Death is a strange thing. Death doesn't necessarily mean the end of life. Death comes in many forms. Death of body, death of mind, death of soul. This is a story about the soul, and how it dies.
The water is calm, sparkling with the reflection of the moon. We don't say anything for awhile, we just sit in the sand and listen to the waves. Ryan is the first to speak.
"Where do you think we go when we die?" His gaze is still fixed on the water.
"I not exactly sure, but I can't except that we just don't go anywhere. It doesn't make sense, you know?"
He's silent for a few minutes, thinking about my answer. "What if I told you that you were wrong?" Now he looked at me, gauging my expression.
"You couldn't know for sure, not unless you've died." This makes him smirk.
"But I have, Mary. I've died and come back." He looks away again, drawing lines in the sand with his finger.
I'm startled, but I keep my voice and face calm. "What happened?"
"I was cured."
"What are you talking about?"
"Life is a curse, death is a transition, what comes after... I'm not sure how to explain it." A strange euphoria paints his features.
"I thought you said we didn't go anywhere."
He laughs as though I'd told him the funniest joke, ever. "I'm here right now, aren't I?" I don't know how to respond, so I don't. He continues talking. "When I came back, I was a new being, I was stronger, better."
At this point I've had enough. "Will you stop being so cryptic and just tell me what the hell you're talking about?" I shouted.
That's when it happens. His eyes flash red and when he speaks, his words come out as an inhuman growl. "You will not speak to me like that." My heart jumps up into my throat.
"What the hell?!" I want to run away, but against my will, I'm stuck in place. His eyes go back to green and his face is calm again.
"Sorry, it's just so frustrating." He sees the fear in my eyes and tries to reach for my hand. I pull away from him as if I would die if he touched me. "I don't want to hurt you."
Not, 'I won't hurt you', 'I don't want to hurt you'.
This time I can't pull away fast enough. "I love you, Mary. I want to cure you." He holds my hand in a iron grip.
"Let go of me." I whisper, voice weak with terror. He doesn't listen.
"You'll thank me, not now, but someday." His eyes are red, and when he opens his mouth, I can see that his canines are elongated.
Fear completely paralyses me as he brings his mouth to my throat. I feel a painful sting and try to scream, no sound escapes.
As blood pours from my neck, I start to feel dizzy. I try to hang on to consciousness, but it doesn't take long before the world begins to fade.
I'm going to die.
