The city never slept. Its streets were alive with the sound of rushing cars, distant chatter, and footsteps that never seemed to stop. For Alexander, it was all just noise. He didn't belong in this world. The night was his true home, a time when shadows grew long, and the city's chaos faded into the background.

Alexander leaned against the cold brick wall of a narrow alley, watching people pass by. His tall figure blended easily into the darkness. He wasn't like the humans who walked by without noticing him. They were fragile and fleeting, their lives like short flames that burned out far too quickly. He had lived for centuries, and their world no longer interested him. But tonight, something felt different.

That's when he saw her.

He couldn't see her face but only her long chestnut hair that flowed down to her waist he saw, but there was something about her that caught his attention.

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.

.

Emma moved through the crowd with purpose, her hazel eyes glancing at her surroundings as though searching for something. Her chestnut hair, soft and wavy, caught the dim glow of a streetlamp, and her . She didn't seem afraid, even though the streets were growing quieter as the night deepened.

Emma walked through the city, her thoughts wandering as much as her feet. The noise and energy of the streets always made her feel alive.

She paused in front of an old bookstore, its faded sign hanging crookedly above the door. The windows were dusty, and the light inside was dim, but something about it called to her. She pushed the creaky door open and stepped inside.

Inside the bookstore, Emma let out a soft breath as the smell of old paper wrapped around her like a warm blanket. She'd always loved bookstores, especially ones like this, filled with forgotten stories waiting to be discovered. She walked slowly, her fingers brushing over the books

Her eyes landed on a small, worn book with a faded cover. She picked it up, smiled to herself, and carried it to the counter. After paying, she stepped back out into the night, clutching her new treasure close to her chest.

.

.

.

Alexander's sharp eyes followed her as she walked down the alley . He had made her his target for the night .

Alexander watched her from the shadows as she walked further oblivious to the danger that was about to happeñ to her. He stayed silent, his movements so smooth that not even the night seemed to notice him. He could hear her heartbeat—it was steady and soft, like a gentle rhythm calling out to him. For a moment, the hunger inside him stirred, but something else held him back.

Emma began walking again, humming a soft tune under her breath. It wasn't something she thought about; the melody had simply been in her head for as long as she could remember. Her mother used to hum it to her when she was little, and it always made her feel safe.

The sound reached Alexander, and he froze in place. That tune—it was familiar. His sharp mind searched for the memory, but it was buried deep. The melody stirred something within him, something he hadn't felt in a long, long time.

He stayed in the shadows, watching her as she walked. His instincts told him to move closer, to follow her completely unseen. But for the first time in centuries, he hesitated.

Emma turned a corner, her figure disappearing into the night. Alexander didn't move. He was still standing there, caught between the pull of his nature and something he couldn't explain.

For centuries, he had lived by one rule: stay detached. Humans were fleeting, their lives far too short to matter. Yet now, one simple melody had shaken his carefully built walls.

Emma walked the rest of the way home, the streets around her growing quieter with every step. She didn't notice the figure that had been following her, nor did she sense the weight of his gaze. Her mind was on the book she'd bought and the news she couldn't wait to share.

When she reached her small apartment, she opened the door and stepped inside, the familiar warmth of home wrapping around her.

"Dad, I'm home!" she called out, setting her bag down by the door.

Her father, a kind-faced man with graying hair, looked up from the kitchen table. "Welcome back, sweetheart. How was your evening?"

"It was good," Emma said, her face lighting up. "And guess what? I got the job!"

Her father's eyes brightened, and he set down his cup of tea. "That's wonderful, Emma. Tell me all about it."

"It's nothing fancy," she said, sitting across from him. "Just a cleaning position at that big company downtown. But it's a start, and I think it could lead to something better."

Her father reached across the table to take her hand. "You've always been determined, Emma. I'm proud of you."

Emma smiled, squeezing his hand. "Thanks, Dad. I just want to make things better for us. This job feels like the first step."

He nodded, his expression warm but slightly worried. "Just promise me you won't overwork yourself. You're capable of great things, Emma, but don't forget to take care of yourself."

"I promise," she said softly.

Later that night, Emma lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The soft hum of the city filtered through her window, a comforting reminder that life was moving all around her.

Still, something about her walk home lingered in her mind. It wasn't just the excitement of the new job. It was the strange feeling she'd had, like someone had been watching her.

She shook her head, brushing the thought away. It was probably nothing. Just her imagination.

In the alley where she had passed earlier, Alexander remained, his mind still replaying the soft melody she had hummed. For the first time in a very long time, he felt something other than hunger.

As he waited for his next victim. He gave a sinister smile seeing a lone figure walkiing down the alley. He immediately attacks the human who struggles and gasps for air but all to no avail. Alexander sucked the blood of the human until there was no color left