02

Time passed quickly, and I didn't notice it. I was in the middle of finishing my work when I felt a sudden strange feeling. I feel my thirst getting worse; I can't concentrate anymore. It's almost lunch. My co-cops are still busy, so no one notices that I'm uncomfortable in my seat. I also drank water several times, but that didn't help. I palmed my face and bowed slightly. I can feel my pulse becoming aggressive.

When I look up, I have a feeling that something has changed in me. My breathing has also become harsh, and I can really feel the veins on my neck. My vision became clearer as my eyes shifted to Trey's neck. He was the closest and had his neck exposed. I can hear his pulse from here, even the beating of his heart it was too loud. I stretched my neck from left to right slowly while still staring at Trey's neck intently. My lips automatically separate from each other, and something's odd within my mouth. I can feel two things that were too sharp felt as though my tongue had been wounded, causing it to bleed. I tasted how sweet my blood is, which made me lift my face and shut my eyes, savoring the delicious taste of my own blood. What more if I taste someone else's blood rather than my own? Would it taste better?

It was as if cold water had been poured on me, and I immediately woke up. My chest was still rising violently, mabilis akong lumingon sa monitor ng computer na ginagamit ko na naka-sleep na, I could barely see my reflection, but it was enough to see what was with me right now. My eyes widened when I saw my very own eyes, which I almost didn't recognize. They were blazing bloody crimson, like the eyes of a predator ready to attack her prey.

Who the hell are you?

I dashed to the restroom, terrified. I went straight to the sink and hastily washed my face. I took off my jacket and, hold it, as I placed both hands firmly on the edge of the counter sink while still bending down. Confusion sank into me as I was trying to catch my breath. The thirst I'm experiencing is too powerful to resist; it's gnawing at my system. When I glanced up, I was even more perplexed. The red eyes are no longer visible, so I don't know if it's real or if I was just hallucinating earlier. Is it just that I'm tired and seeing or feeling things that don't exist, or is there something truly different about me?

After I left the restroom, I went straight to the chair even though I was weak, Trey just stood up and faced my direction; he saw me. When he saw how frail I seemed, he became worried. I groaned and placed the jacket on the edge of my table while he kept looking at me.

"You okay?" He asked worriedly.

"Yeah," I said, nodding my head. It seems that he has no intention of asking me anymore, but I noticed that he looked at my neck, and his brows furrowed. I remembered that I wasn't wearing a jacket anymore, so my neck was exposed.

"You left your wounds open; you should have cleansed and bandaged it, lest bacteria enter and grow infected," I grumbled and touched my neck. I groaned a little when I touched it and it tingled. I took the small mirror from the table drawer and looked at it, and I was horrified to see that I have two wounds there. It's like colon punctuation; they're two little circulars, like two dots. It still looks fresh and new. I turned back to face Trey, who was just looking at me. He came to me after taking something from his drawer. My mind was still clouded, and when he was about to see my neck, I covered it with my palm, so he stopped. He was holding a band-aid, and we both looked at it before he looked back at me and hesitated to hand it to me.

"Put it there, and then we'll have lunch." I nodded and smiled slightly before accepting the band-aid.

"Thank you, Trey."

"Welcome, Eve." He returned to his place while I hurriedly put the band-aid on my neck, still wondering and confused about what kind of wound it was and why it looked like that. How did I have them then? Who or what made them? Was it last night? Damn! I am freaking clueless.

***

We eat lunch together. Trey is kind. The two of us are not that close, basically just spending time together on duty and operations, but now I have proven even more that he is kind.

"Akala ko talaga dati, suplada at masungit ka, which is why I never ask you out; you look scary. Feeling ko mabubugahan mo ako ng apoy." He laughed while chewing his food. I also laughed, na agad din namang naglaho because of the fact that I couldn't enjoy the food. I can't even taste them if they are well-cooked. I can feel myself getting heavier; like I'm going to get sick.

"Hell, I'm not, madalas lang talaga akong mapagkamalan, and my eyes really intimidate, which I don't know how or why." I shrugged my shoulders, trying to act normal. It looks like he enjoyed our lunch, and somehow, I was able to breathe a sense of relief.

After we got back, I asked our superior if I could leave early because I wasn't really feeling well. I am even sweating cold and humid.

I went to condo feeling so frozen that I had to take a warm shower and dress in thick clothes. Wala naman akong sipon at lagnata but my body is extremely cold, like freaking frozen meat. I covered myself with my thick blanket after turning off the air conditioner, but it didn't disappear. I'm almost shivering while curled up just to get some warmth, but I feel like it's only getting worse. I started to cough, one by one until I found myself coughing so hard that I coughed up my own blood, which scared me. I dashed inside the bathroom to wash my blood-splattered mouth. My throat is dry again; I was thirsty, but I knew that water would not cure it.

I leaned against the wall, lightly slamming my head on it. I don't know what I should do; I can feel my cold body aching, and I also feel that my heartbeat is slowing down. I'm afflicted with something, but I'm not sure what it is. I went back to bed and forced myself to sleep. I succeeded and woke up feeling a little better, but my body remained cold like it was lifeless, corpse perhaps. I looked at the time and saw that it was seven o'clock in the evening. I slept for a long time. I chose to take a shower and wear black ripped pants and a black sweatshirt. I went out for a while to buy myself dinner, even though I knew right away that I wouldn't be able to taste anything.

On my way home, two cars blocked my way. The intersection was a little dark, and there was not much light. My condominium building is a little far away from here. I looked at the men who came down. Only the light of the moon gives us light. I looked up and saw that the moon was full today and that it was also big compared to the usual moon. I looked back at the men who were now blocking my path. Bakit nga ba rito ko naisipang dumaan? Dapat ay mas pinili ko na lang sa long way, rather take this shortcut and now I was cornered. I know I can run back to the other side, but I'm not a coward to do that.

"Boss confirmed, buhay pa siya." my brows furrowed when I heard what the man on the phone said. What? Why am I still alive? Why? Did they kill me?

"That's why no news is coming out, she's still alive?" I became increasingly perplexed but kept silent and unimpressed.

"Why did you try to kill me?" I asked without emotion despite the shock. They looked at each other before looking behind where their backup was standing.

"Kill that cop, make sure this time she will die!" I threw the paper bag containing the food I bought for my dinner and immediately avoided the attacks on me. One pulled his gun that I quickly kicked. Kaagad iyong tumilapon, before giving him a strong punch in the face, I was fighting for my life still thinking and trying to remember anything. I was killed. What miracle happened that I am still alive?

Even though I'm deep in thought, I'm able to fight effortlessly; I can't even explain my strength, every attack that I release is so strong that every time my fist hits them, they throw some distance away from me. I feel that my strength and speed have doubled; I can even read them. I know immediately which direction I will face to avoid or to counter them, and where they will attack. It's already been how many minutes, and they didn't even have a chance to hit me?

"What? Is that all you can do? You can't even kill that one cop?! Fools!" I'm sure their leader snorted angrily. He seemed bored. I'm sure he's bored in the game as he seems to know that his teammates can't win. So, he immediately pulled out two guns and pointed them at me without hesitation while walking closer. I held my gun, which I hid behind me, and was about to pull it out when he immediately shot me twice in the chest before I could even save my life.

My eyes widened, and my body was completely suspended. I looked at my chest I was hit several times by bullets. My blood couldn't stop oozing and I remained passive. I don't move from where I stand, but I am all aware of what's happening. I was about to close my eyes already accepting my defeat but I looked at the sky, and I wondered—the moon, it's slowly changing its color from white to red—it's becoming bloody. Lunar eclipse?

"What's going on? Is she still alive?"

"That girl must be possessed by the devil! Hindi 'yan tao!"

"Check her! Bilisan niyo!" I kept looking at the moon as I felt the man approaching. No pain. I can't feel anything from my bullet wounds. I received several bullets, yet I didn't feel any even a little sting. But I can feel something inside of me, a familiar sensation that I'm sure I've felt before. Slowly, my head turned to see the man approaching, he stopped midway upon seeing my face and his curious eyes went bigger as his eyes fixed on mine. And before he could even react or flee for his life, I was already behind him, holding his shoulder and neck as my teeth pierced his flesh; I tasted his blood, and at that moment I finally realized what is it that I am always craving for, the taste of human blood that was so addicting like how I used to be addicted of coffee taste and aroma. It was so intoxicating that I nearly sucked them all.

The taste is indescribable— it was sweet divine nectar beyond humans can ever comprehend; it's addictive and pleasurable and I'm craving more. I can hear the scream of the man slowly fading away; I can also feel the hissing of his body until he gradually gets heavier, saka ko lamang siya binitawan nang maramdaman kong napawi na ang uhaw na nararamdaman ko. I feel like I didn't drink much for years. I licked the sides of my lips as I gazed at the man—a dead man lying in front of me with his eyes wide open.

It's as if I was brought back to reality and realized what I had just done. My eyes widened, I turned to my companions, only to see my enemies dead; they were all beheaded, and their blood was flooding the way. I gasped. The surroundings gradually darkened because the moon has changed color, but any darkness is irrelevant to my eyes that can see right through it.

I can hear screams everywhere, which almost drew my attention, but they vanished when, from the darkest part of that place, I saw someone standing—no, he was now walking—and in an instant, he was already in front of me, but I didn't have the chance to see his face. The next thing I knew, he had sucked my neck and drunk my blood along with my screams and a tight grip on his ripped arm.

"You're all mine. Your blood, your body, your soul. I'll kill everyone who threatens me and my possession. I'll kill whoever try to take you away from me. Now sleep, Avery. You did well."