Yamiko, a 13-year-old girl, lived in a world where vampires, vampire hunters, and humans coexisted. One day, while wandering the streets, she overheard two detectives, Rina and L, discussing something urgent.
"We have to find the crystal! It's the only way for the vampire cure," Rina said, her voice laced with determination.
L nodded, furrowing his brow. "Someone could have it... but who?"
Yamiko paused, a chill running down her spine as she realized that the crystal they were searching for was inside her heart—a secret she had carried since birth. The weight of that knowledge settled heavily on her, stirring a mix of fear and curiosity.
The next day, as the first day of school loomed on August 29, she felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach. It was August 1, and she was lost in thought when she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Whoa!" A boy caught her before she stumbled. He had an intense gaze and an air of mystery. "I'm Ren," he introduced himself, but Yamiko felt a twinge of distrust. Something about him seemed off, but she decided to let him go.
Suddenly, a commotion caught her attention. "Marry me, brat!" a man shouted at a girl, who looked no older than 16, being forced into a marriage with a much older man. Yamiko's heart raced as she watched the scene unfold. Without thinking, driven by instinct, she sneaked up behind the man and stabbed him, the blade piercing through her uncertainty. He groaned in pain and collapsed to the ground.
In the chaos, the security guards caught a glimpse of her back as she fled the scene. To them, she was just a suspect, not the girl defending the bride. As wanted posters with her face began to appear all over town, panic surged through her. She burned one with a lighter, hoping to erase her identity.
But danger was far from over. A murderer approached, his intentions clear as he brandished a knife. Yamiko ran, adrenaline coursing through her veins until she found herself cornered. Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, a woman burst in, grabbing her wrist and yanking her to safety. She locked the door behind them.
"Who are you?" Yamiko demanded, her heart pounding.
"My name is Nozomi," the woman replied, her voice calm but firm. "I'm a scientist. I think I know you have the crystal, and I don't want others to hurt you to get it."
Yamiko's instincts screamed distrust. The locked door felt like a trap. Yet, there was a flicker of hope. Maybe Nozomi could help her. Hesitantly, she took a step closer.
But in an instant, Nozomi lunged forward, injecting her with a sleeping dose. Darkness enveloped Yamiko as she lost consciousness.
When she awoke, she found herself strapped to a metal chair, panic rising within her. Nozomi loomed over her, an unsettling smile playing on her lips, She slammed Yamiko's head against the table, causing it to bleed a bit.
"You think you're off the hook?" Nozomi said, her tone dripping with malice. "I'll take the crystal from your heart and strengthen myself instead of curing the vampire world."
Yamiko's heart sank. She had believed Nozomi was trying to protect her. Betrayal cut deeper than any blade.
"But first, I wanted to do something..." Nozomi's eyes glinted with excitement.
Suddenly, Nozomi sunk her fangs into Yamiko's neck. Shock coursed through her—was Nozomi a vampire? It made sense why she wanted the crystal to strengthen herself. As the warmth flowed through her, it was strangely calming yet frightening.
In a desperate move, Yamiko grabbed a knife from the table and scraped off the bite, cutting her flesh. She couldn't allow herself to become what she feared the most.
To be continued..
