After the dust had settled, everywhere was surrounded by the ashes of the vampire. Aurora felt strangely empty, as though she had been holding her breath for too long. It was as if the tension had been building for so long, and now it was gone. She wasn't sure what to do next, so she just stood there, frozen.
Suddenly, the entire crowd that had also been quiet until now burst out cheering and chanting praises, while The Hunter stood with pride, his left hand up in the air, and his sword in the other.
"Good people of Willowbrook," he called out, his voice commanding the attention of the jubilant crowd. "Today, we have rid our beloved town of another bloodthirsty vampire, a creature that threatened our safety and our way of life."
The cheers grew louder at his words, and The Hunter allowed them to wash over him for a moment before continuing.
"But let this serve as a reminder," he said, his tone solemn. "The darkness that lurks beyond our borders is a constant threat. Vampires may be among us, hidden in plain sight. It is our duty to remain vigilant, to protect our families and our community."
A hushed silence fell over the crowd as The Hunter's words sank in. He raised his sword high, its blade gleaming in the sunlight.
"Report any suspicious activity, anyone who behaves strangely or shows signs of unnatural powers. Together, we will ensure that Willowbrook remains safe and free from the taint of the undead."
With that, he lowered his sword, and the crowd erupted in applause once more. Aurora watched, her heart heavy with the weight of his words and the knowledge that the world she thought she knew was far more complicated and dangerous than she could have ever imagined.
Consumed by fear, her heart started to beat at a rapid speed. The heavy chant of the people around her became louder than normal. She dropped the woven basket she was supposed to use to fetch supplies her mother had asked for and she covered her ears, grunting silently as the sounds became even louder and more unbearable.
She immediately knew that she had to get out of there, and without thinking, she turned around and ran, pushing past the crowd. Aurora wasn't running away from anything but the overwhelming fear that had taken hold of her. The image of the vampire's red eyes still haunted her thoughts, and the memory of his menacing grin sent shivers down her spine. The heavy chant of the people around her had become unbearable, each cheer feeling like a hammer striking her chest.
Her legs carried her through the forest path she knew so well, back towards the comfort of her home.
Breathing heavily, she finally reached the doorstep of her family's cottage. She stumbled inside and headed straight to her room, shutting the door behind her, her heart still pounding in her chest. Alone in her room, she tried to calm her racing thoughts. She sat on the edge of her bed and closed her eyes, attempting to steady her breath.
There was nothing to worry about; there was nothing to be scared about, she tried to console her worried mind. But just as she was finally on the verge of calming down, another thought hit her, causing her to groan in frustration.
The basket. She had left the basket and didn't even get the items she was sent for. Angrily she hit her table, which held a vase, causing it to fall and crash. To make matters worse, she heard her mother's voice calling from the kitchen. "Aurora, is that you?"
Startled, Aurora hurried to her feet and rushed out of her room. She reached the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks. Her mother was there, holding the very basket she had dropped in the town square. Confusion washed over her, not only was the basket in her mother's hand, but it also held all the items she was supposed to get.
"Mother, I... I thought I left the basket in the forest," she stammered, her voice trembling.
Her mother smiled softly, her eyes filled with an inexplicable warmth.
"No, dear. You brought it back with you. You must have been so lost in thought you forgot," her mother chuckled.
Aurora couldn't make sense of it. She was certain she had left the basket behind, but there it was, in her mother's hands. She decided to dismiss it, attributing it to the overwhelming events of the day. "Maybe the weather was sunny today, my throat ran dry," she stated.
Her mother immediately wore a worried expression, placing her palm on Aurora's forehead to feel the warmth of her body. It was higher than normal.
"Dear, your forehead is warm. Are you feeling alright?" her mother asked with concern.
Aurora tried to offer a reassuring smile, but it felt forced. "I'm fine, Mother, just a bit tired from all the commotion in town."
Her mother continued to observe her closely, her eyes searching for any signs of distress. "Are you sure, Aurora? Something seems amiss. Did something happen in town?"
Aurora hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to explain the strange events she had witnessed. But her mother could see through her distress, so she added, "Why don't you get yourself a nice tall glass of water, dear, and tell me what happened," Aurora's mother said, gently patting her shoulder.
Aurora nodded and went to the kitchen, feeling a little more at ease in her mother's presence. She filled a glass with water and took a few sips, letting the cool liquid calm her body and mind.
She turned around to see her mother sitting at the kitchen table, looking at her with concern. "Mother, I don't know where to begin, it's just that... there was a vampire, and The Hunter..." She trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper.
Her mother's eyes widened in alarm. "A vampire? Oh, my dear, that must have been terrifying. Are you safe?"
The young lady recollected her experience at the town square, describing each event that had occurred. But when Aurora made mention of a little detail, her mother's eyes suddenly widened, and she asked, "It had red eyes?"
"Yes, and it was staring right at me, laughing like the devil." Aurora shivered at the thought. While her mother's face turned pale, her hand began to slightly tremble. "Are you okay?" Aurora's brow furrowed, noticing her mother's sudden change in demeanor.
"It's nothing, go get some rest." She stated and stood up abruptly, not waiting for Aurora to tell her the rest.
Later that night, as Aurora lay in her bed, sleep eluded her. She tossed and turned, but was still unable to fall asleep. Finally, unable to resist the sensation any longer, she climbed out of bed and lit a candle.
With the flickering light in her hand, she heard a sound which caused her to walk out of her room wearing nothing but a white nightdress.
"Mother," she called, her voice in a whisper. "Father," slowly and carefully not to make a sound, she walked past her parents' bedroom, peaking through the door, she found them sound asleep. Then what was the sound she had heard?
She thought, but then her ear twitched, and this time she heard the sound of the front door make a tiny creak.
Following the sound, she hurriedly walked towards the front door; the cold breeze caressed her skin. The night was eerily silent, the moon casting long shadows. Aurora scanned the surroundings, but there was no one in sight.
She hesitated, her heart pounding once again. Was it just her imagination, or was there truly someone out there? She thought to herself but later decided she was probably just hearing things. After a moment, she retreated back into the safety of her room, locking the door behind her.
She lay on her bed, her eyes wide open, trying to listen for the sound again. But as time passed, her eyes' lids flickered in and out of consciousness, her body slowly giving in until she had fallen deep in sleep.
In the corner of the room, a dark figure stood. Its body hidden in the darkness. One step at a time, without making any sound, it walked towards her bed and stood staring down at her.
Her breathing was calm, peaceful, her chest slowly rising and falling. The shadowy figure's hand gently caressed her face, sliding its hand down her features to her cheek.
She shivered at the touch, causing it to retreat its hand, taking a step back it disappeared into the darkness.