Chloe would admit that if you were going to get lost, Rome was the perfect place for it to happen. There were few places with such beautiful art spread throughout the city, but she couldn't admire it anymore. Instead, her eyes scanned the throngs of people for her boyfriend. The narrow roads had her totally confused.  She'd left her wallet and phone on her bed, which hadn't been such a big deal until she'd been separated from Derek in a crowd. Now she couldn't find him and was hopelessly lost in these winding streets.  If she could find her way back to the Colosseum, she'd have some chance of un-losing herself.

As she noticed the sun starting to  get lower on the horizon, her heart skipped a beat and sweat started to form on her brow. Chloe knew that everything looked different in the dark and she wasn't sure she'd be able to find her way. Taking slower breaths, she forced her mind to focus and calm her panic. She looked around for any landmark she'd  seen earlier. There was a beautifully carved fountain to her left and another gorgeous building with incredible detail to her right. Nothing was ringing a bell in her mind. Nothing really looked familiar. Chloe cursed her forgetfulness as she tried to quell her racing brain. If only she'd remembered her phone, then she could call Derek and they could somehow find each other.

As the sun went down there were fewer and fewer pedestrians about. She thought it rather odd, since it was such a vibrant city. When she thought of it, though, she and her boyfriend hadn't stayed out exploring after dark.

She started to wonder about her boyfriend. Was he looking for her as frantically as she was looking for him? Or would he be back at the hotel expecting her return any moment? She huffed to herself. It would be like him to assume she could figure it out. Usually he was right, and she hoped he was this time as well.

Her stomach growled as she walked aimlessly down a new alley way. She looked around, trying not to appear desperate, for something that she recognized.  A clearing appeared before her and she sagged with relief as the Colosseum rose up in the distance. Chloe kicked it into high gear and started walking quickly towards the structure. She knew her hotel was not far past it.

After about twenty minutes, she made it back to the hotel. Chloe smiled at the guy behind the counter as she walked by the guest services desk. He smiled back at her as she ran up the stairs. As she made her way up, she briefly assessed her feelings. Which was going to win out when she saw Derek? Being mad that he hadn't been out looking for her? Or being so relieved to find him again that his apparent lack of regard for her didn't matter so much?

Chloe jammed the key in the lock of her door and turned it, eager to be back in the safety of her room. She opened the door and found the room empty. The window was open and nice cool breeze was blowing into the room. But there was no sign of Derek. Oh my god, she thought. He's still looking for me! She couldn't believe it. It was really, actually, quite unlike him. He wouldn't even wait for her at the mall if she took too long. He'd just go and wait for her in the car without a word of notice. She frowned.

Remembering her phone, she walked quickly to the bed. She dialled his number, but it went straight to his voice mail. His battery is probably dead, she thought. She wasn't sure what to do. Irritation had consumed her when she'd wandered the streets, thinking that he had not been out searching for her. Meanwhile, here she was in their hotel room safe and sound. And he wasn't. Chloe thought about going out to look for him, but figured she was more than likely to get lost again.

 Finally, she decided to watch some TV until he got back. If I've learned anything about Derek over the years, it's that he always makes his way home, she thought, and he will this time, too.

She quickly brushed her teeth, washed her face and brushed her hair. She thought about putting her pyjamas on, but she didn't want him to think she hadn't been worried at all when he finally did get back. So, she just took her pants off and got under the covers on the bed. Calm down, Chloe, she thought, he's fine. He'll be home soon. The TV clicked as her fingers pressed the power button and voices hurried on in Italian that she didn't understand. Slowly, with thoughts of Derek circling through her mind, she drifted off to sleep.

~~

Chloe stirred to wakefulness as she reached out for Derek beside her. Only cold bedsheets met her searching fingers and Chloe realized that Derek still hadn't come back to the hotel room. Desperate fingers continued to search empty bed sheets until Chloe let out a ragged breath of panic. Her muscles went rigid as she rasped a deep breath, gaining control of herself. Where could he be? She quickly got out of bed and threw her pants on. 

Running down the stairs two at a time, she approached the guests services desk and looked at the attractive woman behind it. "Excuse me, I think my boyfriend is missing," she said tensely as her eyes darted around the reception area.

"Pardon me?" asked the woman with a smile and perfect, though accented, English.

"I am here with my boyfriend. We got separated last night and he never made it back to the hotel room," she explained with some irritation. 

"Perhaps he will be along soon?" said the woman. "Maybe he was out having a fun night. Give him some time to return."

"It's been all night, though," persisted Chloe. "Who can I report a missing person to?"

"He must be missing for twenty four hours. You will have to wait. Then we can inform the police, if you like," the woman smiled. 

The woman's condescending attitude irked Chloe. You'd think she'd be more concerned and kind considering my boyfriend seems to have  just vanished into thin air, she thought with a scowl.  She took a deep breath. When one was in a foreign country and does not speak the language well, one has to stay calm. Derek is fine.

She slowly walked back to her room for a shower. As she got dressed, Chloe decided to take a walk and see if she could find him. She left a note on the bed. It assured him that she was fine and would be back shortly to see if he had returned. Her eyes drifted to the note on the bed and she felt a tug at her heart before she closed and locked the door. 

With her phone and wallet firmly in hand, she started off to look for him. His picture was on her phone, ready to be shown to as many people who would look at it. Hope filled her chest as she thought that someone must have seen him and would  know where he was.

Chloe walked along the streets of Rome. For all its beauty, her mind was completely focused on every face she saw rather than the architecture. She searched every face to see if it was his. What if she didn't  find him? What would she tell his family? Sorry about losing your son in Rome? Their flight left in two days. How could she leave without him? Could she leave without him? Her thoughts became more and more hysterical as she walked on, searching for his face.

Chloe heard a whisper behind her that made her stop in her tracks. She turned and saw an old woman who was dressed in rags sitting on a step. She looked up at Chloe with a smile.

"What was that?" asked Chloe.

"You look as distraught this morning as you did last night," repeated the old woman.

"You remember me from last night?"

"Oh, yes. I always remember. Upset people are memorable. Panic is memorable," rasped the woman.

Chloe quickly brought a picture of Derek up on her phone. "Do you remember him from last night?" she asked as she looked at his bright blue eyes on her screen.

"Oh... yes, yes, I remember him," the old woman's voice turned mournful. "He did not meet a pretty end, I'm afraid."

"What do you mean?" asked Chloe. Her heart plunged into her stomach and she felt like she was going to be violently ill.

"I'm afraid they got him. The Dark Ones. They got him."

"What? Who?" whispered Chloe fiercely.

"The blood drinkers. They got him. Unusual, that. They usually stick to the refugees what come washing up on the shores every day. Eat 'em up. Keeps the Pope quiet about their activities. The Pope, he don't like their habits much."

"Oh," said Chloe with relief. She's a bit off her rocker. All is good, she thought with deep breaths to calm her heart. "Thanks for your help," Chloe smiled to the lady as she turned to continue her search.

"You don't believe me!" the old woman spat. "You better get in before dark tonight, girly. They'll be after you next. His scent is on you and they'll hunt you down. In before dark," the old woman pointed a finger at Chloe and licked her teeth. "They'll get you. A ripe and juicy treat, you'd be."

Chloe frowned deeply at the woman as she walked away, her heart racing once again. What a strange bunch of things to say. She shuddered. I guess I should get back before dark, just in case. She walked on into the shopping district, continuing to search for Derek's face in the crowd.

~~

A/N Thanks for reading! Please don't forget to comment and vote! <3