Chapter 6

I gasped as I woke up from a deep sleep. I suddenly remembered what happened before I lost consciousness.

Mr. Sullivan!

I stood up from my swivel chair. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Ares turned in my direction. I was about to get scared, but I looked around when I noticed something. I'm still in Mr. Sullivan's office. The surroundings are clean. There are no scattered papers or broken objects. Even the table where I'm sitting is in proper order. It wasn't split in the middle. The computer in front of me was turned on to the files I was finishing.

I looked back at Mr. Sullivan. He was still sitting at the coffee table. His laptop was still on top. The only difference was that Mr. Ares was in the opposite chair. It looked like they were having a meeting.

"What's the matter, Ms. Delaney?" Mr. Sullivan asked me. He looked at me seriously. He didn't have a scratch on his face or body. His clothes are neat and Mr. Ares looks the same. Mr. Sullivan's eyes are not red either. He looks normal.

What was that? Was it a dream? Why does it feel like it really happened? But what am I feeling right now? Why does my whole body hurt? I can't see any wounds or bruises. Was that really a dream?

"Ms. Delaney, is there a problem?" Mr. Ares asked me when I didn't answer the question.

I hesitated to shake my head. I was confused.

"Did your body hurt?" Mr. Ares

How did he know?! So what really happened? Mr. Sullivan was a vampir?!

"You look shocked" Mr. Sullivan commented.

"How did you know that my body was in pain?" the fear in my chest was slowly rising in my chest.

"It's simple. You fall asleep while sitting. Is there anything surprising in my question? Doesn't your body hurt from your sleeping style? If you can't finish the files that you're going to submit on Monday. Don't do it. Go home. I'll tell Mrs. Violeta to extend the delivery of the project files to me," Mr. Sullivan explained.

I don't know if I literally blew out my breath or if it was just in my head. But I felt relieved because of what he told me. I thought about saying goodbye. I wasn't comfortable around him because of my bad dream. I'll finish these files on Monday. I want to sleep for a long time. My body is really sore.

I politely said goodbye. Then I hurried out of his office. I had almost swallowed my tongue earlier because I was so scared. I can't get his face out of my head. His red eyes and long fangs are etched in my mind. Even the echo of his voice as he calls out to me.

My body has been hurting for a few days. I feel like it's really bruised. I don't understand why. So I filled out a vacation leave for three days to rest. I couldn't even stand up straight. I didn't have a fever, my whole body didn't even have any bruises or scratches. So on the third day, I went for a checkup. The results are good. There is no damage to the bones or tissues. There is no reason why my whole body hurts.

I sighed.

When the fourth day came, I went back to work. My routine was still the same. Nothing had changed. Even Mr. Sullivan, when I encountered him, he didn't look in my direction. He ignored anyone he encountered on the way. He just stared straight ahead as he walked quickly into his office. When I see him, I remember my bad dream. It's a good thing it wasn't real because otherwise I would really go crazy.

"Did you hear the news, Sheryl? Chloe is dead. Poor thing, she just got terminated from her job."

I stopped stirring my coffee in my mug when I heard what the person next to me said. They were in a different department, so I didn't know them. I was in the pantry, making coffee, so I wouldn't fall asleep at work.

"That's really shocking! What caused her death? What happened"? The woman's companion, whose name is Sheryl, asked.

"I was even shocked and that's another thing that really shock me. The gossip in our department is that they can't find the cause of Chloe's death. They say she was just found lying in an alley. There were no injuries whatsoever. But she's out of blood-" the other woman announced.

Out of blood? Like the reason my parents died. Could a vampire have done that? But it's impossible. I only had a dream the other day, so I know vampires aren't real.

"-but I don't know if that news is true. I think it's just gossip. You know that, nowadays, fake news is spreading," they continued.

"Yes, and that's impossible to happen," said Sheryl.

The two of them left the pantry, and I'm left alone here. Trembling with fear. Sweat broke out on my forehead. It was really impossible. But why did my whole body react differently? Every fiber of my being trembles. Chloe, even though we had a fight, I didn't want what happened to her. It's sad. The last news I had from her. She was terminated from her job. Then this is the next thing I hear from her.

"Miss Delaney?"

I turned to Mr. Ares' voice. He looked at me, confused. I was just standing near the countertop, stunned and not moving the coffee I made.

"Mr. Ares". I greeted him politely. I bowed slightly in respect.

"Your coffee is getting cold. I've been here a while. You look constipated. Are you having a problem?"

"Not really. I was just thinking about work," I explained. My bad dream was appearing in my mind again.

"Is that about your bad dream?"

I turned to him in surprise. How did he know? Can he read minds? Can he read my thoughts?

"I'm sorry if I asked you that. You were screaming in your sleep at Mr. Sullivan's office. That's why I wondered if you had a bad dream."

My breath hitched, and I slowly let out a sigh.

"Y-you're right, it was just a bad dream" I replied weakly. I was deep in thought. That's why I didn't notice that Mr. Ares had left my side. Didn't he wonder why I was inside Mr. Sullivan's office while using the CEO's table and computer? Because if I ever saw someone in that situation, I'd be surprised. An ordinary employee using the CEO's office? That's not usual.

I was about to leave the pantry with my coffee when my eyes caught Mr. Sullivan. He was looking at me before he entered his office. My chest was pounding. It was beating differently again. I ignored the feeling and went to my cubicle. I wanted to forget my dream. It was getting in the way of my work. I can't work properly.