Hungry For Love

Kayla was the love of my life. No other woman on Earth could compare to her, or the way she made me feel when I was with her. With Kayla by my side, I felt unstoppable, I felt higher than cloud nine, like I could just reach up and my fingers would skim the stars in the night sky. I wanted to grab those stars, every last twinkling light up there, and give it all to her, for it was the only way I could imagine expressing my love to its fullest extent.

I kept these feeling a secret, however. We were just friends who had known each other since birth. As much as I wanted to be with her, I could never bring myself to confess my feelings. I didn't want to risk the perfect friendship we had.

That's why I almost fainted when she asked me out a few days before Valentine's day. I'll never forget the sincerity in her words, the softness of her voice as she uttered her confession, and her innocent expression of nervousness as she awaited my response. A flood for thoughts burst the dam of my mind, and I stood dumbfounded for several moments.

And then, without thinking, we kissed. We kissed for a long time, holding each other tightly, both of us afraid to let go, instead wanting to enjoy the moment for as long as it lasted.

Later that night, I found myself waiting by the lake, anxiously tapping my foot on the concrete as I waited for Kayla to arrive. My head was still spinning from her confession, and from our kiss. Part of me couldn't believe it even happened.

Nonetheless, I saw her from a distance, her small frame made wider by a large fur coat. As she strode closer, I could make out her face in the darkening night.

It was the sweetest thing, hearing her say my name in her feathery voice. She looked absolutely angelic, with lips that were asking to be kissed, eyes that shone with innocence, a smile that could make anyone's heart melt.

We took off onto a nearby hiking path, giggling in the midst of our small talk, every so often bumping elbows, only to look at each other and laugh for no reason other than that we could. I held her close whenever she felt spooked, and let her cling to me tightly for warmth.

Finally, we came to a small clearing with a few benches in the middle. We were fatigued by all the walking, and though it was best to stop and huddle for warmth. She wrapped herself up in my coat with me, and snuggled close to my chest for a long while.

But the mood changed when she began giggling. This wasn't her normal laugh, which was gentle and soft. This was a mischievous laugh, one that felt very out of character for her, and one that made me nervous.

And then the knife came. It sank deep into my stomach, the sharp metal slicing through flesh and guts as she pushed it further in. I felt blood pool in my gut, and a stick warmth spread through the cloth of my shirt.

I looked down to see Kayla's eyes staring into mine, a twisted grin that stretched from ear to ear spread wide across her face. Her giggling never ceased.

Suddenly, she lunged forward, and I felt a sharp pain as her teeth tore into my throat. Blood spilled from the wound, streaking down my neck as she slurped up what she could, only to bite deeper the next time.

Her arm, which was wrapped around my back, raked with razor sharp claws down my spine, slicing deep and scraping the bones underneath, the feel of which made my brain turn to fuzz.

It all happened so fast. I didn't scream at all because I had no time to scream. I only watched in terror as the love of my life tore into my throat with razor sharp teeth, ferociously gnawing like a savage beast.

When she was done, Kayla let my body slump to the ground, and she stood over me with a blood-soaked grin. I gasped for air as blood poured from my neck.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "I hope you can forgive me, but now we can be together forever! Just you and I, undying, bound for eternity by our love!"

She leaned in real close, close enough that I could smell the sweet scent of her cherry blossom perfume.

"Doesn't that sound nice?"

I feel . . . sluggish. I struggle to sit up, my joints seemingly frozen in place by the cold. I instinctively raise my hand to my throat. It's all . . . fine? Not a scratch to be felt, nor a single drop of blood. I feel my back. Nothing. I lift my shirt. Not a single stab wound.

My tongue feels something odd in my mouth. Something sharp, something that won't move. My tooth, now a sharp fang.

"What the fuck happened?"

"Babe!" That voice. Kayla's voice!

She comes rushing from the woods, her face lit up with joy.

"Oh babe, it worked!" she yells as she jumps into my arms.

"W-what worked? What are you talking about?"

"I bit you," she says. "And now you're a vampire too! And now we can be together forever!" She still has that soft smile on her face. The smile that could melt the hearts of a thousand men. "Isn't that great!"

And I smile back. After all, this is kinda what I wanted.

"Yeah," I say. "It sounds wonderful."