World So Cold

Gloom..

Amidst the relentless downpour, the moon’s feeble glow was obscured by giant, ominous storm clouds.

Thunder rumbled, streaks of light would illuminate the pitch black sky, followed by more thunderous roars. Trees swayed violently as gusts of wind swept through every few seconds.

Despite the horrid weather, Sera remained strong in her determination to reach home.

Her heels clicked against the pavement, splashing through puddles as she huddled against the cold winds to retain warmth.

Sera’s hair and clothing were drenched, a consequence of her unexpected encounter with the storm after closing her shop for the night. Had she anticipated such a situation, she would have brought an umbrella.

Ahead, she could discern the silhouette of her apartment building.

Little did she know that her journey would end abruptly that night, and she wouldn’t be home the next morning either. Factually, she would never set foot in her apartment again..

As she quickened her pace, hoping to evade the heavier rain and winds, she sensed a presence. A looming presence.

Curiosity compelled her to halt in her tracks abruptly.

She turned her head, peering behind her back. No one was there.

She glanced out across the street from her sidewalk position, and once again, the street was empty.

However, when she turned to her left, she noticed a dimly lit alleyway.

A figure stood tall and menacingly.

Who could possibly be insane enough to be willingly out in such weather, especially at this hour?

A man.

From the limited visibility provided by the dim lighting, he did not appear homeless. He wore well tailored and expensive looking clothing, which seemed to be specifically designed for him, hugging his body perfectly.

An umbrella rested against his right shoulder, shielding him from the rain.

Step. Splash. Step.

Sera had not realized that the man had begun walking towards her.

As soon as she became aware of his approach, she instinctively took a few steps back. However, it was too late.

This man had a firm grip on her left arm. What did he want..? Clearly, he did not need any financial assistance.

Nervousness gripped her, but she forced herself to speak,

“Can I help you..?”

Despite her hopes for a firm voice, her tone came out weak and small.

The man smiled, a dark and sinister smile that made Sera feel uneasy. His canines were exceptionally sharp and larger than they should be, suggesting possible surgical intervention.

The man then spoke,

“Have.. We met before?” he inquired, his voice elegant yet deep.

Sera noticed his eyes, which were a pale violet that complemented his alabaster skin. They almost glowed, which was unsettling to her.

‘Eyes can’t glow..’ she thought to herself.

She attempted to pull back, but his grip tightened abruptly.

She forced a small smile and replied,

“No, I don’t believe we have.”

Sera’s voice trembled with fear as she spoke. The man chuckled before replying back, “I think we have… My name is Rhys. You are Sera. Don’t you remember me..?”

His face remained contorted into an insidious, yet mostly sinister smile. How did he know her name?

Sera was absolutely horrified.

Rhys dropped his umbrella and tilted his head down as it drifted off into the rain and wind. His long, dark hair concealed his face, but she could still see the horrific smile and those eyes.

He quickly and suddenly placed a hand on the back of her head and leaned down, hesitating before sinking his teeth into her neck. Painful… Excruciating, even.

The man, Rhys, did not hold back.

Sera opened her mouth to scream, shout, cry, or anything, but nothing came out. She was completely and utterly stunned.

Her eyes were wide as saucers..

Rhys could be heard chuckling into her neck as he had begun to drink, his grip on her tightening with each sip he took.

How cruel… Sera thought.

She had only ever tried to do right, and this was how her life would end?

She ran a store where clothes were cheap and affordable, and she often gave overstock away to the homeless.

So, why…?

Sera scoured her mind for any reason as to why this was happening to her.

However, she returned empty handed.

And what was this man? Certainly nothing she had ever encountered before.

Something that should not exist at all.

Something utterly inhuman.

She felt the moment her body began to lose its strength, her free arm falling to her side and her knees buckling beneath her.

The man caught her by her waist, allowing her other arm to become limp as well.

He supported her weight effortlessly, still maintaining his jaw grip on her neck.

Sera could perceive and feel the world being gradually pulled away from her. Each passing second, her vision became increasingly blurry and dimmer.

Until, eventually, she ceased to exist.

The man detached his teeth from the poor woman’s neck and stood upright, with blood visibly staining his mouth and chin.

Rhys then carried her lifeless body into the alleyway and admired his work with a half smile before dropping her into a dumpster, proceeding to leave her there.

So evil. No.

Ruthless, even.

How malicious.

How long had he been stalking her..?

Had it been days? Weeks? Months perhaps? Or even years…?

It would never come to light; no, it would remain unsolved.

The man would never return to London. Instead, he would continue his hunting elsewhere, seeking more victims to consume and strike fear into. He would drink from their bodies and ultimately kill them.

He would eventually relocate to the United States and attempt to assimilate into American society. After all, he absolutely loved challenges.

He would move from state to state, seeking his delicious sustenance and the occasional plaything, while enduring the festering emptiness in the pit of his stomach.

Rhys is a creature of the night, after all.

And Sera was simply born into this dreadful world.

A world that had actually been relatively good to her until now, a world she had grown to love and find solace in.

However, the world had abandoned her, and so abruptly it had transformed into a world so cold.