Escape the Vampire Hunter

Chapter 1: Vision Come True

I never thought my death would come in the form of a one-thousand-year-old vampire, but here we are. I should probably start at the beginning. For generations, the women in my family have had psychic abilities, whether they're empathic, sympathic, mind reading, or being able to see the future. And...then there's me. By nature, I'm empathic. I can sense the emotions of others and, if I really focus, even manipulate them. Over time, with the help of my landlady, Mrs. Franklin, I've learned how to read others' minds. I'm not as good at it as she is, who seems to be a powerful psychic.

Recently, though I've also started having strange dreams, almost like visions. I told Mrs. Franklin and she looked excited, as if I'd told her the best news in the world. I didn't really get why she was so excited until I saw a vision of my best friend, Rachel Vaughn's boyfriend asking her to take the next step in their relationship together. A few days later, she told me that her boyfriend had actually asked her about taking the next step. Knowing that my vision had come true, made me want to tell her about my abilities. But...as much as I wanted to tell her, I was sure how she'd take it. Then I had a terrifying vision of Rachel being attacked by a man with bronze hair and golden eyes. I told Mrs. Franklin first and she suggested I tell Rachel.

"My visions aren't always right, Mrs. Franklin.  What if this is one of those times?" I asked, nibbling the inside of my cheek.

What if my vision is wrong this time?  What if this man doesn't even exist?  What if?  What if?  Mrs. Franklin shook her head.  We were sitting at her kitchen table after one of my classes.

"Even if it isn't true, your best friend deserves to know."

I sighed as I nodded understandingly.  She's usually never wrong about this stuff.  Later that day, when Rachel came back to our shared apartment, I told her.  She didn't believe me.  At first.  Until I told her about my first vision.  My best friend stared at me and told me her boyfriend had already asked.  And that she'd come back to share her good news with me.  That was when she believed me.  That was also the moment everything changed.  The moment when I started to believe in vampires and witches and supernatural creatures.

There was a knock on the door.  I went to answer it, but as soon as I opened the door, a lightning-fast figure pushed past me.  They headed right for Rachel and grabbed her, sinking what looked like fangs into her neck.  My eyes widened as I turned toward them.

"Rachel!" I screamed, my voice shaking.  I pulled out my phone to call the police when the figure, who looked eerily like Brynjulf from my vision, zipped over to me.  I instantly froze, eyes wide as I held my phone.

"If you dial that number, your friend will not make it out of here alive," Brynjulf growled.  I nodded slowly, my heart racing.

"Back away from Anna, bloodsucker."

I whipped my head toward the door to see Mrs. Franklin with her hands raised.  What the hell is she doing?  This guy's gonna kill her! Mrs. Franklin waved her hand as she called out some kind of chant.  Brynjulf cringed and dropped to his knees.  But only for a moment.

He ran over to Mrs. Franklin and shoved her into the wall.  My heart crawled into my throat as she hit the wall with a terrifying crack.  As she fell to the floor, Brynjulf sneered and zipped back over to Rachel.  My heart crawled into my throat as Brynjulf bit his wrist and forced Rachel to drink.  Before I could blink, he snapped her neck.

"Ah!" I screamed as I dropped to my knees.

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"How long is it gonna be before she wakes up?" I asked, tapping my foot on the floor. Mrs. Franklin and I had carried Rachel into her bedroom and placed her on her bed. I thought it was weird, but Mrs. Franklin assured me that it was the right thing to do for my best friend.

"I don't know, Anna. All I know is that that vampire fed her his blood and then killed her. She died with his blood in her system, which means that when she wakes up—"

"She'll be like him, won't she?" Mrs. Franklin nodded.

"Yes, and she'll be craving blood. That's what all bloodsuckers need to make a full transition."  I looked toward Rachel's bedroom door as I spoke.

"Or?" Mrs. Franklin flashed me a confused look.

"Or what?"

"What else is there? If she doesn't drink blood, then what happens?" I asked as I looked at Mrs. Franklin.  She lightly tapped her knee with her hand.

"I think you know the answer to that, Anna," she said softly.  It instantly felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room.  My best friend was hanging between life and death and there was a good chance she wouldn't make it.

"What about you?" I whispered.  "Are you okay?"  Mrs. Franklin smiled as she pulled me into a hug.

"I'm a tough old cookie, Anna.  I'll live.  If he'd wanted to kill me, he would've."