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It was a dare. It all started as a dare.
Lucien warily stared at the enormous mansion in front of him. If you stared hard enough it looked like an uneasy aura was leaking from the windows.
Webs were everywhere, and the place looked worn down.
“I dare you to go to the haunted house on Tung Avenue!” a voice from a memory rang.
But it was a dare… however, if you didn’t agree then automatically you would be a wet chicken. “I don’t want to be a wet chicken… do I?” Lucien compromised. No, you don’t. Just go in the house and get it over with. Show them that you are in fact NOT a chicken, that you are brave, and can stand anything that is thrown your way!
Lucien inhales swiftly. The air is cold with a stale, musky aftertaste. The wind in Lucien’s hair sent a chill into his bones.
As he hesitantly walks onto the manor’s front steps, it dawns on him how creepy this setting is. It’s dark everywhere with the manor taking on a dark, purple hue. Like a predator making itself look more attractive to grab the attention of its prey. The door opens with a long creek. The house aches with the arrival of its new guest. The first in a long time.
Lucien feels threatened to sneeze, dust rising up with every step Lucien takes. Although it is still cold, it feels a lot better than outside. The rooms are emptied out, but that was much expected of an old residency. In the center of it all is an enormous flight of stairs, splitting into two different directions which leads upstairs.
As much as Lucien wanted to look around at least a bit, he had no idea what he was truly doing here. How long was he supposed to be loitering around anyway?
“5 minutes.”
A voice rings out inside of the old manor. It’s last words echoing onto the walls. Lucien feels his spine setting off a chill. He grabs his elbows, and musters the courage to look behind him, but no one was there.
“W-who’s there? I’m not joking around here. Show yourself!” Lucien demands sheepishly.
Lucien eyes dart around the room, trying to grasp on any movement. There’s a draft in the wind, and Lucien spins around to attention. A laugh cheekily rings out into the then quiet room once more, and then finally there it is, the figure shows itself in a way that could only be described as flashy.
It jumps down from where it had been perching, and posing as it glides down into the floor. When it lands an enormous amount of dust flies up into the air, causing a smoke screen as of sense.
Lucine coughs as he waves the dust away from his face. When the dust settles there they are, a figure of similar height to Lucien’s. In fact, they look exactly like Lucien. But that couldn’t be because there’s only one Lucien, unless it’s a doppelgänger. Then again that’s false because Lucien knew his face better than anyone. It was him… just with minor differences.
Their hair had a faint purple glow to it, as well as their eyes. Whenever the being looked at him with amusement, a small fang would peek out. They were dressed in formal proper attire akin to a suit and tie with a long cape in the back.
Wait a minute— could they be a vampire!? No, no way, vampires aren’t real… Are they?
The other Lucien smirks and hovers over towards the original Lucien.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Other Lucien grins as they speak, it’s like Lucien’s voice, but almost dreamy- in a way.
“You do? Then what am I thinking?” Lucien manages to make eye contact for a second. Its eyes were a deep purple, nearly hypnotic.
“Uh huh." they drag it out like a soft tease. "You’re thinking: Who are they? Why does it look like me? Why are they so handsome? Is it a vampire” when speaking they never broke their shining grin once, the fang reflecting what little light was in the room.
Lucien attempted poker face falters, and Other Lucien simply burst out into laughter. “I was right, wasn’t I!” They gloat.
Moving from their current position, Other Lucien gestures to hold Lucien’s hand. Hesitantly, Lucien agrees.
“It’s been so long since I’ve last had a host.” Other Lucien moves their other free hand to Lucien’s face and tilts it a bit. In awe, it lets out a simple sentence, “You’re perfect…”
Lucien can feel himself becoming embarrassed from this action and pushes himself away. Other Lucien backs away as well and begins to pace while floating in the air.
It was awkward. Like a thick silence was drowning them both, although Other Lucien didn’t seem that bothered, so maybe just Lucien.
“You look uncomfortable. Don’t worry I won’t keep you long.” Other Lucien turns over in the air and floats on his back. “I only ask of one thing from you tonight.”
“And what’s that?” Lucien felt himself getting cold again and wondered how long has it been since he got here.
“I want you to come visit me again.” Other Lucien’s voice sounded like it had lost it vigor. Like a strong and mighty wolf reverting back into a lost puppy kind of way.
“That’s it?” Lucien confirms with the request. It was a strange request in it of itself. It might be easily possible however, he could come at least once a week, maybe.
“Yes.” Other Lucien floats down and tries to get close to Lucien once more, but Lucien in turn backs away.
Looking away, Lucien responds, “Then sure, I’ll come visit you.”
Other Lucien face lights up, practically jumping in midair and celebrating this new "Acquaintanceship". While this was happening, Lucien began to examine their face, he duly notes that Other Lucien in fact has two fangs.
“Then I’ll be waiting! I anticipate our next meeting.” Other Lucien lays his hands on Lucien’s back and begins to push himself away out the door. Despite them having a similar build, it’s clear who’s stronger.
When out the door Lucien looks back towards the entrance, but as he does the door slams behind him. A low whistle sounds out along the trees and suddenly it feels a lot colder now.
Who was that? Lucien rubs his shoulders as he starts back down the stairs and into to the road that brought him there. His friends were waiting in a car for his return.
The memory of the Other Lucien was still fresh in his mind; all be it struggling to comprehend what he just saw. He’ll only truly know if he goes back there.
Eventually after walking for a while, Lucien spots headlights in the near distance. A person pops their head out of the window and waves, “Lucien! It’s us! Where were you?” They yell at the top of their lungs.
Lucien softly smiles, and jogs to the car. When inside he sighs loudly and explains what had happened to him- excluding him meeting Other Lucien. The others simply expressed their concern for how long he had been missing but after a while they dropped it and continued back home.
Lucien looks out the window and ponders all that had happened tonight. A simple dare could’ve changed his life course. He felt his heart begin to beat faster whenever he remembered the way Other Lucien acted towards him. They were handsome and even though Lucien knew that because it was him, it still felt special admitting it.
Tired, Lucien rests his head on the car seat and drifts off to sleep. Whoever it was, they’ll be meeting soon.