01 Rock 'n' Roll is Undead - Veronica Mason

by Rose Pressey

  When I reached the end of the drive, I recognized the old farmhouse. It was the one from my dream, and it had been as vivid as it was in front of me at that moment. The weather-beaten clapboard, once white, was now dingy from years of dirt. I couldn’t turn back now though, in spite of having a serious case of the heebie-jeebies. This was the only chance I saw to escape the psychos on my trail. With no one in sight still, I continued on, driving the car around the side of the house, across the grass and coming to rest around back. They wouldn’t see me back here. It was the best hiding place I could think of under the circumstances.

  I pulled the Bel-Air as far behind the house as I could. The car idles loudly, so I cut the engine, then grabbed my purse and fished out my cell phone. My heart felt as if it might pound out of my chest. The old house had been in my dream along with the shadowy figure. The realization that my dreams were connected to the visions set in and my stomach churned. I punched in the numbers and hit send. The call wouldn't go through. No service.

  Chapter 33

  In this day and age there was no cell phone service? You’d think I was on the moon or something. I tossed the phone back onto the seat next to me. No way to call for help. Now what would I do? My mind raced. During my last dream, the dark shadow had chased me and I now prayed that part wouldn’t come true. But the farmhouse had been true. It looked just as it did in the dream.

  Until I knew the coast was clear, I had to wait it out. Going back on the road would do me no good. Birds chirped overhead, but otherwise silence surrounded me. I stepped out of the car and navigated around the broken spots in the stone pathway. Bright green moss popped through the cracks. I eased around the side of the house, peeking down the long drive. A rumbling noise rattled in the distance. The sound of the hot rod was easily recognizable. The racket traveled down the road and faded as they continued past. Panic coursed through my veins and I wanted to run. But something made me freeze on the spot. I glanced over my shoulder to assess my options for fleeing. There was a wooded area about a hundred feet from the house. If need be, I'd run back there. I prayed I wouldn't get lost—there had to be nearby houses I could escape to, right? Thank goodness the psychos had driven past or I'd worry that I'd pulled into their driveway.

  Leaves rustled on the tall trees surrounding the house and white fluffy clouds hung so low that they almost appeared to touch the roof. A dog barked somewhere in the distance and I wondered if he could sense my distress or maybe saw the dark figure from my dream. I waited with bated breath until the noise from the hot rod completely faded. I assumed the same two men as before were in the car. What the hell did they want with me? Were they planning to off my entire band? My apartment was broken into, my bass player was murdered, and a strange car followed my every move. It wasn’t a coincidence. Add my dream of being captured, and I couldn’t spin those thoughts into happy ones. The situation didn’t look good. Did it have anything to do with taking that other band’s spot during the music festival last month, I wondered. Janey Smith had said she didn’t care that we took their place, but I had a feeling she held resentment toward me. But enough to kill me? And it didn’t explain the other vampire’s death.

  The house looked sad as I rounded the corner back toward my car. Out of curiosity, I decided to take a peek through the window. I eased up onto the wooden porch. It creaked under my feet with each step. I rapped on the door and fidgeted from one foot to the other as I waited for an answer. After a few seconds, I knocked again. Shifting my feet, I touched the old broken rocking chair, then looked around for any signs of movement. Still no answer. I listened to the rustle of the tall oaks. When no one answered, I moved over to the window, cupped my hands over my eyes, and pressed my face close to the glass. I felt like a Peeping Tom. The house was silent and no one moved about. It was obvious no one lived there, but nonetheless, I was polite and made sure before looking in. A strange vibe washed over me as I surveyed the scene. Something seemed off, but I couldn’t figure out what that something was.

  A quick little look-see into the house wouldn’t hurt, right? I walked back to the door and jiggled the knob, then twisted. It opened. I pushed on the door and stuck my head in. “Hello?”

  I prayed I wouldn’t get a response. I’d had enough excitement to last me for a while. The stale, musty air hit me—the place needed to be aired out, or at the very least a little spritz of room deodorizer. I turned to my right and entered the living room. Walking over to the fireplace, I ran my hand along the intricate mantel, tracing the scroll pattern with my finger. They didn’t build houses like this anymore. I moved on, further into the house. My mind told me to get out of there, but my feet kept moving in spite of the message. A cobweb dangled from the large once-gold chandelier in the dining room and I knocked it down on my way through to the kitchen. I sauntered into the room and surveyed the mess. The leaky sink faucet dripped a rhythm. A large piece of duct tape repaired the cracked window at the back of the room.

  Through the hallway, I discovered a small door. It looked as if it belonged in a playhouse—a miniature version of the others. The small knob was hard to grasp, but I wrapped my hand around it and yanked on the door, almost afraid of what I’d find. Dust motes escaped and floated through the air as I poked my head in the cramped space. A narrow staircase loomed up to the second floor. Had the door always been there, hiding the secret stairs? Where did they lead? The space was small, but I hunched down and slipped through, trying not to sneeze. My heart pounded. It wasn’t just the climb making me have that reaction. The house seemed familiar, and not just from my dream. Why had I decided to come in here? I needed to get the hell out before I was unable to leave.

  A serial killer could own this place for all I knew and I may be walking into his trap. A loud thump echoed. I froze and felt a sickening drop in my stomach. Was it the wind? I eased up a few more steps. The bang rang out once again. The noise came from nearby. Footsteps drew near—the clomp of boots maybe? I looked down at my body. Why didn’t I carry mace or something? My purse hung on my shoulder. I clutched the big leather bag in front of my chest like a shield of armor and readied for battle. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. What if the killer was in the house?

  I tiptoed the rest of the way up the stairs. My fear-widened eyes protruded—I probably looked a Chihuahua. My teeth chattered and goose bumps broke out on my arms. The place may be haunted, I told myself. But with my luck, the killer had found me. I scanned the room to my left—a large bedroom—looking for an intruder or ghost. An odd feeling enveloped me. The house felt dark and foreboding. Shadows played off the walls from the swaying branches outside, making the room downright creepy. A bent, empty curtain rod barely hung above the double windows. Dirt acted as a shade across them instead. I eased across the plank floor, trying to keep the click-a-clack of my shoes from echoing throughout the house. I made my way from one side of the room to the next with no sign of a killer. A ghost I could handle. A deranged lunatic, not so much. What possessed me to enter the house I still didn’t know, but I didn’t need to see any more. I wanted out. I hurried down the steps and back through the house like an Olympic track star. I made my way onto the porch, then paused before stepping off. I looked back at the house. Again, birds sang and trees rustled, but other than that, silence surrounded the area. The tangerine tinted sky reminded me of the time, so I bounced down the steps, brushed past the azalea bushes, and hiked about twenty feet back to the driveway.

  As I neared the Bel-Air, I noticed a crumpling barn, and beyond that, a wooded area. A small path cut down the middle of the woods, snaking through the dark trees like a small river. Sunlight trickled through the branches, breaking the eerie darkness. The trees cast a shadow across the path as if calling to me. The oaks and pines hovered above, enclosing the space in their shade, their dark gesticulating branches reaching out to grab whoever wandered in their direction. The whispering stir of the wind rustling the branches and the crunch of gravel under my feet were the only sounds. I moved closer tow
ard the barn, not sure why I seemed drawn to it and the wooded area. For the same reason I’d been drawn to the house, I supposed.

  Moving off the gravel path and into the uncut grass, twigs and branches pulled at my legs with each step I took. Careful of my movements, I glanced down every few seconds. The last thing I wanted to come across was a hole or, heaven forbid, a snake. Things seemed surreal, as if I were cut off from the world. I’d never experienced that kind of quiet before. Moving past the old barn, I stepped closer to the line of trees, but I wasn’t about to set foot in the dark space. Something in my mind warned me to stop.

  A faint howl rang out in the distance, and I paused. My heart beat a little faster. Were there dogs around here, or werewolves? I preferred to think a Golden Retriever had made the sound. No way would I head into the wooded area, as much as it called to me, I resisted. If I got lost out here, I doubted the police would send a huge search party for me. As I turned around to head back to my car, leaves crunched from behind. I knew the noise didn’t come from me, because it didn’t stop when I did. I glanced over my shoulder, but saw nothing.

  When I reached the barn, I hurried around the old structure, then stopped dead in my tracks. No pun intended. To confirm what I thought I saw, I moved closer, then let out a gasp. My hand flew to my mouth. I made two steps forward, closer to the pile of ashes and bones.

  Chapter 34

  I rushed over, but stumbled halfway. There was a reason kids hadn’t pick me as a partner in gym class. Hobbling up, I raced toward the body, stopping a couple steps away. A feeling hit me again, as if someone was watching me. Pain shot through my temples. I couldn’t help but close my eyelids for a second. The dark figure raced through my head again. He drove the woman to this house. His face was nothing but a black blob and I only saw the inside of the car. They pulled behind the old farmhouse just as I had. When they got out, he’d grabbed a stake from behind the seat without her noticing. The moment she turned around to face him, he plunged it through her heart. Thoughts filled my mind again. Janey’s thoughts. Her pretty face and curvaceous figure was clear. Janey was a vampire like Johnny. She’d known the killer for a long time. He’d even played bass with her band before. She’d always felt he was slightly creepy and doubts about trusting him flooded her mind. Then the killer’s thoughts again. Nothing but rage and darkness. Pure diabolical evil.

  I snapped my lids open and looked around. Not another living, or undead for that matter, soul was around, but the feeling told me I wasn’t alone. I’d discovered the body of Janey Smith—another rockabilly band member. Lead singer for The Mudpuppies. My days were so numbered. If a lead singer was dead, then I’d be next for sure. My heart raced. I felt the blood rush out of my face and my stomach turn. Nothing seemed out of place in the yard—just the dead body. I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes.

  My hands shook. I stumbled backward. Seconds passed or could have been hours for all I knew. My vision blurred and I struggled to breathe—I’d never hyperventilated without being on stage, but there’s a first for everything. Snapping out of my daze, I turned on my heel to get the heck out of there. Visions of Janey flashed through my mind. My feet couldn’t move fast enough.

  In spite of the warm temperature, goose bumps covered my body. My stomach tumbled. It felt as if an electrical charge ran through my body. As if a thousand volts had shocked me to my core. I had to do something fast. Should I call the police right away?

  I’d discovered another freakin’ dead body! I had to call the police.

  A clatter echoed from somewhere close by. I spun around and tilted my head for a better look, but remained frozen in one spot. Nothing moved, so I turned back and stole another glance at Janey’s remains. Footsteps sounded from behind me, the familiar crunch of gravel reverberated, bouncing off the barn walls. My heart thundering in my chest, I lunged toward my car. I struggled for air. Adrenaline had set in, coursing through my veins with a fury rush. I needed to calm down and get a grasp on the situation, but how could I? My mind raced. Once I reached the Bel-Air, I clawed at the door, yanked it open, and jumped in, barely remembering to breathe. The eerie silence the surroundings now held made the evening feel cold and bleak, in spite of the heat.

  I needed to get the hell out of there before the killer discovered me. He could be hiding in the wooded area for all I knew, or the barn. Then I remembered the man behind the tree in the park. The vision I’d had then was somehow related, I just knew it. As I turned the ignition and backed the car up, I had to make a decision. Backtrack slightly and travel the roads I came on, or in the direction the mysterious car had headed. I didn't know what their next move would be. I was now playing their game of cat and mouse. They probably loved every minute of it. All I knew was I had discovered another staked vampire and it wouldn’t look good to the police.

  I pulled down the long driveway, thankful that the dark figure hadn’t appeared and my life was spared. It seemed my visions were as half-assed as my magic spells. Not completely accurate. It was probably not the best idea to follow the direction the hot rod had taken, so I hurried out the drive and turned left. They may have pulled over waiting for me for all I knew, then I'd be caught. I sped down the road faster than I normally drove and made it out onto the street where I'd originally been chased. My cell was on the seat where I’d tossed it and I prayed it worked this time. As I waited for the call to go through, scenes of the body I’d just discovered and Johnny flashed through my mind.

  A female voice snapped me back to reality. “Nine-one-one. What’s your emergency?”

  “Um, I just found a body.” I stammered. My mouth felt as if it were full of cotton. I didn’t recognize my own voice.

  “What’s your location?”

  “I’m driving. I was at this old farmhouse. It was another vampire.” I paused. The truth would come out sooner rather than later. I might as well tell now. “I found another vampire yesterday. My name’s Veronica Mason.”

  “Are you shittin’ me?”

  Nice. Very professional. Pigs had more couth. “No, I’m not ‘shittin’ you. I assure you this is not a hoax. Can you just send someone right now? I don't know what happened.”

  The calm that had been in my voice began to slip away. My knees actually knocked as I drove. I gave my parents’ address; since I didn’t know the farmhouse’s street number.

  “The police are on their way. You said this is Veronica Mason, right?”

  “Yes, Veronica.” I nodded, although she couldn’t see me.

  “Wow, she found another one,” she whispered to someone on the other end.

  Did she think I couldn't hear?

  “Thanks.” I hung up before I heard more than I wanted to.

  Thoughts of the maniac driver returning played in my head. I needed to hightail it out of there before I didn’t have the chance to get away. All I wanted was my life back: the music, attempts at magic and…well, that was enough, right?

  Ten minutes down the road and I’d be safe at my parents’ home. I didn't want to tell anyone about being followed; it would only make my parents worry more, but the police needed to know. And whether I liked it or not, my parents would soon find out. I only hoped I arrived at their house before the cops did. Talk about my mother freaking out. One of these days I was seriously going to give her a heart attack. Too bad I hadn’t gotten the license plate number.

  Sunshine splashed across my face from the windshield as I moved along the road. Only one truck passed by as I traveled the otherwise empty road. Homes sat two or three acres apart. Dusk approached and most people were probably inside having dinner or in their backyard grilling a juicy burger. Typical family activities. I wished I was involved in normal family activities right about now instead of being chased by a murderer and finding a pile of ashes who used to have a name. What had I gotten myself into? Yep, no doubt about it, I’d definitely tell the police everything I knew. They needed all the clues they could get to find the killer or killers. I wanted this solved so I could get back
to the strange life I called normal.

  As I drove the narrow back road, I glanced around anxiously, trying to keep a watch out for the gray Cadillac or any other suspicious vehicle, for that matter. For all I knew, the crazy person could have changed cars on me. Maybe it had been fate that all of this was happening to me. At the moment fate told me I needed a drink. Maybe Maker’s Mark, straight up and make it a double. All right, I didn’t normally drink, and especially not this early, but I may need to start. Another crazy day was upon me and there was nothing I could do to make it any less crazy. I needed to be strong, so I forged ahead.

  My Bel-Air barreled along the tree-lined street. I didn't want to waste any time. If the police stopped me, well that would be a good thing. I'd take my chances. I hung a right and a half-mile down turned left. Trudging up the hill, at the peak, I picked up speed, slowing at the bottom so as not to miss the turn. Trees arched thick over the road, blocking the sunlight. My parents’ subdivision came into view. All the houses looked similar, but many families had added unique details, like flowers, yard ornaments, and furniture to make their homes distinctly theirs.