I quickly emerge from the peaceful darkness cast by the slender arms of the many plants towering around me, the branches reaching out as if to grab me at a moment's notice. I sprint swiftly and quietly around a tall spruce tree nearby, years of training to fight, as well as learning to move with the same swiftness and silence as my enemies, naturally kicking in while the cool, icy breath of Mother Nature slicing into my face as I continue to run. I reach over my right shoulder and wrap my hand around the feathered tail of a long, wooden shaft; the familiar feeling of my fingers slide over smooth, refined wood as I pull a projectile from my aged, black leather sheath. I press forward, pulling back the sharp, metallic wire of my old, sable-hunting bow and force the rusted tip of the bolt onto the arrow rest. I just finish pushing it into place as I hear a young, teenage girl's blood curdling scream and instantly freeze in horror. The feeling of the forest air grows even colder as a light snow starts to fall to the freezing ground beneath my steadied feet, and I take in the sight of a cruel, merciless monster standing in the clearing before me. Moonlight cuts through the thick foliage that hangs from the finger-like branches above me, harshly breaking through e shadowy forest that encompasses us, and flashes across the beast's face.
Recognition suddenly dawns on me as I peer through a parting in the trees and see a monster, thought to be a myth by many; yet the face before me belongs to the most popular boy in school. I remember my jealousy and my admiration of this seemingly normal teenage boy as all of the girls talked about this horrible creature, describing him as having short, perfect brown hair and "gentle" blue eyes, as well as supposedly perfect lips. I suddenly feel extreme anger and disgust both at myself and at this vicious creature surge through me as I see this illusive beast that hides among men, this hideous and vile vampire. I remember noticing him look at me once and not meeting those supposed gentle eyes, but instead seeing piercing ones that were calculating and manipulative; yet even those are now replaced by two large, red, moon-like orbs that remain fixated on his target as I stare at him attacking his helpless victim.
I see two razor, dagger-like fangs hanging from his disgusting mouth, piercing the skin of the soft, fragile neck of his victim. The pounding of my racing heart increases as I listen to the faint sound of him slurping the red, thick fluid from his frightened prey. The thick, ruby liquid drips down the delicate white flesh while staining his puffy, pink lips, the air heavy with the scent of skin-crawling fear and metal-like blood, the thick plasma staining the thin straps of the white, silk, jewel-style dress worn by the horror-struck victim. Warm sweat soaks my short, jet-black hair and my inky cotton shirt as I watch the color leaving the girl's once white, lively face, now full of hair-raising fear as her countenance becomes as pale and lifeless as a winter wasteland. Her slim, listless body is held there by the slender yet powerful and controlling hands on her frail shoulders.
Suddenly, as the large orb-like moon shifts across the blackened sky, a soft light comes from the heavens above, even though it seems like a bloody hell, and it illuminates the once dark pine forest that encompasses us. Just as quickly as the dull, lunar glare appeared, so has new painful emotions, as another very familiar face meets my large, ocean-like eyes. I look at her short, perfect figure and this tall, powerful vampire bending down to bite her beautiful, pale neck. I take in the long, blonde hair flowing down her trembling back, her white jewel dress slowly becoming crimson red, her slight arms and hands shaking wildly, her rigid muscles slowly loosening while her perfect, supple lips quiver and her large, bright emerald eyes become dilated in shock. I hear my brain screaming at my raised arm to release the wooden, feather tipped red arrow from the powerful wire into the beast's putrid heart as the fine, metal wire cuts into my long, bony fingers, the smell of blood flooding my nostrils while staining her white, jewel dress and drenching his demonic lips. I feel my heart pounding painfully in my tightened throat as I listen to him forcefully stealing her vital fluids.
Adrenaline, pure rage and mind-numbing pain rush through my tube-like veins, burning out the icy cold of the forest's cold, wretched grasp. But, just as quickly as the burning anger appeared, my body grows colder than the freezing air around me as my small, skinny body goes limp, making my arm lower and my knees start to give out from under me. I see the hard, snow-covered, scarlet ground come crashing towards me and drop my weapon, causing the sharp, metallic head of the red arrow to plunge into the cold, unforgiving earth as I start to collapse. I stare at the bronze, circular locket falling from my constricted neck and I see an image of the girl and me standing in front of a black, metal bench from earlier today as the locket, which was a gift that was given to me just hours ago to celebrate her fifteenth birthday, opens.
I am wearing the same dark shirt and blue denim jeans as in the photo; my short, night-like hair looks messy in the image as I stare into my own large, pale blue eyes that are so full of joy as I stand there laughing next to her. I gaze into those lovey green eyes of hers that seem so full of happiness as I take in her long, beautiful, golden hair flowing peacefully in the wintry wind, her snow white dress swaying gently in the breeze, and then I glace at the smile on her beautiful face, the very one that would always brighten even the darkest of times and the same gentle look that I thought I would see forever. I think about the photo inside the tiny, circular bronze locket bearing an engraving of her beloved pet hummingbird, and how it was only taken four hours earlier, even though it feels like it happened centuries ago, as the locket hits the cold, unforgiving ground and the clear, unscratched glass explodes into a million pieces.
As the picture's protective seal dissipates into nothing, I taste heart-breaking anguish as my fiery soul shatters just like the lens that was supposed to protect the locket's precious contents, and I realize the one I love has been taken from me. I hit the ground, feeling nothing but ice flooding through my veins and hearing wind howling, my arrows sliding from their sheath and clanging against the ground harshly as the darkness of the horrible night consumes me once more. Even though I know the sound has surely put my life in danger, only one word rushes through my head: Anne.
A/N: So this is like my first story. Well short story really. I used to be more active on wattpad, but I don't tend to write as much due to lack of time, and I generally haven't finished a story. But I hope to at some point! Also, apologies for removing earlier, I needed to use it for something and was told I had to take it off here for now.
