Run and hide

*Chapter 5: Run and Hide*

Sophia’s breath caught in her throat as Damian pulled her through the narrow back alley behind the bookstore. The crash from the front of the store still echoed in her ears, but Damian’s grip on her wrist was steady and strong, pulling her forward. She had no time to think, no time to process. The only thing she could do was keep up.

She didn’t know where they were going, but Damian’s urgency was enough to drive her forward. His face, once calm and composed, was now strained, his eyes darting around, scanning every corner as if expecting someone—or something—to emerge from the shadows.

“Damian, what’s going on?” she gasped, trying to keep pace. “Who’s after us?”

He glanced at her briefly, his expression hard, his jaw clenched. “Not now, Sophia. We can talk once we’re safe.”

They turned a corner, and suddenly, the alley opened up to a quiet, deserted street. The city seemed to stretch out before them, dark and silent, but Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that something was lurking just out of sight. Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to catch her breath.

Damian stopped abruptly, causing Sophia to stumble slightly. He looked at her, his eyes full of an intensity she hadn’t seen before. “We need to keep moving. The vampires who are after you—they’ll know you’re close.”

“Vampires?” Sophia echoed, her voice shaky. She still couldn’t fully wrap her mind around the fact that Damian was telling the truth. That he was a vampire. That she was in *danger* because of him. “What do you mean? Who are they? What do they want with me?”

Damian’s expression softened for just a moment. He let go of her wrist, but only to pull her closer, his hand gently brushing against her cheek as if to reassure her. “I’ll explain everything, I promise. But right now, we don’t have much time.”

A low growl echoed from the street behind them, sending a chill down Sophia’s spine. Her eyes widened in fear as Damian’s grip on her tightened once more, pulling her into the shadows.

“They’re here,” Damian muttered under his breath.

Sophia felt a rush of panic flood through her as they crouched behind a dumpster, hidden from view. Her pulse raced, her breath shallow, as she tried to make sense of everything happening around her. One moment, she was just a regular girl, living her life, and the next—she was running for her life from a group of vampires.

Damian’s presence next to her was like a rock, a steady force amid the chaos. His eyes never left the darkened street, his body tense, poised for any sign of danger. She could feel the weight of his gaze, and the warmth of his touch still lingered on her skin.

“I’m not letting them get you, Sophia,” he said quietly, his voice a low promise. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Sophia wanted to ask him what he meant by that—what exactly he was protecting her from—but she couldn’t find the words. Fear clung to her, wrapping around her chest like a vice. She had always been curious, but now she regretted asking questions. Now, she just wanted to escape.

A sound reached her ears—soft footsteps, quick and deliberate. Her eyes flicked to Damian, but he was already moving. He pulled her up, his hand gripping hers like a lifeline as he began running, his movements fluid and fast.

Sophia struggled to keep up as they sprinted through the alleyways, weaving in and out of shadows. The night felt like it was closing in around her, every street corner hiding a potential threat. She could feel the weight of the world pressing on her chest, the fear that she had just stepped into a world far darker than she could ever imagine.

Finally, they reached an old, abandoned building at the edge of the city. Damian pushed open a rusty door, and they entered, the cool air inside offering a strange sense of relief.

He closed the door behind them, his expression more serious than ever. They were safe—for now.

Sophia collapsed against the wall, her body shaking with exhaustion and fear. She tried to catch her breath, but it felt like her lungs were constricting.

Damian stood a few feet away, watching her with a conflicted look in his eyes. “We don’t have much time,” he said, his voice steady but strained. “They’ll be looking for us. I’m sorry for dragging you into this, Sophia. But I need you to understand—I’m trying to protect you.”

Sophia’s mind was a whirlwind. The world she knew was gone. All of this was too much to take in. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of confusion, fear, and uncertainty.

“Why me?” she whispered, her voice cracking. “Why is this happening to me?”

Damian’s gaze softened. He took a step toward her, his eyes filled with regret. “I don’t have all the answers yet. But I do know one thing: you’re more important than you realize. They want you because you’re the key to something bigger—something that could change everything.”

Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean?”

Before he could answer, the sound of distant footsteps reached her ears again—this time, closer. The danger wasn’t over.

Damian’s eyes darkened. “We need to move. Now.”

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