triforce defender
Semi-Pro
Carlos Alcaraz was the only one in the gym. This was usually the case as he liked to get his workouts done in between the early hours of the morning.
As Carlos ran on the treadmill, he watched the news playing on the corner television. The presenters were talking about a local woman who had been found dead the previous day. She was discovered with two puncture wounds to the neck and was drained of all her blood.
Authorities suspected it had been some sort of wild animal but they weren’t ruling out the possibility of homicide. They had even thrown out the word "vampire" yet.
A rattle on the gym’s window startled Carlos. He found a young man knocking on the glass. He carried a duffle bag on his shoulder and was well built. The man held up his swipe card for late night access to the gym and began to project a muffled voice.
“Hi, sorry to interrupt your workout! My card seems to be glitching out on me and I can’t get in. Would you be so kind?”
Carlos switched off the treadmill and sauntered towards the door. The man was very appreciative as he entered the reception and introduced himself as "Sam". After thanking Carlos for opening the door, Sam headed towards the weights. Carlos returned to the treadmill but noticed something odd about Sam.
Sam had produced a large water bottle from his bag. One of those giant cylinders that could easily hold two litres. Yet this bottle was not filled with water. Inside its plastic walls swirled a mysterious red liquid. A very dark shade. It looked like blood. Sam took a large sip.
Possibilities raced through Carlos's mind. He technically had just invited this man inside and now he appeared to be drinking a blood-like substance. Was he a vampire?
It wasn't the only potential answer. He could just be a messed up human who liked to drink blood. Logically, it was probably just some disgusting protein shake concoction. But Carlos had to find out the truth.
Sam had put on a pair of air pods and was focused on using the bench press. The bottle now sat behind him on the floor. It was out of his field of view. It would be a huge risk to venture right behind him, but now was as good a time as ever. Carlos strode across the carpet and was careful to be as quiet as possible. Sam raised the bar for another rep, letting out an almighty huff as he did so. Carlos crouched behind him as he reached out for the bottle. Sam exhaled again. Another rep complete.
Carlos slowly unscrewed the lid and brought the bottle's opening to his nose, inhaling deeply.
YUCK! Beetroot. The liquid stank of beetroot. Carlos gagged as he put down the blended mix of vegetables. It was absolutely vile and stinged the senses. He coughed and sputtered about the place. Suddenly, Carlos noticed how quiet the gym was. A haunting realisation dawned upon him. Sam had stopped huffing. He must have heard Carlos's sounds of disgust.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked.
"I….was….eh…" Carlos stammered.
Sam looked at Carlos's expression and began to smile. A deep chuckle escaped his chest. "It's alright. I'm playing. I know that drink looks a little bit suspicious! You're not the first person wanting to know what I'm sipping on!" said Sam. "It's beetroot, celery, coconut water and a sprinkle of garlic for an extra twang!"
Sam reached the bottle back out towards Carlos. "You want some?"
Carlos politely declined knowing that the disgusting cocktail would kill him. Amused at his disgust, Sam grinned once more. It quickly faded as he glanced over at the mirrored wall. He turned pale. Paler than Carlos.
"Hey…where's your reflection?" asked Sam.
It was a mistake. It's easy to forget the mirror rule. Typically, Carlos tried to avoid reflections and therefore the weights section is a no go. Even inviting this man in was a risk. It's just that it gets so lonely. The potential of there being another vampire in town had made him too curious.
Now the bat was truly out of the coffin, Sam had to be a post gym snack. As Carlos revealed his fangs, he remembered the gym's security cameras. He would have to find a way to remove the footage. Unlike last time, he would definitely dispose of the body and do a proper clean up. Thus was the life of a vampire.
As Carlos ran on the treadmill, he watched the news playing on the corner television. The presenters were talking about a local woman who had been found dead the previous day. She was discovered with two puncture wounds to the neck and was drained of all her blood.
Authorities suspected it had been some sort of wild animal but they weren’t ruling out the possibility of homicide. They had even thrown out the word "vampire" yet.
A rattle on the gym’s window startled Carlos. He found a young man knocking on the glass. He carried a duffle bag on his shoulder and was well built. The man held up his swipe card for late night access to the gym and began to project a muffled voice.
“Hi, sorry to interrupt your workout! My card seems to be glitching out on me and I can’t get in. Would you be so kind?”
Carlos switched off the treadmill and sauntered towards the door. The man was very appreciative as he entered the reception and introduced himself as "Sam". After thanking Carlos for opening the door, Sam headed towards the weights. Carlos returned to the treadmill but noticed something odd about Sam.
Sam had produced a large water bottle from his bag. One of those giant cylinders that could easily hold two litres. Yet this bottle was not filled with water. Inside its plastic walls swirled a mysterious red liquid. A very dark shade. It looked like blood. Sam took a large sip.
Possibilities raced through Carlos's mind. He technically had just invited this man inside and now he appeared to be drinking a blood-like substance. Was he a vampire?
It wasn't the only potential answer. He could just be a messed up human who liked to drink blood. Logically, it was probably just some disgusting protein shake concoction. But Carlos had to find out the truth.
Sam had put on a pair of air pods and was focused on using the bench press. The bottle now sat behind him on the floor. It was out of his field of view. It would be a huge risk to venture right behind him, but now was as good a time as ever. Carlos strode across the carpet and was careful to be as quiet as possible. Sam raised the bar for another rep, letting out an almighty huff as he did so. Carlos crouched behind him as he reached out for the bottle. Sam exhaled again. Another rep complete.
Carlos slowly unscrewed the lid and brought the bottle's opening to his nose, inhaling deeply.
YUCK! Beetroot. The liquid stank of beetroot. Carlos gagged as he put down the blended mix of vegetables. It was absolutely vile and stinged the senses. He coughed and sputtered about the place. Suddenly, Carlos noticed how quiet the gym was. A haunting realisation dawned upon him. Sam had stopped huffing. He must have heard Carlos's sounds of disgust.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked.
"I….was….eh…" Carlos stammered.
Sam looked at Carlos's expression and began to smile. A deep chuckle escaped his chest. "It's alright. I'm playing. I know that drink looks a little bit suspicious! You're not the first person wanting to know what I'm sipping on!" said Sam. "It's beetroot, celery, coconut water and a sprinkle of garlic for an extra twang!"
Sam reached the bottle back out towards Carlos. "You want some?"
Carlos politely declined knowing that the disgusting cocktail would kill him. Amused at his disgust, Sam grinned once more. It quickly faded as he glanced over at the mirrored wall. He turned pale. Paler than Carlos.
"Hey…where's your reflection?" asked Sam.
It was a mistake. It's easy to forget the mirror rule. Typically, Carlos tried to avoid reflections and therefore the weights section is a no go. Even inviting this man in was a risk. It's just that it gets so lonely. The potential of there being another vampire in town had made him too curious.
Now the bat was truly out of the coffin, Sam had to be a post gym snack. As Carlos revealed his fangs, he remembered the gym's security cameras. He would have to find a way to remove the footage. Unlike last time, he would definitely dispose of the body and do a proper clean up. Thus was the life of a vampire.
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