Darkening Days

Chapter 1: And the Oscar Goes to the Vampire

The only visions that I actually enjoy are the ones that show me when and where some kind of fun event will occur, more specifically LARPs and re-enactments; once I've even been fortunate enough to catch a Revolutionary War re-enactment just in time because of one of them. However, other than these, my visions are usually either redundant or sullen.

Luckily enough for me, though, the vision that I just began having is one of those enjoyable visions. From what I can tell so far, there are two guys, about my age, and a girl; one guy is dressed in black and wearing fake fangs, the other seems to be some everyday long-haired creep, and the girl looks just like a damsel in distress.

The "vampire" and the "creep" were having a brawl; they seemed really into it, with the vampire even going so far as physically shoving the creep up against a wall and whatnot.

My short vision was just about to come to a close when I got unexpectedly pulled back into the real world by my science teacher.

"Miss Shine, are you ever going to answer me?" He asked, looking impatient.

"Um...yeah?" I replied. Just as I said that, all the laughs and giggles coming from around the classroom became apparent to me.

"OK, I'm going to ask this for the sixth time- can you tell us what an electrochemical gradient is?"

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "Doesn't it have something to do with, uh, charges?"

"Yes, it does- but maybe if you were actually listening to what I was saying beforehand, you can tell us more than 'doesn't it have something to do with charges'. Honestly, Miss Shine..."

Before my teacher could go on with one of his long and patronizing tirades on how I've spaced out in class one too many times, the bell rang.

"Sorry, Mr. Simms, it won't happen again." I smiled, packed up my belongings, and hurried out of the classroom before he could say anything more to me.

Thankfully, this was my lunch period. My mind drifted back to my vision- I perceived it to take place in the mid-afternoon because of the positioning of all the shadows, and it seemed like a pretty worth-while role-play to go and see, so I figured I would investigate it. I knew exactly where it took place- in the back of the local park.

Very soon after, I found myself walking out of my school en route to the local park. What else did I have to do?

I came upon the spot where the vision took place. Sure enough, there were the same three figures- the vampire-guy, the damsel-in-distress, and the creep being crushed against the wall of the nature center building.

I pretended to be minding my own business- I could never be too sure on whether or not these role-players would want spectators or not, after all- and, once I chanced upon a bush, I crouched behind it so that I may watch clandestinely.

As I acknowledged in my vision, these guys-and gal- were really into what they were doing. The vampire was using authentic-looking brutish force on the creep, and the girl looked incredibly upset.

The action was so hard to follow, but I continued watching anyways.

The vampire held his hand firm around the creep's neck, pinning him against the wall, dragging him up off his feet. With his "fangs" bared, he yelled, "Do you honestly think I didn't notice you skulking around us? Fess up- what were you doing?"

"My lips are sealed" Was the creep's audacious reply. At that, the vampire dragged him further up the wall. Two minutes in, and this role-play was already getting a bit too violent- but, hey, different stokes for different folks.

"Dillan, please, stop! You know he's not dangerous- please, he's not trying to fight back, so just let him go!" The girl cried hoarsely. Someone has been doing some serious yelling- or crying, for that matter.

The vampire- I guess he's called Dillan- looked over at the girl. She was choking on her tears, and she looked desperate. His facial expression became visibly softened.

While Dillan was looking over at the girl, the creep saw an open window to retaliate. In one vicious motion, he grabbed Dillan's arm, swung his legs up, and kneed the vampire right in his chin. At the apparent force of the blow, Dillan let go of the creep and recoiled backwards. In the time that it took Dillan could recover, the creep had already taken off.

OK, now I know this is going too far. Better get back to class.

Suddenly, I began to hear an alarm. I tried to figure out where it came from.

Kill me now.

It was coming from my watch.

In one moment, the vampire was standing right in front of me.