Bats and Roses

I kick the door to my apartment open, hissing in annoyance as I hit my elbow on the doorframe, my arms full with groceries. I sigh wearily as I stare out the window of my tiny, square room.

What am I doing with my life? I’m barely crawling through college.

A young, broke male who doesn’t seem to have a bright future in front of him.

And worst of all, I’m so... lonely. It feels like it’s me against the world sometimes.

The starless night and pitch black sky does little to improve my mood as I drag myself into my bed, still fully clothed.

Snow slowly falls down from the sky, covering the bustling city below in a blanket of white.

I put my hand on my forehead, staring up at the white ceiling. A crack runs through it, and I can clearly hear the banging of the kids upstairs being annoying like usual.

One of my lights isn’t working, so the entire room is just illuminated by a weak, yellow light bulb that doesn’t help the atmosphere of the apartment.

I groan in annoyance as I fumble my phone out of my pocket and turn it on, squinting my eyes at the sudden bright light in the dim room.

Two messages from my parents, asking how I was as usual. I scroll through the notifications center, looking at the to-do list.

A college essay that’s due tomorrow, paying rent for the apartment, getting groceries, and a bucket load of other things. I exhale loudly and slowly cross off “get groceries.”

One down, fifteen more to go.

In high school, I was pumped to go to college in downtown Chicago, excited for all the freedom I’d have.

Little did I know, with those freedoms also came a plethora of responsibilities.

I grab my pillow and groan in frustration, covering my ears and turning over to the side as the banging above grows louder. I don’t even have a girlfriend to cheer me up, since the last one dumped me as soon as high school ended.

“Why couldn’t life just be easier for once?” I mumble silently, “Why can’t I just have a day without any problems to worry about?”

“Hmmm.” A soft voice comes from behind me, “You seem to be in a rough shape.”

The room goes silent for a second, before I register that there was another person in the room.

Before I can scream, a hand clamps over my mouth and fills my nose with a pleasant scent of rose petals.

“No use in struggling...” The voice says soothingly, a girl by the sound of it, “I’m stronger than you.”

I feel something sharp press against my neck, feeling my kidnapper’s warm breath on my neck. I shiver as her body touches my back, which is covered only by a flimsy shirt I bought from Walmart.

I try to push away, but the sharp object sinks further into my flesh, feeling cold against my skin.

A knife?

I go limp, letting my muscles relax. How she sneaked into my apartment without making a noise is beyond me. Did I leave the door unlocked?

It doesn’t matter. She has a blade on my neck, and I have no choice but to listen to her.

I feel the blade move away from my throat as an arm wraps around my body, turning me over onto my back.

I was right, it was a girl, around my age too. I stare at her face, shocked by her fair appearance.

Her shoulder-length black hair fell down around her face as she looks down upon me, her pink lips contrasting in the darkness.

She has brown eyes, which look me up and down in a way that sends shivers through my spine.

She’s analysing me like a piece of meat.

I try to sit up, but she sets a hand on my chest, pushing me back with surprising strength.

“Don’t make any sudden movements.” She slowly smirks, revealing a set of fangs, glinting in the darkness, “Or I’ll bite.”

“Are those-” I start to exclaim, only to have my mouth clamped by her hand again.

“Yes.”

A vampire? You’ve got to be kidding me, my luck can’t get any worse.

She doesn’t even look the part. She wears a regular, blue sweater and black tights, dressing like any normal college girl did.

She even looks pretty.

Maybe this is all a prank. I can’t think straight with that intoxicating smell of roses that comes from her.

I shake my head, raising my hands in surrender. Maybe I can talk my walk out of this, if I find out what she wanted.

She slowly removes her palm from my mouth.

“What do you want?” I try to keep my voice in a whisper, scared of getting my mouth shut again. She moves closer, making the smell even stronger.

It swept into my mind, wrapping around it.

“Blood.” She whispers in my ear, “It’s getting cold out there. I need energy.”

“You can’t.” I struggle to keep control of my mind as it starts to swim away from my grasp, “You put something in the perfume, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” She says simply, placing one of her soft hands against my neck. It sends waves of electricity through my body, making it harder and harder to think. “I just need some.”

She brings her face close to my neck, a strand of her hair falling down onto my vulnerable skin.

I squirm away from her teeth, fighting against the urge to give in.

“It’s impressive you’re still keeping control.” She smiles innocently, “I could give you something in return...”

“You are not... taking my blood,” I struggle to say.

She didn’t respond, and instead brings her face to my neck, softly kissing it. I strain to move away, but find myself moving my head to the side to give her better access.

She’s mind controlling me.

I feel the last of my resistance trickling away as I feel her soft lips press against my skin, each one sending a jolt through my body.

“It’s been a while since I’ve found someone with this much resistance.” The vampire softly whispers in my ear, “They usually give in as soon as I get close, but you’re different.”

She moves up and kisses me deeply, moving her hands under my shirt and encircles her arms around my waist. Trapping me.

My entire body goes limp, the last of my will evaporating.

I didn’t care anymore.

I tilt my head to the side as her dark lips roughly press against mine and her fangs prick my mouth. I feel her hips grind against my crotch as she pulls away, moving down to my neck.

“Just take it,” I gasp with the last of my effort.

The girl smiles mischievously as she looks into my eyes one last time, before pressing against my neck. I feel a sharp pain and the world starts to fade away, my body starting to feel distant.

The last thing I smelled was rose petals.