Seven Ways To The Abyss

A WAKEFULL NIGHT

The ride back to Mr Benson's house was steeped in silence, broken only by the hum of the engine and the occasional blare of a car horn outside. Sofia sat quietly in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window. The blurred neon lights of the city slipped past like distant memories, but her mind wasn’t on the outside world. It was on Benson.

She could feel his discomfort, like an itch in the back of her mind. His fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel, his foot shifting slightly on the pedal as if debating whether to go faster or slow down. Every so often, his eyes flickered to her, probably expecting her to say something, but Sofia remained silent.

Good, she thought. Let him stew in his own guilt.

Whatever internal battle Benson was fighting didn’t concern her. She was here now, in his car, heading to his house. That was all that mattered.

Finally, Benson cleared his throat, a rough, hesitant sound. “Sofia… about today...” His voice was uncertain, as though he wasn’t sure how to frame the question. “Sneaking into the building—it’s not safe. I can get into serious trouble if people find out.”

Sofia turned her head just slightly, her expression innocent, almost fragile. “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble, Mr Benson,” she said softly, letting her voice tremble just a bit. “I just didn’t want to be out there all alone. I thought... maybe you'd forgotten about me.”

He sighed, his shoulders slumping as though the weight of the day had finally caught up to him. “I didn’t forget,” he muttered, mostly to himself. “I’m trying to keep you safe. Bringing you in there... it’s complicated. I have rules to follow, people watching.”

Sofia nodded, her head dropping slightly in a show of remorse. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He looked over at her, his face softening. The guilt was eating him alive. “It’s okay,” he replied, his voice quiet and strained. “Just... don’t do it again, alright?”

Sofia nodded again, offering a small, almost apologetic smile, but inside, her mind was racing. He was so easy to manipulate. Adults always were.

~~~

When they arrived at Benson’s house, Sofia noticed the tension in the air had only thickened. As soon as they stepped inside, Benson’s wife, Sarah, appeared from the living room. She was tall, with sharp features and a tight-lipped smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“And who’s this?” Sarah asked, her voice cold despite the forced pleasantries. Her gaze was fixed on Sofia, scanning her from head to toe.

“This is Sofia,” Benson said quickly, his voice edged with nervousness. “She’s... a relative. She’ll be staying the night.”

Sarah’s eyebrows rose. “A relative?” Her tone carried a note of disbelief. She turned back to her husband. “Since when do we have relatives staying over without notice?”

“It’s just for the night,” Benson said, his tone almost pleading. “She didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

Sarah’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she gave Sofia a thin, strained smile. “Well then, make yourself at home, Sofia.”

Sofia offered a quiet “Thank you, ma’am,” her voice soft and polite, but inwardly she was observing everything. The way Sarah’s eyes shifted between her and Benson, the slight tension in her jaw. Sarah was suspicious. And that would make things... interesting.

~~~

The guest room was small and simple, with light brown walls and a narrow bed tucked in the corner. As soon as Sarah left, Sofia let out a slow breath. The atmosphere in the house felt thick, like the air was charged with unspoken tension. But it wasn’t just that. Something else gnawed at her, something darker.

She moved quietly, her hand trailing over the smooth wooden bedpost as she walked toward the small bathroom attached to the room. After stripping off her dirty clothes, she stepped into the shower, letting the water run over her skin. It was warm, soothing, but she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine.

Someone was watching her. She knew it.

She turned off the water and listened. The house was quiet, save for the distant murmur of voices downstairs. But the feeling remained, sharp and intrusive. Wrapping a towel around her, she stepped back into the room, her eyes scanning every corner.

No one was there. The windows were closed, the door still shut. Yet, the room felt... different.

Her instincts told her that whoever—or whatever—had been watching her had already left. She was sure of it. Whoever they were, they’d been fast. Too fast.

She dressed quickly, her stomach twisting in knots. She wasn’t hungry for food, not the kind humans ate, anyway. The thought of dinner downstairs was revolting. What she really craved was far more... primal.

~~~

Dinner with Sarah and Benson was uncomfortable. The plate in front of her was filled with pasta, chicken, and stew. To most, it would’ve seemed like a comforting meal, but to Sofia, the very sight of it made her stomach churn. She picked at the food, trying not to let her disgust show.

Sarah, however, was watching her closely.

“You don’t seem to be eating much,” she said, her tone light, but her eyes sharp.

Sofia forced a smile. “I’m just not very hungry,” she replied, pushing the food around her plate.

Sarah didn’t seem convinced, her brow furrowing slightly. “If you weren’t hungry, you should’ve said something. No point in wasting food.”

Sofia swallowed the lump in her throat and offered another smile. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

In truth, Sofia was starving—but not for this. What she needed was flesh. Human flesh.

~~~

Back in the guest room, Sofia lay on the bed, exhaustion pulling at her. But sleep wouldn’t come. The hunger was growing, gnawing at her insides. She needed to wake Elaina.

She closed her eyes and summoned the smallest vine from her back, pinching it between her fingers. The sharp jolt was enough to rouse Elaina from her slumber.

“Bastard,” Elaina muttered groggily, her voice a low hiss.

“I want to sleep,” Sofia murmured, her voice weak. “You stay conscious for the night.”

Elaina chuckled darkly, her tone dripping with amusement. “And I’m hungry.”

Sofia sighed, too tired to argue. “Just... don’t do anything stupid.”

Elaina’s smirk widened. “Is that your only request?”

Sofia didn’t respond. She had already slipped into sleep, leaving Elaina in control.

Elaina stretched, feeling the weight of their shared body. A wicked smile curled her lips. She had been asleep for too long. Now it was her time.

~~~

Elaina slipped out the window, her movements fluid and predatory. She didn’t need to see to know where to go. She could smell the flesh. It was close.

But as she sprinted through the neighbourhood, her heightened senses picked up something else—someone had been watching them earlier. And now they were following her.

Elaina smirked. So, the hunt wasn’t over after all.

She bolted, her feet barely touching the ground as she chased the scent. Whoever it was, they were fast—unnaturally so. But Elaina loved a challenge.

She reached the edge of an abandoned bridge, her breath ragged, eyes wide with excitement. But the figure she had been chasing was gone.

“Coward,” she spat, dropping to her knees, her hunger flaring up painfully.

But then she smelled it—flesh. Human flesh.

Elaina's eyes widened in shock "Holy shit" she muttered  as she fell to her knees, her mouth still hanging open