It's way past midnight as RJ makes her way home from a little afterwork party at the tattoo shop. Earbuds nestled in her ears, she's listening to Fangs For Listening, her cherished podcast covering all things vampire lore.
"So if any of our listeners have actually had a taste of vampire blood, please let us know what it feels like," the host concludes at the end of a lengthy discussion.
"I see Gomez is spamming our live chat again," her co-host laughs. "Hey buddy, if vampire blood really turns people into bats sign me the fuck up!"
RJ chuckles to herself. Other people call vampire fans like herself nutjobs, but even among her own community there are those considered crazy by the rest.
A loud noise in the distance suddenly rings out. Was that a gunshot? There have been reports of increased gang violence in the area lately... Shuddering, RJ decides to duck down a narrow alleyway, thinking it a faster route to the reassuring safety of her apartment. She climbs over the alley gate and picks her way through the rubbish-strewn passage - only to be stopped by an unsettling sight. Two men are lying on the ground and over them looms a dark figure wiping their mouth.
RJ's heart skips a beat. But not out of fear.
"Vampire...?" She whispers awestruck.
