Milk Nights [1] -Mace Face-

When I was 18 my friends all decided that if anything strange was going to happen to any one of us it was going to happen to me. And by 'strange' they meant being spoken to by dead people, super déjà vu and those crazy dreams that always seem to come true. Countless things can be labeled and 'strange', but as we sat there, spread around the carpet, every single one of them decided it was going to be me to face them.

I thought about this memory, of how long it go it felt like, as I trudged up to the fifth story of my apartment building. Three months earlier I had moved clear across the country to live in New York. To say the least I was still getting used to climbing so many stairs.

I was walking down the hallway and fishing around for my keys when I bumped into what felt like a huge block of ice. "Oh my…" I started, but stopped. Looking up I came face to face with the poster boy for teenage heartthrobs of America. Not only that he looked vicious, like a feral dog.

"Sorry." I choked, almost throwing myself against the far wall to get out of his way. He just watched me, his dark eyes bearing down upon me. The blink of his eyes startled me and I almost let out a yelp as he started forward and disappeared around the corner that would lead him to the stairs.

I kept my profanities to myself as I forced my shaking fingers to slide the key into the lock of my front door. What was that all about? Did that guy live here? Why did he look so angry? Was it because I ran into him? What kind of person lets themselves get that angry over an accident?

The questions swirled around my head quickly before instantly dissipating at the sight of my comfy looking apartment. For me New York was massive and frightening. There were no words to describe how elated I was to have a comfortable place to myself. I could put my clothes were I wanted to, keep the foods I wanted in the fridge… and heck; I could even walk around naked. And no one could say a single thing about it. As I pushed Mr. Tall Dark Handsome and Terrifying out of my mind I peeled off my damp sweater and made myself a bowl of Lucky Charms.

Little did I know, Mr. Tall Dark Handsome and Terrifying lived just across the way and had changed his mind about making his way to the Bronx for the night.

At his same EXACT moment I discovered I was out of milk.

-

I could hear her moving around in her apartment as I headed back down the hallway to my apartment. She was going through cabinets, opened the refrigerator, swore, closed the refrigerator and then headed back to her front door. I started walking faster. I didn't want to meet her in the hallway again. I didn't know if I could fully control myself if I encountered her again. I was too hungry for it.

I made it through my door just as she walked out of hers. The jingle of keys rang through the silence as she locked her door and threw them into a pocket or purse. I tried to hold my breath as she walked by, but instead I found myself inhaling deeply and taking everything I could in. When I heard her safely walking down stairs I stuck my head out.

It was decided.

I entered the hall, locked my door and headed for the roof.

-

Milk.

I needed milk.

Because I needed my Lucky Charms.

And without my Lucky Charms that would mean no art.

And no art meant no money.

And no money meant no job.

And no job meant going back to California.

I cringed at the combined memory of California and the thought of returning. Twenty years in California was almost twenty years too many. I dug my hands in my pocket, and despite the discomfort I thanked the rain and cold that made my knuckles turn blue. Coldness like this was only something felt in places like Tahoe. California could never bring me true winter.

The thought of beaches, sand and sun make me want to wretch. I'd be grateful to never see a palm tree again in my life. Or a deeply tanned, overly altered platinum blonde beach bunny. Those I could definitely live without.

But that didn't matter right now. The only thing that mattered was milk.

Thankfully there was one of those shady little corner markets about a block away from my apartment building. I didn't really like going there, hence titling it 'shady', but desperate times call for desperate measures. And in the name of milk and overly sugary cereal I was ready to do just about anything.

I fingered the little container of pepper spray in my jacket pocket and then let out a slight sigh of relief as I rounded the corner and the little market came into view. The sigh was slight because firstly, I knew that this late night trip to the market was completely idiotic. And secondly, at that precise moment my sigh turned into a huff and a scream as someone grabbed my around my middle and dragged me backwards into a dark alley.

-

I felt unexplainably angered when I discovered I wasn’t the only one fallowing this girl. I could sense she was thinking about several things at one time but I couldn't quite figure out what all these things were. And because she was thinking about so many things, she wasn't really thinking about was around her, and thus, the presence of myself and the more obvious stalker on the ground remained unnoticed to her consciousness.

I watched from the roof tops as the shadowy figure slowly advanced on the girl. I wanted to jump down and stop him, but a part of me held back. I think I wanted to see how she would handle things. I thought, "Maybe if this gets out of hand, I'll intervene." So I just sat there, on the rooftop, watching the hunt as the rain fell.

-

I was really happy I had my pepper spray. Naturally it wasn't until I was slammed up against a dripping brick wall did I remember I had it gripped in my hand. I thumbed the safety over and quickly attempted to gauge the best time to use it. But an elbow was pressed up tight against my windpipe and air, along with consciousness, was slowly leaving me. I almost gagged as I felt his hand unceremoniously, and offensively group beneath my sweater. To my shock I let out a scrambled roar, pushed just hard enough, and was able to get my attacker right in the face with the mace.

I sucked in a triumphant breath as the man released an agonized scream. Making sure I kept the advantage I kicked him right in the ribs as he stood there doubled over, clawing at his face. He let out another pain filled cry before collapsing to the ground. I was just about to kick him again when stars exploded behind my eyes and I felt myself collapsing into the ground.

-

I couldn't help but chuckle as the bum in the corner slowly snuck up on the girl and her attacker.

The girl had done a good job so far, defending herself. I thought she might've gone a little too far at first kicking him, but the overwhelming feeling of revulsion I felt coming from her end told me that he had probably done a little more then rattle her nerves.

I stayed where I was as the bum raised his water warped baseball bat and cracked it over the girl's head. Once he made a move for her purse I decided to make my presence known.

The bum let out a startled yelp as I seemingly dropped from the sky. But this time I held in my amusement.

"Drop it." I said coolly, motioning to the things he had gathered up in his arms. A wallet, a candy bar; some gum. Immediately all the things dropped to the ground before he scampered off to his cardboard camp. The attacker was still twisting and turning on the ground. I made my use of him and disposed of him accordingly. I wiped my mouth clean before turning to the girl.

Her strawberry blonde hair was splayed out across the dirty ground and half her body rested in an equally dirty puddle. I gathered up her things, and placing them back into her purse I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder.

It took me a good minute, just standing there, to repress the urge. The attacker had made it easier. But it still wasn't easy. To pull my attention to other, safer things, I thought about leaving. How would I do it? I thought about returning to the roof, but that would cause more problems then it would solve. It was far more suspicious to transport the unconscious on a roof then it would on the street.

So I decided upon the street. It was a Saturday night anyways, I doubted I'd be the only one taking part in an over the shoulder body transport.

So then I began the journey back to the apartment building. And the whole way I wondered why I had acted this way. Sure she was irresistible… But there was something different, like something strange was about to happen. And for some odd reason I had a feeling the cause, or maybe the answer had something to do with her.

A/N: Honestly? I have no idea what this is. I sort of have this rough idea sketched out in my head. But it's not fully formed. I just wanted to get it out before it started driving me insane. Yes maybe this is just another manifestion of my Story ADD issue, or maybe just a subconcious rebellion for the lack of hot vampire heros in my life. Especially ones that don't make me want to puke with the rediculousness that makes them them. No cheesy half done shirts. No moody black hair. No eyes the color of coal/emeralds/the sea. None of that stuff.... I'm just writing it like I think it should be... I'm just ranting sorry.

I DO NOT PROMISE a series.

And I'm sorry if I confused you beyond reason. This is so rough I haven't even picked out names yet. You decide what you want to tell me, but chances are nothing will sway me.

P.s. It's 3 AM! Gaaa!