"She's the second human whose scent has called to me like this. The first got away. I don't intend to make the same mistake again." Wait. What? What did he mean "second human"? What the fuck was this "not going to make the same mistake again" shit?
I was starting to get scared. My heart beat was picking up. Victoria cocked her head to the side and sneered at me.
"You poor diluted little creature," she chuckled. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, do you?" James, who had walked a complete circle around me, stopped now and smiled in a mocking-yet-friendly way at me.
"Tell me your name," he said.
"Isabella Swan. I prefer Bella." Stupid fucking mouth!
"Well then, Bella," he began, smiling wider. "I'm afraid you're going to have to play our game now."
"G-game?" I asked, stepping back. About damn time my body started responding to my brain.
"Oh yes, it's our favorite game," James stated, stepping forward. "You see, my mate here and I are hunters. We make a game out of each hunt we have. I believe you humans have a book relating to something similar, yes? Well, our game is more fun."
I stared at them with disbelief. What the hell was going on? Were they serious?
"I don't think she gets it," muttered Victoria, who shook her head in disdain.
James looked at me sadly. "Ah, that is so typical for humans. Tell me, Bella, do you know what we are?" he asked. It wasn't a rhetorical question. I looked at them, I mean, I really looked at them. My brain threw out random ideas as to what they were. Serial killers? Rapists? Sick, twisted motherfuckers? Well, maybe all of the above. But he didn't mean it that way. No, his words had another meaning.
"Would you like a hint?" purred Victoria. I sheepishly nodded. She smiled a wide, ominous smile, revealing her white, glistening teeth. My heart froze at the sight.
I smell good to them. They have pale skin and red eyes. They're cold and hard and without a heartbeat.
No.
"Say it," James said, licking his lips.
No. No. No.
"Yes," Victoria chimed.
It can't be. No, this is not fucking happening! This can't be happening! They aren't real!
"We-" James began.
"Are-" Victoria added in a low whisper.
"V-vampires," I whispered.
They both laughed a loud, blood-chilling laugh that made my spine erupt in shivers. I stepped back, thinking I could run away from them, but before I could blink Victoria was gone from where she had been and was standing behind me. I felt her cold breath caress my neck, causing all the hairs to stand up in fright. My breath caught as I struggled with what to do.
"Ho! She got it right!" cackled James. Victoria eyed me hungrily.
I don't know why, but I somehow thought I could run away. I spun around and dashed in the opposite direction only to be caught by a pair of granite like hands. Victoria smiled sweetly as I flailed about in her arms. I could hear James laughing louder behind me.
"As if you could outrun us," she chided playfully, licking her lips. Sweat dropped off my faces as I tried to scream, but a cold hand clamped my mouth shut.
"Aw, let her scream!" whined James mockingly.
Oh God. I'm dead. They're gonna kill me. Shit, shit, shit!
They seemed amused by my terrified expressions since they both laughed again. Their laughter made me shudder in terror until they stopped and glanced at one another.
"Let's go someplace more suitable," said Victoria darkly. My body went limp in her hands, but she didn't even seem to notice.
I'm not sure what happened next, but before I could fully register it, I was lifted into the air and moving around so fast everything was blurred. Not but seconds later was I thrown onto a wooden floor, rolling around a few times before stopping. I blinked several times and saw that I was inside a warehouse of some type. It was nearly pitch black, but the pale skin of the two vampires illuminated the darkness.
Vampires.
I don't fucking believe this. How can this be? How can vampires exist? It's not possible! Yet here they are, looming in front of me, waiting to kill me. I'm going to die. Tears started to drip down my cheeks as I realized how pitiful my life had been. I'd missed out on so much. I never got an "I love you", never went to a dance or out on a date. My life was meaningless and now I was going to die. Pathetic. That's what I am. Worthless.
"Oh, stop crying already," groaned Victoria. "You won't be dying tonight, little human."
Wait. What?
"Where's the fun in that?" James asked, as if reading my mind. "Well, I suppose you will die eventually, but tonight is when we start our game."
Through the tears, confusion and fright I remembered him mentioning a "game" before. What the hell game was he talking about? Then again, I'm dead anyways, it doesn't matter. My body began to shake violently from the fear, a delayed reaction of sorts, I guess.
"Aw, poor baby," mocked James. "Now, stop that. I'm going to explain the rules of our little game. You might survive if you play it well." The last sentence sounded both truthful and mocking.
"W-w-what d-do you m-mean?" I stammered weakly, not moving from where I was on the floor.
James smirked. "Well, let me start by telling you that I am one of the best trackers in the world."
"That he is," Victoria cooed, adding to his disgustingly smug smile.
"You see, Isabella, I love to hunt. And you, my dear, are my newest target."
"W-why?"
He shrugged innocently. "Well, for one thing you know what I am. Secondly, and more importantly, is your scent. You see, all humans smell good to us. Some have stronger scents then others, scents that make our mouths water a mile away. These are the humans I choose as our targets. And before you ask "why do you hunt", I do it because it's fun. Simple."
"Now then, let me explain the rules to this game. Rather than just kill you now, I'm going to give you a fighting chance at survival. I'm going to give you ten days. The first five will be yours to run as far away as you can. I don't care where you go or how you get there, that's up to you. After the first five days, we will begin pursuing you. If you can avoid us for five more days, then I'll let you live and call off the hunt. Does that sound fair?"