Blue Crescent

The Awakening

Maddison

Knock! Knock!

The rain was pouring heavily as thunder and lightning joined in. The full moon was starting to rule the dark skies, and I was beginning to see flashes of vision in my mind. My blood heated up and my veins felt like stretching. Scratching my neck, I repeatedly slammed the door with my fists.

“Mom! Dad! Open the door!” I shouted impatiently. “Mom! Dad!’

‘Yes, baby. I’m coming,” Mom said.

“Hurry up, Mom!” I said.

“Yes, I’m coming. Are you alright?”

Unable to hold the rising energy within me, I swung the door open, throwing my mother to the floor. I stepped in and caught a glimpse of my face in the mirror and took in my reflection. My eyes were black, and my skin turned pale.

Dad came rushing and was frozen in shock at seeing me. I could hear his heartbeat racing. My mom was horrified and couldn’t move. She was looking at me and was probably cursing the day she made me her daughter. I watched dad as he rushed to Mom’s side and secured her in his arms.

“Maddie? What's happening?” Dad said.

“Who am I?” I growled.

“What? Where is that question coming from? Of course, you’re our daughter,” Dad responded, shaking in fear.

“You are a goddamn liar!” I uttered, to which fire suddenly emerged from the floor surrounding them.

“Tell me. Do you know who I really am, Mom? Dad?” I made my steps closer to them.

‘M-Maddie, please take it easy. W-We can talk about this,” Mom said as she clung to Dad’s arms.

“You knew about me?” I asked. “Tell me!”

“Yes! Y-Yes . . . I know the truth . . .” Mom said with tears in her eyes.

“Sweetie, you knew about this?” Dad asked Mom softly.

“The night before your birthday . . . and back at Little Oaks . . . Meredith told me . . . that you are special . . .” Mom said.

“Meredith? Special? What do you mean I am special? And what does Meredith have to do with me being special?” I asked.

“No, no . . . special. You are a . . .” Mom couldn't seem to continue.

“Special . . . what, bi***!” I growled.

“DO NOT . . . talk to your mother that way!” Dad said, pointing a finger at me and making me scoff.

Using my mind to move a chair towards me, I sat down and crossed my legs.

“Okay." I smirked. " I’m behaving like a good daughter should.”

“Can you please put the fire off, baby? It’s too hot and your mother is getting hurt . . .” Dad pleaded.

“Okay.” I smiled as the fire vanished into thin air. “Now, tell me the story.”

Feeling relieved, my mom took a deep breath before continuing.

***

More than ten years ago

Little Oaks Orphanage

"Mrs. Greene, are you sure you want to be Maddison's adoptive parents?" Meredith asked, handing Mrs. Greene a folder.

"Sure, why not? I would love to take her as my own daughter," Mrs. Greene answered, flipping the pages of Maddison's file..

Meredith whispered, "Is your husband with you? I'd like to talk to you in private. May I?"

Mrs. Greene nodded. Meredith made sure that no one was around before closing the door of a little room.

"What is this all about?" Mrs. Greene asked.

"Mrs. Greene, I know this is something unbelievable. Maddison . . . Maddison . . . is not like the other children here in this orphanage. She is special. When I say special, I mean . . . she isn't . . . she isn't . . ." Meredith stuttered.

"She isn't what, Meredith?"

"She isn't . . . human . . . She's . . . she's . . . a vampire, Mrs. Greene. You gotta be careful."

"A vampire?" Mrs. Greene scoffed. "Are you serious? This is not a joke, Meredith. I only want a daughter in the family ever since we lost Emma, and raising a daughter is not a joke."

'I know Mrs. Greene, but please believe me. We don't know where she came from. She was just left at the gate, and then we took care of her. When she was younger, I caught her eating a rat and took all of its blood and—"

"Stop it!" Mrs. Greene uttered. "Meredith, I think you should see my husband. He's a doctor. Though he's a pediatrician but he's a doctor so maybe he could find a way to examine your brain. Shall I book you an appointment?"

"No, no . . . don't bother. I am not crazy. Just be careful." Meredith opened the door and led Mrs. Greene out of the room secretly.

***

The night before Maddison's birthday

Mrs. Greene went up to Maddison's bedroom to check on her but was shocked to see her daughter covered in blood. Maddison was lying on her bed, sleeping. There was blood all over her mouth and face. Her fangs were showing off, and her hands had claws. She couldn't even identify if it was her daughter or not out of disbelief. The smell that spread in the room made her feel like vomiting. Covering her mouth, she gently closed the door and carefully went out of the room silently. She was trying not to wake Maddison up or else, something horrifying might happen—more horrifying than the sight she had witnessed before her own eyes.

Once inside their bedroom, she was catching her breath with tears in her eyes. She couldn't believe that her own daughter was different. As fear started to rise in her, she immediately rushed to her husband's side and embraced him. Recalling Meredith's words back in the orphanage, she closed her eyes and prayed softly. She was sweating and trembling that it woke her husband up.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" Dr. Greene asked.

Mrs. Greene looked into her husband's eyes. "Yeah . . . I'm okay. Good night, sweetie."

Mrs. Greene opened her eyes and pretended to have a nightmare. "Oh . . . what a bad dream. It's nothing, Sweetie. Let's go back to sleep," she said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure . . ." she responded, holding her husband tight as tears silently fell from her eyes.