Silence.

Alone in a dark room a figure lay under thin, fraying sheets that did nothing to protect against the winter air that flowed freely through the cracked windows. Surrounded by empty glass bottles that in the day would transform golden sunlight to rainbows that danced over the walls. Instead, in the moonlight they created distorted shadows that reached disfigured up the walls.

In the cramped mid-city apartment, the figure turned slowly before she finally rose from her slumber. At an almost supernatural speed, she dressed in an old, baggy hoodie; patchworked with repairs. That she paired with an equally worn pair of joggers. Before heading out she packed a small bag and discreetly lifted the blinds.

Her face fell after she saw the usually empty street where crime thrived; to be littered with black vehicles each one teeming with malice. People crowded close to distribute weapons and whisper plans. The metal monsters stood still stalking their prey. The pistols and shotguns (and so many more devices made to kill) corrupted the crowd with the promise of power that slowly corroded their restraint.

Once she had snapped from her trance, Katelin cowered away from the window and quietly crept to the fire escape. She kept low as she made her way across the platform. Below her was a narrow alley that was so far down her head spun when she looked. She took a deep breath in to calm her nerves. 3...2...1...She jumped.

While in the air, she watched as her hot breath turned to mist, the droplets gathered light from the street lamps and the moon. Each drop was a star. As she landed she rolled to a quiet stop - a technique she mastered with practice. When she was younger it took her what felt like years to build the courage to jump between rooftops. And when she would her "landings" would be her falling to the ground in a tangled mess of limbs. Since she had gained experience and was as skilled as the small black cat that had appeared in front of her. 

"Trixie!" She cried out and beamed.

Trixie moved expectantly towards their normal spot and sat regally her neat fur shone in the bright moonlight. Katelin produced two containers from her bag: a tin of cat food and a bottle filled with a thick dark liquid. Katelin peeled off the lid of the cat food, placing it in front of Tixie who had patiently waited for her to sit before she started to eat. The smell of iron and fish mixed in the icy breeze. They dined together, and revelled in their joint isolation. As they fed, the unrelenting noise of the city faded.

 Once they had finished their meal  Trixie moved closer rubbing against Katelins pale leg, demanding attention. Katelin willingly obliged and showered the feline with affection in the form of strokes, scratches and kisses. They quickly moved on to chasing each other over the rooftops after Katelin had found a string on one of the rooftops. As they ran and played their laughs, purrs and meows filled the rooftops with joy in the moonlight. She used to have human friends but she quickly learnt her lesson so separate herself from others for everyone's safety.

 As they moved onto a new rooftop they grew more alert, something was different. Trixie's ears perked up and tail went stiff. Katelin made her way to the edge of the roof and listened. Below she heard the same voices that were echoing from outside her flat. Katelin's brain went into overdrive planning her escape but it was too late as voices closed in from all directions. 

The moon retreated behind thick clouds that caused the rooftop to plunge into near darkness. The rooftop was made of concrete and had a singular wooden door that led down into an apartment building. From the door footsteps were growing gradually louder. A thin mist rolled over the city and filled the air with moisture that revealed flashlight beams that originated from far below. As the steps grew louder Katelin scooped Trixie into a protective embrace to prepare for what was coming. CRASH!

The door flew off its hinges and men came flooding through the door soon surrounding the perimeter of the roof. The dark figures had their weapons trained on her; their eyes filled with disgust and fear.

Katelin collected the courage to speak and meekly stuttered, "Ppp-please l-leave us-s al-lone. I dd-don't wanna hurt-t you."

The men continued regardless and one man seperated himself from the mob drunk with power he yelled, "Aww isn't that cute the poor wittle vampire doesn't want us to get huwrt."

He then sneered, "As if you could ever hurt us. This is nowhere near a fair fight we're guaranteed to win."

His speech drew a few jeers from the mob. They then raised their weapons once more and started to shoot.

Some bullets ricocheted off the concrete, others tore through her with ease. Pain spread through her which contorted her face and burnt her veins. The boom of the gunshots made her ears ring. She collapsed close to losing consciousness and the attacks relented.

Slowly, the pain dulled and her senses sharpened. Her body started to repair itself. She looked down and tears filled her eyes as she saw Trixie unmoving. Her eyes had lost all their former playfulness and were dull. Katelin clenched her fists and her vision turned blood red.

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The clouds had moved and revealed a scarlet blood moon. It showered the horrific scene with a crimson light. Katlin lay wrapped around Trixie's lifeless body, her face and body smeared with thick red blood that had started to slowly dry to an earthy brown.The dried blood flaked off her skin.

Around her lay writhing bodies on top of red pools staining the concrete. The men were covered in puncture wounds from her sharp fangs. Other bodies were still: frozen in time, face stuck in a look of agony. Their eyes grey and unblinking. Katlin woke and the memories flooded back, regretful tears flowed down her face.

She moved at a break-neck speed to a lonely park at the edge of the city. The park was small with a few trees - just enough to hide the city from sight. This was where she was alone when a small kitten appeared and shared a meal with her. The kitten then followed her home and demanded care and attention. That kitten soon got a name. It was Trixie. The memories were enough to reignite her rage and turned her tears to ones of frustration. She dug shallow graves and buried the dead as she prayed they would find peace unlike her.

She returned to the roof after she fetched her first aid kit from her apartment. She used one of their phones to call an ambulance and used her basic first aid knowledge to stop them bleeding. The mist turned to rain and her hoodie started to weigh her down. the stench of iron filled blood was heavy in the air  and infiltrated her lungs with its metallic odour. The sound of tires screeching and sirens woke her from her trance.

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As the scene was illuminated with red and blue flashes she disappeared into the night. Running across rooftops with her hood up and head hung low she approached her apartment. Alone. Her drenched hoodie  stuck to her skin and restricted her movement. The ice water assaulted her with each hit and mixed with the blood that left pink pools behind after each step which proved her guilt. Once, at home she had a shower, the water scalding hot. The boiling water burnt her pale skin.  After, her skin was raw from her attempts to remove the blood and guilt. She dried off then layed in bed in her cramped apartment.

Silence.