Chapter Text
Walking back from class on a chilly Friday afternoon, Avid was certain he saw a vampire.
It was no more than a glimpse, but he knew exactly what it was. The creature was in an alley facing away from him. It stood tall and lanky, with unnaturally pale skin, almost like a corpse. Clad in a leather jacket with a popped collar and black jeans, it could have easily been mistaken for any regular college student. But Avid knew better.
The creature’s hands were at its side and Avid could easily see blood coating them— too much to just be from a cut. On top of that, its fingers ended in cruel, serrated claws, longer and sharper than any natural human nails could ever be.
Avid had to clamp a hand over his mouth to keep from screaming. He must’ve made some sound, however, because the creature began to turn towards him. At that second, Avid made a decision. There was nothing he could do— he wasn’t armed with stakes or silver, and whatever poor soul had been attacked in that alley couldn’t possibly still be alive. As cowardly as it felt, he knew it had to be done. Avid bolted.
He ran all the way across campus without looking back and only slowed when he reached the dormitory where he lived. As soon as the large, locked door shut behind him, an immense sense of relief washed over him and he stopped to catch his breath.
“What kind of demon were you running from?” Came a voice from just in front of him. Avid jumped, caught off guard, and nearly ran again before realizing it was only Shelby, his best friend and roommate. “Avid? Are you ok?”
Only then did he realize how strange he must’ve looked, sprinting around campus like a serial killer was following him.
“Vampire,” he gasped, straining to speak despite his fatigue. “Saw a… vampire… in the alley by the gym.” Shelby raised an eyebrow in skepticism.
“I don’t know, Avid. I believe in the supernatural plenty, but… vampires? Everyone knows they’re fake. Just a made up allegory for gayness and whatnot. Like, if you told me you saw Bigfoot, I might believe you, but vampires…?”
“No!” Avid said forcefully. “It was a vampire, I’m telling you. It had— it had claws, and its hands were covered in blood, and it was so pale, like a dead body and—” Shelby’s eyes widened.
“Blood? Oh my god, Avid, you saw someone covered in blood and didn’t think to call 911? What if they were hurt? What if there’s a criminal on the loose?” Avid opened his mouth, as if to say something, and then snapped it shut.
“You know what, that’s a good point,” Avid said dumbly. Shelby began fishing around in their bag for her phone. She quickly dialed 91l.
“Um, hi, I’m at Oakhurst University, and…” She was saying. Avid was distracted, however, by the new knowledge that not only was there a vampire on campus, it was feeding— it had probably had killed a student or a teacher. The image of the creature standing in the alleyway, with its bloodstained claws and unnaturally blue hair, would surely haunt his nightmares. After all, he was supposed to be a vampire hunter. How had he allowed this to happen? Someone was dead because he had failed to realize there was a threat.
“Hey, Avid, calm down, breathe,” Shelby said, startling Avid out of his thoughts. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding his breath. “The operator said they were sending some people to check it out. Let’s go sit down, ok?” They said gently.
He followed her through the dorm hallways to Shelby’s room. She didn’t have a roommate, so their room was more spacious than Avid’s, with peach-pink walls, a yellow bean bag couch, a small bed with neatly tucked green plaid blankets, and a large collection of posters, lit by warm yellow fairy lights. Avid sat cross legged on the bed with his head in his hands while Shelby grabbed sodas from her mini-fridge.
“So, you saw… what exactly did you see?” Shelby asked, handing him a Coke.
“I told you. There was a man in the alley with claws. It looked like a corpse reanimated. And it was covered in blood.” Shelby frowned.
“I mean… that does sound like a vampire, but… those aren’t real. Maybe they were fake claws? Like, knives or something? And plenty of people are pale. Maybe he just doesn’t get out the house much.”
“Are you sympathizing with a vampire? An undead monster?” He sighed despondently. “Shelby, I don’t think you understand the danger we’re in.”
“Hey,” Shelby said, a concerned look on their face. “I don’t doubt you saw something bad. I don’t know if I can believe in vampires, but I’ll be extra cautious, ok?” Avid hated the concerned face; it usually meant people thought he was insane. But he knew Shelby trusted him. She had been his best friend for years, along with Drift and Abolish.
“Thanks,” he said, and left it at that.