It was a typical clear night. Bitter cold wind that bit at my face—making it numb—blew all around. I pulled my thick coat about my neck and glanced up at the full moons. They shone like well cared for marbles. Both were a spotlight of faint sapphire and dim blood red. With the moons’ helpful light, the only thing I had to worry about was the fleeting shadows that the rays of light could not reach.
       As I passed buildings by, I quickly glanced in each one. Each one was in suffocating darkness, with shadows against shadows in the windows. Burning out candles eerily flickered and had cast unusual shapes of darkness. I walked passed a toyshop and peered in. I pressed my nose against the freezing pane and covered the sides of my face with my hands to block the moons’ glare. My eye went from one side to another, almost every toy was unrecognizable.
       Something suddenly moved in the corner of my eye. I breathed in sharply, the icy air tore up the cartilage inside. My heart became heavy and pounded loudly like a war drum. Slowly, very slowly, I turned to face what my mind had barely registered.
       Staring back at me were red eyes that glowed and a devilish smile. My heart leapt to my throat as my body jumped back a few inches. The figure stood there with its devious grin; it didn’t move at all. I let out a loud, long sigh when I realized that it was just a marionette hanging in the toyshop’s window. I chuckled to myself for being so afraid of something inanimate, cold and unreal. My laughter was warm and was like waves of the ocean, gently lapping to the shore. My heart slowed down and I continued walking.
       A good ways from the shop, a bone chilling wind blew about. I could feel my lips drying out. My nose started to turn raw red. Again, I pulled my coat about me, keeping as much heat as possible.
     Without warning, clouds suddenly formed and covered the moons. Everything was cast into shadows; I couldn't even see the tip of my nose. Only the stars were the source of all light now and the occasional small lit lamp. I exhaled; my breath came in small, fluffy puffs of white clouds. I could feel my eyes starting to freeze.
       Mist started to collect at my feet. It clung to me much like a stray cat marking a person as their territory. It hugged me tight, threatening to trip me. The air suddenly became heavy; at least five pounds were added to the weight on my back. I felt like I was breathing in some sort of thick ice-sludge.

      TICK

       A sound came from behind me. I swirled around and my hair flew everywhere. My heart started to pound like a war drum for the second time. Hastily sweeping my hair from my face, I wildly looked around in the shadows. I looked for anything out of place: a stick or a blob of darkness with human outlines. Without any luck, I could not find what had made that sound.
       I continued walking, but none too calmly. I walked much like someone trying to get out of sight of something behind them. The skin on my back started to crawl up my spine to the base of my head. I shivered, but the million tiny ice pricks would not stop marching on my spine. In my haste, my one-size-too-large boot caught on a crack on the sidewalk. My stomach churned as I stumbled forward, almost completely losing my balance.
       After catching myself, I yet again turned around to face the never-ending shadows. As fate would have it, there was nothing there. I couldn’t see or hear anything, but if there was something, it surely could hear my heart pounding like a madman and twice as loud. It was susceptible to break out.
       Rapidly I turned around, causing my hair to fly riotously about. I picked up my pace from a brisk walk to a near trotting. Slowly, suicidal slowly, I felt the presence of being watched creeping around on my back. The hair on the back of my neck and arms stood straight up in an attempt to get away.

      THUNK

       Again! There was yet another sound! My heart pressed against my ribcage, dying to get out. It caused so much ruckus that it would surely wake the forever sleeping dead. Every living sense of mine screamed at me to run. They told me to get out of there alive. I broke out into a full sprint.       
     The intoxicating aroma of fear quickly cased my nose and weighed down my feet.  Anxiety swiftly blocked my sense of reasoning and my better judgment. In my panicking fear I turned into an alleyway, hoping to lose whatever unearthly thing that was stalking me.     
    Trying my best to not run into anything, I dodged crates and muck puddles that popped up in front of me. However, drunk on my fear, I stumbled and crashed into a tin trash can. With a smash that could have been heard miles away, I was rammed into the ground and skid a few feet.
      Sharp, unbearable pain shot up from my legs, arms and hands; I knew I broke something. I limply made an effort to get up, swaying from side-to-side. A hot liquid ran down from my knees and palms and I immediately knew I had badly torn my skin. Then in a rush, the oozing blood made my fear suffocate me; whatever was out there would definitely smell my blood and close in.
     Dragging my broken leg behind me, I hobbled down the alley, going as fast as only a leg and a half could permit. Without much time following up, I had reached a dead end. My heart was a lump stuck in my throat and a stroke endangered to seize it and kill me on the spot. I braced myself against my wall of death and waited torturously for my stalker to catch up.
       As if on cue, a shadow materialized in front of me. A monstrous silhouette loomed before me, standing much taller than I could ever hope to be. Mockingly, the clouds let up a bit and moonlight fought to pierce through, adding more light on my pursuer.
       The being in front of me was nothing human, no. It was more of a creature—a monstrous demon. With crimson glowing, lustful eyes, it stared wickedly at me. Its soot-dark hair contrasted greatly with its snow-like glowing skin. A smile lay twisted on its deathly pale lips. Long sharp fangs poked out from in between those murderous lips. A vampire; I've been targeted by a vampire—the devils that live by night.      
      This was it; I knew I was done for. My heart was swollen, even though death held a crushing grip on it. My breathing came in staggered, uneven gasps. I stared up into cold, unfeeling eyes that reflected my soul back to me.      
      The vampire took one step forward. A hideous, twisting grin distorted its decaying face as it saw me trying to become one with the wall behind me. A raspy, heavy voice that chilled me to the very bone drifted from its uncanny smile. "There, there Poppet. No need to worry. Your blood smells so delicious, that I would kill you with one swig; you will die instantly and won't feel a thing any longer."       
      Death stood before my eyes, taunting me. As much as I could, I pressed myself up against the wooden paneled wall. I had to get away from this thing, this monster. I willed my body to lose solid form so that I could pass through the barrier behind my back. But I knew that was impossible. It was as impossible as ever, trying to escape and live from a blood-hungry vampire. My whole body was in a violent shiver. I closed my eyes and willed to be killed right then and there.
       With torturing slowness, the vampire took another step towards me. Its decaying stench was an intoxicating poison. The stench grew and built up, almost to the point of involuntary vomiting and I knew the vampire stood less than a foot away from me. Hot rank air pouring down on my face told me that the undead being was examining my scared face, drinking in my fear.       
        I held my breath and waited for what I could only hope was a painless prick of the monster's fangs on my neck and my life elixir was drunk. The skin crawling breath of the vampire surrounded my neck and floated about my face. I felt a tight grip imprison my arms as the undead being held me in place. I flinched as I felt a thick, damp and burning sensation slithered across my neck. Bitter bile rose from the pits of my stomach to my mouth as I learned it was the beast's tongue. I dared not to open my eyes in fear of what seeing might cause.
       A wave of the monster's malignant breath bathed my neck. I felt something cold and hard gently cruise over my neck. Logic told me that it was the vampire's fangs, looking for a place to be inserted. I knew now that I only had seconds to live. Its fangs would soon pierce my skin and my life's blood would be sucked away. Only a hollow husk would remain.
       A loud shot rang out. The vampire wailed a penetrating screech. My eyes flew open and grew to the size of saucers at what I saw before me. The vampire was statue like, frozen in place. Then suddenly, it turned into dust and collapsed on the spot. I stared opened mouthed in horrific relief at the pile that had formed instantly at my feet.
       My gaze traveled back to where the vampire had stood and fixed itself on a gun pointing in my direction. A man was holding the gun. He stood transfixed staring at me, but I knew his brain had not yet processed me and was still looking at where the vampire had once stood only seconds before.
       The man's face turned tranquil and his gaze shifted to me. He smiled handsomely at me, in hopes to soothe my madly beating heart. "Luckily I got here in time. Every thing's all right now. That vampire is long dead now—never to rise again." His voice was intoxicatingly sweet and seductive.
       I started to sway. The vampire hunter came towards me and stopped me from falling over. Unhesitant, I let him catch me. I laid against his body as he gave hopeful comfort back to me. I felt his warm breath on my neck as he leaned in to my face. I made a small gasp of shock as I felt a sharp prick near the base of my neck. Something warm and thick started to flow over my neck. Gradually, I raised my hand to my neck to touch the unknown substance. I pulled back my hand to examine the sticky liquid. My sight grew blurry as if I was seeing under water and I concluded what was on my hand. I passed out at the sight of my own blood.