The world is a mess, how could it not be, just a few years earlier everything we knew and loved had been utterly destroyed. The cataclysm. Buildings levelled, crumbled, it was as if they had never been there. I was lucky enough to live in Old Dawn, the only place not destroyed by… well, no one’s even sure what destroyed everything, all we know is that the destruction was global, heck we can’t really be sure of that either can we? You can’t even get phone reception anymore. This is pretty much how I would imagine an apocalypse, minus the zombies, I’m quite happy that there are no zombies. The weirdest thing is still how Old Dawn was not destroyed at all, it’s perfectly the way it was. Survivors, if any, are coming here from everywhere, Dawn got crowded very fast. 

Up until a moment six months ago, my life had been a series of bad decisions, heck, that moment itself was one of those bad decisions. I went with the wrong crowd, looting, stealing, getting way too drunk, fooling around with just about anybody.

That night I just wanted to have some fun. He was beautiful, long blonde hair that flowed perfectly as he moved, his ice blue eyes piercing deep into my very being. Most importantly, he was fun, or so I thought. His kisses were as deep as his gaze. This is the moment I realise it was a bad decision to go with this guy. His firm grip held me down as his fangs buried deep into my neck, a steady stream of blood flowing into him. I was frozen. He took his time, slowly draining whatever life was left in me. Unable to move, I felt myself stuck in between a moment of ecstasy and agony. My heart beat slowed down, my breathing shallow. I was on the threshold of death, it welcomed me in, calling my name. I would have taken its hand if not for the blood calling me back. Violently. Abruptly. My mouth was full of blood, it called out to me, forcing its way inside me. All I could see was red. Red blood. Gushing. Slithering. Like a snake. Devouring me, devouring everything I was, devouring everything that made me human. My body felt like it was tearing itself apart, tearing the human apart, to make way for the vampire. Yes, that’s what it was. That’s what he was. Vampire. I didn’t realise until it was too late. I don’t remember if I cried, it all feels like a fever dream that was not even mine. Distant. Unreal. 

This beautiful, elegant, graceful man had turned into a fanged monster that devoured whatever made you human. Now I was a monster too. I could feel it. Thirst. Blood. All I saw was red. He still held me down, my breathing was rapid, my heart beat fast, faster, I felt like my heart would explode. Everything hurt, agony. Everything was red. Until in a split second, everything slowed down again. My heart beat was loud, but slow. I could hear his heart beat too, it was a perfect rhythm, like our hearts were beating in sync. My breath felt heavy, yet light. I breathed easily, deeper than I ever had. Thirsty. Blood. I wanted it, the red stuff. I could feel my throat aching, itching. All abruptly overshadowed by the mind numbing pain in my mouth. Fangs forcing their way though. Sharp, thin, like they could slice through anything. I wanted to sink them into his flesh, have more of his blood, I could still taste it in my mouth. He finally let me go, his gaze still holding mine. 

“You ought to thank me. Your life will be better as a vampire. This world is meaningless as it is, perhaps it will be less meaningless like this? I don’t know anymore, all I can do is rebuild what was.” He remarked with an unserious tone in his voice. I watched him intently as he stood, putting his clothes back, slowly buttoning his crisp white shirt. He looked as if the world had never changed at all, an apparition of the past that had been so utterly destroyed.  

“What did you do to me?” I asked as I tried to move my limbs to sit upright. He gazed at me with his piercing eyes again. I wanted to sink my fangs into his neck so badly, his heart beating louder and louder like a drum. 

“I turned your sorry human existence into that of a vampire. You might ask why? Maybe it was on a whim. Maybe I need someone to focus my energy on. Maybe I just don’t care anymore.” The words he spoke were soft and gentle, yet I could feel the lingering sorrow I tasted in his blood just now. My fangs ached, it felt like agony all over again. What did he even say just now? I couldn’t focus. 

“So, when do I get to drink blood again?” I asked way too eagerly, like a puppy waiting for food. He laughed, his teeth glistening in the light of the lamp as his mouth opened wide. 

“Anytime you want. I don’t care enough to hold you back right now.” He was still laughing. I watched, bewildered. I just wanted blood. He paused and gazed at me again, his smile faded as his face became very serious. His luscious pink lips parted as he spoke. “On second thought. Come back with me to my family house. My butler will set you up. Wouldn’t want you killing someone now, would we?” I could only focus on his lips, I wanted to kiss them again. 

“You’re not even listening anymore are you?” He asked me with a tone of annoyance. Yes. He was right. I don’t actually remember much of what he said that night. I’m making some of it up, it sounds like something he would say.