Page 1 of Vampire Bite

Chapter One

Annika

Ijolted awake, heart pounding in my chest. My eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness.

Where am I?

The room was cloaked in shadows, unfamiliar and suffocating. My breath came fast as I sat up, scanning the dim shapes around me. Bare walls, the faintest trace of light filtering through a cracked window. It was nothing I recognized. I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

This isn’t right.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet hitting cold, wooden floors. I noticed a deep gash on my arm. The blood had thickened, leaving a fresh scab. It didn’t hurt, but I figured it would eventually. I didn’t have time to think about that. I had to get out.

The door—it was the first thing I moved toward, my hands shaking as I twisted the handle.

Locked?

I yanked it again, harder this time, but it didn’t give an inch.

Panic twisted in my stomach. I slammed my fists against the door, my breathing fast and frantic. Nothing. No response. I was trapped. My mind raced in an effort to find a way out.

Think, Annika, think.

The window. My eyes darted toward it. It was narrow, but it would have to do. I rushed to it, my fingers slipping as I pried at the edges. The frame was stuck, swollen from time and neglect, but I shoved harder than I ever thought I could.

Come on!

With a loud creak, it finally gave way.

Cold air hit my face like a slap as I climbed out, the rough brick scraping against my palms. I gritted my teeth and lowered myself slowly, the ground seeming further than I thought. There was no time to think, no time to second-guess. I let go, landing with a thud that jarred my bones.

I straightened, as my breath came out in shaky gasps. The street was thick with fog, swirling in the air like it had weight, like it was alive. There was no light, no sun. Just this strange, choking darkness.

I glanced around, my skin crawling. There were people, but something was wrong. They moved fast, brushing past me, but their faces… their faces were blank, hollow. Not a single one looked at me. No one even noticed I was there.

A shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t belong here… wherever here was. Something was horribly wrong. Without another thought, I ran.

I kept running, my legs burning with every step, but I couldn’t stop, although I had no idea where I was heading. The fog wrapped around me, thick and cold, muffling the sound of my feet pounding against the pavement. My breath came in ragged gasps, my chest tight. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I had to get away from whatever this place was.

Then, a sudden movement caught my eye. A man was standing at the corner, his face hidden in the shadows. He pointed at me, his deathly white finger stiff and deliberate. My heart stopped for a second, but then I saw them, these cloaked figures emerging from the fog, their faces obscured beneath heavy hoods.

That was when they started running.

I felt a surge of panic, cold and sharp, like ice in my veins.

They’re coming for me.

I spun on my heel and bolted in the opposite direction, my pulse roaring in my ears. I didn’t dare look back. All I could hear were their footsteps, too many of them, as they were gaining on me.

The street twisted and turned, alleyways and side roads blurring past as I sprinted, my breath burning in my throat. The fog seemed to thicken, clinging to me like something alive, slowing me down. My legs screamed for me to stop, but the fear pushing me forward was stronger than the pain.

Ahead, the road forked. Left or right? There was no time to think. I veered left, my feet skidding on the slick pavement as I rounded the corner. The sound of their pursuit grew louder, closer. Too close.

I darted into a narrow alley, my lungs on fire, the shadows swallowing me whole. Pressing myself against the cold brick wall, I gasped for breath, straining to hear the footsteps chasing me. They thundered past the alley’s mouth, but they didn’t stop. I let out a shaky breath, chest heaving, but the fear still gripped me.

That was when I saw him.

At first, I thought it was a pile of rags, slumped against the far wall. But as my eyes adjusted, I realized it was a man. His clothes were torn, his body broken and covered in blood. His face was pale, deathly pale, his chest barely rising with shallow breaths.

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