Hoax Read online

  She rested her head against one of the legs of the bed, trying to think of anything. But the only thing that her mind could think of was yesterday night again and again and again. She wanted to scream. She wanted to curse every bad word she knew at him. She wanted hit him. She wanted to kill him. She looked away a single tear falling. “This is not how things are gonna end”

  Erina stood up; tying her red hair into a bun, she walked over the window. She had already tried to open it, but like the door, it too was locked. It faced a narrow ally and there was no-one she could see that could help her.

  It was a nice day outside. Bright and shining. Erina sigh.

  Her body shook lightly and the room started spinning. Suddenly, the temperature of the room dropped. It was then she remembered about her diabetes. Her heartbeat fastened as she slowly walked back to her bag. Erina cursed, “Not now damn it.” But her words were nothing but whispers. With a shaky hand, she grabbed her satchel, bringing out a can of soda. Her palms were sweating, vision blurring.

  She lamely opened the can of fruity soda, drinking around half of it in one sip. She closed her eyes and just breathed. Hypoglycaemia, a common thing for a diabetic. Their blood sugar and pressure dropped quite regularly causing the symptoms.

  It took at least 15 minutes before Erina could feel the dizziness stopping along with the shaking. She put the empty soda can near her, eyes closed just breathing.

  That was when she heard the footsteps.

  She open her eyes, the world still a little bit blurry. She didn’t cared. Slowly she stood up, though a little dizzy but it didn’t matter now. She took the can, hiding it behind her. The moment the door opened, she was going to throw it at him – still hoping it’s not a vampire – shove him away from the door and run out of this place. It wasn’t a fool proof plan but it was something. And something is always better than nothing.

  Plus there is no such thing as a bad idea just poorly executed ones – she thought an evil smirk on her face.

  She relaxed her shoulders, threw her satchel against her shoulder and took her stance. She was ready and whoever that was behind that door, wasn’t.

  That was her plan. That was her chance.

  The footsteps drew closer, and then stopped. She could now see the shadow underneath the door. Her hand tightened the grip around the can as she took a slow breathe to calm herself. Her eyes trailed down to the door knob which slowly turned to the left, then a click.

  The door opened slowly. Erina stood in a defensive position, left leg in front while right leg was balancing her from behind. She looks one last breath.

  It’s show time – she thought as the door fully opened.

  * * *

  Chapter Five

  Confusing Confrontation

  * * *

  What’s our favorite part of the movie?

  Some might say the emotional scenes, the drama or the kiss. But we all love the action scenes. The fight, the way the hero blocks the uppercut by the villain. The noise; boom or thud. Everything that makes us sit at the edge of our seats and anticipate what would happen next.

  How will the story go from there?

  That’s how Erina was felling.

  Anticipation.

  The moment that the door opened, she launched herself towards him, shoving the man aside with all her strength. “Bloody hell” he yelled. The can she threw never hit him as he had already ducked. But that caused him to fall with a thud. It worked one way or another.

  Things didn’t go exactly as she planned but she didn’t complain about it either. It just gave her time. Time that she needed to get out of the room and slam the door behind her. She ran out and came to a small dark hall, walking quickly before coming to a larger part of the house, the living room. There was a faded blue couch on one side and a kitchen in the other. This place was some type of small apartment.

  Erina didn’t stick around to check the place out. The door was in front of her and she cared about nothing else. She sprinted toward it, jerking the handle.

  “It’s locked” a voice came from behind her. Erina froze, her heart pounded in her chest.

  It was different from the voice she remembered from last night. She will never forget that voice. That malice, evil in it. This however was different. It was deep, soft, sincere, worried, and relieved all at the same time. She gulped, licked her lips, hand still holding the handle. She breathes out from her mouth slowly turning at him.

  He stood there at the end of the hallway, half into the darkness. Still Erina managed to see him.

  It definitely wasn’t him. This man or boy – he had one of those faces, that made guessing his age hard – in front of her was someone else. It almost made her sigh in relief. His hair was black as raven, not blond like that – guy – who had attacked her. His blue eyes were looking at her, worry echoing through. He looked normal in his green t-shirt, blue jeans and loosely held black jacket in his hand.

  God, I’m staring at him – she thought turning away a little heat rising in her cheeks.

  “I’m not going to hurt you, Red” He says, taking one small step toward her, hands above his head. She nodded, unable to form words. But then stopped. “Red?” she asked him.

  The boy – who looked barely a year older then her, chuckled. “I didn’t know your name. So…” he trailed off.

  “Really?” she asked, her tone vexed, hands over her chest. “So I should call you black head or raven or inky or ebony?”

  “Ebony and raven are kind a like a girl name.” He shrugged smirking, “but you can call me August”

  Cocky – she thought. “OK, August. Where the hell am I?” she yelled, looking at him, “And who the hell are you?”

  A coy smile came flit across his face, which quite confused her. “You don’t remember?” he asked.

  His question baffled her. What was she supposed to remember? All that she did, she just didn’t know if she should say out loud or not. How insane would she sound when she would tell people about a vampire that had attacked her?

  But August kept on looking at her, waiting for an answer. She sighed, “No”

  He took a step toward her. “My name is August - August Drucker and this is my place” he gestured around at the walls around him, “I found you last night. You were unconscious” He walked towards her and Erina took a step back.

  He stopped. “How about you sit and I tell you everything that happened over breakfast? I suppose you are hungry?” Her stomach growled at his words but she ignored it. He was a stranger, why should she trust him?

  “Why did you bring me here? Why didn’t you call the police?”

  He held his hands up, “Look Red –”

  “It’s Erina!” She hissed.

  He shook his head, “Erina” he called, when she didn’t stop glaring at him, he continued with a sigh. “Because it was closer and I didn’t know how long it might take the police to get here. I couldn’t let you stay there in the road” he explained, which didn’t help her nerves. It was a lame explanation. Which cause more questions in her mind, then answered any.

  “I was unconscious?” She asked in disbelief.

  August shrugged, “It happens with diabetic patients” slowly leaned against the wall, hands in his jeans pockets. “Low sugar, blood pressure”

  Her eyes widened as she stared at him. “How-how did you know that?” taking another step back, her hand searches for the door knob. Raven stood up too, confused. “No-one knows that except me and my doctor. How did you know that?” her chest heaved as she continues to back-end. Her hand continues franticly searching for the door knob. She was too stressed.

  He was on his feet; his hands were again up, surrendering “Red relax! Okay? You told me” she shook her head. “No but you did.”

  “What? No” she shook her head. “You said I was unconscious”

  He smiled, nodding his head, “You were. You were actually mumbling it.”

  He was lying and she knew it. She could see it in his face, it was wr
itten there in bold red letters across his forehead. And the way his thumb brushed up against his jeans every time he lied. It didn’t go unnoticed either. Yet, she ignored it. Because she was curious, curious to know why a stranger was lying to her. A beautiful stranger but a stranger.

  What did happened last night? – She asked to herself. Erina sighed then, this was giving her a headache. “I should go” she looked at the door.

  He shook his head. “Are you sure? You haven’t eaten anything over 14 hours.” She frowned, looking at him. “I was out for 14 hours?” August smiled trying to be supportive; his hands went through his hair. “Give or take an hour” he shrugged.

  Her jaw parted as she stared at him. 14 hours! – She groaned – Lynette will never let me leave the house again.

  She walked slowly toward the couch, adrenaline fading away, leaving her weak. She sat. “Can I have that breakfast now?”

  August’s jaw dropped, “Yeah?” then he smiled and nod dashing toward the small kitchen at the right.

  Erina leaned on to the couch, her head resting on it. The headache was getting worst. She turned looking at the kitchen. August's head stuck inside of the little pale white fridge. She breathed out a gust of air. “Why are you lying?” she mumbled to herself.

  The room grew silent as only noises they were the one coming from the kitchen.

  Erina gazed over the room. It was a little different then the bedroom she was in earlier. It was pretty dull compared to that – she mustered, her head tilted to the side. The walls were only in grey-ish blue color. In a corner to the left, there were a number of white boards – canvas, she realize were facing the wall. A yellow basket full of brushes. And an easel of the right corner.

  A picture of August with four other people was on the table and that was about the only personal item in this whole room.

  “Here you go” August came back with a plate full of eggs and bacon.

  Erina gulped, taking the plate from his hand. She placed the picture frame back on the table. Her eyes fixed on to the plate in her hand. What if he drugged it? – Her frown increased – What if it he was the middle man, working for that man. He's just the messenger.

  “I didn’t mix anything in it” August said as if reading her mind. “I swear” He put down a Starbucks cup on the table. She nodded, tucking away a strand of red hair behind her ear. Here goes nothing – she closed her eyes and shoved a spoon full in to her mouth. She almost moaned when she realized how much hungry she was. She devoured half of it, forgetting about the person sitting in front of her.

  August chuckled and she stopped, a spoon half way to her mouth. She swallowed looking at him. He was sitting casually at the chair opposite to her, leaning towards her. Another Starbucks cup in his hand.

  “Thank you” she said, swallowing another piece of egg, “For everything you did.”

  August shrugged. “Anyone would had done the same.”

  “I’m Erina, by the way” she said waving a hand at her.

  August smirked, “I’m August, just in case if you forgot” She smiled at him, sipping on the coffee. Her eyes widened, it was her favorite. Café Vanilla Light Cappuccino. “How did you know that I like this?” She asked. August shrugged. “I didn’t. I like this” He waved his cup.

  Erina continued to stare at him.

  August cleared his throat, uncomfortable with her gaze. “Um-um, you have a beautiful name” Erina looked back at the plate, a frown on her face.

  “Thanks and so do your” she said. She mentally cringed when she realized what she said. Parker would have been laughing his butt of if he was here.

  August just smiled, saying nothing. He just kept sipping into his coffee.

  “You paint?” she motioned to the canvas and paint supplies around the room. August shrugged, “Kind off”

  “Where were you?” She blurted out. He arched an eyebrow.

  “Where was I when?”

  “When I woke up. I kept on banging the door but no one came.”

  “I was out to buy the coffee” he pointed at her cup “and some eggs. I thought you would be hungry when you woke up”

  She nodded, silently eating.

  August stood up, taking the plate from her when she was done. Erina also finished the coffee, giving away a content sigh as she leaned back.

  August just chuckled.

  “Thank you” She said again standing up. “Don’t sweat it” August said taking the cup from her hand throwing it in the bin. He came back with his jacket, “Are you ready to go home?” he asked.

  “Sure.” She vigorously nods her head.

  “C’mon, let’s get you home then” He was his way to the door. When she stopped him.

  “Um…no.” Erina cleared her throat. “I can go on my own. You helped me enough”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah” she walked toward the door.

  August opened the door with the key. “C’mon, let me drop you off. I won’t bite” he joked grinning. Erina’s jaw dropped. The color in her face drained. August went a little pale himself as he stared at her. “I-I meant…” he scratch his neck.

  A silence followed.

  She let a nervous giggle, “That-that was funny” she shook her head.

  August nodded too.

  “I should go” she walked pass him. “Thank you” she said once more, turning to face him, hand stretched. “It was nice meeting you”

  He smiled, taking her hand. “Your welcome. And same here”

  * * *

  Erina quickly walked down the stairs. She just couldn’t wait to get out of there. No matter how nice August was or trying to be. And no matter how much he helped – which was still a matter on its own. She just couldn’t seem to shake off the feeling that he was lying. Her hand ran through her tangled hair. What happened last night – she questioned to herself. She walked out of the building. Her eyes scanning the road and the buildings, the neighborhood.

  Her jaw dropped.

  “That lying son of a-” she growled. “I knew he was lying” she said as she stomped angrily. She was now in uptown, the total opposite from the suburban area that she lived. “What in the hell happened last night?” But she did know what happened; she just didn’t know if it was exactly what had happen. How else am I supposed to wind up uptown – she asked herself – if I wasn’t running from a vampire?

  But Vampires aren’t real.

  Right?

  She shook her head. This was giving her a headache. She rubbed her scalp and started walking down to the bus station. This was going to be a long day.

  “Hey!”

  She nearly jumped out of her skin hearing the voice. She turned around, slowly, very slowly. There he was sitting inside of a Black Toyota, sunglasses covering his eyes, raven hair all over his forehead. Erina gulped.

  “You're still here? I could drop you?”

  “No!” she almost screamed. Relaxing a little she licked her lips, continuing, “No, you've helped me enough. I-I can go on from here.” she forced a smile.

  He sighed, running his hand through his hair. “I know that you know” he confessed. She stared at him, dumbfounded. “Huh?”

  “I didn’t want to scare you. I’m sorry that I lied.” She nods slowly. “Please let me get you to your home. I’ll tell you everything you want to know when we get there, I Promise” the look on his faced told her that he wasn’t lying this time.

  “OK” she said. Erina didn’t knew why she said it, but she believed him. August’s eyes went wide and then he blinked. She smiled walking to the other side. He didn’t expect her to agree so easily, but he wasn’t complaining. He opened the passenger door for her.

  “Thank you” August glanced at her.

  Erina shrugged. “You have to tell me everything. No matter how unbelievable it sounds.” He nodded, his lips pressed together in a thin line. She continued, “And don’t even think about lying. I already know your lying-face.”

  He smirked looking at her, “And I know yours.”r />
  * * *

  The drive was silent. August focusing on the road as Erina told him where to take turn every now and then. Her head rested on the window as she stared out. The headache had gotten worst, but she didn’t care about it. All she could think about was, what August was going to tell her. Initially her mind drifted back to the dream she had last night.

  But that’s not possible – she argued– there's no such thing as vampires whatsoever. Period. But then what was he hiding?

  She glanced up at August from her lashes. He was rigid, as if he doesn’t know how to sit next to her. His eyes fixed on the road, his hands gripping the wheel a little too hard. She sighed for the fifth time in a row, rubbing her face with both of her palms. Nothing made any sense, damn it! Why would this stranger lie to me? What happened last night!

  “Is something wrong?” August asked, eyes still fixed on the road.

  She shrugged.

  “Are you sure? You’re sighing like every two seconds.” his voice sounded curious.

  “I was just thinking what will happen when I reach home” she answered, which wasn’t a total lie. Erina already knew that Lynette was probably losing her mind over this. Probably freaking out every ten seconds. She'll probably be grounded until graduation, if Lynette played nice this time too.

  And then there was Sara. The redhead winched just thinking about her. Even if Lynette let her go off with just grounding, Sara won’t. She’s probably biting down her manicured nails in tension and moaning why she let Erina go alone. Erina groaned once more. Sara will be sticking with her like superglue throughout the whole senior year. And she knows that Lucy’s definitely fuelling them. Damn that kid.