Act II | part 11

It took her some time, but with enough force Ava managed to lock the basement door by slamming it shut. She risked breaking the handle in effort to jam the deadbolt into place, but at this point she didn't have any other options.

She then hurried to the bedroom to find the silver dagger the vampire gave her. She never got the chance to use it and secretly hoped to never have to. Even after what she saw, the girl still didn't want to hurt him, but if her life was on the line, she would be left with no choice.

The sun was about to rise in a few minutes, but there were no traces of her boyfriend. Perhaps he couldn't get back home on time and had to wait around in the shadows somewhere, alas he would burst into flames. Ava looked in the distance for him as she was standing on the porch, wearing a thick woolen blanket to keep warm.

Eventually she thought it was no use and turned back to the front door, but then felt two cold pale hands being warped around her in a hug, which made her jump.

"Did I scare you my love?" Asked Lynn after seeing the frightened look on her face.

"No, ah... not at all." Ava smiled nervously "...maybe a little bit."

***

Back at the house, the girl strained every muscle in her body in effort to keep calm. If she didn't want to give herself away, she had to put up her best performance. Meanwhile Lynn was carelessly sorting away all the stuff he got from the city. He pulled out a vinyl, smiling ear to ear.

"I managed to fix the record player the other day." He said with glee. "If you were wondering why I got home so late, it's because I was looking for this." He pointed at the record.

Adore by The Smashing Pumpkins

"You seem very joyful about it."

"One of the songs has your name on it." He explained. "I know you told me you don't really listen to music, but I hope you at least like this one."

He put the disk on the player, filling the room with the melodic sound of an electric guitar.

"You certainly don't dress as the type that listens to rock." Ava pointed out.

"I used to listen to it when I was a teenager. Us vampires usually tend to cling on things that remind us of our past as humans."

"Luke the books?"

"They are a recent hobby of mine. Well, relatively recent."

Lynn went to the kitchen counter and lit the stove to brew some coffee. He remembered that she asked for it that night they were drinking together.

"So, what were you doing while I was gone?" His tone was so casual, yet it made her stricken with fear as she didn't think he would ask.

"I... slept." At least she wasn't lying.

"Then I guess you don't mind sticking around for a bit longer, before going to bed?"

"Sure I don't mind." Her nervousness made her look a bit overjoyed. She thought of ways she could tone it down a little before it started looking suspicious.

Lynn poured her a cup of coffee and invited her to the counter next to him. She took a sip while trying to avoid his gaze. The taste was bitter, just like the situation she was in. She thought back to the people locked in the basement. How long will it be until she joins them? Or perhaps, replace them?

Part of her regretted that she went there at all. Whatever his plans were for her it was better than keeping up this act as if she didn't know anything.

"How is your coffee?" He asked. "I haven't prepared one in a century."

"It's good." She replied, wondering in the back of her head if the short answers she gave were too nonchalant.

"You seem a bit nervous today, did something happen?"

"Nothing, nothing..." she gave an awkward smile. "I just missed you, that's all. I was a bit unnerved when you didn't show up before sunrise."

Ava turned away, fearing that the involuntary expressions she had, gave her away. Her best choice right now would be to just think of an excuse to leave the room and then figure out a plan. If she ran away now, he wouldn't follow her during the day, right? But then what would happen to the people in the basement? She was possibly their only way out.

Before she could say anything, she suddenly found herself bent over, face against the marble table top. Arms pressed down at the wrist by the hands of the vampire. The same hands she once felt safe in, now terrified her beyond belief. Her legs trembled. She felt the cold sweat running down her forehead as Lynn started kissing her neck.

"Is there something wrong?" He whispered in her ear.

"No..." her heart was about to burst. The arousal she once felt from his touch, now being replaced by horror.

"I missed you too, you know." His right hand moved down from her wrist to her breasts. While the other one was keeping her in place. She could feel him pressing against her from behind. His fangs lightly grazing her skin. "Remember what you told me back then when you were still mad at me? You were right about one thing. I'd really love to sink my teeth into your neck as I fuck you."

Ava found herself on the verge of another panic attack. She could barely keep it together anymore. The silver dagger he gave her was out of reach, hidden inside her pocket. There was no way out.

"I... I'm feeling unwell." She bit her tongue, trying to withhold herself from screaming.

"Oh... If it's something you are not into we don't have to go through with it." He loosened his grip on her, backing away.

"No, it's not that... I just need to lay down for a little while. I'm sorry." She scurried away, leaving the living room without further explanation. How long could she keep this up? Every second he was around her filled her with unease. She had to get out of here as soon as possible, at least he couldn't follow her while the sun was up. But then what? End up lost in the forest again? The forest he spent long enough time to know his way around in?

The situation seemed hopeless. She laid on the bed, pulled out the knife from her pocket and hid it under the blankets upon hearing his footsteps. This time without hesitation about whether or not to use it.