Chapter 14

The darkness quickly washes away into the sunlight as I drive out from the dull neighborhood. My breath shudders from fear of what I just witnessed.

Im still paranoid from the experience that I constantly check the review mirror to see if Owen is running after me.

But its just the road with white lines and the cloudless blue sky.

I regret leaving Owen behind but what can I do?

I thought he's changed after he unexpectedly left us.

But then a question pops into my head:

How did Owen become a vampire in the first place?

He was different ever since he was born.

He didn't want to eat food, his tooth was pointy, he wouldn't stop crying.

Then I remember the night he was born.

They had said that it was an unlucky night, and we were all told to stay inside. But unfortunately, Owen had to be born and we all went to the hospital that night. Anything could've happened and with my clarification, I think Owen was born as a vampire.

With this thought, I halt my car unexpectedly.

Behind me, a car honks in irritation.

I realize I had stop at a traffic light which was

lit up in green.

I slowly continue driving to satisfy the driver behind me or to avoid any serious accidents.

That night was bad luck and Owen was a part of it.

Suddenly Owens father appears in my head, and a wave of sorrow washes over me.

I still can't believe Owen killed his own bloody parents.

And sometimes I stop myself from finding Owen.

But he is still my cousin.

There is a red traffic light ahead of me so I slow down my car.

I see another car besides me and Its Owen's

I jump as he is staring right back at me and make eye contact.

He's following me?!

He rolls down his window and motions me to do the same.

I don't budge and try to ignore him and keep my eyes on the light, praying it will change to green sooner.

Then a warm feeling and dizzy feeling washes over me and without my control, I roll down my window.

My eyes bulge.

I wasn't doing this!

Then my eyes move to Owen.

"We can talk. Just follow me." He says.

"What? No way, after what you just did." I argue.

A car behind my line blares its horn and I try moving my car away from my cousin but unexpectedly, I follow Owen.

We halt to a stop, and he walks out of his car to the drivers side.

"Ashley, please listen to me, I didn't want you to find out..." He starts. "I knew it was you as soon as I saw you at the agency. But I was keeping a low profile."

His words trail into my ear, the dizzy feeling still in me.

It occurs to me that Owen is doing this.

I glare at him as soon as I figure this out.

I am in a trance but I still know what's happening.

Owen is clearly controlling me.

"I was like this ever since I was born. And I know I'm a terrible person that I killed my own parents for my own grief. And I'm still guilty to this day, I regret everything I did." Owen explains, obviously frantic.

I stay quiet.

I don't know what to say back to him.

"I know... I already figured it out." I start, hesitant.

"But where have you been all these years?" I ask, ignoring the tears in Owen's eyes.

He seems like he is really sad for what he did and is asking for forgiveness.

"I- I was running away after you had caught me and then this lady noticed me. She saw the blood on my face and had mistaken it for an injury which wasn't the case. She asked me if I was alright but I didn't answer so she took me in and has taken care of me ever since. Though she looked exactly like the girl I drank the blood from and I soon realized it was her twin. She was walking with her and told her sister to go get some snacks from the nearby deli and was waiting for her" Owen describes.

My eyes go wide.

Owen continues, " And that's when she found me and told me that she would come home soon so she went with me without her sister and a couple hours later, she found out that her sister had died."

"So, your telling me that she died and you have been living with a complete stranger?" I ask.

Owen nods.

I digest this information, trying to piece everything together.

This is devastating.

"I'm sorry Ashley, I hope you can forgive me but I understand if you don't want to." And with that, Owen left my car, the dizzy feeling vanishing, before I can say anything.