by Amy Cross
Turning, she swung the pick-ax into the darkness, but she succeeded only in striking the tunnel's rocky wall and – in the process – dropping the pix-ax entirely. Still unable to see anything, she took a step back and started unbuckling her belt, figuring that its weight was slowing her down. Finally, just as she was getting ready to run again, she swung the belt and felt it strike something in the darkness, something that let out a pained gasp and then seemed to fall back.
Without waiting to see what she'd struck, Rita dropped the belt before turning and bolting along the tunnel. Without the belt to weigh her down, she was able to run much faster now. She barely remembered the correct route now, but she managed to find a left turning and then one that led to the right, and finally she spotted a faint hint of moonlight ahead. She could already hear something once again hurrying up from behind, but this time she quickened her pace, racing along the tunnel and getting closer and closer to the exit.
Finally she threw herself out into the moonlight, landing hard on the rocky ground. Instinctively, she turned and looked back, and to her horror she saw a frail hand reaching out from the darkness as if it had tried to grab her at the last moment. After a few seconds, the hand slowly withdrew into the shadows, and then she heard a shuffling sound heading away. Whatever had been after her, it had come within inches of success, but now it seemed to recoil.
Pulling herself back on her elbows, Rita stared in horror at the dark opening for a moment.
“Who panicked?” she gasped breathlessly. “I didn't panic! No way! I just -”
Before she could finish, she heard a faint growling, groaning sound from the tunnel, and she immediately got to her feet and began to run.
Hurrying through the moonlit forest as fast as her tired legs would carry her, she couldn't help glancing over her shoulder every few seconds, just in case the thing from the tunnels had finally dared emerge and pursue her. There was no sign of anyone, but in her mind's eye she could still see the hand that had momentarily reached for her, and the thought was enough to make her shudder.
“It wasn't real,” she stammered, turning and making her way through the long grass at the edge of the forest. “I just got confused, that's all. I got jumpy as hell.”
She didn't really believe that, of course, but it was enough to hold the terror back for now. She figured she could work out the truth later, once she was safely at home, but for now all that mattered was getting away from the forest. Hauling herself up the embankment, she finally reached the edge of the parking lot and -
“Izzy?”
Unable to stop in time, she slammed straight into Izzy and they both tumbled to the ground.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“I just had to get away,” Izzy explained a few minutes later, as they made their way past the huge, shuttered shopping mall. “I felt like I was suffocating in the house. You have no idea what's been happening to me tonight.”
“I could say the same,” Rita muttered, glancing over her shoulder for what felt like the millionth time, just to make sure nothing was following them.
“The things I saw tonight,” Izzy continued, “and the things I was learned... I keep telling myself I must have lost my mind, but at the same time there are things I can't deny.” As if to remind herself, she ran her tongue against one of her crooked fangs, and sure enough she felt a sharp little prick as she touched the tip.
“So do you believe in crazy shit?” Rita asked.
“Like what?”
Glancing over her shoulder, Rita watched the empty parking lot for a moment, making sure that none of the shadows moved.
“Why do you keep doing that?” Izzy asked. “Do you think you're being followed?”
“I honestly don't know,” Rita replied, heading toward a door in the side of the building. “I think I had a metaphor earlier.”
“A what?”
“My belt,” she continued. “It was weighing me down, and I had to get rid of it so I could escape. Seems like a metaphor about baggage.” She frowned. “Then again, I slugged the bastard around the face with the damn thing, so I'm not sure what that says about the metaphor.” Sighing, she couldn't help but smile. “Either that, or I'm losing my mind.”
“Me too,” Izzy said with a shudder. “My father basically told me I'm a -”
Stopping suddenly, she saw to her surprise that Rita had managed to get the door open and was already stepping through into the shopping mall's dark interior.
“Hey!” she called out, hurrying after her. “Rita! What are you doing?”
“Relax!” Rita replied, her voice echoing in the hallway. “I just don't feel like being outside right now. Don't worry, the alarm system for this place is completely screwed, the cameras are all dummies and there are no security guards. It's not like we're gonna do anything bad, it's just a shortcut to the main part of town.”
“What if we get caught?” Izzy hissed, stopping at the doorway. After a moment, hearing Rita laughing as she walked away, Izzy realized she had no choice but to follow, so she slipped inside and pulled the door shut before making her way along the corridor.
“I saw something tonight,” Rita said up ahead, silhouetted against the moonlight that was shining down into the shopping center's main atrium. Holding her arms out, she twirled around as she walked between huge, moonlit plastic plants. “Down in those tunnels. Something's alive in there, and I'm rethinking my theory about it being a sex party. Call me crazy, but I actually think something chased after me. Can you believe that?”
“If you'd told me yesterday,” Izzy muttered, making her way past a shuttered store and stepping out into the main part of the building, “I'd have said no. But now...”
She paused, watching as Rita continued to turn around and around.
“Do you believe in vampires?”
Stopping, Rita seemed a little dizzy.
“Do you?” Izzy asked again.
“Not until recently,” she replied, “but... I'm standing right in front of one, aren't I?”
Izzy flinched, although she couldn't quite bring herself to deny the claim.
“I'm right, aren't I?” Rita asked. “I mean, I know it sounds crazy, but I like to keep an open mind. I've seen those crooked little fangs of yours, and I've seen what blood does to you, even if it comes from a rat. I genuinely considered the possibility that you're just a bit dramatic, or that you're nuts, but finally I realized I had to accept what I'd seen.” She stopped and stared at Izzy for a moment. “So putting two and two together, I'm getting the vibe that your father just told you you're a real, live vampire. And obviously you're struggling to deal with it, 'cause it's a bit of a head-fuck.”
Izzy felt a rush of fear in her chest, but at the same time she also felt relieved that she could talk to someone.
“I've seen things,” she said cautiously, feeling ridiculous but unable to hold back. “I saw this thing on the road, something called a Sentinel, and...” Her voice trailed off. “Even saying these words makes me doubt my sanity. I mean, aren't you going to laugh at me? Are you sure you're not just making fun, trying to wind me up?”
Rita shook her head.
“It was a friend of my father's who actually told me the most,” Izzy continued. “About where I come from, and about my mother. Apparently my mother was human and she was killed by...” She paused as she felt a shudder pass through her chest. “Maybe I have lost my mind,” she said finally. “One moment I feel like I actually believe it's all true, and then the next moment I'm left thinking that it can't be, that the whole idea is so dumb.”
“Let's see those teggies,” Rita replied.
“Those what?”
“Teggies. Teeth.” Stepping closer, Rita bared her own normal, white teeth. “I saw them before, but let me see them again. As long as you're not tempted to chomp down on my neck, of course.”
Izzy paused for a moment, before opening her mouth to reveal her fangs.
“They're crooked,” Rita pointed out.
“I know
.”
“Are they supposed to be crooked?”
“I don't think so.”
“Are your Dad's crooked?”
“He doesn't have them anymore. Apparently he had them taken out by a doctor.”
“For real?” Rita laughed. “So he's a self-hating vampire?”
“He has his reasons.” Izzy paused. “I lost my mind earlier when I needed blood. It's scary to admit this, but I honestly think I would've hurt Violet in that alley if you hadn't come along. And then, if you hadn't tied me up, I might even have hurt you.”
“I won't take it personally. Hey, show me again.”
Izzy bared her fangs, and Rita immediately reached out and touched the tips.
“Ow!”
“Sorry,” Izzy replied.
“No, it's cool,” Rita continued. “I'm kinda jealous. In terms of weird body parts, I've only got a...” She shrugged. “Never mind.”
“A what?”
“Do you have something weird?”
“So can you turn into a bat?” Rita asked, clearly trying to change the subject as she took a step back into the moonlight.
“I don't think so.”
“Obviously you can go out in sunlight, and you seem to have a reflection.”
“I like garlic,” Izzy added. “I love garlic bread.”
“Naturally.”
“Apparently I can go in places without being invited.”
“So not all the stories are true.” Rita paused. “Can you convert someone else into a vampire?”
“I have no idea.”
“That'd be cool if you could... How long do vampires live, anyway? I mean, are you really just sixteen?”
Izzy nodded.
“But potentially you could live hundreds of years? Thousands, even?”
“Maybe.” Izzy paused. “I get these flashes of memory sometimes. I thought they were nightmares at first, but O'Malley said they might be part of this big race memory thing. Apparently vampires can tap into this big... seam of shared memory about the past. Like, I can remember parts of vampire history, even though I wasn't actually there. I saw a war. I think it was a war, anyway. And a big house, in the middle of a vast plain, and there were soldiers and giant spiders, and the sky was red like blood and rust. I could hear people crying out in the distance, and then there was a...” Her voice trailed off. “This sounds nuts. You must think I'm completely insane.”
“Actually, I think it's fascinating,” Rita replied, before biting her bottom lip for a moment, as if deep in thought. “If I tell you something, something about myself, can you keep it a secret?”
“Can you keep what I just told you a secret?”
“Sounds like we have a deal,” Rita said with a smile, stepping closer again. “I guess you've opened up to me, so I should do the same. The thing is... Well, maybe it'd be better if I just show you. But you've got to promise not to laugh, okay?”
“I promise.”
“It's not cool, like being a vampire.”
“I don't feel very cool.”
“Okay.” Rita paused, before taking a deep breath. “God, I never thought I'd ever 'fess to this, not in front of anyone, not after what happened at my old school when the other kids saw it. But you seem like the one person in the world who might understand.”
“What is it?” Izzy asked.
“Get ready to laugh,” Rita muttered, rolling her eyes. “I'm only going to show you this because I figure it might make you feel better, but -”
Before she could finish, there was a sudden brief, loud clanging sound from above them. They both glanced up at the balconies that overlooked the atrium, but there was no sign of movement. A moment later, however, the banging sound returned, this time sounding a little further down, as if it was edging closer.
“You heard that, right?” Rita whispered.
“It's probably nothing.”
“After the night I've had, I'm not -”
Suddenly the sound returned, this time coming from the other direction, and seemingly no more than a couple of levels up.
“Maybe we should get moving,” Rita said, putting a hand on Izzy's arm. “We can talk later, but right now I'd like to get out of here. This was only supposed to be a shortcut and I've had enough of being chased for one -”
Before she could say another word, they both heard something bumping against a wall nearby. Turning, they looked toward the far side of the atrium, watching the shadows in case anything began to move. After a moment, one of the shadows seemed to twitch slightly, and the first hint of a figure moved into view.
“What is it?” Izzy whispered.
“You're the vampire,” Rita replied. “You tell me.”
“I don't actually know anything about anything,” Izzy told her. “I'm not -”
Before she could finish, there was another bump from the shadows, although this time the figure seemed to slip back a little, as if it was trying to hide.
“It can't be anything that bad,” Rita muttered, although she sounded distinctly unsure of herself. “It's probably just a... I don't know, a janitor or something.” She paused, before stepping forward. “I'm gonna take a look.”
“Wait!” Izzy hissed.
Ignoring her, Rita made her way around the benches and headed toward the shadows. When she reached the corner and peered around, however, she immediately stepped back, as if she'd seen something shocking.
“What is it?” Izzy asked, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Jesus Christ,” Rita whispered, taking a few steps away from whatever she'd seen.
“What is it?” Izzy asked again. “Rita, don't get too close!”
“It's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen in my life,” Rita stammered, bumping against a bench as she took another step back. “It's like... I don't know if I want to run away screaming or go bash it to death with a stick. I think maybe the stick.”
“What do you see?” Izzy hissed, feeling increasingly frustrated.
“See for yourself,” Rita replied. “Get ready, though. It's the most hideous creature in the history of the world.”
As those words left her lips, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Izzy tensed, terrified in case she saw something horrific, but finally she realized she recognized the figure's face.
“Violet?” she whispered, her eyes filled with shock.
“Told you,” Rita said, rolling her eyes and letting out a sigh of relief. “Literally the most disgusting and foul -”
“Hey,” Violet said suddenly, interrupting her. “Do you two wanna come do something fun?”
“What are you doing here?” Rita asked. “Shouldn't you be at some lame wannabe teen party by now, bopping away and desperately trying to act adult, and drinking way too many energy drinks?” She checked her watch. “Come to think of it, midnight sailed past a while back. Aren't you about due to turn back into a pumpkin?”
“There's a party not far from here,” Violet replied, turning her whole body until she was looking at Izzy. “You should come. I'll show you the way.”
“Are you okay?” Izzy asked, feeling as if Violet seemed a little stiff.
“Enjoy your party,” Rita said with a laugh, slapping Violet's shoulder and then making her way back over to Izzy. “I'm pretty sure we can find something better to do. Like, I dunno, maybe scratching our eyes out with hot pokers?”
“Does she seem weird to you?” Izzy whispered.
“Always.”
“No, like more than usual.”
She and Rita watched as Violet took a couple of stiff, faltering steps closer.
“Her posture's improved,” Rita muttered. “She usually has those sloping shoulders and bent neck that guys love so much.”
“Something else,” Izzy replied, as Violet edged toward them. “Something doesn't seem right here.”
“I know a great party,” Violet continued, her voice sounding a little blank and monotone. “Izzy, you should come. I promise it'll be fun.”
“If
this party's so great,” Rita replied, “then why aren't you there now? Why are you here, hanging around in a deserted shopping mall like a... Well, like us?”
“I came to tell you about the party and take you there.”
“But how did you know we'd be here?” Rita asked. “Doesn't that seem like a coincidence?”
Violet paused for a moment, as if she couldn't quite think of an answer. “I saw you coming in,” she said finally.
“Right,” Rita muttered, grabbing Izzy's arm and leading her back a few steps. “Something about this seems a little unusual.”
“It's not unusual,” Violet said blankly. “There's no need to be afraid, Izzy. Just come with me.”
Before Izzy could reply, she heard a faint hissing sound from around the nearest corner, followed moments later by a brief metallic crunch. Seconds after that, she heard a faint bump, and then the sound returned.
A hiss.
And then a crunch.
“Do you hear that?” she asked Rita.
“This place is giving me the creeps,” Rita muttered.
Taking a few more steps back, Izzy headed around the corner and then stopped as soon as she spotted Annabel sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of a Pepsi vending machine. The light from the machine was all over Annabel's face as she held up a soda can and then very carefully, very slowly pulled the ring-tab.
There was a hiss as the ring-tab opened.
And then a crunch as she pulled it all the way, piercing the top of the can.
And then, without drinking a drop, she set the can down next to a dozen others that were already on the floor. After that, she reached into the tray at the bottom of the vending machine and took out another can, which she proceeded to open in the same slow, methodical manner, as if she was fascinated by the sound.
“And these people call us freaks?” Rita asked, rolling her eyes.
“Are you okay there, Annabel?” Izzy called out, stepping toward the girl.
The ring-tab hissed as it was pulled.
“Annabel?”
Annabel continued to stare, as if mesmerized, as she finished opening the can. There was a slight crunching sound, and then she set it down and reached into the machine's tray, quickly taking out another.