The City of Darkness and Blood

Chapter 5

After returning home from school, Silver and I settled into the living room, watching an old romance movie called "Hearts United" on TV. The film, from the mid-1990s, had mixed reviews: some praised its acting, while others criticized its predictable plot and bland characters. In one intense scene, Nancy, the protagonist, pleads with her lover, Robert, at the airport as he is about to board a private plane. "Robert, please, don't leave! I love you!" she implored, desperate to salvage their relationship. "I'm sorry, baby. It's for the best," Robert replied, a coldness in his tone that turned my stomach. The dialogue was cringeworthy, but Silver was engrossed, shushing me whenever I muttered about changing the channel.

Their conversation escalated until Nancy, heartbroken and enraged, pulled out a pistol and fired several shots at Robert, who collapsed to the ground, bleeding. The sudden violence shocked us both. Nancy's tears as she held Robert's lifeless body were haunting, especially when the police sirens in the movie mirrored the tension in our living room.

"That was intense," I remarked as the movie concluded.

Silver nodded, her eyes reflecting the empathy she felt for Nancy. "It was sad. No one deserves to be treated like that," she said softly, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"Yeah," I agreed, realizing Silver's sensitivity contrasted sharply with the movie's melodrama. "If I ever have a girlfriend, I'd treat her like a queen," I added, half-jokingly.

Silver's reaction surprised me; she blushed slightly and looked away, a rare moment of vulnerability. Before I could respond, there was a loud pounding at the door. We exchanged puzzled glances before I cautiously approached and opened it.

Two intimidating men stood on the doorstep, their presence unsettling. "Your folks home, kid?" the scarred man demanded, his voice gruff and demanding. I nervously stammered that they weren't, but they pushed past me into the living room before I could explain further. The scarred man scanned the room, eyeing the decor with a mixture of appraisal and disdain. "Nice place. Now, where's the money?" he demanded, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

"I don't have any," I blurted out, knowing it was futile but hoping they'd leave. The scarred man didn't buy it; he pulled out a gun, the threat palpable as he pointed it at me. Fear gripped me as I struggled to keep my composure. Silver, ever defiant, stood up to them. "Leave him alone!" she yelled, her voice trembling with fear and courage. The men laughed at her defiance, which only provoked them further.

The scarred man's companion, leering at Silver with unsettling intent, grabbed her roughly and began dragging her upstairs despite her struggles. I tried to intervene, but the scarred man struck me across the face with his pistol, the sharp pain stunning me momentarily.

"Don't play games with us, kid," he growled, his patience wearing thin. His aggression was terrifying, and I could feel the weight of the situation closing in on me. Desperate to distract him, I kicked him in the shin and bolted towards the back door. He fired a warning shot, the sound reverberating through the house and freezing me in my tracks. I turned slowly, the scarred man closing in with chilling determination.

Before he could press further, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the air, stopping us all in our tracks. "Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!" The sheer terror in the scream sent shivers down my spine. The scarred man called out to his companion, T-Bone, who had gone upstairs, but there was no response. Heavy footsteps echoed down the stairs, and our hearts sank as T-Bone staggered into view. His neck was gruesomely torn open, blood cascading down his front. Before we could react, T-Bone collapsed, lifeless, leaving a chilling silence in his wake.

Silver descended the stairs as the scene's reality settled, but she was no longer the friend I knew. Her eyes blazed with an unnatural red glow, and blood stained her mouth and nightgown. A primal rage distorted her features as she breathed heavily, her emotions spiraling out of control. Silver emitted a ferocious, bat-like screech in a sudden, terrifying transformation. Her canines elongated, adding to her monstrous appearance.

Silver's transformation was surreal and terrifying. "What the hell!" the scarred man recoiled in horror. He instinctively opened fire, but Silver moved with supernatural speed, effortlessly dodging the bullets. With a burst of speed that defied human capability, Silver pounced on the scarred man, knocking him to the ground and forcing him to drop his weapon. Her strength was beyond anything I had imagined as she pinned him down, a wild determination in her eyes. She sank her fangs into the scarred man's neck, draining him until he lay motionless. The sight was gruesome, and I struggled to comprehend what was happening. When she finished, Silver's gaze turned towards me, her eyes still glowing red. I was frozen in place, terrified yet unable to look away. She advanced towards me, hissing like a predator, and for a moment, I feared for my life.

"S-Silver, please," I pleaded, tears streaming down my face. The sound of my voice seemed to break through to her. Slowly, her eyes returned to normal, her fangs retracting. Horror and regret filled her expression as she looked at her bloodied hands and the bodies on the floor. Silver fled from the house without a word, leaving me stunned and alone. I called after her, but she was gone. I collapsed onto the porch, overwhelmed by the nightmarish turn of events. Moments later, Kyle arrived home and found me in shock. He embraced me, concern etched on his face as I struggled to explain what had happened without revealing the truth about Silver.

After Kyle went inside to call the police, I sat there, grappling with the horrifying realization of what Silver truly was and what she had done to protect me. The silence of the night was deafening, broken only by the distant sirens approaching our house.