Loving Drake by Pamela Ann Read Free Book Online Page B

at her with authority. “You need to calm the hell down! I’m calling 9-1-1!” I reach for my cell phone. Dani forcibly holds my hand, not letting me pull out my phone. She grabs my face with both her hands, pulling my face forward and close to hers. “Matt, dude, please just trust me! Just hide with me for a bit. I can explain everything!”
                  A deep rumbling sound sweeps through the park, like one of those cars with heavy bass. Is someone driving their low-rider into the park? That can’t be right. I try to make sense of my surroundings as I begin to hear clashing metal on metal clanking near the kids’ playground. It sounds like chain mail going across the monkey bars. Shit . Dani might be on to something.
                  I can hear rapid huffs and puffs of air. I remember deep breathing like that when my family’s ranch had a giant bull. Whatever this thing is that’s out there, I can tell it’s very large. With Dani leading the way, we run toward the men’s restrooms.
                  “The smell of the bathroom will mask your smell,” Dani whispers as we run in. I drop my phone amid the hustle.
                  “What do you mean, my smell?” I feel as though I am being hunted. I draw my knife out of my pocket. It’s a four-inch tactical. I have used it only once before on a marijuana deal gone wrong; it somehow got me out of that situation. I have faith in this blade. I’m ready to stab whatever is coming for us.
                  Nobody is in the men’s restroom; it’s empty. Come to think of it, not a single soul is at the park tonight. It must be the unusually cold and windy day. Dani is right. The smell of urine is strong and pungent. I almost throw up after taking a deep breath. Dani pulls me into a stall and then closes the door.
                  “Matt…this thing out there…I think it’s from another world .” Dani catches her breath, trying to lay down some sanity.
                  “What world ? What is this, a paranormal movie?” I can’t comprehend what she is trying to say. In my defense, I have never seen a ghost or had any eerie feelings to believe in the supernatural. I think of myself as a realist.
                  “Like a world of vampires. They do exist. This thing is dangerous. I can’t do anything to stop it,” Dani explains without hesitation.
                  I immediately whisper back, “Vampires? You can’t be serious. I need the truth, please. Please—we don’t have time for this shit!”
                  Dani opens her mouth. Her jaw opens wide in an unnatural way, revealing all of her teeth. Her fangs begin to grow longer and sharper. They glimmer and sparkle, and they are immaculate, like diamonds. Her tongue is a deep, dark red, with a spongy texture. It looks like red velvet cake. Her breath strangely smells dank, yet inviting. I can’t believe what I am seeing. My head starts to spin out of sheer disbelief. My vision begins to twinkle. Dani then confesses, “I’m a vampire, Matt. Just look at me.”
                  “No way,” I say as I examine Dani closer. Her skin doesn’t look as soft as before, yet it’s still smooth. My brain finally begins to register what my eyes are seeing. My heart sinks further down my chest. I was somewhat scared and paranoid a few minutes ago, but now I am petrified. I grab Dani’s left hand just to feel her skin. It feels like leather, like a couch. It doesn’t feel human at all. There are no pores on her face. The mole on her cheek is gone. The irises of her eyes are enlarged and have changed colors from the beautiful, attractive green that they used to be to a frightening deep black with flecks of glass in them, and they are glowing from within. I shudder from horrible disbelief. “Oh, my God! What the hell!”
    I can’t help still admiring Dani’s beautiful face, her skin