Fiona stumbled back home, in shock.

Back home, Fiona was devastated.

What was she supposed to do now?

She felt like her life had suddenly come crashing down around her.

She had walked out that morning so happy and optimistic, thinking she was going to meet a new friend, have someone to share interests with as well as try on some new gear, and she’d ended up like this!

She’d already tried to take off her corset, backpack, choker and boots, but she couldn’t undo the locks. She did at least manage to take the gloves off and lift the veil.

Trying to cheer herself up, as well as being fed up with the gloom (which wasn’t helping her mood) she wandered over to the window and opened the curtains.

As the sunlight filtered into the room, the pain hit her almost at once. Her arms also started to redden and blister; she could almost watch it happen.

Quickly, she closed the curtains again, backed away from the window and collapsed onto the bed sobbing…

She then suddenly realised how hungry she was…

Everything she tried to eat, or drink didn’t help, however. Some of it even made things worse. All she felt was more humgry…

There was a knocking on the door, first quiet, then more insistent.

Shaking the cobwebs out of her head, she stumbled over to the door and opened it.

Kelly was standing there.

“Please, before you slam the door on me, hear me out”, she said. “Your life depends on it…”

Fiona, still angry, did go to slam the door shut; then her shoulders slumped, and she beckoned Kelly inside.

“I bet you’re really feeling hungry now”, said Kelly.

Fiona just nodded.

“Ok, please let me do something about that…”, said Kelly.

She reached round behind Fiona and started doing something with her backpack. As she did, Fiona felt the hunger fade, then go completely.

“How’s that”, Kelly asked.

“That feels so much better”, said Fiona. “I’m still seriously pissed off with you, though. How could you do this to me…?”

“I thought it was what you wanted.”

“No! This life is crazy! I can’t enjoy daylight anymore, I can’t even change my clothes, as you’ve locked them on to me. I want out of this, NOW!”

“I told you, I can’t. The change is permanent. Your body has been through a genetic shift. You now suffer from an advanced case of Porphyria. It effectively gives you all of the characteristics of a vampire. I’ve just tweaked it a bit to add any missing features. I’ve been working on this for years, ever since I exposed myself by accident. You’re not the only person going through this, you know, the only difference in my ‘condition’ is I don’t need to wear a veil (but I think they’re sexy anyway).”

“Anyway, I’ve just charged your backpack. You ran out yesterday before I had chance to do so. That should last you for about a week, as well as letting you lift your veil, like me.”

“A week! You mean that this will keep needing to be done?”, Fiona cried.

“Any long-term condition usually needs treatment. It’s the only drawback being a vampire. I was hoping that you were going to be staying with me, so this wouldn’t have been a problem.”

Kelly turned away and hugged herself.

“This has all gone so wrong…”

In pure frustration, Kelly stamped her foot and started to cry.

“Damnit, I was so hoping to not be alone anymore! You really don’t understand, do you. I did this for love…”

She turned to Fiona, tears in her eyes.

“I’m in love with you. I have been from the moment we first met. I want to spend the rest of my life with you…!”

Fiona just stared back at Kelly, saying nothing…