The Phoenix

24

"Vampires? That's crazy! Who would have known they're real and living amongst us?" Gabe exclaimed and Pete shrugged, "Apparently, more people than you think. There's a whole community of vampires all throughout Chicago."

"Just Chicago? Why? What's so great about Chicago?" Gabe questioned and Pete looked at his friend, shaking his head, "I don't think it's just in Chicago though, Gabe. I mean: if they're here then they will probably be scattered all around the world"

"That's weird" Gabe admitted and Pete chuckled dryly, "Tell me about it"

"The recent deaths and disappearances are starting to make sense though" the younger stated and the older nodded, "Once I heard they were 'probably' animal attacks, I knew it was bullshit. No animals freaking suck blood except mosquitoes"

"Mosquitoes aren't animals through" Gabe retorted and Pete sighed, "Insects, whatever. Fuck off."

The human sat on the concrete flooring and thought about it, "Those would have to be really big mosquitoes to drain an entire person clean"

"Yeah," Pete said and Gabe added, "Or vampires"

"Oh wow, really?" Pete says, sarcastically, "Where'd you get that idea?"

"Just a lucky guess" Gabe smiled, obviously joking.

"Did they ever even talk about the lack of blood though? You know, on the news and stuff?" The vampire asked and the human had to think for a minute for that, "No actually, maybe they thought it was some sort of psycho killer"

"I thought they thought it was a wild animal though" Pete wondered and Gabe shook his head, "Both, maybe"

"Or neither" Pete started and this confused who friend who said, "What?"

"The vampires can't be that good at covering their tracks" Pete noted and Gabe looked confused, "you know. Like: bite marks. Blood drainage. That stuff"

Gabe nodded in understanding.

"Unless the government actually knows" Pete theorized and Gabe was shook, "What?"

"Like the police and stuff." Pete explained, "They're in on it too. They have to be. Surely they've done autopsies on the dead victims and saw something wasn't right"

"Makes sense," Gabe said, "it's probably why they were so shit at helping me find you"

"I mean, they probably didn't expect me to come back" Pete sighed and Gabe looked at him wide-eyed.

"Oh"

Was the only thing he could manage.

His heart dropping at the idea of never seeing his best friend again.

"Or probably they thought they'll find me dead in some back alleyway, so why rush" Pete added.

"That or you will have joined one of the vampire clans," Gabe said, remembering what the hunters told him about the three groups.

"Yeah, William's." Pete said, "It would have been William's. He was the one who changed me"

"Yeah, William's," Gabe said and his voice was distant.

Saddening his friend, "I'm sorry, Gabe"

"It's not your fault Pete, you wouldn't have known" Gabe reassured him.

"I should have though!" Pete exclaimed, "I'm your best friend. I should have known your boyfriend and been a more active part of your life"

"Who are you and what have you done to Pete?" Gabe started, wide-eyed, a genuine smile on his face, "I think that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me"

"Fuck off." Pete said and Gabe just continued to smile, "There he is"