Reverse Dracula

Chapter 2: First Steps

     It was an extremely weird feeling. I felt weak, but yet I also felt strong. Like I could run for days and never stop. I gripped my throat with my hand. It was burning with pain. I attempted to swallow, but my throat just burned more. I straightened out my legs, they were cramped from sitting in agony for so long, not getting up. I stood up slowly, almost falling to the ground. I took a few short steps and looked at my surroundings. The walls were made of old, uneven stone. They were damp, and cold to the touch. I turned and walked down the narrow space that smelled of dirt and grime. After what seemed like forever, I found a ladder that led to the surface. I climbed up it, my feet slipping a little every so often, until I reached the top. I then slid the sewer grate out of my way and climbed out, taking in the scene that was in front of me.

     It was still snowing heavily, and wind was brisk. I was in an long alleyway that lead to a small street. I clutched my coat closer and trudged through the snow until I reached the road. There were no people to be seen, but I smelt something. It was a mouthwatering smell. It smelt warm and innocent, inviting even. I wondered in that general direction, staggering as I walked. The closer the smell came, the more my mouth watered and my throat burned. It seemed like the stench had a grip on my soul. It was pulling me closer and closer, tightening it's grip the closer I came. It yanked me through the heavy snow and cold, through the wind and the light hail that had just started. I was almost there. Just a few more steps...

     As soon as I saw him I recognized the smell that I found so mouthwatering earlier. It was the smell of blood. The boy was laying on the ground, clutching his side. Blood was seeping out between his fingers. He was obviously in excruciating pain. Even though he was covered in sweat and blood, I could tell that he was extremely attractive. He had light brown skin, beautiful brown eyes, and sort of long, silky black hair. As soon as he saw me he whispered something. I was surprised that I could clearly hear what he was saying, he was so quiet. What he whispered was, "Help me.. please.."

     I ran over to him and moved his hand away from his bloody side. He looked like he had a gunshot wound, so I put pressure on it with my hand to help stop the bleeding.
"What have you gotten yourself into?" I asked him.
He was too weak to answer me. He only whimpered in pain. At this point my fascination for this boy was enough to keep me from sinking my teeth into his skin. As much as my throat was burning and as much as I wanted to, I willed myself to help this boy stay alive.

     Knowing what to do, I threw him over my shoulder gently, and ran as fast as I could to the nearest hospital. I had no idea where it was, but from where the boy had laid I could smell where the hospital was. I could tell my sense of smell was even more enhanced now than it had ever been. I ran toward the smell of death and disease, and found that my suspicions were correct. I rushed through the front door, covered in the boy's blood.
"Please, help him!" I screamed at a nurse that was walking by.

     The nurse hurried a stretcher to me and I sat the boy on it carefully so I didn't cause him anymore pain than he was already in. To my surprise he held a firm grip on my shirt and didn't let go when the nurse tried to wheel him away. He whispered, "Stay.." And then he passed out cold.

     I followed the nurse as she took him, telling her that I thought he was shot. When we got to two big open doors with small windows in them she directed me to the waiting room, telling me that I wasn't allowed to go any further.
"Will you tell me if he makes it out ok?" I asked her in a worried voice.
"Yes. You'll be the first to know. Thank you for all your help." She said, taking him into the room to prep him for surgery.

     I made my way to the waiting room and sat down in one of the uncomfortable red chairs. You'd think they could afford to buy some better ones, seeing as the people sitting here are waiting to hear their loved ones fate. I grabbed one of the stupid magazines sitting on the table beside me and started reading. I waited for sleep, but for some reason it never came. So I made myself a goal of reading as many magazines as I could before I got to see the boy again. I never even asked his name. Throughout the night I read and read, waiting for the nurse to come and tell me if the boy that fascinated me so much would make it out of the surgery room alive.