The sky was dark and gloomy. The wind was blowing again, harder this time. The curtains were flapping hard by the strong wind. Even so, Melanie had not budge an inch from her seat, her hand still holding the tea cup on the table and her eyes stared at the space blankly. She thinks a lot ever since that day. 

 

It has been five years now. Melanie lives alone in a small cottage in a town quite far from the town where she grew up. Her mother died of an illness when she was a baby. Ever since, her father took a good care of her. She did not go to the academy like other kids do but she never cared. For her, getting to live happily together with her father is beyond everything. Her father would bring her out, like going to the market, helping him at the farm, or taking a walk around the town. 

 

Until one day, he changed drastically and his new behaviour lasted for almost a year before he was gone for good. He became quieter and never brings her out anymore. He would become colder at times but Melanie’s love for her father was never gone. She knew there must be a solid reason for him to act that way. One night, her father hasn’t come home yet which worries her so much because he usually came home before dusk. So she went out to the farm looking for him but unexpectedly, she found him dying in the warehouse. 

 

“Dad! Dad what happened?!”

 

“Annie darling… my sweet daughter… I’m sorry I couldn’t be... a good father... I failed to raise you properly... I failed to send you to the academy... I failed to provide you a nice home... I-“

 

“No, Dad! No! I don’t care about all that. Being together with you is enough for me... Please don’t leave me… I don’t have anyone else…” Melanie said between sobs.

 

Her father stroked her hair softly and said, “I’m sorry for putting you into all this but listen to me. You can’t live here anymore. Before sunrise, you must leave this town.” He coughed before continuing, “go to somewhere far, and never tell anyone where you’re going. ‘They’ must not find you. Just promise me that you’ll leave immediately okay?”

 

She was surprised to hear her father’s message and was quiet for a second. Just as she wanted to ask, he spoke.

 

“Don’t say anything. Just promise me.” He reached for her hand and held it tight, tighter when he said the word ‘promise’.

 

She hesitated at first but realising there’s not much time left, she nodded and answered, “alright, Dad. I promise”.

 

Second later, his body went cold and blue. Melanie cried her heart out and screamed. . Luckily the farm was located quite remorse from the town, so it was impossible for anyone to hear. The death of her father remained a mystery and leaves a deep scar inside her heart. The memories they had together were kept dearly inside her heart and mind. 

 

Who are ‘they’? Who are must not find me? Why? She never understands it all even till now. After all, she was just an innocent twelve-year-old little girl. 

 

BANG!! The windows were shut forcefully by the strong wind and made a loud bang.

 

Melanie was startled and became aware of her surroundings again. She got up, untied the curtains and locked the windows properly. Then she lighted up the lantern on the table. The dim light illuminates the four corners of the small cottage. The tea she had made earlier was now cold. Just as she wanted to take another sip, the wind blew hard again. The door and windows seems like they would detach anytime. She shook her head and finished the tea in one gulp. 

 

The weather on that day was worse than ever. Even though there are windy season in every year, it was never as bad as that day. She started to feel bad about it. She feared if the thing she feared the most is going to happen. She feared if ‘they’ are already there trying to capture her. She never knew the reason of ‘they’ must not find her or who they are, but she knew it must mean something bad. Dad was trying to protect me from them, but why and who are ‘they’? 

 

When she was washing the cup at the sink, she was startled to hear a knock on the door. She immediately turned to face the door and waited for a moment if whoever was knocking is going to knock again. Instead, nothing happened. So she continued to keep herself busy. Maybe that was only the wind, she thought. Not long after, the knocking was heard again. She turned to the front door again and thought, ‘who would be coming at this situation?’ Her heart was beating faster as she stepped slowly towards the door. 

 

When she opened the door, she saw no one except the darker sky and the dark woods yards ahead. It was only half past three but the sky was like dusk. She had a bad feeling but chose to pull herself together and took a few steps ahead. She looked to her left and right but saw no one. Just as she wanted to get back inside she was suddenly pulled harshly from the back. She wanted to scream but those hands covered her mouth first. She tried to fight back but to no avail because those hands were muscular and too strong for her. 

 

“Finally, we got her.” She heard voices coming from behind and was followed by evil laughs. “We are going to take you to the Boss,” he continued.

 

Were these men are ‘they’ that Dad meant?

 

“Let me go!!” She tried to release herself but the man lifted her on his shoulder and later they are inside a wooden carriage pulled by two horses.

 

In a blink of eye, her hands and legs were tied and her mouth was covered with a piece of cloth. There were three men altogether; one big bald guy and the other two were thinner than him, one shoulder-length blond, another spiky read headed who sat at the front. Based on the strength, she assumed that the big guy was the one who caught her. The carriage seat were covered with straw, the space was small and smelled of sweat and fish. Melanie wanted to cover her nose as well but couldn’t. So she just breathed slowly, did not want to inhale the nauseous smell. Everything was really horrible except that there were two white clothes worked as drapes at both sides of it. 

 

During the journey, she tried a few times to break free but failed. The blond haired man came closer to her face and said, “Be a good girl if you don’t want to regret.” 

 

He placed his palm on her thigh which was covered by her loose nightgown. The fabric was as soft as her skin. She then realised that she was wearing a knee-length pale blue nightgown, and that was really not good. 

 

She shifted and jerked her legs away from the man and then he laughed.

 

“Shut up! You are not pretending to forget the Boss’s order are you?” The big guy interrupted. 

 

“Ha ha! I was just teasing. If it was not because of the Boss’s warning, I would have got her.” 

 

Not long after, the carriage stopped, her legs untied and they all got out. A huge and magnificent triple-storey mansion stood before her eyes. The mansion was very beautiful; the walls were painted with beige and the rooftop was dark brown. She could tell that it was newly painted because there were no defects on the walls, no fading and no signs of moss or whatsoever. ‘How can such a beautiful house owned by a bad guy with these thugs?’ She thought and then shook her head. She continued to admire the beautiful building before something caught her sight. 

 

There was a golden emblem with the shape of a lion engraved on the gate. It seemed to ring a bell in her head. ‘Hey wait, I recognise this emblem.’ She frowned and remembered that it was the same emblem of the Mayor in the town she grew up. When she was younger, the town’s Mayor died and not long after that, there came a new Mayor. She knew the emblem was his because she used to see it everywhere on the street and the emblem was on the flag at the flag posts. 

 

The gate opened. A middle-aged man in black suit greeted and ushered them in. She wanted to escape but the big bald guy was holding her. The interior of the house was also very beautiful. She had never seen something like it and she still thinks that it’s a waste that such a beautiful house is owned by a bad guy. She couldn’t remember much about the Mayor but she believed there’s something not right with him. If he was a good guy, she would have not been brought there harshly by the thugs. She was brought inside by the blond-haired and the big bald guy. They walked her through the hallway, up the staircase, through another hallway and finally reached a bedroom at the end of it. The middle-aged man opened the door and leave. The two men worked to put her on the bed. Melanie kicked them and tried to release herself but he was quick to catch her foot and tied it to the bed. Soon, all her wrists and ankles were tied to the bed. 

 

The blond-haired leaned smirked to her and said, “You’re done.” 

 

Then he leaned closer. Melanie screamed and stirred to get rid of the man but it didn’t work. One of his hands worked his way up to her thigh, pushing up her nightgown till her mid-thigh was exposed. 

 

Just as his another hand wanted to reach her body, the big guy interrupted. “Leave her alone. Our job is done. Have you forgotten what the Boss said?”

 

“Ah, you keep nagging about it. What’s the big deal? It’s such a waste to let go of such a nice opportunity.” He glanced to her who was screaming behind the piece of cloth that was covering her mouth. 

 

“Cut the crap! Have you forgotten what happened to Ringo the last time? Do you want to be like him too? Now let’s go.” He pulled the blond-haired up who sighed, “I don’t understand you. Are you not attracted to young and pretty women?”

 

They locked the door from outside, and the big guy’s voice could still be heard. “She’s unattractive and nothing to my taste.” 

 

Melanie was relieved for a moment and thought. ‘That’s really close. It’s good to know that at least there are bad guy who are not attracted to a girl like me.’ She looked around the room. There were not much things inside the room. The wall was painted with the same colour as the outside. The balcony was on her left but a few steps away and opposite the bedroom door. The bed was placed in the middle of the room. There’s a table with a table fan on it, a chair beside it, and a few pictures of leaves and plants on the wall opposite the bed. It was possible for her to escape since she was all tied to the bed and couldn’t move anywhere. 

 

‘This is really bad, I’m sorry Dad. I couldn’t do as you said. They’ve found me. I should’ve moved farther.’ Melanie shook her hands and legs, trying to get loose but couldn’t. ‘And now I couldn’t go anywhere, I can’t even move, and I’m stuck. I don’t want to be here, I don’t know what they’re up to, I don’t want to know and don’t want to. Dad, help me.’ She was scared and tears began to fill her eyes. Not long after, she fell asleep. 

 

She was awoken by the sound of the squeaking door. The room was dark, but she could see someone was inside. She started to scream but stopped when the light was suddenly turned on and standing before her was an old man. He looked like 50s because he had grey hair and quite bald. 

 

‘Yikes! Is this the Boss?’ Melanie stared at him, feeling gross and disgusted. Then she frowned. ‘I don’t remember the Mayor used to look like this and gross.’

 

He smiled as he stepped nearer. He removed the cloth that covered her mouth and looked at her from head to toe, still with that scary smile. 

 

Then he said, “I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long, for years now.” Then he stepped to the sliding door and continued. “You should’ve come to me a year before, you know? But it seems like Jared had warned you earlier,” The man turned around and looked at Melanie and continued, “or told the truth. If he didn’t you won’t be living in that hut in the woods!”

 

“What do you mean? What truth?” Melanie asked, confused.

 

“He did warn you, did he?”

 

There was a pause. Melanie was quiet for awhile, the moment of her father dying came to her mind and she’s trying to figure out what he was saying. 

 

“I knew it. But I bet you don’t know the whole story. Aren’t you?”

 

She did not answer.

 

“It all started when you father’s farm was destroyed,” he paused before continuing, “By my men. I did it on purpose because I just knew that he had you.” He paused again.

 

“You know that the town folks were all seeking help from me right? Financial issues, running out of rice, grain, foods, or whatever necessities they could not afford, they all came to me. Of course, since I’m the Mayor. So Jared came to me because he couldn’t do anything else anymore. He’d lost his farm, his job and his source of money, but I knew that he still had a daughter. And I would never give without taking something in return. I do that all the time. All the town folks that came to me seeking for help were also giving me something in return. Because that’s just how the life is. That’s what you call ‘give and take’”.

 

She was surprised to hear that. “That’s so mean! They were all seeking for your help because they were helpless but you didn’t help them sincerely? You asked for something in return? What type of a Mayor are you?!” 

 

He laughed. “You’re so naïve. I could just give them what they wanted but that would be so lame and boring. Plus, I see many beautiful and things in this town. And you’re one of it, and you’ve met my expectation.” He smiled, but it made her feel more uncomfortable. Then he continued. 

 

“Jared was desperately asking for money to buy foods and such. So I told him that I will give him an amount of money that will be enough, but he must give me something in return as a sign of gratitude and thanks. And guess what? He said he would give me anything as long as he can feed his family. So I asked for you. I told him to bring his daughter to me when she reached sixteen. And it should be a year before! Am I right?”

 

She was surprised again.

 

“And then yes, he agreed to bring you to me and I gave him the money so that he can feed and take a good care of you so that you’ll grow up healthily and be a beautiful young lady. And finally be mine!” He slammed the table with his fist and startled her. “But he broke his promise! He died and told you to escape from the town. Who did he think I am? Didn’t he know that I, Gabriel am capable of anything!” He stepped closer to the bed and said, “You may be late, but never mind. Even if you’ve tried to run and hide, I can still smell you from afar.” 

 

Melanie screamed and tried to resist but was helpless. He bent down and leaned closer to her, stroking and smelling her hair and just as he was going to do more, there was a loud crash, the sliding door was broken. In a second, he was blown away from her and knocked to the wall beside the door. 

 

A man in black suit was standing with his back to her, and he had big bat wings. He looked at her with a smile and said, “I hope I am not too late, am I?”

 

Both Melanie and Gabriel were surprised then he shouted, “Guards!!!”

 

The winged man shoved his fist to Gabriel. Long and sharp metal like claws came out from his knuckles and pierced the old man’s throat. She could see blood seeped into the metal claws. ‘He’s sucking the blood with that thing!’ Melanie screamed with fear upon witnessing then closed her eyes, did not want to see. A moment later, she opened them back and asked. 

 

“What is going on and who are you?!”

 

The winged man turned to her, “I’m Sam, and I’m here to save you.” With the sharp claws, he cut the ropes and freed her. 

 

 “You have to trust me.” He added.

 

There were the sounds of footsteps rushing coming from the outside, and it gets closer. They both glanced to the door. 

 

“Do you trust me?” 

 

Melanie looked into his blue eyes, saw a glimpse of sincerity and nodded. 

 

Just as the guards barged into the room, Sam carried Melanie in his arms and fled away through the broken glass door and up to the sky. The night sky wasn’t very dark as the moonlight was shining brightly, illuminating the whole town. Even far from above, she could still see the small house where she grew up. Without she realise, a tear rolled down her cheek. The flight suddenly went rough when they had to avoid the attacks from the men. He held her tighter. There were so many people below, and their number seems to increase. Even if Sam kept flying, it seemed impossible to escape. 

 

“This is bad. There are too many of them.”

 

“What are we going to do now?”

 

“We need reinforcement.” Sam grinned and whistled. Then, he brought her to a rooftop and landed. “Melanie, I need to tell you something. This world is no longer safe for a girl like you. You will have to follow us. We’ll be taking you to a safer place. You trust me don’t you?”

 

“Wait, how did you know my name? And what do you meant with ‘we?’” She asked, confused. 

 

“It’s us.” He pointed to a direction and another winged human was seen flying at a distance. “We are the Bloodsuckers. We suck the bloods out of bad people. Our purpose is to vanquish the bad guys and rescuing the helpless people like you. Oh, and I’ve been keeping an eye on you long before you know.” He winked again. 

 

She was quiet then frowned for a while, trying to digest what she’d heard. 

 

“So, you trust me don’t you?” He grinned. 

 

“What else now?”

 

Without warning, Sam pulled her closer, wrapped his arms around her and then suddenly she felt a sting at the side of her neck, right under her jaw line. She gasped. It was hurt at first but then she felt pleasure. Sam’s lips felt so light and warm on her skin and the bite didn’t hurt anymore. Then, he pulled away.

 

“Mmm, your blood tastes sweet.” Sam had the naughty grin on his face again.

 

Melanie was surprised of his actions, “You said you only suck the bad guys’ blood. But then what did you just do?!”

 

Sam did not answer. Out of the blue, something was happening inside her. She levitated in the air by an unknown force. The wind was suddenly blowing and black smoke started to swirl around her. Her pale blue nightgown turned its colour to midnight blue and there were several changes to it. Her flat shoes transformed to a pair of black heeled boots that stretched up to right below her knees. She groaned when big bat wings suddenly grew out from behind her back. 

 

“Perfect. Now you may pass.” He smiled at the sight of new Melanie before his eyes.

 

“Pass what?” Everything was so confusing. 

 

“The border that separates the two worlds. Behind it, there’s another world and that’s where we’re going. But we need to get rid of them first.” Sam looked down to see the men were fighting with another Bloodsucker. 

 

Melanie was quiet and her mind was filled with thoughts. ‘This morning, my life was all normal and not until a day it started to change to a fairy tale. I got kidnapped by the Mayor’s men and when I thought I was going to be done, I was rescued. Winged humans that called themselves Bloodsuckers? There’s another world? Why did I never know all this?’ 

 

“I got to help her. You just go and save your life. They are hunting for you after all. Keep flying to the North. The border should not be too far now.” Then, Sam flew down and got into the fight. 

 

“Hey wait! How do I know what the border looks like?” She shouted but it was useless. Sam had taken flight and now he’s far below. “Like seriously? What is going on with my life? And how do I use this?” She murmured to herself and tried to spin to take a look at her newly features. 

 

Melanie pulled herself together, took a deep breath and jumped from the rooftop.

 

“Aaaaahhhhh…..” She screamed and at the same time learned to fly with her new uncommon features. It was a bit clumsy at first but she was able to control it. She managed to fly smoothly just like how Sam does.

 

 “Hey, I never thought it would be this easy. Woohoo I’m flying!!” Melanie exclaimed happily as she soared up the sky through the clouds. 

 

After what seemed like forever, she saw a glimpse of light shining between the clouds, brighter as she gets closer. She winced but kept flying towards it and it gets dimmer and suddenly she saw a huge castle standing magnificently before her eyes. It was hundred times larger and more beautiful than the Mayor’s mansion. The castle walls were golden as the sunlight was reflecting on it. The castle’s rooftops were crimson red in colour. There were huge and tall towers at the side of the castle. She could see several Bloodsuckers were flying around. 

 

She stopped flying and was utterly amazed to see what she was seeing. The place before her seemed like floorless. There were clouds everywhere, and the clouds aren’t white, they are soft violet and calming. Below, she could see a river of water flowing endlessly between the trees, but the atmosphere over there seems darker and scarier than the place where she was. She could see the trees but she could not see where they were rooted, because the clouds were all covering.

 

Suddenly, she saw a Bloodsucker walked out of the castle’s main door and stood at the middle of the huge balcony. Maybe that is the front yard of the castle. Like an autopilot, Melanie flew towards the castle and landed a few steps away from the Bloodsucker. She was really shocked to see the man who was standing before her.

 

“Dad? Is that you?”

 

The man smiled and stretched his arms widely. She ran to him and they hugged tightly. 

 

“I’ve been waiting for you for so long, Annie darling.” Jared kissed the top of his daughter’s head then her forehead then they stared at each other’s eyes for a few seconds before throwing in each other’s arms again.

 

“Dad, what is happening? What happened? I don’t understand. Everything was happening so quickly.” Melanie started to pour out every question that has been bothering her since then. “And why are you a Bloodsucker too?” She looked up to her father who looked younger and stronger than the last time she remembered. Jared smiled. 

 

“You know, Bloodsucker comes from two types of people. First, people who have died but still have unsettled business with those who still living. In most cases, revenge; it was true that I was dead but I still have unsettled business. I knew that Gabriel was going to find you and hunt you as long as he lives. And I knew that someday, sooner or later, he’ll find you. And he did, right?” Melanie nodded and he continued, “So I need to make sure that you are safe and not going to be at the wrong hands. With that, I was resurrected as a Bloodsucker. But I couldn’t rescue you with my own hands so I asked the help from the two siblings.” He looked to the same direction where she came and she looked to it too. 

 

“Siblings?” Melanie asked. 

 

Sam and a female Bloodsucker came and landed beside them. She must be the other Bloodsucker that were fighting together with Sam and the one who he called ‘reinforcement’.

 

The female Bloodsucker reached out her hand, “I’m Jane, Sam’s twin sister.”

 

“Oh,” Melanie nodded and they shook hands. It makes sense since both of them had the same blue eyes. Then, she turned to Jared again.

 

“What did you mean by you can’t rescue me with your own hands?”

 

“Ordinary human can’t pass the border. In order to make you able to pass, we need to turn you to something other than human.” Jared smiled. “And the other way to turn to a Bloodsucker is to get bitten by one, and the one who bite must not have blood relations to the bitten. Now it all makes sense?”

 

Melanie was quiet and nodded several times. Then, she glanced to Sam who was staring at her with a smile on his face. 

 

“What now?” She asked.

 

“You can choose to live here like Jane and I because we enjoy being the good guy who get rid of the bad guys. Or you can choose to pass another border to the afterlife.”

 

“The afterlife?”

 

“It is the same like we all believed. The Heaven and The Hell are behind it. Your Mom is probably at the other side.” Jared winked. 

 

‘Mom!’ Melanie’s mother had died when she was younger. She barely remembered her face. What she was sure is that her mother was the most beautiful and loveliest woman in the whole universe.

 

“But if you’d love to stay and live here longer, it’s up to you.” He continued.

 

“What about you?” Melanie asked.

 

“I’m with you, darling.”

 

Melanie was quiet for a while before looking up to Sam. Her lips carved a smile at the sight of him. There was suddenly a weird feeling coming into her heart when she looked at him.

 

“Thank you for saving me, Sam.”

 

“You should thank your Dad.”

 

They both gazed into each other’s eyes with their lips smiling.

 

“Well, if you excuse me, I was going to take some fresh air. You can tell me later about your decision.” Jared kissed Melanie’s forehead before taking flight.

 

“Well, I need to go clean myself after such a tiring battle.” Said Jane, She patted Sam on the shoulder and flew away.

 

Both Melanie and Sam giggled.

 

“Now, it’s just the two of us.” Sam said, as he pulled her closer and they kissed softly on the lips. 

 

“Now everything feels so right.” She said and smiled. 

 

They held each other’s hand and take flight, drifting between the clouds and above the sky. 

 

-THE END-