Kevin awoke. He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. "What! I'm in bed? Please be a nightmare," he whispered to himself, his voice trembling.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, the events of the previous night flooding back to him in a dizzying rush. Stumbling towards the bathroom, he splashed cold water on his face, hoping to wake himself from what felt like a horrific dream. But as he looked into the mirror, his reflection seemed blurry and distorted.

"Whoa! You're finally awake," came James' voice from the doorway, startling Kevin.

Kevin turned to face his brother, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Hey, is Mom and Dad—"

James' expression turned somber, and he shook his head slowly. "Yeah, I'm afraid so..."

Kevin's shoulders slumped, the weight of reality crashing down on him. "So it wasn't a nightmare..."

"I'm sorry, Kevin," James said softly, his eyes filled with sorrow.

Kevin took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "I'm... I'm going to go for a walk," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

James hesitated, concern etched on his face. "Oh... alright. Want me to go with you?"

Kevin shook his head, managing a weak smile. "Sorry... I just need some time alone."

James nodded, understanding. "Alright... take your time."

Kevin left the house, the cool night air hitting his face as he stepped outside. He walked aimlessly, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. The streets were quiet, the only sound the distant hum of the city. He needed to process everything that had happened, to come to terms with the loss and the terrifying encounter with a vampire.

As he wandered through the darkened streets, Kevin couldn't shake the image of his parents' lifeless bodies from his mind. He felt a surge of anger and helplessness. How could this have happened? And what did it mean that he had healed so quickly from the vampire's bite?

Lost in thought, Kevin walked until his legs felt heavy and his mind was numb. He found himself at the edge of a small park, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the ground. He sat on a bench, burying his face in his hands.

For a long time, he sat there, letting the silence envelop him. He knew he couldn't stay out forever, that he would have to return home and face the reality of their new life. But for now, he allowed himself this moment of solitude, hoping that somehow, he would find the strength to move forward. Kevin got up and continued his walk.

As Kevin wandered through the bustling streets, the cool night air did little to calm his racing thoughts. The city was alive with activity, people hurrying past on their evening errands or heading out for a night on the town. Despite the crowd, Kevin felt utterly alone, adrift in a sea of strangers.

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Suddenly, a scent caught his attention, cutting through the usual city smells. He inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring. "What's that?" he thought, puzzled by the enticing aroma. "Smells good... is there a restaurant nearby?"

His eyes scanned the area, searching for the source of the tantalizing smell. That's when he noticed a little girl walking hand in hand with her mother. Something stirred within him, a primal urge he couldn't quite understand.

"A child..." The thought floated through his mind, unbidden and unsettling.

Kevin stood rooted to the spot, trying to identify the source of the scent as people streamed past him. To his horror, he realized he was staring, his mouth watering as his gaze followed the little girl and her mother. People began to give him a wide berth, casting wary glances his way.

A nearby couple whispered, their voices barely audible over the street noise. "Hey honey, that guy..." the woman murmured, nudging her partner.

"Don't look," the man replied, his voice low and cautious. "He must have something wrong upstairs..."

Shame and fear washed over Kevin as he became aware of his behavior. Without a word, he turned and ran, pushing through the crowd, desperate to get home. He burst through the front door, ignoring James's startled exclamation, and locked himself in the bathroom.

Leaning against the cool tile wall, Kevin's mind reeled. What was happening to him?

The memory of that enticing scent, the inexplicable draw towards the mother and child – it all felt wrong, terrifying. He wondered if he was losing his mind or if something far more sinister was at work.

Knock, knock

James's concerned voice came through the bathroom door. "Hey, are you alright? What happened?"

Kevin's voice trembled as he replied, "I'm sorry! I don't feel well!"

He turned to face the mirror, his heart pounding. To his horror, he saw that his eyes had changed, now black with red pupils. Panic surged through him.

"What is this? What the hell is this?" he cried out, his fist connecting with the mirror in a moment of desperation. The glass shattered, cutting his hand. "...Why me...?" he whispered, his voice breaking.

As he watched, the cut on his hand began to heal before his eyes, the skin knitting together as if by magic. Kevin stared in disbelief, his mind reeling.

James's voice came again, more urgent now. "Kevin, what was that!?"

A terrible realization dawned on Kevin. He bolted from the bathroom, racing to the kitchen. With shaking hands, he grabbed a knife, pointing it at his stomach.

His thoughts raced. "If I'm wrong, then all I have to do is withstand the pain. Please be wrong, please be wrong, please be wrong! OK! HERE IT GOES!"

James burst into the kitchen, his eyes widening in horror. "Wait, what are you doing!? Kevin, stop!"

But it was too late. Kevin plunged the knife into his stomach, collapsing to the floor in agony. Blood poured from the wound, soaking his shirt. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the bleeding stopped. Kevin felt for the wound, but there was nothing there.

"What the hell!" James exclaimed, his face pale with shock.

Kevin's voice was barely a whisper. "It's...gone..."

"What?!"

"The wound is gone! I can't hurt myself..." Kevin's voice broke as he continued, "This unearthly hunger is torturing me, but I don't know how to satisfy it."

Tears streamed down Kevin's face as the full weight of his transformation hit him.

James stared at his brother, noticing the inhuman eyes that now gazed back at him. The realization that his little brother was no longer human struck him like a physical blow.

James's voice was heavy with dread as he spoke. "No...there is a way. Just one...there is that way, but..."

Kevin finished the thought, his voice hollow. "But if I did that from now on... I don't think I'll be able to keep on living as a human..." He paused, the weight of his next words hanging in the air. "But...what else can I do now?"

The brothers sat in silence, the gravity of their situation settling over them like a shroud.

The kitchen, once a place of warmth and family meals, now felt alien and cold. As the first light of dawn began to creep through the windows, Kevin and James faced the terrifying reality of their new existence, knowing that nothing would ever be the same again.