For the next three days, I could feel him nearby constantly. Whenever I was at work, driving home, or sleeping, I knew he was there. I called for him to come out of the shadows, but he remained there.

His words," I'm here to protect you," frightened me. I didn't understand why I would need protection. I didn't have any enemies, maybe Amber, but I didn't think of her as an enemy. Hopefully, she felt the same.

I considered running away to another town before he returned or even checking myself into a mental hospital. My brain was having a hard time coping with this. I needed a logical response for what happened, but I was coming up blank.

I tried to distract myself by looking at the different shapes in the ceiling, but my thoughts would drift back to the matter at hand. My brain felt like a jumbled mess.

My frustration started to boil over when I made my decision. I'm going.

I jumped up before I could stop myself and started shoving things I might need for a couple of days into a bag. I grabbed my keys and a coat and ran out into the dark night. The cooling air bit harshly against my skin until I got safely in the car. I felt the hair at the back of my neck stick up as I started to feel a bit anxious about the darkness.

I quickly texted my brother, asking if I could come to stay with him for a bit. I lied, telling him that I decided to go tour the college at the last minute. I pulled out of the drive like a maniac and drove out of my street. The streets were dark, and any shadow I saw in the dark caused my heart to stop. Once I passed the old faded town sign, I let out a breath of relief. The beast had never been spotted out of the town.

After a half-hour into my drive, Adam called me.

"Hey, are you coming now?" I could sense the uncertainty in his voice.

"Yes, sorry, I know it's late."

"What made you come now?"

I racked my brain, trying to think of a good reason. I couldn't tell Adam that I'm pretty sure the beast of Aria has been stalking me, bite me, and now I'm pretty sure he's going to come back for me.

"I've been talking with mom, and I think I think I'm going to start college next semester instead of next year."

"That's great, April! we were hoping you would get your life together."

Never thought I'd feel ashamed to hear those words.

"I'll be there soon."

Just as I was setting down my phone after hanging up, a glimpse of a face in my window caused me to swerve slightly into the other lane. I quickly corrected my wheel taking deep breaths trying to slow the pounding of my heart.

"It's okay, it's okay. It's not real. It's all in my head."

"Oh, I would say I am very much real."

I screamed, slamming slightly on my brake. Luckily I was the only one on the road. The beast sat casually in the passenger seat. I could feel his eyes on me though they were covered by the shadow he kept over them.

"You are not real! I'm just losing my mind." I argued while debating if I should pull over or keep driving.

I saw in my peripheral as he patted himself down and shrugged his shoulders.

"It's not possible...wait, how long have you been here?" I asked, entertaining my delusion. I racked my brain, thinking of anything embarrassing I could have done while he hid in the shadow.

"you're a beautiful singer, by the way."

I gasped, turning my face from his as I felt my cheeks and ears heat up. He chuckled at me, keeping his body towards me.

"So, where are we going?"

"We aren't going anywhere. I'm going to see my brother, and you are going back to whatever hole in my brain you crawled out of."

"You still think this isn't real?" I wasn't sure how to respond. The logical part of my brain constantly repeated that I was having a mental breakdown, or this was perhaps a dream. On the other hand, this felt too real to be a dream.

"How can this be real? it doesn't make any sense."

"Should I prove it to you?" The smirk was gone now, and his tone turned serious.

"No, I'd rather you not." I could still feel his fangs embedded in my neck. "Please just leave."

"Is that what you really want?"

I flickered my eyes back and forth from the road and him. Why did I feel like telling him no? Was I that desperate for some kind of attention I was willing to talk to... well whatever he is?

I shook the thoughts from my head. I had to be reasonable.

"Yes."

"Alright then, but know I will be back for you."

I turned to him to argue, but he was gone. In his place, an eerie feeling I just couldn't shake. I turned up my music, wishing to distract myself.

I finally pulled in front of my brother's house. I searched under the welcome mat for the key he had left for me. I glanced behind me before rushing into the house, shutting and locking the door behind me.

I sat my bag down on the floor, noticing a makeshift bed on their couch. I laid down on the firm sofa groaning about the rough night ahead of me. The groan continued when I realized I had forgotten to change, but I was too tired to get up.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Soft voices whispering woke me up from the light sleep I was under. I could hear Adam and his wife talking in the kitchen. I stood up from the couch, stumbling over to them.

"Hey Zoey, how did you sleep?"

"Okay," I lied while resisting the urge to stretch out my muscles.

"What time is your tour?" I froze for a second, wondering what he was asking.

"Oh! It's today at 2." I answered, surprised at how fast I could spit out a lie.

"Okay, good. Well, we have to get to work. We should be home about five."

I nodded, watching as they collected all their stuff.

"I'm proud of you, Zoey."

I sent him a small smile, and they were out the door. I let out a sigh. A pit formed in my stomach as I didn't like lying to them.

"I thought they'd never leave."

A small scream left my lips as I clenched my chest. The beast laid comfortably on the couch, his arms crossed over his chest.

"What...how?" I couldn't get my mouth to form any sentences. He smirked at me, leaning up.

"How are you here? I thought you couldn't leave Aria?"

"Starting to believe that I'm real, aren't we."

"No, never."

The beast was up and standing in front of me before I could even blink.

"What can I do to help you understand that this is real? I am real," He whispered. His hot breath tickled my ear.

His fingers lightly traced up my arm. "A figure of your imagination couldn't possibly touch you, could they?"

The tips of his fingers ran up my collar bone and traced over his healing bite, causing unwanted shivers down my spine. I swallowed and pushed him away. My heart was pounding at an alarming speed that wouldn't slow down.

"A-are you here to get me?"

"Not yet."

"Then why are you here?"

"I can't be too far from you."

"Right, because you're here to protect me." Mockery lacing my voice.

"Yes, exactly."

"From what? Can you tell me yet?" He conveyed nothing, giving me the answer.

"Alright, so will you be here the whole time?"

"Yes."

I chewed on my lip, thinking of my next steps. I had come here to get away from the beast. What was I supposed to do now?

Thanks for reading!!