“There it is, I told you. You can’t get lost with me!” Scott exclaimed as he pointed towards the cabin, his Glasgow accent shining through as he spoke.

“L-let’s hur-rry up b-before I freeze something off.” Laura stammered back, her lips quivering from the snowy wind that had her limbs feeling numb.

Laura and Scott slowly made their way through the covered path towards the cabin, the snow crunching as they made their way up upwards. They had met a few days ago on Tinder and hit it off well. Scott was charming, funny and all those other good things Laura liked in a man. While Scott had been attracted to her natural good looks and humour, his words not hers. During their first meet, he had complimented her brown eyes on more than one occasion. The first date had gone better than she had expected, so much so that Scott asked her out again. He was big into hiking in the mountains and to make a good impression, Laura had told him how she loves to hike. This was of course a lie, as she had never hiked in her life. They made plans to meet up two days after their first date and as Thursday came, they set out. The plan was to drive up to Drymen and hike from there to Balmaha and back. They arrived somewhat late in the day and as the hike started Laura began to feel a mix of excitement from finally having met someone that seemed interested in things outside the bedroom, but she was also feeling extremely nervous. Perhaps she should have been honest with Scott about never having hiked before, but what was a hike if not just a long walk, she thought to herself. Nevertheless she kept her thoughts to herself and began to hike up the mountain, trailing after Scott who was eagerly making his way up the path.

The sun began to set before they had even begun to turn around, with the wind picking up Laura’s dark golden hair started to flutter as she stopped in her tracks and looked at the back of Scott’s head.

“Hey, maybe we should turn around. I got to work in the morning and I really don't want to hear my boss whine again about how punctuality is an important virtue,” she said.

He stopped and turned around to look at her.

“It’s too dangerous to climb down now but don’t worry, there is a hiker’s hut nearby. We can stay there and make it down in the morning, I promise that I’ll get you to work on time,” Scott replied back with an almost annoying sounding tone.

“A hiker's hut? I thought we were just going to take a walk in the mountains and then go back,” she accused.

“That was the plan but time must have run away from us. I blame you for being such good company that I forgot the time,” he said cheekily over his shoulder as he continued onwards again.

As much as he was trying to be charming, Laura hated surprises and the cold wind was cutting through her clothes to the point of almost hurting. They kept walking as the weather picked up, when they finally arrived at the cabin. The cold wind could be felt all the way into her bones as she stiffly put down her backpack. Laura fell back into the sofa, exhaustion hitting her.

“No-no-no, you have to keep moving, it’s way too cold,”– Scott said as he grabbed her hands to pull her up again, –“They sometimes stock these cabins with canned food, why don’t you have a look while I get a fire going,” he said before going in for a kiss on her cheek.

“You could always warm me up,” she said through a sly grin.

“Fire and food first,” he replied, giving her a smile before turning around towards the fireplace.

She was a bit surprised by herself for having the courage to say something like that. She wasn’t the kind to be overly daring in social situations and Laura knew she wasn’t the best at flirting, as she lacked experience in that area, but even she had to admit that it had been a pretty good attempt, a kiss on the lips type of good. Maybe Scott was an old fashioned kind of guy, the kind to wait till the third date before he makes a move, she thought to herself as she ventured deeper into the cabin.

The cabin was not overly large but it had a decent size kitchen that connected to the living room that also doubled as the entrance and lounge area. There was a small hallway that arched in an L-shape that led into two bedrooms. Laura didn’t find anything stocked in the kitchen so she went exploring while Scott struggled with the fireplace. She opened the door into what she believed to be the master bedroom. The first thing that hit her eyes was some horrendous red window curtains, at least according to Laura they were horrendous as she hated the colour red. There was a rather large drawer at the end of the room and the wooden floor boards were almost completely covered with different coloured rugs, the owner must not like cold feet in the morning, she thought to herself as she saw the display of carpets. In the centre of the room was a large double bed and on either side was a nightstand complete with a lamp, which was already turned on. Laura hadn’t thought of it at first but as she stepped into the room, she noticed that both the night lights were on. Her gaze travelled from the lamp closest to her towards the other side of the bed where she saw something white sticking out from the sheets. She moved around the bed and tugged the cover down. In her horror, she saw a human skull, not the human head kind of skull complete with hair, ears and everything else but a clean, bone white kind of skull. She let out a shriek and a short moment after Scott came rushing into the room as Laura stood looking down into the bed.

“What’s wrong?!” He asked with worry in his voice as he looked at her, when she didn't reply he followed her eyes and saw what was in the bed.

Laura didn’t say anything as Scott gently made his way around the bed. He grabbed the comforter that covered the bed and in one motion, ripped them off the now fully visible skeleton laying in the bed. It looked like a cheap halloween decoration as the bones were too perfectly white, the light from the lamps almost shining off it.

Scott breathed out a sigh of relief before he spoke, “You had me going there for a second but maybe next time use a less plastic looking skeleton,”.

She met his eyes, “It wasn’t me, it was there when I opened the door. Is it really fake?” She asked as Scott crouched down to have a closer look.

“Yup, real bones look a bit more yellow-ish and less plastic-y,”– he answered through a chuckle, –“Alright then, the fire is crackling on out there and I don’t know about you but I am still bone chilling cold, pun intended,” he said after a short moment of silence.

Scott got up from the side of the bed and let his hand brush her waist as he passed. “We can put it in the closet later before we hit the hay,” he said before leaving the room.

Just as Laura was about to follow Scott out, the skeleton shot up. It sat in the bed staring at her, she stood frozen staring back into its empty sockets where a pair of eyes should be.

She wasn’t sure how many minutes or seconds they stared at each other as time seemingly stood still, the skeleton breaking her frozen spell by eventually opening its mouth and said, “Evenin’,”.

Laura didn’t think, her body just reacted. She bolted through the door and ran into the lounge area where Scott was, “It moved, it fucking moved,” she exclaimed through heavy breaths.

Scott let out a belly laugh, “Nice one but can’t fool this guy,” he said using both his thumbs to point at himself.

“No, I’m serious, it fucking moved,” she said as the panic was setting in her voice.

Scott was about to answer her, when he saw over her shoulder a plastic looking skeleton walk into the room. She noticed the smile fading from his lips and his eyes fixating on something behind her. She turned around and saw it, her fear compelling her to slowly step backwards until she finally stopped by backing into Scott’s shoulder.

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“Excuse me, you’re being a bit too loud,”– the skeleton said accusatively, –“Some of us are actually trying to sleep here,” the voice coming out smooth through its flat accent.

Neither of them said anything as they stood looking at what they had moments ago thought was just a cheap halloween decoration.

“Hello? Not only do you rudely wake me up but you stare too. You are two very rude people, do you know that,” the skeleton said after it realised it wasn’t going to get an answer, gesturing at them while it spoke.

“H-how?” Laura managed to stammer out.

“How, what?” It answered back.

“How are you even talking?” Scott cut in to ask in shocking surprise.

“You find a live skeleton sleeping in a bed, wake him up, then run screaming and when he confronts you about how rude that is, your first question is how do you talk,” it said back in mock surprise.

“Yeah,”– Scott replied, his tone filled more with curiosity than fear, –“You don’t have any organs or muscles and–”, the skeleton cut him off.

“I’ll have you know I’m plenty strong and have loads of muscles, muscles in places you didn’t even know you could have muscles,” it retorted as its arms gestured to show off its physic.

The room fell silent as they continued to stare at each other, the skeleton seemingly waiting for something. Moments passed as Laura began to think how utterly absurd the situation was and how odd the skeleton was behaving. The thought dispelling her fear, giving her the courage to speak up, “Are you evil?” She asked sheepishly.

The skeleton looked surprised, she wasn’t sure how since it didn’t have a face to make expressions with but it did. “What makes you ask that?” It finally asked back.

“Well, in movies and games skeletons are always the low level monsters you–” he cut her off.

“Low level monster?! I’ll have you know, I’m not a low level monster,”– it exclaimed in mock hurt. Its tone shifted to a more serious if not sinister one as it continued, –“Nor am I even the real monster here,”.

“What do you mean, you’re not the real monster?” She asked curiously.

“Should I tell her or do you want to do the honours?” It said and nodded towards Scott.

Laura had almost completely forgotten about Scott as she looked at him and then back at the skeleton, she realised that it had never been looking at her, its empty sockets for eyes were locked on Scott. She looked back at Scott as he stammered out his words.

“I-I don’t know what it is talking about. It’s a f-fucking talking skeleton, Laura.”– His gaze shifted from the skeleton to Laura –”We have to run,” his tone of voice sounding odd to her as he practically yelled at her.

“Laura, was it? I suggest you step away from Scotty here,”– it said before the skeleton was cut off by a yelp from Laura as Scott suddenly grabbed her, –“What is the plan here, Scotty? Drain her then go down in a blaze of glory? If you let her go, I’ll go easy on you, maybe even let you live,” it continued in a mocking tone.

Scott’s arms sat tight around Laura, his strong hold made it feel like she was wrapped by stone, she tried to struggle but couldn’t budge his grip for even a millimetre. She couldn’t see Scott’s face but his eyes began to turn yellow with a black slit, much like a cat’s eye. Loud cracks could be heard from behind Laura and as she managed to move her head, she saw it. Scott’s face began to break and shift as the bones inside of his skin rearranged and grew, his mouth and nose turned more into something like a muzzle with two sharp fangs poking out from underneath his upper lip.

His voice came out more like a growl when he spoke, his accent gone, “I don’t know who or what you are but you should have kept playing dead,”.

“Ok,” it said flatly back. The skeleton that stood in front of them collapsed onto the floor leaving a pile of plastic looking bones.

Scott stood holding onto Laura in a vice-like grip, not quite sure what had just happened. A few moments passed of nothing happening, with a low growl he pushed Laura down into the sofa. Laura looked up at him as he stood towering over her in his new hulking form. It reminded her a bit of one of those naked rat-like animals she had seen on tv but on a much bigger and more muscular scale. Scott grinned at her, no doubt hearing her heartbeat speed up, flashing his fangs with a snarl before he turned back to look at the pile of bones. He stepped cautiously forward and crouched down to inspect them, Laura swore that she saw him sniff them as he leaned down to look at them. Her mind was surprisingly calm as she felt her heart beating in her throat while looking at the hulking rat creature in front of her. Scott had grown at least four metres tall if not more, complete with long limbs that ended with claws, his skin furless but looking almost like leather. Scott turned around to face her and reached out to grab her leg, she hung in the air as he held her aloft with one arm, his fangs sinking into flesh. She thought it odd how calm she felt as her eyelids turned heavy. She tried to fight it but her eyes did not want to stay open, her consciousness slowly leaving her. Just before her eyes fell closed, for what she thought would be the last time, she saw a figure drop down on top of the hulking Scott and then everything turned black.

She woke up screaming, clutching at her leg. Her body reacted before her consciousness came back to her. The cabin was dark, the lights were on but it was as if something was absorbing the light as it tried to shine, the once brimming fireplace looking like an echo in the dark. Her ears pulsated so loudly that all the sound around her turned muffled as the two shapes fought around her, one of the large shapes flew past her, the draft blowing her hair back. She felt the vibrations as the shape hit the wall and then onto the floor. Her brain finally started to wake up as the sharp pain in her leg began to make itself known. The feeling of warm liquid dripping down onto the coussin from her calf. Her mind began to race, she was hurt but alive. Her leg was bleeding and she couldn’t move or feel her foot, if only she could see and assess the damage to her leg. Then it came again, a loud crash that sent out vibrations throughout the cabin, muffled sound of glass and wood breaking.

Laura closed her eyes, this must be a dream, surely this isn’t really happening. I’m just sleeping, I’m sleeping, I’m asleep, she repeated in her head.

No, the pain is real. My leg fucking hurts. Holy shit, this is real, she finally admitted to herself.

The cabin had gone quiet but she kept her eyes closed, shock seeping into her entire body, numbing the pain in the process. Her eyes stayed closed as she heard muffled footsteps come closer, as she felt hands go under her legs and around her back. She did not have the courage to open them so they stayed closed as she was carried out of the cabin. She heard voices but couldn’t make out what they were saying, footsteps crunched the snow as they went past her. What made her finally open her eyes was the realisation of knowing she was outside as she could hear the snow crunch underneath them, feel the wind blow back her dark golden hair but oddly enough, she did not feel cold. When her eyes opened she saw a dimly lit light dancing in front of her. It reminded her of a flickering candle that refused to give out as the wind tried to blow it out. Her head tilted up from the chest of who she hoped was her rescuer. He looked pale in the dim light that was leading their way forward. His shoulder length hair was white as the snow, blowing back as the wind caught it. Her eyes stopped on his well defined chin. He looked down at her, noticing she had woken up. Her eyes fixated on his, as red shimmering eyes pierced back into hers.

“Evenin’,” he said with a smooth voice.

“E-evening,” she stammered back. He tilted his head back up again as she continued to speak in a low voice, “Where are you taking me?”.

“I am takin’ you home,”– he glanced down at her again, –“For a starter,” he finished.

“For a starter, what do you mean?” She asked, cautiously.

“I think that is a topic best discussed after some well deserved rest, especially since we have to look at your leg, or maybe you would prefer to be known as One Foot?” He answered half jokingly as he tilted his head to look forward again.

The way the man talked, his deep voice feeling as it brushed against her ear when he spoke, reminded her of a smooth salesman or a voice narrator for some tv show. It also reminded her of–, ”You are him, the tacky halloween decoration from before?”.

“Tacky? Is that how you thank someone for saving your life? I’ll have you know that–,” he said in mock hurt before she cut him off.

“What do you mean by looking at my leg?” Having forgotten the pain or events that had just transpired.

He stopped and looked down at her again, his tone sounding apologetic and sombre as he spoke, “I’m sorry, I had to put a spell on you, it might mess with your head a bit,”– time felt as if it stood still, only the dim light danced in the wind just in front of her, as he continued, –“Your boyfriend Scott bit you and it’s going to change a lot for you, some for the better and some most definitely not. I truly am sorry but your life won’t be the same after tonight,”.

At first she didn’t say anything, his words ringing in her mind as she tried to remember what had just happened. My life won’t be the same after tonight, she thought. What did he mean by that and what was this about a spell? She didn’t know what to say or think as everything felt so jumbled up in her head, it all felt like one big crazy fever dream.

A few moments later she murmured, “Why?”.

“Why, what?” He softly replied.

“Why did he bite me and why will that change my life? How will that change my life?” She elaborated.

“Without going too much into the details, your boyfriend Scott, –” she cut him off.

“He wasn’t my boyfriend,” she said sharply.

“Ok, well,“– he said as he started walking again –”Scott back there, wasn’t actually named Scott or even a scot. He was, –” he paused for a second before continuing, –”A vampire. Yes, they are real and if a strong hero hadn’t shown up, he would have not only drank your blood but eaten you, shoes and all,“ he continued in a half joking tone.

“A vampire? Eat me? Aren’t vampires hot guys with fangs who just drink a bit of blood and not giant rat monsters?“ She asked in surprise.

“No, well maybe in your fictional books they are hot guys who sparkle or chase after teenage girls like some sort of weirdo. In reality, they are very dangerous and look closer to what the werewolf in that magic movie about a boy who lived, you know the one. The one where they wave around sticks and fly on brooms,”.

“Wait, are you the strong hero in this story?” She asked woozily, looking up at him.

He took on a grim expression, his eyes fixated on the path forward as he answered. “No, I’m not,” his tone matching his expression.

He continued to walk down the mountain, carrying her as they went. When the lights in the distance grew bigger and a car began to come into their view, something dawned on her. “What’s your name?”.

“Steve,”.

“You know, you don’t look like a Steve,”– he heard Laura say from the backseat of the car. –“Also, how come I don’t feel any pain in my leg?” She rambled out.

He looked at her through the rearview mirror as he answered her, “Good, I see my little spell is starting to take effect. I was almost starting to wonder if–,” he was cut off by the sound of a snoring Laura.