Chapter 4

Miranda-

I approached the car with a smile and instantly recognized the giddy grin on Jamie's lips.

"Nanda, can I call you Nanda?" Was how Jamie greeted me as soon as I entered her white Jeep Wrangler.

"Uh sure." I giggled slightly.

"Cool," she pepped, "Nanda you look great! I think you'll fit right into the scene. No one will notice that you're new."

"Fresh meat, you mean?" I echoed her words from earlier.

"Well, now that you mention it, it may not be hard to see that you are a bit... different." Jamie stated hesitantly, her vision looking my way for a brief second, before focusing back on the road ahead.

"Different how? I mean everyone will mostly be young, the only difference is that they stay up until the sunrise, when usually I'd be asleep." I imagined and Jamie released a short laugh.

"Well, that may not be the only thing that sets you apart from the rest." She replied after her laughter died down.

"Do I want to know...?" I trailed off, my fingers finding interest in each other.

"You'll see." Jamie replied.

I nodded but said nothing more. Instead, I was more focused on the empty streets. All the businesses were closed for the night. Even the gas station lights had been dimmed down. There were no street admirers, no smokers in the street corners, no late-night park goers. The sunlight had been entirely erased from above, and instead, the full silver moon shown it's fluorescent-like ray down onto the dark streets of the city. The town itself appeared like it housed ghosts instead of humans. The homes I noticed bordering the street were all dark around the windows, which indicated that they were either vacant, or the owners had already turned in for the evening.

"It's really quiet, even for a rural city, don't you think?" I questioned carefully.

Jamie sent me a side glance, then shrugged, she didn't offer any explanation or opinion. So, I attempted to swallow my curiosity, and didn't ask any further question.

"So why the sudden move to Montana?" Jamie asked a few moments later.

I looked in her direction, and repeated her actions from earlier, I shrugged, then took my time to speak up.

"Just needed to get away from my mom's shadow." I answered, keeping my thoughts private.

"Not much of a sharer," Jamie analyzed, "I completely understand. I just hope that you find a fresh start here." She added.

I smiled softly, but it was forced. This town had changed so much since I've been here. Would I even be able to have a fresh start? There were so many new people and routines, not to mention this Mayor who was running the town and it somehow affected everyone else who lived here.

I didn't make my unease known to Jamie, nor did I echo the thoughts of my curiosity, instead I simply accepted her well wishes.

"As long as it's drama free and peaceful. Peace and quiet, it's all I want." I replied hoping my tone was genuine, for the longing for peace in my words echoed deep within my chest.

"Yes well, I can guarantee the quiet maybe at home, but definitely not during your shifts at Georgie's," Jamie commented, "speaking of which, we're here." She pointed out, as she turned into the parking lot for the club, which was already packed.

Jamie parked towards the back of the club, and as she shifted the car into park and turned off the engine, she explained to me, "So employees park back here. It's just more efficient and for safety purposes."

I nodded, and we exited the car, and approached the closed door which I assumed led into the building.

"This door is always locked from the inside, all you have to do is knock, and the guard will open." Jamie continued with her instructions.

I shook my head like a good student but made no comment.

We stopped at the iron door, and Jamie performed three sets of two quick knocks each. I made note of the pattern, just as we heard the lock click from the inside, before the door was pushed opened by a lanky man. Like Jamie, this man was pale, he was tall and skinny. His hair was cut short and dyed bright blue. His orbits appeared sunken into his skull, and the dark bags did not help improve his appearance. His face was bony, his cheekbones long and angled downwards towards his elongated square jaw. He was dressed in all black, and he barely nodded in our direction as we entered the building.

Stepping inside, we emerged into the main hall which led to George's office, as well as straight into the club. Jamie headed into George's office, where we dropped off our belongings in the small lockers located in the office. Then we stepped back into the hall and started heading towards the main room. Even before entering the club area, I could feel the bass pulsing directly in my heart. It disturbed my heartbeat in a very uncomfortable manner. The vibrations from the speaker resonated deep in my throat, the tremors making it feel impossible to swallow the saliva that lined my tongue.

Jamie smiled as she grabbed my hand and led me behind the bar, while walking and dancing to the beat pushing from the speakers located all over the building. As soon as she appeared settled behind the bar, the area was suddenly flooded with people and orders were being screamed from left to right. I stood towards the wall of liquors which faced the patrons and the rest of the club.

When it came to said patrons, some appeared normal, like me, with naturally tinged skin, normal pupils, and normal teeth. However, majority of the bodies which filled the space were pale bodies. Those who appeared like normal humans often clung against those who appeared pale and feverish. When the pale ones smiled, I couldn't help but notice the clean, gleaming white, yet extra sharp canine teeth. Some of the pale ones who noticed me often stared for a moment too long, and on more than one occasion, Jamie had to divert conversations that often included me as a topic.

For a while, the environment included vibrating bodies on the dancefloor, flashing lights, people drinking, and loud music. The club altogether had three waitresses, and I could quickly understand why they hired help. As the hours grew further and further into the night, so did the body count inside the building. The waitresses were getting bombarded with orders, and Jamie herself was drowning in drinks.

Noticing the situation, I decided to step in. I grabbed a small notepad from behind the bar and found a Staff pin under a pile of napkins. Placing the pin above my left breast, and grabbing the notepad, I signaled to Jamie that I was stepping in. She smiled my way thankfully, and I barely caught it when she mouthed 'be careful' my way. I nodded to assure her that I would be fine, then I stepped from behind the bar and began navigating around the tables to see who had ordered and who still needed to be served.

My first run back to the bar, I had ten drinks for just one table. I didn't miss the strange and heavy glances from the sunken orbs around me. Some of the bodies I bumped into while moving around the room were colder than ice, and I barely came in contact with warm skin. In fact, had it not been for my moving in between the bar and tables, I would've eventually cuddled against a corner with a wooly blanket, given the cool temperature in the club, even though it was packed from wall to wall with bodies. The loud music eventually melted with my heartbeat, and I could now swallow without any discomfort. Though I was sure, the next morning, Aunt May would have to scream for me to hear her.

By the time I had made my third run from between the bar and the tables, I bumped into George.

"Miranda? Well, this is a great surprise. I knew I could count on you to be of great help." George greeted me.

"Hi George, yeah I noticed that it was getting crazy busy, so I hope you don't mind." I replied, although it felt like my vocal cords were tearing apart.

"No need to scream darling, I can hear you just fine?" George replied with a smile.

"Really?" I squeaked, then I cleared my throat, "Well okay, cause I can barely hear myself." I noted.

George nodded his head, as if he wasn't surprised.

"Well yes, off you go now." George brushed me off.

"Okay." I said and started walking away.

"Oh, and Miranda?" I heard him call after me.

"Yeah?" I answered, looking back at George.

"Be careful love." He warned as well.

"Yeah, of course." I nodded, though at this point I found it strange that another person would tell me to be careful.

I quickly got back into the routine of ordering drinks and delivering. My main route traveling to and from the bar. As the clock began ticking towards midnight, and more bodies filled the club, there came a sudden moment when the atmosphere was disturbed. Three men entered the club, and the mood instantly shifted. Although the music was still playing, I could still feel that the crowd itself had gone silent. Bodies stopped dancing, people stopped drinking, and all focus had shifted towards the main entrance, where the three men stood.

I was standing behind the bar, waiting for Jamie to fill my orders, when I caught glimpse of them. The man who stood towards the front of the group, was tall, his hair was dark, he wore a leather jacket and black pants. His orbs were menacing, as he gazed down every single person in the room, and yet somehow his gaze missed me, for a taller pale figure hid my figure from his glare. Behind him stood two other men. The one on his right had short dark blond hair, he wore a simple white T-shirt, and dark jeans. The one who stood on the left also wore a jacket. His hair was long and tied in a bun behind his head.

The men began walking towards a booth area, which I now noticed was almost completely unoccupied, with only a few patrons that appeared human, and yet not. They weren't pale like the majority of the population inside this building, and yet, their features seem perfect, almost as if they were not human. As they walked, the crowd parted like splitting rocks. They paved a clean path through the center of the club. The men, especially the one who appeared to lead the group walked with the arrogance which could easily rival that of a mythological god. The pale bodies especially seem to scurry away from him. He walked with his head straight, his vision focused and forward.

As this occurred, I looked around the room until I saw George, who stood on the opposite corner, and watched this unfold in his club. He appeared unbothered by the change in atmosphere.

Once the men reached the booth of their choice, the leader sat on one side, and the other two men sat on the other side. As soon as they were seated, the crowd merged back into its once vibrating ensemble, and the club started to liven up once again. Jamie cleared her throat and filled my orders. I grabbed the tray and headed on to deliver the drinks. Once I did so, I moved to the next table, and found myself a few feet away from the booth were the mysterious men sat. I finished taking the orders and chanced a look in the man's direction. He was served a beer bottle, and just as he twisted the cap off, and brought the bottle to his lips, he stopped, and his vision flashed in my direction.

I couldn't understand what occurred next. First, my heart thumped to a harsh stop against my ribcage. Then I couldn't breathe. A heat flashed up from my feet to my head, and before I knew it, my heart was racing in the cavity of my chest. I became slightly dizzy, and goosebumps caused my skin to tighten and liven with tingles. I shook my head and broke eye contact, and I hurried back to the bar.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jamie asked, when she noticed my pale face.

"I- I don't know, I'm just very dizzy all of the sudden."

"Do you want to sit down for a moment? I think you just need to take a breath." Jamie offered me a stool, I accepted it, feeling most grateful.

I looked up from where I sat, and though I was shielded by countless bodies, his eyesight still managed to remain trained on my position. I gulped, and looked away, but not a moment later, my gaze was pulled back to his. He took a gulp from his drink, then placed the bottle down. He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. I was now panting, unsure why I was suddenly so hot and dizzy.

Jamie handed me a bottle of water, and her eyes took notice that I was looking off in the distance. She followed my vision, and I could only assume that she saw the man staring my way as well. In my peripheral vision, I noticed Jamie call George over. George approached us, and I could faintly hear Jamie whisper something to George.

"Something's up." She said.

But her voice was coming in wave-like echoes in my ear canals, because I couldn't look away from the man's gaze. Not until George lowered himself before me and blocked my vision entirely from the man.

George smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder. Then suddenly, a loud, dangerous growl sounded across the club. The music was turned off immediately, and all focus turned to the source of the growl. Except for George's eyes. His gaze remained on me. And he was smiling. Then, I heard it. A word, which caused my heart to pound with both undeniable fear and yet acknowledgement.

"MINE."