I stopped, skidding to a halt. Not because I wanted to or because I had nowhere to run, but because he was there. He did not move at first, in fact even if he did move I probably wouldn’t have noticed him, no one would. He was clothed from tip to toe in black and his face hidden in the hood that hung loosely over his head. Why did I notice him?

I paused my thoughts, realising this was not the time to be pondering why I stopped, or who this guy was. I was in trouble and I needed to get away. Of all the places to attack, and of all the people to chase, it just had to be me. I could hear the footsteps pounding on the concrete some distance behind me, their voices gruffly calling to each other, each one seeking me out. One voice, too close for comfort echoed out behind me.

“Maybe the punk went down the alley”

I turned to face the sound, then turned back, my legs slowly moving again, my mind screaming ‘ignore the guy’. But this time he was in front of me, his eyes fixed on me, then on the man that was obviously coming down the alley. I stared at him in wonder. I had never seen such beautiful eyes. Deep, dark, clear… red.

He grinned, his teeth exposed for a brief moment, before he vanished again. Soon accompanied by an uncomfortable ripping sound, a yell, and a thud. Silence hung around me for a moment as I slowly turned around to see the young man with the crimson eyes staring at me again, his tongue carefully cleaning this hand.

Red.

Something about him was different, dangerous yet faintly desirable. ‘If I was as strong as him… If I was as quick as him… If I… was him…’ my mind danced with the possibilities, processing them, analysing them…

‘But what was he?’ A single voice rang out in my head.

“What are you?” I echoed, I could not answer it so maybe he could.

“Strange question” He smirked, his eyes taking in every aspect of my body. My young 17-year-old male body, already beaten a few times by the loan sharks. “Usually someone asks ‘who are you?’” He stepped towards me, his eyes showing interest. He came close, maybe too close. He was tall, a lot taller than I was. Danger seemed to hang around him like a spider web but somehow he mystified me, like a child discovering the world. He leant forward and gently whispered in my ear, his breath tickling me, his voice smooth like thick caramel.

Vampire.

‘If I… was him…’

He smirked again. “If you were me?” he questioned. My eyes widening with horror, could he hear me?

His soft chuckle answered my unasked question. His one hand grabbed my shoulder, his grip tight. I thought I heard him whisper ‘close your eyes’ but a shrill sound, so loud and high pitched crashed into my ears, shaking every bone of my body, draining me of all energy. The second he let go, I fell.

Red.

‘Was the darkness always red?’ I wondered as I examined the world around me. Silent, empty… red. I knew it was supposed to be dark, I knew it was supposed to be black, but why was red all I could see?

I opened my eyes properly, as wide as they could go and found myself facing the sky. I sat up slowly, noticing that I was in fact in the city’s central park. He was sitting next to me. A shadow amongst shadows. He noticed I was awake.

“What was that about then Jason?” I jumped in surprise at how he knew my name. However, my head hurt too much to enquire.

“Stupid Father” I mumbled, it was his stupid gambling problem that got me into this mess. Next thing I knew, the sharks were after me to force him to pay up. I looked into his eyes again. Understanding hovered behind them and knew he heard the story.

“So you’re alone in the world?” he asked, his eyes drifting up to the sky above us, destroyed by the light of the city. I thought about his question, for it was a strange one. I guess I was alone; no way could I go back to my normal life now. Thanks Dad.

He smiled again, turning to me in the process. I noticed then he was not a man, he was around my age, young, strong… inhuman but still quite beautiful. “I’ve been looking for a friend.” I wondered what he meant.

He moved forwards slowly, as if not trying to startle an animal, his actions were slow, or was that just me? His mouth was by my ear again, whispering words that did not digest in time as I felt a pain in my neck.

This might hurt.

There was a brief moment where my vision was strange, different, slightly blurred. I felt like falling yet I was soaring at the same time. Days seemed to pass as I stared into space, his fangs still in my neck. Warmth spread through me but the moment he let go, licking his lips, my body became ice.

Red.

His fangs sunk into his wrist as he drew his own blood, and soon his wrist was in my mouth, the liquid spilling into my mouth. Warm, full, tasty, like a rich liquor scented with a deep smell and a rich flavour.

I focused on the ground. My vision was different, sharper, stronger, a kaleidoscope of colours I had never seen before which left me at a loss of words to describe. I raised my eyes to meet his crimson ones. His body monochrome, almost overpowered by the vividness of his colourful surroundings, but his eyes stood out.

His eyes that stared back into my deep red ones.

“Friend, will you come with me?”

And I gladly followed.