The Vampire Killer

∆{~3~}∆

I awoke midday.

Yep. Midday.

I had been sleeping for a while at that point.

I sat up, and stretched. Washed my mouth out with water from a bottle in my backpack.

Then I pulled my hoodie off to reveal the green shirt and black jeans shorts I wore. Brushed my hair with my fingers carefully. Then I tied my hoodie around my waist and shouldered my backpack.

Time to go out. I was hungry.

No one would know who I was, no one ever saw my face when I went hunting. Besides, I'd just appear like I was during the day - a normal human.

I walked out and walked into town. It was a nice and sunny day. That cheered me.

Eventually I found a nice little cafe called "Wide Awake Cafe." It was small and they accepted cash. Good. I leaned against the wall and rummaged through my backpack, coming up with a five dollar bill and seventy three cents.

That should be enough to buy me something.

I walked in. There was a bit of a line, but not a big one. After all, it was almost midday. I consulted the menu above before settling on a small sandwich and just water.

Once I placed my order and paid I waited by the counter. I counted my change and I had about nintey - five cents left. I'd have so start saving up again, and I probably won't be able to eat for a few days. Or I'll forage in the garbage cans.

I'm used to it. The way I live, you get used to it eventually.

When my order came, I thanked the counter person and picked the bag. I checked the bag to make sure they hadn't shortchanged me. They hadn't. I smiled a bit, then walked out of the store and back to the vacant warehouse. There, I ate my meal. Probably the only decent meal I'll get for a while.

When I was done, I stuck the waterbottle in my backpack to save for later. Clean water when you're living on the streets is hard to come by.

I sat against the wall, feeling...not too bad for once. During the day, I was able to feel like a normal kid, a normal child with a normal life and a normal home and a normal way of thinking... I used to be that kid, that one kid.

I used to have a stable life, I had friends and family that were so supportive. I was the 'friendly kid' at my school, always willing to make friends with anyone that came across my path. I had good grades, the teachers liked me, I was in so many good clubs.

And I had a boyfriend.

His name was Janus Placido. He wasn't the handsomest guy, but he had his good looks. We were truly going steady. My parents approved of him. He was studious, and kind, and he was something straight from a dream.

I remember we went to the Spring Dance together. Geez, I even remember what he was wearing. He was wearing a navy three piece suit, and nice dress shoes.
I was wearing a magenta dress, with a green belt and black high heels. My hair was done in a French braid.

He said that I looked beautiful. I said that he looked handsome. Then we blushed and laughed.

We talked for a while. It was during the night. The school went through absolute heck to obtain a permit for the dance, though. The stars were beautiful.

We hung at the edges for a while. Until the couple's dance.

Then we danced together.

It was a dream come true.

I remember feeling on top of the world.

It was only a few days later that the Terrible Thing happened.

But once I had disposed of the vampires responsible, I discovered that everyone in the school thought I had perished in the fire that also "claimed my parent's lives"

I watched Janus go home that night. He looked awful. Bags under his eyes, his eyes bloodshot from crying. He walked with a hunch in his step, like there was a weight on his back.

I wanted to call out to him. To tell him I was still there, still alive.

But...I didn't want to. I didn't think I could face him. Besides, he still thought vampires were good. I don't know if he would have seen my point of view.

That was six years ago. I don't know what became of him now. He could be anywhere. He could be dead.

I wouldn't know.

I wouldn't know.

I stood up. I really needed to get my head out of the clouds.

As I walked out of the warehouse, a flyer nearly hit me in the face. I grabbed it and looked at it. What I saw nearly made me faint.

***************
ATTENTION!

The Vampire Searchers Corps are now going to be integrated! Humans can now join to be part of special daytime units, or nighttime units. We feel this expansion of hours and service is necessary, due to the growing amount of younger ones wandering the streets. Please note that those children found in the daytime will be taken to a human orphanage, not a vampire one.

ENLIST TODAY!! 513-873-5829
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I lowered the flyer, my hand trembling. Oh great. So now...now I wasn't even safe during the day.

It was just as I feared. The Vampires were finding a way to creep into the daytime life, they would slowly take it over. Until everyone were slaves of the vampires.

I couldn't let that happen. A vampire purge needed to happen more than ever.

I ran back inside and stuffed the flyer into my backpack. Maybe I could disrupt the enlistment by prank calls from pay telephones.

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and headed out, for the train station. They had payphones there. I could use those.

I only hoped I could disrupt in time.