Vampires

When she asked him if he visited the vampires to save people yet, Gregory did not have it in him to explain why he never did it, just that he never did.

Maxim Trevelyan
Writer, Ravenclaw

Gregory always hated the smell of it. The antiseptic smell that went into his nostrils and refused to leave until long after he left the building. There were also so many people around, especially on a Saturday afternoon. Too many. Like there was a universal agreement to make the occasion as inconveniencing for Gregory as possible.

So why did he stay at a place he hated, surrounded by people he abhorred? Because he promised his daughter, the lovely, brown-eyed, blonde-haired girl he loved with all his heart. When she asked him if he visited the vampires to save people yet, Gregory did not have it in him to explain why he never did it, just that he never did. The sheer disappointment on his girl’s face and his wife’s support made him reconsider his stance on vampires, so he called for information and made an appointment few days later.

Which is why he was in this predicament today. Sitting on a stiff, hard plastic chairs and waiting on his turn with the vampires. It was not long before a group of people left, one of them supported by his friends, which really did not fill Gregory with any confidence. Before he could reconsider, he was pointed at by the attendant, together with seven others and stepped into the room, his body slowly filling with dread.

Gregory sat down on the pale green chair and slowly exhaled, trying to calm down his rabbit-fast beating heart. Cold fingers touched his left arm, making him jump slightly due to unexpected sensation.

“Sometimes people close their eyes if they are afraid,” a voice kindly said, so Gregory met the vampire’s eyes. He did not want to be rude, even if they were going to take his blood. Gregory nodded and obeyed the advice, breathing long and deep.

“Really, this is so great that you decided to donate blood. It must be hard, being needle phobic, but still deciding to do it. You are saving lives, Mr. Hunter.”