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I'm Different











Darkness.

Never in my life would I guess it would be like this. I never thought that such a chill would go up my spine or would I feel terror like that. Home was no man’s land, but Sherry, that was my domain. I hailed a cab, and as I kissed my parent’s goodbye, I also kissed my summer farewell. My mothers tears, and father’s usual pompous stance, it was like the first day of prep school. I knew neither of them appreciated me. I knew that if they had to ability to change my views, they would in a heart beat. I waved charismatically, but I received nothing more then sobs from mother. The driver walked around to my door, and as he received pay from my father, I knew that the man would only take me to Sherry. My sister would probably get full service until she was at REDDON’s doorstep. The driver turned, and in a heavy Italian voice, I only understood a few words against the waves crashing behind me. He walked to my door, and closed it. I rolled up the window, and the driver shoved the money into his pocket. He pulled the hood of the trunk up, and put in all of my things. I noticed that my parents had left me behind, and were seeking shelter for the windows of our mansion. My mother was hugging my father, and my father only looked out like I was a stranger. The cab driver got in, and turned to me. In his eyes I knew he too was a mobster’s kid, doing this for money. He turned, and started the car. I inhaled warm air, and closed my eyes. I leaned against the window, and tugged at my coat. The driver turned on the radio.

The Cab calmed me a little; the young adult’s voice was soothing, as well as handsome. I eventually removed my coat, and my dark brown locks curled at the end. My skirt and blouse had wrinkles for sitting, but, every so often, the driver would start asking me English questions such as ‘How old are you?” and ‘What is your name?’ It was obvious he felt an attraction to me, so, I answered, in my father’s Italian. The boy nodded, and from then on, he asked me questions in Italian. To go from the a** freezing cold of world I belong to every summer, to the warm and welcoming Sherry, seemed like gods gift to mankind. I pulled out my cell phone. It had only been an hour into my trip, and I already felt irritation digging into my mind. I was rarely one to notice that trips were very long, but, anxiety pushed me this time. I was almost done with medical school. I pulled out a pack of cigarettes, but, as soon as the driver noticed, I shoved them back into my bag. He was cute, but, too young. We stopped in a town outside of Sherry to fill up on gas, so, I got out the car. I thanked him for all he was doing, and he gave me his number. I knew I would have to use it sooner or later. I headed to the bathroom, the cold wind ripping at my clothes, and freezing any exposed part of my body. By the time I got into the bathroom, my eyes were fixed on the line of women and children eager to use the bathroom. I stood amongst giddy school girls, and college kids, but, I knew that I would have to deal with it. I needed to go.

Twenty minutes passed, and I came out of the horrendous bathroom stall. I washed my hands, and then headed out. A group of people were standing around where my cab was. I thought. I pushed through a bunch of dirty hicks, and noticed, my car wasn’t here. A woman came out from the gas station, and said “Miss. Your cab driver dumped your things and ran for it.” She said in a nasally voice. No s**t he ran for it. I swore in Italian, and picked up my bags. A few others helped me, but, I felt morally humiliated. One offered a ride to Sherry, and I immediately took the offer. When I climbed in his car, I noticed he was no country hick. He had some money. I guessed it was one of the rich doctors from college. He got in the car, and pulled off his trucker hat. Dear god, he was fine. He had naturally tan skin, and dark green eyes. He flashed me a pearly smile, and I smiled back, before he gently pinched my dimple, and then started the car. He turned on the radio, and then held out his license. It was professor Lark. He was an oddball, but, he was always the apple of medical science. I smiled, and knew that it was an honor to ride in his carriage with the king. I leaned against the window a little, and crossed my legs. He had a much laid back sense about him, and when he wasn’t wearing a uniform, he was human. He had yet to shave for the day, and his grey black hair was shiny and wet. I tried to restrain myself from asking him about any part of his life. He rolled down his window when they got out of the misty rain, and with one hand on the wheel, his other was out of the car a little. He opened his mouth, and then, he softly smiled. He looked me in the eyes, and asked “Yvette Carlo, how was your summer?” I was flabbergasted. I first smiled, and ignored the sense of hairs going up my spine. “It was nice.” I said, and then my smiled faded a little, and I mentioned “I’m surprised you’d remember my name. You’re always around a thousand other doctoring students.” I stopped, and watched his muscles get tense, and release. “I’ve remembered you since freshman and transfer orientation.” He flashed a smiled, and I knew if we were out of the car, I’d probably be pressed into a wall.

The lights of sherry beamed brightly, and I knew a lot about my professor now and knew a lot about me. I noticed something was going on in his mind I didn’t know if I wanted to be a part of. He drove through the middle of town, and then to the college. He swiped his card, and said “You’re in which dorm dear?” He said like a gentleman. I pointed, and Lark drove to the parking lot. He got out of the car shortly after I did, and he picked up my things in his arms. I went to stop him, but, he was already way ahead of me. He walked upstairs, and then stood in the hallway. I looked at him, and showed him my dorm room. He set my things down, and smiled. I thanked him. Being swept off my feet to safety, I wanted to hug him, but kept things formal instead. He walked towards the door, and then offered me to a cup of coffee at the college café. I took his offer, and we got in his car again. He drove to the café, and as I got out, I noticed how many people noticed me with Lark. They whispered amongst each other like immature children. I told them off under my breath, and took a seat with him. He made me a cup of coffee, and paid for it. I sipped from it, and felt the caffeine pouring into my body. He leaned into the table, and into me. I knew he couldn’t see anything, but, felt weird. He asked me questions about my views on a few things, and I answered them with thought. I moved my hair out of my face, and as I finished my cup, he said “Shall we be going?” He asked, and got up. He reached his hand out for me to take, and I did. My chest touched his, and I could smell his cologne overwhelming my senses. People watched, and I came down to earth in a crash. I put my heels on the ground, and stepped away. I regained my ego for a second, and walked off. The man followed like a sick puppy. I walked down the sidewalk, and noticed how many people were laughing and whispering. I walked away from all of them, and knew if I let them get to me, I wouldn’t live it down. I walked quickly, and as I headed towards my dorm, I noticed that the door was open, and his car was in the driveway. I sighed, and headed upstairs. I walked to my dorm room, and opened the door with the key. He burst out at me, and pinned me down. I knew I had made a mistake.

The hair stood straight up on my back. He pressed me into the bed, but then pulled me up into his face. Kissing me with his dreadfully irresistible lips of his; how despicable. I felt myself getting into it, until I stopped myself. He looked at me, but then pulled me to my feet furiously, grabbing me, and running me down stairs to a car beside his own. He threw me inside, and I watched in terror as they blindfolded me. I smelt his cologne on my clothes, and his body touching mine enough to put me in an unwanted position. I felt the car back up, and went to scream, but, they suddenly covered my mouth. I felt a pain in the side, and felt flat on the cars seat. I only remember being held in his arms.

I woke up sometime later, and I noticed I wasn’t at home. It looked like a scene from a scary movie I watched with my old boyfriend. I tried to move, but, I was tied down to a medical bed with restraints. There were things beeping around me, and I noticed some one had changed me into a medical robe. I sighed, and as I felt terror release, I felt my anxiety come back. I looked around for an answer to my questions. Seeing I couldn’t find one, I laid back and closed my eyes. I woke up only a moment later to feel rough hands on my forehead. I looked up, and Lark jumped a little. “Lark.” I said sternly. “What did you do?” She asked, trying to move. The man gave a smile, and kissed me again. This time I didn’t fall for it. As he moved away, he told me that it would be alright. I didn’t trust him. He walked away for a moment, and other doctors entered. Some were women but none seemed human. It gave me chills to be practically operated on. I would admit I cried and I admit that Lark wiped away the tears with his warm hands, but, I didn’t understand any of it. He kissed my forehead, and rubbed my hair. He then walked out of my vision for a long time, and I fell asleep to the sounds of beeping. It wasn’t comfortable to be asleep in restraints. I didn’t feel Lark pick me up, until he woke me up. He put me in a room, but I still forget why. He closed the door, and claimed he would be back. I closed my eyes, and fell asleep again. I was very surprised when I woke up again.

Z…Z…Z…

She woke up in her own bed, her room fully made up like it was supposed to be. She was wearing normal clothes again. Her body was covered in a blanket, but her head hurt furiously. Yvette sat up, and leaned against the cold wall, unaware of how long it had been, or what she had done. She noticed her roomy had also joined her this year, but was not home. She guessed that she was busy with her boyfriend or a frat boy. She got up, and almost stumbled into the bathroom. ”Dear God. I feel like I have a serious hang over.” She said, as she felt her head move towards the toilet. She went to throw up, until she realized her mouth. Her lips were blood red in the mirror. She looked at her teeth, and they were stained red, but, she had larger teeth. Mizuki quickly grabbed her tooth brush, and then drowned it in tooth paste. She heavily brushed her teeth, removing the redness onto her brush. Mizuki washed her mouth out with water, and spit into the sink. She brushed off her tooth brush, and then wiped the redness from her lips. She no longer felt the urge to throw up, but walked to her bed, and looked for the phone book. She found it eventually, and picked up her cell phone. She immediately called the Medical suite, but no one answered. She tried again.

Brring….Brring…Brring…Brring…

Finally, she received some one’s voice on the other line. It was a nurse. “Hello. May I help you?” She said in a cheeky voice. Yvette asked if she could be seen by the nurse, but the woman gave back an answer Yvette didn’t want to hear. “I’m sorry miss; there is no room in the station. Last night and this morning we’ve had some serious cases of god knows what. If it isn’t severe, I’m sorry, try the hospital.” She said, and then went to hang up, until Yvette stopped her. “Wait! What is today’s date?” She asked, trying to remember when she fell asleep at Lark’s mansion. The nurse chuckled a little and said “It’s the fifteenth of September.” She said, and Yvette hung up. She had been ‘asleep’ for a good three weeks. She held the phone in her hands, and tried to remember what had happened, but it was merely a blur. She softly got up, and walked around her room, cracking open the can of beer her room mate had in the mini-fridge. Yvette chugged it, and then poured what she didn’t want in the sink.

Yvette noticed all of her books were bought, and that her homework was already done for the day. Lark probably had done it to make sure one of his top students didn’t make him look bad. She grimaced, and took off what she wore. She closed the door, and opened the curtain in front of the tiny shower. She turned on the shower, and washed the bad omens away. She knew something happened, and something was wrong. She tied her hair back, and let the warm water run down her skin and release her stress. She washed her face, and the rest of her body, thinking quietly. ”I know what happened right before I fell asleep, but, why don’t I remember anything else?” She asked herself, smacking the tile wall with her hand. She bowed her head, and the water rushed down her hair and into her face. She turned off the shower. Walking out, she wrapped herself in a towel. Confused as she was she knew that having an out of body experience would have been unlikely. She hadn’t been one to just pass out and go crazy. She thought about it, and then pulled on new clothes. She grabbed her bag with her things in it and headed off to her first class.

As she braced the cold, she took in the inhaling relaxation of a cigarette. She walked with a few guys and girls into the lecture hall. She dropped her cigarette outside, and walked into the classroom not ready to learn. When she took her seat, she noticed that the teacher was some one at Lark’s Mansion operating on her. She sat down, and the teacher began to give his talk. She took down notes on everything he said, until she realized that her notes already had these things in her writing. When the class was over, she hurried off to the library in town. Opening the large wooden doors, she looked at all of the old faces and books. She remembered practically living here last year, and quickly rushed to a table to check something. Taking out her note books, she opened them all, and noticed all of them were written in her pen, and in her handwriting. They were dated and seemed to creep her out. The hair on her back stuck out quietly. She ran a finger through her hair, and noticed that not only did her handwriting appear on the notes, but on the reports and homework. She looked through her text books, and in her bag for recorded tapes of the lessons. She turned as she felt a whiff of cold air, and closed her eyes. She tried to imagine he wasn’t there. Lark stood in the aisle looking at her, a grin on his face. He opened his mouth, and then motioned his hands. She stood, and walked towards him. She couldn’t believe what was happening. As she felt his hands on her back, she opened her mouth as well, before he stopped her. He leaned down to her ear, and said softly “I told you I would come back.” She said, and then touched her forehead, and pushed her back into her chair. He then turned, and vanished.

Yvette opened her eyes quietly, and as she felt the tingling feeling in her neck, she turned to see if he was still there. It was obvious he had gone, but she looked back to her notes. Everything had happened and she didn’t know any of it. She softly turned, and thought “What the hell just happened. Last time I checked, normal doctors don’t have super powers. I think that this is going to be an interesting year.” She thought, and then looked up at the decorative painting on the ceiling. “Extremely interesting.” She said out loud, and then smacked her head down on her books, unable to care about the pain she felt.

And I Like It

"I am my own Enigma."


She looked at boy with an almost stupid smile. "Oh dear, you're asking me for a cigarette?" She said, and began to slip back down to a more common tone. "Fine fine." She handed him a cigarette, and began to joke with him. Sure he was a little dirty, but, he was kind of cute. She then pulled one out for herself, lit the cigarette, and took in the sweet love of a cancer stick. She would not be addicted to it, but, to clear her mind, she smoked one at a time. She looked at him after a while, and finally she held out her hand for him to shake. "Yvette Carlo at your side. Pleasure to meet you." She spoke a genuine lady. She tossed the butt of the cigarette out into the street, and exhaled smoke. She waited for him to speak.

"I am my own Enigma."

"I just met you and your asking me for a phone number?" She asked, and grinned. "Well. You've got guts kid. So, here." She said and told him her number. She looked at him and as he finished she smiled and said "Kid, you don't have to be flirtacious with me. Don't pay for it. I'll live without one."

"And since you know so much," demanded the man, "Tell me how many beans I hold in this hand!"

The library. The one refuge from the constant stream of idiotic drivel constantly spewed by just about everybody I met. It was for this reason that I probably don't meet that many people.

And...you know...the whole vampire thing.

Yeah, that's right. I've been living this lonely black-haired kid's fantasy for longer than I care to remember. And trust me, it isn't all romance, corsets, and morbid dialogue. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

No, it mostly means pointy teeth, longer lifespan, and a few major inconveniences. Mind control, all that. A major inconvenience.

I don't much care for this new guy, this new...Lark. Pervert. Simply and irrevocably perverted. That's why he's not allowed to ask me why I don't come out of the house anymore.

But that's not why I'm here. I've got years. YEARS. To think about that a*****e. And I've only got a few hours until the library closes.


The man looked up from his book, simply titled Popular Zen Koans. It was then that something caught his eye. It was a girl, but something about her struck him. It was something he had learned to recognize: it wasn't something obvious to the naked eye, or even under intense scrutiny. It was an aura, a vibe, not a simple landmark or deciding feature. It was surreal, it was unearthly, it was something that could only be seen by those who were looking for it. And as he continued to observe her, the more sure he was that he was looking at another. He didn't recognize her, but that didn't surprise him.

I swear, that pervert's building himself a harem.

He couldn't really blame the guy: the girl was comely, but Fleance was not so shallow. He had better things to do with his time. If he was going to live forever, then he should spend his time becoming as wise as he could. He had read the books, and he knew that eternal life spent in pursuit of material pleasures would only lead him to sadness. ...Or maybe that was the other way around. Still, that didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun. He wanted to see how big of a failure the new head honcho was at picking his victims. The library would be here tomorrow: the girl might not.

Closing his book, Fleance stood up and sauntered over to the girl.

"Hello there. Fleance Versetto, at your service."

He then unleashed an unnecessarily toothy grin. He needed to see if she caught his drift.


There was no longer any ghost to answer the question.

"Lower your volume, please. We're in a library."

It was clear that he meant this entirely in jest, and didn't actually care how loud she was. Now that Yvette could get a closer look at the man, she might have noticed something...off about him. He couldn't have been a day over twenty, but he had a wise look about him that made him seem aware of all things surrounding him. His black hair was slightly askew, and a single strand of it fell over his red-brown eyes. He didn't seem to mind. His attire was very lax; a pair of comfy-looking jeans, a Led Zeppelin 1977 United States of America Tour t-shirt, and over that he wore a black jacket with a white furred interior. Lacing his chin and jawbones was a thin layer of stubble; five-o-clock shadow. His eyes seemed somewhat fatigued, but this was belied by his mouth, which was still affixed in that uncanny grin. This was where something was amiss: it seemed...predatory, somehow.

She's obviously sick of getting hit on. Can't blame her, it must get tiresome. No matter, my interests are far more pure than she suspects.

"I just want to see you smile," he replied casually, inspecting his fingernails before glancing at her. Damn...she better not be as thick as I think she is... he thought, still smiling.

His smile quickly became a smirk. Proof. There was no doubt in his mind anymore.

"Isn't it obvious?" he asked, slowly stuffing one of his hands into his jacket pocket. "Honestly, if you haven't picked it up by now then I'm incredibly worried about you, dear." He opened his mouth slightly and ran his tongue along the tips of his top row of teeth. "Visual perception is a trait worth strengthening. It's saved my skin more times than I care to count." And then, perhaps deliberately, his tongue quickly scraped across his sharp canine teeth, drawing a line of blood. "Oh dear. I hathe whem dat happenth," Fleance muttered, rolling his eyes, tucking his bleeding tongue into his cheek and stuffing his other hand into the other jacket pocket.