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Description
Life is like house of cards, you spend a life time building it up, but all it takes is a small push, a slight breeze and it all comes crashing down around you; and all you know, stood for and worked towards is lost in the swirling mists of time, until they, and you are forgotten. These were my exact thoughts as I slowly made my way towards the crowded seafront.

It was a warm late-summer's day, the sun was glistening on the water like a vast sea of precious jewels; there were a few clouds dotted in the sky like lost sheep, abandoned, alone. Children were playing in the sand, families walking by slowly licking their ice creams and enjoying the last of the summer. Walking past the promenade and away from the beach I heard the birds singing their joyous tunes as I entered the park. A thousand memories were brought back as I fondly remembered all the times i had spent here as a little girl. Smiling I made my way to the large tree in the middle of the park and sat down between two majestic roots, I often came here to think; it was calming and it always felt like someone was watching over me, protecting me from harm. I looked out over the water and noticed a family of ducks blissfully eating the bread that young children were throwing in their direction. I heard the happy screams of a game of tag and laughter rang through the air.

Although I was sat in the middle of it all, it felt like I was watching it through a bowl of water, or seeing things through a mirror; I felt distant, like I didn't belong any more. All the familiar landmarks, sounds and smells seemed so new to me, like I had never looked properly before; like I had never appreciated the beauty around me. Maybe I saw things like this because I knew it was only a matter of time before it would be taken from me.

A cool breeze swept my hair across my neck, slowly caressing it. I ran my fingers over my neck. And there it was. Still fresh and painful to touch, I cringed as I stroked the other uneven marks on my neck from older ones, they were hard by now, leaving rough semicircular scars from where they had done it before. My heart began to race and I felt cold beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I had this reaction every time I remembered it. But I had no choice; that is the price you pay for knowing something you shouldn't, I didn't choose to know it, I was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It all happened three months ago, i was out late with my friends, we had been to a local concert, the music was good, the atmosphere great and i felt like i belonged, truly belonged. I was enjoying the cool night air despite the late hour as I walked towards the street that ran into the end of my road. As i neared the end of the street i stopped abruptly. There was a voice coming from inside one of the abandoned houses which had been bought by the government and had new building plans written on a lamppost in front of it. The voice wasn't much louder than a whisper but it rang in my head as though the source was right beside me. It took me a while to recover from the sudden shock, but then i heard the voice again; it must have belonged to a man as the deep timbre echoed through my skull. "do you have the sacrifices?" He said.

My heart froze at those words. But why did i care? Before i knew what i was doing i found myself closing the short distance between me and the run down front door of the house. But why? What was i going to do? If they really were a threat and did have "the sacrifices", then how was i to help them? I vaguely remember looking around to see if anyone was near as i raised my hand to knock. I gasped as i realised the stupidity of what i was doing. I wanted to turn, to run; but too late, the door started opening. A hand reached out and grabbed me by the neck, pulling me into the house with the brute force of a full grown bear. I froze, what had i done? I opened my mouth to scream, but could make no sound, my mouth was too dry with fear.

I was looking into the face of a middle aged man, his long, dark hair fell around his face like curtains framing the threatening horrors that lurk in its shadows. He wore an expression of pure rage, but at the same time he seemed calm. He looked at me through slit-like, red rimmed eyes reading my expression. From what i could see of his clothes he looked like a stereotypical pale, leather robed Goth, but there was something very unusual about him that i could not quite put my finger on. I felt the studded leather gloves pressing hard against my throat. "No!" I rasped and struggled beneath his iron grip.

He smiled venomously revealing sharp, pearly white teeth. I didn't let myself think about what i was looking at, i didn't want to believe it. Another robed figure emerged out of the shadows, similarly clad and towering. He was strongly built and walked with a sense of authority, the red substance around his twisted mouth confirmed my fear. "Vampire" I thought and felt my stomach lurch. Just as i had made this realisation the second man opened his mouth and spoke with a voice that sounded like a thousand people had risen from the grave and whispered their last words afresh: "We can't risk it. She knows too much. You know what must be done!" And with that, the man who still held me in his vice like grip lowered his head, brushing my throat with his lips and sunk his teeth, deep into my neck.

I didn't feel the pain at first, but then it started, like a fire it spread down my neck and across my torso. I had never felt such pain before, a searing, sharp pain, paralysing every inch of my body. Finally my throat had cleared and i managed to let out an agonised scream, my breath ran short and i started to see lights popping in front of my eyes before all feeling and perception of time had left me.

I can't remember what happened next, but i knew what they were, and i knew that my life would never be the same again.

Description
Life is like house of cards, you spend a life time building it up, but all it takes is a small push, a slight breeze and it all comes crashing down around you; and all you know, stood for and worked towards is lost in the swirling mists of time, until they, and you are forgotten. These were my exact thoughts as I slowly made my way towards the crowded seafront.

It was a warm late-summer's day, the sun was glistening on the water like a vast sea of precious jewels; there were a few clouds dotted in the sky like lost sheep, abandoned, alone. Children were playing in the sand, families walking by slowly licking their ice creams and enjoying the last of the summer. Walking past the promenade and away from the beach I heard the birds singing their joyous tunes as I entered the park. A thousand memories were brought back as I fondly remembered all the times i had spent here as a little girl. Smiling I made my way to the large tree in the middle of the park and sat down between two majestic roots, I often came here to think; it was calming and it always felt like someone was watching over me, protecting me from harm. I looked out over the water and noticed a family of ducks blissfully eating the bread that young children were throwing in their direction. I heard the happy screams of a game of tag and laughter rang through the air.

Although I was sat in the middle of it all, it felt like I was watching it through a bowl of water, or seeing things through a mirror; I felt distant, like I didn't belong any more. All the familiar landmarks, sounds and smells seemed so new to me, like I had never looked properly before; like I had never appreciated the beauty around me. Maybe I saw things like this because I knew it was only a matter of time before it would be taken from me.

A cool breeze swept my hair across my neck, slowly caressing it. I ran my fingers over my neck. And there it was. Still fresh and painful to touch, I cringed as I stroked the other uneven marks on my neck from older ones, they were hard by now, leaving rough semicircular scars from where they had done it before. My heart began to race and I felt cold beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I had this reaction every time I remembered it. But I had no choice; that is the price you pay for knowing something you shouldn't, I didn't choose to know it, I was merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It all happened three months ago, i was out late with my friends, we had been to a local concert, the music was good, the atmosphere great and i felt like i belonged, truly belonged. I was enjoying the cool night air despite the late hour as I walked towards the street that ran into the end of my road. As i neared the end of the street i stopped abruptly. There was a voice coming from inside one of the abandoned houses which had been bought by the government and had new building plans written on a lamppost in front of it. The voice wasn't much louder than a whisper but it rang in my head as though the source was right beside me. It took me a while to recover from the sudden shock, but then i heard the voice again; it must have belonged to a man as the deep timbre echoed through my skull. "do you have the sacrifices?" He said.

My heart froze at those words. But why did i care? Before i knew what i was doing i found myself closing the short distance between me and the run down front door of the house. But why? What was i going to do? If they really were a threat and did have "the sacrifices", then how was i to help them? I vaguely remember looking around to see if anyone was near as i raised my hand to knock. I gasped as i realised the stupidity of what i was doing. I wanted to turn, to run; but too late, the door started opening. A hand reached out and grabbed me by the neck, pulling me into the house with the brute force of a full grown bear. I froze, what had i done? I opened my mouth to scream, but could make no sound, my mouth was too dry with fear.

I was looking into the face of a middle aged man, his long, dark hair fell around his face like curtains framing the threatening horrors that lurk in its shadows. He wore an expression of pure rage, but at the same time he seemed calm. He looked at me through slit-like, red rimmed eyes reading my expression. From what i could see of his clothes he looked like a stereotypical pale, leather robed Goth, but there was something very unusual about him that i could not quite put my finger on. I felt the studded leather gloves pressing hard against my throat. "No!" I rasped and struggled beneath his iron grip.

He smiled venomously revealing sharp, pearly white teeth. I didn't let myself think about what i was looking at, i didn't want to believe it. Another robed figure emerged out of the shadows, similarly clad and towering. He was strongly built and walked with a sense of authority, the red substance around his twisted mouth confirmed my fear. "Vampire" I thought and felt my stomach lurch. Just as i had made this realisation the second man opened his mouth and spoke with a voice that sounded like a thousand people had risen from the grave and whispered their last words afresh: "We can't risk it. She knows too much. You know what must be done!" And with that, the man who still held me in his vice like grip lowered his head, brushing my throat with his lips and sunk his teeth, deep into my neck.

I didn't feel the pain at first, but then it started, like a fire it spread down my neck and across my torso. I had never felt such pain before, a searing, sharp pain, paralysing every inch of my body. Finally my throat had cleared and i managed to let out an agonised scream, my breath ran short and i started to see lights popping in front of my eyes before all feeling and perception of time had left me.

I can't remember what happened next, but i knew what they were, and i knew that my life would never be the same again.