Chapter 2: A Warning From a Dying Friend
Joshua stared out his apartment window, the city lights blurring into an indistinguishable mess. The hum of traffic below was a monotonous drone, barely audible over the thrum of his own thoughts. He sighed, popping open a beer and settling onto his worn couch, the leather creaking under his weight.Another Friday night, another night alone.The TV flickered, casting an eerie glow across the room, but he couldn’t muster the energy to care about whatever was on. He took a long swig of his beer, the bitterness barely registering on his tongue. His apartment felt emptier than usual, the silence pressing in on him like a heavy weight.A loud thud from the apartment next door startled him, the sound vibrating through the thin walls. He froze, the beer halfway to his lips, and listened. Muffled voices followed, low and urgent, and then the distinct scrape of furniture being dragged across the floor.New neighbors? About damn time.He pressed his ear against the wall, curiosity getting the better of him. The voices were too indistinct to make out words, but there was an energy to them—something frantic, almost desperate. He pulled away, shaking his head. Not his business.The next morning, as Joshua headed out for coffee, he saw her. A redhead, maybe early twenties, struggling with a heavy box in the hallway. Her arms trembled under the weight, and she bit her lip in frustration."Need a hand?" he offered, trying not to stare at the way her tank top clung to her curves."Oh, thank god," she said, her voice breathy and relieved. "I'm Sarah, by the way. Just moved in." Joshua introduced himself, the scent of vanilla and something else, something almost metallic, filling his nostrils as he took the box from her.He followed her into the apartment, the smell growing stronger. The place was bare except for a few scattered boxes and a couch that looked like it had seen better days. "You need help unpacking?" he asked, setting the box down.She smiled, a slow, deliberate curve of her lips that made his stomach flip. "Maybe later," she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Thanks for the rescue."Over the next few weeks, Joshua noticed a pattern. Sarah always seemed to be short on something—groceries, rent, a ride to work. And she always seemed to find a way to get it.empty. They’d stumble out at odd hours, their faces pale and their steps unsteady. Joshua chalked it up to her being a free spirit, maybe a bit of a gold digger.But something about it nagged at him.One evening, Sarah knocked on his door, a sheepish look on her face. "Hey, Josh," she purred, leaning against the doorframe. "I'm in a bit of a bind. Could you maybe spot me a hundred 'til payday? I'm good for it, I swear."Joshua hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. He wasn’t exactly rolling in dough himself. But something about her pleading eyes made him cave. "Alright," he said, pulling out his wallet. "But you owe me one."That night, he couldn’t sleep. He kept replaying their conversation in his head, the way she’d looked at him—like she could see straight through him. It wasn’t gratitude he’d seen in her eyes; it was something else entirely. Something hungry.The next day, Sarah stopped him in the hallway, dressed in a tight red dress that barely covered her ass. "I wanted to thank you for last night," she said, her voice low and husky. "How about I make it up to you?"Before he could respond, she reached out and grabbed his hand, leading him into her apartment. The air was thick with the same vanilla scent, but this time it was overpowering, almost cloying.She pushed him back against the door, her body pressed against his. "I know you’ve been watching me, Josh," she whispered, her tongue tracing the outline of his lips. "You want me, don’t you?"He tried to resist, but her touch was electric, sending shivers down his spine. Her fingers danced across his chest, teasing him, driving him wild. "Sarah," he breathed, his voice shaky."Shh," she murmured, dropping to her knees. Her eyes never left his as she undid his belt with practiced ease. "Open up for me, baby," she breathed, her breath hot against his skin. "Let me show you how grateful I am."He groaned as her lips closed around him, the warmth of her mouth sending waves of pleasure through his body. But then something shifted—a wave of dizziness washed over him, his vision blurring at the edges.He felt his energy draining away, his life force being sucked out of him with each greedy swallow. His legs weakened, and he tried to pull away, but her grip was like iron. "Sarah," he gasped, his voice barely a whisper.This wasn’t just a blowjob; this was something else, something dark and terrifying. Her eyes glowed faintly in the dim light of the apartment, and he realized too late that he had made a terrible mistake.