chapter one

Rubbing my eyes hard with my palm, I closed my laptop with a click. Classes were starting to pick up, and the most recent assignment was kicking my ass. With the clock ticking and the online classroom about to lock me out, I finished with a few minutes to spare. I just hoped I had enough information there to pass. I would even take a C at this point to pass the STEM class. A shaky sigh escaped my lips, only to be cut short by an enormous yawn that made my jaw pop, eliciting a wince.

Vroom. Vroom. Vroom.

I peered behind me to glance at the screen of my phone that was vibrating on my bed, only to roll my eyes when I realized it was just another bill collector.

“Fuck…” I whined, letting my head fall into the gap of my arms resting on the desk in front of me. It was tough keeping a job while staying in school, so after losing my server position when the manager didn’t understand I couldn’t take some shifts because of my class schedule, I took my soap and cosmetic pastime and created a business—Aphrodite’s Creations. I was good at what I did. But business was not so kind to me. So if I was not in class, doing homework, or walking Samwise, I was in the bedroom, which I turned into my lab, working on new formulas or marketing. To ensure the bills were paid, I joined SomeFans, but I hoped I wouldn’t have to be on there for much longer, and Aphrodite’s Creation took off.

Not to put down anyone who enjoys working for SomeFans but putting my body on display made me feel like crap. I guess it was because I didn’t want the attention it gave me. I didn’t like the attention of the people the site caters to. They made me feel like crap. Though the money was nice, that was for sure.

Speaking of SomeFans, I needed to make some content for this week. I let my head fall back, allowing my hair to drape against my back as I sighed. The sooner I got this done, the sooner I could sleep. With that thought in mind, I reached over to my nightstand and grabbed the remote for my LED strip. I changed the lights to a vibrant red, instantly transforming the room into a passionate ambiance. I dragged myself from my sitting position to walk over to my dresser and picked out a black teddy, a black thong, a diamond butt plug, and a vibrator. After I set my camera app on a tripod in front of my bed, I got to work.

Biting my lip, I stared at the price of the centrifuge displayed on Amazon. I didn’t even know why I didn’t check it sooner! It was only $50! That was easily attainable with an extra day of SomeFan’s work. Oh, I would have to do a little bit of ass-play, and that was totally doable. I hid my squeal behind my palm to avoid bringing any attention to myself as I waited in line at the art store.

I could finally do you vampire facials at home! A vampire facial is so cool. After drawing blood and separating the platelets and plasma with a centrifuge machine, it created a platelet-rich plasma, PRP, concentration. Then, use micro-needling on your face and spread the newly created PRP concentration to stimulate stem cells, tightening the skin and reducing wrinkles, scars, and lines. It was practically a fountain of youth.

Before heading to social media, I took a screenshot of the machine in my cart and posted it to my story with fun emojis and stickers of vampires in blood.

“Next!” the teenager behind the counter called, indicating my turn. I quickly loaded the conveyor belt with my soap dyes and watched as they slowly reached her. I blushed as bright as my hair as I realized I should’ve put it closer to her instead of so far back to avoid the awkward pause and stare she was giving me.

I shoved my hands inside my hoodie pocket and straightened my back, letting out a soft breath to ground myself. Walking closer to the register, the teenager wasn’t even looking me in the eye anymore as she scanned my items, dropping them carelessly into a plastic bag and handing them off to me. After swiping my card, she handed me my receipt with a lifeless “Have a great day” on her lips that she didn’t mean or probably want to say.

I stepped outside the store and enjoyed the rare cool breeze this time of year. Cool weather had always been my favorite. You could always put clothes on to counter the cold, but you could barely do anything to counter the summer heat.

I should have taken my car that night.

I shouldn’t have walked alone in the dark that night.

Hell, I should’ve at least walked my dog with me if I wasn’t going to take my car—anything more than what I actually did.

Maybe it would’ve saved me my fate. I didn’t know, maybe not.

Oblivious to my surroundings, I failed to notice him lurking in the dark corner, obscured by the shadows, while my mind was occupied with trivial matters. By the time he had his hand around my mouth to muffle my scream and his other hand to bind me against his body, it was too late to fight back. He took me into the dirty concrete alleyway and didn’t stop until he got what he wanted from me.

When he left me there broken, bleeding, and covered in bodily fluids, did I fucking wish that he didn’t stop until I was dead because this feeling was worse than death.

At least with death, I would’ve felt peace instead of the throbbing of the bruises, broken skin, and drowning despair.