Eternal Bloodlust

It was cold.

Misty clutched the cloth covering her body tight. White vapor rose into the air with every breath she exhaled. She stared at the snow-covered trees in front of her. Her body shivered.

With heavy steps, she walked back, leaving footprints in the snow. She held the cloth tightly around her body, trying to block out the cold air. Her other hand carried a bucket full of eggs and cheese.

Her mind wandered, feeling uneasy. The commotion in the neighboring village worried her.

For three weeks, Odessa and Ederma villages had been terrorized. Something targeted livestock. It was reported that more than 100 cattle had been found torn to pieces in their pens, and more than 100 had disappeared.

Then Frans, the highly respected old farmer, had been found dead with a dry, bloodless body two days ago. It triggered tremendous tension.

There was no longer regret over the death of the great farmer Frans, although that was one of the reasons for the villagers' anger. However, they were also worried about who was behind everything that was happening.

Since the death of the old man, no one had dared to leave the house without a reason. The terror made them angry but also scared them.

Misty walked around, wondering if the mastermind of all this was the same creature that had attacked the village ten years ago. If it was, she worried about what might happen.

She was too scared to think about how her village had solved the problem.

Misty rubbed her nose, then sneezed loudly. It was so loud, she was afraid of making the egg she was carrying break.

Because of this tension, everyone stored livestock and food for their own supplies, making her have to go to Ederma village to find food.

If she had livestock or any other source of food, she would gladly stay at home. If Leona, her mother, allowed it.

Odessa and Ederma had been separated by a small forest of 1200 meters. It wasn't too far, but in winter, the roads were covered in thick snow, making it difficult to pass.

Misty felt the snow enter her shoes, numbing them. Her lips were dry, and her throat burned. Her nose was red. She tried to speed up her footsteps.

Crackk!!

Misty was stunned. She stopped. The sound was very loud, like a large tree branch falling. She looked around.

Her curiosity turned to fear. She realized that whatever it was, it could be the mastermind who had made the village's livestock die.

And, whoever or whatever it was, could be here. Seeing her walking alone, sacrificing herself.

What made her even more worried was that no one would come to help her. Her family would even feel relieved if she disappeared, she knew.

So, all she could do at the moment was pray she wasn't in danger.

Misty ran to the nearest big tree, trying to hide from "anything". Her breath almost stopped.

Crackk!!!

The voice had sounded very close. As she turned her head, she saw a black cat growling under a large branch.

Misty's eyes widened.

Without thinking, she ran to help the poor cat.

"Oh, are you okay?" She ran over to the cat, but as she approached, the trunk of the tree suddenly cracked. To her astonishment, the trunk was lifted and blown away.

Was she dreaming? Misty rubbed her eyes. The trunk was where it had fallen. She wasn't hallucinating.

And the black cat was still lying on the white snow, injured.

Just as Misty was about to approach, the cat was startled and ran away in fear. It left bloodstains on the snow.

"Hey, don't go! You're hurt!" Misty called, trying to catch up. But the cat had already disappeared between the big trees.

Misty sighed. Then she looked at the trunk again. This time the trunk looked like it was moving slightly.

"What is that?" Misty hurried back to where she had started.

She was afraid. Especially when she thought of the danger that might still lurk. She pricked her ears to make sure she was safe.

It was quiet.

She looked around; nothing had happened. She breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart was still beating very fast. She had to return soon. She hoped the cat was okay. And whatever she had just seen, it seemed like she had been hallucinating.

Misty didn't care about anything. She ran as hard as she could. Fear motivated her enough to run. Then she saw Anneth's house.

The small wooden house was at the far end of the house, and Misty felt like she had found an oasis in the middle of the desert. She was relieved beyond words. She finally reached Odessa.

Breathing like a thirsty dog, she ran again. She no longer cared about one or two broken eggs in the bucket.

"Good morning, Anneth!" exclaimed Misty, greeting a hunched old woman sweeping snow at her door.

The old woman looked up at Misty and smiled widely. "Good morning, Misty. Such a beautiful day to see you this morning."

Misty smiled widely at the old woman's words. She forgot she was in a hurry because an hour later she was already busy helping the old lady, clearing snow, and making bread and hot tea.

"You really are a bad girl. You weren't afraid of anything!" The old woman placed a small gingerbread cookie on Misty's plate.

Misty looked at the cookie and smiled. She loved Anneth's gingerbread cookies. Every time she ate those cookies, her heart calmed down, and her body warmed up.

"I will do anything to get your cookie, Anneth! Believe me!" Misty laughed and munched on her cookie.

Anneth smiled slightly, looking at the bucket of eggs and cheese beside Misty. She knew how the girl's family and everyone treated her.

Poor girl. Anneth had known Misty for twenty years, since her birth. She knew more about her than anyone else.

Anneth had been a godsend for Misty. If it hadn't been for that old woman, she would have died long ago. Considering how badly her family treated her.

"Anneth, does this always happen?" asked Misty. She only remembered ten years ago when her village had been uproaring. And it traumatized her.

They had sacrificed Angel, a virgin girl, to appease the creature. Angel, the girl she liked so much, and they had forced her to sacrifice herself for the village's peace.

Anneth sighed. She had seen more horrible things than Misty had ever seen.

"I'm too old to interfere. But that stupid human never listens to me. He won't just stop."

Misty widened her eyes with curiosity. "Who are they? Are they really the vampires people talk about?"

Anneth gave Misty a mysterious look. "Not 'them'. He, the only vampire I know, lives alone in his old mansion."

Misty felt her blood rushing. Curiosity excited her.

"Oh, tell me, Anneth. Why did he prey on farm animals? Did he kill Frans?"