Is that a trick question? Of course I'm not bloody ready.

Johnathan gestured with his head towards the door. "If you don't mind, Amelia."

She clenched her jaw and moved in front of Johnathan, raising her revolver and inched closer to the keys in the lock.

My fingers didn't leave the plastic pouch up my sleeve, rubbing the grains back and forth against my fingertips as I planned how to use it.

Johnathan kept his guard up, and in a stable position, nodded for Amelia to twist the keys. One click was subtle but meaningful, unleashing us into their space. Johnathan took no chances and fired twice, once in the chest and the other in the abdomen.

The vampire staggered backwards, face covered by the thick cloak, shielding them from the outside world. A wave of smoke drifted from its chest. When they clutched the shaft, their flesh sizzled from the outer coating and turned their palms black.

Johnathan ushered me behind him as he led us down the corridor. Looking behind me, the vampire backed against the wall, struggling to pull the arrow out by the nock. It was the only part that didn't burn its skin.

Amelia covered us from behind with her revolver. "Focus," she said with her back towards me.

Is she talking to me?

I hitched my duffel bag higher up my shoulder without letting go of the pouch of grains.

I had grown accustomed to the sound of the alarm; I hadn't noticed when the familiar noise had stopped. A squawk echoed further down the hall, warning the others that danger was up ahead. The hairs on my arms stood up from its ear-splitting call.

We moved fast and ignored the sparse bodies, running for our lives without being killed in the process. The flashing beacon of light irradiated the bloodied handprint on the window.

"Amelia, switch." Johnathan backed up, and Amelia manoeuvred around him, taking up the front position. Their movements were slick and rehearsed like this wasn't their first time in combat with each other.

We reached the nearest fire exit. Amelia slowed and steadied her grip on her weapon.

"You can do this." Giving her words of encouragement, he propelled her forwards as she pushed the panic bar with her foot and descended the steps.

Holding on to the rail, I hurried after Amelia as she sprinted to her yellow Toyota Yaris parked in the bay. Two lamp posts had stopped working, leaving the rest of the parking lot engulfed by darkness. The sequin-silver stars glimmered like scattered dust in the night sky.

"Erika, wait," Johnathan called from behind.

But it was too late. The predator pounced on its prey, sinking its fangs into my neck. My scream faltered, and my jaw grew slack, letting my body sink into its rigid embrace as they clung on with a lustful hold. I couldn't fight against its restraint.

The vampire raised its head, showing himself in all his glory. Strands of wavy blonde hair fell around his face, and the black protruding veins crawled violently under his skin. An arrow lodged between his shoulder blades gained his attention.

He loosened his grip and disregarded me, twisting around to meet Johnathan poised with the crossbow. "I don't like to be interrupted during my starters, but I guess the main course has arrived, and I'm famished."

Johnathan didn't hesitate and released another hit. "How many of you are there?"

There wasn't any sign of a reaction from the arrow, not like the vampire before. Dread flashed past Johnathan's eyes as he wondered why it didn't have the same effect.

"You pesky humans are pissing me off with your mundane shit. It's entertaining, really. Please, do hit me again," he mocked, testing Johnathan's patience.

A chorus of sirens wailed in the air. Help was on its way. The relief soon washed away when an abandoned ambulance was left on the side with the doors opened and the beacons flashing.

The vampire ignored the approaching police and charged for Johnathan. Amelia stepped in and fired from behind, placing the bullet in the vampire's back.

"Go for the heart," I said, pressing my palm against the tender wound, coating my fingertips with the sticky matter. We were in the real world, and the consequences were different. Nobody would believe them, sweeping the facts from fiction under the carpet.

The vampire halted, hunching over and gagged up thick merlot liquid. "Your blood—" he choked, hacking up the substance. "It's disgusting." He collapsed onto his knees and clutched his throat, gasping for breath.

Amelia pushed me towards the car. "Johnathan, let's go before the cops get here."

Johnathan jogged to the car, throwing his bag in the backseat before he got in. He was extra careful with the crossbow, laying it on the front seat.

Amelia put the car in reverse and slammed on the accelerator, driving past the silhouettes that came out from the shadows.

Two police cars and an ambulance passed us on their way to the hospital. I hoped they would survive. The last paramedics didn't.

"Where did everybody go?" The last I knew, the staff were gathering everyone outside, but the lack of bodies told me otherwise. "My dad is still there. He wouldn't leave me. I know he wouldn't."

Johnathan opened up his tan briefcase and pulled out a piece of cloth. Using his hand torch, he shone the light on my neck, getting a better view. "Can you turn on the interior light?"

"Are you joking? If I get arrested, it's on you." Amelia switched on the light.

I removed my hand as he inspected the wound, placing the fabric against my neck. A vast amount of blood coated my hands. Flashbacks of the monster delving his fangs into my neck haunted me and sent my body into a state of shock. My nightmare had come true.

It's only red paint, like the tomato ketchup the actor uses in productions.

"The staff took everyone down to the basement, under the hospital. It's precautionary and has its uses." His glasses had a bloodied fingerprint on one of the lenses. "We will find your father."

I focused on the traffic in front as the warm fluid trickled further down my neck—I needed a distraction. "Where are we going?"

Amelia met my gaze in the rearview mirror. Her side braid was a mess, strands of hair fraying her face. "We're taking you home."

Home.

It was something I longed for, but it wouldn't be the same without Dad.

"How is she doing?" Amelia asked, paying attention to the road.

Johnathan's hair matted to the nape of his neck, and beads of sweat formed to leave a slithery trail. "The wound isn't deep."

He reached into his briefcase and handed me a mini bottle. "Drink this. The electrolytes in the juice will make you feel a little better."

"Johnathan, no. We discussed this earlier." Amelia locked her sullen eyes with him in the rearview mirror.

He nodded for me to down the drink, snubbing Amelia in the driver's seat. Taking a sip of the flavoured juice, I coughed and spluttered the ruddy colour on the sleeve of my jumper.

I handed the bottle back to Johnathan. "That doesn't taste nice, not one bit."

"You didn't have any right to do that." She tightened her grip on the steering wheel, turning her knuckles white.

He put the bottle back in his bag. "It's the only choice we have."

"She has the right to make her own choices," Amelia said, shaking her head.

"Hello, I'm right here." I glanced from Johnathan to Amelia. She focused on the traffic and avoided direct eye contact. "What do you mean I have a choice?"

She pursed her lips, keeping her eyes on the road.

"Amelia?" I dug my nails into my thighs.

A horn blared as she cut across another driver at an intersection, gaining a curse word. Johnathan held on to the headrest for support and wiped the back of his neck with a clean cloth.

"He gave you vampire blood to heal your injuries," she said.

Our bodies swayed to the right from the sharp corner. I held on to the seat, stopping myself from sliding across the backseat. I focused on the crescent moon and the bright city lights that lit up the night sky, calming my erratic nerves. "You did what?" My fingers clawed at the seat cushion.

"I had no choice. We are miles from the nearest hospital, and what could I say about your injuries—that my dog bit you?"

My muscles stiffened from his weak explanation, gazing intently at my heated glare. "Oh, I don't know. You could have let me die. I would slowly bleed out, right? I'm a walking corpse, anyway."

Johnathan's eyes softened. "Erika, don't say—"

"No. Don't you say anything." My voice became frenzied, and my breathing grew fast and rigid with rage. "I don't want to hear another word." I had been naive to think that I could trust Johnathan. Holding back the tears, I touched the area on my neck where the mark had been. It had healed.

How is that possible?

The wet, sticky touch of blood still cruised down my neck, reminding me that the wound had been there a second ago. There was something magical in the vampire blood.

We entered my street that led to a cul-de-sac. My mum's Ford Fiesta was parked on the concrete driveway. I clenched my jaw at the sight of her car, hoping she wasn't home. My heart sank from the empty parking spot next to her car.

I flung open the door and ran up the path. Dismissing Johnathan's calls, I frantically pressed the doorbell.

He is alive. He has to be.

"Erika?"

"Hello, Mum," I whispered.

A/N

Word Count: 1,642

Why do you think the vampire found Erika's blood disgusting? Do you think it killed him?

Was Johnathan right to give vampire blood to Erika to heal her injuries?

Have a fangtastic day!

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