MIX-UP (JossGawin)

Chapter 3

Tong, his eyes fixed on the coffin, whispered, 

"I'll bring him back... someday."

---MyGoldenBlood, chapter 43

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Tong's classes were over for the day, and all he wanted was a nap. His favorite spots around campus were taken, and his eyelids felt heavier with each step. 

Wandering aimlessly, he stumbled upon the engineering department's old warehouse. "Perfect," he muttered, pushing open the creaky door.

The warehouse was a treasure trove of forgotten projects and dusty equipment. Tong tiptoed through the labyrinth of shelves, looking for the perfect spot. 

As he turned a corner, he misjudged his footing and collided with a precariously balanced shelf. 

The crash echoed through the warehouse, and a door with a strange chain came into view as the dust settled.

"What the hell is this?" Tong murmured, curiosity piqued. He approached the door, inspecting the intricate chain. "Probably shouldn't, but... fuck it," he said, unfastening the chain and opening the door.

Inside was a large, ornate chest. "Nice," he thought, imagining the chest as a perfect makeshift bed. 

He laid down on it, but an unsettling feeling made him fidget. "This thing is uncomfortable as shit," he grumbled, shifting around.

As he rolled off the chest, his finger caught on a sharp carving on the lid. "Ow! Son of a—" he hissed, examining the cut. A drop of blood fell from his finger, landing on the chest.

The room grew eerily silent. Tong's eyes widened as the chest began to glow faintly. "What the fuck is happening?" he whispered, backing away.

The lid of the chest creaked open, and a pale hand emerged. Tong's heart pounded in his chest as a figure slowly rose, blinking groggily. 

The man—no, the vampire—stood, stretching languidly.

 "Who dares to awaken me?" he intoned dramatically.

Tong blinked, then burst out laughing. "Oh, great. A vampire with a flair for the dramatic. Just my luck."

The vampire, Mark, frowned. "You dare mock me, human? I am Mark, lord of the night, and—"

Tong cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Yeah, yeah. You're a vampire. Big deal. Look, man, I just wanted a nap. This isn't some horror movie."

Mark's eyes narrowed. "You have freed me from centuries of imprisonment. You shall serve me now."

Tong snorted. "Serve you? Buddy, I barely serve myself. And you can forget about any of that bloodsucking bullshit."

Mark's expression turned from confusion to annoyance. "Your insolence is infuriating."

Tong shrugged. "Welcome to the 21st century, pal. Now, do you have any useful skills, or are you just good for biting necks and brooding?"

Mark sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is not how I envisioned my awakening."

"Yeah, well, life's full of disappointments," Tong replied. "Now, let's get out of here before someone finds us and I get blamed for this mess."

As they left the warehouse, Mark marveled at the modern world around him, while Tong tried to figure out what the hell he was going to do with a centuries-old vampire.

"What's your name, anyway?" Mark asked.

"Tong."

"Tong, you are either the bravest or the most foolish human I've ever encountered."

"Probably both," Tong admitted. "Now let's get out of here before anyone realizes I've woken up a vampire. This is going to be a long day."

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Mark stared at Tong without looking away. He was still the stupid human who had been reborn for him. 

After putting him to sleep in that coffin, he brought death and that painful history with him. 

Tong was still the same Tong he knew. 

His face, his voice, even his sweet face.

Mark wanted to embrace him but he held back, letting the human find him again.

and the circle is repeated....