“Until next time.” I avoid his intense scrutiny, bolting for the door before he changes his mind and kills me anyway.
A shadow haunts me the entire way back to the apartment that I share with my sister in Hillsview. A cold chill settles over my skin despite the warm summer morning. I walk through the town in a daze, not paying much attention to the workers opening up their own stores for the day. My mind feels full and foggy, and with each step across the hot pavement, my legs grow heavier. Perhaps I won’t be opening the flower shop today after all.
I climb the stairs to the top floor of our apartment building. My muscles scream in protest. I don’t even get two steps into the apartment before my sister’s high-pitched voice assaults my ears.
“Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you! I almost called the cops to come drag you out of whatever dive bar you were stuck in!”
Claire searches my face in concern as she comes to a stop a few feet away from me, her tight blonde ponytail pulling her haughty features higher than humanly possible. Despite sharing parents, we look nothing alike. Claire is tall and thin with blue eyes and golden blonde hair, whereas I’m short and mid-sized with emerald green eyes and dark hair. Claire got all the ethereal genes, and I got child-birthing hips.
“I’m sorry. I was writing, lost track of time.” Heaviness weighs down my eyelids and I shuffle over the hardwood floor towards my room, ready to collapse into the sheets. Claire stiffens.
“You were writing?” she asks, surprised.
“Yes, now can I please go to bed? I’m exhausted.”
Claire’s bony hand clasps tightly around my wrist as she spins me back around. I guess that expensive gym membership is paying off.
“What are you—” Claire crouches down so our faces are level, her eyes searching my own as if there is something to gain inside of them.
“You’re being weird, Claire. Can I just go to bed, please?”
She finally releases me and stands to her full height. “Yes. Ahem. Sorry. I haven’t slept, either. Too busy worrying about you.”
Why is she so nervous?
“Okay… I’m going to bed now. I’m not opening the shop today.”
“At least get some nutrients in you before you pass out on me,” Claire’s voice calls after me. I turn and find her holding out one of her famous smoothies in a diamante pink cup for me to take. My throat feels like sandpaper when I see it. I give her a smile and take it. “Thank you.”
Claire looks at me like I’m about to shatter into a thousand tiny pieces. “Drink up and get some rest. The shop can wait.” She smiles as she steps forward and tucks a stray hair behind my ear. “I’m glad you’re writing again.”
The whole interaction is odd, but Claire can be a little overprotective at times. I take a sip and smile at her in appreciation before I wander lazily into my room and throw myself down on top of the sheets. I don’t even bother to get undressed. I just lay there, looking up at the pale, powder blue ceiling, sipping my drink before sleep finally takes me.
I dream of monsters.
Fire and wrinkled sheets.
Steel thorns with a mind of their own.
Crimson eyes glaring back at me through the darkness.
When I wake, it’s dark outside again. I slept the entire day away.Shit. I scramble out of bed and head for the kitchen. It isn’t until I’m pouring coffee into my favorite mug that last night comes flooding back.
The mug shatters into a million pieces around my bare feet and scalding water drips down the white cupboard underneath the countertop.
Vampires are real.
Brain fog begins to cast a storm cloud over my racing thoughts. I take a step back, and a piece of the porcelain slashes the underside of my foot.
“You’re bleeding.”
I whirl on the spot, slamming my feet into some more of the broken china.
There he is. In my living room, looking young yet timeless in a black hoodie and jeans.
“What the fuck? How did you get in here?” I clasp my hand over my chest to steady my racing heart.
“There’s already a spot reserved in hell for me. What’s a little breaking and entering?” His gaze roams across the furniture and the air feels like it’s been sucked out of the room.
