• One foggy, damp night a girl and boy made their way up a hill. They stopped under a tree for breath. The girl asked, “Hamari?”

    “Yeah?” Hamari replied.

    “Can you keep a promise?” she asked.

    “Is there something you want to tell me, Lina?” Hamari said.

    “Will, we stay together forever?” Lina look at him with her grayish-blue eyes. Her body was slim and skinny. Hamari stared at her. She looked beautiful with the fog behind her, it slightly drizzled around them.

    He was still confused as he looked back at her. “Of course, we will stay together till we die.” She smile and laid her head on his shoulder.

    “Wouldn’t they wonder where we are,” she said. “Mother was concerned about me yesterday, because we stayed out further than sunset.”

    “Your mother constantly worries about everything. What the vampires are going to attack us!” Hamari tickled Lina till they collapsed on damp grass. They laughed till their sides ached. “Wait, do you smell that?” Hamari sat up. He smelled smoke. Lina looked at him then back the village. “COME ON!”

    They ran down the hill, luckily this hill wasn’t as steep as yesterdays. The village was blazing in orange and red flames! The black smoke choked the air out of oxygen. Calm waters were always a peaceful village. This was very strange; there wasn’t a village for miles around, who would travel in this weather? Vampires were attacking our village. There were tales and rumors about vampire sightings but never attacks reported. They flew down the hill into the village entrance. The vampires bent over the necks of people they knew, neighbors, and friends. Lina’s mom was being devoured by vampires. Many women were taken away by the male vampires. Unable to think of what they wanted with the women, he was distracted by Lina’s scream for her mother. The man… or vampire looked up and suddenly appeared in front of Lina. He blew Hamari away, and bit into her neck.

    “NNNOOO!!” Hamari grabbed and fiery piece of woods and with one fatal (well it should have been fatal) blow to head the vampire howled and left. Holding Lina’s head, he wiped her stray hairs away from her face. “No.” he whispered.

    “Hamari, I’m sorry I can’t keep our promise.” Lina’s ragged breath racked her lungs. She screamed an unearthly howl, and in her place was smoke. He grasped the air, and wept.

    “You just did,” he whispered.

    © Zahra Khan 2008