Drake looked closer and was surprised by what he saw.
There were many vampires—of all ages. Some looked like children, playing and laughing. Others were sitting around, talking or singing together. They wore normal clothes and acted like any regular group of people.
If he didn't know better, he would've thought they were just a normal community.
"They live like humans," Drake thought, confused. "This isn't what I expected at all."
Knowing he was likely outnumbered and outmatched, Drake wisely chose to retreat, silently turning back and leaving the vampire's hideout without revealing his presence.
He felt exhausted after a long day of training and discovering the vampires' hideout. His mind was uneasy, torn between reporting it and remembering the innocent faces of the children.
He was walking to the bar to relax when he heard a shout close by. He ran to see what happened. It was a narrow, quiet space between buildings. One wall was warm from the kitchen, the other cold concrete. It wasn't really an alley, just a tight, no one paid attention to.
A young girl saw a vampire kill another girl. She was so scared she couldn't move. So the vampire went for her next. Just then, Drake came in. The vampire threw the second girl down and tried to run away.
Drake ran after the vampire. The vampire jumped up onto the roof. Drake knew he couldn't do that, but he tried anyway. He was shocked! He could do it, and he ran almost as fast as the vampire.
They leaped across the roof of the building below, the sound of their movements echoing in the silence. Only the dogs noticed, barking furiously. Drake pushed himself harder, desperate to catch up. When he finally reached the roof of the abandoned two-story building, he grabbed it. The impact sent them both crashing, tumbling across the rooftop in a violent roll.
The vampire pushed Drake hard, and stood up. Drake stood up too and kicked the vampire before it could run. They faced off, a silent wave of fury crashing between them. Then, the fight erupted in a whirlwind of fists. Drake's right hand shot out, a brutal strike that slammed into the vampire's jaw, the crack of bone echoing in the night. The vampire roared, its counter-punch a swift, vicious blow that caught Drake flush on the cheek, his head snapping violently to the side. Each punch hit with bone-crushing force, a fierce battle between hunter and hunted, fueled by pure adrenaline and a hunger for control.
Then, a brutal punch from the vampire landed squarely in Drake's stomach, forcing him to drop to his knees, gasping for air. It was the vampire's chance to escape. With frustration burning in his chest, he scrambled to his feet and tried to chase him down, but the vampire had already slipped out of sight. Realizing he was too late, Drake descended from the building, grabbed a taxi, and headed straight back to the crime scene.
When he arrived, the officers in charge of the Shadowfang operation were already there. Crime scene investigators were meticulously documenting the area, snapping photographs, and outlining the body's position before carefully placing the body in the cadaver bag. Onlookers had gathered at the perimeter, curiosity etched on their faces but Shadowfang officers were already cordoning off the area with caution tape, keeping them at bay. Ignoring the bright yellow caution tape, Drake ducked under it and stepped back into the cordoned-off area.
"Whoa there! What are you doing?" the Head Investigator called out, his voice sharp with authority.
"I'm Drake Nightwalker, vampire slayer," Drake replied, showing his identification card. "I tried to chase the vampire that did this, but it got away."
"There's an ambulance over there," the officer instructed, gesturing towards the vehicle behind the small crowd of onlookers. "Go get yourself checked and treated. We'll do your interview after we're finished here."
Drake nodded and did as he was told, heading towards the ambulance situated behind the line of curious residents. The nurse cleaned the cut on Drake's face with alcohol, and the sting made him wince. He gritted his teeth, trying not to show the pain. After a moment, she placed a bandage on it, and the pain eased.
The man who is in charge of the investigation, Royce Marshal, told him to say who he was. Then the man asked, "What did the person who did it look like?"
Drake answered, "I was walking when I heard someone scream. I saw him almost done sucking the blood of those young girls. I ran after him, but he was too strong, and I couldn't catch him. He looked about 50 years old, wearing a black shirt with long sleeves and black pants. He had brown eyes, a pointy nose, and was about 5'3 tall."
"Oh, I see! He's the same guy we've been looking for. This is his third victim this week, with a total of 20 victims this month. Other witnesses have said the same as you. We've made a sketch of his face; take a look at this and confirm if this was the guy you tried to chase."
He looked at the drawing closely and tried to memorize his face in case he encountered him again.
"Yes, that's him. That's the guy who killed these young girls. How long have you been looking for him?"
"A couple of months now. Anyway, please get some rest. If you see anything strange, report it to us immediately, and don't try to confront them alone. We all know how strong they are and how dangerous this murderer is."
"Okay sir."
The officer left and joined his team.