There is a woman who lives at the end of the hall on the second floor of the Maybelle Insane Asylum. She has been here many years, and, from an occasional visitor’s point of view, a normal who doesn’t belong in an asylum like this.

“Hey, Maria, why is that woman even here?” asked a young staff worker to a long-time worker at the asylum.

“She was commissioned here when she was fifteen for threatening to kill and drink her family member’s blood, as well as taking a nail clipper and clipping herself just to lick her own blood.”

Disgusted, the young staff worker shuddered involuntarily. “Really? That’s wrong. Has she shown any more signs of madness since she’s arrived here?”

“Luckily, not. Not any more signs, but the same signs. A few times she’s taken a knife to her thigh and lapped at it frantically, and even forked herself a few times. Since she’s arrived here she hasn’t drank or threatened to drink anyone else’s blood, so that’s good.”

“Why… why do you think she drinks blood? It’s like a vampire.”

“Sophia asked her that once, while it was her week to take care of her. Do you know what Valencia said?”

Hesitantly, the young staff worker shook her head. “What did she say?”

‘It tastes sweet, for a lack of words. The taste of blood is very unique, and I like it every much. If I could, I’d have it everyday.’

“Really? That’s scary!”

“I know. And then Sophia asked her, ‘Do you know, if you drink too much of someone else’s or your own blood, that person or you could die?’ Guess what Valencia said!”

“I don’t know! I don’t know! What did she say? Was it something monstrous?” Their whispers weren’t really whispers any longer.

‘I know. My existence is a disgrace anyway, so it wouldn’t matter if I died or not. But, Sophia, I recommend you taste the blood sometime! And if yours doesn’t taste good, you can try mine!’

“Wow.”

“I know. It seems like no matter what that woman loves to drink blood. A true, modern day vampire.”

“So they do exist?”

“Yeah. Just not with all those powers that media--”

“And Bram Stoker.”

“Yes, especially him--without all those powers that Bram Stoker gave them, and media evolved upon.”

“That’s scary, Maria.”

“I know, Victoria. I know…”