Vampiric Experiment

Chapter 9

I started climbing up a nearby tree. Maybe at that height I could find the road again and just follow that. I climbed as agilely as I could. I still broke some branches along the way though. Maybe I wasn't so graceful, but I got the job done at least. Once up at the top of the tree, I looked around. The view was absolutely beautiful. I could stay up here all day if I pleased. But I didn't bother climbing up a tree just to enjoy the sights. I spotted the road. It didn't seem to far. I also saw the giant building I was being held hostage in. It looked like any normal hospital. If only people knew what was going on inside there. Maybe I could find a way to take down whatever organization funded experiments on humans.
One problem at a time. Find civilization, then you can take them down. I had to remind myself. Carefully, I worked my way down the tree. I jumped down off the lowest hanging tree branch, and started my way towards the road.
Now that I finally have some peace and quite, I realized just how much I've already changed. Each twig snapping under my feet sounded louder than usual. I could hear squirrels scampering up and down tree trunks several feet away as if they were right next to me. I was given amazing hearing. Along with a thirst for blood. How lovely. I suppose that's at least one good thing about being a vamp. The road and I eventually met. I started following it, wondering how long it would take me to reach a city by foot. Hopefully not long, being in the sun made me feel sluggish and pain. I hid back in the shadows the trees provided, making sure the road was still in sight. I continued my journey.

                                                                       ***

I had reached a city. I had finally reached a city. As soon as I spotted buildings in the distance, I had started running. I ran until the road I was using as a guild met a dead end, and other roads and streets came into view. I wanted to cry with tears of joy. But when out in the light, I wanted to crawl back in the safety of the woods to hide away. I was to close to do that now. Fighting off my intuitions, I went into the light to greet the city I have found. I walked into the plaza and looks around wide eyed. People walked and ran about, minding their own business. None of it looked familiar though. My heart sank. How far away from home was I? I continued to wander down sidewalks aimlessly, avoiding as many people as I could. It didn't feel right, being around normal humans. I wasn't a part of them anymore. Any sense of belonging I had before was now lost forever. Any flame of hope I once held, was now completely burned out.
I lowered my head, worried that any little detail I showed could risk people seeing through my human disguise.
I bumped into someone. Memories of the last time that happened flashed before me, nearly making me panic. The difference between last time and now was that I felt hot liquid being poured on my chest. I hissed in pain, and jumped back. As if the sun itself wasn't burning me enough.
"I'm so sorry!" The stranger apologized quickly. I glared up at whoever it was before I could stop myself. It was a boy. He looked around my age, maybe a year older. He had purple dyed hair that nearly reached his shoulders with its length, and snake bites from under his bottom lip, dressed head to toe in black. He was carrying a iPhone in his hand. He tensed when his eyes met my deadly glare.
"I-I'm sorry..." He stuttered, looking embarrassed. "I was on my phone and I wasn't looking where I was going and..." He chewed on his lower lip. "I was holding coffee..." He trailed off.
I rolled my eyes, irrigation flaring. I so wasn't in the mood for this. "My shirt is totally soaked!" I hugged myself. "And it burns!" I whined like a toddler.
"I'm sorry!" He apologized again. "I can take you to my house? I can get you cleaned up, come on." He grabbed my hand and started running with me.
"Hey!" I protested, but made no move to struggle. His skin felt odd against mine. It made me feel drained and dizzy. Was this another vampire thing? I had no idea. I ran with him mindlessly as he lead me down many twists and turns, street after street. Soon enough, he stopped in front of a large house. Taking a key out of his pocket, he opened the door and lead me inside. I remembered the first time someone opened a locked door for me. It was a cell. As I looked around the house, I realized that this was surely no cell. The living room as roomy and clean, with a flatscreen tv mounted on the wall in from of the leathery couch. A staircase to the left of it, and if you turned right the dining room was right in front of you. This house seemed to be set up rather oddly, yet it worked out perfectly.
"My rooms upstairs." He lead me upstairs, never letting go of my hand. Once we were inside, I looked around. His room wasn't clean like the living room. Clothes were everywhere, with fighter jets laying on the dresser, and a red electric guitar with an amp in the corner. A clear music lover.
"Sorry about the mess, I wasn't expecting company." He scratched the back of his neck and laughed a little.
"Good to know that you trust a complete stranger in your room." I said jokingly. "But my shirt is--"
"Oh yeah!" He cut me off with a sudden roar of a response. He rummaged through his closet, which looked like a tornado went through it. As he was looking, my eyes wandered about the room. There was a band poster above his unmade bed. Who was this guy? How could he possibly just trust some girl inside his own home? How could I trust him enough to be here? He was either really kind hearted, or really insane. Or maybe both.
"Catch." Before I had time to turn my head, something cloth was thrown at my face. "Sorry," he mumbled yet again. "The bathrooms down the hall." I pulled the cloth away from my face and looked at whatever he threw at me. It was a green hoodie with the triforce from The Legend of Zelda on it. I gasped.
"Oh my god! Link!" I laughed. I loved this game series. Or I did before my uncle toke all my games away when he claimed that they were to bothersome. He hated everything while he was hungover after a night on the town. Even things I loved.
He smiled brightly. "You liked those games too?"
"Of course I do!" I smiled. It felt good to smile again.
"We can talk about that more later. Go wash up. I can see through your shirt." He laughed. I tensed and looked down at myself. He could very well see my bra through the coffee stain. I screamed, and darted down the hall to the bathroom. I slammed the door and locked it, blushing like mad. I toke off my sticky mess of a shirt, and tossed it aside. Turning on the faucet, I toke a small handful of water, and splashed it on my chest to wash off the coffee residue. I toke a towel hanging from the rank, and dried myself off. Once I put the hoodie on, I looked at myself in the mirror. Surprisingly, I had a reflection. I guess the virus doesn't go as far as making you invisible in front of a mirror. The reflection staring back at me looked depressed. My once tan skin getting paler, and dark bags hanging from under my eyes. I'm surprised that guy didn't go running just by my appearance. Wait a second. I didn't even know the guy's name! He welcomed me into his home, gave me his hoodie, and yet I never got his name. That was going to be my first question when I walk out of this bathroom.
With that thought, I opened the door and walked back to his room. He was sitting on his bed when I looked at him. He returned my gaze and smiled.
"You look better than before," He chuckled and got up. "Again, I'm really sorry about bumping into you. I was busy texting my friend, Lucas. We were talking about our next band practice." He sounded confident when the topic of band practice came up.
"Oh? What's your bands name?" I asked curiously.
He scratched the back of his neck again. "We're still working on that. But it's going to be awesome!" He promised me. I laughed and nodded. "What's your name anyways?" He stepped closer to me. I looked up at him. Now that I wasn't upset over spilled coffee, I realized just how cute he was. His blue eyes sparkled, nearly taking my breath away. Why didn't I see them before? Probably because they were hidden under his long bangs.
"Halo,"
"I'm Jasper." He smiled. "That's a cool name. Halo!" He said my name dramatically, making me giggle.
"Thanks." I looked down shyly, unable to meet his eyes.
What have I gotten myself into?