4

"Alexis, I've already said for several times that I can't give you the shift work in the morning." Mr. Joseph sounded very tired.

"I really beg you, sir. The cops said it all. How can I work the night shift with a situation like last night.” Alexis is still trying to plead with Mr. Joseph to give her shift work in the morning.

Currently, Alexis is in Mr. Joseph. For nearly twenty minutes Alexis tried to get Mr. Joseph gave her a different shift. Mr. Joseph rolled his eyes, then sighed slowly. "Alexis. I know, if you feel scared and worried for your safety right now, after what happened last night. And I also understand your status as a key witness to last night's events. But, to move you to work in the morning shift will be very difficult, Alexis. You're still in college, and most of your lectures are in the morning. And as I know, you can't divide your time between lectures and working the morning shift. You'll probably be late more often, and so on. And if you really want to work in the morning shift, you can only do that in the next semester. Isn't that right?"

Alexis was silent for a moment. The hope just disappeared. She had forgotten that she would not be able to take the morning shift for the reasons Mr. that Joseph. It will be very difficult to divide the time. And Alexis doesn't want her grades to change and become an obstacle in her scholarship process until graduation. Alexis still has about a year to complete her studies. And she still desperately needs the scholarship to stay intact. "That's true, sir,"

Alexis muttered at last. She subconsciously lowered his head quite deep. “But… I just feel so scared. And it's not safe to come home too late like an usual." continued Alexis.

Mr. Joseph who saw Alexis who was like that slowly sighed there. "Let's make it like this." Mr. Joseph paused, and made Alexis lift her head and look at Mr. Joseph. “You just come in the afternoon around four or five in the afternoon. And after that you can go home around nine or ten at night. At least it's not too late for you to go home."

Hearing that in an instant, Alexis had a smile on her face. "Thank you, Mr. Joseph. Thank you very much..." she said instantly overflowing with happiness.

Mr. Joseph had a small smile on his face. "Yes. Yes. Now get back to work. You can start coming tomorrow afternoon. No problem, right?”

Alexis shook her head quickly. With a smile still visible on his face even now. "No problem, Mr. Joseph. I'm going back to work again now. Thank you very much." After that, Alexis walked out of Mr. Joseph headed for the kitchen area, where she always worked in the restaurant.

Alexis started to wash the dirty dishes and cutlery. Zoe came to the kitchen area and put down the paper containing the new order from the customer. “Hey, Alexis, I thought you were still in Mr. Joseph office." Zoe spoke and drew closer to Alexis.

Alexis turned her head and smiled a little. "I just came out of his office." Alexis answered while still continuing her work.

Zoe leaned her body against the big sink there. "Then what is the answer Mr. Joseph? Is he going to transfer you to work the morning shift??” Zoe asked curiously.

Alexis shook her head slowly and sighed. "Unfortunately no. Mr. Joseph refused to move me to work the morning shift. He said it's because I go to school in the morning and yes, the other thing is that I might find it difficult to manage time between lectures and working the morning shift. So starting tomorrow I can come around four or five in the afternoon, and leave at nine or ten at night. At the very least, it's a safe enough time to be able to return to the dormitory at night.” Alexis started to wipe her wet palms.

Zoe nodded her head in understanding. "In that case, good. At least you don't have to worry about it. Yes, I'm back at work. And if the order has been completed, please deliver it to the customer, okay?” Alexis nodded her head with a smile. Then Zoe went back to the other customers.

***

Alexis glanced nervously at the clock on the wall in the restaurant. It was twelve o'clock at night, time for the restaurant to close and go home. But Alexis decided to wait for Zoe to finish the restock of new items in the grocery store. She sat at one of the dining tables near the entrance of the restaurant. Alexis couldn't stop thinking, especially since she could still imagine what happened last night. “What can I do to fortify myself? At least, to keep the creature from approaching me.” Alexis mumbled in deep thought since she was there.

Then not long after that, Alexis opened her cellphone and searched for something on the internet. Weaknesses of vampires. Almost everything is on the internet. Starting from silver, garlic, and others. Even so, Alexis herself is not at all sure if all of this is true as a vampire's weakness. But apparently, Alexis could be on guard by using some of the items mentioned over the internet there. Immediately, Alexis turned off her cell phone and put it in her bag. Then quickly walked towards the kitchen.

“I have to bring some garlic. That's all I can prepare for now. Just in case when you get home. At least I can feel a little safe by bring it with me.” Alexis muttered as she started picking up some garlic in the ingredients area.

Alexis stared at the three whole round garlics in her hands. "But I'm not sure how to use it at all." Alexis muttered once again. Before finally deciding to peel the skin of one whole clove of garlic using a knife. Then another whole round of garlic she chopped until smooth. And another whole clove of garlic she left the same. When finished, Alexis wrapped the garlic in plastic, and put it in her jacket pocket.

"Hey, Alexis. Let us go home. I've finished restocking new stuff. and Mr. Joseph said he would lock the restaurant doors soon.” called Zoe who came to the kitchen area.

Alexis hastily put the knife she was using back right where it belonged. "Okay..." After that Alexis immediately stood up and walked closer to Zoe there. They walked together out of the kitchen area, and said goodnight to Mr. Joseph who was also seen preparing to go home.

***

Zoe had gone home first, and Alexis was still walking towards the nearest bus stop. Of course to wait for public transportation to stop there. The atmosphere of the streets is quiet, and only decorated by a few private vehicles passing by. It didn't help at all to be able to calm Alexis' feelings right now. Alexis even quickened her footsteps as she passed through the passage between the buildings there. “Alexis...”

Alexis stopped her footsteps for a moment. With a frown on her forehead, Alexis turned around. Someone was calling her name in a mumble. But right behind him there was no one. Alexis's heart was beating very fast. "Wh-who's there?" Alexis asked a little loudly. The street lights that flashed on and off instantly made Alexis feel panicked. Subconsciously, Alexis stepped back.

"Alexis...." The voice sounded again, and made Alexis turn around again. Now Alexis began to sweat cold all over her body. Alexis tried to ignore the mysterious voice that had been calling her there for a long time. Slowly, Alexis resumed her two feet to walk away from there. But not long ago, Alexis walked, faintly, Alexis heard the sound of footsteps moving very fast behind her. It instantly made Alexis quicken her pace and run. Although he wasn't entirely sure, what he was currently avoiding.

Alexis ran aimlessly. And unfortunately again, there are not many vehicles that pass in the vicinity. Then somehow her footsteps made her enter the hallway on the side of a building there. With her breaths panting, Alexis no longer cared about that. At the very least, she should go and get away from that thing quickly. Alexis looked back several times in panic, and continued to walk with her two feet right now.

Bruk

Alexis stopped walking when she realized that she had bumped into something in front of her. Something so hard that it made Alexis take a few steps back there. Then when Alexis lifted her head, she immediately felt a little more relieved at this very moment. "Adrian?" She whispered. In front of Alexis now stood Adrian. Adrian lowered his head quite deep, seemed to close his eyelids. But Alexis didn't care about that at all. Immediately, Alexis gripped Adrian's right arm there tightly. “Gosh, I'm grateful to have met you, Adrian. I'm Alexis Calder, I'm a student in Mythology class with Mr. Jolyon this morning. I-I really need your help right now. I think someone was following me earlier…” Alexis paused, when she noticed that Adrian's arm felt very cold. Almost frozen.

Slowly, Alexis released her grip on Adrian's arm. She was starting to feel weird. “Y-your hands are so cold, Adrian…” she mumbled once more. But when Adrian started to lift his head and opened his eyelids there, Alexis started to lose her courage right now. Both of Adrian's eyes are metallic which looks bright and very sharp. Adrian looked at her coldly. Flashes of Alexis' memories from last night when she saw the vampire in the hallway of the restaurant came back into her mind. And that's when reality struck Alexis, before that he was a vampire. She don't even know if it's the same vampire or not. But she was so sure, if previously both of Adrian's eyes were blue, and not metallic. Alexis took even more steps back. The palm of her hand went into her jacket pocket, and tightly gripped the plastic bag containing the garlic there.

Alexis tried to turn and run, but with a quick movement Adrian caught up with her and stood right in front of her. “You won't be able to run from me, Alexis.” Adrian said. Alexis quickly threw the garlic in Adrian's face, and hoped that it would work. However, Adrian looks increasingly annoyed. “Do you think that things can help you this time?” Adrian walked closer to her.

"D-don't come any closer to me. Get away from me." Alexis tried to threaten.

But with a very fast movement, Adrian managed to grab Alexis by the neck and pressed her body against the wall in the hallway. Alexis began to have trouble breathing. With a feeling of tension and fear all over her body, Alexis tried to free herself from Adrian's grip.

Adrian brought his face close to Alexis' neck, sucking in the air around him greedily. “I couldn't help myself since this morning. Your scent is very fragrant and intoxicating. I have never smelled blood like this in my life. And it feels like it's driving me crazy." After saying that, without a word, Adrian bit Alexis' neck and drank her blood. At that moment Adrian suddenly widened his eyes, he was surprised by the truth he felt from Alexis' blood flowing down his throat at this time. Alexis is different. That's what Adrian believes, who can't stop drinking Alexis' blood, which has made him feel addicted.