"The Bowman's Bar"- this was

where it all began. I had closed the family's flower shop early today as I

needed to focus on writing my résumé for the B-List agency casting.

Acting had always been my forlorn passion. I craved the spotlight so bad, with all the

paparazzi and showbiz glitz, but I didn't really know anything about the industry;

I had no experience, no College degree, no  ground-laid information, literally nothing

gratifying. Just some naïve dorky girl in her early 20s, who rehearses random movie

scenes in front of her family every dinner night.

Not

forgetting to mention the tons of pilled up magazines in my room, featuring the

'who's who' in the industry. Not that I was interested in their faces ; I

bought them mainly to search for scouting informations.

"Hey, Pops,"

I voiced, pressing my phone against my ear. I had rang dad's phone for the fifteenth

time today.

"Lylah, is

everything okay?"

"Uh, yeah.

I'm closing the shop early. Sorry Dad, I need to write that résumé I told you

about. The entry closes at midnight."

"You could

just stay and figure it out in there, don't you think?"

"I know

dad, I just need a different kind of environment, my inspiration ain't kicking

in here."

"Honestly, I've

got nothing attention-piquing to say about my self, you know. I need a spice in

my application." The weight of low esteem hung heavily in the tone of my voice.

"Come on,

you know a lot about flowers! That's a plus for real," a voice chimed in from

the background. That was Lucas, my eldest brother, he was off work today- had a

thing with his girlfriend, Mila.

The whole

family worked in the flower shop by the way. Mom and Dad met in college, both studying

floriculture, they decided to open a flower shop soon after getting married,

training me, Lucas and Liam in the line of business since we were kids.

"Flowers

are alive, they can talk like you, you just have to listen closely," mom would

always tell us casually.

"Dad..?" I

sighed, bringing him back to our conversation.

"Mmm hmm?"

"Could you

take me off speaker next time?

He

chuckled. "I'll see to that."

"Don't go

wandering far off this time, it'll come naturally," mom's voice echoed through."

"Your mom's

right, take it easy on yourself pumpkin. You'll figure it out," dad added

simultaneously.

"Love you

too, dad," I said and hung up.

I waded off

after locking up the entrance, gently sliding a piece of mint into my mouth

with every crush masking thoughts of what it'd actually feel like if I make it

into the agency.

The streets

looked alive and cautious like my every step was guarded and directed by an

invisible flow.

I hummed

the Papinko; dad's favorite boy band track, while I tried to organize the

scattered voices in my head. I thought of what could make me unique even

without basic qualifications, I knew I had something, I just couldn't get the

words out.

"I gotta

get around," I cussed in frustration.

Strolling

further as my legs took me, without paying attention to my steps or stops. I

held my tote bag closely as I walked into a dark alley raiding with scary

looking cats.

I'd seen

the path before but never ventured through it, today was a first.

I trotted

with caution and a little panic, it was dark and almost like no one neared the

area at night. Still, I stubbornly moved my cute little feet in front of the

other, smoothly ahead. What's the worse that could happen?

After what

felt like an endless walk through darkness, a towering glass building loomed

ahead- boasting of luxury and lavishness. It gleamed white and bright cutting

through the darkness that lurked.

Standing wholesomely

intriguing with gothic-like graphics lining it's center in oxblood colored wordings,

boldly announcing its name, "The Bowman's Bar."

The building's

entire exterior outlook exuded opulence and sophistication. Encased in grand

designs that looked stylishly irregular, wraith-like gargoyles scattering

across its expanse with each standing watch like living silent sentinels.

Ornate accents

framed the sliding entry door, adorned with black hollyhocks while two

imposingly huge figures stood meters away in guard, both masked up and menacing.

One would think they were padded up beneath their sleeves.

My eyes

reflected in admiration to this haunting beauty as I remained in the dark path.

"Are you

lost, lad?" growled the watcher in Venetian masks, turning briskly, he narrowed

his bloodshot eyes at my direction. My heart skipped. How could he know I

was there? Sensing my exact position in the dark where I stood.

I stepped

forward nervously, vibrant hues of crimson and deep violet illuminated from

within, casting ambient lighting on my small statue.

"Tch, lad?"

I scoffed, trying to suppress my racing heart. "I'm a grown-ass lady, just here

for a drink."

"165 beats

per minute, that's too loud for a lad so mouthy," the other one in cyborg masks

said gruffly, peering at me as if he could see my internal organs.

I tugged at

the hem of my strapless ivory dress, in slight discomfort to their

indifference.

"You got

me," I chuckled uneasily to their stern faces, calculating my next words.

"I've got a

lot going on right now and I think a drink may just fix me, " I added sharply,

attempting to walk past them toward the door, but they blocked me with their

broad frames.

"Your

pass?" the cyborg mask demanded.

"Uh, what's

that?" I halted, itching my arms slightly.

"Scoot off,

lad, or I might just eat you."

For some

reason, the repeated use of 'lad' from this men grated on my nerves. Irritation

crept inside me, and I wasn't about to back off easily.

"You are really

stretching your boundaries," I started provokingly, voice sharp.

"Be nice to

your guests. I'm not some random high school teenager. If you want money to let

me through, ask nicely."

The guards

remained stone-faced, unfazed by my ravings. As I attempted to lash out more,

Venetian mask suddenly advanced towards me as if he wanted to stop my words

before they could fall through.

His eyes

were different like that of an apex predator. Tension built in my shoulders as

I retreated quickly. But still, I wasn't going to let anyone intimidate me for

doing no wrong.

"Go on, eat

me."

"I taste

just as good as I look,"  I taunted

carelessly, in doubt that they could actually do anything harmful.

In a flick unnoticed

motion, almost too fast for my eyes to trace, the watcher was all in my face. I

yelped in shock at the possibility of what happened.

My breath

came in shallow gasps as I stood frozen in the light, struggling to comprehend

what had just happened. One moment, he was several feet away from me, and the

next he had my arms in his grasp.

His gaze

darted towards my neck in a passionate longing, a look I was familiar with; one

I always had whenever Dad made my favorite chocolate cupcakes. I stumbled

backwards in fear of being food for real, but that didn't seem possible to me. Who

eats a fellow human?

He pulled

me back easily, closing the distance between us. A gush of wind brushed harshly

against my face as adrenaline pumped up aggressively.

I saw his

eyes change into a golden glow,  fangs shooting

out from within his mouth, fear clawed at my chest. This can't be real.

The thought

of dying became surreal, for a second I thought of the grief it'll bring to Pops

and the entire family, drops of tears trickled from the corners of my eyes as

my whole body trembled.

He locked me

in a rigid position, I swallowed loads of saliva as I felt his breath heavily on

my neck as his mouth widened for a bite.

"She's with

me," a voice called out from the shadows, startling me in relieve, the watcher paused.

Without

releasing me just yet, he turned slightly to the direction of the voice. I

struggled to dart my gaze also, to see what my savior looked like but I was

completely  stuck in rippling muscles and

could not move.

The voice

was calm yet intimidating, I could hear the click of lighter burning up

cigarette, followed by the rash puff of exhalation as he piped on casually.

Whoever it was, there was a certain aura to his presence. I could sense it even

without direct visuals.

Cyborg

masks who was on standby lunged frantically into the dark where my savior

stood, silent fell briefly, all I heard after were sounds of punching and

hitting, then another that was like claws ripping through the flesh.

A

screeching cry gave way from the distance, I bit my lips in panic. Who was

down? My savior or scary man?

Just then, Venetian

mask slowly loosened his grip on my tender arms like though he had seen something

very frightening; something far more dangerous than himself.

I could see

the terror in his retreat, I gently rubbed off the soreness on my skin as my

gaze remained fixed on him, now it almost seemed like I had suddenly grown an

unmatched superiority that scared him off.

"Scoot off

lad," I loathe mockingly, feeling myself at the strange turn of events, as if I

had become a big deal out of the blues.

The night

turned eerily silent, I couldn't place what was exactly going on but I did know

I was grateful to whatever it was for saving my life.

A low growl

rumbled from the darkness, my heart jumped into my mouth. I turned nervously to

scan the shadows, I could feel something- a presence. I froze in jitters. Was

it Cyborg mask coming back? Or…something worse?