Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #22 January 2016 | Page 23

“I’m Nathan, pleased to meet you.”
Lisa begins to say something else, but stops
short when everyone around her starts to scream and
yell. It was now under the minute mark for the New
Year, and the whole place was going crazy. Nathan
brings his flask out again and takes another drink
before offering it to the young victim in front of him.
She beams then downs a large swig, which burns the
whole way down. Nothing warms you up quicker on a
cold night than old whiskey. She thanks her hero and
hands the flask back before turning her attention up to
the sky. Nathan joins her, and the rest of New York, as
they all watch the giant clock counting down. As the
famous ball starts to descend, over thirty-five million
viewers watching all around the country unite in
bidding farewell to the departing year and express joy
and hope for the year ahead. The lucky million who
get to see it in person begin the count down. 10-9-8-76-5-4-3-2...When they get to one, a thunder of voices
raise up to greet the New Year. Fireworks shoot up in
the sky to echo this sound, and confetti rains down
like snowflakes. Couples and strangers alike embrace
for a new year’s kiss, and Lisa is among them. She
grabs Nathan and locks her soft lips around his. This
passion burns through him, and in an instant, Nathan
moves his mouth to her throat. Lisa lets out a sound of
pleasure as his teeth sink into her neck. At first there
is pain, then comes pure desire. No one around them
pays attention to this; over a million eyes, and yet
every soul is caught up in the moment. Death draws
close to Lisa as most of her blood leaves her body, but
at the last moment Nathan pulls back. The girl looks
confused and a little pale, but she is alive. He did it;
he really did it this time!

blood begins to heal the wound, leaving no evidence
of his existence. Once this is done, Nathan smiles and
gives Lisa one last kiss on her forehead before leaving
her dazed and lost in the crowd. To get away from all
the drunken sheep, Nathan cuts down an alleyway to
break free. He whistles as he makes his way down
the dark street. Tonight, Nathan feels alive, which is
a feeling he hasn’t felt in years. He is almost to the
mouth of the alley when a large man steps out in front
of him. Nathan’s inhuman eyes make out the face at
once—it belongs to Lisa’s boyfriend. It seems he has
a few parting words about the situation. Nathan, in his
happy mood, opens his mouth to say something, but
doesn’t get the chance when the man, out of nowhere,
punches him in the face.
“You think I would just let you take my girl
without a fight?” Lisa’s boyfriend asks as he goes for
another punch.
With lig