George Bennett Fellowship Writing Selection

He held the girl in his arms as she lay dying, her blood staining his white crew neck t-shirt. There were jagged claw like cuts across her chest and abdomen. They were deep cuts, as if someone had dug a knife into her. She was bleeding out, and there was nothing he could do, except ensure that she was not alone. Her emerald green eyes were glossy; full of fear. There were unshed tears in the corners. He could clearly see that she was obviously not ready to die. She desperately wanted to live.

He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, reassuring her that she was not alone.He had no idea what had happened to this poor girl, but he was not about to up and leave. Not when this girl needed someone by her side. Not when she was alone. That is...if she was indeed alone. No one deserved to die alone, no matter what kind of a person they were. Something told hi that she did not deserve what was happening to her.

He could save her, but the choice had to be hers. If he was going to save her, she had to be willing. Otherwise, it would not work. "I can help you." His deep baritone voice was soft as he spoke to her. "You do not have to die here." Utter confusion filled her eyes, but was almost instantly mixed with the fear that had previously been there before. She had no clue what it was that he was offering her.

It was not until she could see the fangs peaking out from under his lips that she understood. And by god, was she afraid. The man that had found her? The man that had not left her side? He was a vampire; a vampire who was offering her to save her. He was offering her immortality. "Please." She stammered. "I do not want to die." It was a desperate plea, if he had ever heard one before.

Her plea, however, was not unheard. The man pulled her closer, her head resting against his shoulder. His lips hovered above her neck in hesitation as his fangs gently grazed against her skin. The next thing she knew, his fangs were in her neck. It was not painful, like she had expected. There was no pain, not a single ounce of it.

Instead, she felt a sting of pleasure that radiated through her entire body. She felt confusion, and desperation to live. She was feeling everything all at once; everything except the pain that had been raking her body just minutes before. She had not had time to consider whether or not she really wanted this. All she knew, was that she did not want to die. That she did not want to die.

His bite would save her, yes. But in return, she would be just like him. She would be doomed to feed on the blood of humans in order to survive. Cursed to watch those that she loved die, while she would live forever. It was not an existence she had ever considered. Not for herself, or for anyone else. But from all her years researching the paranormal, and everything it covered, she did know at least one thing about the life of a vampire.

And the one thing she knew, was this: The life of immortality was also a life of loneliness, despair, and regret. It was not the life she had wanted. However, it was now, the life she had gotten. But...she had to say, that it was better than dying.