A Face Made For Daylight

She Does The Woods

It was a quiet night. The cool crisp autumn air, a match for his skin. The only discernible sound, the rustling of his leather jacket with every step he took. He moved smoothly and rhythmically though the dark woods. One of the many routes he had on rotation to avoid leaving any traces of his behavioural patterns. The route may be different, but the goal was the same: He needed to feed.

After scavenging the area for hikers with no luck, he decided to gamble out to the nearby park. A night jogger would suffice. Anything to quiet the ache he felt in his body. His thirst was strong tonight.

Making his way out of the bushes, he stumbled on the outskirts of a baseball field. Adjusting his vision, he scanned the park. His eyes, like binoculars, can magnify the smallest details from miles away. They landed on a group of teenage boys packing their football gear on one end of the park. His eyes zoomed in on an older couple miles away in the opposite direction walking hand in hand headed to their car. He sighed in annoyance of his situation. The hunt was much more enjoyable when it wasn't in groups. He needed just one body, one human to isolate, trap, chase, and feed on. And that's when he saw her.

She was sitting on a park bench, alone. His eyes fixated in on her as she turned her head and he saw her eyes were red, puffy, glistening. She has been crying. She had her phone up to her ear. He closed his eyes to listen to her conversation.

Nothing. He couldn't hear anything. With his head tilted , he opened his eyes and furrowed his brows. He must be so hungry, that his senses are faltering. He could see she was in a heated discussion. He waited until she lowered her phone ending the conversation. He saw her bring her gaze to the ground while resting her forehead in her open palm. All that mattered was she was alone. She was his dinner. With a swift turn, he appeared now across the field, miles away from where he stood merely seconds ago, and was standing across of her. She felt a sudden breeze swaying her hair back. Startled she looked up and saw him staring at her.

"Sorry", he started. "I didn't mean to scare you. Ar—are you okay love?" his eyes softening as he spoke.

"..um, yes, no I'm okay." She lied, turning away while wiping tears from her eyes.

"...are you sure? You hurt?" He tilted his head staring at her.

She turned to face him, aware of her surroundings now, she looked at the dark stranger. He was dressed fully in black. His black buttoned shirt slightly open revealing a golden chain against his bare chest, glistening under the florescent field lights. His dark ensemble polished off with a shiny leather jacket complimenting the glisten of his slicked back gelled hair. He moved his head back up and raised his eyebrow. Her cheeks burned as she realized she was glaring too long at this man's striking features. She swallowed the lump in her throat and he noticed. A smirk now played on his lips. He knew the effect he had on everyone who laid eyes on him.

"It's nothing really, it's just-", she sighed. "relationship stuff, you know?"

"Ah," he nodded. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that." She agreed nodding and looked back down to the ground in hopes of ending the forced conversation so she can be left alone to wallow longer.

His insides were screaming now, aching with thirst. He took a look around to evaluate his next move. He could just go for it, right here and now, but something was different.

Why can't I hear her thoughts? He never thought hunger could cause his senses to weaken that much. This was a puzzling development intriguing him.

"um... listen, I'm sure whatever it is, it'll work out."

He cleared his throat and moved forward sitting on the far end of the bench. He could sense it made her uneasy. Leaning forward to capture her attention he lifted his eyebrow, "but really love you shouldn't be out here alone at night. Do you need me to call you a lift?"