We built our wall so high that no one could climb. But, they did. They've finally gotten a hold of the government to give them what they've always wanted. Rounded up the government, and made a deal with them against all better judgments in return for a peaceful reign. But, once again, it was at the cost of our very own human lives, and they didn't care. They never did! Because they all lived for their own old pale dead hearts.

Many years ago, before I was born, and even long before my brother was born, this land belonged to a certain creature. The Creatures of the night were what they called them. These Creatures were always known to lurk around, looking for whom and what to devour, to sink their teeth in to replenish their old dead hearts.When the developments reached this land, the higher-ups found out about these Creatures of the night, kept it a secret from us, took matters into their own hands, and decided to get rid of these creatures. That would make it easy, they thought. They used all sorts of arms and guns, poisons and holy water, the cross, and silver to get rid of them. The government succeeded and in fact, with time their numbers dwindled.

But unfortunately for us humans, these Creatures were never known to surrender without a fight. They retaliated. Their army led by a cold and bloodthirsty king, attacked the humans without mercy, and in the same vein, our human populations dwindled two times these Creatures. Humans were dying in twos, and fours and bodies were everywhere. That period was a reckless kill. The beautiful streets of Pineville became so disgusting.

War was finally declared! A scary and bloody war between the humans and the Creatures of the night. It was a total nightmare. Buildings were destroyed, houses were burnt and more people were killed but still, the government never told the citizens about these Creatures. They hid the monsters so perfectly well in the form of wild and dangerous animals lurking around the forest in thirst for blood. 

Thousands of years passed, and new kings and governments came and went but the war still hasn't ended. But a time came when both sides became tired of fighting an endless war that kept going in circles and so they finally decided to end the war with a pact.

A pact that involved the humans fulfilling the needs of these creatures in turn for a peaceful co-existence between the both. The Creatures won't attack any humans and the government would give them what they want. And that was The Human Blood.!

"Although, the details of the pact are not that straight because that was what I believe and.."

"Don't you think that is enough lies for one night Grace?" Dad asked. His eyes narrowed down at my aunt Grace daring her to continue her tales.

"These aren't lies brother" She shrieked, glaring down at my dad with the same intensity, daring him to stop her. But we all knew that Aunt Grace was gonna continue her tales since dad had told her to stop. She respected her brother that much.lol 

"They are" Mom rolled her eyes.

"Not you too Liv" Aunt Grace cried into her hands "I don't know what you and my brother stand to gain by saying these..." she rolled her eyes while pointing her hands to my parents "...' these lies' didn't happen!" 

"But Aunty Grace says it did" my brother, Samuel said shrugging without care that dad was throwing knives at him with his eyes " She doesn't tell lies. You said so yourself" 

Yeah, that's my brother—I laughed—using my dad's words against him.

"They.didn't.happen.!" Dad said as he stood up. His tone was stiff.

All these while, I haven't even said a single word. Not that I didn't want to speak or ask my parents some questions, but I was scared of what their response would be. They might shout at me. I didn't know why they were so guarded around this topic. And they also made sure we steer clear of it too, like now.

If these stories didn't happen as my aunt said they did then —

"How do you explain the killings and the people missing here at Pineville?" Aunt asked.

Bingo!

What I was thinking exactly. If these stories didn't happen as dad said—the pact—then how do you explain the missing people? Recently, the number of people missing here at Pineville had greatly increased. And with Aunt Grace's story, putting two and two together, one would easily connect the dots.

"How should I know?"Dad spat

"Right!" Aunt Grace stood up from her seat in the dining "You always 'never know' because you are part of the reason" she spat back eying mom warily.

Now, that was what aunt Grace would always say whenever they ended up having this argument. How were mom and dad part of the reason? I wanted to ask but decided to keep my mouth shut.

"Gracie stop!" Mom shouted, calling her full name. She looked as though she wanted to rip off aunt's head. And for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of red in mom's eyes.

Strange.

Yeah, that's mom...ever the impatient type.

"Gracie, can't you be complacent with your tales? You've already achieved so much with them, brainwashing my children, telling them lies that didn't happen...that is enough"

Aunt Grace sighed "You can never get complacent because a loss is always around the corner. We can't avoid it like the both of you keep trying to avoid this topic!" She raised her voice, an octave higher than dad's own.

Dad gripped the chair tightly, his already pale knuckles turning white. He took in a deep breath as if trying to calm himself before he said something offensive in front of his children. "Samuel, Sara...to your rooms now!" He boomed, his green eyes deepening. He was pissed! "Take Sikara with you, Sara, tuck her in"

"Whatever, I don't even have the strength to deal with you guys again. I am going to my room, you guys are nuts." Samuel sighed as he stood up from his seat in the dining, tossing the hand towel beside me "keep it"