Blood Lust

Chapter Five

I'm being chased. I'm in the middle of the woods and I'm being chased. By what? I don't know.

It's fast. Like lightning.

I look over my shoulder as I run. I don't see the predator, but I run hard anyway. Panting, I push with all my might. My lungs burn. My chest hurts. My legs are numb. I can't go on anymore. But I want to live. I need to live.

I finally see the clearing ahead. No farther than a football field distance I see light. I run faster and faster, even with my legs cramping.

I'm so close. I'm so close to freedom.

I'm halfway there now. It's so close.

Then I fall. Rather, I get pushed.

I flip onto my back. The creature looks totally human. It looks like Atlas. Actually, I think, it is Atlas.

His hands grip my arms beside my head on the ground. Hard. His teeth are pointed. Almost like...

He hisses. Then he lunges.

His sharp teeth aim for my neck. Before they make contact, I wake up.

******

I wake up sweating. My heart is pounding, but it's slowing down.

Now that I think about it, it's kinda funny.

Atlas being a vampire. Ha. That is by far the weirdest dream I have ever had.

I grab my robe off the door and head downstairs.

"I had the strangest dream last night." I reply as I walk into the kitchen.

Altas and Forrest look up.

"I was being chased in the middle of the woods." I start. "Boring." Forrest immediately replies. I roll my eyes. "No but the funny part is I was being chased by you Atlas." He chuckles. "And you were a vampire." I say laughing. He stops. "Yea." Atlas replies, losing the laugh. "That is funny." He mumbles.

******
I meet Tyler at the local coffee shop after he got back from his family emergency. He has already arrived and is sitting in a booth on the farest side of the shop.

"Hey," he says, looking up from his phone, as I slide into the booth across from him. "Hi." I smile. "Everything okay with your family?"

"Yea it's all good. Uncle Sean fell at work and broke his arm. He's fine though."

"That's good." I reply. "Did you order yet?"

"Obviously, I ordered you a chocolate milkshake with a shit tone of fries." He grins. "You know me so well."

"So I hear that your brother's old friend is back in town. What's his name? Adam?"

"Atlas," I reply. "He's staying for a while before he gets back on his feet."

He nods when the fries and milkshake arrives. He reaches across the table to steal a couple fries. Mouth full he Tyler replies, "Is he going to school?" "Yea, whenever we go back that is." He nods.

"Actually there was something I wanted to ask you. I was wondering..." he hesitates, "if you want to be my girlfriend?" He looks up from the table.

I can't help but blush. "Yea, I'll be your girlfriend." I say smiling hard. He looks relieved. "Great." He smiles.

About half an hour later we head out to his truck. "I have to get home and start studying, but I'll drop you off at your house." Tyler says while opening the door. I climb into his truck and shut the door. I reply when he gets in. "That's fine, I have to too." 

The trip back to my house takes almost ten minutes. We talk about anything and everything. Mostly gossip. But then we get on the subject of the murders.

"I don't mean to scare you Thalia but these murders are getting fucking insane. I mean, who would be so fucked up to actually kill people." I agree. "I didn't think anyone here would do such a thing." He agrees. "Me either." He agrees.

He pulls up into my driveway, gets out of the truck, and opens my door. "I had a really good time, girlfriend." He says as the closes the door. "Me too, boyfriend." He gives me a slow kiss, "See you later gorgeous." I can't stop grinning as he gets back into his truck and drives away.

I start to walk back to the house when I see a figure standing in the upstairs window. Atlas. He was watching Tyler and me. I wonder why?

I walk into the house and head straight up to my bedroom. Altas is waiting on my bed. "Fuck, you scared me." I reply. "I'm sorry." "It's cool." I reply taking my shoes off." "No Thalia. I'm sorry about snapping at you yesterday. I've..." he trails off. "I've been having a tough time." He says softly. I almost couldn't hear him. He stands up to leave, but before he can, I give him a hug. He doesn't hug back. I give him a small smile before he leaves.

I hope Atlas is adjusting okay.