The Haunted Painter

Adrenaline floods my system, it pumps and beats like it’s trying to escape. I think my heart will explode and my eyes are wide with fear. My body wants to either run fast for the safety of the hills or to the crate of weaponry, but instead I remain where I am.

Let's face it, there is really only one thing I can do: Pray no one kills me. I want to take one great leap off the pressure plate and run to safety. My adrenaline surges so fast I almost vomit, I can taste saliva thickening in my throat and beads of sweat trickling down my brow.

Betrayal and rage are burning deep within me. I feel betrayed because the people haunting me right now are my friends. People who used to be very close to me, and angry because I had been too naive to notice this.

It wasn't until the previous week that I had discovered their awful plan. They want to kill me, and I don't know why. I have been on the chase since then, and right now, they have caught up with me.

I'm hiding behind a huge tree. I convince myself that I am safe here. They cannot see me. They will not see me.

It is very dark, the only source of light coming from the moon. My heart is beating vigorously, as I watch them saunter around my hiding spot. They are very near, yet far away.

"Come out, little Amary. We won't cause you any harm," Richard says with a sadistic tone.

I'm afraid for my soul.

"Sweet sweet innocent girl. We just want to see you. You have something precious that we want, and you have to give it to us. C'mon little one, give it to us." Brenda calls, her voice menacing.

Forgetting my state for a second, I roll my eyes. Who the hell are they calling little? We were agemates I tell you.

I feel a sudden itch to scratch my leg. I think an insect is feeding on my flesh. Slowly and quietly, my hand travels to my ankle and pinch the skin for some relief. I sigh.

I'm barefooted. My legs feel numb from the cold, and I am shivering. I don't know what this people want from me. I'm just a 21 year-old girl living a simple life. I don't know what they really want.

We have been together since childhood. We were like the three musketeers... inseparable. It's funny how you wake up one day and realize that you have no one.

Sometimes the people you'd take a bullet for are the ones behind the trigger, and sometimes it's not the people who change, it's the mask that falls off.

"Oh Amary, we know where you are but a little hide and seek won't hurt us," my heart drops. "If we catch you, your death will be painful."

I'm wishing that all of this is a dream, a horrible nightmare, and soon, I'll just wake up.

But sadly, it isn't. Their footsteps trot closer to where I am. I hold my breath. I don't think I have been terrified this much.

"Peekaboo!"

I jump with fright. The gun is on my face and I'm about to scream 'bloody Mary.'

"See, it wasn't that hard to find you," Brenda retorts, "Just like the old times."

I want to scream, but I can't. I want to fall on my knees and beg for my life, but I stay rooted to where I am.

"Aaw, look at how scared she is," Richard says, giving me a scornful look.

I have an urge to roll my eyes and give a retort but I refrain myself. I might just end up in my grave if I act brave.

"You wanna know something?" Brenda asks.

I nod my head timidly. I can neither do as much as breathe. The gun is still on my face and I want to keep my life, thank you very much.

"We killed your parents. We slit their throats open and made it look like someone else did it."

"You are lieing." I squeak.

I know they are just saying that to make me frightened and give up. The truth is, I was taught to fight for the things I treasured- my life being one of them.

"Oh poor child. Don't you remember during that awful day we had gone for some 'partying'?"

"Yeah...?"

"We killed them all. We killed your siblings because they were useless. They didn't have whatever you have. So, why not wipe them out?"

What did I have? I'm just a young painter, and a pretty normal one in fact.

"You come from a family of painters," Brenda answers, "Somehow, you inherited the forbidden power from your coteries, and we want to have it all. You will give us the power, Phoenix. You will give it all to us."

I'm flabbergasted! Me? Having powers? What am I now, Wonder Woman?

I giggle quietly at the thought. Okay, it's decided. This guys have totally lost their minds. I'm the only sane person here.

Richards flashes me a pair of fangs and I stumble back a bit.

"W-what are you?" I cannot help but stammer.

"Oh," he bats his eyelashes, dramatically, "We forgot to tell her what we are, Bren."

And then they start laughing sadistically. I'm wondering what's funny.

They flash both their fangs at me then answer at the same time, "We are vampires, darling. And we want your blood."

I find that creepy and frightening. Realization dawns on me that the world isn't what I thought it was. I feel betrayed by this discovery. So maybe I'm a magical Painter, and maybe, I'm the Phoenix.

This is a bad dream. A very bad dream.

"We love chasing our food, Amary, be ready now." Richard hisses, and I notice the color of his eyes. Coal-black with no pupils around them. It's like they are dry...empty...lifeless.

So maybe, vampires exist and magic does too. I'm actually terrified of knowing that there are other supernatural being roaming around this Earth. I shudder at the thought.

"You cannot kill me, Richard. I'm your best friend, remember?" I try my luck. Maybe they can spare me .

"Umm ...not really?" He pretends to think. "I mean, how can you be friends with your food?"

I even feel stupid for asking him that question. You can never make the right deals with the devil.

"We are giving you 50 seconds to run away. If we catch up with you by the end of those seconds, we'll rip you to pieces. And the time starts...now!"

I want to yell at them and say that that is unfair. Of course they will catch me. They are vampires for Chrissake!

But I run anyways. Maybe I will find help somewhere or from someone. And with some little reassuring from my mind, I set off with an amazing speed.

I stumble upon rocks, thorns and branches which hurt my bare feet like hell. But every time I fall, I pick myself up.

"29."

I run harder. Somehow their voices are louder, and it feels as if they are close to me. What's the use of running anyway? They are going to catch up with me because I'm nothing compared to their natural speed. Vampires suck!

"12."

At this rate I am sweating so much, that I feel as if I have just taken a hot shower with my clothes on.

"5."

I know it is helpless. There is no hope for me. I can sense they are near, and so is my death.

"2."

My hand is on my chest. I have stopped running, and I'm planting very hard. My lungs feel like they are going to explode.

"0. Gotcha!"

It's all like a blur...within a blink of an eye. I scream so loud as I feel a pair of fangs slice my neck and at the same time, the sound of a bullet fired on my gut.

They say that when someone dies, the mind replays all the events the person has gone through all his life. That's what's happening to me. It's like a flash of memories, from the day I was born till now.

The blood is being drained out of me, and I'm also spewing blood from my mouth. Tears are flowing down my cheeks, as I feel the essence of life being taken away from me. I focus on the sounds of my heart beats.

1 beat.

2 beats.

3 beats.

And then...I die.

1st chapter done. Don't forget to vote, comment and share.

~Black_Coffee