C12 Escape Part 1

Clara brooded alone in her room, many things filling her head. She couldn't stop shedding tears when she remembered her beloved mother had left her forever. Celin, who is Clara's biological mother, breathed her last two days ago. She had been very ill for some time.

For Clara, her mother's death was the most brutal blow. There is no doubt that there were many things that made her suffer. It all started with her sudden pregnancy, which turned her life upside down as everything changed drastically. The wedding she had dreamed of ran aground in the middle of the road, even though the marriage was only a month away. The man she loved so much turned into someone who hated her. He didn't even hesitate to insult and humiliate her. Describing her mood when Maxy left her, Clara felt that her heart was like a broken mirror.

Because of her sudden pregnancy, everyone in Tussand Village no longer recognized her existence. Although she was lucky not to be punished or bullied by the villagers, being treated like a stranger was enough to make Clara feel that her life was ruined. She will live alone, without a companion, for the rest of her life. No single man wants to make her his wife, even though before the pregnancy, she was a girl many men adored for her beauty.

Her suffering did not end there, for another bitter reality had to be accepted when the baby she gave birth was not human. Instead, it was a blood-sucking creature called a vampire. Though frustrated at first, with the support of her mother, she eventually decided to raise her child.

All this time, all her burdens felt light because her mother always supported and helped her. But now that her mother is gone, Clara feels alone. There is no longer a figure to strengthen her in the face of various problems.

Her mother's departure was the biggest problem for Clara, but it wasn't the only problem that frustrated her. The figure of her son, whom she named Cliff, who is now 12, became a big problem that frustrated her. The boy began to go against what she said. He was intelligent and quickly realized he was different from ordinary people. He kept asking Clara what kind of creature he was because, somehow, the boy realized he wasn't human.

Cliff also kept asking about his father's whereabouts, which made Clara unable to face her son. It had been almost two years since Clara had slept in the cabin with her son. She prefers to sleep in her old room in her luxurious house. Another reason Clara was afraid to sleep with her son because Cliff was beginning to show signs of being a dangerous creature. Clara often found Cliff staring at her as if she were a meal for him; perhaps his growing age made his instincts as a vampire grow. The smell of blood in Clara's body certainly made him want to drink it. Clara began to fear for the son she had given birth to. However, she did not abandon her son completely. She continued providing the animal blood that became her son's daily food. Although there was no denying it, she no longer accompanied Cliff to the hut, so for almost two years now, Cliff had spent nearly all of his time alone in the cabin.

In the past, when Celin had been by her side, Clara had always confided in her mother. So far, Celin had always managed to calm her heart and mind so she could forget all her problems for a moment. But now that Celin was gone forever, Clara felt alone. She kept thinking about following her mother away from a world she found too cruel.

A knock at the door immediately startled her and broke her reverie. She staggered to the door. It opened lazily. There stood a middle-aged woman who was none other than one of the servants in his house.

"Miss, the great master awaits you in the dining room. It's time for lunch," the servant said, and Clara nodded.

Clara entered the dining room. Her father was sitting alone, waiting for her. They began their lunch silently. Only the sound of clanging plates and spoons filled the room.

"Clara," her father called out, causing Clara to stop eating immediately. She looked up into her father's face.

"After your mother died, it was just the two of us. Why don't you invite your son to live with us? If you want him to stay in this house, I'll let him."

Clara gasped because her father had always hated his son. He had refused to acknowledge Cliff as his grandson. Not only was her father cruel to Cliff, but he was also determined not to give his grandson the family name. But weren't his words just now a sign that his father had changed his mind and started to accept Cliff as his grandson?

Of course, Clara would have been happy if Cliff had been an average child. She would have loved to bring her son to live with them in this luxurious house. But Clara realized that was impossible. Cliff was such a dangerous vampire that he would spend the rest of his life confined to the small, cramped cottage at the back of the house.

"Clara," her father called, making Clara jump again in surprise.

"Yes, Father. I'll talk to him," she replied, looking awkward as she scratched her neck, which wasn't itchy. She just needed clarification about what answer to give her father.

"Now that I think about it, I shouldn't hate this child. He's innocent; his father defiled and impregnated you without taking responsibility. I would have shot him if I had known who he was." Harry said it with a flushed face, enough to prove that his anger was at its peak. Clara stared at her father in silence; she didn't dare to answer her father's angry words.

"How old is your son now?" Harry asked.

For the umpteenth time, Clara was stunned. She hadn't expected her father, who usually didn't care about his son, to show interest. "Twelve years old, Dad," she said.

"Hm, it doesn't seem like he's grown up. His name is Cliff. Your mother used to tell me about him. She said he was a handsome and intelligent boy."

Clara just smiled this time.

"You've never brought him to this house; in 12 years I've never seen my grandson's face. Bring him to this house. I'm sorry for the way I treated you in the past. After much consideration, I accept him as my grandson."

Clara wanted to shed tears, something she had dreamed of all this time was now a reality. Her father, who had always been cruel to her and Cliff, was now, like a miracle, gentle and even willing to accept Cliff as his grandson.

"He must not have eaten yet, right? Invite him to eat with us. I'll wait here."

Clara nodded with a smile. However, something she had forgotten made her eyes widen in shock and panic. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was 12:23. It was already noon, and she still had to deliver the food to Cliff. Her daydreaming in her room had made her forget an obligation she had to do every day, which was to provide blood for Cliff.

"Dad, I'm going to see him now," she said to her father, walking away without waiting for his answer.

Clara ran to her father's farm, which was near her home. After picking up some animal blood from one of her father's employees, who was used to picking up animal blood daily, Clara dashed to the cottage where Cliff was. Hurriedly unlocking the door, she arrived at the cabin.

"Cliff, I'm sorry I'm late. Mom..." Her words were cut short when she saw the strangeness of the cottage. The room, usually dimly lit by candlelight, was now pitch black. Yes, there was no candlelight or light in the room as the curtains were drawn tightly. In fact, since the incident when Cliff opened the window of this room and burned his hand when he was ten years old, Clara had covered the window with black cloth from outside the cottage. She did this so that Cliff would not be tempted to play with the children who often played near the cabin. She didn't want Cliff to see those children again, which had always been the beginning of her problems with Cliff.

"Cliff, it's Mom. Where are you, honey?" she asked. Her heart beat so fast that she knew she couldn't see around. She was worried about her son because the last time she came to this cottage was yesterday when she gave blood to Cliff. She was afraid that something terrible had happened to her son. Her instinct as a mother who loved her son very much made her feel this worry.

She went into the hut, feeling around. She hoped she could feel her son's body in the dark room.

"Cliff! Sweetheart! You're here, aren't you?"

Clara gasped, hearing a strange sound that resembled a growl. As the growling sound got closer, Clara started walking backward. Her heart beat faster, especially when she saw a pair of blood-red irises shining in the dark room. She knew very well who those irises belonged to, and the sight of them scared Clara. She noticed the strangeness in her son's figure.