The silhouettes vanished from the trees.
She was lifted and carried to an unknown location.
Moments later, Luna was blinded by a burst of sunlight. Soon after, the glow of moonlight illuminated her almost lifeless form.
She couldn't discern how many times she had drifted between consciousness and oblivion.
Every part of her ached.
She had lost count of the days and nights she'd survived in this condition.
One moment she'd shiver from the cold, gasping for breath, and the next she'd be drenched in sweat.
Why couldn't her end come swiftly and peacefully?
Others spoke of seeing a light at the end of the tunnel during their final moments. All Luna saw was white.
White walls. A white room. No windows.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a shadowy figure—perhaps an angel, or maybe a demon—standing by her bed, watching her, waiting for her end.
His penetrating gaze seared into her soul.
Yet, Luna found solace in his presence, reassured she wouldn't face the end alone.
Gathering her remaining strength, she reached out, grasping the stranger's cold fingers.
"Angel," Luna whispered, clutching his hand with urgency.
Each word she uttered weighed heavily on her lungs.
She looked at him with desperate eyes. "I need help."
Receiving no reply, she tried again, "Demon."
Silence persisted.
Closing her eyes, she pictured him: on the cusp of manhood, yet still a boy. His beauty transcended youth. Silver-blonde hair framed his face, begging to be brushed back. He stood taller than any twelve-year-old she'd ever seen, his long eyelashes almost touching his lids.
Dressed entirely in black, he was a stark contrast to the room's sterile whiteness.
She took a deep breath. The scents of pine cones and sandalwood mixed with a sharp, metallic aroma—blood.
Luna's eyes snapped open, locking onto his weary gray ones. There was a hint of sleep deprivation, but also a wild, predatory glint.
Observing him further, she noticed his black trousers held up by a belt, a simple collared shirt, and a ribbon around his neck.
His pale complexion contrasted his rosy lips and flushed cheeks.
As he smiled, revealing tiny fangs, Luna's realization dawned.
The boy before her was a vampire.