Welcome welcome!

This beginning is a bit slow. A bit info-dumping. But, it'll get better!

Onto the story!

My alarm clock rang, and I groaned, turning it off. I sighed and got out bed, and started to get into my work uniform. My phone rang, and I answered.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hey, Atem! It's m-"

"No. I'm not covering your shift again tomorrow, Mer. This is the third time this week," I said, sliding my shoes on.

"Aw, come on! Please?" Merrow asked.

"You already told Lyndi, didn't you?" I asked.

"Yeah…," Merrow admitted.

"Fine. But, next week, you're covering my shifts," I said, leaving the house.

"Well, you can use the extra money to move into maybe a better house? Or somewhere other than this lame place?" Merrow suggested.

"You know the promise I made my dad. I wouldn't leave this place, no matter how boring it is," I said.

"Atem. You do know you don't have to listen to that. For one, you're 24. For two, Your father's gone. You told us yourself that those crazy people broke into your home, killed him, and said you were 'safe', and that 'you can go with them, or stay until you feel free to leave'," Merrow said.

"Yeah, but, I've grown accustomed to this place. I've spent my entire life here, and in that house," I said.

'I know, but, still," Merrow said.

"I gotta go, Mer. Early shift," I said.

"It's noon," Merrow said.

"I meant early for me. I'll talk later," I said, hanging up. I walked into the restaurant, and to the back.

"So. Merrow told me you'd cover her shift tomorrow," Lyndi said, coming in.

"Yeah. She told me on the phone," I said. Lyndi sighed.

"Again?" she asked. I nodded. "I'd fire her, but when she actually does show up, she's really good at her job," Lyndi said.

"I know. I don't know why she just keeps asking me, though," I sighed.

"Ah, well. It can't be helped. I'm expecting good news of you tonight," Lyndi said. I walked to the door of the crew room.

"Don't you always?" I smiled.

It was nearing ten, and almost the end of my shift, when a person wearing a dark hoodie came in, and sat at a table far away from the door. I sighed, grabbed a menu, and walked to him.

"You know, there's the sign that says please wait to be seated. You know that, right?" I asked, giving him the menu.

"You wouldn't have given me this table. I needed this one," he said in a low voice, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt tighter.

"Hiding from someone?" I asked. He tensed up.

"I….I don't want to talk about it," he said.

"Alright. I don't want to get mixed up in your business, so, I'll just start. My name's Atem, I'll be your waiter. In this time we've been talking, can I start you with something to drink?" I asked, getting out my pen and pad of paper. He looked up at me. His eyes were wide with shock. The man suddenly stood up, and got very close to my face. I took a few steps away from him.

"I don't want to be rude to a customer, but, I do need personal space," I said.

"It really is you….how old are you?" he asked.

"Not that it matters, but, I'm 24. Why?" I asked. The bell over the door rang. The man glanced over, and immediately, a scared expression made its way on his face. He quickly sat down, and pulled the hood tighter.

"I'd like a sprite, and, I don't know, whatever you recommend. Just put it in for me. Money's no object," he said quickly.

"Alright. I'll be back with your drink," I said, writing down one of my favorite dishes at the restaurant. Teter came up to me as I was getting the drink.

"You want me to seat the customer, or you got it? I can put him in your section," Teter said.

"I can get him. Just let me finish this, and I got it," I said, giving her a small smile. I walked back to the hooded gentleman's table, and set the drink down.

"I'll be back once your order's ready," I said, giving my best customer smile. He only nodded, quickly looking away from the door. I walked over to the area, and gave the man my customer smile.

"Welcome. My name is Atem. Do you have any preference where you'd like to sit?" I asked. The man's smile dissolved, and his expression darkened.

"Atem….Would you perhaps be Atem Amun?" he asked. I froze slightly.

"How….how did you know my last name?" I asked. He was about to grab my wrist, when, out of nowhere, there was a blur of the hooded gentleman. He grabbed my wrist, and pulled me out of the restaurant. I could hear the other man suddenly shouting at someone, presumably into a phone.

"I found Atem Amun! And it seems I've found Yami, too! Yes, I'm going after them!" he shouted. The hooded gentleman picked me up bridal-style, and we started moving at breakneck speed.

"Wh-Where are you taking me?!" I exclaimed.

"Away from Aeron. Away from the restaurant. Away from here, period," the hooded gentleman said.

"I don't even know who you are! Put me down!" I exclaimed.

"My name is Yami Sennen. I knew Katsu. I didn't know him well, but I knew him. He asked me to keep you safe, should he ever be killed by hunters," Yami explained.

"You knew my father? Hunters? What the hell's going on?!" I exclaimed.

"Running now, questions later. Just hold on tightly," Yami instructed. I opened my mouth to protest more, but Yami shot me a look. I bit my lip, and put my arms around his neck awkwardly. He held me closer, and seemed to start running faster.

I must've fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes, Yami and I were in some sort of cave. We were far away from the mouth of the cave. There was sunlight streaming into the cave, but not much. Yami was fast asleep on the cave floor, but he still had a tight hold on my wrist. I shook him, and he groaned softly.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled.

"No. You need to answer my questions," I said. Yami groaned, and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Alright. What questions do you have?" Yami yawned.

"One. How do you know me? At the restaurant, you said it really was me. What did you mean?" I asked.

"Can't answer that," Yami said.

"What do you mean?" I glared.

"Just ask something else," Yami said, looking away.

"Alright. What hunters? Are they the people that killed my father? And why did they kill him?" I asked.

"Alright. Lotta questions. Okay. Can't answer, Yes, and can't answer," Yami said.

"Why did these hunters leave me alone, then? They killed my father, and came to my room. They told me that 'I was safe now', and that if I wanted to, I could go with them. But, I could leave without fear, now. They wouldn't let me get a word in. Wouldn't let me even say they had just killed my father," I said.

"Open your mouth for a second," Yami said.

"Why?" I asked, a bit weirded out.

"Just do it," Yami instructed.

"No. Because you just say you can't answer my questions. Why can't you?" I asked.

"Ah, nevermind. I was able to haven't come in yet, or his influence is still over you. Either one is fine," Yami said.

"Why did you take me away from my job?" I asked.

"Oh! That reminds me, you need to put this on," Yami said. He took off his hoodie, and I saw a small backpack. He took out a pair of pants, and a tank top.

"Why?" I asked, holding the outfit away from me. I knew they were my clothes, but I had no idea why he had them. Or what he had done to them.

"Because. They last saw you in that. We need to change at least your outfit," Yami said. He turned away from me. After a while, I started to get undressed. I started to dress in the outfit.

"Why can't you answer my questions?" I asked.

"Because. You being 24, and living in their world for so long, you'll think I'm crazy," Yami said.

"I already think you are. Just tell me," I said, pulling the tank top over my hair. Yami took a deep breath. He faced me again.

"You. Me. Aeron, at the restaurant. Katsu. We are all pureblooded vampires. Purebloods are forbidden to leave the area they've taken over just for themselves. Katsu and Adeline escaped just a few days after having you," Yami explained. I blinked.

"You're insane. I'm not-"

"Yes. You are. You are a pureblood, meaning you were born as one. You weren't changed, like Teter or Merrow or Lyndi," Yami said.

"Okay, now you're truly insane. My friends, and more importantly, my are not-"

They are. They aren't purebloods like us, though. Most purebloods hate changed ones. But, when I heard Katsu was killed, I tried to get here fast, to get you to safety, but, I was found, and kept being found. Any pureblood who manages to escape is hunted down, and brought back for punishment. Purebloods who evade them for too long, like me or even Katsu, they'll be killed.

"Did...Did my friends….know the entire time?" I asked.

"Yes. Vampire sense of smell is very sharp. But, almost all changed ones are very nice. When I went to you house, and didn't see you, I got worried. Scared that Aeron had already gotten you. I found Merrow, and she eased my worries,telling me where you were. I grabbed this outfit of yours, and went to where you were. But, I didn't realize it was actually you until I had a good look at you," Yami said. I put my work outfit to the side. I was silent.

I...I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do.

"The hunters that killed your father. You can most likely guess what their full title is. It's a good thing you didn't get to say that Katsu was your father. They most likely ignored you, thinking you were human," Yami said.

"..." Again, I was silent. It was too much. I couldn't...couldn't process what he was telling me.

"You need to get more rest. We need to keep moving tonight," Yami said. Without saying anything, I laid down on the cave floor, and closed my eyes.

I hope you guys liked this!

See you soon!