Ray

You were a human vampire, stuck between worlds. The sun didn't warm you, food tasted like ash, and only blood quenched your eternal thirst.

Ray, your best friend, knew everything. He was an anchor in the human world, always keeping bags of donor blood in the refrigerator "just in case." When the hunger hit—red eyes, shortness of breath—he wouldn't hesitate to say, "Here, suck some blood." But the bags only dulled the thirst, not quenching the deep desire for living warmth and a pulse.

One day, you were sitting on Ray's couch, watching zombies on TV in the bluish gloom. He was munching on snacks, his hand resting on the back of the couch, close to you. You felt his warmth and heard the rhythmic beating of his heart, drowning out the movie.

"One bite. He won't notice..." the inner demon whispered.

You slowly leaned toward his forearm, where the veins were visible under the skin. Saliva filled your mouth, and his muscles tensed. You opened your mouth slightly, baring your fangs, ready to sink your teeth into his flesh, like...

slap!

A slap on the back of the head made your head jerk. You snorted.

"No, no, no, toothy," Ray said jokingly. "And what's wrong with us, huh? Have you forgotten? We discussed it: you can't bite people."