Varney
My stomach was in knots as I looked around. We were all huddled together, seated on the grass, while waiting to be addressed. Bright lights were positioned around here and I could see everywhere clearly, but that didn't make me less nervous.
At the other side, some people were gathered, talking quietly amongst themselves. They were definitely the seniors, and the ones behind whatever was going on tonight.
The students were murmuring, wondering what tonight was about when the seniors finally approached us. I was able to instantly single out the leader at one glance.
Aside from him being in the middle, he exuded an aura of confidence and power. He was skinny, and tall, with bright pink hair and a face that was lethal pretty, everyone gasped as he smiled at the crowd.
"Hello everyone, and welcome to our initiation ritual. I am Jamie, president of the students in this dorm." His voice was soft and honeyed, but also firm and smooth.
"Like you're all wondering, what is this ritual about?" He looked around for a moment.
"It's to help everyone loosen up, most importantly. Tonight is a fun one and we're here for just that: fun." He revealed and my stomach tightened even more.
Somehow, I didn't believe that.
"While having fun together, we'd be able to get to know one another, and also create a bond between ourselves, cause now you know we'd be brothers, and brothers always have each other's backs." He explained, grinning at everyone who slowly nodded.
"Now, will all the humans please rise and step forward? You'll be our volunteers for tonight." He clapped his hands and others followed suit.
My legs wobbled as I stood up, my mind reeling as I stepped outside along with the other humans. We seemed to be about twenty in total here and I caught sight of Landon as well, who was pointedly avoiding looking my way. His sleep pajamas looked so sleek, and so did that of the other humans. I was the only one whose pyjamas looked like rags.
"Here's what's gonna happen: the humans will all embark on a race, and the job of you guys left here is to cheer for those who make it back before a certain time." He addressed the rest of the students still seated.
That sounded unfair to me. Why do we have to race while the supernaturals just sit and get entertained?
Jamie faced us, smiling. "You'll all be given a bag each, and you're expected to race to the end of the woods. Jewelries are located at the end of the wood, take as much as you can and return as fast as you can. Only the first three to return would be recognized as the winners."
My stomach sank. I was crippled my whole life. I'm certain I'd end up being last.
"Do we get punished if we fail to arrive on time?" A human asked hesitantly, he was standing right beside me.
Jamie laughed softly. "Why don't you embark on the race first?"
I let out a small sound, my stomach knotting even more as we were handed some bags by the other seniors, bags which we're to fill up with jewelry after getting to the end of the woods. But my problem was… how would we get to the end of the woods? Woods were scary and its presently nighttime.
What kind of game is this?
"Would we be given torchlights?" Another human asked and Jamie shook his head, pointing at the moon and explaining that it was bright enough.
"And is the woods safe?" Another one asked, sounding as hesitant as I felt.
"It's very safe. This is a harmless game, sugar." Jamie explained.
"Why aren't the supernaturals participating though? Are we just entertainment for them?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Jamie's eyes flashed and he was in front of me the next moment, back handing me hard across the face, so fast that I was left stunned.
"Refrain from asking stupid questions, Angel." He drawled at me before grinning and turning away.
The air was tense and no one uttered a word, even after he urged us to ask him more questions if we had any.
"If that's all, let's the game begin then." He called out heartily and everyone clapped, hooting loudly.
And as I followed the rest of the humans to the side of the bronze dorm, where the woods sat, a queasy feeling settled in my stomach.
Nothing felt right about this.
~~~
As we walked through the woods, each rustle of the leaves had us tensing and quivering in fear. The moon was indeed bright, but it was still nighttime and the look of the large tree was beyond frightening.
"I hope nothing's in this woods like they said." The human walking beside me muttered quietly.
"Dummy, of course that was a lie. Couldn't you tell? Nothing about this game is normal." A different human barked out, scoffing.
I was surprised that a good amount of the humans weren't running off but were instead still huddled together—-about nine people, and I guess that's cause everyone is equally scared.
"Shouldn't we all be competing right now? This is a damn race." Someone called out but the rest scoffed.
"I'm not treating this as a race, I just want to survive whatever this is."
"Yeah, I don't even care about winning."
"What if we return right now?" I asked and they all faced me.
"Our bags would be empty. They'd know we didn't get to the end of the woods and that might get us punished." The one beside me muttered.
He was right. And that Jamie was very scary.
As we kept on walking, the sound of a wood snapping made us cry out at the same time and quickly whirl around.
There was nothing there and we all heaved in relief, then we huddled even closer.
"Let's just all calm down, guys. Nothings gonna happen." One person spoke, voice a little shaky but everyone nodded in agreement fast, desperately clinging to those words.
I hope nothing ends up happening tonight.
When a wood snapped behind us again, we all stiffened, our heart pounding away.
"Let's just keep moving." I whispered, my voice wavering.
They all agreed weakly and we barely took three more steps before footsteps were suddenly thundering behind us, accompanied by excited, eerie hoots.
Screams tore from our throats as we whirled around and saw people running straight towards us, people clad in scary looking cloaks.
I didn't stop to think. There was only one option.
Run.
Everyone else were already running while screaming at the top of their lungs and I did the same, crying out in panic and fear as I ran with all my might. But I was still tired from last night's stress and was stumbling in a fall in no time.
I tried to stand up but hands clamped on my feet, making me scream loudly as I tried kicking the hands off to resume running, but I was instead jerked downstairs by the hold on my feet, then a hard body was settling above me in the next moment.
The panic within me was almost bursting from my chest and I tried pushing the body off, but the guy was stronger and he easily immobilized my hands in no time, pinning them above my head.
I was panting hard as my eyes locked with his glowing red eyes, and a terrified gasp caught in my throat.
Vampire.
This guy is a freaking vampire.
Oh gods. Wasn't this woods supposed to be empty?
My brain spinned as this guy leaned down to drag his nose down the curve of my throat, inhaling deeply. "Fuck, you smell so fucking good. Like a full course meal."
My entire body was trembling at this point and I didn't even know what to think.
"P- please." I stuttered out in fear, my eyes already stinging.
This vampire could kill me right now. I didn't want to die, I wasn't ready to yet!
"I love when my toy begs me for more of my tough." The vampire crooned, his grin flashing darkly and I shivered in fright at the sight of his sharp fangs.
This vampire was crazy. I was begging him to not freaking hurt me!
"Don't d- drink too much of my b- blood, please." I tried again as the guy jerked my shirt off my shoulder, tearing the thin fabric.
The guy threw his head back and laughed. "Do you really think you'll survive tonight?" He asked while shaking his head and I stiffened underneath him
He waved around. "Aw, you cute dummy." The guy crooned as he ran his tongue over my cheek and throat, making bile gather in my throat.
Oh good. This guy is such a creep.
"This whole game set up, this was the whole point of it, to provide juicy prey for us, and you're not gonna survive tonight, so I guess it's fair if you know the truth at least." He continued and I stiffened, shocked out of my soul
I could hear piercing screams echo through other areas of the woods and I wondered if they were also being attacked by other vampires.
Oh god.
Is Jamie and the other seniors really aware of this? Was this on purpose? Sending just humans in here… for these vampires?
As that thought crossed my mind, the vampire's fangs cut through my shoulder, pulling out a loud scream from me as pain shot through my entire body.
I blacked out after that.