Midnight Crusade

Chapter 5

After they had gotten back in the car, silence took over. The air was tense. Vivian didn't know what to say or think. She couldn't explain what happened back there, but her mind cried for her to not believe the man. There was no way any of this was real. If it was, that would mean she is sitting in the car with a vampire. A fucking vampire. And there was no way that was real.

Although, if this was a dream, it wouldn't be playing out the way it was. For more than these past two weeks, she's been having the same dream. Night after night she dreamt of Penny and her death. Why would it change so suddenly, and why to this? She looked away from the window she had been staring out and over to the man driving the car. The vampire.

"So you're really a vampire?" Vivian asked suddenly, unable to think of a better way to breach the subject.

Kit didn't respond immediately. He took a moment, as if to think. "Yes I am."

"So you drink blood?" The question spilled out of her. That was the only thing she could think about. Drinking blood was a known thing that vampires did, from all the shows, books, and movies she's consumed in her life. It was common knowledge.

Again, the man, the vampire, did not respond immediately. "Yes." The answer finally came out, sounding like he was having a hard time admitting to it. "But it is not how you are imagining it."

"And how am I imagining it?" There was a bite to her tone.

Kit swallowed. "Vampires stalking humans like prey."

It was Vivian's turn to be silent for a moment. She still wasn't sure if she believed the man or not. She didn't know if she could trust him. "So what is it actually like then?"

"Blood is donated." Kit replied, looking over at her. "It is not taken without consent."

Vivian matched his gaze, looking into crimson eyes. She came up with her next question, remembering what he said earlier. "What is a rabid vampire?"

Kit takes a moment to answer, looking back to the road. "It is a vampire that has lost all its humanity and only knows the desire for blood. It happens when a newborn vampire does not drink blood within a certain time frame of being turned."

A shiver went down her back. She thinks about her dreams, about how she keeps seeing Penny's death. "Did someone in town get killed by a rabid vampire?"

"Yes." He responded, letting out a breath. "That was the first time I saved you."

"What?" Vivian shoved her body back. "Isn't tonight the first time?"

"No, the first time was over two weeks ago."

Her mind tried to process the words he was saying. "Over two weeks ago?" She found herself repeating his words.

"You would not remember. I... took your memories of that night." He admitted, voice tight.

"You, what?" She snapped, feeling confusion and anger mix. "You took my memories? What does that even mean?"

Kit shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I have the ability to erase memories, rewrite them. All vampires do."

"Why did you take my memories?"

Kit looked at her quickly. "Would you rather remember seeing what happened that night?"

"I don't know, but I do think it's my right to choose whether to remember something or not."

The man- vampire, let out a breath. "You are probably right, but I did what I had to in order to keep you from becoming aware of vampires."

"So why do you not care now?"