Annie felt a little dizzy as she stepped out of the back entrance of the club, into a narrow and dark lit alley. This place really wasn’t her jam, but she had promised her best friend since kindergarten that she would attend her bachelorette party. Jilly was having a blast, dancing with all of her college friends and new coworkers. Annie tried her best not to be a downer, but as Jilly got more and more inebriated, she figured she might be able to slip away and get a breath of fresh air.

Annie shivered as she stared up at the night sky, wondering how much things in her life were about to change. After leaving their small town for college, she and Jilly had been drifting apart. Jilly made new friends and new interests, while Annie felt alone and scared of this big new city, so different from their home. And now Jilly was in love and about to start a family, and Annie would fall out of her life. She was happy for her, she was! Or she tried to be.

A quiet snapping sound from down the alley way, interrupted Annie’s reverie. She saw a dark shadow moving stealthily through the slight light, and she felt her heart rate begin to increase.

Suddenly the back entrance doorway was thrown open and she saw Jilly spill out into the alley.

“What the hell, Annie? You just ditch me, at my party!?” Jilly latched on to Annie’s arm, as she tumbled unsteadily in her heels.

“I’m sorry, Jills, I just needed some air. This, this is too much for me.” Jilly rolled her eyes.

“Everything is too much for you, Annie! You sit back and act like everything is just going to come to you like it did back at home. But this is the real world now. You need to start living! Reach out, grasp the joys to be had! You are so scared of everything! And it’s a kill joy! I’m getting married, and you’re supposed to be happy for me. Instead, you just think about yourself!” Jilly yelled, eyes flashing. She was always quick to anger. But Annie was scared- scared that she wouldn’t survive in this new world and life. She was scared that Jilly would move on from their friendship.

Suddenly, Jilly’s eyes grew large with surprise and she opened her mouth to shout, “look out!” Annie spun quickly in surprise to catch the hulking shadow from earlier move upon her, the light glinting off a sharp knife. Jilly pulled her close and knocked the knife out of his hand.

“You’ll always be my sister.” Jilly said as her fangs started to slide out of her mouth. Annie felt hers descend too as her right hand reached out to grab the man’s neck. They began to feed, and Annie forgot about her worries and the future.

She would always have Jilly. They were blood sisters. And Annie was no longer afraid.