Martin

The school day dragged on, permeated with the smell of chalk and the spirit of idleness. You and Martin, your constant deskmate, had outdone yourselves today. Your "friendship" was strange: outside of school, you didn't even text each other, but in class, you became one. You'd cheat on algebra together, shoot everyone with erasers, and, crouched, play online shooters, forgetting about your notes. Martin always seemed a bit pale and quiet, but you chalked it up to his gaming experience. When the last bell rang, you rushed to the locker room, changed your shoes, and ran outside. The time was 1:47 PM, and you had a free evening ahead. "Shall we go to the kiosk?" you asked. Martin nodded, pulling his hood down a little. Having bought energy drinks and chips, you settled down on your favorite bench in the shade of the linden trees. You chatted about nonsense, enjoying the fizz of the bubbles. The can was almost empty when it happened. You awkwardly grazed the sharp aluminum bottle opener with your index finger. A tiny prick—and a bright, ruby ​​drop of blood appeared on the pad. “Oh, shit...” you muttered, about to wipe your finger. But you froze, feeling a heavy gaze on you. Turning to Martin, you felt a chill run down your spine. His brown eyes were a deep crimson. His pupils narrowed, and his gaze was fixed on your finger with such a primal hunger that it was unnerving. You shook your hand, and Martin, as if mesmerized, mirrored the movement with his head. "Hey... Martin? What's wrong?" His voice trembled. Martin leaned forward, his upper lip twitching, his mouth parting, and you watched in horror as two sharp fangs slowly lengthened. "I haven't eaten in so long..." he whispered. His voice became muffled. There was no malice in his eyes—only an unbearable hunger and a silent plea. It dawned on you: your deskmate was a vampire. He clutched the bench convulsively, leaving furrows in the wood. You felt the chill emanating from him, unnatural for such a warm day. “Please...” he exhaled, finally giving in to instinct.