Page 20

We sit in brooding silence for several blocks, grappling with violated trust. I know Emily replays the fragments she recalls, searching for clues. For my part, I cannot stop pondering the mystery man's identity and motives. He saw something in me worth protecting—but what? Just thinking about him invites more questions than answers.

As if reading my thoughts, Emily finally breaks the tense quiet. "You really can't remember anything about the guy who rescued you? Could be dangerous if he's obsessed with you now."

I hesitate, debating how much to reveal about my cryptic savior. "It's hazy," I hedge. "He was huge, that's all I really know. Said I should be more careful." Even I hear the evasiveness in my voice.

Emily side-eyes me skeptically. "Come on, there's got to be more!"

I shift uncomfortably. "Let's just focus on ourselves for today," I say gently, hoping to redirect her intensity. "We'll figure everything out in time."

My thoughts churn as I picture him again—tall and leanly muscular, his intense gaze that seemed to see right through me. Just the memory of his presence makes my stomach flutter uneasily. I don't understand my reaction...I feel an inexplicable draw when I let my mind linger on his blurred features—a tense, humming energy awakened by his proximity that night.

My instincts nag at me with a feeling I can't quite place—like a whisper I strain to hear but cannot decipher.

Who are you, stranger?

Emily reluctantly subsides, though her furrowed brow makes clear she's unconvinced. For now, discretion feels safest.

"Let's watch something steamy!" Emily offers. "Vampire Memoirs?"

They're hotter than a jalapeño pepper on a summer's day. I smirk and nod eagerly—our go-to indulgence when life gets thorny. "Trading real vamps for fictional ones," I joke.

While the popcorn pops, Emily grabs blankets, excited for a carefree girls' night. As I hit play, we snuggle on the couch, ready to lose ourselves in absurd fiction. The melodrama never gets old! Their smoldering allure provides the perfect escape from our current stressors.

Glancing at Em, I'm comforted to see her smiling again. This reprieve lets us enjoy fantasy and forget harsh realities, even briefly. It feels almost normal again.

Four episodes breeze by between laughter and inside jokes. The pizza arriving breaks our vampire reverie temporarily. We eagerly devour the hot slices, stomachs reminding us it's been an age since that diner breakfast.

With the pizza demolished, Emily sighs reluctantly, needing to head home and rest before tomorrow's responsibilities. I nod in agreement, also having an early morning.

After a long, regenerative shower, I emerge feeling renewed.

The unmade bed beckons. Sliding between smooth sheets, I breathe deeply, centering restless thoughts. Recounting the strange events since last night, I'm struck by how profoundly life can change in twenty-four hours. New questions and connections now occupy my consciousness.

But exhaustion weighs heavy, postponing further contemplation. My imagination conjures intriguing visions of my mysterious rescuer as my eyelids grow heavy. Fantasy bleeds into reality as I surrender to sleep. Scalding hands caress my fevered skin as phantom lips burn a searing trail down my neck. My dream lover's smoldering presence envelops me. Safe in his strong embrace, I drift into peaceful oblivion.

Danica

16

The lab thrums with activity, machines beeping as I examine an intriguing new sample. My instincts tingle strangely—because I know this DNA holds unique secrets.

I load the vial into the centrifuge, listening to its hypnotic whir. What answers lie hidden in its double helix? Excitement quickens my pulse.

"Any breakthroughs on those samples, Danica?" Dr. Hayes asks over the din.

I sigh, rubbing weary eyes. "The sequences are anomalous, not fully human nor vampire. It's an unidentified hybrid."

"Keep pursuing it," he urges. "We need answers soon."

The weight of expectation is upon me. But it only stokes my ambition higher. My thoughts drift, pondering this mystery bloodline, its story untold. Not like a typical vampire genome at all! I repress a reflexive shudder. No time for idle daydreams—I have a DNA enigma to unravel.

"You've been at this for hours, Dani," Sarah gently interjects. "Take a break?"

I smile tightly, not looking up from my notes. "I'm fine, thanks. Need to keep pushing."

Sarah frowns. "At least eat something? You look drained." She squeezes my shoulder before turning to leave.

As time slips away, frustration mounts. No closer to a breakthrough despite ceaseless analysis. My brain is fried, and my body is aching from standing motionless at the bench. As colleagues clock out, I remain determined.