” I laughed dryly. “And you really expect me to believe that?”

“Yes.” He sounded bemused. “A man can converse with a girl such as yourself without bad intentions.” He laughed; his angular features became more pronounced.

“Bad intentions? Oh, you mean sucking my blood?”

His face dropped. “I was hoping that wouldn’t have to come up in the conversation.”

I laughed sardonically. “Too bad — it did.”

Unexpectedly, he laughed, too.

“You’re a handful, aren’t you?” He laughed once more.

I rolled my eyes and turned on my heel, walking away.

In a moment, he had dashed to stand before me. I halted.

“Now, listen to me.” He wasn’t laughing anymore, or even smiling. “I must know something before you depart…” He hesitated.

“Okay…” I tried to not look at his exposed chest, or the muscles covering it.

“You are the infamous slayer, are you not? The one causing the uproar?”

I laughed. “So that’s why you’re here —to defeat the vampire slayer.”

His eyes widened. “Of course not! I could never —”

“Well, you’ve got your answer,” I interrupted. I walked directly past him.

He followed, staying a few steps behind me. Nevertheless, I saw him.

“What are you doing?” I asked, still walking. I didn’t look at him.

“Going to watch a show,” he laughed, “between a self-assured girl and multiple blood-sucking vampires.” I couldn’t help it — I had to turn around to that.

“Self-assured?” I wrinkled my nose.

He laughed, sending shivers up my spine. I ignored them, putting my hood up.

“So…what do you plan on doing to these vampires?” he asked mockingly. He obviously didn’t believe I had it in me to fight a vampire. The joke was on him — I could take on three of them, easily.

“The usual.” I grinned behind the safety of my hood, letting him ponder my response for a few moments.

“Which is?”

I peeked around my hood to see his intrigued expression.

I shrugged and sauntered on. I could see my objective.

“I don’t think you heard me clearly.” His pace increased but he still kept his distance. “I asked what is it you are planning on doing.”

“I heard you.” I grinned, looking straight ahead.

He muttered something too fast for even my better-than-human hearing to perceive.

It didn’t matter anyway — we were there.

It was an old playground, worn and rugged with disuse, complete with a swing set and slide. The equipment was faded — barely any color remained on them. Grass grew wildly up the sides of the swing set, like a vine. It was set on the outskirts of a wood; trees surrounded its circumference.

It was a depressing place — perfect for vampires.

I scrutinized the wood, looking for some movement, any movement. I saw none, even in the playground itself. It was deserted.

Taken aback, I started breathing profoundly. I played with an old wrapper in my pocket.

My unexpected companion laughed heartily. I spun around to glare at him.

“Were you planning on fighting an invisible force?” he chuckled with a deep and sophisticated voice I wasn’t familiar with.

“No.” I could feel my temples beating on the sides of my head. “I was planning on —” He knocked me down to the ground.

“Damn it!” he yelled, forming an iron cage around me. He looked to his left and hissed, bearing his teeth.

That’s when I saw it: a dark figure with white fangs.

Another vampire. Great.

This vampire chuckled, stalking toward us.

It was a man, no older than thirty. He was wearing all black, his chocolate hair wet in the rain. His pale face stood out against his dark apparel, and his coal-black eyes glimmered with exhilaration. He looked absolutely evil.

My companion hissed again. “She’s mine.”

My eyes widened as I stared at him in horror.

The older man chuckled. “You’ll share, won’t you?” He glided forward, taking a step. His excited expression was absolutely nauseating.

But my acquaintance covered me ever more, hissing once again. “I’m afraid not,” he growled, gazing at him with pure hatred as he hovered only a few feet away from us.

The vampire’s excited grin dropped off his face immediately.

“Surely you can spare,” he replied, only a murmur.

“I could,” my companion snarled, “but I’m not.”

The older man’s eyes narrowed. “Look, boy,” he spat, his unnaturally white teeth visible, “the game is over. Let me have the girl.”

“No.”

The vampire’s nostrils flared, his lips a tight line.

“Go,” my companion whispered to me suddenly. “Run, now.”

I was frozen, breathing heavily. I couldn’t move.

“Now!” he snarled, locking his gaze with that of the other vampire.

Frightened, I backed away using my palms, pushing myself with my legs.

Then I ran.

The sound of snapping jaws filled my ears. Hyperventilating, I stole a glance behind me.

With one mighty blow to the abdomen, my helper, using his shoulder, had successfully knocked down his opponent. He was breathing heavily, gazing down at the evil vampire he had just thrown down. That’s when he looked at me.

His eyes were sad, full of sorrow. He seemed tormented, forever haunted by his fate as one of the living dead.

I looked away. I had to concentrate on getting back to my house, back to my bedroom, back to my warm, cozy bed. If only I had just stayed there…

I ran faster, the black trees hovering over my head. It was so dark — so eerie. Everything seemed to be covered in darkness, covered in evil. I couldn’t see light anywhere, not even on a front porch. Of course, the night I try to run away from a demented vampire everyone in the neighborhood just conveniently forgets to turn their porch lights on. Figures.

I came huffing around the corner, my house in sight.

“Finally!” I moaned, wiping ice-cold rain off my face. I had forgotten it was raining, my mind was that jumbled.

At that moment, as I was about to cry with relief, I heard a whisper, a light breeze against my ear. My heart was instantly in my throat.

I spun around, anticipating the worst: the vampire had come to finish me off.

But, to my relief, he hadn’t. Nothing had.

Laughing, I turned back around, just to see my companion a few paces in front of me.

I gasped, and bit down on my lip, to hold it in. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.

He seemed somewhat shy as he stood before me uneasily. Awkwardly.

“Everything is…taken care of,” he finally murmured. He was looking down at the ground.

“You killed him?” I asked, stunned. I’d never heard of a vampire killing another vampire before…

“I wasn’t about to let him find you,” he muttered, shuffling his feet. He looked up.

I was speechless. Never in my life had I met a vampire who wanted to keep me alive — they all wanted to kill me. And, believe me, I’ve met a lot of vampires.

“I could’ve taken him,” I finally said, standing up straighter. What was I supposed to do — be nice to him? Nope. Never.

He laughed darkly. “Probably,” he agreed, leaving a grin on his chiseled face.

I crossed my arms over my stomach, glaring. “Are you mocking me?”

“Obviously.” He smirked.

I closed my eyes, breathing evenly through my nose. I had to control myself.

“I’m leaving,” I stated simply. I walked past him, toward my house.

“Why?” He was in front of me, walking backward.

“Because I don’t want to talk to you.” I walked faster.

He did the same. “I don’t believe it.”

“What’s not to believe?” We were almost to my driveway.

“I saved your life, does that not mean anything to you?”

“Thanks?” We were walking up my driveway.

He rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath I couldn’t hear.

I sighed. “Can you just leave now? Please?” If he woke up my parents…

He smirked. “Scared?”

I stopped. “Of what? You?”

He grinned, displaying his wonderful alignment of teeth.

“Ugh. Just leave.” Why was he making this so complicated?

“Are you sure?” One side of his mouth lifted into a grin.

“Yes!” I was tired. I needed to sleep, and I couldn’t do that if he was still here.

He kept the same grin on his face.

I closed my eyes, almost trembling with anger. “If you don’t leave…” I opened my eyes.

And he was gone.

I heaved a sigh. Thank God.

I walked around the side of my house, through the mud. At least I’d thought to wear my boots…

I finally found the window that was always unlocked, located in the kitchen. I took off the screen, then lifted up the window. Standing on my toes, I dropped the screen through the opening. I heaved myself up and through, being careful I didn’t make a sound. I put the screen back on carefully, then closed the window. Soundlessly, I took off my filthy boots, now in my socks, and crept through the kitchen, to the dining room, then finally the living room…

“Adrian?” a harsh voice rang out.

I cringed. Shoot.

“Yeah?” I answered. I was going to play it cool. I still couldn’t see her yet…maybe she didn’t see me…maybe I still had a chance to run…

A lamp turned on.

“Adrian Mary Nelson,” my mother snapped, all but nicely. She was sitting in Dad’s La-Z-Boy, only her face illuminated by the light. “What do you think you’re doing?”

I looked around desperately. I couldn’t make eye contact with her.
“Hmm?” She wiggled her foot repeatedly from where she was sitting in her chair, arms, and legs, crossed. “I want to hear your explanation this time.” She waited.

“Well, you see, I…I…heard this noise, and well, I-I had to see what it was…”

“You had to see what it was?” she repeated.

I nodded, gulping.

“You just had to see what it was, hmm?” Her lips had almost disappeared, she was making them so tight. “What was it, Adrian? Please, tell me, I’d really like to know.”

I looked down at my mud-covered boots.

“Adrian Mary!” she shrieked after I didn’t respond. “Answer me! Now!” Her eyes were bulging, her face reddening by the second.

“I’m going to bed,” I finally sighed. I walked right past her, dropping my boots at the base of the stairs.

“You…what…why…you can’t just…” she huffed, too angry to formulate a complete sentence.

“’Night, Mom,” I said, swinging around the banister. I yawned once as I walked up the stairs, giving my exit some effect.

I reached the landing, walking to the end of the hall. Finally. My room. No more prodding Mom. No more malevolent vampires. No more anything. Just me and my room…

I opened the door, grinning to myself. My hand dropped off the door handle, the grin instantly falling off my face, as I found I wasn’t alone. Not at all.

“Get out!” I tried to shout; it came out as a whisper.

He grinned, amused, from where he leaned against my bedpost.

“What is wrong with you?” I shut the door, walking as fast as I could to stand before him. I looked up at him, staring into his eyes, fuming. I noticed how light brown his eyes were. Almost hazel.

“Wrong with me? Oh, let’s see…” He began counting on his fingers.

“Stop that!” I knocked his hand down.

He laughed softly.

“It’s not funny!” I seethed.

“Yes it is,” he answered, staring back into my eyes. “If you saw the look in your eyes right now…how much distaste you show in them…” He laughed.

I glared at him. “Why can’t you just leave me alone? I want to be alone.”

“No you don’t.” He grinned.

“Yes, I do.” My voice was cold. I hoped he was getting the hint that I wasn’t a very warm, friendly person. Not in the least.

“Well, it looks like you’ll just have to put up with me, now doesn’t it?” He grinned, walking to my bookshelf. He picked up a book. “New Moon…interesting…” He flipped it open to the first page.

I snatched it from his grasp. “Who do you think you are?” I raged. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Dean Michael Stewart.” He smirked. “And yourself?”

I narrowed my eyes, grinding my teeth.

“Well, Dean,” I retorted, “I’m really pissed off, that’s what I am.”

His eyebrows both rose.

I continued, almost in full-on rage mode: “You can’t just come into my house — no, not just my house, my bedroom — and think I’ll be cool with it. If you do, you have some serious mental problems you need to deal with.”

He laughed at that.

“Seriously. You need to seek help or something.”

He chuckled. “You think I haven’t thought of that already?”

I sighed, rolling my eyes. I crossed my arms over my stomach, standing in my fuming pose, as I liked to call it. Man, people knew I was mad when I stood in that position.

If he noticed, he ignored it.

“So this is where the legendary slayer dwells…” He walked around my cramped room, taking in the many posters of death metal bands from my depressed, teen angst stage. I knew I should have taken those down. Shoot.

“I don’t ‘dwell’ anywhere,” I replied bitterly. “This is where I chill.”

He turned to me, a smile creeping onto his face. “Chill? Does it really get that cold up here…?”

I snorted. “Were you trying to be funny, or are you just that out of the loop?”

“Trying to be funny.” He picked up one of my little Precious Moments figurines sitting on my dresser, examining it with furrowed eyebrows.

I stomped over to the dresser, taking the little figurine out of his hand.

I put it back on the dresser, along with all its other little figurine friends. “Are you satisfied? You’ve seen my room. Now can you leave?”

“Well, I suppose I —”

Both of our heads turned toward the door. Footsteps were coming up the stairs. My Mom.

“Okay, now I’m not asking you,” I hissed. “I’m telling you to leave. Now.” I was about to push him toward the window, but he beat me to the punch; he was already lifting it up.

“Get in bed,” he hissed back at me. “I don’t want your mother to murder you, thus defeating the purpose of ever saving your life in the first place.” And then he just slid out into the night, closing the window swiftly behind him.

Oh, joy. Pure joy.

I ran on my tiptoes to my bed, slithering into the unkempt sheets, turtleneck and all.

Only a sliver of light hit the wall, but I knew it was my Mom, coming in to check on me. She stood there for a good ten minutes, apparently just standing there. I don’t know what she could have been doing, really. Adoring my great black paint job on the walls — again, my depressed, teen angst stage — or the luxurious décor consisting of a ten-foot high bed and matching dresser, of which was missing about three knobs? Yeah, that was probably it…

She finally closed the door slowly, the sliver of light becoming smaller and smaller. With a click, I was once again in darkness. Once again alone.