The treeline finally breaks into an open meadow from the previously explored forest. A sense of freedom washes over me as I lose myself in the thick scent of wildflowers and fresh-cut grass. My eyes train in on the fireflies as they begin their nightly dance across the field, glowing a soft green- their light replacing the heated glow from the sun as it disappears from view.


    Today was sweltering, our hottest day of summer yet. This would explain the lack of campers and hikers that usually clutter the national forest surrounding this mountain. There''s typically plenty of humans to pick off, but lately, they’ve been scarce.


    I take a final drag from my cigarette, holding in and savoring that final puff before dropping it into the tall grass and snuffing out the cherry. The land surrounding me should bring me peace but nothing seems to relax me anymore.


    This hunt has been extremely long and not at all fruitful. Unfortunately, this means I will be coming home empty-handed; again. Micah searched in the opposite direction so I can only hope that he came across someone or something.


    Hell, I’d even settle for animal blood at this rate. My mouth begins watering at the thought and hunger pangs deep inside my gut, causing me to wince in discomfort. I can’t remember the last time I was this hungry.


    As the hunger pain begins to fade my nostrils are met with a pungent, undeniable scent that is tainted with so much nostalgia it almost knocks me down to my knees. Breathless, I attempt to suck in the air and follow it before it fades away completely.


    It can''t be…


    My nose forces me away from the safety of the treeline and I begin to wander. The meadow opens up to my right, revealing a quaint two-story home that looks like it was built in the early 1900s. Its green window panels are chipped and worn from years of weathering with a bright red metal roof that’s riddled with rust spots.


    The back porch bows in the middle with old washed-out wood and a broken step leading out into the backyard. The place almost looks abandoned except for a light shining through a small window directly beside the porch.


    My feet carry me closer to the house against my will, curiosity and the overwhelming scent luring me closer to the source. This scent, I’ve only come across it once before. My chest warms at the memory of her only to be immediately snuffed out by the icy chill of losing her. I shake my head like a dog trying to rid itself of an awful smell, doing my best to compose myself before taking a few steps closer to the old farmhouse.


    If I had to guess, whoever’s inside is probably elderly, alone, and unsuspecting. The exterior of the house screams “an old woman lives here”. Which is perfect because that means she won''t put up much of a fight and I won''t have to exert what little energy I have left.


    We’ve been starving due to all of the wildfires closing down the local campgrounds. No campers means no food. While we can feed on animal blood, it doesn''t sustain us. Human blood is the main staple in our diet and without it we die.


    Which puts a lot of pressure on me to find something, anything, to bring home. I’ve always been a hunter, and I’ve always done well at it. Lately that hasn''t been the case, but today I might have found the motherload.


    As I approach the back of the house I notice something shift around the corner of the porch. The scent wafts even stronger as the figure disappears from view. The animalistic part of me wants to chase it down, but I realize how stupid that is.


    “Take your time, be patient.” My father''s voice drones in the back of my mind. I roll my eyes at the thought of his voice regardless. I’m very aware that rushing in can get you injured or killed, and while I am powerful I am not invincible.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    I decide it''s better to fall back, taking my chances on staying hidden inside the tree line to feel out the situation before barging in. Who’s to say this person lives alone? What if they’re armed? It’s better to play it safe and watch from a distance, waiting to strike when the time is right. I’ve gone this long without sustenance, what''s a few days more?


    I wait a few minutes, my keen hearing picking up on movement from within the home. A faint heartbeat raps in the distance, quicker than any heartbeat I’ve ever heard from a human, and I grow more curious. My body leans closer in anticipation, eyes locked in on the little window that peers into the kitchen.


    A full head of golden waves pops into view first, taking me by surprise. This person is way too short to be an adult. Is it a child? My heart sinks at the thought. I can’t kill a kid- I won''t. No matter how hungry I am.


    Eyes gradually peer over the windowsill before the girl, a woman, slowly rises to a full stand. Her entire upper body comes into view and I feel myself stiffen. Her hair, her eyes… her scent;


    Rue? It can’t be...


    I feel myself lunge forward, ready to bolt out of the woodline and tackle down the glass door leading into the back of the house until I realize what’s missing. The red birthmark Rue sported from her shoulder to the underneath of her chin is missing.


    This girl is just a stranger, a look-alike that could pass for the girl I loved so strongly all those years ago that it killed her. Shame weighs my body down to the soft grass below as the memory of her flashes before my eyes, only for a moment before I’m snapped back to reality.


    Questions pick at my brain the harder I stare. Is this a second chance? A way to redeem how foolish I was as a teenager? Does she live here alone?


    I dare a step closer, bringing my ear as close to the house as possible without being spotted when I hear a crash from inside. My brow furrows, recognizing the scent of a man inside and my excitement dwindles but doesn''t fully disappear.


    There’s a fear in her eyes now, widening her eyelids around the whites and exposing those steel blue irises’ that almost perfectly match Rue’s. Her head shrinks into her shoulders like she’s anticipating a blow to the back of her head when a man steps into view of the window.


    A tall, thin man rushes up from behind her. He grabs her by the hair at the back of her head violently, ripping her backward as he presses his mouth against her ear. The whites of my knuckles practically break through the skin with how tightly my fists are clenched. I’ve never met this girl, but it already feels like I’ve known her for a lifetime. With how closely she resembles Rue, it fills me with a heated rage to see some asshole manhandle her like this.


    The way she clamps her lips shut and doesn''t make a sound-- doesn''t beg for mercy or cry out for help. She’s been through this countless times and knows better than to satisfy his violence with her weak cries.


    As much as I’d love to barge in and slaughter this asshole, I hunker down and watch from a distance. Taking a mental note to make his death slow and painful once the time is right.


    There is a thud inside the home, indicating that he’s brought her down to the floor. Seeing my moment to leave the treeline and use the darkness to my advantage, I sprint over to the other side of the house. Ducking down to hide from view behind an old tractor that’s close to the house but not too close.


    He has her pinned down on the tan-colored tile floor, blood beginning to pool from her mouth from a busted lip. My mouth waters- my body aching to have just a taste as it streams down the fullness of her lips. It takes everything in me not to burst inside and kill this fucking bastard and drain her of every last drop of blood coursing through her veins.


    I watch as the light in her eyes fades, hazed over like her soul has left her body temporarily and my heart closes in on itself. Any motive to drain her dry is now gone. I watch hesitantly as he shoves her dress up, pressing her head down against the floor as he has his way with her and my blood boils.


    What am I doing? I should rush inside and rescue her… but then what?


    Once human blood is involved I turn into something that would send most people running to find a weapon. If I killed him in front of her, she’d likely be terrified of me for more than just murdering her husband right in front of her.


    The only human who accepted me for who I was is long gone, and just because this girl looks identical to her, it doesn''t mean she feels the same. I have to take my time with this one, but I’ve already made up my mind.


    She’s coming home with me and I’m going to do things right this time. Micah and Dad will have to get over it.