Chapter 2-2

My apartment for New York standards was spacious to say the least. It had two bathrooms, three bedrooms, a kitchen diner and an open living room with a gorgeous view of the city from multiple, pan glass windows. At twenty-seven I wasn't exactly doing bad for myself. Once I was discharged from duty three years ago, I initially moved back to England for a couple of months with my father. Since retiring, he had a habit of jumping onto the first cruise he could find with wife number four, Dahlia; admittedly the nicest stepmother to date. But as lovely as she was, it wasn't exactly ideal for me to be constantly home alone—especially with the mental state I was in at the time. After a while, I decided to take advantage of my dual citizenship to begin anew. My bank account had come into a great deal of money and my silence was bought-- I was more than ready to take it and move on with my life. It only took a month or so before I was in the bright lights of New York, and I never looked back. I found an ad for a job at a starter company specialising in the marketing of Broadway shows. It had very little pay and next to no benefits, but it kept me busy and had excellent potential for growth. Two years later and the business had tripled, resulting in my brand-new position of Marketing Director by sheer dedication and pure dumb luck. My parents always had a bit of money. My mother was a travel writer from America and my father a retired journalist from Ireland. I didn't grow up hungry nor did I want for much. I'd say it was a decent life until my brother passed when I was fourteen. After that, I should've seen the divorce coming. All the fights, all the yelling, all the times dad went missing in the night. The marriage only lasted a year after Issac's passing. Twenty-five years down the drain once they established that they couldn't take the strain of losing a child. He was twenty-two at the time. Being dragged through courts also had its toll. Having to sell the house I grew up in and welcome questionable stepparents into the fold didn't help either. At fourteen everything went topsy-turvy, and suddenly I'd lost everything I'd ever known in the span of a few months. Loud dinner times at the table became quick silent meals of convenience by the television, whilst our bi-weekly family game night was abandoned without another mention; the battered selection of once well-loved boardgames now collecting dust in an attic somewhere. Sophia didn't have to bear the brunt-- she was too young. I don't think she fully understood what was lost, and for that I'm glad. But even so, she'd always had an incredibly turbulent relationship with our parents. We were never close growing up, a combination of age difference and boarding school resulting in us being practically strangers as children. But all that changed when she called me one day out of the blue a few months ago, crying down the phone about two bright blue lines. After that, I was the one who had to step up. I knew once mum found out about the baby she'd be kicked out. Even though neither of us were religious personally, our generational roots in Catholicism had ruled out abortion in Sophia's mind. It was only a matter of days before my prediction came true, my sixteen-year-old sister sobbing down the phone for a ticket to the states. Dad was MIA in Barbados, so with nowhere else to turn and little to no options left, she ended up moving in with me a few months back. Exhaustion hit me like a freight train that night as I crawled into bed, the lamp I kept on my nightstand dimly illuminating my cluttered bedroom as I lay facing the ceiling. I did nothing but stare blankly upwards, willing myself to get the sleep I so desperately needed. I'd heard Sophia going to bed about twenty minutes earlier and was beginning to lose patience with myself. After five minutes of counting dust particles, I sighed and turned over for what felt like the hundredth time. No matter how hard I willed to drift away, the attack kept playing over and over in my head like a broken record. I blamed myself for being so stupid as to try and help him in the first place, my anger and frustration growing alongside my worry as I tried to convince myself that no matter how real it had felt—I'd made that vile creature up in my head. Dr Patel said that my anger management issues were getting better day-by-day. Ever since I was a kid, I had a problem with controlling my temper, but recently I'd improved tremendously. I'd mainly channelled it through archery growing up, eventually becoming good enough to win some national competitions which my father called productive. Although, when you'd need to use a bow-and-arrow in day-to-day life is beyond me. Military school had really helped in terms of channelling it. I was one of the tops of the class in hand-to-hand combat, plus shooting inanimate object was strangely therapeutic for me—however much Dr Patel disapproved. The archery helped in that sense, my aim being pretty much spot on within the first two weeks of training. And ever since Sophia turned up, my coping skills had gotten even better. Even with everything that had happened we just fell into a comfortable routine, and now I couldn't picture life any other way. I eventually brought my knees up to my chest and curled up into a small ball, my mind still whirring over all the possible scenarios that could've happened had I not managed to escape. The frustration grew and grew, but in the end exhaustion finally caught up with me as I drifted off into a turbulent sleep. Before I knew it, a week had passed. Dr Patel ended up cancelling our Tuesday appointment as she was called to a family emergency in Colorado and would be out of town for a couple of weeks. Wishing her all the best, I carried on into the weekend, still a little bit tense from the incident but determined not to bother her during her family time. To make up for it, I headed to the gym a few times and perhaps went at it a bit too hard. My feet were now well and truly done, the combination of exercise and the barefooted chase creating one big mess that were my tootsies. I'd had what you'd call a bad fortnight. Between the attack and the pressures at work it had been one that I'd much rather forget. The only one good thing to come out of it was that I hadn't hallucinated again. It was late evening. Sophia was napping in her room whilst I was begrudgingly on the living room computer, putting a dent in my work inbox. The clients were due in on Wednesday, and I had at least a dozen things to do before we could submit our presentation. Even the weekend wasn't safe as I added some last-minute details. So, there I was. Saturday night sitting at my computer touching up something on Excel in my brother's old band T-shirt. I hadn't changed out of leggings since that morning, determined to be comfortable as I paired them with my massively fluffy socks that I loved to glide about with like a penguin on the laminate floor. What did I just think? God, I need a break from the coffee. Taking a deep breath through my nose, I let out a tremendous sigh and stretched out like a cat in my seat. I felt my back pop as I sat back down in the wheelie chair, the Excel sheet finally done and ready to be sent off for proofing. Leaning back, my eyes wondered to the city view outside—drifting off as I stared into the blurry lights. What should I make for dinner? Just as I began debating whether to order in, Sophia popped her head out of the bedroom, "Hey, I'm ordering a pizza—you want in?" Well, that decides that. "Sure, where abouts?" I asked, finishing off the last of my rather cold coffee with a bleugh. She leant against the doorframe, her protruding belly particularly pronounced in the new blue cotton jumpsuit she'd purchased only yesterday, "I don't know, I was thinking Caesars." "Caesars don't deliver." She made a face, "Really? Ew okay, um... how about Pizza Hut?" "I don't like the crust. Dominos?" I suggested. She rolled her eyes, "Yeah sure, whatever. I'll order it in a bit. Meat Feast, right?" "Ha, ha. You're hilarious," I replied, dead-panned. "Half on half it is," She declared, ducking back into her room and leaving me to it. Twenty minutes later the buzzer went for downstairs, signalling that the pizza guy had arrived. Sophia emerged with her wild blonde hair tied up in a messy bun, waddling barefooted towards the intercom with impressive speed, "I've got it!" Now in the kitchen finishing off some dishes, I vaguely heard her talk to the guy before buzzing him up, "Eve! He's on his way, I'm just going for a wee okay—can you open the door?" "Yeah! No sweat," I called back, placing my coffee cup onto the drying rack before sloppily drying my hands against my t-shirt. Two minutes later there was a knock on the door. I passed the bathroom only to hear loud MeTube videos playing, indicating she wouldn't be out anytime soon, "Hey, Lil. Did you pay for it already?" "...No!" She called out, most likely planning to be sat on her phone for the next ten minutes. "Great. I'll sort it out then, shall I?" I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes as I went to find my purse to pay. Another knock sounded, prompting me to call out, "Just a second!" Finding my purse, I glided to the door by my fluffy feet. Highlight of my day? Gliding about my apartment in a pair of socks. Classy. I reached the door just as another knock sounded, his impatience annoying me slightly, "I'm coming! Jeeze..." Out of habit, I made sure to check the peephole before opening the door. And my breath caught in my throat. "No..." I muttered in disbelief, time slowing down before eventually coming to a complete stop as I felt the purse slip through my fingers and fall to the ground with a dull thud. My heartbeat spiked for what felt like the twelfth time that week as I stared at the painfully familiar man stood outside my apartment door. It was the freaking vampire. How on Earth did he find me? I audibly heard myself gulp as I realised he was here, stood a few feet away with nothing but a door between us. I glanced to the side and noticed that the deadbolt was undone. This can't be happening. This isn't happening. He's real. He knocked again which reset time and made me jump out of my skin. With shaky hands, I slowly and quietly reached out to slide the deadbolt across—ensuring a little bit more security against whatever it was that was behind the door. Taking a cautious step back, I cursed Hell and Earth as the floorboard beneath my foot squeaked loudly in protest. The noise caused my entire body to tense and my eyes to shut from shock, everything praying within me that he didn't just hear that. "Evelyn?" He knows my name. How does he know my name? "Evelyn, please open the door," He persisted, knocking once again, "We need to talk." His voice only spurred my panic further as I pressed myself into the console table that sat across from the entrance; black as ink eyes and extended sharp teeth flashing across the forefront of my mind. How is he here? How could he be here? "Please, just... let me explain," He continued, before vague mumbling began from the other side of the door as if he was talking to someone. Oh, now the pizza guy turns up. I couldn't let him in, I had to barricade it. Thoughts began flying through my head that before last week I would have never dreamt of. Holy shit, what do I do? Do I even have a crucifix? Don't be mad, Evelyn... you need a stake! Frantically searching, I tried to find something I could use if he managed to get in. But everything was just too heavy or too pen like. Surely the door would be enough to hold it back? The vague recollection of Vampires having to be invited in before entering a home niggled in the back of my mind, but after a brief deliberation it wasn't a guarantee I could afford to take. They might have evolved since that fact was invented, how in the Hell was I supposed to know? Suddenly, the knocks that followed were more like poundings as the whole door shook violently with each hit, "Evelyn, please! I haven't got time for this--! I mean, shit. There isn't much time!" "... Gun," I mumbled quietly to myself, frozen in place as the way the door shook proved that it wouldn't be enough to keep me safe. Something told me it could 100% get through if it wanted to, and it was only a matter of time before I'd be proven correct. Taking a few seconds to brace myself, I prayed to God that some of the neighbours had heard the commotion and called the police. My phone was in the bedroom, but the gun was closer. Taking one deep breathe for courage, I pushed off the table and sprinted to the living room where I knew my bag was chilling on the corner table. "Evelyn!" It shouted, sounding genuinely pissed at this point as it slammed the door with one last loud bang. Fear spiking from having my back to it, I hurriedly reached the archway that led to my living room. However, in a cruel twist of fate-- the socks I had once considered the highlight of my day brutally betrayed me. Turning the corner at full speed, I lost my footing and clumsily slipped; my head ricocheting forcefully against the floor as I collided with the ground. I groaned involuntarily from the throbbing pain that instantaneously burst from the side of my skull, my still sore shoulder also joining in on the fun. Momentarily seeing stars, I blinked slowly to straighten my vision before slowly turning onto my front, utilising my hands for a better grip as my feet could not catch a break. I felt dizzy but determined as a sickening crack came from the front hall, my gut instinct that the door would not be enough to hold it back proving correct. The sound kickstarted me back into action as I clumsily stood up, stumbling to my bag whilst holding my head to lessen the bleeding. I thankfully wasn't bleeding but I had a feeling I'd have a lump tomorrow. Fighting with the front pocket, I finally managed to grasp the familiar hilt of my handgun as I yanked it out with shaky fingers. I hurriedly aimed it at the entering vampire, taking a second to pinpoint his exact position as there were three of him bobbing around the place. "Hey--! "--Stay the Hell away from me!" I shouted, straightening my stance and adjusting my aim to the best of my abilities. The three vampires thankfully settled into one figure after only a brief moment. Instead of the usual reaction of flinching in fear or pissing your pants, the hairy vampire stood stock still, his eyes widening before filling with what seemed like blatant annoyance, "Seriously? You have a gun?" In disbelief I took a step back to distance us, the pounding growing more pronounce from the sheer impossibility of the situation, "Yes, that's why I'm pointing it at you!" "You could seriously hurt yourself with that--" "I broke your nose the other day and ran up a wall to get away from you, do you really think I don't know how to handle a gun?" I challenged shakily, sidestepping to get closer to the door. The usual autopilot that took over when I held a firearm was nowhere to be seen as my hands shook violently, but as I spoke, I made a point of switching off the safety. This is impossible. Not knowing what to say or just deciding not to answer, he stood in my archway unmoving for about ten seconds, the annoyance visibly turning to anger in front of my very eyes. After what seemed like hours, our Mexican stand-off was cut short as he took a deep-breath and closed his eyes. He counted beneath his breath, the action allowing me to make a break for it. Although I was only able to take a few steps before his eyes flew open, my attempt to make it to the bedroom, and therefore the phone, cut short. He took several steps forward which essentially caused me to stagger to a stop, "Listen—" "Stay where you are, or I will shoot you where you stand," I warned, holding my ground and praying to God he didn't see how terrified I was. I'd dealt with men before. I'd dealt with wild animals before. Heck I've dealt with armed terrorists before. But never a freaking mythical creature! That was a completely different department. "Trust me, you won't," he said surely, but weakly put his hands up with his palms forward all the same. "Now you listen here, Dracula—" His ill attempt of surrender dropped for a moment, "--Dracula? Seriously?" "Oh, sorry—would you prefer Count?" I snapped, getting annoyed that the gun wasn't doing anything physiologically wise. "No, Evelyn." "Stop saying my name!" I demanded, "Its freaking me out!" "Okay, I'm sorry," He apologized, bringing his hands back up more prominently, "This wasn't meant to happen. I didn't even know you were human." Cutting him off I dropped the gun to my side in disbelief, "Didn't know? What the hell did you think I was? Edward Cullen in disguise?" Sighing he brought his hands down completely, his entire energy really not that of someone who had a gun pointed at their head, "Will you stop calling me a vampire please? It's really offensive." "Oh, I'm sorry! Would you prefer me to take out my big book of mythical monsters and name all of them alphabetically? Maybe then I'll get it right," I snapped sarcastically, gesturing at my massive bookcase on the other side of the room before bringing the gun back up. "Great, I would be stuck with..." He began muttering to himself before taking a deep breath. "Listen, we haven't got time for this. I need you to hear me out. Please?" "F*ck no!" I rebutted whilst laughing in disbelief, the situation too impossible to seem real. I could feel my heartbeat drumming heavily in my head, the sheer pressure of it making me wonder if the fall was more serious than I thought. Now would really not be the time... "... Alright fine, then can you just look me in the eye for a second? I—" "--Any closer, and I'll shoot!" I gave one final warning, my index finger landing on the trigger as he continued making his way over. He paused, his voice almost condescending, "Go for it, English. But don't—" I didn't give him time to finish his sentence before I squeezed the trigger, my eyes shut as I was fully prepared for the loud bang that was to follow. It wasn't the ideal situation but there was no way in Hell I was going anywhere with him. However instead of the usual kick and loud bang that I was so accustomed to; nothing but a dull click followed. My eyes snapped open as I realised the gun had jammed, my heart leaping into my throat whilst he still stood in the room living breathing. "...What the Hell? You were actually going to shoot me?" He said in disbelief, my hands shaking even further as the threat was still very much present. Instead of answering, I attempted to shoot again a solid six times, each time the trigger not pulling all the way and only a click ensuing. How? My gun has never jammed... how can today be the day it jams? "Stop," He muttered, his entire demeanour changing as he looked at me with a blank face, "There no point. It won't do anything." The man I'd meant to kill was still standing in front of me and had blatantly seen me try to kill him. I felt my chest begin to heave as I tried to think of what I was going to do. Neither of us moved as I stared at him with blatant fear. There was no hiding it now. I was either going to die or be taken by this man and I didn't know if I could win the fight. How... is he here? Is he here? Before he could move I made one last ditch attempt to hold my ground and suddenly threw the gun at him, the action obviously catching him by surprise as it hit him straight in the groin, "Ow!" "You're not real..." I mumbled to myself as I watched him grab his gonads and swear to himself. My eyes widened heavily with the realisation that the hallucinations hadn't stopped. I felt the room begin to spin as I processed what had gone on. On the one hand, at least the guy wasn't even here but on the other hand, how the Hell was I meant to get over this heavy of a hallucination? He scowled, "Well that f*cking felt real." "You're not here..." I continued, shutting my eyes to wish him out of my mind. It all made sense now as I put two-and-two together. There was no physical way this man knew where I lived, the only explanation was that the hallucination wasn't a one-time thing, and the attack simply took longer for me to process than I'd initially thought, "You're not real. You're not real." I pressed the palms of my hands against my eyes and grabbed my hair, pulling against it to try and work against the pounding headache that was quickly becoming rather debilitating. When I open my eyes, he'll be gone. When I open my eyes, he'll be gone. "Evelyn?" A small voice suddenly called out from the bathroom doorway, "Who's that?" Her voice caused me to freeze on the spot, my breath hitching in my throat as the whole world once again paused for a spilt second. My eyes flew open after only a moment's notice, scanning the room to find Dracula and Sophia within a short distance of each other, "What's going on?" It was as if a dam broke in my emotions as I stared at them both horrified, Sophia's words echoing whilst my mouth filled with a metallic taste and my whole body went into shock. Tears began to well as I shakily asked my baby sister, "L-Sophia... do you see him?" "W-what?" I shut my eyes and felt two fat tears of fear roll down my cheeks, "Sophia please, do you see him?" She nodded shakily after only a brief pause. The guy was just staring at me throughout this entire interaction in a mixture of concern and confusion. I took a deep breath and felt a few more tears fall as the whole situation came barreling down upon me. If Sophia wasn't there, I'm pretty sure I would have fully peed my pants at that point, however the instinct to protect over-took as I nodded reassuringly, "Okay... Sophia, call the cops." Seeing her eyes widen from the corner of my eye, I watched the man as he turned his attention away from me to her, "What's going on?" "Sophia, don't ask questions just do it..." I persisted, taking a small step forward as I braced myself to attempt and take him on manually. At this point, if Sophia got out it was the only thing that mattered. Hearing nothing but silence in return of my request, I glanced in her direction "Sophia?" "Evelyn, what's wrong with you?" She asked concerned, her question causing my eyebrows to furrow in confusion as I stumbled my way towards her. The floor kept tilting as I tried my best to make sure she was safe, the pressure in my head making it seem like it would explode at any second. I threw my hands out to correct my balance, but it did nothing but cause the room to spin even harder. "Crap--!" "Evelyn--!" I fell to the ground with a heavy thud.