Forbidden (A Vampire Romance)

One

"Noah, please come back here! This isn't funny!" I called into the depths of the woods. The trees shook violently with the wind, caving in around the dirt path in front of me as the yellow light from the full moon filtered through.

"Oh come on, lighten up a little, Evelina," My friend Michelle nudged me. "What, are you afraid of the dark or something?"

I shook my head. "I just don't believe in that sort of thing, ghosts and ghouls, that's all."

It's October 31st. Every year Aaron Carde threw a huge "Halloween Bash" in his father's, who is part of town council, mansion. This party was bigger though, we were all seniors now and he wanted this final party to be the best. I, on the other hand, just wanted it to be over. I always hated Halloween parties. Not to be a downer or anything, I promise I'm not completely boring with no sort of ability to have any fun. I just didn't see the excitement in getting dressed up in costumes every year waiting around to be scared by the same kids in the same cheap plastic masks.

"Well, I heard it's true. The tale of the Carde's twins being buried back here. Freya even said she saw an orb floating around behind trees," She said, adjusting the straps on her red Devil costume.

The old tale of the Cardes. Everyone around town had heard of it. I just pushed it off, it was some sort of urban legend. I mean, who would honestly believe a story about two twin boys being eaten alive by a half man-half wolf? Now people say the boys haunt the Carde's mansion backyard. Neighbors say they see children running around in the woods at night with laughter echoing through the street. This town was full of ridiculous stories. People were so bored here that they needed a source of entertainment somehow.

Before I could respond, Noah appeared pushing his way through a group of large bushes. I sighed in relief.

"You, my ladies, are chickens." He rolled his eyes with a light chuckle. It was Noah's idea to come outside in the backyard and try to find proof of ghost activity while I suggested a round of beer pong.

Clearly, my idea wasn't popular.

Michelle crossed her arms over her chest, standing up tall. I already knew where this was going. "I am not a chicken. In fact, I'll go looking through the woods by myself while you two wait here."

Michelle always had to be brave, especially in front of Noah. She wanted to seem fearless and powerful, like an independent woman who didn't need him to take care of her. If someone told her she couldn't do something, she had to prove them wrong.

I was going to regret this, but I couldn't let her go alone. It wasn't safe. "I'll go with you," I said.

Michelle snatched the flashlight out of Noah's hand and looked at me perplexed. "Really?"

I nodded and followed behind her towards the woods. Noah tried to follow saying he could 'protect us,' but Michelle wouldn't allow it. He waited behind.

"Is anyone out there?" Michelle called as we made our way into the depths.

We walked until the Carde's house behind us became a complete blur and all I could see around me were the towering trees. They whispered and rattled as we made our way deeper into the shadows, feeling as though they were laughing at us while we voluntarily devoured ourselves in their trap. Everything was completely black, the only source of light being the flashlight in Michelle's shaky hands which did us no good as it started to die out and flicker. The sound of bumping music was lost behind us and everything was completely silent. Cracks and creaks of snapping twigs could be heard, but the darkness felt so completely disorienting that I couldn't tell if the sound was from beneath me or somewhere else. The icy wind sent shivers down my spine and scratched at my cheeks. The powerful sound of a group of crows screeching startled us while they flew in a pack from one tree to another, their yellow eyes blazing down at us making me feel smaller than them.