The Awakened

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

None of us really change overtime. We only become more fully what we are.

- Anne Rice, The Queen of The Damned

It was a bright summer morning as Vincent stepped out of the car and took in the sight of Hillsdale High School. He was nervous but excited at the same time. It was a new beginning for him, a chance to start over and leave his past behind. As he made his way through the crowded halls, he couldn't help but feel like a fish out of water.

"Excuse me, are you lost?" A friendly voice called out to him. Vincent turned to see a pretty blonde girl with a friendly smile on her face.

"Uh, yeah. I'm new here," he said, feeling a bit self-conscious.

"Welcome to Hillsdale! I'm Ashley," the girl said, extending her hand.

"Vincent," he replied, shaking her hand.

Ashley started to show Vincent around the school, introducing him to some of the other students. They walked past a group of jocks who were laughing and joking around.

"Don't mind them," Ashley said, rolling her eyes. "They think they own the place."

Vincent nodded, trying to keep up with all the names and faces that Ashley was introducing him to. As they turned a corner, he bumped into someone.

"Watch where you're going, newbie," a tall guy with a buzzcut growled at him.

"Sorry," Vincent muttered, taking a step back.

"Don't worry about him," Ashley said, giving the guy a dirty look. "That's Brad. He's a jerk."

Vincent couldn't help but feel like he had a lot to learn about Hillsdale, but he was determined to fit in and make new friends.

As they walked down the hall, Vincent noticed a group of students gathered around a bulletin board. He made his way over to see what all the fuss was about. It was a flyer for the school's upcoming Halloween party.

"That looks like fun," Vincent said, smiling at Ashley.

"Yeah, it's always a good time," she said, smiling back.

Vincent couldn't wait for the party. It would be the perfect opportunity to meet more people and make new friends.

Later that day, Vincent was in his history class, listening intently to the teacher. He had always loved learning about the past, and history class was his favorite.

As the teacher talked about the ancient civilizations, Vincent couldn't help but feel a strange pull towards the stories of the supernatural. Legends of vampires, werewolves, and witches filled his mind, and he found himself daydreaming about a world beyond the one he knew.

After class, Vincent approached the teacher and asked her more about the legends. She told him about the first vampire, Lilith, and how she had created other vampires in her image. Vincent couldn't help but feel a strange connection to the story.

That night, Vincent couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about the stories and the strange feeling that they gave him. He got out of bed and walked over to the window, gazing up at the stars.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his body, and he fell to the ground. He writhed in agony as his body convulsed, his skin burning hot. He felt his muscles tear and repair simultaneously. The pain was so unbearable that he had trouble remaining conscious. This has never happened before, he felt as if he was dying, it felt like he was being ripped apart from the inside out.

As the pain subsided, he felt a high pitch ringing and all sounds from the birds chirping to the wind blowing wear unbearable. Almost as if he had speakers at full volume held up at both ears. His vision became blurred has he struggled to look around stumbling here and there.

The confusion and torture finally subsided. Vincent lay on the ground, panting and sweating. He felt different, stronger somehow. He could hear things he had never heard before and see things he had never seen. It was as if a new world had opened up to him.

Vincent went out in a near by forest to check what was going on with him. He soon discovered that he could lift things he never dreamt he could lift. He could move faster than any highly trained athlete and his sense. And he could see and hear things to far to be seen or heard by a normal human.

Vincent knew he had to keep his new abilities a secret, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder about what he had become.

As he made his way to school the next day, Vincent couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.

As Vincent walked down the hall, he felt a strange presence behind him. He turned around to see a group of three girls staring at him with intense curiosity.

"Hey, new guy," one of them said, walking towards him. "I'm Lea, and these are my friends, Emma and Ava. We couldn't help but notice that you're new here."

Vincent felt a strange energy emanating from the girls, as if they were different from the others he had met so far. "Yeah, I just started yesterday," he replied, trying to hide his nervousness.

"We heard you talking to Ms. Johnson about the supernatural legends," Emma said, tilting her head to the side. "Do you believe in that stuff?"

Vincent hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer. "I'm not sure," he said finally. "But I find it fascinating."

Lea smirked, stepping closer to him. "Well, we know more about it than most," she said cryptically. "Maybe we can show you around the town sometime."

Vincent felt a shiver run down his spine at her words. He wasn't sure if he should trust these girls, but something about them intrigued him.

"Sure, that sounds great," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

As they walked away, Vincent couldn't help but feel like he had just entered a world he knew nothing about.

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. Vincent's mind was filled with thoughts of the supernatural, the strange girls, and the feeling of being watched. He couldn't wait to get home and try to make sense of everything that had happened.

As he walked through the door of his house, he could feel the weight of his new life bearing down on him. He was no longer just Vincent, the new kid in town. He was something more, something powerful and dangerous.

He sat down at his desk and opened his laptop, determined to learn everything he could about the supernatural. As he searched through websites and forums, he stumbled upon a story about Lilith, the first vampire.

Vincent's heart raced as he read about her power and her ability to create others like her. He couldn't help but feel a strange connection to her story, as if it was calling out to him.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, interrupting his thoughts. He walked over to the door and opened it to find Lea, Emma, and Ava standing on his doorstep.

"Hey, we thought we'd come show you around," Lea said, flashing a smile.

Vincent felt a sense of excitement and fear as he stepped outside with them. He wasn't sure where they were taking him, but he knew that his life was about to change forever.