Run, boy, run

Trekking back the road before, Van found myself lying around in a crime scene in front of an abandoned warehouse. Van could only slightly peek because of the people hurdling at the crime scene. Her eyes dilated and her eyes are white - no traces of any iris, her mouth open wide like a fish and an odd bite marks could be seen everywhere. With the horrific scene Van witnessed, he decided to go back to the dorm, thinking he's gonna be sick.

Van thought that going with his brother in a quiet city he was gonna able to find some peace, unlike in New York that's full people, stressful and many crimes happening every day, but he was wrong, death is always behind me, not that he thinks that he has a stroke of bad luck but rather it is sad to think that murder and crime do not allow this quiet city to have its peace. What it is more stressing knowing that a killer is run loose.

Here he is, moping in his room, staring at the ceiling. Van was about to fall asleep, but someone knocks on the door.

"Van is sleeping." he tiredly said.

"You might reconsider sleeping early, 'cause we're going to crash a party." He recognizes Raymond's voice.

Tim by the way is on the mall buying some foods that they chip-in for a movie marathon and obviously, the gang is outside. Van finally meets the other two, the nerdy one is Raymond if he were said he's not that kinda bad looking, perhaps if he just removes his glass and changes his hairstyle girls might find him attractive. Boston, on the other hand, is the opposite one, he always looks grumpy that even Van is afraid to look at his eyes.

He stands up hearing those words. "Did you say party?"

Fifteen minutes had passed and here he is, sitting in the middle between them in the desk with the laptop in-front of Van with the mouse attached to it.

Few others are empty which he bet is to the other missing guys. This must be their sacred ground.

"When you said 'party', I was expecting something music or a disco ball."

"This is party," Boston said as he invited another two random people. Currently, they're playing online games.

"Just one game man, I haven't played this in a while, there are so many changes happened in the ranking system and I don't want to be left out."

"Ok. By the way, how the hell can a laptop manage to handle this kind of specs? Anyway, don't bother, I don't want to have a headache."

After three streaks of winning, he decided to stop as his eyes begin to hurt.

"I think that's enough," he said withdrawing back to his room.

He looked at his phone, it's still 8:30 and the only thing he did all night is to play. He started to strip and wear his black hoody.

As he opens the window he was greeted by a blast of cold wind on his face. He started to hop on from another building. His hands scrape and scratch the ledge where he was clinging onto, his muscles scream in the effort as he exerts more strength, pulling himself up.

Few infrastructures are abandoned. He made way and climb up to the building, he breathes as he could feel it again, a twitch, a force residing inside, but within a moment it calms down.

He places his hand on his chest and for the first time in a while, it doesn't bug anymore. He sprinted forward jumping at the close buildings, sliding, and propelling towards another structure.

He has been doing this since he was in New York, but he's not always lucky. He was once caught by patrolling police for violating curfew and was scolded by Mick. After that time, he only does this occasionally just to ease the twitch inside of him, but he knew that he was being in denial, what he always needs is the adrenaline, pumping into his veins, because in this way he feels that he's alive.

Lost in thoughts, he didn't notice that the building that he was attempting to jump on was farfetched and the speed purporting the length was not enough which would likely fail to land. He is certain that his face is about to hit the ground, but he woke up in a strong branch of a tree. He could feel that his face is paling, my lips are dried, and the adrenaline is slightly slowing down. He breathes as he doesn’t want to freak out and he jumps down.

"Holy crap."

Until now he couldn't believe he survives that fall. A chill strike on his spine as he could hear the grass whiskers. Van turned around and saw nothing, but his suspicion grew as there is something out there whispering in the darkness, but clearly, there's no one, only but Van. Just as he attempts to go climb back at the building, it twitches again.

He altered his gaze at the narrow alleyway in front of the building where he stands. A figure in the form of a shadow standing with his eyes glaring at Van. He shivers as a cold wind gently passed by and in a sudden blink, he's gone and for another one, Van finds him slowly walking towards him.

Run.

He rattled and sprinted inside the abandoned building.

"Ah shit, shit, shit, shit!" He cursed repeatedly as he ran in top speed, hedging and climbing at the metallic staircase, his feet shinned at the ledges not knowing tiredness. As he makes his way at the end of the stair, a hand reaches Van, he manages to kick it and quickly falls to the ground. He was certain that he could not survive the falling in such height, but I was wrong, he stands up and when he looked at Van, his expression changed into an angry one, he managed to observe his stature, his skin is pale, the eyes are white and him having a fang is certainly not normal for a human being.

He struggled to get up as he breathes heavily, rattled as what he just has seen. Van couldn't even feel tiredness nor pain as if the adrenaline overtook his capability of feeling.

He again sprinted forward as the door suddenly slams. He jumped into another building without a second thought, and because of it he didn't manage to land, instead, he found himself hanging in an outside staircase with his wrist efforts to pull up. When he finally reaches the top, Van tried to spring his feet upward with the ledges as a support, but that wasn't enough for him to grab on something. He was about to fall but a hand grabbed him.

Van was about to thank the who save him, but his eyes widened to the man who is after him.

Van headbutts him and kicks his balls, but he just stares at him as if though he's not hurt.

"You have no balls?!"

With a sheer strength, he throws Van at the concrete wall. Van stands up with his back erupting in pain. When he's coming closer to Van, he kicks his knee, bowing down in front of him. He punched him again even though he knew that it wouldn't affect him. He response just by grinning at Van, mockingly smile as he bent his knees, standing. He did what's the best thing he could do, he runs.

Van was about to head back in his room but suddenly he heard someone.

"I'm impressed."

He turns around but there's no one, but he could feel that something cold touches his neck and whispers.

"You will fall asleep."

With those words, his mind went blank.

***

Currently, Kate with her friend Jane is hanging out in a bar, sat down in the comfortable cushion with a beer, drinking. She could feel the bitterness of it, slurping down to her throat. She suddenly pauses as she could feel an ambiance somewhere in the town. Kate snaps back into reality when her best friend Jane pinches her.

"Hello, earth to Kate." Jane's voice indicates irritation.

"I'm so sorry, I kinda space out... what were you saying again?"

"I was wondering if there's anyone your laid eye on."

"There is," Kate said. Jane giggles hearing about it.

"Tell me about him. Is he cute?"

"Well, I kinda somehow attracted to him."

"Was it love at first sight?"

"Ew, no. I wouldn't call it that. It's just, somehow, I find him attractive. Enough about me, how about you? How's New Orleans?"

"Uh, boys out there are all the same, once they grab your ass, they will find another one to hook on. Glad I'm not one of the victims." Jane said with a disappointment in her voice.

"Okay, so much for the boys. Why come back here?"

"You don't miss me?"

"No, it's kinda... y' know, I thought you don’t want to come back, ‘because you enjoy New Orleans."

"Nah, I much prefer it here. I was just forced to move out because of my parents."

"I never actually thought that you will come back here."

"Surprise-surprise-surprise," Jane said as he takes another sip. Kate notices a burn on her elbow.

"What happened to that?”

"Uhm just minor burnt... injury."

Kate raised her eyebrow, "I know you're not that gullible, and I know you wouldn't be here of your own free will." Kate said directly looking into her eyes, Jane in respond avoid it with a guilty on her eyes

"You used black magic, did you?”

Cornered, Jane confessed "Yes," she muttered.

"Why? You out of all people know that it's against rules to use magic."

Kate holds her hands when she finally realized what's this all about.

"It's about a guy?"

"Yes."

"He cheated on you?"

With that, Kate knows that there's no need for an explanation. All she could do is to accompany her. Her home is not that far and could only take nine minutes to arrive there. With Jane, who is now drunk, clinging onto her, she struggled to reach the keys inside the bag.

She aimlessly reached the switch, turning on all the lights. Her house was not that big, not too shabby either.

"Jane, Jane. Wake up!" She shouted.

"What?" Jane asked tiredly.

"You're gonna stay here, so text your parents that you're sleeping in my house." She said as Kate pulls her shoes off and the socks.

"Who's that?"

The newly wake Mia asked as she rubbed her eyes. Mia pulls back to her feet her fluffy flipflops as she examines Kate and her accomplice.

"It's Jane."

"Jane as in the rich girl?

"Yep.

"Didn't hear she's back in town. Anyways, be sure to watch over her. Because I don't want to see one of her episodes in here. I'm gonna knock her down if she would do that." Mia reminded her.

"Noted."