The Runaway

"And where are you from dear?" She sets my cup of coffee on the counter of the small, country café. This town is little, a population of about one hundred, but it also is interesting. Since it's hardly a town I feel as if everyone knows everything about everybody.

The waitress is pretty, a girl I would've definitely wanted to be friends with before everything happened. She looks perfect with her blonde hair and sparkling green eyes.

"Just around." A light smile spreads across my lips as I hold the sides of my cup, trying to warm myself.

She cocks her head to the side. "I think I would've remembered someone like you."

"What's that mean?" I sit up straight.

The bell rings that is on top of the small door on the front of the bleach white building. Someone's squeaky shoes travel across the black and white checkered marble floor.

The waitress drags a red rag across a spot next to me quickly and turns to go back to the kitchen without another glance at me.

"Annetta, glad to see you again. I thought you were trying to avoid me." His voice rings dark and dull as my eye catches his leather jacket. I try to hold my vomit back as I see the disgusting red swirls around his neck.

"I was." I sip at my hot beverage, eyeing him rather suspiciously. Nothing ever good seems to happen when Damon shows up.

"Well aren't you cute." His lips are tight as he picks a seat next to me. "Thinking you can run away from your problems."

"I must not be doing that great of job, you're here after all. And your one of my biggest ones."

"Ouch." He winces. "That might have actually hurt, if I could feel pain." He laughs and brushes a hand through his dark black hair.

"Very funny."

"Yes, you look like you're very enthused."

The blonde haired girl comes back with a pot of coffee but stops as she sees Damon. She starts to slowly turn around.

"Ah, waitress?" "I'd like to order." A sly smile plays across his features, like always. He winks at me and the fire in his eyes is unbearable.

She stands a few feet away, not that I really blame her. I can clearly see her hand shake as she jots his order down.

"And can I get you on the side?" He winks at her now and she blushes, her eyes growing wide. She practically runs back to the kitchen now.

"You scare her." I say plainly, now adding more sugar to my black coffee.

"Good."

"What do you want from me?" I turn back to him and my gross brown hair in my uneven ponytail flops down on my shoulder.

"You know." His hand outstretches for my neck but I catch it mid air.

"Don't touch me."

He grunts but then shrugs. "Fair enough. The Resistance will be looking for you, you know that right?"

"I'm aware." I frown as I set my cup down. The beverage is now cold and I feel disappointed as I know the waitress won't come near me now, thanks to Damon.

"Resisting from the Resistance?" "Funny." He snorts and I shoot him a glaring look.

Her blonde hair bounces as she comes in but she wears a worried expression on her delicate face. She stops as she's about to come near us and holds the plate up in the air. She's making a decision but is cut short by Damon.

"Too scared to even set my plate down in front of me?" "Well there goes your tip." He flashes her a smile and I see her shiver.

She stands there still and places the plate on the counter, sliding it over to him so she won't have to stand right next to him. She quietly walks away and he snickers.

"People these days."

"She's a nice person Damon, you would know that if you had a soul."

"I have a soul." His blue eyes look deep into mine but I turn away. He starts eating off of his plate almost as if someone is hurrying him.

"You had one."

He slams his fork down on the table and it sticks in the counter. His breathing is heavy and he looks at me, his blue eyes transform into red. "You'll see." A demonic type tone escapes in his words and I try to back away but he grabs my hand.

Damon puts my hand on his face and I feel weak and try to pull away as I know what he's doing, what he's capable of. Then just like a flip of a switch his blue eyes return and he lets go of me. "I'm not a monster." He whispers and I think he's trying to convince himself more than anyone. His face looks innocent for once in the years I have known him and then again he's back.

He snaps out of it with a cool smirk replacing his vulnerability. "Waitress!" He shouts and waves a hand at her.

She comes over slowly as her eyes follow the people in the room, probably looking for witnesses. She doesn't speak to him but just stands there, at a safe distance.

"I think this girl right here would like some more coffee." He points to me.

I put a hand over my cup and manage a smile. "No, I'm fine. Thank you."

She starts to turn away but is stopped by Damon, again.

"Oh no. She wants more." He stares intently at me, hoping I'll challenge him maybe.

I sit there, silent. The poor waitress comes over and snatches my cup, pours more, and sets it down all in one fast movement. But not fast enough. Damon seizes her hand.

"You're very pretty." He kisses her hand and she lets out a scream as smoke rises from her skin.

"Damon." I say sternly. "Let her go."

"We're just having a little fun. Isn't that right?" He nods to the girl and waits for an answer. When he realizes she's not going to give one he squeezes her palm and I can see it happening.

Her eyes start to sink in and she becomes skinnier and smaller as Damon sits there with her hand.

"Damon, stop!" I yell, but I don't touch him. I don't want to. "You're killing her!"

His head turns to me then and the rest of his body is turned towards the girl that is half dead, half alive. His eyes are red again, like pure blood red. "I know." He gives a wide proud smile.

The bell rings again and I twirl around to see two huge figures lurk into the small cafe. I recognize one as Rolf from the Resistance.

I don't want to touch Damon but I have no choice. I tap him on the shoulder.

"What?" His voice comes out in a hiss.

"The Resistance is here."

He quickly snaps out of it and lets go of the girl's scrawny hand. Her bones show and I can see her veins. She's still alive though she probably wishes she was dead. Like a snake he takes my hand and ever so quietly slithers back to the kitchen as the girl collapses on the floor.

"We need to get out of here."

"What do you think I'm doing?" He retorts back.

No one is in the kitchen except for pots and pans that sizzle on the abandoned stove. I cover my eyes from the light that peaks through a window. A window...

"We can go through here." I say as I point to the square window that leads outside.

"It'll have to work." He hops up on the counter and kicks cooking supplies out of the way. He looks back and extends a hand out to me.

I shake my head. It makes me sick just thinking about touching him after what he did back there.

"Come on, we don't have much time." He looks at me desperately.

I push a toaster out of my way and jump up myself. Just then the doors bust open to the kitchen.

"Got you." A voice says.

*Keep in mind this is my first book and I hope you guys like it. The only thing I really had trouble with was staying in the tense of the character and making the book cover. Comment and read as you wish :)