? This is the next chapter I decided to edit a little bit. Hope you enjoy it.
Got a secret, can you keep it? Swear this one you'll save Better lock it in your pocket Taking this one to the grave -The Pierces The next morning when I woke up, I had a pounding headache. The light streaming into my room from the window didn't make it any better. "Ow," I groaned, pulling the blankets over my head. Suddenly the memories of the last night came rushing back to me, and I sat upright, forgetting about my headache. I wanted to believe it had just been a dream, but the two small pinpricks on my neck told me otherwise. I studied them in the mirror, pressing down lightly on them and then wincing when a small bolt of pain shot down my neck. What exactly had happened last night? If I didn't know better, I would think that Callum was a vampire. That was stupid, though; vampires didn't exist. I couldn't find any explanation for why he had attacked me and then left. Immediately I wondered if he'd taken anything with him when he left, but after a thorough check of the apartment I realized the only thing missing was the knife that had been in my nightstand. It was a confusing situation, but I couldn't come up with any possible answers to my questions. Finally I decided to let it go, and headed into the bathroom to take a shower to clear my head. What was done was done. Fifteen minutes later I emerged from the shower, a towel wrapped around my body and another wrapped around my wet hair. As I stepped into my bedroom, I froze. He was sitting on my bed, looking as casual and comfortable as if he belonged there. He was reclining back against my pillows, arms folded behind his head. "Good morning," Callum purred, his voice smooth. "What are you doing here?" My body was frozen, and despite my protests my legs wouldn't back up away from him. "I just wanted to come make sure you were doing okay." He widened his eyes in mock surprise. "Don't you want to see me again? From what I remember, you had an enjoyable time last night." He smirked, and I blushed. "Get out of my house." "This isn't technically a house," he commented, glancing around the room. "Whatever. Just get out." I slid past him to open the door and pointed for him to get out. I wasn't sure what I would do if he refused, but he got up from my bed and walked out of the room, passing dangerously close to me. I caught a whiff of his scent - something that I couldn't put a name to, but nevertheless made my mouth water. I wanted to say a mix of mint and oranges, but that was hardly a scent. He paused right outside in the hallway, and turned to me. I was too incapacitated by his scent, and could only watch numbly as he walked towards me. I could, however, admire his beauty. He had dark, tousled hair and dark blue eyes that held an energetic, bright spark. His face was chiseled and strong, but was slightly marred by a scar running down his right cheek from his ear to his jaw. Slowly he leaned forward. All I could focus on were those pale pink, kissable lips... "Stop it!" I gave him a hard shove in the chest. It didn't seem to affect him much, and he just stood there with an amused expression on his face. "What's wrong, Ashlyn?" "Do you really have to know everything about me?" I complained, glaring at him. "Wait, what are you even still doing here?" I began pushing him backwards, towards the front door. "Okay, I'll try this the right way. What's your name?" "Hannah." We were almost to the front door. "Sure it is," Callum chuckled. We had just reached the door, and I reached around him to open the front door. It swung outwards and I gave him one last shove, then slammed the door in his face and locked it. After securing the deadbolt as well, I froze. Callum was lounging right outside my window on the fire escape. I hurried over to the window and slammed it shut, smirking at him from behind the glass. He didn't look all that concerned that he'd just been locked out, but I didn't stop to wonder about that. Back in my bedroom, I pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, then frantically dug through my bag looking for my cell phone. If I could find it, I could call the police and alert them that a wanted murderer was chilling on my fire escape. To my dismay, when I found my phone it was completely dead. Even worse, I didn't know where my charger was. "Damn!" I flung my phone across the room, not even caring if I'd broken it. I was stuck in my apartment, without a phone or any protection from the guy outside besides a thin sheet of glass. Once again the two pinpricks on my neck caught my eye. From far away they looked like a hickey, but up close I could clearly see the small red dots. Who had teeth like that? I frowned, wondering once again what he was. There was no way I would ask him though. If I never talked to him again, it would be too soon. I suddenly had anidea. If I tried to leave my apartment and he stopped me, I could yell for help. Some of my neighbors literally never left their apartments, and surely they would come to my aid? After slipping on a pair of shoes, I hurried back into the living room. Callum had disappeared from the fire escape. I wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing. I opened the front door and peered out cautiously. The hallway was completely empty, with no one in sight. Breathing a sigh of relief, I stepped into the hallway. Immediately he was there, less than a few inches away from me. "Where are you going?" "Why does it matter?" I snapped, trying to step around him. He stepped with me, blocking my path. "Just wondering." "I was just going for a walk." "I'll come with you." "Um...actually never mind." I spun on my heel and slammed the door in his face, not forgetting to lock it securely. Once inside I began pacing, wondering how I could escape him. He obviously planned to keep me locked up in my apartment, but for how long was left to be seen. I didn't want to stay in here forever, though. What all could you do in an apartment with a living room, a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. For a second I considered climbing out my window and down the fire escape, but then I remembered that he had been there just a few minutes ago. "Fucking bastard!" I hissed, hoping he would hear. Apparently he did, because a few seconds later I heard a soft chuckle. That afternoon as the sun was beginning to sink lower in the sky, I made up my mind that I would attempt to get to work. Normally I would have dreaded going, but right now I just had to get out of my apartment. I was beginning to get cabin fever, and if I had to stay here any longer I would surely go crazy. After changing into my all-black work uniform, I made sure all the windows were securely locked and then cautiously opened the front door. I peered down both sides of the hallway, but didn't see anyone. Taking a deep breath, I stepped lightly out of my apartment and closed the door softly behind me. Still nothing. Barely daring to believe my luck, I hurried down the hall and down the two flights of stairs to the bottom floor. At every turn I expected to see him, but I made it safely to the bottom floor. I strolled across the lobby as if nothing was wrong, although I kept shooting furtive glances from side to side. The only people in the lobby were a man and a woman quietly arguing in the corner, and the older man sitting behind the front desk. He gave me a smile and a nod, and I tried to return it without seeming nervous or jumpy. I could barely believe it; I was free! My hopes were soon dashed when I stepped out of the building and saw Callum leaning against the wall, watching me. His face was unreadable, his eyes dark. I ignored him and continued down the sidewalk, hoping he wouldn't follow me. He did, though, and fell into step beside me. I tried my best to lose him in the crowd, but somehow he always managed to keep up. I kept expecting him to say something or try to stop me, but he never spoke a word or tried to get me to go back to my apartment. It was a bit unnerving having someone silently following you, but I ignored him the best I could. When I finally reached the restaurant I worked at I hurried inside, leaving him behind. "Who's that?" One of my coworkers, Alison, peered curiously at him from behind the hostess stand. "He's nobody." I didn't turn around, already knowing what I'd see. "He's cute. Really cute." I rolled my eyes when her back was turned. "Believe me, you don't want him." I pushed Callum to the back of my mind, and busied myself with working. My boss let me off early, around midnight, because we had more waiters than people dining there. Normally I would have been happy to leave early, but not tonight. I wasted time talking to people about random, pointless stuff. Finally, at 12:30, I could no longer find any excuses to stay, and left to head home. All the way home, I wondered whether he would be there. It seemed like no matter what I did to keep him out, he always found a way back in. Luck was with me, and when I arrived back home he wasn't anywhere in sight. That night, something woke me up. I squinted, trying to see through the heavy darkness. Suddenly someone climbed up into my bed next to me. I opened my mouth to scream but they placed their hand over it, silencing me. "Shhh, stay quiet." I recognized the quiet whisper, and struggled under his hand. "Get off me," I said, finally managing to free my face. "What are you doing here anyways? I'll call the police," I threatened. "With what? Your dead phone?" He chuckled, and I scowled. "Why do you keep following me?" Callum didn't answer. He rolled over on top of me so that he was straddling my body, then gently brushed a few strands of hair away from my neck. "What are you doing?" I hissed, shoving his hand away. In the next instant he had both of my hands gathered in one of his, pinned above my head. I struggled, but couldn't free them. With his free hand, he began to slide the strap of my tanktop down my arm. I arched my back, frantically trying to get him off, but he had the advantage of weight against me. "Stay still," he ordered. Of course I didn't listen, and continued struggling. "You're just making this harder on yourself," he warned. "Get out of here," I said, my voice beginning to rise in pitch like it did when I was scared. Callum bent closer to me as if to kiss me, but the next instant I felt a searing pain at the base of my neck, where it met my shoulder. He covered my mouth with his free hand as I screamed, his mouth still latched firmly to my skin. I could feel my eyes beginning to roll back into my head, could feel the darkness beginning to take over. And then he was done. Callum straightened back up, releasing my hands and removing his hand from my mouth. "What the hell?" I choked out, hyperventilating. "Breathe," he said calmly. This just made me start hyperventilating even more. "What are you?" I gasped, still trying to force air into my lungs. "You're a smart girl. I'm sure you'll figure it out." There was a cool breath of air on my skin, and then he was gone. I lay there in my bed, shivering violently despite all the blankets piled on top of me. His words echoed in my head, and I frantically raced through all of the possible answers. Human was out; there was absolutely nothing human about him. I briefly considered something like Superman or Batman, but then dismissed the idea. They were superheros, and I was pretty sure Callum was definitely not the superhero in this situation. So what was he? He bit my neck, to do...what? What was he doing when he bit me? With a sinking feeling in my heart, I turned to the one possibility I had been pushing to the back of my mind. The one possibility I didn't even want to consider, because there was no way it could be true. But there was nothing else I could think of. Callum was a vampire.
