Night 8 - Vampire (LIZ)

The rain is getting worse.

Black, sticky, unrelenting.

It will consume you.

it has already tried.

You can't be here in this hell anymore. It's time to leave. They've hurt you for the last time.

The rain is getting worse.

But you'll get out of here.

You will try again and again until the void relents.

You ran.

Fast.

Like always.

From your problems, from everything. Daybreak will come no matter what you do, just need to stay alive to see it. Away from the city, away from it all, just for tonight. Or every night.

Splashes against your skin, seeping in like ink. Drenching your clothes, long strides towards the forest not too far away from your home. A recluse, trees acting as a shelter against everything that dared to hurt you. Nothing more shall, for tonight.

The wet marsh underneath your feet clung to your shoes, muddy puddles rippling through the floor, reflecting the sky above you.

You kept voyaging forwards, letting the desire to leave carry you way further than ever gone before. Run, run, run, keep going. Let the promise of freedom motivate you, its so cold.

Night was darker, the moon shone upon you. It smiled down, if only more would do that. You shook your head, no more pain for tonight, shake away the existential crisis.

Deeper into the forest, endlessly.

Go.

Go.

Go.

Time had passed but you didn't know how much, walking until your legs couldn't go any further. And in your rushing, you had spearheaded straight into the unknown.

A house, massive. Ancient, from a bygone era, how have you never seen this before? Surely someone would have talked about this, it looked picturesque, out of a story. So alluring.

The rain spiked suddenly.

A storm, raining down on your skin.

Transparent, never ending, cold.

You waddled to the door, hand going towards the weathered handle, pushing it open. You thought it'd be locked, but you are so thankful. Scraping away the mud trapping shoes to dirt, stepping inside. Gently closing the heavy chunk of wood behind you.

Every wall was oak, the stairs were oak, the odor of lacquer filling your nose. It felt old, lived in.

Were you intruding? You hoped not, but god you are so lost. All the minor deviations in your route to avoid the stray shrub, stick, ground shift had amounted to something unfamiliar. Getting home would be difficult.

Laters problem, the rain is too heavy.

The urge to explore was strong, like everything was calling your name. Fear gripped your heart, the silence other than a monsoon outside created anxiety. Closed palms getting sweaty, you took steps forward.

go upstairs.. Your head snapped left and right, that voice was feminine, not yours. Laters problem is now, going back towards the door.

It didn't budge, locked, huh?

I said upstairs. listen to my voice, I don't wish to harm. Each word sounded soft, dependable, stuff you haven't heard in a very long time. How you longed for comfort, following the lure. There was no way out anyway.

third room. There was a crossroads, four options but only really one. You listened, opening the darkened wood door.

This looked like a bedroom, from the red walls to the giant bed in the center pushed up against the wall. A small desk that was barren, save for a book. close the door for me. You hesitated, complying regardless.

"That's good. I knew something about you was different." Your bones jumped out of your skin, turning around sharply. A young looking woman, wearing a big red dress. "Intruders who listen are normally... burdened, instead of trying to rob me."

The door was locked again.

"I can hear your heart beating heavily, relax.. I don't desire to hurt you, my name is Liz. I live here, where you've broken in." Liz didn't sound mad about your intrusion, her voice softer than clouds. You wish to hear more.

"I'm sorry– I didn't mean to. I'll leave." Liz shook her head, beckoning you closer with two fingers.

"No. I won't let you leave yet. Come closer and tell me your name."

The vague threat of imprisonment washed over you without so much as a second thought, taking a step closer. You have no choice but to tell her.

"Ah, that's a cute name. Take your shoes and jacket off, no need for such formality in my abode." The wet clothing disappeared, Liz moving it for you. "So, how did you end up coming this far out? I'm not exactly on the beaten path."

"I," you bit your tongue.

"Don't be scared, let your worries fall at the wayside here." Liz lulled, patting the bed space next to her. "Sit."

"I'd get the bed wet."

"There's no problem. Just, sit." You complied, not wanting to disrespect her hospitality.

"Let me ask again, you don't have to answer but.. it'll do you a world of good.." You couldn't resist, so much light compared to the usual darkness.

"It's been a long few months, struggling, but I've survived. Through it all." The stranger listened, watched, smiled. But never spoke. Let you go through anything on your mind.

Everything.

Liz was at her own point of inflection, almost feeling bad at what she was going to have to do. You had taken her time, happily so. She enjoyed every minute of it, but dawn would rise before she could feed even if you were let free now.