A Scary Story for Those Who Hate Being Scared

The Diurnal Vampire

I just remember dropping the phone as soon as the word "vampire" left his lips. Next thing I knew I was in bed, waking up to Gavin passed out in my chair and my mom running her fingers through my hair. I blink, confused.

"Mom?" I say, groggily

She looks down at me, quickly "hey sweetheart, how are you feeling?" she asks, soothingly.

"What happened?"

"We found you passed out on the couch" she runs the back of her fingers over my cheeks "Gavin carried you up here"

I groan a little bit close my eyes "I had the worst dream" I mumble

"Here we go, the best tea.. for America that is" I hear a familiar British accent and open my eyes wide and sit up

"Benedict?!" I gasp, causing him to spill a bit of tea on his hands and Gavin to jump awake with a snort.

"Ella!" He mimics my surprised look

I frown "what are you still doing here?"

"Well your mother was nice enough to offer the guest bedroom to me for the night" he smiles at her "she didn't want me to have to drive home in the rain"

I look at my mom who beams happiness.

"But Gavin is staying in the guest room!" I say quickly

"Well there's two beds in there dear, they can share" mom smiles at me.

"No!" I look at my mom and all eyes turn to me "I uh.. I don't feel too good, can't Gavin stay in here?"

Gavin looks at me, questioningly.

"I mean.. we're just friends..." I look at my mom.

She smiles softly "alright, if he wants"

"Ella, if he wants to sleep in the guest room, don't worry. I have control of my... condition" Benedict nods, reassuringly.

"Condition?" my mom looks at him.

"He has-" I start

"PTSD" Benedict jumps in "I served a couple years" he says confidently "I sometimes have nightmares"

I squint my eyes at him, lying seemed to come so easy for him.

"I'll stay with you El, I don't mind" Gavin smiles.

I nod and smile at him.

"Alright, well, I'll let you get some sleep then" my mom smiles and stands up, walking over to Benedict "thank you" she takes the tea from him "good night you two"

I watch them walk out and close the door. I quickly turn to Gavin "I'm not crazy! And it wasn't a dream" I bite my lip "Benedict is a werewolf and Ambrus is a vampire!"

"Ambrus? Who- you know what, never mind. El, you've had a rough night, just relax and get some sleep" he grabs a blanket and pillow.

"Ugh!" I plop back down on my bed and stare at the ceiling. Around midnight, I fall asleep.

Only a couple hours later I am awoken by a noise from down stairs. Luckily it woke Gavin too. "Did you hear that?" I whisper.

"Yeah" he sits up as I climb out of bed "where are you going?"

"To check it out, duh" I grab my bat.

"Wait, I'll go first" he scrambles to his feet and takes the bat from me. I frown unhappily, but don't say anything and stay close behind.

Another noise sounds from downstairs and I grip Gavin's arm. 

"Ow" he whispers.

"Sorry" I let go.

We creep slowly down the stairs and see a figure, slumped over on the couch. Gavin slowly reaches for the light switch and I hold my breath. As the light turns on, the figure becomes apparent as Ambrus, slumped over a book, fast asleep. 

"What the..." Gavin looks at me "is that the theater dude?"

"What is he doing in my house?!" I say angrily.

Ambrus sits straight up, waking up with a snort, revealing the book he's slumped over is the journal I'd written the horror story in. "Wha- ah! Uh... hi... this is awkward..."

"How did you get in here?!" I demand "this is beyond creepy!"

"Well thee.. door was actually unlocked and.. I couldn't stop thinking about there being a werewolf in your house. I came for the book too" he holds it up, his words slurring a bit as he attempts to keep his eyes open.

"You're delusional and look exhausted, go home! And leave the book!" I snatch it back

"No! careful!" he stands up quickly "Ella, I'm trying to help I swear" he yawns.

"Aren't vampires supposed to be wide awake and on the prowl at night?" Benedict steps up behind Gavin causing him to jump.

"Benedict" Ambrus scrunches his nose in disgust.

"You know each other?!" I look between them.

"Of course... we're your creations Ella.. from the book" Ambrus points to it.

"I need a drink" Gavin sits down and rubs his forehead