Returned

chapter one

ANTHONY

"Morning mom!" I waved at her.

"Morning Anthony." She smiled. I walked to the dining table and ate the breakfast that was prepared for me by my mom.

After eating, I slung my bag on my shoulders and started walking to school.

* T I M E  S K I P *

I stared out of the window, currently muting the professor in front of the class blabbing about something. I don't really know.

I kept on looking outside, not entirely sure why. I kept doing random things trying to block out everyone.

I counted the leaves falling off the tree, I tried imagining the different shapes of the clouds in the sky. I even tried questioning the color of the building. My mind kept on debating about whether it was light grey or dirty white. But in the middle of the debate, something caught my eye. A shadow, standing just below a tree. It kinda looked like a girl, basing on the figure. I don't know if it's looking at me, or if it has its back on me. It made me feel more interested in it than everything I've been doing.

"Mr. Anthony Marcus," my eyes immediately went to my professor. "Have you been paying attention lately?" He said giving me a very stern look. I shook my head, no. "Tsk, tsk, tsk." He said while shaking his head in a slow speed. "I suggest you pay attention Mr. Marcus, you don't want to spend time in detention now, won't we?." He said, the annoyance obvious in his tone. I nodded my head and looked back on the tree. The shadow was gone.

* T I M E  S K I P *

The professor dismissed us for lunch. I still felt uncomfortable ever since I saw that shadow at English time the other day. Every time I walk down the halls my English Professor would give me a scowl look, it had been two days and he hasn't got over it yet. But that wasn't the thing that bothered me. Ever since I saw that shadow, I felt like I'm being watched. And whenever I'm alone, I would always feel a cold whiff of air go through the back of my neck. And one of my arms would feel a sudden chill, as if there was someone holding me. I just shrugged the feeling off most of the times it happened.

I walked directly to where the bathroom is. And fear came to me once I reached it. I was alone.

I suddenly felt a cold wind rush to the back of my neck. My hips suddenly felt cold. A cold breath travelled on my ears, as if someone was breathing on them.

"Time's up." A whisper said on my ears. I suddenly felt something on my neck. It kept running its lips on my neck, finding a specific spot. I closed my eyes shut, not sure about what'll happen next.

Laughter suddenly filled the air. The cold atmosphere began to heat up again. I opened my eyes slowly and turned around to be met by two pairs of eyes staring at me. I gave the guys a shy grin and began walking to the door.

My hand went to my neck. It felt cold. I could still feel the stranger's breath on my neck. I shook the thought out of my brain and started walking to the school's cafeteria.

I went to the lunch lady and told her what I wanted. She gave it to me and I walked to my usual table. As usual, my friends were already there.

"Anthony!" Jordan yelled. I perked my head up and smiled. I sat on the seat across him, sitting next to Marc. "So, what have you been up to lately?" He asked.

"Nothing much." I said. Jordan eyed me suspiciously.

"Okay, what about you Marc?" He shifted his gaze to the brunette sitting beside me. Marc started blabbing about this girl he met at a bar yesterday. I zoned out again, staring at the edges of the metal table. My hand resting on it.

* T I M E  S K I P *

I was walking down the dark streets to my house.

My head was glued to the ground as my legs start to go to the direction of my home.

I hear footsteps come my way. I would turn around and see no one there.

"Anthony..."

A faint voice said just a few feet behind me. My whole body turned around just to be met by the empty street.

My whole body turned back to where I was.

I jumped back in surprise to see a girl standing in front of me. She had brown hair and grey eyes.

"Are you lo-" I was cut off by this girl smashing her lips against mine. Her hands were on my neck pulling my face closer to her. It surprised me that I kissed her back. Her hands made its way to my hair, tugging at its roots.

She pulled away from the kiss and attacked my neck. She kissed it lightly, sucking from time to time.

I felt something pointy touching my neck. But before I could push her away, her fangs were already sucking the blood out of me.

I felt lightheaded, the blood coming out of me was too much. It made me feel dizzy. I began seeing spots around my surroundings.

She pulled her mouth away from my neck, wiping away some of my blood off her mouth as she looked at me.

"Not long before you're gone." Those were the final words I heard before my eyes suddenly decided to close.