Tainted Red.

c h a p t e r - o n e

“I'm sorry, something came up at home. I'll be going first”

“That's fine. Plus, some of us still here, I'll be just fine.”

I gave Anne a reassuring smile. She's been my guide since i started this job. It's just been 4 days tho and i think i'm doing well and slowly getting a hold of everything i gotta do.

I also did not almost make it to my first day. I had a fever and my head hurts a lot when i woke up back then. It's a side effect whenever i share my blood with him. It makes me sick and weak.

“Don't overdo yourself. You can go home when it's 10 already.”

She said as she grabbed her bag from her disk. It's already 8:30pm and i haven't finish my paperworks yet. I don't like the idea of leaving them undone for tomorrow. I'm tired and hungry already, working ain't fun at all. But i gotta do it to survive. I don't wanna keep relying on my Father, i don't even want any connection with him anymore. I'll earn and once I'm able to, I'll get my own place and start anew.

The only noise I'm hearing at the moment is the sound of fingers tapping on the keyboards. There's few of us left, even some of the office lights were turned off already. I sighed and gently massages my temple, it somehow eases the headache I'm currently getting.

“Take it easy. Here you go.”

An unfamiliar voice suddenly broke my silence and when i look up he's there standing beside me and sat down on Anne's chair. He just put a can of orange juice on my disk and took a sip on his canned coffee.

“Don't go too harsh on yourself.”

He smiled warmly. I still couldn't get a hold of myself and still don't know what to say. What should i say? I'm not really good at making conversations specially with the opposite sex. But his soft brown eyes and the look of his face while looking at me doesn't seem suspicious.

“Um, thanks.”

I smiled a little and took the juice from my table.

“I'm sorry, where's my manners?”

He chuckled softly and scratches his head before extending his hand to me.

“It's Deo, Deo Cranel. I'm in Team E.”

He's just too polite. Maybe there's no point on getting these weird thoughts in my head. I extended mine too and shook my hand with him.

“Callie Amelia, so uh- i guess you knew, i just started here. I'm under Anne, team B.”

“Yes, yes- i couldn't get the chance to talk to you these last few days but I'm glad i catched you up here.”

He smiled. He seems nice. He seems like, lightening up the thickening atmosphere of awkwardness between us two. Which is a good thing since I don't really know much about how to keep up a conversation.

“I just need to finish these last few papers and I'm good to go.”

I took a sip and somehow it refreshes me and awakens my mind. It's been a day and I'm tired.

“Alright, i guess I'll leave you alone now so you'll finish early. You know, you gotta go home early. Don't get too late. It's dangerous specially for a girl like yourself.”

He then stood up, he actually got a point. I just realized how actually tall he is. He seems out of it already, his tie already in a lose and sleeves folded up to his elbows. Why am i even checking these details out?

“Ah. Yes, um you're right. Thank you and for this too.”

I hold up the can and he just smiles and wave as he turn around and walked away from my area. Alright, i gotta finish these right away.

I finished everything after an hour and cleaned my disk already, I'm ready to go home and- eat. I'm hungry, for real. I put my coat on and made my way towards the elevator already. My body feels way too heavy and i think when I'll get home I'll just collapse and sleep. Still, I'll take a few minutes to walk towards my flat.

The door's already almost closed when a hand suddenly stopped it and opened it back.

“Thank goodness.”

“Deo.”

“Hey, so you're going home now too?”

He pushed the button and put his bag on the floor before wearing his coat.

“Uh yeah.”

“Do you live nearby?”

“Well, yeah- kind of. Just a few steps away.”

“That's cool. I take the train. Damn, that's tiring every day.”

“Imagining it, i agree.”

It is tiring indeed. After a long day at work, you still need to take a ride home and so.
We reached the ground floor and started to walk out the building together. Also, we had the same route towards my building and the station. We actually, shared some few talks and jokes, i actually starting to loosen up my ground with him. He seems really nice.

“So we'll split up here, thank you.”

“You better not be having overtime when I'm not. It's not right for you to walk home alone.”

I looked back and really did noticed how dark and quiet the whole street already is. It's scary. You don't know the mind of some people. Danger comes when you less expected it. He's right.

“Yeah, sure.”

I chuckle and so does he before he waved goodbye and started to walk already. He'll be there in less than a minute tho, it's not too far away from here actually.

I entered the building and walked up the staircase towards the 4th floor already. The elevator here is currently out of order due to maintenance so i gotta use the stairs.

I'm now catching my breathing when i reached my room. Only the sound of my keys while I'm opening my door is all i could hear of. But i actually got used to this silence, I've been here for the past 5 months already. I gotta hurry now and sleep, I'm exhausted. I walked in inside my room, not even bothering to turn on the lights. After i locked the door, i just dropped my bag on the floor and started to undress myself. This kind of clothing actually makes me feel like I'm suffocating. I'm now left with my underwear and that's really refreshing, i could just jump in bed and sleep.

“You stinks of a another man.”

His deep voice startled me and got me frozen. I slowly feel his cold self, arms wrapping around my bare body and that sends chills down my spine. I, again, lost my strength as his sharp fangs started to dig in my flesh.

His warm breathe, the sound he makes when he sucks my blood, it drives me out of my mind.

I started to cry as the pain intensifies, he's overdoing this. It hurts. What's wrong with him?

“Aiken..it hurts..it hurts..”

Those words slipped out between my faints. His other hand started to caress my skin and made it's way on my chest. I don't even know what to think anymore. His groan was the last sound i heard as i lost my consciousness.