Chapter 14: The World

"Who was that?" Jingfei asked, trying to walk as quickly as Ying was, but it was difficult. How could Ying hold all the bags in his hands, whilst also walking so quickly. He wasn't even running! "He's a vampire." Ying said simply. Jingfei groaned and shook his head. He knew that. That part was obvious. Are vampires not supposed to talk to each other in public? But, Jingfei talks to Wei and Ying all the time. 

"He's not someone I want you to hang around. He's…. Not a good person." Ying continued, turning slightly into an alleyway. Jingfei followed. "Why? Did he do something?" Ying nods, beginning to look through the bags to find something. "Yeah, well no. He's an elder, just like Chan. Meaning he's lived through a lot of shit. 

"But, unlike Chan, no one knows much about him. I only know one thing for sure, he's mysterious. But he hates humans, to the core. I wouldn't be shocked if he hunted humans like a hunter hunts vampires.." Jingfei slowly nodded, before looking at Ying weirdly. 'Hunters?" Jingfei asked. Ying grabbed his phone, tapping on the screen. "Yeah. They are people who hunt after you. But most of them are terrible and don't know how to fight." Ying informed. He started texting something on the screen, as Jingfei's brain went into ultra scared mode. 

"Hunters? Like a vampire hunter? That kills people?! That kill us? What- Why?!" Jingfei asked. Ying looked up at Jingfei worriedly. "Nothing will happen to you, promise. The only real way they can hurt you is if they are an experienced one. And is it really easy to defeat them, but also it's rare." Ying explained. He slid his phone into his pack pocket, lightly placing a hand on Jingfei's shoulder.

"You're giving me that look." Ying pointed out. Jingfei looked down. "No I'm not. What are you talking about?" Jingfei muttered, combing his hair out of his face as he looked back up at  Ying. "Your giving me that 'I'm so worried' look. You did it when you first walked outside, and now you're doing it again." Jingfei gave the other a grim look. "Yeah, okay." Jingfei muttered. 

Ying smiled, reaching down to grab something from a paper bag. He lifted it up for Jingfei to see. It was a small stuffed animal. A cat, actually. In basic vampire clothing. It was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. "He clenches your hands when you're nervous. So I thought I would buy you this. It's super soft and cuddly, and you can hold him when you get nervous. In case you think your gonna go wild, even though you won't." 

Jingfei held the small cat stuffed animal in his hands. He looked back up at Ying and smiled. "Thank you, thank you alot."  JIngfei mumbled. He didn't know if it would work or not, but the mere thought brightened Jingfei's mind. He smiled, placing the kitten on his chest. "It's cute." He mumbled. Ying shrugged lightly. "It is, isn't it. That's why I wanted to go into the store." Ying answers, crossing his arms proudly. 

Jingfeis softly nodded his head, looking up at the darkened sky. He didn't think that they were actually going shopping for long. But it seemed they were. "It's crazy, I would be sleeping by now." Jingfei mumbles to himself, picking up bags. Ying shrugged. "Fifty years ago, so would I. But, then again, vampires are nocturnal. So our whole sleep schedule is fucked up." Ying pointed out. He sighed, before looking out the alleyway. 'Come on, let's go home.`` 

Ying began walking out of the alleyway, Jingfei quickly following. 'I'm going to leave you. But if something happens, I'm just a call away, alright?" Ying asks. Jingfei looked over. "Wait, you're gonna leave me? Do I have to walk all the way home?" Jingfei asked. Y8ing nodded his head. "You'll be fine, Jingfei. It's right up the street. If you can do this, you can go back tomorrow." 

"You sound like I'm in a mental hospital, and you're my doctor." Jingfei pointed out. Ying shrugged softly. "In a way, we are all in a mental hospital, slowly going crazy." Ying laughed. Jingfei rolled his eyes, before realization slowly caught on. "I'm almost out." jingfei pointed out. He wasn't, he still had half the container left. But what if he accidentally dropped it. And all the blood spilled out- "Jingfei, you'll be fine. Trust me. Now go." He lightly pushed Jingfei towards the path. 

Jingfei sighed, before beginning to walk.

Maybe Ying was right. Maybe Jingfei was just over exaggerating the walk. Over exaggerating things that could happen. That was very much probable, even if it wouldn't have been two weeks ago. Every step away from Ying felt easier and easier. He'll be fine. The road wasn't too populated, most of the people were out either in stores or in cars. It was perfect spring weather, true. But, maybe people just didn't like going out on weeknights. It made sense. Jingfei's stride slowed as he watched the moon. 

It wasn't a full moon, but close to it. A waxing gibbous. Only reason he knew that was from Kai. Kai liked all different types of astrology. On rare occasions that they would have the night shift together, Kai might say something short about an asterism or which planets are in synastry. Jingfei would ask him about it, and some nights he would explain. Others, he would say nothing. As if Jingfei was talking to himself. 

Soon enough, Jingfei was there, at the house. That was it. He looked around, seeing no one there. Including Ying. Was the house that close, or did Jingfei just forgot about vampires. Forgot about the one thing that scared him. He was actually, being himself again. Jingfei softly smiled, walking onto the black painted porch to walk inside. Chan and Yang were, not shockingly, arguing and playing some sort of video game. Instantly, Chan ran up to him. 

"How was it, your first night out as a vampire. Where's Ying?: Did he leave you? Were you scared? How was it? Tell me everything!" Chan said quickly, placing both hands on Jingfei's shoulders and shaking him. Jingfei smiled softly. 

"It was….. Good."