All I knew was I sensed something behind me the moment the thing descended to the sidewalk. I whirled around in confusion and alarm. I was scared, and my mind craved to know what danger had seemingly fallen from the sky.
Almost immediately upon the creature's soft landing, it saw me tense and start to turn around to see what was behind me. Mentally cursing itself, the grey-clad figure reached up with a black-nailed hand toward the considerably my neck and waited for me to turn.
It wasn't ready for my actions, and I was able to charge forward the moment I turned, planning to use my bulk to knock whoever was behind me away so that I could see what was happening and react accordingly with less confusion.
For I might have had too much to drink, but I was a large woman who still worked out, and one who'd played four years of college football as a younger woman. I'd been in my share of fights over the years, too, and the drink in my system only emboldened me more.
My blind charge would have been effective if the monster had only been bigger and not crouching low on the sidewalk. I slammed into it with my legs, and the creature did fall back a pace, but almost instantly it had its grey hand latched around my throat, squeezing his windpipe in an iron grip.
I struggle to get away for a moment before I finally did what the vampire had wanted me to do all along – I looked into its eyes.
The skin that was visible on the creature's hands and face was grey. The rags in which it covered itself were filthy and ancient. The smell coming off the thing was utterly repulsive, but when I looked up into its face, none of that mattered.
A gaunt visage that gave way to full lips and dagger-like yellow fangs was enough to cause Jimmy's bladder to loosen, and I didn't even feel the warm trickle down my pant leg.
The light burning within the creature's eyes must come from some secret and awesome place, I thought. It danced and swirled around pinpoint, black pupils. It turned a deeper red, and then purple, before blazing with intense orange.
There seemed to be some pattern to the changes inside those eyes, and I was determined to solve it. I was utterly transfixed by the spectacle and my body went limp.
The vampire looked each way along the roadway and sidewalk and, though there were a few cars passing by, I doubted anyone could see what had transpired within the shadows of the cemetery's iron fence. It grabbed me in one powerful claw by the back of my checkered coat.
With a display of raw strength and agility, it ran back toward the gate and leapt upon one of the concrete pedestals, upon which the lion statue was mounted. My motionless body trailed behind and when my head hit the steel pole, there was an audible metallic clang.
The vampire jumped down on the other side of the fence and again peered out onto the sidewalk to make sure no alarm had been raised. There was no sound but the hum of the occasional passing car and the leaves rattling above in the trees as the night wind gusted.
It jerked around and dragged me behind him. I sneakered heels bounced across the thick cemetery lawn. Displaying much less concern now, the vampire made its way easily to a large stone mausoleum, only a hundred yards or so from the gate where it had snared its victim.
It reached into its rag-like shirt and produced a silver key. With it the vampire unlocked the steel gate that barred access to the white building. The portal creaked on rusted hinges as the monster pulled it open, and it dragged me from the world and locked the gate.
Sherry's eyes opened and she opened the door lock at her house and with a glum posture walked inside. It was too dark and lonely. With a wistful expression, she turned the lights on in the living room and stared at the portrait hung on the wall.
Four people were smiling happily in the portrait. Sherry, her brother Felix along with their mom and dad. They lost their parents 10 years ago. Felix was her only source of happiness and strength for surviving against all odds in this world.
But today, she was all alone standing all frozen and glancing at the portrait helplessly.
Her throat choked in agony as she felt a strong urge of crying out aloud while looking at the picture. She lost her balance and fell to the ground while breaking down miserably.
"How? How am I gonna live in this world all alone? Why did you all have to leave me all alone? Why didn't you stay with me, Felix? How--" She couldn't complete her words as she started weeping bitterly while covering her face with both her arms.
Her happy world shattered into pieces in a single cursed night again...
....
Romano Mansion:
After spending quality time all alone outside with a heavy heart, Roger finally decided to head back home.
But to his surprise, William was waiting for him outside the mansion with a grimaced face. He was agitated to witness his sudden act of kindness.
Roger hastily walked up to him and groaned ferociously. "What are you doing here? Why are you pretending to be generous with me?
Deep down inside I also have known that you never accepted me as your brother, I was just a sympathized child for you!" He sounded too angry while interrogating him.
William sighed with his response and looked into his eyes intensely. Roger's eyes turned blue as he was too infuriated with him, which provoked his beastly instincts to show off.
"You are right Roger, I never treated you as my brother. But, I have tried my best to protect you from any harm since you were little." He continued in a mellow voice.