I thought I would be fine after Henry left but I was dead wrong.
The hunger returned with a vengeance. I had made it a few hours and felt pretty normal. But then that thirst resonated throughout my entire body. By the time it got really bad, all the blood banks were closed.
I wouldn't be able to rob any until the next morning and I didn't know if I could make it that long. The hunger had never been so bad before. It was so debilitating that I could barely think straight. My body felt so weak that I had to lay down and not move.
My skin began to sweat buckets. My eyes went red.
Henry being around only masked the symptoms. He didn't fully take away the hunger. If he had stayed all day like I wanted him to, I might've died the moment he finally left.
I needed blood and I needed it fast. Getting to my normal hunting grounds would be almost impossible in my position. No guy or girl at a club would be even remotely interested in me for me to get close enough to feed.
It was after midnight and my building would most likely be deserted. Roaming the halls looking for a victim would sap the rest of my energy.
Calling Henry for help crossed my mind. But that would mean confessing my deepest darkest secret. I knew I'd have to tell him eventually if I ever wanted any real future with him. But now it was too soon. He'd run straight for the hills if she saw me for who I truly was.
I had to find another way.
My only option left was to pick someone off the street and hopefully not be seen. It was a huge risk but one I'd have to take.
I stood up and the room immediately began to spin. I put my hand on the kitchen counter to steady myself. This was worse than a hangover. It was more like being drunk and having a jackhammer in your head at the same time.
I took a few wobbly steps to the door and knew that my mission was futile. Even if I did make it outside onto the streets, I had no strength left. It would be next to impossible for me to grab someone and drain them.
I fell onto the hardwood floor and flipped over on my back and stared up at the ceiling. I tried to control my breathing to keep the hunger at bay. It was the only thing I could do to try and stay alive.
Now Henry was my only hope.
I pulled out my cellphone and dialed his number off my hand. I put the phone up to my ear and waited for it to start ringing. I couldn't keep my eyes open. The call began to ring. I just needed to stay awake long enough to tell Henry to get over here immediately.
Everything went to black.
–
A banging noise woke me up. The sun was out and blinding me. I couldn't remember what had happened or how long I'd been asleep. I saw the phone next to my head and remembered that I was in the middle of calling Henry.
I couldn't move my limbs anymore. The need to feed had overtaken me. My brain was only working at ten percent. Based on that I knew I had been asleep for a couple days. It wouldn't be much longer now until I took my eternal rest.
There was another banging and I realized that it had come from the door. I tried to reach out for it but couldn't. I opened my mouth and it was drier than a desert. I tried to speak but only a whining sound came out.
You can do this, Spencer. Whoever is on the other side of the door will be your next meal. You just need to speak.
I opened my mouth again and forced out the word help. I didn't know if it was loud enough until the door handle turned. Thank the gods I never locked my front door.
Henry came running in. “Spencer! What happened?”
No. Not you. Anybody but you.
Henry came to my side and propped my head up. “What's wrong, Spencer? Are you hurt?”
I could hear his veins pulsing for me. “Blood...”
“What did you say? I didn't hear you. Maybe I should call 911.”
“Blood,” I said again softly, using every last ounce of energy.
Henry leaned over me and put his ear up to my mouth. His neck was dangerously close to me. There was no resisting it.
My hand moved without much effort and I placed it on the back of his head. I pulled him closer to me and dug my fangs into his sweet flesh.
Henry screamed as the blood flowed down my throat. He tried to fight me off but it was no use. My mind awakened, my strength returned. He was no match for me.
A voice deep down called out to me, “You've had enough. Don't kill him.”
I ignored it and continued to feed, relishing in the taste. Blood had never tasted so good.
You're going to kill him.
The image of Henry popped into my head. Our long night together flashed before my eyes.
The fiery red in my eyes dissipated and I released Henry from my grip. He fell to the ground, lifeless and unmoving, blood slowly leaking from two holes in his neck.
My heart began to flutter. “What have I done?” I said.