Chapter 7 Vampires Are Real!

• DRAGOȘ
• A dreadful, thundering thud followed when our car tumbled upside down. We heard hungry growls, which made me shiver in fear. It could be a shock after our car was in this state. I could feel the warm metallic liquid coming out of my temple. More aggressive growls were followed by shaking of our car.
• I heard my mother whimper in pain. I called out to her, but she just groaned. It seemed she was in a confused state as well. I unbuckled my seat belt, and I dropped myself upside down. I groaned as I hit the roof of the car, trying to move to get my mother out of her seat. However, her lower limbs were stuck. I couldn’t get her out.
• “Mami!”
• Frustrated and afraid, as someone with massive strength shook the car again, my breath shook. Not long afterwards, the car was flipped the right way, which pushed my body in the wrong direction. My mother’s head hit the side of the car. I could sense the blood gushing from her legs. We both mewled in pain.
• Forceful fists dented the roof and broke the windshields. My eyes grew wide with fear, and my breath picked up a notch higher. My heart beat so hard that I could almost not breathe. When the car door on my mother’s side was opened, my head snapped in that direction. I gasped when someone pulled my mother out of her seat with a force so great that her body was torn from her stuck limbs.
• “No!” I screamed, tears rolling down my cheeks. “Mami!” My hand was extended before me, as I wanted to reach out for her and save her from the monster that took her away. The latter had red eyes, and his fangs gleamed under the moonlight, as the clouds skittered away from the moon.
• “Dragoș…” my mother could only say in a whisper.
• The monster’s head bent to sink his fangs in her neck.
• “No!” I screamed again. This time, it was at the top of my lungs. It was cut off, however, when a pair of hands hauled me out of the car. I barely noticed that someone also tore the passenger door. I felt the blood rushing throughout my body, my heart beating faster.
• I choked as the monster held me by the collar. With all my might, I tried to wriggle free and punched his nose. He growled and was forced to let me go. He cursed at me angrily.
• More of them started to arrive at the scene.
• No, no. This can’t be.
• My eyes strayed towards my mother once again. She was not moving anymore, and deep inside, I knew. I knew she was gone, as the monster slurped to drink her blood.
• With tears chasing down my face, I dashed to the left, away from the monsters. I realized they were what my father said vampires. I knew right then that he was telling the truth.
• “Let him run. It will be fun to chase him after giving him a head start,” someone said with a laugh.
• Snorts and laughter ensued.
• Îmi pare rău, Mami. I’m sorry for leaving you behind with those monsters! I thought, running blindly. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and sniffled.
• I had to find somewhere to help me. I had to find somewhere to hide. And yet, I couldn’t find anything or anyone. The trees impeded my escape. Still, I used my track and field skills to get away as far as possible from those blood suckers.
• “Get them!” A deep voice ordered.
• It was then that I realized I was not alone. Distant screams echoed in the forest bathed by the moonlight. The wind whooshed past me. Or was it one of the monsters?
• I had no time to analyze it. Fear was still wrapped around my heart. The only thing that propelled me forward was the dread that I might end up like my mother.
• No, I won’t let it happen. I will avenge my mother! I vowed, despite my predicament.
• With this thought, I balled my hands into fists and continued to run. More screams not far away sounded. These were followed by sniggering, slurping, and groaning. I could hear them well.
• Those bastards! I’ll kill you one day!
• I stopped when a vampire appeared not far away from me. It was the one I punched in the nose. He smirked at me dangerously. He ran his tongue on his lips like a hungry animal.
• “You’re brave, boy,” he uttered in a low tone. “I give you that.”
• I stepped back, hearing the crunching of twigs under my feet. The side of my face was sticky with blood. I just hoped I wouldn’t die of blood loss. God forbid. I still wanted to avenge my mother. If not tonight, some other day. I swear it.
• He slowly ambled closer to me, whereas I stepped back faster. I stumbled on a rock, and I fell to the ground. I crawled fast when my hand touched a stick. Without a second thought, I grabbed it and stood up.
• “I swear I’ll kill you if you take another step!” I warned the monster. My body shook in both anger and fear.
• He sneered and snickered. “You can’t kill someone like me, boy.” He sauntered closer until he was right in front of me.
• I had already anticipated it, so I raised my hand with the stick. Before I knew it, he dodged it.
• “See? You’re human, and you’re weak. You can’t stake me with a mere stick!” he mocked. His wide smile made me angrier.
• I tried to stab him in the chest again and again, but he was just too fast. He was like a blur moving around me. I was breathless.
• “Your heart rate is faster than usual, boy. I can hear your heart beating. Oohh… It’s like music to my ears, and you smell tastier!” He sniffed the air with his head facing the moonlit sky. I could clearly see his angular face, his long and big nose, and fangs that were threatening.
• I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself.
• Feigning surrender, I dropped my hand, and he laughed.
• “Tired already, aren’t you?”
• Using his vampire speed, he caught me by the neck. My feet dangled in the air. Behind him, the vampire that killed my mother appeared, looking at me with an excited face.