Hayley's Beginning

Chapter 7

I wish I could explain what happened in the library, but I couldn't. Maybe I imagined a change on Gabriel's face, but then, my mind couldn't make something like that come to life no matter how hard I tried. The school day finished, I picked up the homework, Uncle John picked me up, and I dropped the work off at Katherine's. Mr. and Mrs. James decided to let me have the weekend free from helping Katherine, even though I insisted on doing it. While I and Uncle John were driving home, I decided to bring up the De Luca family.

"Uncle John?"

"Yes?"

"Have you heard of the De Luca family?"

I saw his body shift, "Yes, their family name sounds familiar. I was friends with their grandfather"

"Well, do you happen to have their address? I have something of theirs and wanted to return it to them" I have the necklace in my bag. I guess Gabriel's necklace has a match.

"Yeah, I do. When we return home I'll give it to you and you can take the car."

"Thank you"

It was another twenty-minute drive since traffic took forever. Uncle John gave me the address and I drove there with the help of my GPS. I pulled up to a massive house, probably twice the size of my house. I turned off the engine and took a deep breath. This totally won't be awkward. I hold on to the necklace that is in my pocket and went up to the door. I knocked and there was an answer after a few minutes. There was a guy, but not Gabriel. He was tall like Gabriel, black-haired and had blue eyes

"How can I help you?" The man asked obnoxiously

"I'm looking for Gabriel De Luca. Does he live here?" I asked

"Come on in"

I walked in slowly, and the interior decor was vintage. There was a bunch of furniture carefully placed and bookshelves filled with books. Hardwood floors and a bunch of paintings hanging. There was a second floor with black railings.

"Is he here?" I asked.

"My brother is in the yard, I'll go get him"

"Brother? I didn't know-"

"Don't worry about it. I'm Alec. Gabriel's older brother" He held his hand out.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Hayley" I shook his hand

"You look a lot like someone Gabriel and I knew." out of nowhere, Gabriel showed up.

"Hayley, what are you doing here?" He asked

"I have something of yours I think" I took the necklace out and Alec's face lightened, while Gabriel's went cold.

"Thank you. You better get going" Gabriel rushed

"Yeah. I'll see you at school" I said as I left.

I was beside my car and somehow Gabriel was right behind me when I turned around. I jumped and we laughed.

"You really should warn people before you sneak up on them"

"I'll keep that in mind" He leaned against the car and grabbed something from his pocket

"I should get going," I said

"I know we don't know each other very well, but I would like you to have this" He opened the little box and it had a locket necklace.

"I can't take that"

"I insist. I haven't found anyone special to give it to, until now"

He opened the clasp and I turned around so he could clip it.

"Thank you. It's beautiful" I looked down at it and smelled something strong

"What's that smell?" I asked

"It's Vanilla Birch, it's a type of flower"

"It smells amazing. Thank you"

"You're welcome"

I looked around and it was getting dark, "Can we talk tomorrow?"

"Okay, what time?" He asked

"12pm at the coffee shop?"

"I'll see you there" He smiled, and I smiled too

"Great. Well, I should get going. It's getting dark"

"Goodbye Hayley" He walked off and went inside the house

I glanced down at my necklace one more time and then got into the car. I drove home and went inside, seeing Aunt Kate already asleep and the News was on. I sat down and listened in.

"Welcome back to the update of  Ashley Williams. The girl who was missing for three weeks and found unconscious in the woods. Recent sources state that she is in a stable condition, surrounded by friends and family at the Far Water Emergency Hospital" The news lady said.

I dropped the blanket over Aunt Kate and went upstairs to my room. It is 8:45 pm, and I feel like I was hit by a truck. Thank god tomorrow is the weekend and I get to hang out with Gabriel. I scroll through lots of different YouTube videos for probably ten minutes until I gave up and fell asleep.

I was running and running from something in the woods. I kept looking back, and then I see someone following me. I kept running and I then tripped on a tree trunk. I was screaming out for help but was alone with the figure that was following me. The figure stood over me and laughed. The laugh sounded familiar, almost like it was-

"You're a poor, fragile girl. I wish I didn't have to do this" It was Gabriel's voice

"Please! Please don't" I pleaded, but nothing worked.

He took me by the shirt, his face veined from the eyes and red. He parted his lips and I saw fangs. He was a vampire. He bit me and I screamed and fought, but nothing worked. I began getting weaker and my life started slipping away.

I jolt up and it takes me a good minute to realize that I was in bed.

"What the hell," I say.

I slowly get up and head downstairs. I saw Uncle John at the kitchen table looking at his computer. I walk over to him and stand behind him, looking at his computer.

"The recent missing people?" I asked

"Yeah, it's strange how they just started going missing. This only happened a few times thoughout the years. One in 1977, then 1925, 1864 and now."

I see what he's talking about. Everyone was fine up until a few weeks ago. That does seem weird.

"Anyways, why are you up at 4 in the morning?" He said and my thoughts drifted back to my dream.

"Bad dream," I said as I went to the fridge to get some grapes. I saw the couch in the living room was empty.

"Aunt Katie went to work?" I asked and he nodded.

"She left an hour ago" He sighed. I sat down in front of him and shared some grapes.

"What's wrong Uncle John?" I asked

"She works hard. Sometimes to long and it feels like there isn't anytime for things" I can't disagree. She is the main reason why I want to become a nurse.

After I finished munching on some grapes I tried going back to sleep. I was feeling all kinds of different emotions. Scared, nervous and awkward are just the beginning. I somehow fall back asleep, awaiting my alarm to shout in four hours.