Interlude I
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The hunger was gnawing on her, tearing through her stomach, as if it was a beast trying to eat her from the inside out. She kept her hands still, but she could feel the trembling inside her, desperate to unleash itself. She was glad she got to enter the nightclub without having to speak, because she might have snarled if she had to.
The UV light flooded her from above and the side, warm enough to tan if one stayed long enough. A typical airlock-styled corridor where one had to make their way through to prove not being a vampire. Plenty of other predators around here, and they didn't like their competition. But the lights felt simply comfortable to her.
Most people here were rather drunk, or under other kinds of influence. Her senses were far too sharp right now, betraying the scent of sweat, alcohol, cigarettes, a touch of strawberry. There was also the hint of blood, but that didn't draw her attention. It was the wrong kind.
To be fair, she was in as much a daze, hunger, thirst, trying to consume her. She ordered through hand gestures, accepted due to the loudness of the music, hoping to distract herself. Bottom-shelf liquor, tasting cheaper than it was, but the bitter aftertaste at least consumed her senses for a while.
Another sweetness came to her nose and subconsciously her eyes tried to find its origin. It came from a balcony, the VIP area of the club. Of the people looking down at the crowd, she only recognised the owner. In a daze, she found her footsteps bringing her closer. She resisted, going into the bathroom rather than loiter and draw the man's attention.
When she came back out, the man was already gone. And somehow she knew, beyond a doubt, that he had run away from her.
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Fear. Vomit. Blood. Strawberries. Air filled with those scents, a trail left behind by prey. Prey that realised now they never were a hunter. Never would be.
Cold, wet, cobblestones. Rain gone, more coming. But now, just scent, unhindered. Silence, car horns, distant. Footsteps, running. Not fast enough.
Scent growing stronger, closer, near. Fearful panting, scream stuck in throat, trying to escape, failing, futile. Wrong direction, dead end, no hope.
It tried to rush up the wall, made it midway. One jump, one claw, one leg. Dragged down, screamed, too much noise. A throat that had to go.
A crunch of bones and more, iron taste in mouth, gurgling sounds rather than screaming now. Desperate hands trying to claw away, easily snapped aside. Such a sweet taste. Filling.
Sirens from behind, screams, shouts, buzzing nearing. Interrupted, but no choice. A wall that was no obstacle, gardens, bushes, fences, more alleys. Buzzing now further away, shook off. Escaped.
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