I check the time on my phone: 6:37 PM. I should be heading home. The hospital blood donor clinic is the only way I can reliably earn money, and, admittedly, ensure a consistent supply for… my needs.
I usually finish at six, but tonight I stayed an extra half hour for the extra income. As I swipe my ID at the exit scanner, the doors glide open.
The city streets are bathed in the glow of a full moon, but the air is thick with smog, obscuring any stars. A shiver crawls down my spine as I recall the night everything changed.
My apartment is only a block away, and I usually walk. It feels unsafe, I know, but I don’t have a car yet, and this neighborhood is relatively secure.
My mind wanders to the donor paperwork I need to complete tomorrow. If I get it done early, maybe I can make dinner. The thought of a blood milkshake—the idea is… appealing.
Suddenly, I stumble, falling hard onto the pavement. Disoriented, I look around and see a man sprawled beside me, gasping for breath. He rises quickly, his face flushed. "Sorry, miss… I was in a rush." He reaches out a hand, and I take it, letting him pull me upright.
He’s strikingly handsome. Dark hair moves in the breeze, and his eyes are wide and dark, almost puppy-like in their apology. But something is… off. His arms are covered in thick, dark hair, and his nails are unusually sharp, tapering to points. The streetlights catch on his back, making him look like a silhouette of a fallen angel.
"Again, I apologize," he repeats, then turns and flees into the darkness.
I watch him disappear, a strange curiosity prickling at me. As I continue toward my building, a chill creeps down my spine. Something about him felt deeply wrong. He *was* in a hurry…
*Y/N, leave it alone. He’s none of your concern. He has nothing to do with you.*
I reach my apartment door and fish my keys from my pocket. The lock clicks open with a sigh of relief. I push the door open, kicking it shut behind me as I step inside.
Little did I know that this man, this fleeting encounter, would become inextricably linked to my future.
⚪︎ ◦ ☀︎ ☁︎☽ ◦ ⚪︎