by Nisa Ryan
“Good evening ladies, early to bed early to rise, I see?” he said with a smile, even looking all spooky and covered in blood he was still cute.
Alicia and I backed away from him; our hands still locked together as we squeezed each other’s palms for comfort.
“Good morning, Professor,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
Adjusting his glasses with the back of one of the syringes, he continued to grin, “You girls see anything interesting tonight?” he said.
Straight to the point as always. I felt my knees beginning to shake. He wasn’t a scary man by far, but something about his aura made me tremble. Pins and needles rode up my spine, giving me goosebumps and when my stomach flipped it wasn’t in a good way.
I shook my head, “No, Professor. Alicia and I were just having a sleepover,” I said. Alicia nodded, her hair billowing.
The Professor took a step forward, holding the syringes up for us to see, “It’s good to see you two girls getting along. Girls should stick together, right? Female empowerment and all that?”
Alicia cocked her head and glanced at me again, squinting one eye, she was as confused as I was about where this conversation was going, “Yup, that’s right Professor. So, if you don’t mind, we’d like to get back to bonding,” I said, waving towards the door and the broken chair beside it.
“Oh, of course. But first, I just remembered neither of you girls has had your vaccinations yet.”
Alicia screamed as the Professor rushed us, dropping his folder on the floor. Papers scattered across the floor as one hand wrapped around my neck, and the other aimed the syringes, “Come on, it’ll only pinch a little,” he hissed between gritted teeth. I held he syringe hand in one wrist while clawing at his face with the other causing his glasses to be flung away, the cracked against the wall. The Professor winced; partially blind he began to loosen his grip on me. Forcing him away I felt my wrist begin to pop uncomfortably, or at least I could feel it was moving in a way it wasn’t supposed to.
With a roar, Alicia swept in after him, her ghostly winds rising to a gust that swirled around us. The stack of files laying across the floor began to fly through the air in a mini-tornado as the Professor was lifted off the ground. As the syringes slipped from his fingers they began to circle dangerously on the winds. Their sharp points glittering and dangerous. Alicia hovered in the doorway, her hair like a halo around her as mist and fog poured from her mouth. With a banshee scream that shattered the syringes, sending black goo to spatter over the floor’s walls, she thrust her hands upwards. The fog and mist swirled to gather around the Professors’ waist, flinging him against the ceiling before dropping him. He landed, slumped over, on the bed: silent, a needle buried in his neck. The steady rise of his chest told us he was still alive, but the angle of his neck meant he was going to wake up with a nasty headache later.
“We have to get out of here!” I gasped, unsure of what else to do.
We dashed out the door and began to run across the walkway and down the stairs, two steps at a time. No one else was up yet, but they soon would be with the commotion we’d made, and I had no idea how we were going to explain that.
Our feet carried us straight across the landing and through the common area. We were breathless as we burst through the doors, separating our dorm from the main building. The only way in or out of the school at large was through the main entrance and we slammed up against it. It was still locked.
“What in all the hells is going on here?”
We both turned, our backs pressed up against the large wooden double door. We could see traces of daylight trying to peek in from beneath it. Ms. Walker scowled at us, tapping a riding-whip across one palm, she narrowed her eyes, “Why are you girls not in your beds?” she demanded to know and then, taking in our disheveled appearance, her eyes went wide, “What happened?” she asked.
A loud thump alerted us to another presence, “Ms. Walker, I can explain...” the Professor slurred as he stumbled in.
Alicia hissed, gripping my shoulder tightly.
My vision went black.
That same dizzying, gut-wrenching feeling enveloped me, and when I next opened my eyes I was standing outside, next to the fountain, with Alicia floating beside me. The sun was beginning to dip below the tree line, splashing the building with pink and orange and purple as the golden orb began to sink below the horizon.
“Will you please stop doing that! You’ve no idea how sick it makes me.”
Alicia grabbed me by the wrist again and began to tug me across the lawn towards the front of the building. I had just about enough of being grabbed and yanked around like a rag-doll. Pulling my hand out of her grasp I demanded,
“Alicia, please. We have no idea what is going on anymore. We need time to sit and think,” I said, rubbing my wrist, “So, we were caught listening in, and well, we might have heard something we shouldn’t, and ...” I stopped talking.
Whatever we overhead, it didn’t sound good, and on top of what Marybeth told me about Zane and the weird experiences I’ve been having all day. And then the Professor completely flaking out on us. It was a lot to take in.
Rubbing my wrist, I stood there and eyed the fence line. I wondered if there was any other way out of here.
“We need to get the hell away from here and figure out what the hell just happened.”
Alicia frowned, her face was back to mostly normal though her teeth were still protruded over her lower lip, with a deep sigh she said, “Okay, but first let’s get out of here. No one else is awake yet, and they can’t send anyone out until the sun is gone, so we’ve got at least a thirty-minute head start. Let’s go.”
With that, Alicia floated through the fence, passing between the bars quite literally and to the other side.
Crossing my arms, I cocked an eyebrow and glared at her, “Really? How the hell am I supposed to do that? This fence is like, half the height of the building!” I said.
Alicia rolled her eyes, “You’re a zombie. Just, break a few things off and shove them through the fence and we’ll sew you back together on the other side, right?”
My jaw fell open. I was incredulous, “Okay, for one thing, that’s a complete stereotype. I think. I haven’t been doing this zombie thing for very long. But right now, I’m not walking around constantly in threat of losing body parts, okay? Secondly, are you insane?”
Shaking her head, Alicia floated back between the bars, “It won’t hurt, I’ll make it quick, and then I can stitch you right back up. I happen to be a master at cross-stitch,” she said. She has to be joking. I shook my head, backing away, “Alicia, just no, this is a terrible idea. I’ll find the hole Zane and I –”
“They’ve already closed it off, and you can’t get out any other way. You either jump the fence, or you go through it. Your choice,” she said and shrugged.
I can’t believe I’m considering doing this. Looking away, I grabbed one of my upper arms in the opposite hand and began to twist.
“Whoa, wait! I can help!” It was Marybeth.
I released my arm in relief, “Oh thank god, I really didn’t want to. Shit! Oh, crap!” I squeaked as I realized I was holding my arm in one hand. Alicia was right. It didn’t hurt, and there wasn’t even much blood, just some nasty looking black goo that was spreading across the front of my cardigan.
Marybeth frowned as she looked at the loose appendage, with a sigh she pulled a wand from her skirt pocket and waved it. A bubble of energy enveloped me and up I floated over the fence, landing in a tree nearby as Marybeth followed close behind in a bubble of her own. Landing on a branch she bounced down to the ground, manipulating my bubble beside her before letting it pop. I had no idea witches could do things like that. I mean, I knew they could use magic, but I didn’t think I’d actually get to see it being used. Witches were banned from practicing most magic outside of their specialized classes.
Marybeth tucked her wand away, “There, now where are we headed?” she asked.
Alicia narrowed her eyes, “What are you doing out here? Wait, where you spying on us?” she growled.
Marybeth cocked her head to one side and made a face. “Not at all, and yes, I saw you leave our room, and I was curious, so I followed you,” she said.
Both Alicia and I tilted our heads to one side and shared a look. I waved my dismembered arm at the witch, “What is that supposed to mean exactly? You either are, or you aren’t spying on us,”
We all jumped when a branch popped somewhere in the woods. Flames erupted across Marybeth’s skin, her special fire-proof uniform kept them from burning away, but the heat of her body caused the plants around her to shrivel up and turn black. There was another crunch, “Let’s go. I’ll explain while we walk, and I’m sure Alicia will be able to fill in the blanks,” Marybeth said, ushering us into the woods.
∞ ∞ ∞
We walked as far, and as fast as we could, we didn’t even care about making noise. So long as we could still see the sunlight reflecting off the clouds above, we knew Ms. Walker wouldn’t risk coming after us. She couldn’t afford to be seen by the town. She was too large and too strange compared even to the rest of us. Centaurs were a rare occurrence these days.
Carrying my broken arm, we paused at the tree line and looked down at the town below; we were almost there.
“Okay, let’s go,” Marybeth said, taking the lead. Alicia and I walked behind her. Well, I walked. Alicia floated.
“So,” Alicia began, “You were saying? Why you were or were not spying on us?”
Marybeth nodded.
“Okay, so this is the real deal. I have to ask that neither of you repeats any of this to anyone on the threat of permanent undeath,” I glanced at Alicia who nodded. Marybeth continued, “I’m not a student here. I mean, I am, but it’s part of my disguise. I’m actually on an investigation with the MIB or Monstrous Investigation Bureau,” she said.
“Anyway, I’m here to investigate the possible corruption of Undead Academy LLC concerning a rash of attacks led by teenagers across the country,” she said.
I stared at her with disbelief, “You expect us to believe that? You’re just a teen yourself,” Alicia said with extra snark. I couldn’t help but agree.
“I might look like a teen, but I’m actually one-hundred-and seventeen, that’s why I was chosen for this job. I’ve been living here undercover for the past three years, and I’m not about to lose my chance to find out what the Professor and Ms. Walker are really up to, sorry,” she said.
The town was close, just a few more minutes of walking, and we’d be at the first fenced yard pressed up against the tree line.
“Okay...So how do you plan to do that?” I asked. Marybeth paused and turned to grin at us, “We’re going to wait and watch. It’s what I do best.”
I blanched, “What? No, I’m not doing that. Sorry. Clearly this town is in danger and I’m not going to set idly by and wait for someone to get killed!” I said, backing up and waving my free arm through the air, I made an angry fist and ground my teeth. I needed to get sewn back up, and I wouldn’t take part in this asinine plan.
Alicia grinned, her ghostly visage glowing as the sun began to set, she rubbed her hands together in anticipation as her smile grew along with her razor sharp teeth, “I could go terrify a human or two.”
I glared at her, “Seriously, Alicia?”
Rolling her eyes she shrugged her shoulders, “I was only kidding, damn.”
Marybeth shook her head and looked at the town. Lights were flicking on one by one inside each home as people began to head indoors for the night. I could hear children still playing in the last of the evening light, their laughter dancing through the still air as they pretended, they were monsters out to get you.
It wasn’t long, however, before the streets lit up with strings of orange lights. Jack-o-lanterns grinned their candle-lit smiles from patios and fence posts alike. Plastic bats and spiders were dropped from balconies, and, as we watched, a slew of beasties began to run up and down the streets.
There were ghosts and werewolves, slick-haired vampires, flashing lights, and bags that said things like ‘boo to you’ on them. Oh shit, it was Halloween.
This same thought must have dawned on Alicia and Marybeth as we all shared a long look, eyebrows high on our foreheads. Children and their parents would be out and about. As if Halloween didn’t get a bad enough rap in the news media.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, why tonight of all nights?” Alicia growled, her hair wove through the air as she moved, and as the night grew darker, her spectral luminescence grew all the more brilliant.
“No, we aren’t going to kill anyone. But they will,” Marybeth said, hunkering down behind a bush.
Alicia and I joined her. Watching, we saw Zane and two other vampires slink over the fence and into the town at large. Their eyes were glowing crimson, and their fangs flashed in the glow of holiday lights.
Zane didn’t look like himself. Sniffing the air, I could smell his scent, and something was very wrong. That wasn’t Zane, I knew; this was a real monster. He smelled of blood and death and ash.
Marybeth, Alicia, and I watched the trio of undead glide through the darkness of the shadows before dispersing through the town. Children and adults alike were out in swarms now, colorful costumes and bags being filled with candy. Happy screams and laughter filled the air. But, it didn’t take long for a single, piercing scream to erupt in the night, and the wail of sirens followed soon after.
I looked over at Alicia and Marybeth, “Are we really just going to sit here and let them do this?” I asked, anger making my voice go hard.
Alicia shook her head, “Not one tiny bit; they are ruining the name of monsters everywhere!” she said. With eyes glowing bright and teeth snapping, the specter flew out from hiding and raced across the grass between us and the fence, bursting through it, she swept up the side of a home and up onto its roof, cackling like mad, before disappearing with a puff of fog on the other side.
One of the vampires turned his head in our direction, his face contorted menacingly as burning red eyes narrowed evilly. He hissed and spat at us.
Marybeth gripped my shoulder, “I think Alicia was on to something, we should get the hell out of here,” she said as we ducked back behind the bushes. Another shocked scream pierced the laughter around us, the smell of candy apples and candy corn was almost overwhelming, and though I didn’t crave those, the smell of all those warm bodies was becoming a distraction. If I wasn’t careful I was going to become just as dangerous as Zane and those other crazed vampires.
Marybeth pointed to a small house at the end of an open street; it was a small cottage style home with two stories. The blue paint looked fresh, and a few pumpkins were pleasantly smiling from the patio while a scarecrow sat in the rocking chair. I sniffed, Zane’s scent was strongest in that direction. My feet were carrying me away before Marybeth could say anything.
I ran, my loose arm flopping at my side. I could hear the sound of feet behind me, but I didn’t risk a peek; instead, I dashed through an open yard and around a house, ducking beneath a lit window.
Two faces were pressed up against the glass, their eyes darting back and forth. I could hear their questioning voices wondering what the fuss was all about as two police cars and an ambulance wailed past the front yard and towards the very house I was headed to. I took my chance and stood, causing the two people to scream as they leaped away from the window and stumbled back into the next room, cell phones at the read. Rolling my eyes, I ran through the front yard, vaulted over the fence. I had forgotten just how strong I could be with my super zombie abilities. But the more I used them, the hungrier I got. I felt nauseous. I’m so hungry. I need brains. My nose was in the air, and as a small group of kids swarmed past me, I felt myself begin to lurch after them; No! Bad zombie! I chided myself; I needed to focus on helping Zane.
I approached the cottage as a few more police cars careened by, they were all headed in the directio
n of the sirens, and that’s where the vampires would be. That’s where Zane would be. I needed to get there fast, but my stomach was busy reminding me that I was surrounded by literally hundreds of fresh bodies filled with warm blood and brains. I mean, would it hurt to stop for just one? I could pick off one of the bratty ones nobody would miss, No, come on Britta; you’re better than that, keep it together.
I followed the sound of sirens and the smell of Zane to the scene. The small cottage was practically surrounded. It was cute with white wood shutters painted with little flowers that matched the blue paint. A small garden had been planted in front but was now torn apart by the many police cars parked across the lawn and the pumpkins with their grinning faces had been knocked over, their candles snuffed out. Men in uniform and wearing armored jackets were kneeling behind their vehicles; their guns aimed at the windows of the home.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when a hand landed firmly on my shoulder. I turned to find Alicia, hovering just above the pavement, “This is dangerous, we should go. The police are already here, and they’ll take care of it.” she shrugged.
Marybeth dropped down from out of nowhere beside us. She held a broom in one hand and a wand in the other. I was busy wondering if witches really did ride on brooms and were about to ask, but she was saying, “Alicia’s right. There isn’t much we can do. But I’d still kill to get a hold of Zane and ship him to our scientists. Maybe we can figure out what’s going on. I need hard evidence to bring the Professor in, he’s pretty famous for his research after all,” she finished with a pout.
I shook my head. There was no way this was over. I glanced at Marybeth and Alicia, “I’m going in there. I’m finding Zane, and I’m getting him out,” I said. They both stared at with shocked looks on their faces.
Alicia threw her hand up in exasperation, “That’s insane, you can’t go in there after Zane. How the hell will you get past the police, the place is surrounded?”