Are You Watching?

Chapter Two: Amoret

Then

The world is cloaked in darkness, the streets unusually quiet for New York City. I'm in one of the rougher parts of town, where the shadows linger a little longer and the chances of finding prey are lower. My hunger has been gnawing at me, a dull ache I've ignored for too long, forcing me to prowl these deserted streets in search of someone to satisfy my needs.

Everything is shuttered in this part of town, some buildings boarded up as if abandoned. The only sounds that pierce the eerie stillness are the faint scurry of mice in the alleys and the distant hum of cars several streets away.

I briefly consider snapping the neck of one of the creatures scurrying on by, infesting the streets before they disappear into the sewers. But the thought of sinking my teeth into something so vile, so ridden with disease, makes me grimace. I'd rather bite into my own arm than let that filth touch my tongue.

"Honey?" a male voice sounds from behind me.

A faint smile tugs at my lips, though unease twists in my gut. I hadn't even heard him approach- my vampiric senses dulled by hunger, no doubt. Turning, I spot the man, an older gentleman, perhaps in his mid-forties. His age is nothing compared to mine, but the lines etched deep into his skin tell tales of a life well-worn.

"Are you out here by yourself?" he asks, a sick smirk turning his lips upwards.

I exhale a shaky sigh of relief, forcing my body to steady as I step toward him. "I'm so very lost, sir," I murmur, letting my eyes widen with feigned innocence. "I can't seem to find what I'm looking for."

Click.

I barely catch it- a faint sound, almost too subtle to be real. My head swivels to the left, eyes scanning the empty space of brick walls and darkened windows. Nothing. "Perhaps I can help you?" the man suggests, his smile wide and toothy, a bit too eager.

He probably thinks he's struck gold- a young woman, all alone, far from any prying eyes. Little does he know, he's seconds away from becoming my next meal, his blood drained and his head discarded in some forgotten alleyway.

"I'd love some help, sir," I tell him with a saccharine smile as I take another step forward.

I stumble, probably appearing a bit tipsy, but it's just the lack of sustenance weighing me down. His hand reaches out, and I grab onto it, letting myself fall into his embrace. It's almost too easy, the way he pulls me close, thinking he's the one in control.

Click. Click.

"There, there, little monster," he coos.

My body breaks out in a sweat, instantly feeling all types of wrong.

"Don't!" someone bellows, but my body is already hitting the cold pavement.

A sharp crack echoes in my skull, a pang of pain reverberating through my head. My fingers instinctively reach up, coming away slick with blood. I barely have time to process it before a boot slams into my gut, driving the air from my lungs. I choke on the blood that rises in my throat, nausea roiling in my stomach as I try to push myself up, only to be kicked down again.

An odd itch prickles at my neck, a sensation that feels more irritating than painful. My fingers brush against something small and sharp embedded in my skin. I wince as I yank it out, feeling the tug deep within the muscle. A tiny, needle-like object glints in the dim light, the source of my sudden weakness. My gaze shifts upward, eyes narrowing as I search for the one responsible.