I woke up, still in the white room. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been asleep, if it was just a nap or if days had passed. That didn’t matter. What mattered was getting out.

  The door clicked and opened, the man standing there. He had no tray, but he entered the room.

  The door started to close behind him.

  My eyes widened. “The door!” I shouted and pointed to it.

  The man ignored me, continuing to walk, and the door closed, locking him in the room with me. He continued to approach.

  I stayed behind the chair, keeping it between us for as long as possible. I was standing by the time he had stopped in front of the chair, an arm’s length away from it.

  “I am Nikola, but everyone calls me Nick. May I?” He pointed to the chair, as if asking for permission to sit.

  I said nothing, and he sat. I backed up several steps, trying to keep as far away from him as possible.

  He turned to sit sideways, looking back at me. “You know, this would be more comfortable if you were in front of me.”

  I didn’t move.

  He sighed. “Oh well, I guess we’ll do it this way.” He shifted on the seat, trying to get comfortable.

  “I am trying to achieve something that hasn’t happened in millennia, and you might be able to help me. Immortality without weakness, a rebirth the world forgot was possible. I require energy, a lot of it, in order to do this. After centuries of experimenting, I think I have finally figured out how to harvest that energy.”

  Harvest? Wait, centuries?

  “And you are going to help me.” He smiled for the first time. If he hadn’t been my kidnapper, I would’ve thought it was a nice smile. His teeth were even and white, his lips full.

  But he was my kidnapper, and that smile frightened me to my core. I trembled, though I fought to look as strong as possible.

  “You’re a tough one. Your energy is going to be perfect. But for now,” he stood, strolling around the chair and slowly walking towards me. “I require just a little bit of mana. You don’t mind, do you?”

  Before I could say anything, he flew at me, one hand fisting in my hair to pull my head back, exposing my neck, the other around my waist, holding me to his body. His teeth gleamed as his canines elongated.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not going to kill you. I’m just a little thirsty.” And his mouth was on my neck, his snake-like teeth sinking into my flesh.

  I screamed and thrashed, pushing against his body with my hands as hard as I could.

  He pulled his head back, yanking on my hair to get my attention, making me yelp. He snarled, “Would you please stop? I’m just getting a small drink and then I’ll leave.” He bit down again, the prickling, needle-like sensation unsettling against my neck.

  He stayed at least a minute longer before releasing my neck again and sighing. “Thank you, dear.” He let go of my waist and I tumbled backwards, landing on my butt.

  I scrambled to get as far away from him as I could, holding the side of my neck. I hit the back corner of the cell and tried to get even further away by becoming as small as possible, my knees curling up and head curling in.

  He wiped his mouth with a dark kerchief that was in his pocket. He replaced it before looking at me again, a lazy smile on his face.

  “Might I say, you certainly are delicious.”

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  His eyes gleamed, an awful sight. He walked toward the door and it swung open. It closed behind him, the lock clicking with finality.

  I curled up tighter into a ball and sobbed, holding my neck where he had bitten. I pulled away my hand and looked. No blood. I couldn’t think. Couldn’t move.

  What if this man… never mind, he wasn’t a man. He was a vampire. What if this vampire decided to keep me forever as his own personal mana factory?

  I couldn’t stop my tears, nor the choked sobs as they wracked my body. I don’t know how long I cried for. I cried until I couldn’t anymore, my eyes unseeing as I stared in the middle distance.

  I had to get out of here. I had to figure out a way. I would figure out a way.

  I crawled back over to the chair, my fingers worrying at the nut. Was it my imagination or did it budge? Yes, it had! I continued twisting until the nut was completely off. One down, three to go!

  My fear began to move to anger as I gained momentum. I moved to the next one, hoping that it would also loosen enough for me to remove. I worked at the nut until my fingers couldn’t grip anymore.

  My eyes felt as heavy as my body, everything slowing down. I wondered if it had anything to do with being a meal myself for that vamp, Nikola.

  I stumbled, falling forward and nearly landing on my face. I curled beside the chair, praying that the rest of the nuts would loosen so I could free the chair. Then I’d have something to fight with, or maybe defend with at least. I’d try again later. Later…

  I woke up, groggy and cotton mouthed.

  Beside the door was a glass of water and another tray of food. I drank the water but ignored the food, having no appetite at all. I still felt nauseous at the recent horrible memory.

  I still carried the tray over to the chair. I was convinced that there had to be a camera in here somewhere. Every time Nikola came over the speaker, it seemed like he could see exactly what I was doing.

  I set the tray on the seat again, sitting in front of it. I grabbed a piece of fruit with one hand, the other resting near the leg of the chair.

  I worked at the nut, willing it to loosen. It somehow did and I removed it. The third nut was blessedly loose and came off without much convincing.

  I put the full tray back by the door and walked back to the chair, curling up on the floor next to it as if I’d go to sleep again.

  But my one hand worked at the last nut. Tight.

  Please, please just let go! Please!

  As if it could hear me, it began to loosen. But just as I had begun to loosen it, the door clicked. I stopped, not wanting to be caught, and sat up.

  Nikola stood there, a disappointed look on his face. “You really need to eat more, you know. How else will you have the energy that I need? But no matter.” He stooped to pick up the tray. “We can try again later when you’re feeling a little more cooperative.” The door swung and clicked closed behind him as he left.

  I eased my body back into the side-lying position I was in before. I removed the last nut, grateful that I had accomplished something. I was resolved to do something to get out of here.

  Now to wait until he came back. If I could throw the chair at him and distract him, maybe I could close the door behind me and lock him in? Or maybe I’ll at least have enough time to get out of here. Either way, now it was the waiting game.

  Does anybody even know that I’m missing yet? Has anyone begun to search for me? Everyone at work probably figures I called in sick or something. But they have Michael now, so they won’t feel my absence as badly…

  I didn’t want to worry about whether or not someone noticed, but I did.

  My parents, there’s no way they’d know at all. Maybe Michael… no, he’s just a friend. I haven’t spoken to him since he escorted me home after Antun’s.

  That last evening had been drizzly, the rain coming down lighter than it had earlier in the day. I was grateful that my building wasn’t too far away, but it would’ve been nice to have a little more time to walk with Michael.

  As the weeks wore on, we had become closer. We’d send each other memes and funny pictures, beginning to understand each other’s sense of humor. We arrived at my door too quickly.

  “Do you want to come in for a bit, grab a coffee before you face the rain again?”

  “I’d love to, but I don’t think it’d be very fair to Husker. He doesn’t like me much, so I wonder if it’s best that I don’t come in often.”

  I was disappointed, not ready to be alone just yet. “He’s just a grumpy butt, you don’t need to worry about him,” I assured him.

  He smiled. “I really would love to, but I told my parents that I’d call them today and they’re in a different time zone. Maybe next time?”

  I smiled back, not nearly as bright. “Alright, next time then.” He waved and left.

  That was the last I had seen of Michael, of anyone I knew.

  Please, somebody, notice…

  ? ?? ?

  Around and down, then up the other side, Michael listened for Drew’s mind.

  She was frightened. No, more than frightened. She was terrified. And she kept thinking about how to get out of wherever she was.

  That’s my girl, keep thinking, keep hoping. We’re coming.

  They wended down alleys and back streets with little traffic, continuing to follow that faint link.

  Come on, Drew. You can do this, just hold on. We’re coming.

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