Blood pounded in Karkat's ears as he stared up at Kanaya. His left hand clutched at the dirt on the ground and his right hand lay useless at his side, throbbing in pain.

Towering over him, with her skin glowing and blood dripping from her fangs, Kanaya looked like a real vampire. Not one from a romance novel. One from a horror movie. Karkat never thought he would find himself so utterly terrified of his best friend.

"Kanaya?" Karkat could only hope that he could reason with her. If he could only reach the real Kanaya, convince her to stop... "Oh fuck, Kanaya. This isn't you, get a fucking grip. Please."

He should be moving. Running. Thinking of a plan of escape. Every one of his muscles felt paralyzed.