I finished loading all the pieces into the truck that was to transport the photographs to the gallery.
“Ma’am, we have twelve pieces here but it says we’re supposed to have thirteen,” the driver informed me.
“Yeah, I’m actually taking the thirteenth piece with me.”
“Are you sure?” He asked.
“Yeah. Just want to make sure it stays safe. It’s my baby,” I admitted. He chuckled at my confirmation then proceeded to the truck. Finally getting to the gallery I was greeted by my assistant Shannon.
“Hey Jess!” She waved while walking to the back of the loading truck with the driver to help unload the images. I got out of my car and carried the covered piece with me towards the entrance.
“Hey, how’s everything looking today?” I asked.
“Everything’s all good. Jonathon Clark called to confirm his appearance along with a Mr. Styles.” She informed me. I nodded my head, half paying attention to what she was saying. I was so stressed about the gallery being perfect that I had yet to look over the opening night guest list to see whom I knew and who bought a ticket.
After setting up the twelve pieces I walked over to the farthest wall, which happened to be the last one to be empty in the gallery. I handed the image over to the expert who placed the piece on the wall, keeping it in place.
Once the last piece was on the wall I let out a loud sigh of relief. Shannon walked over to where I stood in the final small room in the very back, wrapping her arms around my body.
“Shan,” I groaned at the contact but giggled at the gesture.
“I’m so proud of you Jess,” she admitted. I smiled and returned the hug.
“Really though Shannon, I couldn’t have done any of this without you,” I confessed.
She gave me a gentle smile before turning around and leaving me to my silence once more. I let Shannon off early today, sticking around the gallery to check over everything. While admiring my final piece, I felt a presence over me. I turned around quickly to find an empty room. I turned back to the photograph in front of me; the way the man is stood there in the empty street. The streetlight creating an angelic glow around his body, it was a perfect picture.
After looking around at all the work I’ve done, I decided it was getting pretty late and probably time to get home. I quickly locked up the gallery and began walking home because I let Shannon take the car so I could get some fresh air.
While walking, I felt a similar presence to the one I had at the gallery. I looked around me to see an empty street, lit by the moon and the flickering lights of the streetlamps. For a moment I thought I was crazy, thinking that someone was following me, but chose to ignore it and continued to walk.
I felt a gust of wind swish through my hair, causing it to go in front of my eyes. I lost my footing off the curb and felt my weight falling down quickly. I tensed my body and squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the fall but it never came. When I opened my eyes once more I was greeted with a tall man in a hood.
“Uh, thanks,” I muttered at the hooded figure. I tried to peek under to see who had saved me but as I took a step closer he quickly turned around and began to walk.
“Wait!” I called after him, but he didn’t stop walking.
I could have run up and gotten his attention but I figured it’d be safer to not follow the strange man in a hood walking around at night on an empty street.
I continued to walk home when I felt the familiar presence. I decided to just walk faster and not turn around this time when I began to hear footsteps. I broke out into a full sprint when I felt strong arms wrap around my shoulders. I shrieked in shock and fear before a heavy hand was clasped over my mouth.
“Shh,” the man ordered, “I don’t want you screaming
anything but my name.”
His smile was evil, his breath reeked of alcohol, but his build was large so I was in a bind.
“Please, please don’t hurt me,” I quietly pleaded while tears fell down my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he admitted before colliding his fist with my left cheek. I fell to the ground, only to be picked up again by my hair. His hands fiddled with the button on my jeans while he leaned his forehead against mine. I tried to struggle against him but it only made matters worse. He swung at my face again then continued his attack. Right when he finished unzipping my pants, panic flooded through my whole body and mind. This is it. I’m going to be raped then left for dead. I’m dead.
I closed my eyes, cooperating with this monster as I had accepted my death, when the stranger’s hands left my body. I slowly opened my eyes to see my attacker on the ground, struggling against his attacker. My savior was hunched over the man, his head buried in his neck. I just stood there, staring at the two on the ground. The rapist stopped moving, while his attacker began to stand up. Because it was so dark in the alley I wasn’t able to see who he was, but at that moment I didn’t really care.
He took a step towards me and I flinched back in fear. I know he just saved me but I just watched him kill a man, sooo….
“I’m not going to hurt you,” the husky voice assured, extending his hand towards me. I hesitantly brought my hand forward into his. It was large compared to mine, and very cold. A shiver ran through my body and I quickly released it. Without arguing, he put his hands up in defense to signify that he wasn’t going to hurt me.
“Are you okay?” he asked stepping forward closer into view. Though I couldn’t see his face, I was able to see his shirt, which had been stained with the blood from my attacker.
I nodded my head wide eyed, while stepping forward towards the dead man lying on the ground. The blood barely dripped out of the wound in the man’s neck. It looked gruesome, like a hungry animal had attacked.
Suddenly everything clicked. No, it can’t be. I’m just still in shock and probably delusional from being hit in the head so hard. This guy can’t be a—vampire?
Standing up quickly from my crouched position beside the man, I felt extremely dizzy and lost my footing. The whole world went black, and when I finally came to my senses again, I couldn’t feel the ground. I opened my eyes again slowly, hoping the dizziness wouldn’t return when I looked up and saw the same hooded figure from earlier, though this time his jacket wasn’t zipped so I could see the blood stained shirt. Instead of fighting or struggling against him, I decided to wrap my arms around his neck for more support and placed my head against his shoulder. Before I knew it, I was stood in front of my house. The stranger asked for my key, which I handed over without thinking of the potential consequences.
He opened the door and within seconds I was being placed onto my bed. Unable to open my eyes once more, I let sleep take over.
