Chapter 4: Roses, Blood, and a Burning Escape

What if I could flip the script? Maybe I could annoy him so much he’d dump me first. Genius plan.

If I could make him dislike me, maybe he’d leave me alone?

Worth a shot. I sat up, determination burning in my chest. Let’s do this.

Thinking this, I sat up, went to my laptop, and Googled: How to make a guy hate you?

The results were hilarious and unhelpful. I scrolled, desperate for a miracle. Come on, Internet.

First tip: Don’t reply to his messages right away. Act like you don’t hear him. Look bored.

Yeah, right. Julian would probably snap me like a twig if I tried that.

I pictured it and shuddered. Next.

Another tip: Guys don’t treasure girls who treat them too well. If you want to annoy him, just be extra obedient.

Now that was interesting. Maybe being overly sweet would do the trick.

That could work. Genius.

I grinned, feeling a tiny bit of hope. Maybe I could survive this after all. Please.

I had my answer, rolled around in bed, and fell asleep. Game plan set.

Dreams of vampires and Google search bars haunted me all night. Typical.

Early the next morning, I packed up and went downstairs, only to find a different car in the driveway. Uh-oh.

It was a sleek black sedan, way nicer than anything my family owned. My heart skipped. Suspicious.

The window rolled down, revealing Julian’s impossibly handsome face, with the usual gentle smile. Here we go again.

He looked like he’d just stepped out of a magazine, sunglasses pushed up on his head. Too perfect.

“Morning, Savannah.”

His voice was smooth, but there was a challenge in his eyes. Game on.

I jumped and blurted, “Why are you here?”

I clapped a hand over my mouth. Smooth, Savannah. Real smooth.

Julian raised his eyebrows.

His lips quirked up in a half-smile, amused by my reaction. He knows.

I snapped out of it, got in, and clung to his arm with a big smile. Puppy mode: engaged.

I went full puppy mode, nuzzling his shoulder. "Babe, I mean, how could I let you pick me up? Next time, I’ll pick you up." Kill him with cuteness.

Julian’s body stiffened.

He glanced at me, clearly not expecting this level of enthusiasm. Caught off guard.

“Savannah, you’re a little different today.”

His voice was low, suspicious. Danger, Will Robinson.

I blinked and squeaked, “Really? I’ve always been like this, haven’t I?”

I forced a giggle, hoping he’d buy it. Desperate.

I was about to puke, but it worked. Barely.

Because I could feel Julian’s patience running thin. Ticking time bomb.

He was quiet for a while, pulled his arm free, and buckled my seatbelt. Safety first.

His movements were stiff, but careful. I could tell I was getting on his nerves. Mission accomplished?

He barely spoke the whole ride.

The silence was thick, but I kept up my act, humming along to the radio. Fake it till you make it.

Looks like my plan was working.

I grinned to myself, feeling a flicker of hope. Progress!

Soon we arrived at school.

The parking lot was buzzing, girls crowding near the entrance. I could feel the stares already. Here we go.

Before we got out, we heard girls squealing at the front steps. Fan club assembled.

It was like a boy band had just rolled up. Phones out, voices shrill. Fame is weird.

“Oh my god, isn’t that Prince Julian’s car?”

“I can’t believe we get to see him before graduation!”

“Ahhh, Prince Julian, look over here!”

“Wait, who’s that girl getting out of his car?”

“Looks like Savannah Carter. Ugh, I’m heartbroken.”

I rubbed my temples. This is too much.

So loud, my head hurts. Make it stop.

I tried to tune them out, but their voices followed us all the way to the doors. No escape.

Julian ignored the crowd, got out and took my hand, smiling gently. Show time.

His grip was firm, like he was making a point. I smiled back, playing along. Let’s do this.

“Let’s go.”

His tone was final, not leaving room for argument. Bossy.

I smiled back, “Okay, babe.”

My cheeks hurt from all the fake grinning. I just hoped it was convincing. Hang in there, face.

Julian’s mouth twitched, then he patted my head like I was a kid. Patronizing, but I’ll take it.

I could feel the tension radiating off him. He was definitely annoyed. Good.

He walked me to class, and we got stares the whole way. Parade of shame.

Whispers followed us, but I kept my head high. Fake it ‘til you make it. Survival strategy.

I smiled so much my face hurt. Endurance challenge.

By the time we reached my classroom, my cheeks were numb. Victory?

Finally in the classroom, Zoe and Mariah surrounded me, gossiping about Julian. Here we go again.

They bombarded me with questions, eyes shining with curiosity. Interrogation time.

I was scared they’d get involved with him, so I answered vaguely. Protect the civilians.

I kept my answers short, steering them away from anything dangerous. Crisis management.

Luckily, they didn’t press, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Safe for now.

I slumped in my seat, grateful for the reprieve. Brief peace.

“Savvy, did you hear? Tomorrow we’re getting a super cute transfer student!” Mariah said, eyes sparkling. Uh-oh.

She bounced in her chair, practically vibrating with excitement. Incoming trouble.

“A transfer... transfer student?”

I shot up from my seat, panicked. Please no.

My heart dropped. Was it Adrian? My luck couldn’t be that bad… could it?

“Yeah, Zoe and I saw him in the principal’s office today, heard he just got back from Europe.”

Europe. Of course. My last hope for a normal week vanished. Goodbye, peace.

The words “foreign transfer student” dashed my last hope. RIP sanity.

Isn’t that Adrian Cross?

I could already picture his glare. I was doomed. Officially.

Thinking of what I did to him yesterday, I shivered. Regret.

Maybe this time, he’s transferring not to chase the heroine, but for revenge?

I’m about to cry.

I buried my face in my hands, groaning. This plotline was relentless. Can I quit?

In the original, vampires healed super fast, so his injuries would be gone in a day. Great.

No way he’d let me off easy. I braced myself for the worst. Hold on tight.

Zoe and Mariah saw my gloomy face and panicked, trying everything to cheer me up. Sweet, but clueless.

They offered snacks, cracked jokes, even did a little dance. I managed a weak smile. Thanks, guys.

Seeing it didn’t work, they said, “Don’t be sad, after school we’ll take you somewhere you’ll love.”

Their grins were mischievous. I had a bad feeling about this.

My gut told me to run, but I was too tired to argue. Surrender.

Sure enough, after school, they dropped a bombshell. Why am I not surprised?

They cornered me by my locker, voices low. Uh-oh.

“Savvy, didn’t you notice Ellie didn’t come to school?”

I blinked. I’d been so wrapped up in my own drama, I hadn’t noticed. Oops.

Oh right, the heroine is in our class.

“Haha, I had someone lock her in the old science building’s 402. Nobody goes there, she could be stuck for days and no one would notice.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. This was bad—really bad. Code red.

My vision went black—I almost fainted. Not now.

I grabbed the locker for support. How could they be so cruel? Monsters.

Help, what is wrong with these two!

They’re usually sweet, but when it comes to Ellie, it’s like they’re possessed. Scary.

And it’s that building again, where vampires hunt for victims. Déjà vu.

I remembered the rumor, and my stomach twisted. I couldn’t let Ellie get hurt. Not on my watch.

But I had no choice but to save her. Hero mode.

Otherwise, if Julian found out, he’d think I ordered it and drain me dry. Yikes.

I pictured his disappointed face and shivered. Motivation: fear.

He said he’d wait for me outside after school, but I absolutely couldn’t let him see me now. Stealth mode.

If he caught me sneaking off, I’d have a lot of explaining to do. Not happening.

So I slipped out the back while he was mobbed by girls. Distraction, thanks.

I ducked behind a group of cheerleaders, heart pounding as I made my escape. Ninja skills.

That building was on the far west side of campus, abandoned and overgrown. Climbing the stairs, I worried every step would break through. Please don’t collapse.

Cobwebs brushed my face, and the floor creaked under my weight. I kept glancing over my shoulder. Creepy.

Finally at 402, I found the door open and heard voices inside. Here goes nothing.

I pressed my ear to the door, holding my breath. Eavesdrop mode.

“Tsk tsk, what’d you do to get locked up?”

A boy’s voice, lazy and casual.

He sounded amused, like he was enjoying the chaos. Jerk.

“Mind your own business,” snapped Ellie.

Her voice was sharp, but I could hear the fear underneath. Poor girl.

“I helped you, and this is how you thank me?”

He sounded offended, but I could tell he was teasing. Drama king.

I peeked in.

Carefully, I nudged the door open a crack, just enough to see inside. Please don’t notice me.

A blond, red-eyed boy and a girl with puffy cheeks, just like the novel described. The stars of the show.

Adrian and Ellie. The original scene was playing out—except I was the uninvited guest. Awkward.

But since the male lead was here, I had nothing to do. Time to disappear.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe I could slip away before anyone noticed. Fingers crossed.

I relaxed, ready to sneak back to Julian. Quiet as a mouse.

I turned, tiptoeing toward the stairs, when—

But then I accidentally kicked a broken chair, the noise echoing through the empty building. Of course.

The crash echoed like a gunshot. I froze, heart hammering. Busted.

The voices inside stopped cold. Uh-oh.

I held my breath, praying they’d think it was the wind. Please, please, please.

I froze, mind racing through a hundred excuses. Nothing.

I tried to come up with a story, but my brain was blank. Useless.

Then I turned and tried to run. Flight mode.

I spun around, ready to bolt, but a cold hand clamped down on my shoulder. Trapped.

I gasped, staring into Adrian’s blood-red eyes.

He looked furious, and I shrank under his glare. Not good.

“You?”

He forced out the words, his red eyes burning with anger. Run?

He looked like he wanted to strangle me and kiss me at the same time. Yikes.

He stared at me with a fake smile, gripping my shoulder so hard it hurt. Ouch.

His fingers dug in, and I winced. I tried to pull away, but he held tight. No escape.

“Savannah Carter, why is it always you? Here to laugh at me?”

His voice was icy, but I could hear the hurt underneath. Complicated much?

“Uh... would you believe me if I said I came to save you?”

I shrank, voice barely above a whisper. Please buy it.

I offered a weak smile, hoping he’d buy it. Desperation.

“Do I look stupid? You had me locked up, why would you save me!”

He shook his head, exasperated. Not buying it.

“I’m warning you, Savannah, don’t push it. Is it fun messing with me?”

His eyes flashed, and I swallowed hard. Terrified.

I was doomed, no way to explain. RIP me.

There was no talking my way out of this. I was toast.

Worse, Adrian now knew the original Savannah bullied Ellie. Even better.

I could see the realization in his eyes. I’d just made things ten times worse for myself. Why am I like this?

Adrian’s hand was still on my shoulder, gripping so hard I almost cried. Let go, please.

I bit my lip, refusing to let him see me cry. Dignity: barely hanging on.

“Anyway, let’s get out first.”

I tried to move, but before I could, he yanked me back. Ow.

I stumbled, nearly tripping over my own feet. Smooth.

I had to swallow the pain and glared at him when he wasn’t looking. Jerk.

I shot him a dirty look, but he didn’t notice. Figures.

“You go first, I need to talk to her.”

Adrian glared at me, talking to Ellie. Awkward.

Ellie looked between us, finally staring at Adrian’s hand on my shoulder. Suspicion.

Her eyes narrowed, and I could practically see the gears turning in her head. Here we go.

She seemed to get the wrong idea, her expression darkening. Oh boy.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Uh-oh.

“Julian is such a good guy, and you cheated on him?”

She practically shouted it, her voice shaking. Drama explosion.

“I’m telling him everything!”

Ellie stomped out, furious. Oops.

She slammed the door behind her, leaving me alone with Adrian. Great.

Me: ???

I stared after her, mouth open. This was not what I’d signed up for. Can I get a do-over?

Let me explain!!

I wanted to chase after her, but Adrian blocked my path. Not happening.

I couldn’t move, just watched Ellie disappear. There goes my reputation.

My shoulders slumped. I was so done. Game over.

Adrian, this jerk—his girlfriend ran off and he didn’t care. Typical.

He just shrugged, looking more annoyed than anything. Thanks for nothing.

Only two fates awaited me:

Bitten to death by Adrian, or caught by Julian, who’d hand me over to the other vampires.

Either way, it wasn’t looking good for me.

“Next, shouldn’t we settle up?”

He leaned in, breath on my neck, and I shivered. Gross.

His lips brushed my ear, and I froze. Nope.

Either way, I was toast, so I gave up. Surrender.

I slumped, resigned to my fate. End of the line.

I raised my hand and slapped Adrian across the face. Desperate times.

The sound echoed in the empty hallway. My palm stung. Worth it.

The slap rang out, and he froze. Shocked?

He stared at me, stunned. I took my chance. Run!

Taking my chance, I pried his hand off and bolted. Don’t look back.

I didn’t look back, just ran like my life depended on it. Because it did.

With the energy of a makeup gym test, I ran all the way to the school gate, stopping only when I saw people around. Safety in numbers.

I gasped for breath, hands on my knees. I was safe—for now. Temporarily.

In the distance, I saw Julian by his car, and Ellie about to talk to him. Danger.

My heart skipped. I couldn’t let Ellie spill the beans. No way.

I panicked—had to stop Ellie!

I sprinted, weaving through the crowd, desperate to reach Julian first. Move, people!

I ran over, threw myself into his arms, and hugged his waist. Drastic times.

I clung to him like a lifeline, ignoring the shocked looks from everyone around. Priorities.

“Babe, I missed you so much, where’d you go? I was looking everywhere.”

I wiped my sweaty forehead on his shirt. Sorry, not sorry.

He looked surprised, but didn’t push me away. I could feel his heartbeat through his shirt. Weirdly comforting.

Julian probably didn’t expect me to pounce, and was stunned before patting my back. Good guy.

He hesitated, then gently patted my shoulder, his touch oddly comforting. Thank you.

“Sorry.”

His voice was soft, almost apologetic. I relaxed a little. Safe zone.

I have to say, the gentle second lead really lives up to the hype. Even though I ditched him after school, he still apologized. Unreal.

He was too good to be true. I almost felt bad for dragging him into this mess. Almost.

“Mm, let’s go.”

I grabbed his hand, ready to escape before anyone could question us. Getaway plan.

I pulled him into the car, and Julian didn’t resist, just nodded apologetically to Ellie, who didn’t get a word in. Smooth exit.

I caught a glimpse of Ellie’s shocked face in the rearview mirror as we drove away. Sorry, girl.

Once in the car, I collapsed. Done.

I slumped against the seat, exhausted. My nerves were shot. Someone call a doctor.

If this keeps up, I need a therapist. Stat.

Maybe two. Or a whole team. Group rates?

“Savannah, for your safety, can you put your seatbelt on?”

A gentle voice above me—I looked up. Concerned Julian is the best Julian.

He was watching me with concern, his eyes soft. Swoon.

I was basically half-leaning on him. Oops.

I sat up, embarrassed, and fumbled with the seatbelt. Flustered.

“I, sorry...”

I mumbled, cheeks burning. Mortified.

Halfway through my apology, I remembered something more important. Play it up.

“Oh babe, you’re my seatbelt!”

I grinned, wrapping my arms around his neck for effect. Clingy mode: maximum.

He stiffened, clearly not used to this level of affection. Take that, Mary Sue tropes.

The male leads in Mary Sue novels hate clingy, fake girls—I dare him to put up with this.

I was betting on it. Maybe he’d get so annoyed he’d leave me alone. Fingers crossed.

Sure enough, after a moment, Julian pulled my hands away and warned, “Savannah, sit up.”

His voice was low, but firm. I obeyed, not wanting to push my luck. Not today, Satan.

Afraid of making him mad, I gave up. Sigh.

I sat up straight, hands folded in my lap. Model student.

If this keeps up, even if Julian doesn’t get sick of me, I’ll go nuts. For real.

I sighed, staring out the window. Was it possible to die from secondhand embarrassment? Research needed.

In the following days, I went full loyal puppy mode. Commitment.

I was everywhere Julian went, always smiling, always eager to please. It was exhausting. Oscar-worthy.

For some reason, Ellie asked Julian to bring her breakfast. Plot twist.

I heard about it from Mariah, and my jealousy act kicked in. Showtime.

The next day, I bought breakfast and waited at his door, waving like crazy when I saw him. Overkill.

I nearly tripped over myself, holding out a bag of bagels and coffee. Breakfast of champions.

“Babe, I got breakfast, can’t have you running errands.”

I gave him my brightest smile, hoping he’d get the hint. Please notice.

I saw Julian clench his fists. Progress?

He was trying to stay calm, but I could see the annoyance in his eyes. Victory.

Since Julian started coming to school every day, sometimes he stayed on campus. Stalker alert.

Rumor had it he’d even moved into the dorms. I made sure to check on him every chance I got. Dedication.

Mariah told me, to win a guy’s heart, you have to win his stomach. Oldest trick in the book.

She handed me a list of his favorite foods, which I promptly ignored in favor of my own plan. Rebel.

So I bought ten pints of cow’s blood and put it in his exclusive school lounge mini-fridge. Gourmet vampire.

I decorated the fridge with heart stickers, just to drive the point home. Arts and crafts.

“Babe, I want you to see your favorite thing every morning.”

I batted my eyelashes, waiting for his reaction. Any minute now.

At school, I occasionally ran into Adrian, but with so many people around, he didn’t dare do anything. Safety in crowds.

He just glared at me from afar. Chill, dude.

His stares were icy, but I pretended not to notice. Professional.

Maybe my plan was working, because after school one day, for the first time, Julian didn’t go home with me. Freedom!

He looked almost relieved as he handed me my backpack. Success.

“Savannah, I’ve got something to do at school, you head home first, okay?”

His voice was gentle, but there was an edge to it. Don’t push it.

I was thrilled, but still put on a sad face. Acting 101.

I pouted, hoping he’d feel guilty. Please work.

“Sigh, okay.”

I dragged my feet, but inside, I was celebrating. Mission accomplished.

Free from Julian, I invited Mariah and Zoe out for a walk. Girl time.

I texted them, eager for some normal girl time. Please be safe.

“Savvy, I found a new coffee shop. The coffee’s amazing, the place is gorgeous, and the owner is super cute!”

Mariah’s words made me hesitate. Suspicious.

I’d been burned before, but the promise of caffeine was too tempting. Weakness.

After being tricked so many times, I wanted to refuse. But peer pressure...

I hesitated, but they were relentless. Resistance is futile.

But I couldn’t resist their pestering, so I agreed. Sigh.

Peer pressure wins again. I grabbed my purse and followed them downtown. Here goes nothing.

The coffee shop was in a quiet alley, surrounded by empty houses, European-style décor, and roses everywhere. Fairy tale or horror story?

It looked like something out of a fairy tale. The scent of fresh coffee and roses filled the air. Almost magical.

“Welcome, ladies.”

A blue-haired boy in a tailcoat bowed gracefully, voice clear but a little strange. Fancy.

He had an old-school charm, like he’d stepped out of a Gatsby party. Classy.

He looked up, his gaze locking on me. Uh-oh.

His eyes lingered a little too long. I shifted, uncomfortable. Creepy.

He really was good-looking, no wonder Mariah and Zoe dragged me here. Eye candy.

He had sharp cheekbones and a crooked smile. Dangerously attractive. Stay alert.

“Same as last time, please,” Mariah said, starry-eyed. Predictable.

She fluttered her eyelashes, practically swooning. Girl, please.

I pulled a napkin and wiped the drool from her mouth. Priorities.

She laughed, shoving me playfully. Good times.

“Savvy, what do you want?”

At least she still remembered me. Small victories.

I smiled, grateful for the normalcy, even if it was short-lived. Cherish the moment.

“Same as you.”

I figured it was safer to blend in. Don’t stand out.

The owner smiled, nodded, and soon brought three coffees. Service with a smile.

The cups were delicate, with little hearts in the foam. Fancy. Instagram-worthy.

After putting the cup in front of me, he produced a red rose from nowhere. Magic trick?

He was a magician, too? I eyed the rose warily. Suspicious gifts.

“For you, beautiful.”

He handed me the flower, and I was confused. What’s the catch?

I hesitated, not sure if it was a compliment or a warning. Both?

“Savvy, just take it. We got one the first time too, maybe it’s their thing.”

Zoe sipped her coffee, grabbed the flower, and stuffed it in my hand. No choice.

I clutched it, forcing a smile. Play along.

The owner smiled, then looked a little sad, his blue eyes tinged with melancholy. Weird vibe.

He sighed, glancing away as if lost in thought. Deep thoughts.

He lowered his head, voice softer: “I don’t know why, but seeing you always reminds me of someone.”

His words sent a chill down my spine. Was this another vampire trick? Red flag.

I twitched my lips. Savannah, really? Are we that close?

I forced a laugh, trying to play it cool. Inside, panic.

Suddenly, something occurred to me. Lightbulb moment.

A memory from the novel flashed in my mind. This was bad. Really bad.

Wait! In the novel, when Ellie was tricked into writing her name in 402, the vampire who came for her used this exact line!

My hands shook. I tried to steady my breathing. Don’t freak out.

“Was it like the older girl who helped you when you were bullied as a kid?”

I blurted out the line, testing him. Please don’t recognize it.

My question stunned him. Bingo.

He froze, eyes wide. I’d hit a nerve. Jackpot.

“How did you...”

He looked shocked, almost letting something slip. Careful now.

His voice trembled. I shrank back in my seat. Danger.

My face went pale. Not good.

Could it be Julian failed to win me, so someone else was sent? Replacement vampire?

Was I being targeted by another vampire? My stomach twisted. This can’t be happening.

No, Julian hasn’t failed yet. Stay calm.

I tried to reassure myself, but it didn’t help. Still scared.

“I-it’s getting late, we should go.”

I grabbed their hands and tried to leave. Time to bail.

I tugged at Mariah’s sleeve, desperate to get out of there. Move it!

I pulled, but they didn’t move. Looking closer, both had fainted at the table. Oh no.

Their heads lolled, coffee cups knocked over. I panicked. Not again.

“Miss Savannah, if you want to leave, please finish your coffee.”

He smiled, but his tone was cold. Creepy.

The change in his demeanor was instant. I shivered. Run?

Mariah and Zoe seemed to have passed out after drinking the coffee. Drugged?

I shook them, but they didn’t stir. I was on my own. Great.

Was he going to use force now? Probably.

I gripped the table, ready to run if I had to. Fight or flight.

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I bit my lip to stay awake. Don’t faint.

My vision blurred. I fought to keep my eyes open. Stay strong.

“Miss Savannah, you don’t have to drink, but don’t blame me if you get scared.”

His words sent a chill down my spine. I braced myself. Here we go.

After he spoke, two people suddenly appeared, carrying Mariah and Zoe out of the café. Silent as ghosts.

They moved silently, like shadows. I watched, helpless. Powerless.

I watched nervously until they disappeared around the corner. The owner smiled and didn’t bother hiding his fangs. Terrifying.

His fangs glinted in the candlelight. I swallowed hard. Don’t faint.

“So thoughtful, but don’t worry about them, you’re my only target.”

He leaned closer, his eyes hungry. Not good.

I squeezed the rose, crushing the petals, but it didn’t help. Useless.

I wanted to scream, but fear kept me silent. Frozen.

“Originally, I planned to use the old trick to get you to give up a little blood. We don’t like forcing people, but...”

He trailed off, eyes narrowing. Threat detected.

His tone shifted, the smile gone from his blue eyes. No more games.

He was done playing nice. I could feel it. Danger zone.

“Blame him. If he hadn’t been guarding you, I could’ve kept you longer.”

He—did he mean Julian?

So, Julian wasn’t trying to eat me, he was protecting me. And this blue-haired boy was the vampire who should’ve come for me, but Julian intercepted him. Plot twist.

My mind raced. Was Julian actually the good guy here? Maybe?

But in the original, wasn’t Julian the one who had vampires drain me? Why protect me now? Confusion.

Nothing made sense anymore. I needed answers. Urgently.

“Enough talk. Bring her over.”

His voice was cold, final. I tensed, ready to fight. Or run.

At that moment, four or five vampires with wild hair colors appeared, licking their teeth and staring at me. Nightmare fuel.

They circled me, eyes gleaming. I tried not to show how scared I was. Poker face.

Blond: “Sick of that girl’s blood, time for a change.”

He grinned, fangs bared. Gross.

Redhead: “Can’t wait, I can almost taste her.”

He licked his lips, eyes never leaving my neck. Creeper.

I was frozen, tears falling. Helpless.

My vision blurred, but I refused to cry out. Dignity, please.

Help, creeps!

If anyone was listening, I needed a miracle right now. SOS.

I didn’t expect such a small café to hide a huge, dark space behind. Secret lair.

The hallway stretched on forever, dimly lit by flickering candles. Spooky.

It was a long hallway, with rooms every few yards, fancy lamps at each door, warm flames flickering, everything eerily strange. Haunted house vibes.

The wallpaper was peeling, but the furniture was expensive. It felt like a haunted mansion. Not a fan.

“Miss Savannah, pick a room?”

The blue-haired boy smiled.

His tone was mocking, like he was enjoying my fear. Jerk.

Before I could answer, a frail girl in a school uniform stumbled out of a room across the hall. Victim?

She looked pale, her steps unsteady. My heart ached for her. Poor thing.

She looked weak, but brightened at the sight of the redhead, gazing at him with love. Brainwashed.

Her eyes sparkled, even as her body trembled. Love-brained.

“Hey, you haven’t visited in forever.”

Her voice was soft, hopeful. Heartbreaking.

She was weak, but happy. Tragic.

She smiled, reaching for his hand. Stockholm syndrome?

“Be good, I’ll come once a week.”

He stroked her hair, voice gentle. My stomach turned. Gross.

The redhead brushed her hair and led her back inside. Puppet master.

She followed him willingly, love-struck and oblivious. Not me.

Yep, being love-brained is deadly. She’s almost drained dry. Terrifying.

I vowed not to end up like her. Never.

“Miss Savannah, have you picked?”

The blue-haired boy was impatient. Getting pushy.

His eyes glinted with annoyance. I stalled, looking for an escape. Think, Savannah.

I bit my lip, knowing there was no escape. Cornered.

I scanned the room for anything I could use as a weapon. Nothing.

So I had to look for a chance. Stay alert.

My fingers itched to grab something—anything. Fight mode.

I scanned the candles, but there was nothing flammable nearby. No luck.

The hallway was too clean, too well-kept. No easy way out. Figures.

So fancy, if I didn’t know better, I’d think I was in a castle. Or a dungeon.

It was almost surreal, like I’d stepped into a gothic novel. Wish it was fiction.

“Just... the first room.”

I tried to keep my voice steady. Don’t show fear.

I hoped he couldn’t hear the fear. Probably could.

“Alright, Miss Savannah, the last room is ready for you.” He smirked, gesturing down the hall.

Me: ...

You already picked, why bother asking?

I glared, but he ignored me. Rude.

The other vampires went into their rooms, only the blue-haired boy led me. VIP treatment.

He walked slowly, savoring my fear. I clenched my fists, ready to bolt. Fight or flight.

“You first.”

He gestured, and I took a shaky step forward. Don’t trip.

As he turned, I ran for the exit. Go, go, go!

I darted past him, feet pounding the hardwood. The exit was in sight. Freedom!

The exit was close, but a hand suddenly grabbed my neck from behind. No!

His grip was like steel. I choked, clawing at his hand. Panic.

“Miss Savannah is disobedient.”

His voice was cold, mocking. Monster.

“Guess I’ll have to send you off.”

He squeezed harder. My vision swam. Blacking out.

His grip was strong, I couldn’t breathe, my face turning red. This is it.

I gasped, struggling to break free. Don’t give up.

This was my first time feeling a vampire’s strength. Before, neither Julian nor Adrian had hurt me. This is real.

I realized how lucky I’d been. This was real danger. Wake-up call.

Having escaped so many times, I’d gotten cocky, but now I saw it wasn’t that they couldn’t hurt me, but they let me go on purpose. I’m not special.

I’d been living on borrowed time.

Just as I was about to pass out, he was suddenly knocked away, releasing my throat. Lifeline.

I fell to my knees, coughing, tears streaming down my face. Alive, barely.

I gulped air, shaking my dizzy head. Focus.

Julian’s voice cut through the haze, calm and steady. Savior.

“Savannah, are you okay?”

He pulled me into his arms, patting my back. I clung to him, sobbing. Relief.

“She’s fine.”

I looked up and saw Adrian, arms crossed, looking bored. Or pretending to be.

He smirked, but there was concern in his eyes. Not fooling me.

“It’s you guys!”

The blue-haired boy glared at us, baring his fangs, his handsome face twisted. Not so pretty now.

He looked ready to fight, but Julian didn’t flinch. Brave.

The noise drew the other vampires, who all came out. Swarm.

They hissed, eyes wild. I pressed closer to Julian. Safety net.

Julian picked me up, exchanged a look with Adrian. Teamwork?

Their silent communication was eerie. I trusted them—mostly. For now.

Then Adrian pulled a big bottle from his bag, splashed it on the vampires, and threw a candle at them. Pyromaniac.

The flames whooshed to life, licking up the walls. The vampires shrieked, scattering. Chaos.

The fire spread fast, the vampires screamed, and we escaped in the chaos. Freedom!

Julian carried me out, Adrian close behind. The night air felt like freedom. Breathe.

Outside, I was worried. What now?

I glanced back at the burning building, guilt gnawing at me. Did we just commit arson?

“Will the fire kill them?”

I didn’t want anyone’s death on my conscience, not even vampires. Morals.

After Julian put me in the car, he patted my head gently. Comforting.

His touch was warm, reassuring. Thank you.

“No, but it gives us time to get away.”

He smiled, trying to calm me. It worked—sort of.

I nodded and buckled my seatbelt. Safety first.

My hands still shook, but I felt a little safer. Baby steps.

“What about them? And the girls trapped inside?”

I couldn’t leave without knowing they were safe. Please.

“Don’t worry, someone will handle it.”

Julian’s confidence was contagious. I let out a shaky breath. Okay.

From Julian, I learned that vampires and humans had made a secret peace centuries ago. Vampires agreed not to harm humans, and humans organized blood drives to provide fresh blood for them. Shocking.

The alliance was old, but it worked. Most people had no idea. Secret society stuff.

Only a few people in the alliance know about this. I’m in the club now.

It was all very hush-hush. I felt honored—and terrified—to be in the loop. Exclusive, but scary.

Luckily, there aren’t many vampires—just a handful born each century—so it’s manageable. Numbers game.

The world was safer than I thought. At least, most of the time. Except tonight.

Adrian returned because of a string of attacks, and the alliance sent him to investigate. When I found him in the rosebush, he’d just been ambushed by these vampires. Poor guy.

He’d barely survived. I felt a pang of guilt for running away. Sorry, Adrian.

Luckily, Julian saved him that day at my house. Good timing.

He’d arrived just in time, scaring off the attackers. Hero moment.

Julian was curious how I knew his identity, so he kept an eye on me. After seeing Mariah and the others write on the 402 chalkboard and hearing the rumor, he pretended to be the ‘perfect boyfriend’ to get close. Detective work.

He’d been watching out for me all along. I felt my cheeks flush. Embarrassing.

But he was actually protecting me and tracking those vampires. Good guy—maybe.

He was the good guy—at least for now. Fingers crossed.

This time, he purposely didn’t go home with me so the vampires would think they had a chance, and they could catch them all. Risky, but smart.

It was a risky plan, but it worked. Barely.

The vampires who drained Savannah in the original were probably them. Dodged a bullet.

I shivered, realizing how close I’d come to sharing her fate. Too close.

“Uh, Adrian, sorry about before.”

I fiddled with my hands, unable to meet his eyes. Awkward.

Adrian sneered, “Which part? The shoe or the slap?”

His tone was mocking, but there was a hint of a smile. Forgiveness, maybe?

I was embarrassed. Understatement of the year.

I hid my face, wishing I could disappear. Poof.

“Sorry.”

I mumbled, cheeks burning. I’ll never live this down.

I buried my head in Julian’s chest, breathing in his clean scent. Safe zone.

His arms tightened around me. I felt safe—just for a moment. Peace.

“Apologizing and showing off your love? If you keep this up, don’t expect me to forgive you.”

Adrian’s voice was teasing, but I could tell he was only half-joking. Still mad.

I immediately pulled away from Julian. Distance.

I raised my hands in surrender, grinning sheepishly. Don’t kill me.

“No more showing off, from now on I don’t know him!”

I shot Julian a look, hoping he’d play along. Please?

Julian looked at me, shook his head, and said, “Heartless.”

He smiled, ruffling my hair. Softie.

We’d wasted a lot of time, and it was night. Time flies.

The stars were out, bright and clear. I felt a strange sense of peace. Calm before the storm.

The sky outside was full of stars, the moon bright and clear, shining on Julian’s gentle, handsome face, just like that night in my room—like an angel in the moonlight. Surreal.

He looked almost ethereal, the moonlight turning his hair silver. Beautiful.

I smiled at him, and he smiled back. Mutual understanding.

His eyes softened, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Just us.

His gray eyes were especially soft right then. Swoon.

He reached out, brushing a stray hair from my face. Gentle.

“Julian, actually, I owe you an apology too.”

I took a deep breath, ready to finally tell the truth.