Lina couldn't sleep that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the red eyes in the forest. She heard the growl again and again in her head. And then she saw Lucas, standing in front of her, his hand covered in blood, telling her that the town was not safe.
She sat up in her bed and looked at the window. The night was quiet, but she didn't feel safe anymore. Moonridge was not a normal town. She was sure of that now.
Her phone suddenly vibrated on the table. Lina jumped a little, surprised.
A message.
From an unknown number.
She opened it slowly.
Unknown:Are you okay?
Lina frowned. Who would send her a message at this hour?
Lina:Who is this?
A few seconds passed before the reply came.
Unknown:Adrian.
Lina's heart started beating faster.
Lina:How did you get my number?
Adrian:I told you. In this town, it's easy to know everything.
Lina hesitated, then typed:
Lina:What happened tonight? What was that thing in the forest?
This time, Adrian took longer to reply.
Adrian:I told you to stay away from trouble.
Lina:That's not an answer.
Adrian:Some things are better if you don't know.
Lina felt angry.
Lina:Stop talking like that. Everyone keeps saying the same thing. "This town is dangerous. Stay away. Don't ask questions." I'm tired of this. I want the truth.
There was no answer for a long moment.
Then her phone vibrated again.
Adrian:Meet me tomorrow after school. I will explain some things. But not everything.
Lina stared at the message for a long time.
Her life was definitely not normal anymore.
The next day at school, Lina couldn't focus on anything. She kept thinking about what Adrian said. I will explain some things.
During lunch, she saw Lucas sitting alone at a table. He was playing with a coin, turning it between his fingers like he was bored.
Lina walked toward him before she could change her mind.
Lucas looked up and smiled. "Well, if it isn't the girl who runs very fast."
Lina crossed her arms. "That thing in the forest… what was it?"
Lucas looked at her for a few seconds, then said, "You ask too many questions."
"And you don't answer any of them," Lina replied.
Lucas smiled a little. "Fair enough."
He leaned back in his chair. "Let's just say… there are creatures in this town that don't like humans."
Lina felt cold. "Creatures?"
Lucas looked at her eyes carefully. "You saw the red eyes. So you know I'm not lying."
"Then what are you?" Lina asked quietly.
Lucas didn't reply immediately. He looked around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned closer to her.
"I'm the thing that protects you from those creatures," he said softly.
Lina didn't know if she should believe him or not.
Before she could say anything else, Adrian appeared.
"I told you to stay away from her," Adrian said to Lucas.
Lucas rolled his eyes. "You worry too much."
Adrian looked at Lina. "We're still meeting after school."
Lucas smiled. "Oh? Are you finally going to tell her the big family secret?"
Adrian's eyes became cold. "Stay out of this, Lucas."
Lucas laughed quietly. "This is going to be fun."
After school, Lina met Adrian near the old bridge at the edge of the town. The place was quiet, and the sound of the water made everything feel even more serious.
Adrian was already there, looking at the river.
"You came," he said without turning around.
"You said you would explain," Lina replied.
Adrian was silent for a moment, like he was trying to find the right words.
"This town," he said slowly, "is not like other towns. There are things here that most people don't know about. Dangerous things."
"Like the thing in the forest?" Lina asked.
"Yes," Adrian said. "And worse."
Lina took a deep breath. "Lucas said he protects me from those creatures. Why would he protect me?"
Adrian finally turned and looked at her.
"Because of who you are," he said.
Lina frowned. "I'm just a normal girl."
Adrian looked at her with a strange expression. "No, Lina. You're not."
Lina felt her heart beating faster. "Then what am I?"
Adrian stepped closer to her slowly.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out," he said.
"What does that mean?" Lina asked.
Adrian looked like he was about to say something very important… but suddenly he froze.
"Adrian?" Lina said.
Adrian looked toward the forest suddenly. "We're not alone."
Lina felt fear immediately. "You mean—"
A sound came from the trees.
A branch broke.
Then another growl, louder than before.
Lina stepped back, scared. "Not again…"
Adrian moved in front of her, protecting her.
"Stay behind me," he said.
The bushes moved, and something came out of the forest.
It was big, dark, and fast. Its eyes were red, and its teeth were long and sharp.
Lina couldn't move. She was too scared.
The creature jumped toward them.
And then something impossible happened.
Adrian moved so fast Lina couldn't even see him clearly. In a second, he was in front of the creature. He grabbed it and threw it against a tree like it was nothing.
Lina stared in shock.
The creature attacked again, but Adrian was faster. His eyes changed color, becoming darker, almost black, and his face looked different… more dangerous.
He grabbed the creature again and this time, he bit it.
Bit it.
There was blood.
The creature screamed, and Adrian threw it away. The creature ran back into the forest and disappeared.
Everything became silent again.
Lina was shaking. "Adrian… what did you just do?"
Adrian turned slowly and looked at her.
There was blood on his lips.
"I told you," he said quietly. "This town is not safe."
Lina looked at him with fear in her eyes. "What are you?"
Adrian looked at her for a long moment, then said:
"I'm a vampire, Lina."
Lina felt like the world stopped.
"A… vampire?" she whispered.
"Yes," Adrian said. "And Lucas is one too."
Lina couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"And the thing in the forest?" she asked.
"It was a werewolf," Adrian replied.
Lina felt dizzy. Vampires. Werewolves. Monsters. This was impossible. This was crazy.
But she saw it with her own eyes.
"And you said I'm not normal," Lina said slowly. "What did you mean?"
Adrian looked at her with a serious expression.
"Because," he said, "you look exactly like a girl who died 170 years ago."
Lina stopped breathing.
"What?"
Adrian stepped closer and said quietly:
"And she was the girl both Lucas and I loved."
Lina stared at him, shocked.
"That's impossible," she said.
Adrian looked into her eyes and said:
"That's why you're in danger, Lina. Because if Lucas believes that you are her… he will never let you go."