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Darkest of Corridors - Chapter 1

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A wise man once said that not everything is as it seems. For even the brightest of locations can hide the darkest of corridors.

The streets bustled with people on a busy Friday afternoon. Millions of business men and women hustled along in their daily lives along the gum covered sidewalks. On the sidelines a group of homeless individuals lay by a burning trash can, using it for warmth on this chilly day. Then just a few steps down on a cold park bench was a rather out of place being.Their eyes were a hazel like colour, the little green specks catching the light and deepening the intensity of the hue. The scar less skin which covered their body was as pale as the first snow and tinged with a slight pink undertone. Here sat one of the most sought after beings, but most humans would never know it. For he was no ordinary teenager.

Nathanaël Barnabas Collins was born on a rainy day in July, healthy and happy. However, he was unlike his run of the mill classmates and was quite peculiar.  When recesses arrived around noon time as a child, he would be forced to remain inside. He didn't communicate much outside of his lessons, and most of the school children wondered why he always had to have his red juice pack at lunch time. Usually they chalked it up to the young blonde as being nothing more than a weirdo, which was why he was bullied so much as a child. But really, even now at age 19,  he couldn't blame them for their actions. His condition, as he liked to call it, did make him act quite unnatural. However, he didn't condone the harassment he faced through his troubled school years.

Most living around the northeastern United States would recognize that last name. Collins? The Collins family? Those who owned and ran the long running and high paying fishery in Maine, he was related to that famous family. It would only take a moment of pondering for people to come to the conclusion about why he was so prized. Heir to  millions of dollars in estate and business, that was what most normal people assumed he was desired for. His physical dollar worth. In reality though, his worth was far superior to his monetary value. It's meaning intertwining with his family's dark heritage.


Like his infamous grandfather Nate was a vampire, or at least half in his case. One of the only known human-vampire hybrids in the universe. Jennifer, his mother, conceived him only two days subsequent to his father Edgar's turning. The rarity stemming from the changing process itself, which leaves a vampire infertile.

These half breeds are highly prized by the vampire society for being studies; test subjects for high class vampires who simply want to create the perfect immortal. One who holds all of the positives without any of the drawbacks. Even certain groups of mortals wish to find a bridge between the land of the living and that of the undead.

On the contrast , there are also those who see it as a threat to their society. If word of these halflings, Nathan in particular, were to get out into the world then it would draw in humans. Who would in turn be begging for a trouble free, immortal, life. Then of course ,there would be no more humans for them to feast upon. No blood to drink when thirsty and a possible worldly collapse would occur.

Which was why his parents moved to Montreal, Canada soon after he was born. They wanted to be close enough to home, his father's parents, for protection while still trying to hide him from the world. It was in one of those attacks on his family that Nathan's father was killed, leaving his mother to raise him. Although he and his mother weren't alone. Barnabas and his wife Victoria helped raise the child, teaching him as much as they could about; his roots, how to control his urges, what powers he had and how to use them. Along with self defense,which the poor blonde never caught onto that initially as hoped.

Unlike his vampiric relatives, Nathan did not fear the sun. As just simply stepping out into its high beams would not mean flames nor instant death, on the contrast it would leave him quite sunburned. That was the reason why he had chosen for his college classes to be at night rather than the traditional morning. Arising from the bench he looked around. Stretching his legs and finally checking the time once more. His eyes darting across the front of the watch. Blinking a few times, he checked it again. Hoping he simply wasn't just overreacting.

" 7 o'clock? Oh God I'm about to be late!" Stated the blonde in a frightened tone, which was heavily influenced by the time he spent in Canada as a child. Quickly looking around him in a panicked gaze, he tried finding some path of escape. One which would keep his super speed out of the public's eye. There was nothing nearest him except the sewers, and hell know's he wasn't about to go swimming in shit today. At this point it was either make a normal break for the college or risk getting spotted by a hunter if he used his super speed. Gathering up his book bag and a small camera he had been capturing the beauty of Central Park with, the blonde carried on his way. Halfway running, half walking toward his classes. The ticking of the large clock in the center of town nagging in his ear like a common mosquito. It seeming to taunt the man, as if it knew he wouldn't make it at this speed.

Those surrounding the blonde meant little to nothing to him now, they were simply voices in the background. Things keeping him from his goal of reaching the university on time, before the first lecture started at the least. However, breaking his way through the crowd  he squeaked out silent apologies. Hoping that maybe someone heard at least one and didn't hold a grudge against him. After all, he had a place to go and things to do. He couldn't help carving his way and possibly running into people in the process.

Rounding yet another corner, and seeming to be out of the woods of business people, he sped up. His hazel eyes locking on their target which lay only feet ahead. Just when he thought he was home free, that he would actually make it to class in time. He was stopped dead in his tracks, and knocked back quite a few inches. The blonde's things spewing all over the ground and sending the round hoot owl glasses which sat upon his face flying onto the sidewalk.

"I am so sorry Sir, I did not mean to. Here let me help you." The tone of said person was quite sincere and from what Nathan could tell they seemed to be foreign. Asian descent perhaps? Exact dialects for locations weren't something he practiced on a daily basis. Knocking himself from this dream like trance he went looking for his spectacles, hands tracing over the concrete slabs in hopes of finding them before this individual did. It was bad enough that he had run into them while trying to get to class, but it was another to force them to help pick his things up.

"Hey, its fine don't worry about it." He replied with a small nervous chuckle. "I've got it...."
Before the sentence could even be finished, the wide rimmed frames were placed back onto  the bridge of his nose. The once blurry surroundings again becoming clear, along with the figure in front of him. The girls gentle hands slid down to her sides, and she smiled toward him. Her facial features reassuring him that he was right about the foreigner aspect of his new found accomplice. Soft brown eyes shone back up to him with a sweet gaze, and with a small giggle she raised him to his feet.  Though if he was being all honest he was entirely sure if the gender was right. She had both mixes of male and female in her clothing and appearance. So he couldn't properly thank her.

With the last of his stuff rounded up, he went to say something else to the mysterious 'girl'. But the last minute bell within the clock tower caught him off guard. Leaving him speechless for the moment. "If you are in a rush you can thank me later, I live nearby." Stated the mystery person with a friendly smile. "What time is your class over?"

Again words refused to leave his lips, as if they were caught on the roof of his mouth. His vocabulary consisting of maybe two um's and a ugh. Baby talk in other words, the product of not being the most social of butterflies. "A-Around 10..." Yes, that sounded right. Rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, he gave her one final smile before rushing off. Just barely missing the tardy bell and taking his seat. His heart was racing, faster than he ever thought it could before. Why was talking to people so difficult? Let alone talking to someone who looked like they could audition for a modeling agency. If that person was going to live up to their promise and come back later, he had better be ready to really thank them for their kindness.

Several grueling hours and one near panic attack later, he was released from his prison. Throughout that time he had little thought on actual work, and more on wondering who the mysterious lady who helped him was. From what glimpse of her personality he got, she seemed to be happy go lucky. If not a very chill, laid back type of person. But in the back of his mind he couldn't help wondering if he would actually get to talk with her again. After all, she had said she lived near by. Yet she had failed to tell him her address. Or possibly didn't want him knowing. So then, if that was the case, she would be waiting for him? How old was she? The girl appeared to be no more than 25, and even then normal people would have some sort of job.

So many questioned raced through his head, blinding him from the person who was standing just to the right of the entrance of the school. Waving to him like a giddy school girl.

"Hey!" Called a familiar voice from the shadows. "Over here!"

There she was, the girl from earlier. Within his head Nathan continuously told himself to play it cool, that he couldn't mess this chance up at making a friend. It would put him a step closer to living a semi normal life.

The baggy t-shirt she had on billowed in the breeze, along with the cargo pants. It was a wonder they didn't just fly off of her small frame. Hell, he thought he was tiny at 5'2. She couldn't have been any taller than 4'11.

But after checking over the scene in from of him, he waved back. Slowly walking over to the excited person smiling at him from under a tree. "Hey." Replied the blonde in a nervous tone. "Thank's for helping me out earlier, and sorry about running into you."

"It's no trouble, trust me." A small chuckle left her throat at his reply. Unlike Nathan, this mystery person didn't seem to hold any sort of nervousness. She was as confident as could be, and by the vibes she was putting off might have been trying to lift his spirits as well.

Or at least, it seemed that way.

"My name is Jimin by the way, Choi Jimin." She stated in a calming tone, bowing before him in a respectful manner.
"Nathan,  Nathanaël Collins at your service miss." Replied the boy, returning the bow to her. It seems his choice of wording had also made an impression on her, but instead of a sweet smile he was met with a friendly laugh.

"I-I'm sorry, are you a boy?" Again, he was met with no response. Just Jimin, staring back up at him with bright eyes and a sweet smile.
"No, I'm neither. I'm gender fluid. I'm a mix of the two. It's just funny because you're the first person who has used she/her pronouns in awhile." Replied back Jimin in a humorous tone. "Everyone else just assumes since Asian's are very feminine that I must be a boy."
Nathan's face began turning bright red at the comment, the pointed tips of his ears heating up along with the rest of his face. He tried hiding the noticeable colour with his hoodie, burrowing into it like a turtle might do with their shell. However, it wasn't working. A hand crept forward toward him, gently pulling the fabric down. Exposing his cherry flushed face and sparkling eyes.
"Hey, no need to be shy. I still use she/her pronouns. Actually, the fact you were so nervous about calling me miss was pretty cute."

"C-Cute?" His voice was cracking and his heart racing again. It was beating so fast that he could hear it through his ears, God only know's if she could as well. But maybe he was safe, hopefully he was.

"S-S-So um... where are you from? You don't sound like you're from the United States." Just as the final word had left his mouth, Nathan was slapping himself internally. That had to have sounded extremely rude, and he was just hoping she wouldn't take it the wrong way.

"I'm from Korea,  and just moved here recently." She stated with a smile. "From what I can tell you're not from here either. Your accent sounds more Canadian than anything. Or am I wrong?"
The blushing man shook his head when the question of whether or not he was Canadian came up in conversation.

"You're right. I grew up in Montreal, but I've moved back and forth between there and the states since I was a kid."

There was an odd amount of silence between the two, neither really having anything else to say to the other. Nathan on the other hand, was worried because of this momentary quiet. He feared that maybe he had said too much, or maybe too little. Then, she finally spoke again. Gently grabbing at his palm and leading him off. Away from the street lights and glimmer of the city, and into the dimly lit alley way behind the school.

"You don't know what I am, do you?"

The question seemed odd to Nathan. Sure the girl didn't seem to be normal by most people's standards, but still she was a person. Wasn't she?

"Know what you are? What do you mean? Where are you trying to take me?"
That's when he noticed them, the nine white fluffy things sticking out from behind her back. They looked almost like fox tails, and seemed to be billowing of their own free will. She took a moment to pull one forward, gently grooming at it and turning back to him. Her deep brown eyes were now a demonic gold and cat-like. The pupil's staring directly into his soul with a saddened gaze.

"I'm surprised you didn't recognize the scent of a fellow creature. But then again you seem to be more interested in being 'human' and I can't blame you. For I too have been trying to blend in."
The thought came to his mind, he had noticed something odd about her. However after talking to the girl he quickly chucked it up to his overactive imagination playing tricks on him. After all, he was like a bloodhound who was losing its sense of smell. Sometimes he could pick up on things, other times he was like the boy who cried wolf.

This time though, that wolf was a fox demon. Or something of the sort. He took another step forward to her, reaching out to pet the tail in her hand. Its soft texture throwing him off. These were real, she was real, and the first actual non human being he had run into in quite a long time.

"I did... just I wasn't certain. Little things can throw me off sometimes."

In some manner, she found his reply amusing, and gently smiled at the blonde. His own expression mirroring hers, as the two gazed at each other. Trying to make sense of whatever was happening.
"But, what are you exactly? A fox demon, were-fox, do those even exist?" He continued in an interested tone. Hazel eyes scanning over her again. She having dropped the fluffy tail and allowed it to return to swishing in the breeze.

"I'm a gumiho, also known as a nine tailed fox." She stated."I've roamed the earth for a little more than a century. What I can tell of you, I assume you're a vampire. A newer one at that. But, there is something more to you. Isn't there Nate?"

The puzzled boy simple stared back into her eyes with a lost gaze, unsure of what to say next. His mouth hung slightly ajar, the tips of his extended canines peeking through his lips. With a few stuttered breaths, he struggled at making words. English seeming to be the last thing on his mind. Along with just about every other language.

In his time of bewilderment, Jimin took the opportunity to give him another thorough glaze over. The confused look on her face said it all; eyes glancing up and down looking for something to assist her hypothesis. That’s when she finally heard it, the sound echoing in her ears. The soft hum of his heart acting like a slap across her face, and he could see it just by her expression alone.

“A hybrid…”
Everything seemed to change, from what Nathan could tell her expression changed beyond recognition. Her eyes widened more than he thought anyone could, and seemed to pop out of her skull. Jimin leaned into him, balancing on her toes. The breath in her throat hitching. A few exasperated gasps left her mouth before she finally spoke to him. A look of amazement perched for him to see.

“You’re a hybrid? A hybrid!” It seemed she was fighting to try not to get any louder than a whisper with the subject. “I-I thought they were extinct! Or the ones who had lived were being used for testing. I’ve only met one other one in my life, and assumed she was the last.” She chuckled at the thought, her laugh both a mixture of nerves and actual humor. “I should’ve seen it coming. But, wow. I’m shocked you’ve avoided capture for so long.”

Obvious, the man was getting very uncomfortable with the situation. In the back of his mind Nathan knew it was because he didn’t trust her well, as he didn’t most people.Yet, part of the blame also had to do with a nagging sensation in the back of his mind. The idea that maybe, someone was actually interested in him in more than just his species or name. As her body language, tone, and expressions said she meant him no harm.

But he could never be too sure anymore.

Slowly he started backing away from her. Eyes nervously glancing around the area, looking for any way he could possibly evade the situation. One possible idea was to go hide under a bridge somewhere and wait until his nerves finally calmed. Another to race home and hide under his bed with the doors locked.

“I-I-I have to go now-.” He stammered in a childish voice, quickly racing away from her. With a running leap he flung himself over the fence of the alley, and took a sprinting bound down the backway. Using what little energy he had left to keep going. This lasted only for a short time, and he soon was met wit exhaustion. His body collapsing to the ground in a panting  and fatigued state, back pressed up against the dirty brick wall near a trash can. The cold air around him allowing his breath to be seen more clearly than before. A

That's when it started, the soft hum of what seemed like an engine. Except he had never heard a car as quiet as this one. Before he could even process the information, a bright light appeared before him. Haloing his body in its golden streams of light, and stepped Jimin. Her eyes twinkling with a friendly glow, their original brown tone slowly returning. The tails swaying behind her vanishing into a puff of smoke.

His heart skipped a beat; both out of fear as well as being taken aback by her beauty. However, as quickly as the light was there, it was gone. Leaving her in its wake. When she tried coming closer to him, Nathan simple backed against the wall. The fear dancing in his eyes highly obvious by this point. He was like a cornered animal, afraid but willing to fight if it came down to it.

" Why do you think I would hurt you?" The tone she used sounding like something his own mother would talk to him in. "If I truely wanted to harm you, which I don't, I would've done it by now."

In truth, she wasn't straying far from what he had been thinking. That said, maybe she wasn't out to harm him. Maybe, she could potentially turn into his first friend.

"I got scared. I-I can't fight well, I haven't lived here long, and I don't have any friends. Really, both humans and creatures alike are a threat in my book. How do I know your not just another one trying to rat me out to the other vamp's?Last I heard they were offering a pretty penny in search of some hybrids for studies. "From his spot on the ground, he looked up to meet her gaze.

"Had you asked me that 100 years ago, I might have said yes."

"What?" It was all he managed to stutter out in a short period of time. The dramatic change catching him off guard, and he wondered where she was going with the conversation.

"I said,  if you would have asked me when I was 100 years younger I might have said yes." She wasn't backing down anytime soon, and he took notice of it. "Nate, I did some horrible things when I was younger. Some very terrible things that I can't take back, and I regret every single one of them. But I learned from them. I gained some humanity, and I'm trying to restore every bit I lost. " Now her accent was overtaking every little word, it was thick and heavy and laced with sorrow.

"What I'm trying to say I guess, is that I'm not the same fox I use to be. I want to be normal just as badly as you do. You have one thing that I want, humanity. I also think I have something you want too."

She paused once more, offering him a hand and helping to his feet. He staggered of course, nearly falling over in the process. But as tiny as Jimin was, she could pull her weight and more. When she informed him that she had something he desired. The word of choice was already floating within in brain. When she opened her mouth to speak, he answered for her. His lips trembling while he did so.

" Courage, you have courage."

"You're very brave Jimin, a lot more so then I could ever be. "

Placing one of her delicate hands onto his shoulder, she nodded at his reply. Grinning up at him like a small child, her own extended canines peeking through the opening of her soft pink lips. Before his very eyes, everything fell into place. The fear he once had drifted away into the tide. But in its place, the cold weather of the outside world started to nip. Its frigid winds blowing against his hoodie and beanie, nipping at his ears and nose.

"So, does this mean we're friend's now?" He asked.

Giving the boy a heart filled hug, she nodded. The light which she arrived in returning, and engulfing both of them in its glow. It blinded him for a brief second before finally turning pitch black, the two of them seeming to float through the endless tunnel of darkness. His only illumination being the glowing outline of her body. If he were to describe the events unfolding, it would be like getting sucked into the vacuums of space. Aside from the fact they actually had air to breathe.

"Of course we are." She called back to him. Her voice echoing in the infinite space.

At last though, to his pleasure and surprise. The light came back in the form of a small square, one which Jimin was walking through. Using it as a portal or door or sorts. She stood in its glowing , motioning for him to follow. Which of course he did, cautiously. Choosing to close eyes and holding his breath, afraid of what he might see or not see. He hoped that he had made the right decision by trusting her.

The man went one foot at a time through the brightened door way, stopping when he reached the other side. His body falling over yet again to the ground. Eyes only remaining open for a few short minutes, his blurry vision fading fast.

The only sounds which entered his ears, were the mumbled arguing of what seemed to be Jimin and two other people. With a final gasp, everything went back. Nathan falling into a deep sleep on the hard wood floor.
Hello everyone! Guess who's back after literally disappearing into nothingness for almost 3 months? Now that I'm back, I'm going to actually try getting things done. No idea if its going to happen or not, but I'm gonna try! 

Anyway, I suppose I should explain why I'm dropping a story off all at once. Also what exactly its about plot wise. Without ruining the entire story per say. 

Basically, Nathan 'Nate' is a Dark Shadows OC I've had since late 2013/ early 2014. I've been developing his story over time, and created more OC's to fit into his little world. Around a year ago I got this idea of creating an actual book based around them, and their struggles trying to live normal lives in a mostly human world. 

The entire thing has been altered so many times its actually kind of sad. But at the moment I'm really proud with how this is going! Don't expect me to be chucking these things out every month though, lord know's it took me almost a month just to write a small portion of this one! 

It's plot in sum deals with Nate moving to New York to start a new life and become 'normal'. Along the way he manages to meet others like him, most whom simply want the same thing does. The events that occur test his mental strength and his ability to trust others. As the people he meet may not all be as they seem in this labyrinth of blaring car horns and bright lights. One of these friendships might also lead him into a dangerous situation. Testing whether or not he is capable of fighting back. 

Eh... good enough. Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful day. Please favourite and comment if you like the story, and watch me to keep up to date with the latest chapters. 

Thank you all so much for reading this! 

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