MAMA’S FACE POPS INTO MY HEAD EVERY night, like a late-night TV show, just as I’m about to drift off. I see her smile, all soft and gentle like a moonbeam, and her eyes, full of love, like a mug of steaming hot chocolate. But then, the memories come flooding back, and bam! It’s time for another guilt-marathon. That day started like any other. Mama – bless her soul – was facing down two monsters, Alzheimer's and cancer. Her skin was as pale as a ghost, and her once-lively hair clung to her head like soldiers in a war. But her eyes, man. They still had that spark, like she knew something the rest of us didn’t. “Can you come with me to the store?” Mama asked in a voice as delicate as a butterfly’s wing. There I was, hooked on my game, fingers moving over the controller like a piano virtuoso on energy drinks. My buddies egged me on through the headset, and I was this close to the taste of sweet, sweet victory. “Mama, can you hang on a sec? I'm in the middle of something,” I s
TIME FLEW BY LIKE PAGES FROM A CALENDAR caught in a hurricane, but that guilt just wouldn't quit. It was my shadow, my constant reminder of how badly I'd messed up. I was a sad excuse for the dude I used to be, crushed under the weight of my guilt like a bug under a shoe.I started spending all my time in my room, getting real cozy with the darkness. I'd lie in bed for hours, staring at the ceiling, replaying that awful day in my head. Guilt wrapped me up tight, like a burrito of bad feels. Dad tried to help, but I shoved him away. I didn't deserve his love, his forgiveness. I was the reason Mom was gone, and nothing he said could change that.It all started with me slacking off at school, neglecting my friends, and feeling downright miserable. Then, some so-called “geniuses” told me that drinking would make everything better. I figured, why not give it a try? Before I knew it, I was hooked.I began to spend my days hanging out with my new best friends: booze and poor choices. My lif
PEERING INTO ANGEL'S EYES, IT WAS LIKE looking into a sad, deflated birthday balloon of his soul. And boy, was he in a pickle! “Listen, pal,” he said, desperation leaking from every pore, “I need your help! This whole vampire thing is ruining my life and I wanna be the boss of it, not the other way around. I’m sick of being a fanged horror story.” I gave him the old once-over, feeling sympathy for this guy, all twisted up inside. He saw himself as a total monster, leaving chaos in his wake like a clumsy bull in a china shop. He thought he was cursed to leave bloody fang marks everywhere he went. Talk about a recipe for guilt! “I hear you,” I said with a sigh, feeling his pain down to my toes. “You’re carrying a ton of baggage and the past is hanging onto you like a leech on a swimmer. But, you know what they say—even the darkest night has to split when the sun comes up. There’s always hope, even for the vampire who lost his way.” I patted his shoulder, all friendly-like. “You h
CHLOE WAS STRETCHED OUT ON THE HOSPITAL bed, staring at her phone like it was her ticket to a candy paradise. She was hooked on Candy Crush, with the bright colors and shapes practically exploding right in front of her face. Meanwhile, Scarlett was chilling in a chair, scrolling away on her phone and diving deep into the wild world of social media. As Scarlett checked out her newsfeed, a whole lot of birthday love was being sent to Jaja, who was pretty much the social queen at school. There were tons of pictures from Jaja's awesome birthday bash, showing all the fun and laughs going on far away from their super quiet hospital room. Scarlett and I took in every single photo, practically tasting the excitement and feeling the good vibes. It was almost like we could hear the laughter, feel the warm hugs, and smell the yummy birthday cake — we felt like we were right there with Jaja and her friends. But no, here we were, stuck in the most boring place on Earth — a hospital room. As Sc
CHLOE'S LAUGHTER RANG OUT LIKE A BELL. “Werewolf and Vampire hunters? You've got to be kidding me! Are you guys pranksters or something?” Kent's brow furrowed, his voice dropping an octave. “We're not here for laughs, girl. We're all business.” Ben, standing tall and stoic beside him, offered a firm nod of agreement. Chloe shrugged, her amusement waning like a birthday balloon with a slow leak. Kent leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a mix of urgency and curiosity. “Haven't you heard? People have been dying under suspicious circumstances – bites on their necks and not a single survivor… except for you.” Chloe's face paled, her lower lip quivering like a sapling in a storm. “I-I'm not sure what happened…” she stammered, shaking her head in confusion. With a compassion that belied his no-nonsense demeanor, Kent softened his tone. “For your safety, and the safety of Shadowvale, we need you to tell us who – or what – bit you.” His gaze locked onto Chloe's, unwavering and int
AS CHLOE, SCARLETT AND I SHUFFLED TOWARD Chloe's uncle's car, I leaned in and whispered, “Hey, what was all that about?” Chloe scrunched her face up like a crumpled paper bag. “Huh?” she said, rolling her eyes like a slot machine. “You know exactly what I mean,” I hissed through gritted teeth. Chloe, Scarlett, and I piled into the back seat of Uncle Mike's car, while Emilia whined her way to the front seat like a siren in a traffic jam. Finally, Uncle Mike's wife joined him in the front, and the car growled to life like a hungry bear waking from hibernation. I leaned in close to Chloe, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Alright, spill the beans. Why did you tell those men that your brother is a vampire?” Chloe and Scarlett shot me the kind of look you'd give someone who just claimed they could talk to houseplants. “I don't know what you're going on about,” Chloe replied, her voice dripping with confusion like honey from a beehive. “Why would I say that? That's just…
"I AM SORRY, FIONA, I DIDN'T MEAN TO leave you behind.” My heart pounded in my chest, mirroring the tapping of her impatient foot. Her face crumpled like a discarded tissue, skepticism written all over it. “Oh, really? So, what happened that made you leave?” Her words sliced through the air, sharp and icy. Panic surged within me, my brain kicking into overdrive, desperately searching for a plausible fib. “Huh… something came up, and I had to leave,” I stammered. Her eyebrow arched like a questioning caterpillar. “Huh… something like what…?” My inner alarm blared, and I knew I needed another lie – fast! “Huh… I should get you something to drink,” I blurted, scurrying off to the kitchen. Operation: Lie Creation was underway, and I needed a moment to brainstorm. I yanked open the freezer door, revealing a cornucopia of gastronomic delights. Thanks to Vivaldi's mind control, my freezer overflowed with all sorts of scrumptious treats. Icy air tickled my face as I grabbed whatever I
STANDING ON THE DOORSTEP, I HESITATED, unsure if pushing that doorbell was such a good idea. Before I could change my mind, the door swung open, revealing Chloe, her face brightening instantly as she saw me. I was promptly swept into a bear hug before being led by the hand into the house, feeling as nervous as a child on the first day of school. Inside, I spotted Winter, looking as though she had just tasted something incredibly sour. She was biting her nails apprehensively, clearly not ready to handle any more drama. I offered a small, friendly wave to reassure her that I meant no harm, and she returned the gesture, albeit half-heartedly, perhaps only out of politeness. I settled on the couch as Chloe wasted no time in asking, “Where on earth have you been?” It was a valid question, and I let out a sigh before answering, “After everything that happened to you in the hospital and the trip down memory lane I took in Shadowvale, I needed some time to process it all. With the past c