The Vampire

Carrie’s silhouette along the walls of the dark corridors in the library stretched and bent along with the flickering of the torches. She rubbed her arms absentmindedly despite the fact that the hot desert weather was making her sweat profusely. Right now, however, her cold sweat was making her shiver. The dust and sand stuck to her hair and skin and clothes, forcing her to scratch her arm or stomach or somewhere to get that uncomfortable chaffing feeling to go away.

The old Egyptian library had been discovered only a few weeks ago in the old ruins of an abandoned village about thirty miles off the booming city of Cairo. And in about two days a group of archeologists had been called off the site to go search for mummified remains in a recently-buried-but-newly-discovered pyramid.

And alas, Carrie was left to search through the remains of the library without help, and all the while refusing any from the few left behind to watch the site while she went in. Who knew, maybe she would discover the next King Tut buried under the floor because his treasure was books- not gold. She snorted, and then quickly covered her mouth with a clammy hand when the sound of her laughter resonated throughout the dark halls.

It was eerie, to say the least. This was the first time she was walking through the old structure, and she couldn’t exactly give a reason as to why the torches were lit. Archeologists weren’t exactly supposed to do that, and she supposed some “hoodlum” of the twenty-first century wouldn’t go about doing something like that either.

“O-okay,” she drew out the word in one long breath, trying to relax herself. She then hoisted her backpack further up her shoulder before leaning all her weight in to push open the double doors at the end of the long hallway.

The strong smell of dust and mold and old books inhibited her nostrils, forcing her to take in one deep breath before letting out one shuddering cough. Everything that had been rested in place after centuries of being undisturbed had finally been brought back into the air- swirling, gliding, and reveling in the clean air that the newbie archeologist had brought down from above.

Carrie scratched her nose and sidestepped pass a broken vase on the grimy tile. Her boots crunched the residue of whatever was left of the old ceramic as she twirled around to inspect her surroundings.

“Gold mine,” she whispered, a small smile twisting her lips upward.

“I’m glad you think that,” a voice penetrated the utter silence; serene despite her noisy boots. This person’s voice, however, reminded Carrie of something out of a book she read when she was younger. She would describe it as being smooth, and completely lack of hesitancy in such a heavily accented voice. Must be Egyptian, she thought numbly as she turned on her heels to try and find where the voice came from.

“Who’s there?” she asked, walking past the rows and rows of wooden desks and chairs decorated with abandoned scrolls and tipped-over inkpots.

“A friend,” the voice replied nonchalantly.

Carrie’s heart twisted into a knot. She glanced around her, thinking if the voice was nearby- that the person should be as well. She couldn’t see anyone, however.

“Alex?” she called. Maybe it was just a joke. Maybe her buddy would hop out in front of her and scare her out of her wits.

The voice laughed lightly, making her heart jump in her chest. “No. Not Alex. Isn’t he away scavenging in some pyramid?”

Carrie wrung her fingers together, trying to avoid hyperventilation. For some reason, the library seemed much more stifling than it had been before. Had the walls really been that closed in? Why hadn’t she realized there were no windows? Where was that other exit her boss had been talking about? Why hadn’t she listened?

“I hope you aren’t troubled?” the voice asked.

“Do you think I am?” she rasped before licking her chapped lips.

“You act that way, so, yes.” There was a hint of amusement hidden in his tone.

“Uh-huh…” Carrie bit the inside of her cheek as she thought on his words. There was absolutely no explanation to this and she was getting a little anxious. Boss didn’t tell me anything about supernatural stuff going on here…

“Supernatural?” the voice laughed, “You’re funny, Carrie.”

“H-how do you know my name?” she exclaimed as her head began to swim. More importantly, how did he know what she was thinking?

A blur crossed the path before her, making her jump back in utter shock when the form of a pale-faced young man solidified three feet away from her.

“I’m afraid that isn’t very easy to answer,” he said, his lips twisting back in a snarl to reveal razor sharp, canine teeth.

“O-oh…?” Carrie croaked, feeling paralyzed, “C-can y-you ex-ex…-” she cleared her throat before continuing, “explain…you know…tee…teeth…?”

He laughed again. It sounded perfect; just like him. With dark violet eyes and curly brown hair, the person in front of her looked very much like an Egyptian god caught in the cold. Everything seemed right about him, except for the porcelain skin and the half-moons under his eyes.

“Don’t be so startled,” he said, “Vampires don’t explain much of anything. We dazzle for our food. I’m starving, by the way.”

Carrie gaped, her hands twitching to cover her neck.

He shrugged, his eyes twinkling, “Being buried for a few centuries does build up an appetite.”

“Uh-um…” the red-haired archeologist stuttered, trying to find the right words to possibly fend him off. She couldn’t reason to herself, however, and all she could do was twirl on her heels and make a break for the door. Unfortunately, the layers of residue of years and years of dust and sand and all different kinds of grime prevented her from getting very far. She fell to the floor with a thud, sending dust flying.

The vampire laughed as she coughed out the lump in her throat while he walked around to face her.

Run, run, run! Part of her mind screamed. Although, the other part of her mind said, try and reason. Buy some time and talk. Maybe he doesn’t like archeologist’s blood. She was fumbling for something in her pocket, but she couldn’t remember what it was that she had hidden in her khaki pants. Don’t panic… Just…talk… Say something…yeah…

He finally knelt down in front of her, his smile unbearably and uncannily frightening to Carrie as she slowly lifted her gaze to meet his glinting eyes.

“How about…” The vampire grinned, his teeth gleaming in the faint light, “bon appétit?”