𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙠 - 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮

The night sky emphasized the oak's limbs in the dim light, highlighting all the spiny branches that broke off the main tree and its dividers. The empty branches swayed to and fro in the light breeze; the air was moist as drops of sweat slid down my back, making the heavy sweater stick to my skin.

An argent-silver orb gleamed in the starless midnight sky. The contrast between night and day was apparent as the oak took on a monstrous vibe, standing in all its glory.

A howl resonated across the meadow, carrying the sound with the wind.

My body rocked from side to side like turbulence on a plane, continuously on edge. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms across my chest, calming my erratic nerves.

I expected Ethan to be watching me from afar, lurking within the distance and waiting for the right moment to jump out from behind a tree.

If this is Ethan playing a horrible prank, I'm going to kill him. Either that or I will kick him where it hurts.

The moist air had become damp as the temperature plummeted, casting an Arctic frost over Shadowbrook. "Ethan, this isn't funny." My voice quivered from the crispness in the air.

I don't know why I believe it's Ethan. Maybe it's easier to blame somebody else rather than accept the alternative.

A guttural growl echoed in the distance, a lower-pitched frequency than before. There was something off about the feral sound, a heart-stopping throaty noise that wasn't human.

Paralysed with fear, I remained still, afraid if I misjudged my footing, the creature would hurl itself at me.

"Kiddo, open your eyes." Dad's voice echoed like a bass drum getting louder with each beat. "It's okay. I'm here."

His voice startled me, sending an electric current down to my core. The idea of my dad ever setting foot in Shadowbrook made my blood run cold, but what made it worse was the fact he could be here with me, and I wouldn't know how to bring him back to the real world.

"Dad?" I whispered, waiting for a response. "How are you here?"

Can this be my mind playing tricks on me, making me hear his voice because I miss him?

Squeezing my eyes shut, afraid it was an auditory hallucination, I waited for a reaction.

"I need help, kiddo. Please open your eyes," Dad pleaded. I was unsure of why he wanted me to open my eyes.

I had no other option than to take a peek. He could be in danger, and I knew he had some kind of connection to this place.

Only a quick look, then I will close my eyes again.

The absence of light added to the growing darkness, creating a glamour to the eye. From my peripheral vision, a silhouette dashed past, becoming a blur.

I shrank back in terror, wishing I hadn't opened my eyes. By doing so, it validated I wasn't alone. Someone or something was toying with me.

"Stop it!" The condensation from my rapid breathing drifted into the chilly air in short bursts.

"I shouldn't be playing with my lunch now, should I?" a masculine voice uttered behind me.

Reeling around to face him, nothing but pure blackness took his place.

"Oh, how cute. You're looking for me." His taunting tone made my skin crawl. He enjoyed tormenting me, invisible to the human eye.

He feeds off my fear, luring me to my demise.

I clenched my jaw, suppressing a shiver. My knees trembled as panic surged through me like a tidal wave.

It's no use. He could probably smell the fear oozing from my pores.

"Surprise!" A set of ruby-red irises leered back at me, black covering his lower eyelid. "Looks like you've found me, or maybe I found you."

Choking on the bitter cold air, I gasped for breath as if my heart had become lodged in my throat. "Please don't hurt me," I begged and stepped backwards, creating a distance between us.

The inky-coloured capillaries travelled from his cheekbones towards his lower lids, underlining the shadows under his eyes.

His shoulder-length dark strands stuck to his wet lips, salivating at the sight of lunch. One big vein bulged from his forehead as the corner of his lips curled into a devilish smirk. "Now, where's the fun in that."

As I continued stepping backwards, the vampire snarled, showing his distaste for my evacuation plan.

An arrow flew past and penetrated the vampire's torso, increasing his wrath. His eyes flashed vermilion as he tugged the arrowhead from his chest, snapping it in half.

"Erika. Run!" Standing on the verge of the pasture, Ethan reached for another arrow from his quiver hanging over his shoulder. From his smooth and swift reflexes, Ethan oozed expertise.

It didn't take me long before I realised Ethan gave me a head start, releasing another arrow, and it planted into the vampire's shoulder blade. He cried in pain, clutching at the instrument that punctured his flesh.

I ran along the uneven surface, unable to see where I was treading as panic mounted with every step. My heart was uneasy, lurching forward as if it would break free from my ribcage.

The vampire followed close behind, teasing me with his growls. He could outrun me but watching me struggle satisfied him more.

I guess it's every vampire's dream to get two for the price of one.

Losing my footing, I tumbled onto the gravel. Tiny pieces of rock fragments pressed against my palms.

Ethan stood in a confident stance with the arrow poised, ready for his next hit on target. His deadpan expression fixated on the enraged vampire with determination.

The next strike halted the vampire as it stabbed him through the heart. Ethan took his decision in a heartbeat, killing the vampire with no hesitation.

Black liquid frothed at the vampire's lips as he fell to his knees and faceplanted the ground, impaling him further. Silver blood vessels crawled underneath the vampire's flesh, giving him an off-white complexion.

Ethan jogged over, supporting the quiver over his shoulder and the bow in his other hand. He tapped the body with the tip of his shoe, making sure he was a goner before he turned him over.

The vampire's irises glazed over as he entered decomposition.

Ethan wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "You okay? I saw you fall." He gazed at my scraped knee.

I shrugged, shaken by what unfolded in front of me. I had so many questions, but my mouth wouldn't operate.

A tattoo etched on the inside of the vampire's wrist caught my eye. I crouched down to get a closer look, inspecting the symbol in more detail. "What is that?"

Tracing the mark with my finger, a gush of warmth spread through me, making me recoil from the sudden temperature change. When I released my finger from the tattoo, the frigid air returned.

What is that all about?

Ethan bowed down to my level and shook his head, bringing me back to the present. "I've never seen anything like this before, but I have a weird feeling that this is just the beginning."

A/N

Word Count: 1,198

Our first vampire attack. What would you do if you saw a vampire? Would you run, freeze or fight back?

Ethan's good with a bow and arrow, but what would your choice of weapon be?

Have a fangtastic day!

(㇏(•̀ᵥᵥ•́)ノ)