Children of the night

Leaning against a lamppost, she looked at the cars passing by distracted. She looked like a twelve-year-old girl, maybe even less. She looked lost but did not move for help when a police car passed across the street. In fact, she seemed to struggle not to be noticed by the cops and followed them with her eyes as they walked away. After that, she put her school bag on her shoulders and made a crossing across the street, but was stopped by a taxi that stopped. A man got out of the car.

The man only noticed the girl after he paid for the taxi and turned to the sidewalk. If he was surprised to see an unaccompanied girl at that time of night, he did not show it. He just stared at her, amused by her natural charm.

The girl wore a college uniform, consisting of a skirt, blouse and classic model of school shoes.

— Hello! —  The Man saluted.

— Hi! — She replied with a shy smile.

— Are you lost? Need help?

She whirled, rehearsing a few dance steps. It seemed to be showing off for him.

— I do not need help. I'm waiting for my sister. — She said, not pulling away as he approached.

In fact, the girl seemed at ease there. Ostensibly petulant, to be more exact, but the man did not notice this nuance in her behavior. Under the light of the lamppost, he realized that the girl was extraordinarily beautiful, though a little pale. She smiled at him in a friendly and captivating way.

— Are not you afraid to be here alone?

— I'm not alone. You're here with me. — She said, irrefutably.

To a young girl, she was quite bold, though there was some logic in her words. She seemed to have some sort of precocious cleverness and, Maybe that was interesting, the man thought.

— I'm just passing through and I'm leaving.  — He told her, trying to test her. Maybe he would find out what the girl really wanted.

Upon hearing his words, she seemed to be frightened and abandoned the petulant attitude. The girl seemed suddenly vulnerable and afraid.

— You can not get just a little bit? My sister will not be long, and then we'll go home.

— Your older sister?

— No. My twin.

— Is there another like you?

She laughed at his astonishment.

— Have not you ever seen twin sisters?

— Of course! Will it take too long for your sister to come back?

The girl looked down the almost deserted street and sighed.

— My sister should have returned. That stupid girl should not have gotten anything.

— She must not have gotten what? —  He asked, suddenly alert.

This little girl no longer seemed so innocent, but she seemed too young for certain activities.

—  You know what I'm talking about – She said suggestively. — Are not you going to tell me you did not think of that when you saw me? 

— Do you? ...

— Yes! We do. Grandma taught us right. — She answered proudly. —  You will see.

— I think not. It's time to go. — The man replied.

The girl mentally reproached herself for scaring the man. She thought she would have to be more careful next time. Maybe it carried a little more in the attitude of innocence.

— Hang on! She's coming. — She said with a squeal of almost childlike joy.

The man squinted at the sight and saw a figure walking towards them. In fact, she had been playing hopscotch using the friezes on the cement floor.

— You took too long! Where the hell were you?

— Around. — The newcomer said, shrugging indifferently.

Seeing them side by side, he realized that the girls were almost identical and could easily be confused if they did not wear different clothes. The newcomer girl did not wear a college uniform. His clothes were more daring and provocative, which gave him the appearance of older, at first sight.

— Did you get anything?

— I earned some dollars from an old man, but I have not eaten yet. I'm starving. — Said the other girl, looking at him.

The man looked at the girl, who had mouth ajar and his tongue running between his fleshy lips. He swallowed hard and strove to ward off the demons who insinuated themselves among his moral weaknesses. To disguise, he reached into his pocket looking for some money, but the first girl held him back with a graceful gesture.

— That is not necessary, sir. We live there on that street. — She said, pointing to the dark entrance to an alley.

— It's a little dark over there. He said unnecessarily.

— They must have broken the lamp again. —  Answered the other girl while she was made pouting. She seemed upset.  — Can you come with us to our house, please? It's right there, just around the corner.

The man would refuse to accompany the girls, but he ran into two pairs of strangely charming eyes. It was enough for him to think that there would be no problem to take the girls to their house. No one could blame him for that. The girls held hands for him and crossed the street. In some corner of his mind, the man was surprised by the cold touch of their hands, but he ignored it. The night was very cold indeed.

Their house was a small old cottage. It was in poor condition and it was hard to believe that anyone really lived there, but the girls insisted it was their house.

- There does not seem to be anyone else in this house. - He said.

- There's our grandmother. One of them replied. — Grandma must have gone to bed already.

— It's ok. You're home, right? – The man said.  — Come in and close the door carefully.

— Are you going to?  Do not you want to come in a little bit?

— I do not think it's appropriate. Your grandmother will not like it.

— She does not mind that, and she's gone to bed." — Said the other. — Grandma has a little liquor you'll love."

— Comes. Come in a little bit. The girl insisted, pulling him by the hands.

He entered the house, thinking that it would be good to have a drink before going home and, perhaps, could know better those two little demons. The interior of the house smelled musty and it seemed that long the sun would not go there. Thick curtains covered the living room Windows and he had difficulty seeing until one of the girls lit a lamp, which looked as old as the heavy furniture in that hall.

— Wow! — He exclaimed as he saw so many ancient things there.

— Do you like these things?

— Yes. These things are antiques, and I can see that some are valuable.

— How nice. — Answered the girl who looked older. — Grandma will be glad to hear that.

The other girl approached him with a small goblet in her hand. It contained a red, viscous liquid, but its odor was pleasant. It had a hint of wild fruit.

— Here. — She said, holding out the glass to him. —  It was Grandma who did it.

— Thank you.

The man sipped the liquid in small doses and savored the drink, which presented different nuances in each movement of the mouth. He was so entertained at enjoying the liquor, that it took him a while to realize that his tongue was dormant. When he realized it, barely had time to sit on the dusty couch. His legs no longer obeyed his command. He was paralyzed, though her mind was still lucid and her eyes could still see.

— Surprised? Asked the girl in school uniform, as she sat on his lap, legs spread wide and facing him.

The man made a guttural sound.

— Do not be embarrassed. — She said, nibbling at his neck. — Actually, I'm a lot older than you.

He could still stare into her mouth and saw the sharp canines. He tried to remember if he had noticed this detail before, but he failed. The little girl approached her mouth his neck and dug his teeth into his carotid. All he could do was sigh and realize he was dying.

— Hey! Leave some blood for me. — Said the other girl, pulling her.

The girl in school uniform let out a growl of protest, but after one minute she yielded and left the victim's lap.