If you play, you play for keeps

The shriek rings out loud and clear yet the bundle on the bed did not stir. It was not that I did not hear the shrill call of my alarm clock as it chased away the quietness and serenity of sleep...I just did not wish to obey. To move, to stretch my legs would mean that I indeed heard it and that would mean that I had to rise and get ready for my daily run...a run I had been neglecting as of late. I was here on holiday right? I could miss a few miles and not worry about the consequences; I was only 25 for crying out loud!

With that I slap the sheets, only to groan in contempt when my alarm blares to life having fell silent for five minutes. Darn those reminders! Rolling to my side I rub the remaining sleep from my eyes, glared at the clock for a few minutes, then forced myself from the warm safety of my bed. Padding across the room, yeah I couldn't be tempted or I would press snooze, I slam my hand upon the thing, yelping when it bit into my hand. Hopping from foot to foot I hold my palm to my breasts, cradling it as it throbbed before bringing it up for careful inspection. It would not do for me to go home with too many scars yet luckily it was only a tiny bruise.

"You are just too much trouble than you are worth!"

I sneered at the antique clock, rescinding what I had said earlier about the old clock when I had rented this room. It was adorable she had said, cute she had cooed...the bastard. Just for that I ought to climb back into bed and never emerge unless strawberry pastries were delivered. Oh god, they had the best in this little café....oh yes I needs to work out. Slipping out my phone I turn on my music app while I bounce around the suite. Brushing my hair into a high pony, while shimmying into a pair of dark grey yoga pants with an peach tank. I am brushing my teeth when my favorite song comes on, causing me to sing in tandem with a white mouth and my tooth brush as a mic.

"I SET FIRE TO THE RAIN!"

I belt out the chorus, for I did not know all the lyrics but that was no matter.

"But there's a side to you....That I never knew, never knew"

With that I rinse out my mouth, appraising my appearance in the mirror, while still mouthing the words. Yes, I do think I am presentable even without make up. That stuff was a pain to get off and I do try to avoid it whenever possible. Grabbing my keys and pepper spray she is out the door, foolishly forgetting her phone which had fallen silent due to sleep mode.

Now typically I would stick only to the safer parts of my neighborhood but I craved to see everything. Besides the west side held some woods I could jog through, no one would be out this early but beggars and I could surely handle them. I didn't take martial arts for nothing, besides it did wonders for keeping my quads and glutes nice and taunt. So after a brief stretch I am off, enjoying the way the birds awakened to the pink and purple swirls as they painted the sky dawn. This is what I loved, the serenity of a new day, and the sound of my sneakers as they slapped the earth.

Having turned down a poorly made trail I soon find myself approaching a gangle of men with another tied to a crudely made stake. They are cheering and what not and curious I slow. Dartign behind a tree I watch them for a few seconds before deciding that they were one of those fan groups...you know the ones that reenact their favorite book or movie. The hunk tied to a stake must be a warlock, and they are going to burn him...but there was no wood. Hmmm, glancing up at the sky, I realize what he was supposed to be. A vampire. Yes, he should be screaming in agony then they will take their game somewhere else. I had dated an actor who was into such things yet I never really cared to know...I had only dated him for an image boost after all.

I begin to turn around to go the way I came when an unholy ruckus begins behind me, causing a hand to fly to my mouth as I take shelter behind another tree. Peering around the edge I watch in growing horror as a fight ensues yet this one decidedly...not fake. The man from the stake has thrown another man; he was quite handsome as well, across the clearing. His body smacking into the tree I had first taken cover behind. A shriek bubbles from my mouth as I backpedal, attempting to put as much distance between myself and the body.

"My God!"

I whisper as I fight down the urge to gag, I had heard his bones...bone...bones...omg! Grey eyes are as wide as saucers as I watch the other men scatter and really I should be among those numbers, yet my legs have turn to jelly. My flesh warms and prickles, this time it has nothing to do with my earlier exertion but with fear as I turn at his words.

"Yo..you...YOU KILLED HIM!"

I manage to stammer out, looking back to the body than to the culprit, terrified out of my wits.

"What are you?!"

I didn't really want to know but he had tossed that man like he was nothing but a bean bag. Like he didn't weigh anything and that man was huge! He would surely crush me like a bug should he even get his hands on me so really running was futile for I had seen what he had done. Might as well put a name to the monster if I was going to die. Let me know who to haunt.

I Don't Believe In Magic BUT I Believe In YOU