EPISODE 3
Lucita had packed her bags and moved out of the apartment she shared with Dahlia, citing her roommate's newfound "speedster" abilities as the reason. Dahlia's erratic behavior, which Lucita attributed to watching too many episodes of The Flash, had become too much for her to handle. But Lucita's true motives for leaving were far more calculating. She had set her sights on Richard, the handsome and wealthy doctor who had recently entered their lives. With her sights set on him, she was determined to up her game and snag his attention.
First, she broke up with her course rep boyfriend, deeming him too boring for her newly refined tastes. Next, she went on a shopping spree, acquiring a wardrobe of seductive clothes that would make even the most devout of Jesus' disciples weak in the knees. She slipped on a daring dress that barely covered her tiny frame, feeling like a million bucks as she catwalked into the hospital. But her grand entrance was met with disappointment - Richard was nowhere to be found.
Unbeknownst to Lucita, Richard was busy at home, engaged in a game of sibling rivalry with his brother Harrison. He was determined to use Dahlia to get under his brother's skin, and his plan was already in motion.
Dahlia sat in the dining hall beside Richard, her mind racing with ways to pretend to eat and discreetly dispose of the meal presented before her. Harrison's piercing gaze was fixed on her, his eyes lingering on her lips, and their mother's watchful gaze made her feel like a specimen under a microscope. The sound of their hearts beating and the soft hum of conversation in the background was starting to unnerve her.
"You're really pretty," Hannah, Richard's mother, commented, her voice warm and sincere.
"Thanks," Dahlia replied, her smile tight.
"Are you my son's girlfriend?" Hannah asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Dahlia hesitated, "No…" she began, but Richard interrupted her.
"Yes, Mother. She is," he said, his voice confident, as he took her hand and kissed the back of it, his eyes locked on Harrison.
Harrison scoffed and turned away, "I won't believe that," he said, his tone dripping with disbelief.
"Why not?" Hannah asked, her voice firm, as she turned to face him.
"There can't be anyone who likes my baby brother Richard," Harrison said, his smirk annoying Dahlia.
She felt a surge of irritation towards him, but she kept her cool. "Well, there is," she said, her voice clear.
"Who?" Harrison asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Me," Dahlia said, her gaze steady. "I like your brother."
She paused for a moment, before adding, "In fact, I love him."
The room fell silent, with all eyes on her, and Dahlia felt a sense of satisfaction at having shut Harrison down.
Richard's mind reeled as he processed Dahlia's words. "Me, I like your brother." The phrase echoed in his thoughts, leaving him stunned and searching for clarity. He wondered if she truly meant it, or if it was just a clever ploy to appease his mother. He recalled Nurse Abigail's gossip about how she often helped her guy friends save face by professing her liking for them and wondered if the situation was the same.
Hannah's voice broke through his thoughts, her eyes shining with excitement. "You really do?" she asked Dahlia, her tone hopeful.
Dahlia's response was confident. "Yes, Mother." The word "Mother" rolled off her tongue effortlessly, and Hannah's face lit up with joy. This was what she had always wanted - a daughter-in-law who would treat her with the love and respect she deserved.
Hannah beamed. "Well, that's great! I think this means I'll officially be having grandchildren soon." Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Harrison's scowl deepened, his annoyance palpable. "I have to go now," he announced, his voice gruff. "But you haven't touched your food," Hannah protested, concern etched on her face.
"I've lost my appetite," Harrison replied, his tone curt, as he stormed out of the house, jacket in hand.
Hannah's gaze shifted to Richard and Dahlia, her worry evident. "You guys aren't eating either?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Richard stood up, his smile reassuring. "We have to go too, Mother," he said, kissing her cheeks before leading Dahlia out of the house.
As they settled into Richard's car, Dahlia let out a relieved sigh. "Whew!"
Richard's grin grew wider, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He was thrilled that Harrison had lost his appetite, all thanks to Dahlia's presence. The drive ahead promised to be filled with joy and possibility.
As they arrived at the hospital, Richard and Dahlia spotted Lucita strutting out of the building, her provocative dress leaving little to the imagination. She had been waiting for Richard, hoping to catch his eye, and her persistence had finally paid off. With a sly smile, she pounced on him, pulling him into a passionate kiss.
Dahlia's eyes widened in shock as she stepped out of the car, witnessing the intimate moment. She had no idea they were so close. The kiss was brief, but the impact lingered. Lucita playfully hit Richard, teasing him about his kissing skills, while Dahlia's mind reeled from the surprise.
With a hasty goodbye, Dahlia swiftly departed, leaving Richard and Lucita alone. Richard attempted to chase after her, but Lucita detained him, her eyes glinting with a mischievous warning. "Don't you dare, or else," she threatened, her voice dripping with malice.
Richard's eyes narrowed, his anger rising. "Or else what?" he demanded.
Lucita's smile grew wider, her fangs gleaming in the light. "I'll tell her you were the one who bit her," she hissed, her eyes sparkling with malevolence.
Richard's expression turned from annoyance to shock, his mind racing with the implications. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice low and even.
Lucita's laughter was wicked, her eyes glinting with knowing. "Oh, you do know what I'm talking about," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Gath told me everything."
Richard's eyes clenched, his jaw tightening. "Tell me," he growled, his patience wearing thin.
Lucita's smile grew wider, her fangs gleaming in the light. "You're a vampire, Richard," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "And I know all about your transition, how you bit Dahlia without being able to control yourself."
Richard's expression turned from anger to shock, his mind reeling from the revelation. "How did you...?" he trailed off, his eyes locked onto Lucita's.
Lucita's smile grew wider, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Let's just say I have my sources," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Richard's eyes clenched, his jaw tightening. "It was an accident," he said, his voice low and even. "And it wasn't intentional."
Lucita's laughter was husky, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, I'm sure it wasn't," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But do you know how much Dahlia wants to rip the throat of whoever bit her?"
Richard's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. "What do you want, Lucita?" he asked, his voice low and even.
Lucita's smile grew wider, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I want you to join me," she said, her voice dripping with seduction. "And if you don't, I'll make sure Dahlia knows all about your little secret."
Richard's eyes bared his fangs, his sight devious. "If you hurt Dahlia, I swear to God, Lucita, that'd be the last thing you'd do on this earth," he said, his voice low and even.
Lucita's eyes widened, her face pale. She had seen only Gath, the one who bit her, but it was like Richard was on another level. Having an argument with him was going to have to wait. She ran away, cursing under her breath.
*
Dahlia sauntered into the school grounds, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Richard and Lucita's intriguing situation. The kiss they shared still lingered in her mind, its intimacy leaving her wondering if they were romantically involved. She pondered why Richard would invite her to breakfast with his family if he was already committed to Lucita. The thought sent a pang of unease through her, but she quickly brushed it off. "Why should I care, anyway?" she thought to herself.
Lost in her musings, Dahlia failed to notice the person approaching her. Before she knew it, she had bumped into someone, causing her books to scatter across the floor. "Hey! Watch it, will you?" a voice scolded her.
Dahlia's eyes widened in surprise as she gazed down at her books. "Oh my God," she exclaimed, her hands rushing to gather them.
The person who had chastised her spoke up again, "Why are you pissed off when it was you who wasn't looking?"
As Dahlia looked up from her books, her eyes met those of the speaker - Harrison.
"You!" Dahlia exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in Harrison's tall frame and chiseled features. "What the hell are you doing here?" she asked, her tone laced with annoyance.
Harrison's expression turned defensive, his eyes flashing with irritation. "I'm here for work, so stop frowning," he said, his deep voice firm.
Dahlia's gaze narrowed, her lips pursed in disapproval. She bent down to gather her scattered books, her movements deliberate and slow. "You can't even apologize," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
Harrison's eyebrows shot up, his face incredulous. "Apologize for what?" he asked, his tone innocent.
Dahlia's eyes rolled, her exasperation evident. "You pushed me, and now my books are all over the floor," she said, her voice firm.
Harrison's expression turned smug, his lips curling into a smirk. "Do people tell you that you're like a pine tree?" Dahlia asked, her tone sarcastic.
Harrison's eyes crinkled at the corners, his amusement evident. "You mean, tall and sturdy?" he asked, his voice teasing.
Dahlia's eyes flashed, her anger rising. "You're so rude, like a pine tree," she concluded, her voice firm. She turned to walk away, but Harrison's next words stopped her in her tracks.
"Wait, are you really Richard's girlfriend?" he asked, his tone skeptical.
Dahlia's eyes widened, her surprise evident. "Why are you still asking that? I thought we cleared that up at your place," she said, her voice laced with annoyance.
Harrison's eyes narrowed, his gaze intense. "I want to hear it from you," he said, his voice firm.
Dahlia's eyes flashed, her anger rising. "Why?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Harrison's smile turned condescending, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Because you know nothing about my brother, and you're his girlfriend. You're really clueless," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Dahlia's eyes blazed, her anger boiling over. "Watch what you say," she warned, her voice low and even.
Harrison's eyes crinkled at the corners, his amusement evident. "If you want to bad-mouth my brother, do it somewhere else, and not in my presence," she warned, her voice firm. With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Harrison to watch her back as she disappeared into the crowd.
"Such a girl," Harrison thought, his eyes rolling in exasperation.
Dahlia sat in class, her mind still reeling from her earlier confrontation with Harrison. She wondered if the tension between the brothers was a sign of a deeper issue. Harrison had seemed on the verge of revealing something about Richard, but she had cut him off. Whatever it was, she felt it was best directed at Lucita.
Just then, a shrill scream pierced the air. "You bitch!" Lucita's enraged voice echoed through the lecture room, making Dahlia's head whip around. She stood up, her eyes locking onto Lucita's furious face.
"What the hell is your problem?" Dahlia asked, her voice firm but calm.
Lucita's eyes blazed with anger. "My problem is that you won't leave my boyfriend alone!" she shouted, her voice carrying across the room.
The murmurs of their classmates filled the air, their eyes fixed on the unfolding drama. Dahlia's eyes widened in disbelief. "Your boyfriend?" she repeated, her tone incredulous.
Lucita's face twisted in rage. "Yes, Richard! You know exactly what I'm talking about!"
Dahlia's voice remained steady. "Let's take this outside." She reached out to grab Lucita's arm, but the other woman shook her off violently.
"Let go of me, you dog!" Lucita spat, her eyes flashing with venom.
Dahlia's patience snapped. Her hand flew up, her claws extending without her control. The slap landed on Lucita's cheek with a loud crack, leaving a red mark on her pale skin. The room fell silent, the only sound Lucita's stunned gasp.
"How dare you call me a dog?" Dahlia's voice trembled with anger. "Take it back. I said, take your words back!"
Lucita's eyes welled up with tears as she realized her mistake. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The slap still echoed in her ears, and she stumbled backward, her eyes fixed on Dahlia's furious face. She knew she was no match for her former friend, and the thought sent a chill down her spine. If a slap could do this much damage, what would a punch do?
Dahlia swiftly gathered her belongings and strode out of the lecture room, her head held high and her eyes blazing with anger. The stunned silence of her classmates followed her like a shadow, their whispers and gasps echoing off the walls as they struggled to process the sudden outburst.
Lucita, her face crimson with shame and her cheek still stinging from the slap, hastily gathered her things and made a hasty exit. She couldn't bear the thought of staying in the room, where everyone's curious eyes seemed to bore into her skin like needles. The wound on her cheek throbbed in time with her racing heart, a painful reminder of her humiliation.
As she burst out of the lecture room, Lucita almost collided with a group of students in the hallway. She mumbled a hasty apology and kept moving, her eyes fixed on the floor to avoid meeting anyone's gaze. She couldn't shake the feeling that everyone knew her secret, that they could see the truth written on her face like a scarlet letter.
Lucita's mind raced as she hastened her pace, her feet carrying her away from the scene of her embarrassment. She knew she had to get out of there before her wound healed, before everyone realized that she was...different. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum.
*
Dahlia stormed up the stairs of Care Care Hospital, her feet pounding the steps in anger. She could feel her heart racing and her face burning with indignation. She hated public humiliation, and her confrontation with Lucita had left her feeling exposed and vulnerable.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she pulled out her phone and saw a string of messages from her coursemates. Ten different people had texted her, all asking the same question: "Did you really steal Lucita's boyfriend?" Dahlia's eyes rolled in frustration. She knew how quickly rumors spread, and she had no doubt that soon the whole school would be talking about her.
The truth was far from the juicy gossip her classmates were spreading. Richard was her doctor, assigned to her case after her transformation into a vampire. Lucita had brought her strange behavior to his attention, and he had learned about Dahlia's new nature. But Dahlia had never shown any interest in Richard romantically. She had enough to deal with, navigating her new existence as a vampire.
But Lucita's accusations had changed everything. Now, Dahlia was faced with the prospect of being labeled a boyfriend snatcher, and she knew that reputation would be hard to shake. She felt a surge of anger towards Lucita, who had so callously tried to ruin her reputation.
As Dahlia stormed into the hospital room, a nurse trailing behind her asked, "What can I do for you, Miss?"
Dahlia spun around, her eyes blazing with anger. "Do you know what you can do for me?" she snapped, her voice low and menacing. "Get lost!" she screamed, her words echoing off the walls. The startled nurse quickly retreated, her eyes wide with fear.
Without knocking, Dahlia burst into Richard's room, her entrance a stark contrast to the calm atmosphere of the hospital. Richard's eyes widened as he rose from his chair, concern etched on his face. "Dahlia, are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Dahlia's behavior was a clear indication that something was amiss. She marched straight to Richard, her long strides devouring the distance. With a fierce grip, she grasped his shirt, her eyes blazing with fury. "Tell your brat of a girlfriend, Lucita, that next time she dares to cross my path or make me look bad in front of people, I won't hesitate to drain every single drop of blood from that fragile-looking body of hers!" she ranted, her voice dripping with venom.
Richard's eyes widened in alarm as he tried to calm her down. "Calm down, Dahlia," he requested, his hands held up in a placating gesture. But Dahlia was having none of it.
"Don't you dare lay those filthy hands on me!" she spat, shoving him away with a strength that sent him stumbling back.
He landed with a thud, his back hitting the wall with a loud crack. Richard's eyes widened in surprise as he gazed up at Dahlia, her face contorted in rage. This wasn't the same woman he had left just that morning, calm and collected. Now, her eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, her pupils dilated with anger. She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her with a force that shook the walls.
Richard slumped into his chair, his hands rubbing his head in disbelief. What had triggered this sudden outburst? And why was Lucita spreading rumors about their non-existent relationship? He breathed heavily, relieved that Lucita hadn't revealed the truth about his vampiric nature. With a swift motion, he rose from his chair and vanished into the night, leaving the hospital behind.
Meanwhile, Dahlia burst into her shared house, her anger still simmering. She had barely contained her hunger all day, and now it was growing more insistent by the minute. "Darn it," she cursed under her breath, her eyes scanning the empty rooms. She needed to feed, and fast. With a swift decision, she sped out of the house, her feet pounding the pavement as she hit the streets.
As she turned a corner, she spotted two women exiting a department store. Her eyes locked onto them, her fangs aching with anticipation. But just as she made to approach them, a sudden gust of wind swept past her face, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of a vampire. Dahlia froze, her senses on high alert. She stood there for a minute or two, her heart pounding in her chest, before realizing that a vampire had indeed passed by.
Dahlia's eyes locked onto the woods, her senses on high alert as she abandoned her pursuit of the women. She sprinted towards the trees, her feet pounding the earth with a newfound urgency. The scent of the vampire grew stronger, drawing her deeper into the forest. Her mind raced with possibilities - could this be the one who had bitten her? The one who had changed her life forever?
As she ran, the trees seemed to close in around her, their branches creaking ominously in the wind. Dahlia's heart pounded in her chest, her senses heightened as she followed the scent. She could feel her fangs aching, her mouth watering in anticipation. If this was indeed a vampire, she might finally get the answers she had been seeking.
*
Richard strode into the heart of the woods, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of prey. His gaze landed on a wild pig rooting around in the underbrush, and his fangs ached with anticipation. With lightning-fast reflexes, he pounced on the unsuspecting animal, his long fingers closing around its neck like a vice. As he sank his fangs into its jugular, the pig's blood flowed like a river, quenching his thirst.
Meanwhile, Dahlia ventured into the woods, her senses on high alert for any sign of the mysterious vampire. She wandered deeper into the forest, her feet quiet on the leaf-carpeted ground. Suddenly, a familiar scent wafted through the air, transporting her back to a place she knew all too well. It was the same cologne Richard wore!
Her heart racing, Dahlia sprinted through the trees, her eyes scanning the darkness for a glimpse of him. And then, she saw it - a figure bent over an animal, his lab coat a dead giveaway that he was a doctor. As she approached, she realized with a shock that the man was Richard, his mouth smeared with blood, his eyes wide with surprise.
With a fierce cry, Dahlia grabbed Richard's shirt, yanking him upright and spinning him around to face her. The sudden movement left her off balance, and she tumbled onto the forest floor, her eyes locked on Richard's blood-stained face. "Ric...ard?" she stuttered.
"What's going on here?" Dahlia demanded, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her.
Richard approached her cautiously, his hands raised in a placating gesture. "I can explain," he said, his voice laced with a hint of desperation.
But Dahlia was having none of it. She scuttled backward, her hands splayed on the forest floor as if to ward him off. "Tch, like I wasn't a vampire myself," she muttered, her eyes flashing with irritation.
Richard's face contorted in a pleading expression. "Please, let me explain," he begged, his voice cracking with emotion.
Dahlia's response was a vehement shake of her head. She sprang to her feet, her eyes blazing with anger. "You're a vampire, Richard. What's there to explain? You've been lying to me all along."
Richard's eyes dropped, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "It was an accident," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Dahlia's laughter was a harsh, mocking sound. "An accident? That's always your excuse, isn't it, Richard? No wonder your brother said I didn't even know you." Her voice dripped with venom. "He was right. I don't know you."
With that, she turned on her heel and sped off into the darkness, leaving Richard sitting on the forest floor, his face buried in his hands. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from his face, his eyes welling up with tears. Finally, he rose to his feet and raced out of the woods, determined to make things right with Dahlia, no matter what it took.