THE IMMORTAL'S FRIEND

Chapter 1: Mark

Galen's POV

It was past midnight and the moon was clearly visible outside the window of our small room. Shira, my seven year old sister was lying down on the bed beside me, while both of her eyes are open.

We are supposed to sleep now, but the silence of the night keeps us awake. I don't mind staying awake at this hour though, but I'm worried because my sister was also staying up late when she's supposed to be sleeping right now.

"Why are you still awake, Shira?" I asked her with a soft voice.

She got stilled when she heard my voice, yet she still turned slowly to face me.

"I'm scared to sleep, brother.." She replied. Her voice was tiny and soft.

"Are you scared of having a nightmare?" I tried to guess. She shook her head gently.

"It's not because I'm scared of a nightmare, brother. I don't want to sleep because I'm scared that I won't be able to see the morning again." She replied.

Her response made me dumbfounded. I looked at her face for a minute and I felt my tears suddenly tempt to fall down.

She doesn't want to sleep because she's afraid that she won't wake up to see the morning again. She's afraid that she won't see tomorrow. My heart felt heavy. I can see with my own eyes how her small body shakes in fear as tears start to fall down from her eyes.

Hoping that it would help her stop from shivering, I moved my body closer to her and embraced her warmly.

If only I could erase that thought from her mind. I don't want her to think such things.

Is it my fault? Is it our dad's fault for running away and leaving my mom after his business got bankrupt? Is it our mom's fault because she didn't take care of herself after our dad left us and she always went to a bar to drink without knowing that she is carrying a child?

Maybe it's our mom's fault. If only she took good care of herself, then Shira would be born as a healthy child. It's our mom's fault why Shira is sick and weak right now.

But who am I to blame her? I can't blame our mom because unlike my sister, she gave birth to me healthily. If I also have a weak body like Shira, then no one's gonna take care of her right now.

"Brother, am I going to die?" Shira asked again after a moment of silence.

I shook my head gently as I answered, "You won't."

I won't let her die because I'm going to take care of her. I'm never gonna leave her.

"I also don't want to die, but my body says otherwise..." She added with a sad tone.

I hugged her tighter and raised my hand to pat her head.

"Don't say something like that. Your body might be weak, but you are stronger than anyone could think. Brother believes in you, so you should also believe in yourself."

I refrained from hugging her and gave her an encouraging smile. My heart melted when she returned the smile to me.

"Brother, do you believe that vampires exist?" She asked another question, making me blink in confusion.

I don't know why she suddenly asks that. Is she trying to change our topic?

"I don't believe that they exist. Why did you ask, Shira?"

"I do hope that there are vampires. In books that I read, it was said that vampires are immortal. They are immortals so they won't die, right? I want a vampire to bite me and turn me into immortal so I can stay beside you forever." She explained with a smile on her face.