Captivated (An Affliction Novel) by Raven Page B

surprising me. “Is that you?” His flashlight shone on me, then to Dean, who was back to looking irritated.
    “Markus? What are you doing here?” I asked.
    Without saying anything, Dean walked away, leaving me alone with Markus, the dog, and my thoughts.
     
     
     
     
     

     
     
    ude! I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all day.” Markus said while trying to catch his breath. He bent slightly and placed his hands on his thighs.
    “What’s going on?” I regrettably asked. I was afraid he was going to bring up the disappearing people that he thought Dean was responsible for.
    “You shouldn’t be out in the dark.” Markus panted said. He straightened himself and took deep breaths until he breathed normally again.
    “Why does everyone keep saying that?” I huffed out then smiled at him. “Let’s go home. I’ve had a crazy night.” I reached down and grabbed the dog’s leash and headed back towards my house. Markus rushed to my side.
    “Not crazier than mine,” Markus competitively said.
    “Uh oh. What did you do?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.
    “You know the disappearing people?” Markus mentioned.
    “What about them?” I slowly let out, preparing myself for something out of this world to come out of his mouth.
    “Well. They weren’t really… people.” Markus blurted with an animated smile. Whatever he was trying to tell me was sure juicing him up.
    I stopped walking and cocked my head to the side. “What are you talking about?” I asked.
    “Vampires…” Markus slowly whispered with a charge of excitement.
    I threw out a big huff and proceeded to walk again. “Whatever, Markus” I spat behind me.
    Markus caught up to me and grabbed my shoulders to steal my attention. “No. No. It’s true! I can prove it. Wait, no I can’t. But I might be-” he stuttered.
    “What are you rambling about? There are no vampires. It’s just a fictional monster created by someone who had nothing better to do.” I calmly said.
    “Do you believe that about dinosaurs? That they too are just fictional?” Markus asked.
    “No. There’s proof of their existence. There isn’t any for vampires.” I responded.
    “That’s because they disappear when they die. And when they’re alive, they look just like the rest of us!” Markus replied.
    “And how exactly did you come up with this conclusion?” I snickered in disbelief. Were we really having this conversation? I never thought I would have to convince Markus that vampires didn’t exist. He had yet to prove to me that there was a ghost that messed with him when he did his chores.
    “I saw one attacking a human.” Markus pointed at his eyes with his long index finger.
    “A human? You mean you saw a person attacking another person.” I corrected him.
    “No. A living, breathing vampire.” Markus stated.
    “I thought they weren’t alive and they didn’t breath.” I tested him.
    “You know what I mean!” Markus spat out, annoyed.
    “Ok. Why don’t you explain to me what exactly you saw?” I suggested.
    “I was driving around, right?” Markus stretched his arms out in front of him as if he were gripping onto a steering wheel. “So I decided to check out the crime scene. And there they were. This chick was biting some guy’s neck and blood was everywhere. And she was way stronger than him…” he paused dramatically and continued on, “…are you ready for this?”
    I nodded my head.
    “Out comes Dean and kicks her off of him sending her flying into the brick wall! The guy didn’t even know what was going on. He just fumbled all over the place crying about his neck. Dean and the girl…I mean vampire, were throwing swings at each other. She was so fast. But then he took out a sword from a strap on his back and sliced her head clean off! Then poof… she and the head disappeared!” Markus declared.
    “Whoa whoa whoa…Dean was there? My Dean?” I asked.
    “ Your Dean? What are you talking about What do you mean by your