VAMPIRE’s QUEEN

First Meeting

As we entered the cafeteria, my friends headed straight to our usual table while I made my way to the counter to grab a coffee.

After paying, I walked back to join them, sipping the warm drink as I sat down.

"So guys, we're going to play truth or dare, but with a twist," Jason announced, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"What's the twist?" Amelia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well," Jason started, leaning in as if he were revealing some grand secret.

"We'll play truth or dare, but whoever doesn't complete their dare has to drink vodka." He pulled out a water bottle from his bag, the clear liquid inside catching the light.

"Dude, what the f**k?" I said, quickly glancing around to make sure no one was listening to our conversation.

"Are you mad?"

"Yeah, seriously," Mathew added, looking concerned.

“What if we get caught?"

“Jason, how could you be so stupid as to bring alcohol into the college?" I hissed, lowering my voice.

"Guys, relax," Jason said, trying to calm us down.

"No one will notice. I brought the vodka to my sister's water bottle. No one would suspect a thing.

We'll pour it into coffee cups, it'll be fine." He grinned, clearly pleased with his plan. I rolled my eyes at his stupidity.

“If I get into trouble because of you, I swear I'm going to break your ass," I muttered, taking another sip of my coffee.

“Come on, Eve, live a little. What's the point of drinking vodka if not for a little fun?" Jason teased.

“But seriously, if you keep shouting like a crazy person, then everyone will get suspicious."

“Oh, shut up," I said, rolling my eyes again.

"Okay, let's get started, we don't have much time. It's only two hours," Hailey said as she spun the bottle in the centre of the table. We all focused on the spinning bottle, watching it slow down and finally stop at Amelia.

"Amelia, truth or dare?" Jason asked, grinning.

"Well, truth," she replied, looking a little cautious.

"Okay, when was the last time you had s*x and with whom?" Jason asked, his grin widening.

"Oooh!" Everyone at the table started teasing Amelia.

“Shut up, guys," she said, blushing.

“Tell us, or take a shot of vodka," Mathew added, grinning.

“Fine, I had s*x last week with the guy from the computer lab," Amelia confessed, and everyone burst out laughing.

"So, how was it?" Hailey teased.

“Oh, shut up, one question at a time!" Amelia pouted, clearly embarrassed.

I reached out and spun the bottle again, and this time, it landed on Mathew. "So, Mathew, truth or dare?" I asked, smirking.

“Dare!" he said confidently.

“Okay, let me give you a dare," Hailey chimed in.

"Yes, give me a dare to kiss Evelyn," Mathew said, smirking at me.

“Eww, in your dreams!" I laughed.

“Okay, Mathew, your dare is to do a catwalk in front of the whole cafeteria," Hailey said, a wicked grin on her face.

“Ugh, not this," he groaned.

“Then take a shot," Amelia added, shrugging. "Fine, I'll do it," Mathew said, standing up with a sigh. As he stood up, I quickly followed, unable to resist the urge to make things even more embarrassing for him.

"So, everyone, please pay attention! Our model Mathew is going to do a catwalk!" I announced loudly, making sure everyone in the cafeteria heard. As Mathew reluctantly walked to the centre of the cafeteria, I took another sip of my coffee, grinning.

The whole place erupted in cheers and laughter as he started his catwalk, strutting like a model on a runway. People were hooting and teasing him, some even standing up to get a better look. Mathew played along, giving exaggerated poses and facial expressions, which only made everyone laugh harder. He returned to our table, his face flushed with embarrassment, but he was smiling, taking it all in stride.

“Happy now?" he asked, sitting down and grabbing his coffee.

“Very," I said with a grin.

“Okay, my turn," Jason said, spinning the bottle again.

The game continued with us daring each other to do ridiculous things, some too embarrassing to follow through with. Those who chickened out took a shot of vodka, their coffee cups now containing something much stronger.

Amelia had to confess a secret crush, Hailey had to sing loudly in the cafeteria, and Jason ended up having to do a handstand in the middle of the room. By the end of it, we were all in stitches, laughing so hard that tears streamed down our faces.

“I swear, if we get caught, it's your fault, Jason," I said, wiping my eyes as the laughter finally died down.

“Relax, Eve. No one will find out," Jason replied, grinning as he took another sip of his "coffee."

"Let's just make sure we finish this game before someone does," Hailey said, glancing around nervously.

As the game went on, the dares got bolder, the truths more revealing, and the vodka shots more frequent. As the bottle stopped spinning, it pointed directly at me. I could feel all eyes on me as Jason leaned in with a mischievous grin.

"Truth or dare, Eve?" Jason asked, his voice teasing.

“Obviously dare. I'm up for any challenge,” I responded confidently, crossing my arms.

“Oh really?" Jason's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Let's see if you have the guts to complete this dare.

“Yeah, yeah, bring it," I said, already regretting my bravado.

“I want you to go to the West Wing," Jason began, his tone almost daring me to back out, "and record a little clip to show us that you really went there." I stared at him, my confidence wavering.

"Are you kidding me? Are you forgetting we aren't allowed there?" I rolled my eyes, hoping he'd change his mind.

“Yeah, she's right," Hailey added, her brows furrowed with concern.

“That wing is for the rich kids. We aren't allowed there."

“Exactly!" Jason said, his grin not fading.

“That's the point. I want to see what's so special about the West Wing. Why are those kids separate from us. Maybe they re getting some special treatment in education." I scoffed.

“So why don't you go yourself? Why are you putting her under the bus? If the principal finds out, she'll be suspended.

“I don't know what's wrong with you. First, you bring vodka, and then you dare her to break the rules." Mathew's voice was low but full of frustration.

Jason just shrugged, leaning back in his chair.

"Oh, chill, dude, it's just for today. No one will know she went there. It's a dare for her. Well, if she doesn't want to complete it, she can just drink her shot." He pushed the cup of vodka towards me, a smug look on his face.

“Guys, we shouldn't do this," Amelia said, her voice trembling slightly.

“I don't know if you guys will believe me, but there are rumours that a senior went there last week and never came back." Her tone was filled with fear, and her eyes were wide as she looked at me.

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head at her naivety.

"Wait, what? Amelia, why are you believing such things? I'm going to complete the dare Jason gave me." I stood up, determination flaring up in me again.

"Okay, we have forty minutes until our last class.

Come back quickly so we can see what you record," Jason said, leaning forward, excitement clear in his voice.

“Fine," I said, grabbing my phone and leaving my bag on the table.

“Keep an eye on my things," I called over my shoulder as I headed out of the cafeteria.

As I walked down the hallway, my heart started to race. The West Wing had always been a place of mystery, a section of the college where none of us were allowed.

Their college entrance was also different. But I wasn't about to let some rumours or Jason's taunts get the best of me.

I took a deep breath, my footsteps echoing in the empty hallway as I made my way toward the forbidden wing.

"Okay, you can do this, Evelyn," I whispered to myself, standing at the entrance of the West Wing. My heart pounded in my chest, and I glanced around nervously, making sure no one was watching me.

The hallway was eerily quiet, and I took a deep breath before stepping inside. As I crossed the threshold, I was surprised to find that the West Wing didn't look all that different from our side of the college.

The hallway was almost identical, same linoleum floors, and the same rows of lockers, but there was something off about it.

The lights were dimmer, casting long, eerie shadows along the walls.

The air felt heavier, almost oppressive, and a strange chill ran down my spine. I noticed that the walls were lined with elegant, dark wood panelling, giving the place a more sophisticated, almost ancient feel. It was as if this wing had been designed to impress, to give off a sense of grandeur and exclusivity. The lockers here were larger, more ornate, with polished brass handles that gleamed in the dim light. Everything seemed just a little too perfect, a little too pristine, as if it was hiding something beneath the surface. As I walked further down the hallway, I peeked into a few classrooms.

At first glance, everything seemed normal.

Students sat at their desks, listening to their teachers just like in our classes. But there was something strange about them too, an unsettling calmness in the way they sat, an intensity in their focus. It felt like they were all in on some secret that I wasn't a part of.

I shook off the uneasy feeling and reached for my phone, determined to complete the dare. I unlocked the screen and opened the camera app, ready to record the proof Jason wanted. But before I could hit the record button, someone crashed into me with enough force to send me sprawling to the floor. My phone slipped from my hand and clattered on the ground beside me.

"Ouchhh, what the f**k" I groaned in pain, trying to sit up as I rubbed my aching shoulder. "What are you doing here, human?" a deep, menacing voice rumbled above me.

I looked up and found myself staring at a guy who was easily the most intimidating person I had ever seen. He was tall, towering over me with a broad, muscular build that looked like it belonged to someone who spent every waking moment in the gym. His face was striking, handsome in a sharp, dangerous way. His eyes were a piercing shade of grey, cold and calculating, with a small scar running across his left one, giving him an even more fearsome appearance. He had tattoos snaking up both of his arms, intricate designs that disappeared beneath the sleeves of his dark shirt.

There was an air of danger around him, something almost predatory in the way he stood there, staring down at me with a look that made my blood run cold. He seemed completely out of place in the hallway, like he belonged in some underground fight club instead of a college. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing heart.

"I... I was just, "

"Spare me your excuses," he cut me off, his voice dripping with disdain.

“This place isn't for you scholarship students." I blinked, confused and a little scared.

“I didn't mean to, I was just..."

“Get up," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. I scrambled to my feet, wincing as I felt the dull ache in my shoulder from the fall. My phone was still on the ground, and I quickly bent down to grab it, hoping he wouldn't notice the slight tremor in my hand.

“Why are you here?" he asked again, his voice a low growl.

“I... I just got lost," I lied, trying to sound casual even though I knew he wasn't buying it. There was something about him that made me feel like he could see right through me, like he knew exactly what I was thinking.

“Lost?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced.

"You should be more careful where you wander, little human. You never know what you might stumble into. Now i want you to get the hell out of here, " He said while taking a step towards me. My heart started beating fast, as he was too close towards me.

There was something sinister in his words, something that sent a shiver down my spine. But before I could respond, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the hallway as if nothing had happened. I stood there for a moment, frozen in place, before finally letting out the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. My heart was still pounding, and my mind raced with questions. Who was that guy? Why did he call me

"human" like it was an insult?

And what exactly was going on in this wing? I glanced at my phone, still clutched tightly in my hand. The screen was cracked, but it seemed to be working. I quickly record the video and then turn off my phone.

I knew I had to get out of there, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just stepped into something much bigger than a simple dare. With one last look down the dark hallway, I turned and hurried back the way I came, my thoughts racing faster than my footsteps.