Vampires Will Never Hurt You, Chapter Three

The vampire was suprised at the girl's reaction. To be honest, he was also a little disappointed. He had had a bad day, and had been looking forward to the squeals usually given off by kids like this one. He widened his grin, showing off his teeth in an effort to intimidate her. And still she barely blinked. There was alway one more thing to try... it was risky, but it always enstilled fear. He bent each and every finger, looked to the sky and said:1

"Igna-"2

"Lanna! Hi!"3

Lanna glanced over her shoulder and saw Nu-Say standing a few yards away.4

"Stay back!" she yelled "it's risky being here right now! Just run somewhere safe!"5

"Um... why?" said Nu-Say, in a tone that suggested he believed Lanna to be mad. It wasn't far from the truth.6

"Because- don't you see them?"7

"See what?" he said, growing evermore confused.8

Lanna turned back to where the Soul Hunters were standing. Or, at least had been. They had gone. Her eyes flickered up to the sky, closely followed by her head. Nothing. There was... no-one. The vampires had gone.9

"They were here!" she cried to Nu-Say, "I swear, they were!"10

"Who, Lanna?" said Nu-Say, trying to be gentle. Lanna had obviously hit her head very hard...11

Lanna looked around one last time, and gave up. "No-one, Nu-Say. No-one."12

Fifteen minutes later Nu-Say and Lanna were sitting on the swings in the playpark. No-one played there anymore, it had just been overun by vandals, with graffiti and cigarette stubs littered everywhere, although even the vandals had given up when they ran out of places to scratch rude words. It was Nu-Say and Lanna's favourite place though. No-one ever really came there, all the "hardcore" kids just stayed around Beggar's Place. 13

"So..." said Nu-Say, "you gonna tell me why you dragged me out at 9:30 on a school night?"14

"School night. You're such a geek!" she said, playfully punching him on the shoulder. Nu-Say smiled and pushed back his black side fringe behind his ear.15

"Hey! At least when I'm making millions as the manager of an incredibly successful company, I may be able to offer you a job polishing my table. Now quit avoiding the subject! What's wrong?"16

"Well..." Lanna struggled about how to word it. She knew how Nu-Say felt about people who did drugs. "You see... I was out the other night with Alec, and..."17

"Oh fuck Lanna, you sure I want to hear this?"18

"Shut up! It's nothing that bad... well maybe, but..."19

"Stop stalling. Get to the point!"20

"Okay! Okay! Well, Alec's brother Jin was there, and we were just hanging around Beggar's, and... and they were all trying out some shit, with Jin, just syringes and stuff, and then... they offered me some, and..." Nu-Say had started to go very red in the face.21

"Please. Please Lanna, tell me you said no. Please!"22

"Well- well, they were all there, and- and I-" Nu-Say got up from the swing next to Lanna and stood in front of her. His blue eyes, normally a calming sight for Lanna, seemed to be piercing her flesh with their gaze.23

"Lanna! Yes, or no? Did you take it?"24

Lanna blinked back the tears she could feel prickling her eyes, and nodded.25

"Oh god, Lanna, you fucking idiot! I mean, why the fuck? You and me, we've seen the kids at school who've done it! They're all like zombies the whole time! And as for the unlucky ones..." Lanna couldn't bear it. She knew all too well what happened to them. She got up, and stood in front of Nu-Say.26

"Please! Please, Nu-Nu, don't do this... I'm sorry, I'm so, so, sorry... I know how much of an idiot I am, and-" The tears had started streaming now.27

"I don't think you do. You've thrown your life away. I hope you're happy, because you're gonna die this way. See you around, Lanna." He turned around and started to walk away. Lanna grabbed his sleeve.28

"Nu-Say! Please! Don't go! I need you."29

"Don't touch me!" he yelled, jerking his hand away. Seeing the hurt expression on her face he softened a little. "I'm sorry Lanna. But this was your choice."30


Anyone who had peeked into Lanna's room that night would never have believed that this was the same girl that just over an hour ago had stared into the eyes of an honest-to-God vampire without even flinching. Right now, she looked anything other than brave. There were long, dark mascara lines down her face, and her red eyeliner was smeared everywhere. She no longer felt the adrenalin rush brought about by the power she’d felt in front of the vampires. Only the negative emotions were left. Heart-breaking sadness and the feeling that Nu-Say would hurt her forever. Hopelessness, knowing that she would never again live a normal life. And despair. Despair at the fact that no-one was willing to help her. That last emotion was the worst of them all.
31