by M. D. Bowden
“What is it?” Alfie says.
Typical that he noticed – I should not think such things around him.
“Nothing,” I say.
He rolls his eyes and laughs. “Yeah, right.”
As it is winter it has been dark for a while already by seven so we head out. We start off my first vampire hunt with a long riverside walk but we don’t see anything suspicious so head into town. It’s a Sunday night, so not overly busy, but no night in the city is dead, there are always people out and about, and even some of the clubs will be opening soon. Monday morning looming isn’t enough to put off many students from the deals that coax them out on a Sunday.
We soon leave the High Street and walk the back roads and alleyways where it’s quieter and vampires are apparently more likely to take their victims. After some time we see nothing suspicious so grab a coke and a packet of crisps from a bar to keep our energy up. This is followed by more walking. It’s not particularly exciting, and I’ll admit to myself, if not to Alfie, that I’m starting to get bored. We’ve spent enough time together now that I feel comfortable not talking constantly in his presence, and really it’s best if we don’t talk constantly as we’re supposed to be vigilant, but staying silent is not the greatest way of passing the time.
“Shall we go to a club for a change of scene?” I say. “I reckon we’re as likely to spot a vampire in there as we are out here.”
I point to the club I went to the other night – the worst night of my life.
“If you’re sure. I didn’t know if you’d want to, after what happened.”
“I’ll be alright,” I say, my heart feeling heavy. The last thing I want is to be reminded of what happened to Trish … so soon after it happened … but it seems to be the most likely way we’ll catch her killer. I think I can put aside my pain for that.
Inside the club it’s disturbing how there’s no sign of what happened the other night. It’s still busy, not as packed as Thursday night, but there are plenty of people dancing. No one looks freaked out, or even wary. I scan the place and notice there is extra security; more bouncers and a couple of police officers patrolling. I can’t help but think it won’t make much difference though – if a vampire is happy to attack in a club they must be pretty cocky. I doubt they’d let extra security get in the way of them doing it again.
We walk through the crowd, keeping our eyes peeled, but I can’t see the vampire who killed Trish, or the one who attacked me, or the guy I ‘met’ the other night – I can’t forget about him, regardless of the circumstances, and I can’t help but look out for him too. It would be awkward, seeing him while I’m with Alfie, so I hope he’s not here – a wave of longing betrays my good intentions though.
“Do you want a drink?” Alfie shouts in my ear.
“What, an alcoholic one – while we’re ‘on duty’?” I shout back.
“Sure, reckon we can handle one,” he says.
“Ok then, please can I have a rum and coke.”
He moves towards the bar, and when I don’t follow he comes back and grabs my hand, then pulls me along with him. “I’m not leaving you alone in here!” he shouts.
I roll my eyes, but let him take me with him. I’m not exactly going to start snogging any good-looking guys while Alfie’s at the bar, and if I don’t do that I reckon I’m probably safe to be left alone for a minute. We drink our drinks by the side of the dance floor, watching out for vampires we might recognise, or anyone we don’t recognise looking suspicious. The thing is, in a club like this, there are quite a lot of people smooching about the place, so it’s hard to know what to think is suspicious, and what not.
When I put down my empty glass Alfie grabs my hand again and pulls me onto the dance floor. He really stands out as he’s so much taller than everyone else! He starts to move to the fast pace of the music, and he can dance a lot better than I thought considering his size. I dance with him, but try not to dance too close, and to dance unseductively, but I keep meeting his eye and smiling, and his eyes are all glowy and his happiness is infectious. He’s very fun to be around, and dancing is definitely lifting my mood. As the floor gets more crowded we get pushed closer together, so as we move we frequently touch. I wonder if I should be creating a bigger boundary, so as not to give him any ideas, but it feels nice to touch; it doesn’t feel wrong, so I decide to just go with it. It would be too obvious to move away anyway, I think it would offend him.
We keep dancing, but regardless of the fact I’m having fun, the reason we’re here hasn’t escaped me; I still keep searching around us for vampires. But as I look around us suddenly my eyes meet ‘his’; the guy I kissed. He shoots me an amazing smile and my heart leaps, and I smile back, but then someone steps in between us, blocking my view. I look back at Alfie, and he’s looking in the direction I smiled in. He obviously saw, and I think he looks a little hurt. Oops.
It feels wrong to assume Alfie is in to me – but I’m pretty sure he is, and I feel a pang of guilt. I do really like him, but that other guy … hmmm … I don’t feel like that about Alfie. It’s such a shame as he’s such a sweetie, and I don’t want to hurt him – I want him to stay my friend. I hope I’m not going to inadvertently ruin this.
We keep dancing and any hurt I see on Alfie’s face quickly disappears. I keep my eyes peeled for any vampires, or another glance of ‘him’, but nothing on either score. I really need to pee but I hold it in because I’m actually having fun, and it’s really nice to forget about everything that’s happened for a while, but I know that when I break the moment we’re going to have to go back to the new reality of vampires and danger and loss.
I lean towards Alfie, standing on my tiptoes, and he has to lean right down to hear me. “I’m going to the ladies,” I say.
He nods and walks with me off the dance floor, but then starts following me towards the loos, so I turn and face him.
“You can’t come with me!” I say.
“I can’t leave you alone, you know what happened here before,” he says, not light-hearted now, his eyes dark with seriousness.
“Yes, but Trish was making out with that guy – I’m not going to make out with any vampires in the toilet! And there’s no way you’re going to watch me pee!”
He laughs. “Ok then – I’ll be waiting here.”
I wander past the chatting people, the music pumping through me, yet I feel on edge now I’m alone. More paranoid. Flashes of the other night return and I really miss Trish. I wonder how Mark is holding up at home.
I join the queue outside the ladies’ loos. It’s much quieter here and I end up listening in to the conversations around me.
“Did you hear about the girl who was killed here the other night?” says a little dark-haired girl.
The girl next to her nods. “Yeah, she was a first year at the uni. I had to lie to my parents or they wouldn’t have let me come here, but now I’m here I’m not sure I should be…”
Maybe everyone’s not as oblivious as I thought.
I get back to Alfie without incident – shame I didn’t see that guy though – and I swear he breathes a sigh of relief.
“I think we should do one final look around in here, and then go back to patrolling the streets if we still can’t see anything suspicious,” I shout.
He takes my hand and starts to guide me forwards, but once we’re moving I pull my hand free, yet stay close. I really need to make it clear we’re in the friend zone, without saying it out loud – as that might embarrass him too much and then he’d stay away.
With no sign of any vampires we leave the club and walk the cool evening instead. We walk until I’m exhausted and can’t keep going any longer, and then Alfie walks me home.
At the entrance to my building I say, “Do you want to sleep on the sofa?”
Alfie chuckles. “Nope, it’s still a few hours until the sun comes up – I’d better keep up the patrol.”
“Do you think I’m really lame not being able to carry on?”
&nbs
p; “I’m amazed you kept going as long as you did,” he says, and laughs again.
“Hey!” I say, and whack him on the arm. “So … can I join you again tomorrow night?”
“Sure, pick you up at seven?”
“That would be great. Good night,” I say.
“Night.” Alfie leans forwards to kiss me. I think he’s going for my cheek, so I lean towards him too, but at the last second he moves and kisses me on the lips, pulling my body against his.
DREAD
Shocked, for a moment I kiss him back, but then I turn my head to the side and he lets me go.
“Alfie….” I say, looking at my feet.
“You’re not interested, huh?” he says, sounding deflated.
I look up into his eyes, and he meets my gaze without flinching – I admire his confidence. “I really like you Alfie, but as a friend. I’m sorry.”
“I figured.” He laughs again, in a self-depreciating way. “Saw you looking at that other guy.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeat.
“Don’t be. Might change your mind one day…” he says, and winks at me.
“Alfie…”
“Don’t worry – I won’t push my luck.”
“We can still be friends right?”
“Sure can. I’ll see you later.”
“Be careful,” I say, as he saunters away.
Shite, I think, as I walk up the stairs to my apartment. Alfie seemed to take that so well, and acted like it won’t be a problem – but will it? And did I do the right thing? His kiss felt nice! Maybe if I hadn’t had that experience with the other guy … my connection with him was out-of-this-world good … but I don’t even know his name, and I haven’t talked to him – he might turn out to be a complete idiot. But … no, it’s not just that. Even before I met the guy in the club I wasn’t sure if I fancied Alfie, and I can’t lead him on if I’m not sure – that could mess things up even more. I really hope he doesn’t re-think things later and decide picking me up for another night of hunting is a bad idea.
As soon as I’m safely in my flat I clock the time – four in the morning – and then climb into bed. I’m asleep the second my head hits the pillow.
When I wake up, winter sun is streaming through my window – I was so tired I forgot to close the blind last night. The weirdest dream is still fresh in my mind – I was watching Alfie ballroom dance with Trish in his arms. It suddenly strikes me that Trish would have really liked Alfie; I bet she would have been hot for him, too.
I push myself up and swing my legs out of bed. I groan – my legs are actually aching from walking so far last night. I have a long shower and then spend the day trying to catch up on the website design I’ve been neglecting. It seems like hardly any time passes before Alfie’s knocking on my door again. I press the button which releases the door downstairs then I hear him taking the stairs in giant leaps, until he’s standing in front of me grinning, like nothing is wrong between us at all.
“Hey,” I say, “you came.”
“You think I wasn’t going to?”
“Well, after last night….”
“Don’t worry about it Ava, everything is cool.”
I grab a scarf and we head straight out into the clear cold night, with stars twinkling above, and start walking along the river path.
“How do you feel after last night?” Alfie says.
“Ok, so I admit I’m pretty tired and achy, but as I keep doing this I’ll get used to it, right?”
“Sure.”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever enjoy walking by the river again though. I’ll never forget that vampire attacking me. Maybe when this is all over….”
He stops and looks at me directly. “It will be, you know. Things always change….”
I nod and look away, and then continue walking. “How did it go after you left me last night?”
“No luck. For me anyway. Lil and Stew took one out last night – the girl from the photo.”
I smile. “That’s good news!”
“Yeah, we’ll get them,” Alfie says. He’s quiet for a bit, then says, “My pack are getting a bit funny about me taking you out with me. They reckon going to the club together was irresponsible, so tonight I’ve been assigned the river. Gonna be a bit boring I reckon, do you mind?”
“No, course I don’t. I’m not in on this for the fun of it – you know I’m not.”
“I know, I just thought … it doesn’t matter.”
I let that go, after him trying to kiss me last night I don’t want to delve into his emotions too deeply.
We carry on down the river, me staring up at the stars, then looking down at the reflections carrying across the water. We walk past the odd couple, and even people walking alone.
“I can’t believe people are still out after how many people have been killed recently,” I say.
“It’s human nature – there are always people who hope for the best, and also those that have to get home from work, people whose lives depend on going out, and who don’t have the option to be walked home.”
“I’m glad you’ve been here for me,” I say, before I can think better of it.
“I know you are,” he replies. For some reason this makes me feel warm and fuzzy.
We walk until the river ends, and then turn back towards The Quay, retracing our steps.
“I—” I start to say.
“Shhh,” Alfie says, putting up his hand. “I can—”
Suddenly he is running ahead incredibly fast; he’s like a blur.
I sprint after him, my heart thudding so hard it hurts, and then I see him approaching two people up ahead. It looks like they’re kissing, but the scenario is so uncannily similar to what happened to me that I go cold all over, and remember the pain at my neck, plunging into the icy water….
I see the man break away from the girl, and even at a distance, in the dark, I recognise him immediately: It’s the guy who attacked me. I stop running and stare. It should be no surprise really, yet it is, and I feel filled with fear. As Alfie tears towards him the vampire breaks away from the girl and he gives her a sharp push – she falls back into the river, just like I did. I start running again – I could help her as Alfie fights him. But a second later the vampire is in front of me – how did he do that? – and I hear Alfie shout, “No!”
I’m being grabbed, searing pain at my neck – then a wrenching motion as his teeth come out and Alfie pulls him away from me – I’m falling forwards into thin air – then I smack straight into the paving. I hear another shout, hear motion … then blackness.
***
I wake up and it feels like days later … and yet what happened is still fresh in my mind. I see the bright light through my still closed eyes, hear the sounds of wheels, curtains, serious voices … I feel a strong sense of déjà vu. I know immediately I’m back in hospital. I could swear my head hurts more than last time – it not only hurts all over but my forehead feels weird, too, and like it’s got bandages on.
I open my eyes and this time it’s Alfie at my side, not my mum. He’s fast asleep, with his mouth open again.
“Alfie,” I say, and surprise myself with the hoarseness of my voice.
His eyes fly open. “Ava!” He sits up straight and takes my hand, then leans over me and kisses my cheek tenderly. “Thank God.”
“Did you get him?”
“No – don’t think about that now.”
“But the girl…”
“She survived. She’s gone home already.”
“Good,” I say, and close my eyes again.
“Are you in pain?”
“My head hurts so much.”
Alfie is off and it’s not long until he’s back with a nurse and I’m being checked in all sorts of ways and having something injected into my IV. Alfie holds my hand again and I just lie there with my eyes closed, until the pain starts to fade and I feel sleepy. The next thing I realise I’m waking up again and the pain has lessened. I open my eyes and Alfie is still the
re by my side, this time reading a magazine.
“Hey,” he says.
“I must look like shit,” I say, groaning, with a half-smile.
He laughs. “I’m not saying anything, but I’m glad you’re talking.”
I reach over and give him a gentle whack with my IV free arm. It’s as much as I can manage.
I have to stay in hospital for another two days before I’m well enough to go home. Somehow Alfie persuaded the hospital I was his girlfriend and he’d look after me and they didn’t call my parents. Good job too, or they would have made me come home and I’d never have any chance of helping to catch that guy, or Trish’s killer, although Alfie doesn’t reckon I should carry on helping anyway. No surprise there.
He’s been by my side in the day, sleeping in the chair by my bed through the morning until lunchtime, and then staying with me until it is dark – and then he’s been off vampire hunting on his own. He’s not seen any more vampires, and neither has the rest of his pack, but two more girls have been killed, so it’s not that the vampires have given up or moved on.
Now I’m home and Alfie is fast asleep on my sofa. He said he wasn’t going to leave me alone today, first day out of hospital, just to make sure I’m ok. I feel completely fine though, he needn’t worry. I’m doing some work while he’s sleeping, but I’m finding it very hard not to think about the vampire situation. And I miss Trish so much. I want to be doing something to help, but thanks to that vampire, who is still out there, Alfie is flatly refusing to take me out with him again until I have a way to protect myself.
On the positive side he has thought of a method and is going to start teaching me this afternoon when he wakes up! His pack own a few wooden bullet guns, which they don’t use much so they won’t mind me borrowing one, and Alfie says if I have one of these then at least I will have a way of slowing a vampire down – even if I can’t kill them. I’ve never shot a gun before – I’m looking forward to learning but hope I’m not completely crap at it or Alfie will laugh at me and refuse to take me out with him again.
