The autumn can only get colder it seems. Rosina is stuck in this stuffy little room with a crappy fireplace and creaking floorboards. But it’s home for now. It’s safe. It’s still hard to imagine how this happened. How her life could change completely in one night. She was down in her luck. People get fortunes when they are too, right? They’re easy to lie to. Rosina didn’t think her little white lies could result in this. She slowly rubs the healing wound on her neck with a cold hand. Two small puncture marks. Who could have known what was supposed to be a customer was actually a starved vampire. A starved vampire who choose a meal they knew wouldn’t be missed. It makes Rosina’s stomach churn with humiliation and anger. To force someone into a life of violence and danger is worse than scamming a few idiots out of a few dollars.

Rosina’s changes are becoming more physical. Her teeth are falling out. as if they weren’t rotting before. Her once tan skin is becoming sickly fair. Rosina can see her hair darkening as well. She used to have such pretty mousy brown hair. Now it’s some dirt brown, and she can tell it’s getting darker. Rosina is sick all the time. Constantly shaking and hungry. She’s scared. Scared to satisfy this haunting hunger. The bed springs groan under her weight.

She was brought to this haven by some other vampires, noting she was new to the species. It’s helpful, just not pretty. Rosina doesn’t know anyone. She doesn’t like being helpless around strangers. That’s how Rosina feels, helpless. She stays in her room most the day. What’s the point in leaving. The woman lays down on her mattress with a huff. She can’t sleep, not with this revolting feeling in her new stomach. The door creaks open slowly. Rosina quickly lifts her head, watching as someone walks into the room. Another vampire, she presumes, carrying logs and a water bucket. The bucket goes by the door. The person stares at her as they walk to the empty fireplace.

“‘M sorry, miss.” They mumble quietly, filling the brick hollow with the logs. “thought you were asleep.”

“It’s alright,” Rosina whispers. Her voice is lost in her. She rises slowly.