Fangs

Have you ever been bitten during a makeout session?

I don’t mean little nibbles or the sort of hard kissing that leaves hickies. I mean a bite that left teeth marks in my neck. Just two, weirdly–little holes that only bled a bit. It was almost like the guy had fangs when he bit me. But he didn’t have fangs when he smiled at me afterward. Isn’t that weird?

I was at this party on the outskirts of town when it happened. The hosts rented this incredible old Victorian mansion, complete with the turret and original woodwork, that everyone’s always said was haunted, but it didn’t feel haunted last night. That party was lit AF. Hotties as far as the eye could see, champagne and cocktails on demand, a live band playing killer music–I don’t think I’ve ever had such a good time in my life. Then this smokin’ hot dude wanted to dance with me, and who was I to say no? So we were dancing, grinding, having a good time, and then he kissed me, and HOLY SHIT, y’all, that guy can kiss. He made me weak in the knees, hot all over, not thinking straight. Next thing I knew he had me pushed up against the wall, and he was grinding against me while kissing down my neck and it all felt sooooooooo good until he fucking BIT ME, right where my neck meets my collarbone. And then I was like “Ow dude what the fuck?” and pushed him away, and he just smiled at me all innocent-like. He wanted to kiss me again, but I was like “Nah fam I’m out of here.” Maybe it was the bite or all the champagne I drank or something else, but I wasn’t feeling the party anymore. I was feeling kinda strange, to be honest–a bit woozy, and getting home was something of an out-of-body experience. I’m pretty sure I walked, but it didn’t feel like my feet were touching the ground most of the time. And after that…everything just kind of went dark.

I think that guy might have been on drugs or infected with some weird disease or something, because this morning I feel even weirder. I had to close all the curtains and shades and everything because the sunlight hurt my eyes so much, and I feel like maybe I got a light sunburn in the process, which would be ultra weird because I never get sunburns. Maybe I’m just hung over and, like, super sensitive because of that? But my head doesn’t hurt like it normally would with a hangover.

Then again, I can’t go near the kitchenette in my apartment because of the smell of garlic. My roomie and I looooooove making Italian food, so there’s garlic cloves in the cupboards and garlic in most of the leftovers, but that smell just makes my stomach turn. I’ve lit several candles around the apartment to try to drown out the smell, but so far the smells are just mixing, and I might give myself that hangover headache if this keeps up.

The weirdest thing of all, though, is that I think there’s something wrong with my mirror, or else something wrong with my eyes. My reflection flickers in and out of focus in the mirror; one second I’m there, the next I’m not. It was hard to figure out that there’s literal fang holes where that dude bit me last night, with that bullshit going on. But I can feel the holes with my fingertips, at least. It’s nice to know I’m not completely crazy, even if I might be losing my mind. I wish my roomie wasn’t visiting her family for the weekend. I wish there was someone else here to help me figure this out.

But I’m all alone, and the longer I’m awake, the more I wish I wasn’t. It feels like every muscle in my body is burning but cold at the same time. Blankets don’t fix it, and I can’t go into the kitchenette to try to make myself some hot tea or coffee or something because of the fucking garlic smell. Maybe I can DoorDash some Starbucks?

That’s an idea. People do that all the time. After a bit of searching–can anyone tell me why my phone was under my bed?--I find my phone and place the order. Normally I’d just walk around the corner to Starbucks and get it myself, but the way I’m feeling right now, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Lying down on the couch feels smarter, especially since the whole path from here to Starbucks will be sunny at 10am. There’s no way I can handle sunlight right now. The aches and burning are getting worse. The couch prickles underneath me. I wriggle and squirm, but I just can’t get comfortable.

Am I dying?

My upper jaw starts aching like I’m at the dentist or the orthodontist or something and the doctor is doing something awful to me. It hurts it hurts it hurts so bad–

What the fuck did that guy do to me?

The pain in my mouth starts to fade, or maybe I’m getting used to it. Maybe this is just my life now. But as the jaw pain fades out, an empty ache starts to swell in my tummy.

Hunger.

I know how to fix that. Or at least, I did, before the garlic smell in the kitchen became horrific instead of appetizing. I really hope this isn’t permanent. Maybe it’s a bad dream? Maybe someone drugged my drink and I’m hallucinating?

Knock knock knock.

“I have your Starbucks order,” a young man’s voice says from the other side of my front door. I can hear his clothes rustling as he moves. I haven’t moved from the couch, but I can hear his heart beating, and a low, rhythmic rushing sound that might be…

Blood in his veins.

The thought bursts in without warning. What the fuck is wrong with me?

I get up and start moving towards the door. As I get closer, I can smell him–warm, alive. My teeth itch and a flick of my tongue reveals that two of them have gotten long and pointy–fangs.

I don’t care about the coffee. He has something better.

No no no no this can’t be– I can’t be–

The door opens. His eyes meet mine.

“Whoa, you don’t look so–”

And then my teeth are in his throat.