The Night It Bit Back

Chapter 1:

“In a city where darkness waits around every corner, you only survive if you bite back”

The neon sign outside the bar buzzed. It was the only thing beside the radio that made noise there. It’s a Monday so everyone was at home resting after a busy day.

It was nearly 2 a.m. and the place had been dead for hours - just one drunk passed out in the corner and a couple whispering about the recently found dead bodies in the new. I wiped down the counter for the third time just to stay awake.

When my shift finally ended, I stepped into the night and lit a cigarette. I didn’t smoke much. Just a ritual that I do to remember my dead uncle that was a hard smoker.

The streets were quiet and there were just cats roaming around.

I started walking with hands in my pockets. My steps echoed as I headed down toward the edge of the city. The part people pretended didn’t exis because it was full of abandoned shops and power lines that flickered.

That’s when I smelled blood. Just enough to put a metallic taste on the air. I thought maybe the enforcers were having their dinner. They are vampires so they drink some blood juice.

I glanced up. Two enforcers passed silently on the other side of the street, their trench coats catching the wind. The Order, patrolling like they always did. My back shivers everytime I see one of them. Uncle always said they can’t be good. Their faces always stoic like they’ve never felt an emotion.

I turned into the alley. A shortcut to home. I’d taken it a hundred times before.

That was my mistake.

Something moved.

Fast. Too fast.

A hooded figure lunged from the shadows, slamming me into the wall so hard my breath vanished. I tried to scream, but his hand was already around my throat, lifting me like I weighed nothing.

Then I felt his fangs sharp and cold digging into my neck.

My body froze and everything become blurry.

For a second, I saw my uncle’s face.

He hated vampires and always said that they were monsters in suits. Predators with badges. Protecting us from other monsters.

I was bleeding and paralyzed. Full of fear. But something inside me snapped.

I felt rage. I remembered something. 

This piece of shit chose me? On this night? The anniversary of my uncle’s death?

I remembered his last words:

“Don’t let the world crush you, Nyx. Bite back. Always bite back.”

So I did.

I twisted my neck and sank my own teeth into the bastard’s shoulder. Some primal instinct awakened in me and I drank his blood.

That’s what you get for choosing the wrong b*tch.

Warmth filled my body and my heart was going to explode.

The vampire screamed and threw me against the concrete. I screamed from the pain.

I tried to get up but struggled. I never saw the attacker’s face. He ran away.

Then I heard foot steps. Voices.

“She's still alive get her to the Order!” One of the enforcers ordered.

“The rogue vanished! Damn it!” The other one shouted with anger.

And then everything went black.