The police had assumed since they hadn’t found any signs of life in the surrounding area, the killer wasn’t here. Aaron knew better. The vampire would be an expert at concealing himself from any searches, and the cops had no idea what they were really for. Chances were the vampire had the power to hide himself even if the cops were looking right at him.

Other than the occasional breeze, everything was unusually still. The moon cast a silver-gray glow over the rubble-strewn ground, but the buildings themselves were hidden beneath shadows. It was the perfect place to hide, especially for a vampire.

He avoided the building where the yellow police tape flapped against the door. He doubted if the vampire would push his luck that much. Instead he paused for a moment, looking over each building before he chose the one furthest from the others. It made a good place to start.

When he found the door locked, he slowly circled the building, trying to find a way in.

"Bingo." He muttered to himself, seeing the broken window in the back wall. Raising himself up over the sill, he climbed into the window. He had to squirm to squeeze his way in against the tight frame.

Swinging his hand, the beam of flash light lit the broken wooden crates strewn over the floor.

A rat scurried across the floor and darted into a hole in the wall. The air was stale but breathable, and dust particles drifted in the light as Aaron swept it around the room. The crates looked more pallets for stacking goods and most were nothing more than enormous splinters now.

Creeping farther in the large room, he directed the light around the room. Looking towards one of the doors at the back, Aaron saw the flash of a shadow moving across the doorway. Swiftly, he shined the light towards the door, but there was nothing there. Walking towards the door, Aaron keep the flashlight steadily lighting the door.

Beyond the door was a hallway stretching on for what seemed like the entire length of the building. Doors led off from each side along the hall and most were closed, their windows broken. And then the shadow reappeared in the hallway. It hovered a few yards in front of Aaron, but it didn’t advance on him.

Aaron didn’t move any closer to the strange darkness not too far away from him. Instead he spoke quietly, "I know you’re here, and I know what you are."

Though he probably should have been terrified, Aaron wasn’t. He had something the vampire needed. And to get it, the vampire would have to let him live. If anything, his heart accelerated from excitement he felt.

Although the shadow did not move, a deep, resonating voice broke the silence following Aaron’s pronouncement.

"Who are you?"