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  I picked up the pen from the document and appended my signature at the bottom. He quickly took the pen from me and run out. Staring at him stumbling along the staircase, I couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

Guess I scared the hell out of him.

Unwrapping the wraps on the camera from the rectangular box, I closed the door. My feet moved forward to the sofa to drop the box. Glaring happily at the brand new camera in my hands, I turned the wheel behind it and kept admiring the quality.

Nice camera, just like mom's.

I rushed to my room and clicked pictures of the room with it. Squeezing my eyes, I scanned through the pictures and smiled lightly. "Mom....I finally replaced the old one you promised me."

I thought for a moment and shook the camera. Memories flashed into my mind especially during the period when mom used to take me pictures and laugh when it turned out funny.

 She would intentionally wait for me to doze off and take a picture of me. At times, she would turn on the pipes in the garden and leave me wet anytime we'd compete.

"I wish you were here. "Sighing, I dropped the camera on my bed and walked into the kitchen. Staring at the utensils, I couldn't remember where I had placed every utensil. It was as if it was my first time staying here. I lifted my hands and looked through the shelves for an hour before I found the rolling pin.

Fetching enough flour from the fridge, I put my gloves on and prepared a dough with the other ingredients in the fridge. Pouring water over the board, I kneaded the dough and poured the mixture in containers before setting them in the oven.

Standing by for some hours, I picked the cookies out from the open with the kitchen gloves on. After dropping the containers on the table, I took a quick bite of the cookie. My throat started to itch after one bite. Rushing into the fridge for water, I turned to the salty hard cookies in front of me.

Looking down, I couldn't hold myself from feeling sad. This was the thirtieth time I was making these. They were still imperfect. She'd always prepare this for me after school. She was no longer with me. I had to learn how to cook my own food.

"I'll prepare a better one until I get it perfect." Smiling, I forced myself to take some bites.

I chewed the burnt cookies choking at each bite. When I spotted a few picture frames standing on the tables in the hall, my eyes fell in silence. I walked over to one and picked it up looking at mom. She was smiling in that picture so much. That was probably before we moved to this city.

I passed my hand over the picture we took the day I graduated preschool. She was smiling so much in it. Everything changed when wee started moving from one city to another.

She was no longer the nice mother I knew. I still wonder what made her change so much.  I'll find out what happened to you even if it takes years to.

Bustling with children, my little self stared at my friends they cheered for me. It was my sixth birthday the following day.

  "We'll have a large cake. I told my mother about it and she agreed. Make sure you come to school tomorrow. You've been missing school frequently." I stared blankly at a page in my book while my friends sat beside me.

  "Clara?" I lifted my head hearing her call. As I looked blankly at them, I was about to nod when I saw mom standing by the door. The teacher stepped out then and greeted her at the door.

  The other children started screaming and rushing out to meet their parents. Unfortunately for me, my mom was only the one that came to pick me up each time.

  I never met my dad. That's one thing the children here always laughed at me with. Standing up, my mom grabbed my hand quickly and started dragged me out.

  I couldn't say goodbye to them as she pulled me so fast. Looking at them, my eyes flickered in silence. She dragged me all the way to the road leading to our house. There, I saw our luggage packed outside. There was a taxi driver loading them into his car.

  "Mom...are we leaving?" She didn't respond much and rushed to assist the driver to pack.

  "Mom!" When she attempted to hold my hand, I stepped back crying. The driver nodded and stepped in the car waiting for us. "I don't want to leave here. We just settled here three weeks ago."

  Without listening to me, she grabbed me by my arm and pulled me into the car. "No! Mom please," I cried trying to turn back but she locked the door and allowed the driver to take off.

My thoughts disrupted with a sudden call on my phone. Sighing, I picked the call. My eyes widened when I heard the name of the caller. Rushing for the door, I picked a taxi and dashed to the station.

  A policeman met me at the door. Pointing to a chair, I grabbed a seat and dropped my bag on my lap.

  "It's regarding your mom's case. The autopsy report shows no physical injuries leading to death. I'd like to ask you more questions regarding this."

  Staring blankly at him, I couldn't utter even a word. "Doctors have run several tests on her body but found nothing. No observations could be made. I called to end the investigation."

  "No. You can't do this. My mom couldn't have just died! It's your duty to investigate-"

  "-Your mom's case isn't the only one. We don't have time to keep on it. You can take her for funeral service from tomorrow."

  Fuming with anger, I got up and pushed the chair hard before banging the door behind me. As I took in heavy breaths, I held my tears back. If he wasn't going to investigate, I'll do it myself. Standing by the door, it started raining. I had no umbrella on me. I got soaked in no time while standing by the door sobbing.

 Around 7:30 in the morning, the alarm rang disturbing my sleep. I stretched out my hand to put it off lazily. But it fell off my hands. I rolled my eyes angrily pulling myself from the bed.

I dragged my feet to the washroom, admiring my sleepy face. Touching my face, it was still soft.

"I'm late again, thanks to the sleeping tablets I took in order to sleep," I complained while monitoring my eyes which were dull. I applied a little makeup to cover up.

After, I slipped into a lemon one hand top with blue jeans. I joined the crowd to class. As I was walking I came across a group of people who had gathered at one side busily discussing something discreetly. I ignored them but I heard my name being called out by a familiar voice.

"Clara. Have you heard the terrible news?" Jess asked. I shook my head in response and everyone looked at me shocked.

I began sweating because all eyes were on me. "Was I suspended already?" I thought.

"The increase of death cases of young girls from Beverly on the streets with strange marks on their neck." They all answered showing me a picture.

  "Do vampires exist?" Tricia snapped shaking me. "Yesterday," I recited looking outside remembering the scream from the other day. Was it connected?

"Where did it happen?" Folding her lips, she replied, "Payprus Street." My eyes widened with her reply. That's my usual route home and that's also where mom's dead body was found. Did I witness the student's death yesterday?

They looked at me clueless. "What happened yesterday?" Kate asked staring at me.

I shook my head terrified to death. "I have a class. I'll see you guys later," I said to save the situation. Without waiting for their response, I rushed to class ignoring their calls.

"Sorry. But I have to find out myself."

 Throughout the lessons, my mind was filled with yesterday's events rendering me nauseous. I was quiet in class today, but I guess Nathan wasn't. Lifting his hand, he asked the teacher,  "Could an organisms death be caused by draining of blood." The class became a murmuring scene in no time.

"Yes...it could be," Mrs Atkins explained calling for dispersal.

I got up and lookef at him but he didn't even glance at me. "There's basketball practicals on Monday," the cheerleaders announced banging the tables to alert everyone. Catherine walked over to my sitting partner and they left to talk.

"Wow. He even knows her," I thought packing my books. I walked with Tricia and Jess around the hall as we packed our books in the lockers allocated to us. "It seems Catherine is fast. Have you at least talked to him?" Jess commented. I pretended as if I heard nothing. "Clara," Tricia snapped.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my bag. "No. He's not spoken a word. Why should I?" I debated dropping the book into my locker.

Tricia widened her eyes in shock, "For two days?" I gave them a funny stare and sighed, "If he doesn't, neither will I, simple."

"And Nathan," Kate asked.

I began fumbling and fuming with anger, "Don't even mention him. I apologized but he didn't even give me a chance. He doesn't know how it feels to watch your mom die not being able to do anything. After all he's, " I narrated. But I had to pause when I heard a vase fall.

"Nevermind. I'll see you guys later." I yelled before rushing out of the hall quickly. "What to do about these two," Tricia cogitated. Sighing, they walked towards the exit.

I dropped my bag at home and run into the woods tying my hair which kept on escaping.

Stopping by his cottage, he turned to me surprised to see me so soon.

"What's the matter? Is it about the money I took?" he asked.

"Who are you?" I demanded with fiery eyes.

 He looked at me puzzled, "I remember we've talked about this."

I showed him a picture of the girls who died and dropped my hands holding myself back. "Explain this," I accentuated.

He was astounded from his expression on his face after looking at the pictures. "Who are they?" he asked giving me back phone.

"Died on the same street you saved me from before. They're from my school. My mom also died there." He moved back suddenly expressionless, "So you're insinuating I did this?"

I yelled back angrily, "Then tell me who did? Immortal? I never saw his face. What if you're playing with me?"  He grabbed my hand furiously pulling me towards somewhere.

 "Where are you taking me?" I asked retaliating.

He stopped for a moment and looked at me angrily, "You wanted to know right? Now do you trust me?" he snapped back with sincere eyes while extending his hand.

Looking straight into his eyes, I gave in nodding. His hand seemed secure and tempting and abstemious with an intricate design at the end of his palm. We jumped together over a cliff sliding down with a vile from the trees. Due to my fear over heights, I grabbed him tightly holding unto him.

  I felt secure in his arms and the heat that emitted from his chest made me feel affinite. I held onto him for a long time until we got to our destination.

"Follow me," he added and moved towards another cottage which seems old. He opened the door and told me to follow him. "Your mom used to come here secretly before she died." I examined the place critically for a second and turned back angrily.

"You knew about this  and you never told me?" I demanded while hitting him. "I wanted to be sure. Look here," he said pointing to a box with designs.

"No one comes here like that. So I followed her once and found this place."

I looked around sadly, "Didn't she trust me to hide all this?"  I admitted crying like never before.

He attempted to console me but moved his hand away at the last moment. "She might've wanted to protect you. She came here angrily and left a few minutes later in a haste and never came back."

Staring at him, I retorted, "I was invited to a party on that day. She was furious for no reason and locked me up.

 She even grounded me. She never did that to me."

"I don't know why they also died, but I have nothing to do with that. That's the absolute truth." Turning around, I stared at the river in front of me watching the water flow out.

  "I think all your mom's death and that of the girls are connected somehow."

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