Caroline
Part One

I knew when I crossed over into the park that something was wrong. I could smell fear. Raw absolute terror and it made my senses more alert. Although I usually stay away from mortals and their problems, something told me to follow the scent. I heard heavy breathing and footsteps. Someone was running...no someone was being chased. There was more than one doing the chasing. I was too far away to tell if they were male or female. But someone was going to die if the footsteps stopped.

I quickened my pace when I realized they were moving away from me. My intuition is usually strong and I felt the need to intervene. I caught the hint of a voice speaking as I moved closer, one was definitely male. As I caught up to their scent again I heard a girl's name being called out. She was being taunted by her pursuers. They were letting her get a little ahead and then closing again to frighten her more. She was being very quiet, but her running alone was enough for them to keep track of where she was. If she would stop and hide she would have a better chance of escaping them. I could sense two males and they were flying high on something. I can always tell when they are drugged and stay clear of them. The effect is unpleasant to say the least to take of their blood. I have learned what can harm me in my short time of being vampire. Most of it I learned the hard way. Not having a teacher to help me I found I can not die but I can be sick enough to wish I could.

I don't know why I felt the need to intervene here. My strong instincts made me move toward the sounds. I went to where the guys were moving. They were very surprised to see a woman come upon them. It isn't usual for a lady to walk through the park at night, much less make her presence known. The look of surprise would have made me laugh had I not known their intentions with the young lady. It made me angry to know they meant to harm her. I stood in front of them when they stopped and noticed me. They were very macho and brave on their drug they had taken. The fact that there were two of them, two much bigger than I, also helped them be aggressive. The taller of the two seemed to be the one in control of the situation so it didn't surprise me that he spoke.

" What is your fucking problem, lady? You looking for some fun too? I think we can arrange to accommodate you after we have caught our little friend. Might be fun to have you both at the same time. What do you think Mel? Think our friend would mind if we brought the lady along? "

He laughed as he looked over at his friend. Mel didn't seem to be near as sure of the whole situation as his loud friend. I decided I didn't like either one and the fun was now going to be mine.

"Why don't you try just me if you think you're man enough. Why do you need two of us? You couldn't handle me, why embarrass yourself in front of two of us. You're so high you probably couldn't even get it up much less get the job done."

The look on his face was so classic. These creeps never expect anyone to stand up to them, especially a woman. I saw the rage build and his face grew flushed from it. His friend just stood there unable to speak, his mouth hanging open.

I knew he would not be a problem to handle and I knew the anger in his big mouth would make him stupid. He would make moves and decisions based on his rage and he would be fun. I listened for the girl running and her footsteps had stopped. I wanted her to keep running but couldn't shout to her for fear of bringing her in danger again. She needed to get away from here and leave these two worthless jerks to me.

The one with the big mouth took a knife out of his jacket. He was so angry now the drug was making his heart beat at a tremendous rate. It sounded like thunder to my ears. I wanted him to feel the same fear he caused the girl to feel and in a few minutes he would. It made the wait almost sweet. Mel cautioned his friend and got a very cordial 'shut the fuck up' for his trouble. I wished the girl was still running. I could sense her still in the park.

"Come on lady, let's dance. Just you and me. I'll cut you and then I'll fuck you while your blood runs out onto the ground around you. We'll see if you have anymore comments to make after that. Come on."

He started to circle around me and it was all I could do not to laugh. I looked at Mel and decided he wasn't a threat. He was scared to death drug or no drug. I turned and followed the knife as it circled me and waited for him to make his move. I could sense the girl closer. What the hell was she doing coming back. I tried to tell her to run in my mind but I didn't get any response. I wanted her away! I watched the big mouth and had a slight smile on my face, knowing it would infuriate him more that I felt no fear of him. He continued his bad talk and his circling until he was back by Mel again.

"Well big man, you gonna play with that toy all day or actually try to use it? " I was having fun with this one. He was furious now. His buddy was warning him, "This bitch sounds nuts man, let's get outta here." Mel seemed to have a little brains after all. A lot more than his friend. I finally learned his name when Mel said. "Come on Justin, let's get the hell outta here!" Justin turned to Mel and flashed the knife across his face, "You go ahead and run man, this bitch is mine. Whether you stay or not to enjoy the show is up to you." When he turned back to me I knew he had made up his mind to kill me. That was the look I waited for, now I could make my move. He looked at me and the drug induced sense of superior strength he felt was going to make this almost too easy.

I was getting glimpses of the girl in my head, distracting me. I saw her hiding and couldn't understand why she came back. I saw her face, saw pain there, and saw unbearable loneliness. It made me more angry to know these jerks were going to hurt her and not give it a second thought. Justin would now feel the same fear. He took a step towards me with his knife in front of him and never saw my hands move. I took the knife and jerked his arm hard enough to dislocate it before he even got a sound out of his sorry mouth. He screamed when the pain finally registered into his drug clouded brain and he fell to his knees. This unrooted Mel who tried to bolt past me but I grabbed his neck and twisted before he took two steps. He was dead before he hit the ground. Justin would wish I'd be so quick. I didn't want the girl to watch but knew she was there. I looked into the direction I felt her hiding, though I saw no sign of her, I knew she was there watching. I sent her 'this is for your fear' but I didn't know if she got it or not. Usually if someone can 'hear ' me I get a small gasp or a beat in my head that tells me they did. I didn't get anything from her. I looked back at Justin and reached down and lifted him to his feet. "Well big man, you still wanna cut me? Still wanna fuck me? I don't think you'll be doing much of either. " With that I lifted him easily off the ground and grabbed between his legs and squeezed. When I touched him I felt the others he had hurt and terrified. I knew he'd pass out before I was finished but it was enough to hear him scream, to know he would never hurt anyone else. When I felt his balls pop in my hand he was already out cold. I snapped his neck and threw him away from me. I wish I could have made it more painful for him.

I turned toward the girl and waited to see if she would come out. I told her in her mind I was no threat to her so she wouldn't be afraid of me. I was still getting glimpses of her in my mind and I felt such sorrow at the loneliness I felt. I wished she would come out of her hiding place. I was afraid to move toward her for fear she would bolt. I could easily catch her but wanted her to come to me on her own. Unafraid.

I looked down and started to walk away.Then I saw her move away from the trees she had been hiding behind. I stopped, waiting to see if she would run. When she only stood there looking at me, I reached out my hand to her, willing her to trust me. She seemed to have no trust left in her. For good reason from what I had felt. I saw her mother's abandonment of her and the cruelty she suffered at the hand of her drunken father. She had run away but had landed in a worse sewer than she left. The men who used her now had made her sick with their sex. She didn't know she was dying, but I felt the sickness in her blood. It made me sadder than all the other images, to know she would suffer more before her life was taken from her. She took a couple of tentative steps toward me but stopped again. I wanted to take her and make her well. I didn't know if I could. I had never let myself approach anyone I felt such sicknes in. It was so strong. It gave off a scent unlike any other disease I had ever felt.

"Please come to me Caroline, I am no threat to you." I whispered to her. She took a step back when she heard me speak but at hearing her name spoken she finally started towards me again. When she was close enough for me to really see her, I was looking at a teenager, no more than sixteen or seventeen. She had suffered too much for such a short life. If I couldn't help her I would end her life quickly and painlessly. She had suffered so much in her life; I wasn't going to let her death also make her suffer.

She spoke barely above a whisper, "I saw you lift him and throw him from you like he weighed nothing. I felt his weight on me, he was almost twice your size. How did you do that? Why did you do that? "

I smiled at hearing her voice and answered her. " I felt your fear when I came into the park tonight. I don't usually bother with mortals much. They generally sicken me, but tonight I followed my instincts to you. I am not sure why yet. I felt you like you were calling out to me. Walk with me away from this evil place." When I reached out my hand she took it in hers and we began to walk.

I told her who I was, or rather what I was. She had seen all shades of hell in her short life and didn't seem surprised or afraid of what I told her. The demons that haunted her were too real for her to question my story. I told her my age, that seemed to be the only time she wanted to question me. She stopped, but then she started walking again. She only asked me one question as we walked. "But why trouble yourself with me?" I had no answer for her yet.