Bloodbound Scallion

Hey, waitress! I'm ready to order!" a deep voice called out from the counter. Layale's gaze landed on a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a scruffy beard. He was dressed in a faded denim jacket and a pair of worn jeans, giving off a rough-around-the-edges vibe.

"Sorry about the wait! What can I get for you?" Layale asked, forcing a bright smile onto her face as she hurried over to take his order. The man scanned the menu, his eyes lingering on the breakfast specials. "I'll have the works: eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes... the whole shebang."

Layale nodded, her pen flying across her notepad as she took down his order. "And to drink?" she asked. " Coffee. Black." As Layale turned to put in his order, the man called out to her again. "Hey, waitress?"

"Yes?" Layale replied, turning back to face him.

"What's your name?" he asked. Layale's smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "It's Layale." The man nodded, his eyes lingering on her face. "Well, Layale, I'm Jack. Nice to meet you."

Layale's smile felt forced as she replied, "Nice to meet you too, Jack." As she turned to put in his order, Layale couldn't shake off the feeling that Jack was watching her, his eyes boring into her skin. She quickened her pace, eager to get away from the counter and lose herself in the chaos of the diner.

Some time later

Layale's feet ached as she hurried to deliver a tray of steaming hot coffee and pancakes to table seven. The morning rush at Mae's Place was always chaotic, and she had been running non-stop since her shift started. She forced a bright smile onto her face as she set the tray down, trying to hide the exhaustion that had been building up for weeks.

The Smiths, a lovely elderly couple, greeted her with warm smiles. "Good morning, Layale! How's your day going, sweetie?" Mrs. Smith asked, her eyes twinkling with kindness.

Layale's smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "It's going, Mrs. Smith. Just trying to keep up with the morning rush." She poured coffee into their cups, her movements mechanical.

As she took the college students' order, Layale's mind began to wander. She had been struggling to make ends meet, working double shifts at the diner just to keep a roof over her head. The stress was starting to take a toll on her, and she couldn't help but feel like she was stuck in a rut.

She gazed at Alex, her crush, caught her eye from across the diner where he was busy working on his laptop, and Layale felt a flutter in her chest. He smiled at her before he looked back down at his laptop and she couldn't help but wonder maybe, just maybe, he was interested in asking her out. But as she looked, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was just a distraction for him, a way to pass the time.

The diner's door swung open, admitting a warm ray of sunlight and a gentle breeze. Layale's gaze drifted toward the entrance, her eyes scanning the crowd. For a moment, she thought she saw someone familiar, but it was just a stranger, lost in the sea of faces.

" Layale the orders ready for table four!" the chef said placing the order on the counter. placing the multiple plates on the tray she soon went back to work. A few hours after most of the day and rush hour had passed Layale was busy pouring a cup of steaming hot coffee, the aroma filling the air as she handed it to Mrs. Jenkins, a regular at the diner. "Here you go, Mrs. Jenkins. Your usual."

Mrs. Jenkins smiled, her eyes twinkling with gratitude. "Thank you, dear. You always know just what I need." As Layale turned to refill the coffee pot, her gaze drifted to the TV mounted in the corner of the diner. The news was on, and the anchor's serious expression caught her attention.

"...another victim has been found in the outskirts of town," the anchor said, her voice somber. "The police have confirmed that the victim, a young woman in her early twenties, had been drained of her blood. This brings the total number of victims to five in the past month."

Layale's eyes widened as she felt a shiver run down her spine. The recent string of murders had been all over the news, and the police seemed to be no closer to catching the killer. The thought sent a wave of unease through the diner, with the patrons exchanging nervous glances.

Mae, the diner's owner, frowned as she watched the news report. "Terrible, just terrible. What's the world coming to?" Layale nodded in agreement, her mind racing with thoughts of the murders. She had always felt safe in Ravenswood ever since she moved here from england, but the recent string of murders had her wondering if that sense of security was just an illusion.

As the news report continued, Layale's attention was diverted by the sound of the diner's door swinging open. She turned to greet the new customer but soon her jaw would drop in shock.

Two men walked in, their presence commanding attention as all the remaining patrons immediately turned and began staring at them. One was a handsome black man with short dreadlocks. His beard and mustache were neatly trimmed, framing his chiseled features. He wore a black leather jacket that accentuated his broad shoulders, and his dark chocolate brown eyes sparkled with warmth.

But it was the other man who made Layale's heart stop. He was breathtakingly, heart-stoppingly, and soul-crushingly handsome. His piercing dark blue eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, as if seeing every secret, every fear, and every desire she had ever had. His dark black hair fell to his shoulders in soft, silky waves, framing his sharp jawline and accentuating his chiseled features. His skin was smooth and unblemished , like polished marble, and his full lips pressed into a thin line.

He wore a black leather jacket that seemed molded to his body, showcasing his lean, muscular physique. His broad shoulders seemed to fill the doorway, and his commanding presence seemed to draw every eye in the diner to him. He exuded an aura of power, of confidence, of raw, unbridled masculinity that seemed to make the very air around him vibrate with energy.

Layale felt her breath catch in her throat as he turned his gaze to her. She felt like she was drowning in the depths of his eyes, like she was being pulled under by a riptide of pure, unadulterated attraction that's she's never felt for anyone before. She couldn't look away, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could do was stand there, frozen, as he walked towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.