Homely Erin Lockhardt guarded a blood bank where red cell packs vanished nightly. Reviewing footage, she found motion logs just after midnight but empty images. She summoned her boss, pointing to a blur near the ceiling. He dismissed it—a bird. Erin waited the next night, hidden by Cold Storage B. Something fluttered above, and a pale man in a black suit emerged. Terror froze her as his gaze held her fast. Lonely, gentle, hungry, he explained cold blood sustained him without killing. Erin, wanting and aching, accepted his kiss-bite. They flew away together.
Later, cameras still glitched nightly, unnoticed.
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alt="Up, Up and Stay by Jacob Conflitti"
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