The darkness was not something to fear. It was comforting and inviting. Something to bask in. Something that never really left. A safety blanket when the world was too bright and overwhelming. A quiet that soothed the burn of too much noise the rest of the world radiated. There was a reason why the sun had to set each day; so that the world wouldn’t burn from the scorching sun.
She had always joked about being a vampire. She burned so easily in the sun. People liked to joke that she could burn from walking past the refrigerator light. She was pale and had to take iron supplements for her anemia. She was a night owl, staying up late and despising the morning. She loved the sight of the full moon and when the moon formed a Cheshire cat smile. She had fang-like teeth in the front of her mouth, but these teeth acted no differently from the rest of her teeth. She always bled way too easily. She never had minded the taste of blood on her tongue.
Maybe she really was a vampire. One that still had a beating heart in her chest.
Victoria wondered about this as she walked down the dark and desolate road. No other souls were to be found out and about at this hour. That was the biggest reason she took her evening walks at this hour. The quiet, rest, and welcoming darkness. No cars drove past in the dead of night.
Victoria had always liked that term: dead of night.
She often wondered what being dead would be like. Likely more peaceful and the light wouldn’t hurt as much. Heaven was supposed to be a comforting bright, was it not? She will have to see once she dies, whenever that might be.
She was brought out of her musings by the sound of panting breath and running feet. Victoria turned in the direction of the sound to see a man in his late twenties running past. He looked pale in the light of the full moon, sweating through his button-down shirt and slacks, a crazed look in his eyes. He did not seem to look at Victoria as he rushed past.
Victoria tilted her head at the display and watched him disappear around the corner. For some odd reason, she was beginning to feel peckish. What she was craving, Victoria wasn’t sure, but the hunger was beginning to grow.
Only a second later another figure ran past. This one was also pale but was neither sweaty nor panting. She was dressed in black with long blood-red hair. She spared Victoria a quick glance and winked at her before disappearing around the same corner that the man had.
That was strange, Victoria decided. Then the hunger spiked. Victoria whimpered.
Better head home and grab a snack, she decided and turned around to head home. What a strange night.