Blood Sired

Have you decided what you want?” the waitress asked, standing over them. David ordered a cheeseburger medium rare with lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup, fries, and a large coke. Kim looked at him and shook her head, laughing. “Okay,” she said, and then she ordered a chicken salad with Caesar dressing and a glass of water. This made David laugh. For a moment he forgot his problem. They talked about family and what had been happening in their lives. She had had a boyfriend but had broken up a month earlier because she caught him cheating. Their food finally arrived, and they ate in silence. David watched as she ate her food. He loved looking at her chew. He knew how the rhythm of her mouth would move and just how many bites it took before she swallowed. She looked up at him and smiled her big brown eyes sparkling as he turned away, embarrassed. “Would you like anything else?” the waitress asked to the both of them. “No thank you,” David said, looking at Kim as she shook her head. “I’m not sure where to start, but this is freaking me out,” David said with a painful look on his face. Before Kim could respond, he suddenly stood up. “I’ve got to get out of here,” he said as he placed forty dollars on the table. Quickly he walked away, not before looking back at a surprised Kim. “Thanks for listening, I’ll be back soon,” he said as he pushed open the diner door. “I love you,” Kim finally said after him. He only stared at her and smiled before he walked out, leaving her behind. Although the weather was warming up, there was a nice cool northern breeze in the air. David had to walk to clear his head. He wanted answers…but to what? New York City was so beautiful at night. The city lights woke up the streets with neon signs on buildings and huge-screen televisions advertising designers like Tommy or Polo. David continued to walk through the crowded sidewalks with the vendors begging the tourists to purchase their counterfeit items. On just about every corner was there someone trying to sell him something. David ignored their advances and continued walking until he finally reached the east river. Before he knew it, it was one in the morning. He noticed that most of the tourists and families had retreated back to their homes or hotel rooms. Only a handful of people were out and about. David walked over to the pier, where he could see the water. It was dark, aside from a few street lights, allowing a little light for the eyes. He didn’t realize how much he’d walk. Feeling exhausted, he sat and leaned back on one of the benches. Suddenly, he felt a feeling of fear come over him. Spinning around to catch anyone following him, he noticed a couple on a bench making out intently. He turned away so as not to appear like he was watching them and walked over to another bench a few yards away from the couple. The homeless began preparing for a night’s sleep. Some pushed their carts while others carried what little valuables they had in black plastic bags. There seemed to be an eerie quiet that caused the hairs on David’s back to rise up, and he turned to see that the couple on the bench had stopped kissing and was looking directly at him. Okay, he thought, feeling a bit nervous from their stares. Just then, a woman jogged by him, turning her head in his direction and staring at him. She had absolutely no emotion on her face, and her eyes were like two empty vessels. Startled by the woman’s appearance, he got up, now more aware of the couple still looking at him. “Let me get the fuck outta here,” he said to himself. He began walking the opposite direction from the couple when he heard them rise off their bench. Shit, he thought. Please go the other way, he said to himself. When he turned around, they were walking slowly behind him. He started walking a little faster, hoping that a taxi would pass by. It seemed that there was no one around. “Where’re all the fucking people?” he said, moaning aloud. He continued to walk, pacing faster, but as fast as he walked, the couple was getting closer to him. Frustrated and scared, he slowed his pace. “Okay, this is it,” he said to himself before he turned to face them. As he turned, they instantly appeared in front of him—so close he had to back up. “What’s up?” he asked, moving his eyes from one to the other. The woman stared at him, measuring him up and down like he was a piece of meat on display. “We noticed you were alone and thought maybe you’d like company,” the man said. He had the same cold stare as the woman. “His scent is different,” the man suddenly said, looking at his partner. Before David could respond, the woman became uncomfortable and suggested to the man to look to the right. In a flash, they quickly left. It was so fast that it shocked David. He turned to where they were looking, which was too dark to see. Then he noticed headlights approaching out of the darkness. “Thank God,” he said, heaving a sigh relief. “Taxi,” the driver asked as he drove up beside him. “Yes, yes. East Houston and Clinton please,” David said, leaning back in the seat and wondering what on earth that was about. “You got it, “the driver responded.