Dark Autumn Rose

The Awakening.

        Samuel's eyes snapped open, his breaths ragged and heart pounding. The remnants of a nightmare clung to his mind like cobwebs—dark corridors, chasing shadows, and the relentless pursuit of something he couldn't quite grasp. His room, bathed in the soft glow of dawn, felt both familiar and alien. The posters of rock bands on the walls, the cluttered desk strewn with textbooks—all mundane, yet tinged with an otherworldly unease.
"Just a dream," he whispered to himself, pushing the tangled sheets aside. His bare feet touched the cool wooden floor, and he winced. "Why am I barefoot, where are my socks?" The memory of the nightmare slipped away, leaving only a lingering sense of urgency.

       Samuel shuffled to the window, pulling the curtains apart. Outside, the sun painted the sky in hues of pink and gold. The forest beyond beckoned—a sea of towering trees, their branches like gnarled fingers. "How did I get into the woods?" he whispered repeating what he had remembered from the nightmare. "And why am I running?"
His reflection in the window revealed a tousled mop of dark hair, eyes wide with confusion. Samuel was just an ordinary teenager, navigating the labyrinth of adolescence. But today felt different, charged with an inexplicable energy.

       As he dressed for school, the dream's tendrils clung to him. The vampire—the elusive figure that had haunted his sleep. Samuel couldn't recall its face, only the sensation of dread. "Why would I dream of a vampire?" he mused, tugging on his faded jeans. "They're not even real."

        Downstairs, his mother, Mrs. Lawson, bustled in the kitchen. She greeted him with a tired smile, her eyes lined with worry. "Late night again, Sam?" she asked, pouring cereal into a bowl. "You need to get more rest."
"Nightmares," Samuel replied, avoiding her gaze. "Just nightmares."
He grabbed his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and stepped out into the crisp morning air. The school bus awaited, its engine rumbling. Samuel settled into a seat by the window, watching the familiar streets blur past. But today, the world seemed sharper, more vivid.
As the bus pulled up to Silvermist High, Samuel's pulse quickened.

        The name echoed in his mind—Silvermist It held secrets, whispered rumors of ancient creatures and hidden realms. Samuel dismissed them as folklore, yet the dream clung to him like a spiderweb.
In the hallway, lockers slammed shut, and students chattered. Samuel's best friend, Alex, elbowed him. "Dude, you look like you've seen a ghost."
"Or a vampire," Samuel muttered, half-joking. But Alex's laughter faded when Samuel glanced across the hall.
There, leaning against the lockers, was a figure that froze time. The vampire from his dream—pale skin, cold electric blue eyes, and an aura of hunger. It wasn't possible. Vampires didn't exist. Yet this one stared at Samuel, lips curving into a predatory smile.
"You're late," the vampire murmured, voice like velvet and shadows. "I've been waiting."
Samuel's destiny unfurled—a collision of nightmares and reality. He had awakened something—an ancient hunger that transcended dreams. And as the bell rang, signaling the start of another ordinary day, Samuel knew that nothing would ever be the same.