I moved the subject quickly on to her telling me about her plans for the weekend, which seemed to primarily consist of going out for drinks with some old work colleagues. She described each one in detail and I feigned interest. Tracy looked happy, which was good as she’d had a hard couple of weeks at work. A few of the placements which she’d made with employers had dropped out before the start date, which would mean that her commission was going to take a battering. I was glad to be getting out of recruitment, it could be so stressful in that respect and I had enough to worry about.
We spent nearly an hour catching up over drinks or one drink in my case, before going our separate ways. Work had been so busy we'd had little time to chit chat over the past week, and as I was avoiding going out in the evenings, I'd missed out on quality gossip time. Tracy had her car with her and offered me a lift back to my place, but as it was still daylight and I only lived a few minutes away, I politely declined.
As I strolled back to mine, past the handful of shops and restaurants, I noticed a couple of "Missing Cat" posters pinned to fences and telegraph poles. I hadn’t seen them before, they must have been new. They looked so cute and I hoped the owners found them. I shuddered at the thought of what I’d do if Charlie went missing. Although we lived on the first floor, he’d sometimes make a successful dash through my front door, timing it so that he’d make it through the external door when someone came in. I’d have to keep an eye on him, I told myself.
I was spending the evening alone as usual, but I took the time to prepare myself a lovely dinner of chicken stuffed with feta and a Greek salad all the same. Charlie was very disappointed that I didn’t leave anything on the plate for him to finish off; his little face looked so forlorn, that I was compelled to open a tin of tuna for him.
I considered giving Richard a knock, to see if he fancied coming out for a run with me, but he had made me feel foolish enough the last time I asked him. I wondered if he had called around while I was out to invite me to accompany him. I hoped that I hadn’t missed my opportunity.
As I watched the sun set through the French doors on my balcony, I was disappointed to see him pounding the pavement hard as he ran down the street. It looked like he was with his running chums again. Wow, am I that unpopular? I’m kind of cool, I’ll have you know! I’ve killed a vampire and everything, well, sort of, I was there when it happened. I decided to console myself with the large box of chocolates, which I’d intended to take into work as a farewell gift for the team.
A dozen chocolate truffles and a hazelnut whirl later, I was feeling decidedly queasy. Several mugs of tea helped wash the confectionery down, but I really had been excessive. I’d have to go for that run tomorrow, even if it meant running (badly) on my own. Perhaps if I got up early enough nobody would see me and cars wouldn’t honk at me. I knew I could run fast when I needed, too, but I was sure that my technique left a lot to be desired. I felt like I probably resembled a limping camel from any significant distance.
The odour from my kitchen bin wasn’t helping my nausea and I realised that I hadn't emptied it all week. It was full of half-eaten pizza, vegetable peelings and what was left of a chicken carcass. The smell was worse when I removed the plastic lid. I tied the tabs of the bin liner together, while attempting to cover my nose with my sleeve. It wasn't easy, but I managed it.
Thankfully, I had my slippers on, so I made a mad dash out of the flat, down the stairs and through the main door into the courtyard outside. The large communal waste bins that residents shared were kept in a corner of the car park, neatly partitioned off by dark wooden fencing. The space resembled a large garden shed, roof and everything. It housed a couple of large containers for household waste, smaller ones for glass, cans and plastic and another for paper and cardboard. The one thing it lacked, which it could really do with, was light.
The lamps outside each apartment block’s door flicked on as I dashed past them. I ran so fast that the soles of my feet barely made contact with the ground. The foul smelling juice dripping from the black bin bag was an added incentive. It dripped everywhere. Eeeuuwww.
Although it was still quite early in the evening, around eight o'clock, it was pitch black outside. For some reason, in my urge to de-smell my flat, I had completely forgotten about that fact, until I made it into what I affectionately referred to as the "bin hut". Feeling suddenly very vulnerable, I threw the bag into the first of the two large metal containers, slammed the lid shut and turned back to the gated entrance.
It took a few moments for my eyes to focus properly on the dark shape that blocked my exit. Vulnerability blossomed into increasing panic. My heart pounded hard in my chest, beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead, vomit began to bubble from my stomach. Who the fuck is that? Shit. Shittity, shit, shit.
Why had I been so careless? I’d made a point of driving everywhere and avoided going out in the dark to avoid danger, to prevent an attack, but what had I done? Only walked straight into one on my own doorstep, the place where someone had been murdered less than a week ago. What was I thinking? Damn me for trying to get along with my life.
I’d done such a good job combining an appearance of normality with my growing sense of paranoia that I’d slipped back into a regular household task without even considering the consequences.
Why couldn’t I have just left the stinky old bin full until the morning? That wouldn’t have killed me. Perhaps if I charge at him with enough force I could knock him off his feet. He doesn't look very big, no, wait, it's a woman. I think it's a woman? Damn lack of light, damn shadows. Perhaps if I screamed someone would hear me - surely someone would turn up in a car or something soon. Great, well-done Sophie - avoid the great outdoors for weeks and now go and get yourself killed on your doorstep.
I tried to expel a scream, but nothing happened. My throat had seized up. I felt more terrified that I had in Antwerp. Perhaps it was because, in my home, I was meant to be safe, even if a dead body had turned up there weeks before. Or maybe it was because I didn’t know any better back in Antwerp, but now I did. I knew that vampires existed and what they were capable of. Plus, I was on my own to deal with it - that was a first.
There was no other option, I’d have to make a run for it. As I took what I hoped looked like a confident and imposing step towards the gate, I got a better view of the devil in front of me. At first, it was just a more defined outline of their frame, their face still lurking in the darkness of the doorway. But as I got closer the light of a nearby street lamp, peeking through the wooden slats of the walls, illuminated her a little more.
She was a tiny thing, not much bigger than me. Perhaps I really would be able to push her to one side and make a run for it? I took another step forward, larger and more confident this time, and made out the outline of a ponytail, a zip up jacket and slim legs wrapped in leggings. What the hell? This wasn’t a big scary vampire; this was just some woman out for a run.
"Bloody hell", I sighed, relieved. "You really scared me."
She didn’t move.
"Excuse me", I said, trying to shuffle passed her. But she didn’t move an inch. She stood completely still, her face locked on the floor.
"I said excuse me", and took a further step forward, making it clear that I wanted to get passed.
But she didn't budge. She stood there, frozen like a zombie. Just when I was about to get really frustrated, standing no more than a couple of inches away from her and ready to barge past, she looked up.
I noticed the blood staining her shoulder, her chin and neck before anything else. Her zip up top gaped at one arm, partially torn. Oh crap, she’s injured. We’ve got to get out of here. If she’s been attacked by a vampire, then they could come back. No, it doesn’t have to be a vampire, not everything is about vampires Soph. Maybe she just needs a hospital, hit her head, whatever. Pull yourself together.
"Are you alright?" I asked, concerned, "Have you injured yourself? Do you need a doctor?"
She remained silent. Her eyes were c
losed and she began to shift her weight between feet, rocking from side to side, like a boxer keeping their muscles warm before the bell rings to announce the start of a fight. I wondered if she was perhaps in shock. Naively, I reached my hand out and gently placed it on her shoulder. As I bent my knees slightly to look into her face, I couldn’t have been more surprised to have seen two wild eyes flash back at me.
"Oh Fu...," I sighed. Realisation dawned. Then all hell broke loose.
CHAPTER 19
I quickly ducked to avoid the vampire's reach, but lost my balance and ended up in a heap on the cold, wet concrete. I scuttled backwards to create some distance between us, using my hands and feet for propulsion, shredding both palms in the process. Backed against the wooden fence, I kicked my feet wildly as she pounced forward, teeth bared and fingers spread like claws.
"Get off me, get off me you bitch" I yelled. Why isn’t anyone coming to help me? I looked up to see only a handful of lights on. Most people had their curtains closed, but it probably made no difference anyway. I’d have been practically invisible behind the high, dark walls and felt roof. My only hope was that a passer-by would hear me.
A lucky moment came on my part when I managed to plant my right foot into her stomach. I kicked her backwards. She staggered for a second but quickly regained her composure. In the darkness, I could swear that I saw her smile. She moved forward again, but my assault had at least bought me a second or two. I used the opportunity to push myself up off the concrete. I tried to look fierce, but I suspected that my appearance portrayed something more akin to fear.
As for her, I was familiar with that look, I had seen it before. It was the look that told me she was going to enjoy killing me. I straightened my back and pulled back my shoulders, attempting to make myself look as big and as threatening as humanly possible. I lifted both fists in front of me. The woman was probably not much bigger than me, but she was fast and she was strong. Worse than that, she seemed crazy with determination. I knew my chances were slim, but if I could just stay alive for a bit longer, maybe someone would come to my aid.
I looked around to see if there was anything I could use to defend myself. Black bags, no. Cardboard box, no. I grabbed the handles of the nearest refuse bin and made an attempt at pushing it into her, but it was no use. It didn't budge. Even with the wheels it was too heavy. The woman watched me; I was just some massive fucking joke to her.
Then I saw it – a long, thin metal rod, about four feet long, abandoned and propped up in the corner. It could have been a tent pole or a bit of a washing line, I wasn’t sure which, but it would have to do. I grabbed it with both hands and held it in front of me like a bayonet. Then I charged.
"Wait," a voice in the darkness commanded. It wasn’t her voice; it was a man’s, someone out in the shadows.
My makeshift spear stopped a fraction of an inch in front of her right eyeball. She looked at me straight in the eye, teeth curled back into a slow maniacal grin. Now I could get a better look at her I could see that she would have been truly stunning if she hadn’t been trying to kill me.
Taking her opportunity, she grabbed the pole with both hands and wrenched it from my grip. She threw it to one side like an unwanted toy, her eyes never leaving mine for as much as second.
"That's enough". The male voice louder this time, sterner.
The words didn't come from her mouth and for a moment I wasn't sure if I'd actually heard them, or if they were only in my head. I wasn't even certain if they were directed at her or me. I thought I detected a flash of confusion across the vampire's face before she inched the smallest step in my direction. Her foot hadn't even touched the ground before the voice spoke again.
"I said stop".
I couldn't see who the disembodied voice belonged to, and I didn’t know exactly what the man wanted, but his intervention was fine with me. Anything to stop her from lurching at me and ripping my head off felt like a good idea. Then the gate opened a little. The man didn’t enter, but I could see his outline through the opening. He stood back at a distance, smothered in the shadows, but I was just able to make out his tall, slim shape.
"Come here, there’s a good girl", he asked. His voice was warm, calm, and articulate.
The wild thing in front of me looked over her shoulder at him, turned and left the enclosure. I had no idea what had happened. The gate shut behind her and I was left alone. I waited for a moment, opened it and stepped outside. In the distance, I saw two dark-clothed figures running away. Their steps were so light it was if they were running on air. One of them looked like a girl.
I collapsed against the fence and breathed in and out deeply until the sound crossing my lips seemed normal again. My heart was still pounding in my chest and I could feel the veins pulsating in my neck. I rubbed my face with both hands to wipe away the beads of cold sweat. My cheeks were burning hot. The cold November air caught in my throat and it burned. When is all this going to stop?
"Are you okay?" A voice that I thought familiar this time.
"Who's there?" Do I even want to know?
Richard stepped out from behind the far corner of the shed. Well, you could have bloody come along sooner. He was wearing the same running gear he’d had on that cold morning, less than a week ago, the morning we were all watching the macabre scene in the car park. He stepped into the light.
"Err, yes, I’m fine, I guess," I muttered." How long have you been here?" If he'd seen what had unfolded, I decided that it would be acceptable to tell him about vampires. Our car park was apparently becoming a hotspot of vampire activity and besides, a confidant would be good - even someone who didn't seem to like me very much.
"You should go in,” he muttered.
"Yes, I should. So should you, it’s not safe out here on your own," I told him. "Because of the murder and everything," I added awkwardly.
"It's fine, but you should really go in now. You shouldn’t be out here either." His tone was peculiar; agitated but cold. “I’d like it if you went in now."
This was a very odd line of conversation and I wondered if he had seen me being attacked and was in shock. I recalled the first time I’d seen a vampire and I’d been pretty shaken up. Mickey had been even worse. I squinted to get a closer look at him. He looked pale, gaunt even. He’d definitely had better days. He stumbled towards me and into the small pool of light provided by the nearby street lamp.
"Please, you have to go in now," he pleaded.
It was then that everything fell into place. As I took a step towards him, it was obvious. Although his clothing was dark, I could see that he was covered in blood, patches of his top and leggings were darker than others. They looked sticky. He had dried blood on his fingernails and around his mouth. It didn't look like blood - it looked like leftovers. You have got to me freaking kidding me.
"I said go!" Richard spat the words out through gritted teeth. Frustration and disdain were wrapped up in his instruction. He dropped to the floor, clutching his stomach. Richard was in pain, but I couldn't see any visible wounds and I wasn't sure that I even cared. Is my neighbour a vampire? How the hell has this happened?
The fact that he was ushering me to find safety told me that he might not be a vampire, or maybe he was one of those good ones that you sometimes get on the TV and in movies. I don’t know what was happening to him or what he had done, but he was in pain. Everything in my conscience told me that I had to help him. Plus, leaving him there might bring the other vamps back, or put some other poor bastard at risk.
I crouched down and extended a hand to help him up. "Get up Richard, I don't know what you are and right now, I'm not sure I care, but you get up now," I commanded. He rolled on the ground on his back, his face contorted with pain and his forehead covered in sweat. He didn't look much like a vampire to me.
I made another attempt to pull Richard back into reality by shouting his name. He sharply flipped his head, parted his lips and bit me. His baby fangs hit their mark, latching onto my hand and piercing t
he skin. They weren't as well developed as the other vampires I'd met. It was like being bitten by a kitten - shallow but painful.
I yelped and attempted to pull my hand free, but failed. It was no use; his tiny teeth and strong jaw were latched on. I tried twisting my arm away, but I couldn’t. Flailing from side to side, I lifted up my leg and kicked him - delivering a rather shoddy roundhouse to the back of his neck. It had been a good idea to take the Boxercise classes at the gym after all. Richard released me. Thankfully, he hadn't drawn much blood. It hurt though; he'd pierced tissue but missed bone. I should have taken the opportunity to make a dash for it, but there was still a part of me which wanted to help my neighbour. I wanted to believe this couldn’t actually be happening. How could he be a vampire? How could he have turned into this? He seemed perfectly normal before. I can't let this thing, this virus, whatever it is, take him, can I? Should I kill him? He's a real person for fuck’s sake, a neighbour, not just some random thing, I know him. He's not one of them, not like those vampires, or is he? Oh fuck, he's bitten me. What do I do? Perhaps I can save him; maybe it's not too late. The angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other were having quite a lively debate.
"Richard, you stop this. Stop now." I sounded ridiculous, like I was scolding a naughty puppy. "What the hell have you done? How have you turned into this?"
His pale face became calm and he resembled his old self. Perhaps the combination of sharp words and a swift kick to the back of the head had knocked him into his senses. His big eyes looked up at me and their ferocity subsided. He seemed to settle and sat on the tarmac a little deflated. If I'm honest, he looked pathetic. There was little of him which resembled the modern, well-groomed bachelor who lived in the flat above me. Admittedly, the tight Lycra and running shoes didn’t help.
"It’s been coming for a while," he replied without any feeling but physical pain. It was as if he wasn't really present. "This was the night... ouch... the night that I become one of them. Everything changes now. I just didn’t expect this... aaah... this pain. I didn’t expect to feel so – hungry."
Sophie Morgan (Book 1): Relative Strangers (A Modern Vampire Story) Page 19
