Midnight

A Peculiar Kiss

*Erin's POV*

"Erin...you can't be serious," Dad said, carefully bringing Mom to the couch.

"I understand if you're afraid of telling us the truth, but it's okay, your mother and I are just glad that you're safe."

"This is the truth!" I protested.

"I met him in the woods behind the school about a month ago. His name is Justin, and he was the reason why I snuck out so much before fully disappearing for a week and a half."

"What are the odds that you would meet a vampire around the same time that their existence was confirmed? C'mon, you can tell me what really happened, I'm your dad."

"Dad, I swear on my life that I'm being honest," I spoke as confidently as possible.

He took a good look at my face, then sat down on the couch by Mom's feet.

"Tell me everything that happened," he murmured.

So I did.

I told him about seeing Justin's hauntingly beautiful eyes, meeting him in the woods for the first time, running away from him during the full moon, helping him while he was injured, escaping the FBI, and finally, coming back home with him.

I purposely left out any details about the relationship between Justin and I, because I wasn't sure how Dad would react to that.

However, the only reaction that my story provoked from him was a simple nod.

He pinched himself, then nodded again.

"Excuse me for a moment," he muttered, getting up from the couch and going into the kitchen.

Shortly after he left the room, I heard him shout: "What the f*ck?"

"Where is he now?" He asked after coming back from his outburst.

"Justin? He's in the woods. But listen, Dad, he's not safe to be around now. He could kill us if we try to go to him."

"I thought you said he was passive!" He exclaimed.

"He is...well, he is until his instincts overtake him."

"'Instincts'?"

"I'll tell you about that later. Right now, I have to figure out how to stop Justin."

"Stop him? What does that mean?"

"He lost control of himself, and now he's on the prowl for human blood," I explained.

"He doesn't want to hurt anyone, but he will if we don't find a way to keep him from leaving the woods!"

I turned to go to the front door, but felt Dad's hand on my shoulder.

"Wait," he said.

"I may not know much about vampires, or even Justin, but I do know one thing: I won't let you do this alone. I thought I lost you the first time you left, and I don't want to actually lose you this time around."

I nodded at him, happy that he wanted to help.

He glanced down at his bathrobe, pajamas, and slippers.

"Just...just uh, let me change my clothes first."

"Okay, I'll be waiting outside."

I leaned against our house and stared up at the dark and star-less sky.

I hated this.

Having to fight Justin was the task that I wanted to do the least right now, or ever.