Chapter Seven

Arayah sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the newspaper article in her hands. She had been trying to ignore it for days, but the more she tried to push it out of her mind, the more it seemed to consume her thoughts. She couldn't help but feel that something was off about the story, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to know the truth.

She finally decided to bring up the topic with her parents, hoping they might have some answers. They were sitting in the living room, sipping on tea and chatting about the weather. Arayah nervously cleared her throat and interrupted their conversation.

"Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you about something," she said, holding out the newspaper article.

Her parents looked at each other and then back at her. They seemed to sense the seriousness in her voice and put down their tea cups.

"What is it, dear?" her mother asked, taking the article from her hand.

"It's about this," Arayah said, pointing to the headline. "I want to tell you that I haven't canceled my interest yet about this. I would like to go and you know,-"

"The Alpha will never choose you if that's what you think. Sometimes you have to be realistic with the things you say girl." Her father chipped in, looking away disapprovingly. Her face scrunched up, contorting to frown as she looked away towards the woods through, wondering when he would ever speak or say something good about her. Most times times always stressed on the negatives and made sure that everyone had a brunt of it whenever he was ready for a topic like that. In most cases like this, her option would normally be to ignore him but she was boiling inside.

Her parents exchanged a worried look and then turned their attention back to her. They tried to talk things over quietly with her, but before they realized what was happening, they began to shout at each other.

"We need to be careful about what we say, you know that!" her father said, his voice rising.

"I know, but she's our daughter, we can't just keep her from doing things she wants to.!" her mother retorted, her voice matching her husband's in volume.

"Send her out then, and they'll send me back her ashes before they take you away. You should use your senses."

Arayah sat back, watching as her normally calm and collected parents became agitated and emotional. She couldn't help but feel like she was at the center of a storm, and she didn't know how to make it stop.

As the shouting continued, Arayah began to feel overwhelmed.

"You can't go there," her father suddenly snapped at her, his voice stern. "You know the risks."

"But why not?" Arayah asked, desperation creeping into her voice. "I've never met another vampire before. I want to know more about who I am."

"Because they'll kill you if they see you," her mother said, tears filling her eyes. "You're different, Arayah. You're not like them."8i

Arayah frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You're not a monster, like the ones in that article," her father said, his voice filled with conviction. "You may be a vampire, but you were born with a conscience. You have a sense of right and wrong, and that sets you apart from the rest of them."

Arayah let out a sigh, feeling a mix of relief and sadness. "I just wanted to belong somewhere, to have a place where I fit in but you people will continue to make sure I never do whatever I want to become of some stupid talks about being a vampire and all that. I am tired, I am obviously tired of hiding in the shadows and always being to your wills."

"You belong here, and we're not going to allow anybody to take you away from us."

"Then stop discriminating against me!" She yelled, batting her eyelids and looking up at the ceiling.

"We just want what's good for you sweetie."

Arayah stumbled up, her heart pounding in her chest and tears streaming down her face. She had just had the most intense argument with her parents, and she felt like she was suffocating. She needed to get away, to clear her mind and to think. She found herself running, without any real direction, until she reached the edge of the woods.

Arayah bolted out of the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She had heard enough of her parents' warnings, enough of their attempts to control her life. She was a vampire, yes, but she was not weak. She was not afraid.

As she ran, the woods loomed before her, dark and mysterious. The trees rose high into the sky, their branches stretching out like arms trying to grasp her. The leaves rustled softly in the wind, whispering secrets she couldn't understand. The scent of damp earth and pine filled her nostrils, and she breathed deeply, feeling her anger dissipate just a little.

Her heightened senses came alive as she ventured further into the woods. Her vision sharpened, and she could see every detail of the surrounding landscape, from the intricacies of the tree bark to the delicate flutter of a butterfly's wings. Her sense of smell was equally heightened, and she could smell the sweetness of the wildflowers that dotted the forest floor, the musk of a deer in the distance, and the tang of fear that seemed to linger in the air.

She ran for what felt like hours, her feet pounding against the earth, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Finally, she came to a stop, leaning against a tree and panting. She closed her eyes, taking in deep breaths, trying to calm herself. When she opened them again, she was surrounded by the beauty around her which took the view off a bit of the cobwebs.

The wind in her face was cold, but it was a welcome change from the suffocating air of her home. Her anger fueled her, and she ran faster and faster, until she finally reached a stream.

She slowed down, taking in deep breaths of the cool, fresh air. The stream was just as she remembered it, clear and cold, flowing gently over rocks and through the trees. She stepped into the water, feeling it rush around her feet, and she shivered. She lay down on the bank, letting the cool water soothe her.

As she lay there, she felt her anger start to dissipate. The sound of the water and the rustling of leaves was like a lullaby, and she found herself calming down. Her senses, heightened by her anger, became more acute, and she could smell the scent of pine and the sound of birds singing. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, she felt at peace.

But then, a memory surfaced, one she had tried so hard to forget. She remembered the day she nearly drowned in this very stream, how she had struggled to stay afloat, how the water had filled her lungs, and how she had come so close to death. She shuddered at the thought, and she sat up, feeling a chill run down her spine.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She needed to be strong, to not let the fear control her. She stood up, feeling the water rush around her ankles, and she took a deep breath. She would not let her past define her, and she would not let her parents control her future. She would find a way to be free.

The woods were quiet and still, and the only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of a bird. Arayah's senses were heightened, her hearing and sense of smell especially sharp, as if her anger had sharpened them. She walked for what felt like hours, taking in the sights and smells of the woods, until she reached a stream.

Arayah approached the stream and sat down on a large rock beside it. She remembered the time she nearly drowned in this very stream years ago, but she felt calm now, as if the water were calling to her, inviting her in. She dipped her feet into the water, and the coolness of it against her skin was soothing. She lay back on the rock, letting the sounds of the water and the woods wash over her.

As she lay there, she couldn't help but wonder why her parents would never let her go. They had always been overprotective, but it seemed like they were becoming increasingly so. They told her that she couldn't leave the house because she was a vampire and the humans would kill her if they saw her. But Arayah couldn't help but feel suffocated and trapped.

"Why can't I go out and see the world?" she muttered to herself. "Why can't I live my life like a normal person?"

Arayah's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She sat up quickly, listening intently. She could hear someone approaching, and she wasn't sure whether she should be frightened or relieved. She stood up and turned to face the person, and her heart sank when she saw her father, who had been searching for her.

"Arayah, what are you doing out here?" he asked, his voice a mixture of concern and anger.

"I just needed to get away," Arayah replied, her voice shaking. "I needed to think."

"You can't just run away from your problems," her father said, his tone becoming stern. "Your mother and I are only trying to protect you. You're not safe out here, especially not now."

"I'm tired of always being cooped up," Arayah said, her anger returning. "I want to live my life like a normal person."

"You're not a normal person, Arayah," her father said, his voice softening. "You're a vampire, and the humans will kill you if they see you. That's why we can't let you leave the house."

Arayah felt a deep sadness wash over her. She knew her father was right, but it didn't make her feel any better. She turned and looked out at the stream, and for a moment, she felt like she was looking at a different world, one that she could never be a part of.

"Come on," her father said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go home."

Arayah nearly pushed off his hands in disgust but she stopped and pushed the thoughts off her mindet herself be led back home, her thoughts consumed with the fear of never being able to live a normal life, and the anger at being kept a prisoner in her own home.