Him – A short story by Ro-ro. “Don’t be afraid” He murmured under his breath. Although a fair distance away I could hear his whisper. His marble eyes followed me as I moved closer towards him. Afraid I was not, but stupid I was. Each step I moved closer I could feel my heart beating, faster and faster until...BAM it was leaping out of my chest. I could see him grinning, showing off his perfect white teeth. He was as smooth as marble and as black as a night sky. Not your average blood sucker and yet I was drawn in. Never in my entire life had I seen such a wonder. I remember our first meeting clearly as if it was only yesterday, which it was. The meeting “Juliet getoff your lazy arse, it’s time for school!” my impatient mother called. As always I was late. In fact later than late, the bell had already rung. ‘Great,’ I thought ‘late for my first day of school in the new term’. Year 10. So much lay ahead of me during this year, so many opportunities and new people to meet. “Juliet move!” Again the witch had spoken. Yuck, I hated the name Juliet, my mother had decided to call me after the tragic girl who fell in love with a man and killed herself. Joys. I knew I was going to have to endure all the teasing I received from the last few years. I sighed, but got up and changed and ran down stairs. I flew out of the door and started the one minutewalk to the school. I dived through the doors and sprinted down the corridor to my tutor. Made it, but I was marked down as late anyway. I didn’t care. As a hung my head low and headed for my seat at the back of the class I found it full. Sitting in my seat - the seat that I had had since I was year seven, the seat I always sat on my lonesome - a young boy, my age naturally and extremely handsome. It startled me that such a good looking child should be allowed in school! I gawped, gasped and gaped at the same time. I must have looked like a fish out of water. He stared back, a grin playing on his lips. Yet he seemed cold towards me and shifted away as I sat down in the seat next to him. How dare him! Steal my seat. Determination to get back at him and desperate to spark up conversation I turned to him, unaware that he was already looking at me. “What?” I questioningly asked. “You.” He replied, and smiled again, more warmly this time. Embarrassed I flushed as red as a lobster. ‘Great start’ I thought. I bent my head down and desperately tried to focus on copying down the notes for Shakespeare’s Othello. I found this very difficult. Getting to know him As I stood up to leave he grabbed my arm and dragged me back down into my seat. Having now got used to him shortening my breath I obeyed. “Stay” he commanded. He stood up and left. I was very confused, I could not understand him and I still had no idea what his name was. I was too restless to ask. Staring round the room I was unaware of his returning presence. I had not heard him come in. As I turned round there he was, his face an inch away from mine. “Follow” he said. My feet obeyed me, although I knew I should not and that my mother would murder me, I didn’t care. I followed him in admiration. He was amazing. Fast, beautiful and very promiscuous always looking behind him to check I was still following. A short while later he sparked up conversation. “So, Juliet, do you like it here?” Stunned I could not reply. I had not told him my name that day at all. “You know my name?” I foolishly replied.
“Yes...I do” he hesitated, a confused look on his face and yet he was still perfect, not a crease or frown line to be seen. “I didn’t know I had told you that’s all.” Self conscious I hung my head as low as I could. I was suddenly aware of his breath close to my cheeks. I looked up slowly. He stood right in front of me, his hand stroking my face, caressing my skin. It was at that point I fainted. His home My eyes opened and researched the room. It was full of dusty books. Millions and trillions of them, all packed into this rather large room. As my eyes adjusted to the light I was conscious there was more than just me in this room. Sitting up delicately I looked around some more. Now sat up I noted there was more that met the eye in this room. My naked eye swept the room and lastly fell on him. I was suddenly terrified. But he smiled and my heart melted. This was an unfamiliar feeling and yet here it was; love. As strong as drugs, as soothing as life, as life changing as death. I meant to speak but no words could be found. He just watched me. His eyes darting from my eyes to my lips to my body and back to my eyes. Timid I was now, as he looked at me like I was a mere object, his prey, something to eat. He stood up swiftly and was instantly by my side before I could blink. He put his face close to mine and whispered in my ear. “Are you afraid?” “No” I spoke, and even I believed it. “You should be” His perfect face turned to anger. He stormed out of the room. A big fat tear rolled down my cheek and I sobbed in my own arms. No one to hold me tight. My home and back to school Back at home I broke down. My eyes were red and swollen when I cried every tear left in me. That night as I settled down to sleep, I heard a rustling. Blinking my eyes open I looked out of the window, but there was nothing there. I sank back to sleep and had a bloodcurdling dream. I was walking through school when I saw him. His eyes turned red, and he smiled. Stampeding towards me he came. When he reached me he stopped and dragged me towards him. He lifted me into the air and to his home. He commanded me to change into this purple velvet dress he had left me on the sofa. I changed. He came back and lay me down on the sofa. He started to gently caress my neck with his lips. And then I felt pain, a sort of numbness spreading throughout my body. In my dream I could feel his teeth sinking deeper and deeper into my neck and when he took his mouth away from it, he whispered in my ear. ‘Live not thy life for it has to be said, I did once love thee, and now love is dead.’ He chuckled darkly and then left me there to die. I awoke with a start, dripping in sweat. My bed sheets thrown off me and my window wide open.Suddenly alert my eyes swept the room, but it was bare. No one was hidden in any crooks or crannies. As calmly as I could I sauntered downstairs and out the door. I was early for school a first for sure. I walked into the classroom at sat in my usual place. I was both scared and excited. I twiddled with my thumbs and waited patiently for him to enter however he did not. Many emotions swept over me and I felt all alone. Where was he? My mind raced. Millions of possibilities ran into my conscious. “Hello Juliet” a distant voice purred. I flashed around and there he was standing next to the seat. Silently he sat down and grinned obviously pleased with his
entrance. I was angry and yet could not control the happiness in my voice as I asked him a question what I thought would be a simple one to answer. It was however not. “Where have you been?” I demanded. “What do you mean; I have been here all along” He replied, a dangerous spark in his eyes. The fury bubbled inside of me. He was lying to my face. How dare him! Trying to control my blushing face I looked away and out of the window. However through that entire lesson I could not control my urge to look into his perfect eyes, and let them caress my own. I fought with all my might and stayed strong and did not look once. The bell went for the end of school and I packed up to leave. I stood up and made with a quick but slightly strange dash to the door thinking he was behind me. He was, however, not. He was waiting for me outside and grabbed my hand at first opportunity. It stunned me and I fought for control of my breath. He was only squeezing my hand but it felt like he was squeezing my neck, stopping me from reaching air. “You’ll come with me won’t you?” he begged with his eyes. I nodded, and at once he let go of my hand. I spluttered for my breath but he just raised his eyebrows and beaconed for me to follow. Naturally I did. The woods I followed him out of town. We walked until I felt as if I could walk no more. I had dropped my bag at school, left it behind. It felt as if that was not all I was leaving behind today. I dragged myself on although was desperate to rest. I dared not say though; he had a rough look in his eyes. He stared at me for long periods of time, opening his mouth to say something and then turning back again to the front. After a while we stopped. I was glad and collapsed to the floor. He rushed to my side with worry in his eyes. “Are you ok? You’re not hurt or anything?” He spoke in a frightened voice and he reminded me of a little boy who had lost his mummy. “I’m fine.” I said coldly. I still had not totally forgiven him for what he had said earlier. “Good.” He said with an equal coldness in his tone. Our eyes drifted to each other and without much of a second thought I leaned in to kiss him. My heart was beating fast. My mind was speeding up. I could hardly breathe. Our lips met. And then he was not there. I opened my eyes and blinked. He was standing several feet away. “Juliet...this isn’t right” his voice seemed to stroke my name. I was Puzzled and frowned in confusion. I went to speak but he carried on. “I’m not what you could call normal; I’m something I can’t control.” He was finding it hard to put words into his own mouth. “Explain” I said simply. Little had I known that what I had asked for was a dangerous thing. “Look at me Juliet, I have cold skin, red eyes, and I am a cold blooded killer.” His eyes seemed to water but stopped before flowing over. And suddenly a little light was shed and I understood. “Vampire.” And I was relieved. I stood up. As I sauntered towards him my eyes left his and drifted down to what he was carrying. A large sharp knife was in his hand. I hadn’t noticed it was there. Although it took me a while to note what it was in my head, I still continued to move forward. “Come a little closer” he grinned at me his eyes flashing a deep red. My heart had stopped and yet I carried on towards him my pace quickening. My head was screaming at me, and yet I chose to ignore its cries. I reached out towards him, but fell before I reached him. In less than a second he was by my side.
“I’m sorry” he said almost as silently as the grave, “so sorry.” A tear rolled down his cheek as he plunged the knife into my heart. I gasped. Then the blackness consumed me. Love till the dying end As the tear fell from his face she was already dead. And now he had bought himself to do this horrible deed he could not drink the blood from her body. It was pure, good and innocent three things he was not. He was disgusted with himself. He picked up the knife, and hesitated plunging into his own body. Instead he dropped it, and fled. He ran until there was no breath in him and lay down where he stayed till his dying day. By Ro-ro -----x------