Good & Dead #1 by Jamie Wahl

said.  He gripped his right arm, just above the elbow, and led on.  “Think about something else.  It helps distract from the sounds.”
    Michael searched his mind for something distracting.  Where are we going?  A club?  A bar?  Will it just be vampires?  How many vampires will there be?  Was this going to be a hazing situation?  Will it involve saran wrap?  Is someone going to kill me for asking the wrong questions?  Will it be quick or will it be slow and painful?
    “So…” Michael said, desperate to derail his train of thought, “Where are we going?”
    “Bell told you where we are going,” Tanish said, never taking his eyes off their surroundings. 
    “Are you…looking for someone?” Michael asked, noticing how Tanish glanced down every alley and turned Michael abruptly down seemingly random streets, like a bodyguard escorting a diplomat with enemies.
    “Just being cautious, Michael,” he tightened his grip on Michael’s elbow.  “We aren’t the only things that go bump in the night.”
    Michael swallowed hard.  He hadn’t thought of that yet.  What other nightmarish fantasies weren’t fantasies at all?
    “Like…like what?” Michael asked, clearing his throat repeatedly.
    Tanish only smiled.  Michael got the feeling that he was enjoying scaring him.  They walked on in silence, Michael trying not to let his imagination get the better of him.  Was there going to be an ambush of werewolves?  Or an attack from a horde of zombies?  Michael jumped at every turn.  He couldn’t stand the silence.
    “Are you from here?” Michael asked loudly.
    “No,” he kept his eyes ahead, “I’m from Bangalore.”
    Tanish glanced at Michael’s blank stare.  “India?” he asked.
    “Oh.  Cool,” Michael said stupidly. “Gandhi.”
    “Gandhi.  That’s all anyone knows about India.  I hate that movie.”
    “Sorry,” Michael followed in quiet for another block.  He wondered how long ago Tanish had lived in India.  He hadn’t noticed even a trace of an accent.  “Did your parents come to New York, or…?” 
    “I know what you want to know, Michael,” Tanish said. “It’s not considered polite to ask about a vampire’s mortal life in our world.”
    Our world .  His world was the classrooms at school, the corner deli down the street from his apartment, and the game shop he frequented with Randy.  His world was playing Dungeons & Dragons and geeking out about real band-aids that are printed to look like strips of bacon.
    “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to offend you.”
    Tanish looked at him appraisingly as they walked, Michael following his lead as they continued to turn every couple of blocks. 
    “How far is it?” Michael asked.
    “Across town,” Tanish answered.  “We are meeting with Joseph just a few blocks from here.  He has a new turn of his own.”
    “Another new vampire?” He suddenly wondered how many there were in the city.
    “Yes,” he said, “another young man.  He’s about your age, too.  Maybe a little older.  I don’t know.  You are all so young to us.”
    “I suppose,” Michael said quietly.
    This seemed to amuse Tanish.  “This way,” he smiled, “down the alley.”
    Tanish led him into a well-lit alley behind a tall apartment building.  Michael had tried to get a room in that very building but had to settle for his rat-favored one instead.  At least his was closer to school.
    Joseph stood at the end of the alley.  A blonde man in his thirties stood next to him.  Do I look that old?
    “What took you so long?” Joseph asked.
    “Just getting dressed,” Tanish said with a wry smile.
    “Alright,” Joseph said gruffly.  “This is Chad,” he added, shoving the blonde man forward.
    The man named Chad walked up to meet them and shook Michael’s hand energetically.
    “Nice to meet you,” he said, releasing him and shaking Tanish’s hand with equal vigor.  “Nice to meet you.”
    Tanish and Joseph shared a meaningful glance