Silent Night (16++)

“I hate him!!!! His eyes are so disturbing!!!! Damn it!!!! I can’t help but to lower my gaze when he’s in front of me.”

“It’s called infatuation…or C-R-U-S-H…awwwww my best friend finally found somebody to love!”

“Owh stop it, Maddie! It really gives me shiver…hmph but he’s kinda good-looking, somehow----“

“Told you... ‘Love…love…love’!”

Melanie jumped as her friend started to dance and sang all the latest love songs that she could ever think of. Her cheeks started to flush as the passers by starting to stare at them. Some of them chuckled. One of them even shook his head in disapproval. Melanie shrugged and made a universal sign for “lunatic”, just to keep herself in a safe distance; away from near death humiliation.

“Hey…it’s just a sincere compliment. I’m not suggesting that I have a strong attraction towards him…”

“Yeah right. The same old excuse that you used when you had a crush on your neighbour.”

“Hushhhh…you’re not supposed to announce that to everyone.”

The ball of flame moved slowly across the horizon. The night absorbed the remaining light allowing the night creatures to crawl out from their hiding places. Two figures which were still playfully punching each other ambled along the avenue.

“You see, it’s not a damnation to like a guy. It won’t kill you. It’s really really normal, Mel. After all, we’re young --- teenagers. Just enjoy the feeling.”

“Maddie. That’s not the problem…I mean…”

“Having a crush is toootallly different from loving someone…” Maddie suddenly stopped.

“Did you just see that?”

“What?”

Maddie pointed her lean finger at a silhouette. One of the streetlights flickered and the silhouette vanished when Melanie turned her head towards the direction that she was just told.

“I see nothing. Ah just ignore it. Must be one of the boozers again. We shouldn’t be meddling with any of them. Things could get nasty anyway.”

“But--- Yeah. Probably it’s nothing.”

“Come on.”

Melanie pushed her friend forward and she snorted. She made another glanced and scanned the place again, searching for the same figure to reappear. Satisfied, she joined the 18-year-old girl and continued chatting.

Under the dimmed moonbeam, the unperturbed silent was shaken up by a low murmuring sound. Incoherent ancient chant filled the place and the stray cats among which were badly wounded were screeching as a figure rose from the small aperture.

“Scheiße.”

There was a long cry just before the night went silent again. The figure shifted his weight to his left leg as he bent and ducked to remove the blood from his right hand. Licking the hollow contour of the small fragile bones slowly, his careful eyes studied the surrounding boringly. He tossed aside the thin bones and scrubbed away the dirt from his trench coat. A gleaming light protruded as he bared his teeth, terrifying the other cats away.

Maddie could not even shut her eyes. It was a vain attempt. Up on her mind, she was counting every sheep in the world. She even had imbibed one pint of warm milk. Frustrated, she started to think of Melanie and her new crush; a new transferred boy with funny accent. Maddie chuckled because she knew Melanie too well; yet her best friend still refused to admit that she’s in love---no in fact falling head over heels madly in love with the newbie. “…it’s human nature to deny everything…” she whispered in the dark.

Her analogue alarm clock flashed 3.15. She gave another try and forced her eyes to shut once again. Crossing her finger that this time it will work. Her duvet crumpled as her left hand clenched hard on its surface.

30 seconds had passed….1 minute had passed…snores finally visited the room.

“Knock…knock…knock…”

“Urmmmm….urmmmm…what on earth is that?” Maddie mumbled. Her voice trailed and 

stopped with a snore.

“Knock…knock…knock…bang!” This time the steady taps on the window were followed by a loud bang.

“Huh? Gawd!” She panicked and grabbed her robe to see what was happening.

“M-Maddie…”

She knew something was not right. Hesitantly, she withdrew the curtain, revealing an angelic face that she was so used to only that it’s pale due to the freezing night.

“David? What are you doing here? It’s cold out there.”

“Apparently.” David smiled his sheepish smile but he seemed tired. Despite that, his bright blue eyes never lost their charm. They were like diamonds, glowing in the stark night. His chisel perfect jaw lowered sometimes as he was still panting. German.

“Handsome.” Maddie told herself quietly.

“Well, come in David. Gosh, you must be terribly freezing. Come, I’ll get you hot chocolate and warm fleece.”

David quickly went inside as soon as Maddie opened the door. Maddie’s hair was red flame, glistening as the string of flames crackled in the fire place.

“I’ll go and make you…” Maddie was thunder struck as David pulled her into his arms.

“David, you know…” David pulled her tighter in his embrace.

“I…” Maddie was wordless as David’s icy cold lips touched hers, tasting every bits of her until she was out of her breath.

“NO!” She forced herself out from David’s arms but it seemed worthless. David was stronger than her.

One of her legs knocked a vase and left it falling, crashed into pieces. She heard the voices of her sleeping parents. She was about to scream her lungs out but David’s bright eyes caught her attention.

“Mum, dad it was just me. I tripped…Sardines freaked me out again…”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes Mum…” and her eyes were still fixed on David’s.

As soon as the door was locked, Maddie dragged David into her room.

“Are you insane?”

“Sardines, huh? Hahahaha…”

“What’s wrong with you? Are you out of your mind?”

“I like you.”

“Easy to say, sweet lover boy. What determines you to come here?---”

“Finding you…“ Still urging her to respond to his touches, he forced her to surrender 
but this time, tenderly. Coaxing her with words and soon he heard her whimpering. Girls.

Exerting such passion, Maddie was becoming more like her name---Mad. Intoxicated and oblivious of what was happening. She was guilty but lust controlled her and she never knew this intense feeling could even make her turned insane.

“Mel…I’m sorry but I think David likes me…the best girl wins!” She tried to compose her own version letter of apology.

A stabbing pain struck her. She could feel herself bleeding. Her throat was poked. Blood dripping and something was sucking her blood, draining her but her body was utterly paralyzed. She stared into the sky and saw the two blue eyes calmly looking into her.    The cherubic face was no longer soothing. It turned demonic. Maddie was petrified. It was already too late. Another zap of pain. She could see herself limped body was tossed aside.

“Dumb bitch!”

“Darling…she WAS my friend.” A female voice purred into the room.

Maddie thought the voice was very familiar but the only thing she could do was praying. Pray that she will not learn the truth. Pray that everything was just a nightmare.

“She was an easy prey, don’t you think?”