Dark Romanticism

VII

VII

“Um—”

“Dreanna.” 

I broke out of my reverie. Was I about to let her stay at my place? 

“Baby. So not nice of you to show up.” 

I glanced over to the source of her annoyance, already knowing who I’d see. He was staring at her hard. Almost like he was willing her to hear something that wasn’t being said aloud. 

“Is that your boyfriend?” I asked. 

Dreanna turned to me and her demeanor changed. “Yes.”

“Oh,” was all I said. 

He was even more intriguing up close in better than mediocre lighting. 

“Dreanna let’s leave. Come.”

“I have to finish this,” she was insisting. 

Finish what? These people must have some pretty big issues. 

“No. You shouldn’t have came to Seattle. Leave her, come with me,” he plead her. He was looking on with adoration for the girl. They must be in love. 

Dreanna glanced at me and then once more at her boyfriend. “Fine.” She took his hand and winked at me before leaving with her delicious boyfriend. 

“What the hell just happened?” I asked myself out-loud. That was some seriously weird shit. I mean...what? 

I shook my head and looked around to see if anyone else saw how weird that was. Everyone was doing their own thing. Huh. Must’ve been just me. 

I gathered my things from the day and then went in the back to get some stuff out of my work locker. I can’t wait to go home. 

I told Janine before leaving and texted India. 

Try not to stumble upon any dead bodies on your way home. 

I laughed at her response and pushed the doors of the diner open. The cool, fall breeze bite at my cheeks and I pulled my pea coat closer to my body. 

I was three blocks away from my apartment and I was tempted to run. When did it get so fucking freezing outside? 

A female laugh sounded from the distance and I shivered. It was a Tuesday night. Who goes out on a Tuesday night? 

“Hey, girl!” 

I jumped and found Dreanna leaning against a shop. 

Not her again. “I thought you left with your boyfriend?” I asked. 

“Yeah, but we’re fighting. I thought I’d wait for you to leave so that I can stay at your place. Like we were talking about,” she smirked at me. 

“Um, right.” I never agreed to that. What the hell? “Well, I’m actually not gonna be there tonight.”

“Oh?” Dreanna walked towards me and smiled. “Well can I give you my number?” she asked and pulled my hand out to write on it. 

“Oh, uh, sure.” Anything to get you to away. 

Damn it. Something was off about this girl. I looked down the street and saw a man. Maybe I should let him know I’m here. In case this girl goes crazy. 

“One question,” Dreanna said. 

Reluctantly, I let my eyes meet hers. “Hm?”

“Did you fuck Ben Narmes?”

I blanched, “What!” How did she know about that? Are the police warning the public about me?

“Did you?” She let of my hand and wrapped one hand around my neck. 

I struggled to free myself from her, but couldn’t shake her hold. She was strong. 

“Answer me,” her eyes were blazing with anger and I wanted to scream, but could barely talk with her hand around my neck. 

“Yes,” I rasped out. 

“And the police are after you?”

“Yes.”

“See, I knew I had to finish this,” she grinned and then banged my head against the brick wall I was against. 

Is she the serial killer? Holy shit. 

“Please, let me go. Please, please, please,” I begged her. I felt something hot and slimy slide down my forehead. 

“Look at that? You’re bleeding.” 

She smiled, full teeth, but something was off. Her canines were extended. How did I not notice that before? 

“I’m gonna kill ya now; okay?” she asked. 

I tried my best to scream, but nothing would come out. I can’t believe this is how I’m going to die. Why me? Oh my god. Now I lay myself down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep. If I shall die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take. Am—

Dreanna pulled away from me and I dropped to the ground. 

“I told you to leave her alone Dreanna. I gave you a chance,” her boyfriend was standing in front of me. Between her and I. He was protecting me. 

“I don’t like leaving things unfinished. Get. Out. Of. My. Way. Now.” Dreanna was pissed and if I had more oxygen going to my brain then I would probably be trying to run right now. 

Her boyfriend sighed and then, in one movement, pounced on her. A growl, inhuman and gruff, ripped from her chest. She clawed at him as he held her down on the ground. 

I looked away. Where is that man I saw a second ago? Shouldn’t he be saving me? 

Now I lay myself down to sleep, I pray the lord my soul to keep. If I shall die before I wake, I pray the lord my soul to take.

Growls, cursing, and heavy breathing came from beside me. I couldn’t look though. It wasn’t real. It can’t be. My head felt heavy and I forced my last thought out with all the energy I had. 

Amen. 

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