Blood

Of monsters and us

Overwhelming silence suffocated me. This little space between the walls made of burnt bricks held nothing but four loaves of bread and a can full of water, our ration for this week.

How much time has passed since my friend had gone out? I didn't know. I patiently waited for him to return, hopefully with more food.

I recalled those days when my sister and I used to go out to the convenience store, fight over ice cream; we used to sneak out at night to marvel at the night sky. My sister would say pointing at the stars, "each of them holds a history we don't know. Megh, they will present themselves to us when it's time."

I would ask, "how are you so sure?"

Her eyes would mirror Sirius in the dark, "because they are part of the universe too, like us."

I missed my family, my sister. She went out to research astronomy three years ago and never returned. Some deadly virus mercilessly burgled my mom while my father died in the military fighting for the country. 

The world turned upside down after that. Virus outbreaks were a common thing in the news, until the day we got cut off from the internet. People put themselves in isolation. The desperation of making antidotes and vaccines among scientists resulted in the creation of unimaginable mutant creatures. Monsters that we had only heard about were roaming around the land, preying on humans.

We, the survivors, were accustomed to this life by now. Fighting monsters and losing loved ones to plague didn't feel unfair anymore. 'Either kill or die' was the only way to get through this famine.

"I'm back. No more food. But I got first-aid and this nice blade. Good for chopping some heads off" Lu's high-pitched voice pierced through the silence. I tilted my head to see a pocket knife being placed on the floor. I let out a dry laugh "we can only take down your kind with this one Lu!" I stretched out my hand for him to sit on. The six-inch leprechaun enthusiastically climbed on it.

-"My kind is dangerous too. Don't let my good self fool you."

"Copy that. General" I sliced a piece of bread in one third and offered it to him, humming absentmindedly.

I met Lu when our house had collapsed in a terrifying ghoul attack; I barely survived. I was roaming around the city, lost, stealing food from the market places and avoiding monsters when fate brought this little guardian to me. Being the only one six-inch human in the world of gigantic creatures was a struggle for him too. We've been inseparable ever since, finding hideouts and planning survival. Lu was certain that there were more leprechauns out there; he sometimes goes out for days to look for his kind.

"Anyone in there?"

A feminine voice shook me out of my reverie. Lu jumped up on my right shoulder as I instantly put up the stun gun which was stolen from an armory closer to my face.
None can be trusted, even humans.

We waited, holding our breaths. My back burned against the worn-out wall. After five minutes or so, nothing else occurred. I was thinking it was safe to turn our guards down. But Lu gripped the collar of my shirt; "stay put" he whispered sternly.

I gingerly moved and crawled my way to the entrance. Our little hideout resembling an igloo had no real doors. I pushed the curtain of wooden plates away from my face allowing the dying afternoon sun to soak our eyes. I stopped there, not daring to come out of my safe place.

-"I'm hungry. Help! Can you?"
I doubled over when a familiar face crouched down to my height. Both of our eyes popped out of the sockets as we stared at each other.

"Tara?" I spoke uncertainly, not believing my eyes "I thought I had lost you. Where were you all this time? How are you here?"

"Megh" my sister pulled me into a bone-crushing hug, inviting herself into the little room. I felt Lu slide down from my shoulder.

I hugged her back, sniffing her rosy scent with all my heart. How long has it been since someone embraced me this way? How long has it been since I saw my family?

"I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier. I've heard about dad Megh" Tara whispered on my shoulder, her arms still wrapped around my waist "sorry for not being here for you."

"it's alright! You're here now."

I felt safe and protected, my eyes heavy in abrupt sleepiness. My arms suddenly felt numb as a burning sensation shot out on my neck.

I could hear Lu's faint voice, screaming at me to get out.

"Wha-?" I mumbled, unable to stand upright. Tara still held me in her arms when I collapsed.

"Shh! It'll all be over", she whispered in my ears as she rocked me back and forth in her lap. "I love you Megh. But it's hard to suppress the thirst."

"You're- you're a vampire" I wiggled around like jelly to get out of her grasp. Her venom surged through my veins like acid.

No. I won't be a monster. I need to think straight. I need to survive. I need to-

"RUN LU!"

I directed one last sentence at my friend before my fingers grasped the little pocket knife laying on the floor. I urged my body to sit up and stabbed the knife right at her heart in a swift movement.

I saw her blue eyes widen in shock as her body shook violently. I pulled out the blade and thrust it back again and again with all my might. I kept going until her still body dropped down on the floor. 

Knowing that at least one monster was subtracted from the world of chaos, I finally closed my eyes in exhaustion. Not sure if I'll ever open them again-