• The street was barren. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. At least, not in my presence. I didn't bother to look both ways across the street. Actually, It would be better if I was dead. "Laurent!"she called after me. "Go away Alice." I called back to her. "You can't run away from this! Vampire or not, you have a responsibility to your clan!" Alice called, running after me into the street. I growled. Of corse, she wouldn't understand. She grabbed my arm tight with her cold hands.
    She was sick again, but what did that matter now? If I joined the clan again I would loose her. If I didn't, they would rip her away from me, leaving me alone once more. I tore my arm out of her grasp. "Leave me alone! Don't you see that I don't care about you? You could die for all I care!" I roared. I didn't dare turn around to where she stood, motionless. Her face, I imagined, was torn in pain. I never wanted to hurt her. In fact, I would give her my soal as well as my heart. But, it would be best if she was out of my world. Painful, but less bloodshed.
    "But... If you don't go back, they'll hurt you." Alice wimmpered. There she went again.... never thinking about herself, only me. "I don't care." I was on the other side of the street by now, standing against the cold wind. "But...If you get hurt, I'll never see you again." she murmered. I could hear the blood leaving her face, and the tears dripping onto the pavment. She gave a shuddered breath, then fell, crashing onto the ground. I turned slowly. I watched her with my cold, icy eyes. She cried silently, kneeling there on the pavment. I heard the truck coming, but I was entranced in the beauty of her eyes. As the horn blared, I awoke from my trance. Lurching forward, I grabbed her, wrapping my arms protectivly around her. She pressed herself against me, tears still flowing. The impact of the truck threw us several feet.
    Of corse, no damage was inflicted upon me. I got up, calling for Alice. She lay, torn and battered, in a growing pool of her own blood. I was by her side within seconds.
    "Alice? Can you speak?" I asked, frantic. She coughed, her blood coming up with it. And then, she smiled. "So... you-" she winced in pain, "you do care... about me."
    I chuckled helplessly and nodded. I looked up and pointed to a restless pedestrian. "YOU! CALL AN AMBULANCE, NOW!!!" I turned back to Alice. "Do.... do you love me?" she asked, painfully. I nodded. The hole where my heart once was hurt blindinly, and if I could cry, I would be.
    She reached her blood stained hand up to my face and whispered, "I love you too." By now, a huge crowd had gathered. I looked fearfully around. I could save her. All I had to do was lean over and bite her. But with all of these people around? They would kill me, and Alice. I couldn't.... but could I stand all eturnity without my love?
    I heard the ambulance's sirens blaring toward us, but by the time they arrived,


    It was too late.