Cordelia walked blankly through the hallways of Maire Havens High, clutching her bag straps as a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She felt as though she had forgotten something important—but what?
Turning into another hallway, she passed a group of boys animatedly discussing football and a cluster of cheerleaders lost in gossip. She continued down the corridor, stopping abruptly at the entrance to her classroom. Her heart froze when her eyes landed on a stranger—Caleb—seated at a desk at the front, engrossed in an old novel.
Sensing her gaze, Caleb looked up, his lips curling into a smug smile. Fear surged through Cordelia, her body trembling as though she'd been plunged into icy water.
Suddenly, disturbing images flashed through her mind.
'Caleb tried to kill me.'
Panic overtook her, and she bolted down the hallway. Caleb followed, his movements predatory, like a cat toying with a mouse.
Cordelia desperately tried to evade him, and for a moment, she thought she had succeeded. She found herself outside in the schoolyard, seated on a bench, attempting to calm her racing emotions. But then, an unsettling sensation crept over her—a feeling as if she were covered in crawling insects, suffocating her like an unbearable coat.
Slowly, she turned her head to the side—and there he was. Caleb sat beside her, legs crossed, as if he'd been there all along.
Startled, Cordelia leapt from the bench, backing away in terror before stumbling to the ground.
"When did you—how did you—why are you following me?" she stammered.
"Relax, little Delia," Caleb said smoothly. "I promise I'll be a good boy."
Uneasy, Cordelia stared at him, swallowing hard. "Why are you here, Caleb?"
"I becharmed you to forget everything about yesterday—and about me. Yet somehow, you remembered. How?" Caleb's tone was curious, almost amused.
"Remember what exactly?" Cordelia's anger momentarily overrode her fear. "That you tried to kill me? That you're a murderer?"
"Yes, I'm a murderer," His tone carried a hint of pride. Yet beneath the surface, there was no thrill in the act of killing. He only took lives under specific circumstances—when attacked with lethal intent, when protecting the innocent, or when left with no other choice. Though he didn't fully understand it himself, these seemed to be the unspoken rules that governed his actions.
"Is there a problem with that?" he added, his gaze unwavering.
"Huh!" Cordelia recoiled, her expression sharp with disdain.
"I don't recall ever denying it."
"Do you even realize what you're saying?" Her stomach churned as she looked at him. How could he kill people and feel no remorse?
"Of course I do. What's wrong with killing? I'm a paranorm—or, in human terms, a vampire. It's what I do best."
"Paranorm? Vampire?" Cordelia's gaze hardened, her skepticism clear. The idea was absurd, maddening even.
Was he delusional? A psycho? But then again, how could she explain the red flames he conjured with his hands? Or his speed and strength during the fight yesterday?
And those men—those creatures. One moment, they were human, and the next, they transformed into wolf-like beasts.
This was insane.
"Are you mentally ill, Caleb? There's no such thing as vampires, paranorms, or wolf-men." She tried to convince herself, though she knew it would take therapy—and maybe medication—to process this.
"A wolf-man?" Caleb laughed so hard he nearly fell off the bench. "If I'm not a paranorm, then what do you think I am? Because I can assure you, I'm definitely not human."
"You're a murderer and a sociopath," she shot back. That explanation made far more sense, given the way he had savored the carnage yesterday.
"You know what? You might be right." Caleb nodded, clearly enjoying her frustration. "I've been killing for centuries."
"That's not something to be proud of," Cordelia scolded.
"Quit acting out." Caleb's smile was faint but mocking. "Those things I killed weren't human. They're called shifters. But to me, they're just wild mutts."
"That doesn't give you the right to take their lives," she retorted, her disgust growing.
"Wrong again," Caleb said coolly. "I don't need anyone's permission to kill. I just do it—especially when it comes to those stinking mutts."
"Do you even understand what you've done, Caleb?" Her voice trembled with anger. "You've taken lives."
Caleb laughed at her naivety, which only fueled her fury. "How can you kill people and act like it's nothing?"
"You really are simple-minded, aren't you?" Caleb replied, his amusement evident. "The answer is simple: I'm not a weak human. It's easy to kill those who try to kill me first—and feel nothing. I could teach you, if you'd like."
"Don't misjudge me, Caleb. I don't want to be anything like you. You kill without remorse."
"When you put it like that, I do sound like a monster." Caleb chuckled. "But you're right—I don't care. Why should I? If I didn't kill them, they would've killed me."
"Do you even realize how serious a crime murder is?" Cordelia's frustration boiled over. "Killing is wrong, Caleb. You're just a murderer who doesn't value life."
"And what of it?" Caleb's voice thundered. "You act as if I've done something unnatural. Killing is in my nature—especially when I'm attacked without cause."
"Are you telling me you feel nothing after killing those shifters? No matter the reason, you don't have the right to take a life."
Caleb stood abruptly, her moralizing grating on his nerves. She was right, and he hated admitting it.
"Wait! Are you even listening?" Cordelia grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"I don't give a damn about humans or their feelings." Caleb's hand shot out, gripping her neck. "I killed those mutts without regret, and I don't owe you an explanation. I'll eliminate anyone I want—even you, little Delia."
"What are you doing?" she gasped. "You can't get away with murder in broad daylight at school."
As his hand ignited with red flames, she screamed, batting his hand away and falling to the ground. "Stay away from me, Caleb. Or I'll scream."
"Go ahead," he dared. "I'll burn the school to the ground with everyone inside."
Cordelia fled toward the school building, desperate to escape. But Caleb was faster. He grabbed her hand, pulling her back into his embrace.
She gasped, staring into his vicious eyes. "Let me go, you monster."
"Reduce to nothingness." Flames erupted from Caleb's hands, and Cordelia struggled to break free. He released her, laughing. "I'm just messing with you. You should've seen the look on your face."
Cordelia tried to run again, but Caleb intercepted her, placing her back on the bench.
"Interesting." He held her cheeks, studying her like a specimen.
"What are you doing?" Cordelia cringed, shoving his hands away.
"You're not an ordinary human. If you're human at all." Caleb stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling. "You tried to kill me, and now you're acting like everything's fine."
"What are you? In all my centuries, I've never encountered a creature like you."
"What?"
"You don't know what you are either, do you?" He concluded.
"Are you insane?"
"Probably." Caleb laughed softly.
"This isn't funny, Caleb," Cordelia snapped. "You're a jerk."
"I know." Caleb turned to leave but paused, glancing back at her trembling form. "Remember this, little Delia: if you tell anyone about me or what I've done, I'll kill you—and everyone you tell. I'll burn this town to the ground if I have to."
"No, you can't," Cordelia whispered, her heart pounding.
"You don't grasp the seriousness of your situation, child." In a flash, Caleb stood before her, resting a hand on her shoulder. He raised his other hand, snapping his fingers as red flames danced above her head before vanishing. "You've been warned."
Cordelia sat frozen, watching Caleb walk away until he disappeared from sight.