I stared at the vampire addict in the hallway. I sighed. “Great, vampires doing drugs in daylight now.” The most annoying thing was that he had chosen to drink his Dark Blood’s phial exactly in front of my room’s door, of all places.

The condo was half-abandoned and I thought I was the only inhabitant of the floor. There were few Dark Substances addicts in the run-down condo I was living in, but I always had managed to avoid them, so far. They were usually harmless, completely numbed by their addictions. 

“I’m pretty sure I never saw this guy, though” I couldn’t be totally sure, his blond, long hair was hiding his face. 

I contemplated walking around the block until the vampire returned to whatever place he came from. Avoiding people was one of my favorite hobbies, but I couldn’t bear the thought of being alone with my thoughts, and my exciting dinner of brains burgers was waiting for me, making me unexpectedly brave. Or reckless.

I breathed out, hoping that he wouldn’t beg me for money, or worse, and I walked straight towards the door of my room, as quick as a zombie can be. 

-Hey you…- I heard him call me fleebly, but I looked straight ahead, determined to ignore him. I almost passed him when he suddenly grabbed my arm. His grip was firm. 

I startled, panicking. 

-It’s ok, I’m not here to beg for money.- He quickly let my arm go and he lifted his hands in a surrendering gesture. His deep voice was hoarse and tired. -Sorry, I didn’t want to scare you.-

I hesitated, staring down at him. 

“He looks like a middle aged hobo, but a handsome one for sure” Most vampires were good looking, and he wasn’t an exception. “They don’t need to be handsome anymore, though” After the invention of synthetic blood, it  just had become an evolutionary trait inherited from the dark age of human hunting. Most of them ended up as sex workers, and I wondered if this guy was one of them as well. 

“Even if he’s an addict, I wouldn’t mind to…” my shame censored the horny intrusive thought before it even happened. I swore to myself I wouldn’t have been so desperate to sleep with a prostitute. Anyway, real life sex didn’t have so much appeal for me anymore, not when I had a perfectly crafted dinner of fantasy romance themed brains, waiting for me at home. 

His expression was kind but melancholic and the dark circles under his eyes were the same I saw every day when I looked at the mirror. 

Empathy. Sadness. Fear. 

What an odd mix of emotions to feel at that moment.

“No, I’m not looking at a mirror.” I reassured myself. “I will not end up like that… I don’t eat Dark Brains, I have a job, a home. I’m doing fine, no addictions. I love eating normal brains all the time, but that’s totally fine for zombies.”

He interrupted my train of thoughts. -I just want to warn you, before you freak out.-

-Warning me about what?- I asked. 

He nodded towards the door of my room and I suddenly realized that it was slightly open. -I had to force the door.-

It sent shivers down my spine. Was I about to get murdered, robbed or raped?

“Twilight Hobo Dilf shows at your door and you completely throw all the caution out of the window. Congratulations.” Maybe I really became colorblind to red flags even in real life, after all. 

He noticed my discomfort and he opened his arms, smiling friendly. -Don’t worry, I mean no harm. We came in peace.- 

“Is that supposed to be reassuring?!” -We?! Who else is here?-

He stared at me in silence for a few moments, hesitant and suddenly serious, like he was pondering on a decision, or weighing me up, or both. 

Then he took a deep breath. The decision was taken, apparently. -She’s inside, waiting for you.-