As I was walking through the hallways of the school, all five senses were muted, numbed, to the point where I couldn't distinguish any conversation, any sound, or thought. My entire body was numb and I felt dead. My best friend was taken away from me too soon. I couldn't hear my own thoughts; all I could hear was her laughter, her awkward snorts and giggles, ringing in my head. Due to the violent act, school was cancelled for the rest of the day. However, I couldn't bring myself to leave, to leave her. 

I took a step back from the crime scene to clear my head, to cry, and to escape. Who would want her dead? And who would kill her in such a savage manner? These thoughts ran through my mind as I ran into my second period chemistry class to hide and cry some more. The sense of time slowed down while I felt the whole world collapse around me. I wasn't the same anymore and I would never be. 

Soon, I sat in silence with my own thoughts, at first innocent and confused, until they molded into something entirely different, dangerous. The thoughts grew violent as the voice demanded blood and revenge. At that point, I felt too numb, tired, and confused to argue against it. This voice took over my thoughts as it continued to persuade me to find the killer to seek my revenge. Suddenly, the voice became my own and I soon realized it was never a separate entity but my own voice. This shocked me as I thought I was never capable of such ideas. As if confirmation of my thoughts, I soon found myself reaching for the teacher's cutting knife for her lunch. Then, I began to trek through the school in search of my friend’s murderer. Somehow I knew he was here because I could sense his blood.

My thoughts were no longer in English but in another speech that I could not decipher but only understand. I didn’t know what it was but I was too consumed with revenge to care.

Not long after I found the knife, I felt the vibrations of something moving within the school gym. I followed my instincts to go inside the building. I stalked towards the gym very slowly and I checked my surroundings. I could feel the beast within me trying to be free of the cage I had built around it. I grabbed the knife closely to my body ready to use it as a weapon.

Again I felt a vibration coming from the basketball courts. I headed there with no trouble whatsoever. Soon enough, I felt another vibration from right behind me. I turned around to find a masked figure with a red mask that reeked of blood. His cloak had symbols that made no sense. They looked more like images rather than words. He looked back at me and opened his arms in an attempt to grab me.

I dodged his flailing arms and I tried to back away from him. As soon as I got a good distance away from him, I took in the sight of his appearance. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, which showed his six pack, and he was wearing a belt which was designed with black skulls. His hands were curved and he had long, sharp nails. His presence was dark and raw. To be honest, he looked more like a bat than a human being.

Remembering that I had a knife in my hand I charged at him with the bloodlust that was consuming my soul. I was aiming for his stomach but the man in front of me detected my approach and grabbed the knife out of my hand and then threw me to the other side of the gymnasium. I landed with a thud since the wall was hard and I could feel my blood falling from my arm and my head. Nonetheless I stood up and attempted to make my way across the gym. I could barely stand up straight.

I felt the surge of power within me, boiling my blood and making my heart pound fast. The man was striding over towards me with the knife in hand. Knowing him, I knew he would do the same as he did to Liv. I had to walk away but my feet refused to budge. And something within my darkest corner of my soul wanted to have blood. As if on impulse, I thrust my hands in front of my face and let whatever was inside of me out. The beast acted on command.

There was a light that was escaping from my hands which was stressful because I only let a portion of my monster to come out. I refused to let it shine completely.

The man was thrown back to the bleachers that were set up in the gym. When he landed, I thrust a little more of my soul out at him because he had killed my friend, one of my only friends. I needed him dead. It was the least I could do for myself and for Liv’s parents.

Part of me was scared at the thought of killing someone but more than half of my conscience was telling me in the ancient language to kill. To feed.

I stopped the flow of power to see what it had done to the man. As soon as I dropped my hands I felt the need to throw up. The man in front of me was dead with his head detached from his body and his heart thrown across the floor of the gym.

I had done that. Not him. Me. I had killed another person for blood.