Wannabe Vampire

By J. F. Manning

If you had the power to unlock the secrets of immortality, would you use the knowledge to your own advantage, or would you willingly give it away to humanity for free? Journey into a universe where the line that defines what is reality is blurred beyond recognition, and even the most seemingly impossible dream--or unbearable nightmare--is merely a quantum step away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. F. Manning
• Release date: Oct 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301353491

J. F. Manning

I'm a self-professed, lifelong computer geek. I majored in English Literature and later earned a Master's degree in Library Information Science. After a number of years supervising a public library branch Reference Desk, I moved over to the administrative office as the IT/IS Manager for the entire library system. I have been writing fiction and poetry as a hobby for most of my life.

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WANNABE VAMPIRE

By J. F. Manning

Smashwords Edition

v.100213

Copyright 2013 J. F. Manning

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I

WANNABE VAMPIRE

August 21, 2004

1:30 A.M.

Jacob swoons slightly as he rises from a table at the Epic Café’s sidewalk seating area. He nods graciously to a stunningly beautiful woman with dark, piercing eyes and long waves of brunette hair. She remains seated, watching him with mild amusement. He grins foolishly and makes an awkward bow as if to acknowledge his exceedingly intoxicated state, then turns to leave, puzzled as to why he suddenly feels compelled to head home. A few steps later a significant thought occurs to him, and he takes a backward look at the table where he just spent the entire evening talking to the mysterious woman wearing a little black dress, but she has already vanished into the night...

The dead air of the hot summer night is muggy and oppressive. Jacob struggles with an uneasy feeling as he ambles slowly along the avenue, wandering home through the hazy drunkenness that engulfs him. In a brief moment of clarity, he realizes he is unable to recall where he has been or why he feels so intoxicated. His footfalls are heavy and sluggish as he passes a long row of small businesses: a pet store, an appliance repair shop, bail bonds, check cashing, a pizzeria. Where the storefronts come to an end, a long row of duplexes and townhouses begins--square brick structures with narrow porches, some enclosed by weathered screens. Ranging from the immaculate to the condemned and separated only by narrow walkways and alleys, the buildings loom in occasional street lamps at the edge of the boulevard, looking ominous against the charcoal sky. In the light polluted city complete