vampire // txt

chapter 1: photosensitivity

My head was throbbing in pain as if someone was hammering my skull from the inside. My mouth tasted of an old house turned to a relic for touring. Forcing my eyes open, I winced from the light. There was a noise- someone's voice- but I couldn't make out the words. As seconds passed I gained control of my limbs as if my nerves had to regrow in my arms and legs. I begun to feel the cement I laid on as my eyes slowly adjusted to the brightness of what I thought were heaven's gates. A woman's high-pitched call finally reached my ears clearly.

"My goodness! Young lady are you okay?" My whole body ached and as I lifted my head and my jaw immediately hurt. With a sore neck and hands on the ground, I pulled myself up with shaky arms.

"My, is that blood?" The old lady panicked, shifting her body around me not knowing what to do. Bringing myself to a kneeling position the world spun in circles and I felt like a new born baby who's so helpless and confused they can only cry. With a sharp inhale I felt something in my throat and started coughing, and my hands hit the ground to stay upright as each cough took what strength I had left. With my head facing downwards a string of red drool escaped my mouth and hit the concrete with a soft plat. I clutched my stomach with my hand, thinking of the last time I was in such pain. I couldn't think of one. I didn't know where I was, or why I was passed out next to a garbage bin. It felt like my insides were twisting. I was hot and cold and nauseous. I couldn't breathe.

"Don't worry dear! I'll call the police," I hear in the background. My chest grew larger with each breath-- rapid and shallow. Rubbing the side of my sore neck I felt an unwelcome unknown substance. Scratching some of it off and looking at my fingers I see red flakes of blood. I hear a phone dial. I lift my chin and finally look at the woman who's been standing in laceless tan shoes next to me. She wore skinny blue jeans and a thin blouse of printed flowers you could easily find in the women's section at a thrift store. She had face jowls that made me think she was probably in her 60's.

"Oh, yes hello! There's a young woman here in the back of my restaurant. I think she's injured and maybe needs an ambulance. Maybe hurt her head too I don't think she remembers anything." The lady brings herself closer, examining the little traces of blood on my clothes and neck.

"Don't worry the police are on their way," she assures me while holding her phone up against her chest. "Is this your phone? I'm not sure it works anymore, it's quite cracked." I reach out and grab it. It wouldn't turn on. My throat closed up and something sharp in my head made me groan. Her hand held my shoulder and suddenly she was close enough to see all the aging lines on her face. Something flashed inside my mind and I could see myself offering a hand to some dark figure I couldn't make out. Then like a phantom feeling, nails dug into my ankle. An evil smile with darkened eyes. The ground underneath tearing my clothes. And lastly a sharp bite into my neck. My nose began to burn like the moment before a sneeze. I let out a frightened wail and wrapped my hands around my neck, but I felt nothing but dried blood. The startled woman stepped back, her hand leaving my shoulder. I stood up with the coordination of a drunk, barely keeping my balance. The world whirled for a moment before my eyes could focus again. Dropping my head down to my feet, I pull up the bottom of my pants searching for non-existent bruises and cuts. Other than inner pain, I found nothing red or purple on my skin. Was it a dream? But why am I here then? Anxiety twirled around my stomach and mind, quickening my heart rate. Where has all the oxygen gone? With a shaky inhale I panicked, running my hands over my stomach and chest in disbelief. I was attacked by a vampire. How did I not die? How am I completely fine? Tears trailed down my face I didn't even notice in the midst of my panic. The old woman kept speaking trying to get my attention but I couldn't hear what she was saying.

My eyes land on her phone still in her hand. I hear a faint siren in the distance. I don't know why or what logic or lack there of led this decision, but like a voice from above or a gut feeling, I thought I should run. So I ran. Without looking back at the old lady or the restaurant and ignoring her confused shouting, I shoved my cracked phone in the pocket of my jacket. I raced through the alley and paused to pinpoint where the ambulance's siren was coming from. I went in the opposite direction. Questions and fears flooded my brain as I hoped my weak body wouldn't fall. I made it out of the block and onto a busy street. Before I could react I ran into a man who cursed at me but I didn't stop. The crowd of people stared at me as I pushed through, feeling oversensitive and stimulated from all the noise of traffic and angry phone calls, smells of people's perfumes and nearby cafes and a run over fast food bad stuck in a gutter against a curb. There was too much hyper activity my head was hurting again and I couldn't focus on any single thing. But I could still hear the siren. I needed to get out of the open. Stumbling past seated people without coffee cups I turn the corner of a cafe where it was empty of people and scribbled with electric cords and ventilators. The sound of it was pinching my eardrums. Disorientated and preoccupied with running I forgot of how I looked. I realized the very noticeable blood on my clothes wouldn't help blend me in with the crowd. I take off my jacket and turn it inside out, putting it back on and zipping it up. It's better for people to stare at my clothes for hanging tags than blood. There was still dark areas where the blood has seeped through though. I needed something else to cover myself. Or I could try to make it home by subway. I leaned against the wall as I thought of the least risky thing to do. With an unfocused gaze I let out a quiet laugh in disbelief.