Books

Chapter One

Reality sets in as my alarm clock buzzes at seven a.m. “Get up Landon”! Shouts my mother from the bottom of the stairs. The smell of eggs and bacon fills my nostrils as I arise.

I look out side to see the sun rising up over the mountains, Warming the late August day. Morning dew drops are glistening on the tips of the tall pine trees that drown the landscape visible from my window.

For the first time that I can remember , I was excited for school. It was exciting to be going into the tenth grade. I guess I didn’t feel so much like a young teenager anymore. Even though I am.

Breakfast smells so delicious! I catch a whiff of fresh strawberries, fighting to compete with the eggs and bacon for my nose‘s sense as I make my way downstairs. My mouth is watering as I enter the dining room.

“First day of high school son. You excited”? Asked my dad as I walked into the dining room. “ Of course he is”. Mom said cheerfully, not giving me the chance to answer for myself. Which used to bother me when she did, but not so much now. It’s apparent she knows me pretty well.

I slid into the empty chair Next to my baby sister Jaden and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “Any big plans this year son”, asked my dad? “Maybe try out for a sports team”? He continued.

I simply nod my head in response. I didn’t have any time to be talking instead of eating my food if I was going to be ready for the bus when it arrives.

Over the summer, I had gained fifteen pounds of muscle and grew an inch and a half. I guess my dad was right about working the farm with my grandpa and uncle over the summer months This is where my sudden large appetite developed.

Between strenuous chores of bailing and hauling hay and learning how to exercise from my uncle, I feel I have really turned a new page in my life.

And not a minute to soon either. I was a taller kid. Skinnier than usual for my age. I was awkward and clumsy at times. Now, with my Light brown, sun streaked blonde hair down past my shoulders. Dark brown eyes below dark brown eyebrows. I was content with the way I looked.

I never really felt comfortable in my own skin until recently. Now I was more than confident to go back to school. I was ready for the next chapter in my life to begin.

I quickly finished eating and got up from my seat to go upstairs and shower to get ready for the day. “Is that all you want to eat honey”? Mom asks me as I run out of the dining room. “Yes, thank you”. I call back to her. Then made my way upstairs.

This was the first year I had gone and bought all my own new school clothes. It felt good to have picked out all my own outfits. After showering, I threw on some semi-baggy faded blue jeans and a grey tee shirt. I brushed my teeth and was out the door.

Living in a small, secluded, rocky mountain town of twenty thousand or so, you really know most of the kids around. People who move here tend to stay here. Those who were born here, never usually leave. It is a wonderful to place to reside.

On a brand new bus and a brand new route, we stopped to pick up the regulars. Kids I had known forever. I grew up with most of the kids on my bus. We have rode the bus together for about a decade now.

After a few stops into our route, we picked up Andrew and Williams. This was the first I had seen any of my friends since only a few short days after the last school year ended.

We had a little get together to celebrate the end of our junior high and the start of our high school career’s. Also to bid each other farewell for the summer before I left to live with my grandparents and uncle.

They got on the bus and walked to the back. They stopped a few rows behind me and sat down. I was looking at them the entire time they were walking past me to their seats.

They didn’t seem to recognize me at all. I didn’t think I had changed that much in only three months. As the bus drove on towards the next stop, I turned and said to them.

“ What, no hello for a long lost friend”? Williams squinted his eyes at me for what felt like too long. If I didn’t recognize that look of confusion on his face, I would have mistaken it for an unfriendly glare. Suddenly his eyes widened and he shouted.

“Landon“! “ What happened to you”? “You’re huge”! He continued. “Thank you”. I replied. “I worked hard this summer and had lots of fun”. “ Not to mention grandma’s cooking filled me up right”. I added.

“ How was your summer’s”? I asked them both. “Saw a few shows“. Replied Andrew. “Bolander came through not too long ago.” Williams added. “He puts on such a good show”. We all say in unison. “I’ve seen him before and I’ll see him again“. I sighed and sat back in my chair.

“We went on a crazy campout man”. Andrew continued. “ We’ve seen such beautiful desert”. He whispers. “Why are you being so hush about it”? I asked him.

“ Because dude”. He pauses. He and Williams exchange glances and lean in. “We don’t want everyone to know about it”. Williams finished.

They told me of dried up river beds that once created deep caverns that are so spectacular. Tight slot canyons that force the imagination to work. A visual treat for your eyes and senses All the red sand that covers the land with it’s fire like wonder is endless beauty.

A land where only the most hearty can survive for multiple days and enjoy themselves. Good luck finding running water there. Strictly a place for visitation not to be inhabited by humans.

“ So when are you taking me“? I quickly asked. “Two months.” Williams replies. “Weekend before Halloween”. Andrew whispers. “I have pictures at my house“. said Williams. I will show you soon. “ He finished.

As the bus rolled to a stop in front of our new school, I sat there. I sat and thought of the years past teased and tormented. Years spent allowing other’s harsh remarks toward me, destroy my self esteem. And destroy it, it almost did.

Every individual repetition of chest press or bicep curl was done with the thought of changing all that. Every piece of food offered devoured in the sake of growth. Never again would I stand for such ridicule. Or even allow it done to others in my presence.

“ Come on man, let’s get in there”, said Williams. “Don’t want to be late on our first day”, he added. The building dwarfed our last school. We entered the school and was amazed at the size and cleanliness of the new facility.

It had been built only about three years back. Very much an upgrade from the old high school, or our old junior high for that matter. All the new sophomores piled in the gym, onto the bleachers and excitedly reunited with friends for yet another year of education and fun.

Chapter Two

　“Settle down students”. Boomed Principle Garrison’s voice through the microphone. On behalf of the entire administration, faculty and staff,. I am pleased to welcome you to Jagged Peak High School”.

“We know that you will be pleased with all of the resources available to you for your educational benefit.” He continued. “All the latest technologies is all we accept for our students”. He added.

Our principle looked very young and athletic as if he exercised and stayed active. That wasn’t very typical of these days. I was impressed.

“As you should all be aware of, The Kodiaks basketball and football teams are defending state champions. “Three years running since the birth of our school.” He enthusiastically added. Our theatre, musical, dance and art companies are unrivaled in our area.” He shouted.

This school sounded like it put a little something extra in the lunches in the afternoon to create super students or something from all the achievements he named off. I’ve never heard of such domination in all aspects of a student body like this. At least I was apart of them now.

Following his speech about what a fine establishment our new school was, the cheerleaders taught us the school cheer. I paid little attention to the words, let alone could understood half of what the girls were saying anyway.

After they had completed their routine, my attention quickly turned to the student body that surrounded me. I was encircled by lots of familiar faces . Some friendly. While others, I would have rather not seen.

Kids were starting to become rowdy in the bleachers. This is, before the principle rose from his chair to instantly silence the crowd without even opening his mouth. I could tell he demanded respect. I was fine with that as long as he gave the same respect to his students.

As the presentation drew to a close, I noticed one girl in particular, that I didn’t recognize. Her features made her appear to be straight out of the fairy tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Her hair was as black as pitch darkness. It seemed as if swallowed light and never returned it. Her skin was a pale, but healthy color to rival the moon light’s milky radiance that glows in our night sky.

Her lips were as red as the roses I helped grandma tend over the summer and watched to grow big and beautiful. Her lips were also big and beautiful

As the assembly came to a close, I couldn’t see the girl in the crowd anymore. Which didn’t make any sense seeing how she looked nothing like the rest of the people here. She was refreshing.

The rest of the day was mainly spent reconnecting with old acquaintances and making new ones. We also met our new teachers and became familiar with the layout of the school. My locker was on the top of two floors.

Most of my teachers were very friendly. Of course, all teachers are on the first day. I figure I wont give them any trouble, and I wont receive any in return.

It’s a system I have stuck to since the beginning of my school career. In the end, I felt really good about my new school. I felt I could really excel here.

On the bus ride home that day. Kids were being somewhat wild with excitement of the new year ahead. Jumping over seats to play fight and tease one another harmlessly. The bus driver had to settle a few kids down a couple of times. I just sat back and relaxed.

“Did you see that blonde girl in the black skirt and white top”? Asked Williams with a giant smirk on his face. “ She was so hot”! He continued.

A moment later, a boy in the eleventh grade named Ricky Butler turned to them and shouted. “That’s my girlfriend”!” I heard what you said about her“. He continued angrily.

“Oh. Sorry”. Replied Williams. “I didn’t know”. He added. “Well now you do”! Ricky snapped even more angrily. “Settle down. It was just an honest mistake”. Said Williams. “ Don’t you ever forget it”! Persisted Ricky.

After a split second stare off between the two, Ricky spit the last of his cookie snack he had been chewing all over Williams’ clothes and face.

Being somewhat of a sensitive and shy kind of boy, Williams didn’t do much in the way of fighting back. He wasn’t really the fighting type anyway. This guy had gone to far.

Enraged at the sight I had just seen, I leaped from my seat and punched Ricky square in the nose and sent blood across the bus. Not to mention down his white tee shirt of some crappy punk band that came through a few summers ago.

He instantly sat back in his seat and began to moan in pain. Blood continued to run down his face in a few different streams. His eyes flooded with tears from his nose being hit so hard.

Feeling good about what just happened, I sat back down to let it all soak in. I had never really punched anyone before then. Always just accepted bullies ill treatment.

I felt very good . That is, until three different sets of fists came in contact with my face and head multiple times. I have never been jumped like this before. I was experiencing all sorts of new events in the short time it took to ride home.

Apparently Ricky also had some friends on the bus. They hardly took breaks between throwing punches in my direction. I blocked and dodged a lot of them, but not all of them. It hurt pretty bad. My adrenaline suddenly kicked in.

Andrew, and surprisingly Williams, jumped in to help me. The fight was quite the disturbance. It was nice to see that my friends had my back as much as I had theirs.

We rolled over several different rows of the bus seats in our struggle. I accidentally knocked over a few innocent by standers and managed to break a window some how. It was out of control.

After a Whirlwind thirty seconds of fists, elbows, knees and feet flying wildly. The driver stops the bus and comes back to separate us kids causing mayhem. “You kids are in big trouble”! Screams the bus driver. It was so bad, even cops were called.

I sat in hand cuffs as my mother pulled up to the scene. She rushed over to me in the back of the squad car with a worried look on her face. She was carrying Jaden in arms which made me feel worse. I didn’t want her to see me like this.

“Are you ok”? She asks with a shake in her voice. “How bad does your eye hurt”? She continues as she tilts my chin up to inspect me. I’ve never seen such worry on my mom’s face before.

“I’m fine mom don’t worry”. I tell her as the cop helps me to my feet to release the hand cuffs from my wrists. “It doesn’t hurt that bad”. I add as I try to rub the soreness from my wrists.

“You don’t have any prior mischief on your record, so let this be the only time it happens”. Says the police man as he hands my mom the written warning for my violation.

“It wont happen again”. I inform him as he gets in his car and drives away.

The ride home with mom was surprisingly pleasant. She was aware of the situation. I had never been one to start fights or arguments. She seemed to be a bit shocked to learn that I was capable of such activities. She even congratulated me. Now, as long as dad felt the same way, I was in the clear.

I sat on the front room couch watching cartoons waiting for dinner to be made. I also was preparing for what my dad might say when he came home and found out about my fight.

I really had no idea how he would react. I had never been in this kind of situation before. It was a shock to myself react the way I did. Shocking and yet, exciting. I had a new feeling of confidence now. I whooped a boy good who was older and bigger than me.

“Here. Put this on your eye”. Said my mom to me as she hands me a frozen bag of peas. “Thank you”. I sincerely tell her as she walks away.

It stings for the first minute of applying the frozen bag to my eye. Then instantly feels relieving after the initial burn. I hold it there for a good five minutes while watching TV before I cant stand the cold anymore.

Like clock work, my dad pulls into the driveway at five thirty. He is always very punctual when he means to be. Of course he had to be punctual on this day too.

“Nice shiner ya got there”. Were my dad’s first words to me as he walks through the front door. “I got in a fight on the bus ride home”. I replied. “Are you alright”? He asks. “Yeah. I’m good”. I told him.

I really did have a head ache though. But besides that and the black eye, I was good. I know Randal and his friends got the worst of the ordeal. I split his lip and nose.

Williams and Andrew didn’t look like they suffered any bruises or cuts. I was glad. I wouldn’t have liked something serious to happen to anyone involved in the fight. Not even my enemies.

“Did you get those bullies good”? Asks Jaden as she comes and sits by me to watch cartoons. “Yeah, pretty good. But you only want to fight if you have to”. I explain to my baby sister.

“I hope I never have to fight”. She says as she squeezes my arm tight. “I hope you never have to either”. I tell her as I kiss the top of her head.

That night at the dinner table, the subject of my scuffle didn’t arise at all. I imagined he didn’t want to talk about it in front of Jaden. I was glad for that because I really didn’t want to talk about it in front of her either.

Dad simply asked who started it, who ended it and if it was worth getting suspended over. I was very excited to proclaim “yes”! To the final answer. I never felt better about a decision I made in a split second in my life.

“Just don’t make a habit of it”. Dad says to me with a grin as he tosses a pea at me jokingly. I laugh and exchange fire. Naturally Jaden launches a few peas of her own at both of us. Mom stops the food fight instantly.

I finish eating and cleaning up the mess we caused and begin to make my way towards the stairs up to go hang out in my room. I was tired and wanted to go lay down. It had been a long day.

The phone rings just as I pass it. It makes me jump in my tired, half asleep mind state. I turn and pick up the phone to answer it.

“Hey man. I want to thank you for sticking up for me on the bus earlier today”. Says Williams on the other end. “It really means a lot to me”. He adds.

“No problem. I wasn’t going to sit back and let him do that to you”. I reply. Not anymore at least. I think to myself.

“You have changed a lot over the summer. It’s a good and admirable change”. He continues. “I’m glad to have you as a friend. He tells me.

We talk a bit more before we hang our phones. Williams continued to tell me about how amazing the desert down south is. The way the slot canyons have eroded from years of mother nature weathering.

His words made my imagination soar with desire to experience it for myself. To go out and discover things about nature as well as myself.

I found it hard to think of much else but the colors of the sand he described to me. Also, the way the erosion revealed little pockets to sit in. Or the way it created tunnel structures for the adventurers delight.

I am very much into going on adventures. If it’s a new place outside in the open wild, count me in. During the winter months when backpacking is limited to none what so ever. You can find me gliding through the fresh powder snow that always laces our mountains all winter long.

Later that night , as I tossed and turned just after retiring to my bed, my dad entered my room. “ Son”, he said with his stern gruff voice, as he sat at the edge of my bed. Here we go I thought. I knew I hadn’t heard the last of this situation.

“Landon”. He quietly said. “ I am really proud of you”. This somewhat caught me off guard. I don’t recall a time my father telling me that he was proud of me recently. It actually made me kind of uncomfortable. “I’ve seen A big change in you since you went away to your grandparents“. He continued.

“Thank you”. I managed to say. I have never really done anything displeasing in my dad’s eye’s. I just haven’t really done anything this extreme either.

“Help your mother around the house this week. She could use some extra help around here during the day” He said, as he arose from my bed and walked to the doorway to the hall. “Will do”, I replied.

Just before he closed the door, he turned and said. “ You are becoming a man son”. Then closed the door behind him. It felt nice to hear that from my dad. Becoming a man. That always goes down smooth.

It took a little while, but eventually I fell asleep. Not that I really had much reason to wake up early for the rest of the week. It was just an “early bird gets the worm” attitude I developed over the summer.

Chapter Three

     “Landon”! Yelled my Uncle Ray from across the field. “This fence post isn’t level”! It had felt like a longer day than usual. More hot too. As I walked over to the sight of the uneven post, Ray calmly continued. “ Let me show you a secret”.

His secret consisted of sitting down in the shade, drinking close to a half gallon of water and relaxing. Our break was long overdue I felt, and I happily sat down next to him and joined in .

“You know”, started Ray. Then took a long break before his next sentence. “ You are quite the smart kid”, he finished. Even though I hate when people call me a kid, I took the compliment and thought about it for a bit.

I guess I was kind of smart. I maintained pretty good grades, never got in too much trouble and enjoyed learning new things. I wouldn’t consider myself a nerd though.

He didn’t say anything after that. Just pulled his cowboy hat down over his face and continued to rest. I sat, looking over the part of the job we had completed and the rest that still lay ahead of us.

At that point in the summer, I could feel myself becoming stronger, more tough. After finishing most of the second half of the fence posts, we retired for the day.

“Good job Bud”. Ray says to me as we jump into his old pickup truck. Uncle Ray was only 21 and full of energy. After our daily chores were complete, we always managed to wrestle and play fight.

I didn’t have any siblings close to my age, so it wasn’t a very frequent occurrence. But man did I enjoy it. Sometimes, a miss calculation by Ray, and I could actually get the upper hand on him. It didn’t happen very often and lasted only for a moment.

We pulled up to Grandma and Grandpa’s house at the front of the farm to see grandpa changing out the horses shoes. “ How’d it go boys”? Shouted grandpa from across the yard.

“Another hour tomorrow and we’ll be done”. Replied Ray. “Good”. He said. And continued nailing shoes on the horses. “ You boys go wash up for supper” . Said grandpa. “ I’ll be in after a few more shoes”. He added.

“Hi ma”. Said Ray as we walked into the kitchen. “Howdy boys”. She replied. “ Hope ya worked up a big appetite”. She continued. “ You know we did”! I exclaimed hungrily. “That’s my hard working growing grandson”. Grandma proudly said as she wrapped her arms around me to give a hug.

“Whew”! “You boys go wash up on the double”! Grandma jokingly yelled. “What’s all the racket for in here”? Grandpa asked as he walked through the door. “I wont have such dirty, smelly boys at my dinner table”. Replied Grandma.

“Well boys, do what your told”. Ray and I raced to the bathroom to see who would shower first. Of course he won. There was only one bathroom in the whole house. Which wasn’t a big deal.

This was the coolest house I had ever seen. One that you thought must have secret passages and hidden rooms. It must have been one of the oldest, yet best kept homes in the entire county. The only thing I disliked about the place, was an old picture that was quite large in a wooden frame at the end of the hallway downstairs.

It was a picture of one of my ancestors from the civil war era. The stern look on the man’s face sent chills up and down my spine every time I saw it.

After I had showered, I joined the rest of my family at the table. Grandpa asked Ray to bless the food provided for us. So that it would nourish our bodies and provide us with the strength to do our hard work again tomorrow. My Grandparents are very old fashioned people. I love them even more because of it.

Grandma had a stew in the crock pot slowly cooking all day. It consisted of turkey, ham, potatoes, peppers and other various vegetables. It was delicious.

After dinner, we all gathered around the fire in the front room. Grandpa was telling us about more of his world war two stories. Grandpa was a medic over in Germany for the United States.

He saw some pretty gruesome stuff over there. He would tell us stories of comrades decorated like Christmas trees with scrap metal from bombs that exploded near by. Or some with holes in various parts of their bodies from guns, lining the trenches. Waiting for him or another medic to try to save them

He would always get a far off look on his face, As if he didn’t truly enjoy telling us the stories. I always felt awkward when I saw those faces. No one asked him to tell us those stories. He just chose to.

“So”. Started grandpa as he looked in my direction. Then put another spoonful of ice cream in his mouth I knew he was going to say something to me after he was done swallowing his bite.

After what felt like an eternity, he swallowed and looked back at me. “Anything special planned for when you get back home”? He asked. I simply shrugged my shoulders and replied. “Nothing in mind right off, but I’d imagine I can find some trouble around”. I jokingly exclaimed.

“That’s my boy”. Said Ray. “You just make sure you give an honest effort to everything you attempt. “You wont be satisfied in life unless you do“. He said to me with the most serious look I think I’ve ever received from him. Soon after, grandma and grandpa turned in for the night.

Ray and I stayed up a bit later talking. About dreams, goals, girls and just life in general. I quickly learned that Ray isn’t your typical country, farm boy. He’s very well educated and cultured.

Last summer, he traveled through Europe. He sent more time in Romania than anywhere else. He said that the culture and lifestyle in that country was his favorite. Especially in Transylvania.

For some reason, he is always talking about monsters and ghosts. I don’t think he really believes in all that stuff. He is just very into Halloween and things of that nature. He even has a life sized poster of Dracula on his wall.

To be honest it still catches me off guard when I walk past his room and his door is open. As we retired to our rooms, Ray turned to me, put his hand on my shoulder and sighed. . Then said. “ Boy. You have so much potential. It would be a shame to see it wasted”. With that he turned and went into his room.

As I lay in bed, I thought about everything Ray had said to me that night. He truly thought I was someone special. It made me feel very special. Eventually I fell Asleep.

The next morning I woke up in my own bed at my parents house. That dream felt just like being there again. Middle of July would be my guess. For some reason, I couldn’t get the life sized poster of the vampire out of my head. I always wondered why Ray had the thing. I went down stairs just in time to see my dad drive off to work.

“Good morning”. Mom says in her usual cheery voice. “ Good morning”. I managed to croak out. You know, sometimes the first thing you say in the morning kind of sounds harsh. “After breakfast, will you go to the store with me”? Asks mom. “Sure”. I reply. I didn’t have much else to do. Plus I needed to make sure mom buys good food with lots of protein.

This was the first time I had really gone into town since I had been home. It seemed a bit more lively than usual. As if to read my mind, mom said.” They are planning a huge Autumn fest this year“.

“They are even starting to work on Halloween decorations before September even arrives”. “You could get a job doing that if you want.” She added. That did interest me. Halloween was my favorite holiday and time of year. “ Maybe”. Is all I said.

At the grocery store, friends of my parents were happy to see me home. Although, confused at why I wasn’t at school. “He got in a fight”. My mother told them. It seemed we were both proud of the situation.

People would just look at me with disbelief. That’s not the Landon I remember”. Most of them would reply. “Things have changed”, was always my answer to that remark.

We got our groceries and headed out of the store to our car. When out of nowhere, the girl that reminds me of Snow White walks past. As if appearing out of thin air.

I had almost forgotten about her until I saw her again. As mom and I pulled out of the parking lot. The girl and I locked eyes for what felt like forever. Then she turned her eyes elsewhere.

I found it impossible to think of much else for the rest of the day. She was very beautiful, in a mysterious way. For some reason, it felt like we knew each other by the way we looked at one another.

That night at dinner, I ate my food quickly and retired to my room. I had done a very strenuous leg exercise routine before dinner. So when bed time came around, I was exhausted. Of course, nothing to the extent of a long hard day of work on the farm. Some nights, I barely made it through dinner before passing out.

The next day, Andrew and Williams showed up at my door. “ Hey man, how are ya”? Williams asked. “ Just got done working out upper body”. I replied. “ How about you guys”? I continued.

“We came to make sure you are going to Eli’s Party tonight.”. Said Andrew. In the midst of recent events, I had forgotten all about it. Our good buddy Eli’s Birthday is always just a few days after school started.

Eli was a senior this year. He played Small Forward on the Basketball team. He is quite popular, so his parties always have a good turn out. “ Count me in”! I excitedly said. “Cool man”. Replied Williams. “Oh Yeah”! He continued. “ I have to show you those pictures of the desert soon”. “For sure”. I said. And they were off.

I only had a couple hours before the party started. Figuring out what to wear was never a big issue for me. This time of year was jean shorts and a tee shirt. Probably a Sublime Tee shirt. They were a great band. Whose legacy will never die.

On my way out the door, my mom stopped me in the kitchen. She didn’t even turn from the sink where she was washing dishes. How she knew I was there, I have no idea. I didn’t even know she was there.

“Where ya headed”? She asked. Still not turning from the dishes. “It’s Eli’s Birthday party tonight”. I replied. “That’s right”. She said. “tell him I said happy birthday”. She added. “Will do”. I replied. Then I left.

Chapter Four

The sun was setting as I walked down my street to meet Williams and Andrew. The cool late summer breeze made it feel perfect out. No more than seventy five degrees out side.

“ Hey man”. They shouted as I turned the corner. We met and shook hands. “I hear there is going to be more people than ever at his party tonight”. Said Andrew.

With that in mind, I figured there would be plenty of guys there that I would rather not see. Ones who have given me grief at one time or another.

Seeing how Eli was a popular sports star, there was bound to be plenty of everyone there tonight. We arrived at the party to see masses of people out on Eli’s property. It was no joke, there were more people there than I ever remember seeing at past parties.

As we got closer we heard some random hip hop mix tape being played on his huge entertainment system in his front room. Eli always had cleaner parties than most. He didn’t allow alcohol or other substances in his house. Of course that didn’t stop the people who used that stuff to do it outside.

I never wanted to try anything like that. I figured life is hard enough. No need to make it more hard for yourself. I always wanted to have my wits about me.

We didn’t talk to many people on our way through the house looking for Eli. We figured we would tell him happy birthday, hang out for a bit and be on our way.

“Happy birthday”! We shouted over the music and other chattering people when we spotted Eli. “Thanks guys”! He Shouted back at us. We shook his hand and pat him on his back. Then he was engulfed by another crowd wishing him a happy birthday.

After a minute of standing around grooving to the music. I noticed the food in the kitchen. I alerted the two and we made our way to it. “Watch it”! Shouted some big clumsy jock type. As he purposely bumped into Andrew.

“ You watch it”! I shouted back to him as I stepped up in his face to bump his shoulder with mine. “Wait a minute. You’re the guy that gave Randal a good beating aren’t you”? He asked. I boldly replied. “That’s right, I am”. He gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder, a wink and walked away.

I remember at the end of the previous school year, Randal sucker punched that guy and dropped him. The guy must have figured if I can whoop Randal. Better to not mess with me. Which was probably a good decision.

After tasting about everything in the kitchen twice. I looked up to see the mysterious Snow White girl at the other end of the house. Which was literally seventy five feet away.

Without a second thought, I made my way over to her. Andrew and Williams were to busy eating to notice me leaving them. I don’t blame them, there was really good food there.

As I got within ten feet of her, our eyes locked. This was third time that its happened between us. “Hi. I’m Landon”. I said. Trying to not sound nervous. “Hi”. She replied with a bored look on her face and Eastern European accent.

Then turned and walked outside. I was pretty embarrassed as I turned to walk back to my friends in the kitchen. After I took a few steps I hear. “You don’t wish to join me”? I turned to see her standing in the doorway. I said nothing and walked outside to join her.

“I didn’t think anyone wanted to talk to me since I dress and talk so differently than everyone else here”. She said. “That may be the case with most people in this town. But not with me”. I replied with a faint smirk on my face. Not big enough to make me look cheesy though.

With a smile on her face, she looked up to the stars and sighed. “ Do the stars always shine so bright here at night”? She asked. “Yes”. I replied. “They are amazing”. I continued. “They make me miss home”. She added. “And where might that be”? I asked. “Romania”. She replied. And again walked away back into the party.

I wasn’t sure whether or not to follow her, so I followed my gut and chilled outside for awhile. I continued to look at the stars. Analyzing my conversation with the girl I had just met. Then it hit me. I still don’t even know her name. After a bit, I walked back into the party.

“Where did you go”? Asked Williams as I walked up to Andrew and him. “Just came out for some fresh air”. Was my reply. “You guys ready”? I continued. “Yeah. Lets go”. Was Andrew’s reply.

“You really just came outside that whole time for fresh air”? Asked Williams. “Well”. I started. “ I did talk to this new girl for a minute”. Which was the truth.

“Do you mean that freaky looking chick from Europe”? Asked Andrew. “That’s her”. I calmly replied. “She’s quite nice ya know”. I stated. “Just a little strange”. I continued.

We walked a few miles back towards our homes before we parted ways. Andrew and Williams lived only a few streets away from each other .

We bid each other farewell and I continued on home. I still had about a mile left in my journey. It was real late by now. My guess was close to midnight. I never wore watches so I wasn’t positive.

As I turn a corner on route to my house, I noticed a few people about fifty yards up the road in a scuffle. Without hesitation, I ran towards them.

As I approached them, I noticed it be one of my friends Gary. I wasn’t that cool with him, but he never gave me a reason to dislike him. As far as I could tell, he was being attacked.

“Stop”! I scream, as I’m running to knock into the attacker. Just before I made contact with the unknown person, he or she, jumped back an amazing ten feet it seemed. Then was gone into the shadows within seconds.

Fighting for my breath, I asked Gary if he was ok. Fighting for his breath as well. He managed to squeak out. “Yes”. . .“Thank you”. I walked with him to his house to make sure he got in alright.

“Who was that”? I finally asked as we walked down his street. “ I have no idea”. He replied. “I was on my way home from Eli’s party and was attacked out of nowhere“. He continued.

That doesn’t happen around here very often. I think to myself. I didn’t get a very good look at the person’s face. It was pretty dark and they hid their self well.

I only lived a street down from Gary, but I decided to jog the rest of the way home. I wasn’t going to be an easy target if that person wanted to continue attacking people.

Plus, who knows if he has a weapon of some sort?

As I reach my yard, I hear foot steps walking behind me. I whirl around to see only leaves blowing in the wind. I am very nervous as I scan the area behind me. Nothing out of the ordinary catches my eye.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, A shadow darts behind my neighbor’s tree. Being smarter than most people in this situation,, I refrain from shouting, who’s there? Instead, I slowly begin to back up towards my front door.

After I am inside, I walk up stairs to my room and look out the window without turning on my lights. If I were to turn them on, I would give away my advantage of seeing but being seen.

After about a five minute stake out, I decided to go to bed. Laying there, I thought about the girl from Romania. She seemed very nice. It was bugging me that I didn’t know her name after talking to her. Did she tell me what it was, but I had failed to remember? I decided not to let it bother me anymore. Yesterday, Friday, was my last day of suspension. Then back to school on Monday.

Chapter Five

　Luckily I was able to do a lot of my school work at home during my suspension. I would hate to think of all the work I would be required to make up if I hadn’t. It felt like I was just now starting the new school year. Which, in all reality, I was.

A lot of people didn’t recognize me at school. Now there was all the kids in the ninth grade last year from all the junior highs and current juniors and seniors walking the halls between class and at lunch. Much more than I have ever attended school with.

I would say hi to the people that I recognized, but most of them wouldn’t acknowledge me. They always just kind of looked at me with an unsure face.

I was fine with that treatment. I finally realized that it isn’t that important to be popular. I have my select few friends. Guys I can trust anything with. I’m finally comfortable with my life.

“Hey Landon”. Came a familiar voice from behind me as I was walking to the bus after school. I turned around to see Rachel standing there. I hadn’t seen her since our eighth grade year.

She moved to live with her cousin because of some family issues. Ones that I have yet to be informed of. I used to like her a lot. Maybe loved her at one point. I don’t like to use that word lightly though.

Eventually, I came to the conclusion that she never really liked me in that way, just played along for some reason. To get to the point, I didn’t care to ever see her again.

“Hey”. I sluggishly replied. Not wanting to show any enthusiasm. “Didn’t you miss me”? She asked. “I honestly had forgotten about you”. Was my honest reply. Why would I want to remember her? I thought to myself.

Even though she had only grown more beautiful than I remember her to be. Which was amazingly gorgeous! Rachel had very dark brown hair with enticing bluish green eyes. Some days would reveal more green than blue. And of course, the other way around.

“Well”. She started. “I missed you”. I didn’t say anything. I just looked at her with the most straight face I could hold. “You have really grown up”. She stated. Then wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight.

Eventually I brought my arms up and around her waist to match her hug. I only squeezed her as hard as she squeezed me. A little is always a lot with girls, Uncle Ray taught me. “Good seeing you again”. She said. Then walked off.

She stood with the top of her head barely below my chin. Her hair gently tugged on the sparse whiskers on my chin as she pulled away. I watched her walk away for only a few seconds before I turned and continued walking to the bus.

On the bus ride home, I sat and thought about some of the times Rachel and I had. Thinking back, she was nice to me. Maybe she was sincerely being my friend, but I wanted more. I thought about the time that I officially fell in love with her. We were at Molly’s house for her birthday in sixth grade. Molly and Rachel were best friends at the time.

We were all sitting in a circle playing spin the bottle. Rachel spun, and it stopped at me. With everyone hooting and hollering, we walked to the back room hand in hand. I was so nervous and Rachel looked equally so.

“Here we go”. She said. As we kissed, our lips shocked each others. However, we didn’t pull away. We kissed for the next ten seconds. Which of course felt like a lifetime. It was my first real kiss. I was in love because of it.

After being home for awhile, I decided not to work out today. I wanted to let my body rest and heal. Something I probably should let my body do more often. I’m addicted to exercise. I don’t find that a problem though.

Considering some of the other addictions people have these days. Going through life in a false reality. Not able to appreciate the natural wonders of our existence.

Even video games, to me, is a form of addiction. Children, in the past few generations, doing nothing more with their lives than sitting on their couches with a controller plugged into their console of choice.

I love to feel the sun and to discover things that have nothing to do with finding the next treasure on a particular level of some video role playing game. Real life experiences. Like Grandpa said, I didn’t want to regret one single day of my life. We have all made mistakes before in the past. As long as we learn from those mistakes and don’t repeat them, we are ok.

“Will you color with me”? Asks my sister Jaden. “Sure”. I reply. She was only four and entirely too cute to ever tell her no to anything. We colored for close to a half hour before I told her I had some other things to do. She is always so bright and full of joy. “Have fun”. She always replies.

“So how’s school now that you have officially started”? Asks my dad. “Good”. I reply. “I’m thinking about joining a music class. Maybe for drums”. I tell him. “That would be awesome”! My dad enthusiastically replied. “I played the guitar a lot when I was much younger “. He added.

“I play the piano now, and played the violin alot when I was younger”. Mom added to the conversation. “I think you should go for it”. She says to me with her big warm smile.

“Remember Rachel”? I asked. Looking at my mom. “Yeah”. She replied. “She was the girl that moved a few years back because of trouble at home right”? She asked. “Well”. I continued. “She moved back recently. “That’s cool”. Mom replied. “Yeah”. I said sarcastically. I guess it was kind of cool. Everyone deserves a second chance.

“Hey”. My mom started. Why don’t I pick you up from school tomorrow and go see about getting you a job with the Autumn fest? She asked. “Sounds good to me”. I replied. After dinner, I went upstairs to my room. I thought about some of the nice things that Rachel did do for me. We really were good friends.

Chapter Six

It was the first of October. I was very excited to stay up until Midnight to welcome in the month. it’s a tradition of mine since I was old enough to stay up that. I always fall asleep soon after though. This is my favorite time of year.

“Wake up Landon”. I open my eyes to see my mom gently shaking me awake. After my eyes adjust, I notice a worried look on her face. “What’s wrong”? I ask. “A girl from your school went missing last night”. She replies to me.

My mother’s words sends my stomach churning at speeds I have never experienced before. “Who is it”? I ask as my voice cuts out mid sentence. “Michelle Cooker”. My mom replies. I remember her from art class last year. I think to myself.

“You don’t have school today”. She said. “They will be looking for her in search parties. “You still have work though“. She added. On this day, my sleepy little town had been violently shaken awake.

I didn’t have to be to work until four p.m. I ate breakfast and relaxed for an hour or so. After my food adequately digested, I began doing my leg workouts.

I was more concentrated on my exercising today than usual. I found myself working out extra hard. I was still somewhat in shock from the news of my class mate gone missing.

I wanted to be physically ready for anyone or anything that came my way. At this point, I had no idea what that might be. It wasn’t a good feeling. I thought back to when I saw Gary being attacked.

As I arrived to the costume shop for my shift, I noticed that it was slower than usual in the store. Of course I blamed it on today’s mystery. I found it very hard to concentrate. That is, until Snow White, or whatever her name is, walked in.

I had been somewhat dating Rachel for the past month and a half. I hadn’t really thought of or seen this girl since the last time I saw her at the grocery store.

“Hi”. I casually say to her as she walks further into the store. She just smiles at me and continues to browse through costumes and accessories.

“How may I help you”? I ask. “Just looking for costume ideas”. she replies. “Your girlfriend is very pretty”. She adds. Almost as pretty as me”. She says, with a smile on her face.

I didn’t say anything in return. Instead, I thought to myself. Wow! They are both so very beautiful. “Don’t dwell on it for too long”. She says as she walks out of the store.

“What’s your name”? I asked her before she let go of the door. “She stopped at the entrance and paused. After a minute, she finally turned around and said. “It’s Irena”. Then continued out the door.

After my shift was over, and the store was all locked up, I went outside to wait for my mom to come pick me up. She never arrived later than eight fifteen to get me. That’s fifteen minutes after closing.

At eight thirty, I started to grow concerned. After what happened last night to Michelle, I was kind of nervous to be standing outside alone after the sun went down. As far as I knew, they still hadn’t found her.

Finally, at about eight fourty five, I see head lights of a car approach. I recognized it to be my mom’s car instantly. I notice that she has someone in the passenger seat with her.

My mom pulls up to the curb in front of the costume shop with Rachel. “Michelle is still missing”. My mom says with distress in her voice as I climbed into the back seat. “The reason I am so late is because I was talking to her mom about it on the phone about it”. She informs me.

I hug Rachel from the back backseat and kiss her on her cheek. “Hi”. She says to me with a big cheesy grin on her face. I match her smile and sit back to put on my seat belt as we drive off into the night.

After ten minutes, we were still in the shopping district of our town. Driving around listening to the news on the radio. Listening for updates or leads on the where abouts of Michelle.

I think my mom was purposely taking a long time to get home. I felt like she was trying to do her part in the search for the lost girl. Michelle’s mother and mine were pretty good friends from PTA and other organizations of the town.

As we were leaving the Shopping district, we passed by an alley kind of side street. I start to doze off from my long day of work and other activities. I looked up out the window just in time to clearly see three figures in some kind of scuffle. “Stop the car mom”! I shouted. “What is it Landon”? She asks with a shrill voice.

“I saw people fighting down that last street”! I exclaimed. My voice almost in panic. Mom hurried an put the car in reverse. We backed up about thirty feet to the entrance of the little side street. There was no one there.

“Are you sure you saw people fighting”? She asked. “ I could have sworn I did”! I replied. “Lets just get home honey. Its been a long day”. She said as we drove off.

We Stopped in front of Rachel’s House to drop her off. She only lived about five streets away from me. I walked her to her front porch after I opened her car door for her.

I only gave her hug since my mom was right there. “Bye”. I tell her as we are hugging. “Bye”. She replies, as she looks at me with her beautiful eyes.

We let go of each other and I turned to walk back to the car. “Landon”. Says Rachel. I turn around to see her blow a kiss to me. I catch the kiss, put it to my lips and blew a kiss in return. I got in my mom’s car and we drove away.

As we pull into our driveway, mom lets out a half scream. I was sleeping by then. So the outburst scares me wide awake. “What is it ma”? I asked with a squeak in my voice. “I saw the shadow of a person duck behind that tree”. She exclaimed with a similar squeak in her voice.

She pointed to the same tree that I could have sworn to see someone jump behind the night of Eli’s party after Gary was attacked. We sat motionless in the car with the doors locked for about ten minutes. We didn’t see any movement and decided to hurry into the house.

That night, as I lay awake, Struggling to fall asleep. I thought to myself, what was going on in our quiet, safe town? I remember being afraid of bullies at times in my past here. However now, I feared for the bullies lives, as well as everyone else’s.

It was almost one thirty in the morning. I knew I had a test in math tomorrow, so I tried very hard to fall asleep. Of course, not before I went to my window to check the front yard of my house one more time.

Chapter Seven

When I woke up the next day, the horror continued. I walked down stairs to see my parents’ eyes glued to the t.v. “Scott Patterson has been reported missing as of last night.”. The news anchor said.

“This is the second missing person in two days”. He continued. “Whether or not the two are linked, the police haven’t said.”. He continued. “There has been an eight p.m. curfew set for Jagged Peak until further notice”. He finished.

As he moved onto another piece of news, dad got up and turned off the television. “Hey son”. He said. Trying to hide his grim face and voice that he developed from the situation.

“Remember last night when you saw the people in a struggle”? Asked mom. “Yes”. I replied. “Well”. She continued. “That was behind Scott’s butcher shop”. We didn’t speak of it anymore.

There was no school again. The entire town is going to go searching for the lost girl and man. Dad asked if I would join his search party. I accepted. I wanted to help. These people were part of my community.

After eating a good breakfast, dad and I headed to town hall to organize our search groups. As we drove through town, it literally looked like a ghost town. The only grocery store that remained open was the biggest one in town. Higbee’s Grocery.

We arrived at town hall around ten thirty a.m. I now knew where everyone was. We had to park on the street because the parking lot was already full.

There was thick cloud cover and the forecast called for rain. That wouldn’t stop our town though. We always dressed accordingly.

Soon after organizing our groups, we headed out on foot. Some parties drove their cars. In our group there was my dad and I. Paul Jones, his two sons ,Heber and Stewart, that were close to my age, and the dentist, Evan Howard. We began our search..

Around two forty five, we stopped for lunch. We had no luck of any evidence of the lost people’s where abouts. Discouraged, we all met back at town hall to discuss where we had been and where we needed to look still.

As I sat eating my ham and cheese sandwich, I looked up to see Irena sitting on a swing across the street at the town park. She just sat there staring at us. Or maybe just me. “Landon”. Called my dad from across the parking lot. “Are you ready to go again”? He asked.

I stood to walk towards him and the others. Then I glanced back to the park. Irena was no where in sight. Where could she have gotten to in such little time? There were very few trees in the park. It was a new and very open park.

We were coming around a corner of a hill in the outskirts of town, when I swear I saw someone duck behind a tree. “Over there”. I said to my group. We headed over towards the tree.

As we Approached the tree, something didn’t feel right. We surrounded the tree and began to move around it. I couldn’t tell for sure, but it looked like a bird. Or maybe a bat. Whatever it was, it flew away into the darkness of the tops of the trees.

We searched every inch of our town today. At seven thirty, we called it quits to adhere to the eight p.m. curfew. We all made our way back to Town Hall once more. As we approached our destination, Paul erupted into a frenzy.

“Has anyone seen Stewart”?! He screamed. He was just with us. I thought to myself. Our groups went into a frenzy. “How could we not have seen him”? Someone asked from a group behind ours. “He cant be far”! another shouted.

Just like the other two, he wasn’t found. Confused scared and enraged all at the same time, dad and I returned home. Dad and I didn’t say much on the drive home. I kept my eyes peeled for any sign of the now, lost three.

“Any luck”? Asked my mom as we entered our house. “No”. Replied my dad sadly. “We also lost Stewart Jones”. He added. “What is going on here”? My mom asked as tears started to roll down her face. I went upstairs and struggled, but eventually fell asleep.

Chapter Eight

October twenty first. There was no sign of our town’s lost three. Halloween was next Friday and the camping trip to the desert that Andrew, Williams and I planned to go on was this Thursday.

In the next town over, about twenty miles from us, there had been ten disappearances. There was an epidemic taking place in our little corner of the world. I just wish I knew who or what was responsible for the whole ordeal.

In midst of all the recent events, our Autumn fest was still to take place. At work in the costume shop was quite busy. People shopping for their Halloween costumes. After finishing some work in the back, I went up front to begin my closing duties.

It was ten minutes before closing time. When Irena walked into the store. “Hello”. I said as I swept the floor around the cash register. “Hi”. She replied. Then continued to walk around the store. “Can I help you find anything”? I asked. “I am looking for an angel costume”. She replied “That’s not very scary”. I said to her. “I like to dress up differently for Halloween”. She said back to me. “Differently than what”? I asked. “Then how I am on a daily basis”. She replied. Her words sent shivers all over my body. Just then, Rachel walked in. “Hi Babe”. She said with her cheerful beautiful voice. “Hi”. I replied. We embraced each other with a hug and kiss. “How precious”. Irena said with a laugh in her voice. “Who are you”? Asked Rachel with kind of a harsh tone of voice. “Don’t worry. Your boyfriend is not my type”. Irena replied. Then left the store.

“What was that all about”? Rachel asked me. “She is just some weird girl at school”. I replied. “I have seen her staring at me in gym class before“. Said Rachel. “She really creeps me out”. She added.

“I know, just don’t pay any attention to her”. I said to her.

My mom arrived right on time to pick us up. “Rachel is coming over tonight”. I said to my mom. “Alright”. She replied as I helped Rachel into the front seat of the car. “Hi Rachel”. says my mom as I climb into the back seat. “Hi”. Rachel replies.

“No one said much on the ride home that night. I was always ,in the back of my mind, keeping an eye out for the lost town people. I was still hopeful we would find them.

Federal agents had been around town since a few days after they went missing. They probably knocked on everyone’s door asking questions, looking for any clues to help them solve the case.

“Don’t stay up too late”. Says my mom as she hugs us both. “Take her home in the car when Its time for her to go”. She added. “Ok mom. Thank you”. I reply. “Sweet dreams”. Says Rachel as mom is walking away. “You too”. She replies and walks up stairs to bed.

Rachel and I walked over and sat on the couch. “I feel so safe here with you”. She says to me. “I’m glad you do”. I reply as I kiss her just below her ear on her jaw line. “I feel so scared all the time now”. She continues. “Never knowing what might happen around the corner”. “I know what you mean”. I tell her, as I pull her back against my chest to hold her tight. “I have never been this worried to be out at night since I was young”. I added.

We sat in silence for a while just feeling each other’s heart beat. It had been more than a month, but I still was amazed that Rachel and I were together like this. I had wanted to be with her so much in the past. Now it was my reality.

I woke up to see the time being one thirty a.m. We must have dozed off earlier. I gently shook Rachel awake. “Hey”. I softly said. “I need to take you home”. I continued. “Oh no”. She said. As she looked at the clock and jumped to her feet. “My parents are going to be furious”. She added.

It was hard to keep my eyes open on the way home from dropping off Rachel. I was so tired, I couldn’t even think. The town looked so much different to me as I drove through the neighborhoods back to my house.

Suddenly, I see Stewart dart across the street in front of my car. I narrowly missed him and saw his face clear as day. As far as I knew, he was still missing. His face was pale and his eye color looked completely different. Dark and lifeless.

I stopped the car, put it in park and rolled down the window. “Stewart”! I yelled. He didn’t even turn back to acknowledge his name being called. Without thinking, I shut off the engine, got out and began to run after him.

There aren’t a lot of fences between houses, so I chased him through a few different streets. Eventually he turned to face me. I was only fifteen feet behind him when he did, so I was immediately face to face with him.

He grabbed me by my shoulders and lifted me in the air above his head. This was amazing, since he was smaller than me. He glared at me with such darkness and hate in eyes.

“Are you trying to die”? He asks me. “What are you talking about”? I reply. “Stewart, Do your parents know where you are”? I ask him. Ignoring his question to me. “I don’t need them anymore. I have a new family”. He replies.

“What are you talking about”? I ask him again. “You are lucky we will be satisfied for awhile, or you would be joining us”. He states. Then he drops me onto to the ground and disappears with amazing speed around a corner.

I immediately jumped to my feet and returned to the car. Instead of going home, I drove straight over to Stewart’s parent’s house. There was nothing I could think was more important at this time.

I pull up to the house, run to the door and begin to knock on it.

No one came a minute after I had knocked. I continued to knock frantically and ring the door bell at the same time. Finally, the porch light came on. The door opened and Paul stepped out side.

“What’s going on”? He asks as he rubs the sleep from his eyes. “I saw Stewart”! I reply frantically. Suddenly his eyes widen as he now looks wide awake. We hop in the car and begin to drive to the location where I saw him. I tell Paul about what Stewart said to me.

We pull to a stop at the place where I encountered Stewart and had the odd conversation. “Right here is where he dropped me and vanished”. I tell Paul as we arrive to the scene. Police showed up soon after to question me about the situation.

I finally arrive back home at about five in the morning. I went into my parents bedroom to inform them of what happened. After a brief chat, I explain to them that I am extremely tired from all that went on and go to my room and sleep.

Chapter Nine

I stayed home from school the next day for obvious reasons. I went to bed two hours before school started. I didn’t even wake up until two in the afternoon. I felt horrible from this sleeping pattern.

I called Uncle Ray to tell him the story of what has been going on lately in my town. “Well”. He started after I told him of little Stewart lifting me so easily above his head and what he said to me. “If vampires were real, that would be my guess.

“Vampires”! I asked. “Yeah. Non human like strength. Talking about his new family and being satisfied. Sounds like vampires to me”. He again said. “I’ve never personally seen a vampire, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist”. He continued.

“Listen Landon, I have to finish up some things. You watch yourself and I will be there in a few days”. Said Ray. We hung up the phone and I just sat there thinking for a while.

Vampires? I questioned to my self. Can that even be a logical explanation? It was now nine thirty at night and I was no where near being tired after sleeping all day. I had along night ahead of me.

Around midnight, I decided to go outside through my back door. I dressed all in black to make myself less noticeable. I cautiously made my way to my front yard along the side of my house. There wasn’t a lot of street lights in the neighborhoods, so I was able to keep a low profile.

As I made my way down the street along the tree line of the curb, I noticed someone walking down the sidewalk the opposite direction of me. I decided to follow along.

Eventually, the person ended up close to where I saw Stewart last night. I followed behind slowly as they moved into the trees. The same exact way Stewart went.

I followed for about the length of two football fields, when I saw an old barn in the distance. The person went into the barn and vanished in the darkness.

Not wanting to go in by myself, I returned to the street and began to walk back home. It was now one fifteen in the morning. I was still wired, wide awake. As I made my way back down my street, someone suddenly put their hand on my shoulders.

I whirled around in fright to see Irena standing there smiling. “You scared me”! I said to her with my voice barely raised above normal. My heart felt like it was going to pound right out of my chest.

“Why are you so edgy”? She asks. “Don’t you know what has been going on here lately”? I reply. “No. I haven’t been paying attention. What has been going on”? She asks with the same smile on her face.

“Well. I’m not even quite sure, but some bad stuff has happened to people”. I tell her. “What are you doing out so early”? She asks me. “I could ask you the same question”. I reply. “Well. My father works nights, so I like to take advantage of this time and go on walks when he isn’t around to tell me not to”. She adds.

“Are serious with your girlfriend”? She asks, not smiling anymore. “I do like her a lot”. I reply. “That’s too bad”. She says with a fake whine in her voice. “We would be good for each other”. She adds. Then she turns and continues into the night.

I arrive home and go to my bedroom. Its two a.m. and I am still awake. I lay in my bed trying to fall asleep, but cant. My mind races over all the things that have happened. Vampires I think to my self.

Vampires aren’t real. I could never suggest it in public. However Stewart looked and acted like I’ve never seen anyone else act in my life. What did he mean by new family? I sat awake for another hour thinking before I finally fell asleep.

The next morning I went down to turn on the TV. And breakings news was taking place. “Irena had been reported missing since last night“. Said the news anchor lady. “Her mom said that she figured Irena had gone to school. After the school called her house. Irena’s mom noticed her bed was never slept in“. Continued the news women. “This has been a reoccurring event lately in our quiet little town. The new family From Upstate New York, Syracuse, has lost their daughter Irena to it”. The news went to commercial.

They never mentioned her dad. I thought to my self. He works all night. I remember Irena telling me. It didn’t seem like anything was fitting together. It made no sense to me what was going on. What was going on? I think to myself.

Suddenly my front door opened. Caught off guard, I jump up to face the door. After a second, Uncle Ray walked in. “What are you doing here so early”? I asked him as he dropped two huge duffel bags.

“Finished up what I needed to and hit the road”. He replied. “You have been staying consistent with your exercising haven’t you”? He adds. “Yeah. Pretty well”. I tell him. “I can tell”. He says back to me.

We went up to my room to talk about what had been going on lately. I was able to fill him in better in person than over the phone.

“How long do you plan to stay”? I ask him. “After Halloween”. He replies. I need to see first hand what’s going on around these parts.

“Hi baby brother”. Says my mom as she enters my room. “Hi sis”. He replies. “How was the drive”. My mom asks Ray. “It was good. Only took me about three hours”. He tells her.

“Dinner is in an hour”. Says mom as she leaves the room. “School is cancelled until further notice after last night”. I tell Ray. “Oh yeah”? He replies with a smirk on his face. “Now we can really get to the bottom of this”. He added

That night at the dinner table we only talked about happy things. We did this every night for Jaden’s sake. We didn’t want to upset her.

After dinner, Ray and I went back upstairs to my room. It was only eight p.m. We planned to go out investigating around eleven. I felt much more confident with Ray there.

The telephone began to ring at nine p.m. “Landon. Williams is on the phone”. My mother yells to me from the bottom of the stairs.

“Hello”. I say after I picked up the phone. “Hey man, what are you doing tonight”? Williams asks me. “Not much. I’m just going to stay home with my uncle Ray”. I tell him.

I didn’t want to say anything about going out tonight because my mom was close enough to hear me talking. I knew if she heard that I wouldn’t be able to.

“Let’s hang out soon”. He says. “For sure”. I reply. Then hang up the phone after saying bye. I kind of felt like it would be nice to have Williams and Andrew along. However, that would attract attention to us more.

I return back upstairs to my room.

　                                                                                                                     Chapter Ten

It’s officially October 24^th as of two minutes ago. Dressed in all black, Ray and I head outside the same way I took the night before. We exited my house out the back door.

It’s a little bit colder than it was last night. I Was glad to have worn that extra, black, sweater. We made our way toward the same spot I had been the night before.

We arrived to the exact place I narrowly missed Stewart. Flash backs of his lifeless, hate filled eyes sent shivers down my body. I had been getting frightful shivers entirely to frequently lately.

“This is it”. I whispered to Ray as the old barn came into sight. “This is where I followed someone to and they went in there with no lights or anything”. I added.

We crept through the trees and bushes getting way more close than I had the night before. The chirping of the crickets was comforting.

As we lay motionless, waiting for a sign of any movement. Something flew over our heads. We continued to lay there in silence.

I suddenly realize that the crickets are no longer chirping. This was very uncomforting. A twig only fifty feet away snaps. My heart begins to race as a figure steps from the trees and approaches the barn.

Why we didn’t hear any twigs breaking before that one, I don’t know. I would have thought to be able to hear some sort of movement. My heart continued to pound.

“Follow me”. Ray says to me with a faint whisper. We make our way to only ten from the barn’s entrance. We continue to lay in silence to be able to hear anything. No sounds came from the barn.

Only five minutes later, a second figure approaches the barn. With the moonlight on our side, I see that is Scott Patterson. He was the second person to go missing.

As Scott is opening the door to the barn, he sharply turn in our direction and put s his nose in the air. As he is breathing, his mouth hangs open to reveal teeth as sharp and long as a dog. His complexion matched that of Stewart’s. Pale with lifeless colored eyes.

Minutes after Scott went into the building, Ray and I quietly made our way back to the street. Half way there, we hear someone else approach. We quickly and quietly continue to hide in a near by bush.

It was Michelle, the first person to go missing. As she passed, I noticed two bite marks on her neck. They were extremely noticeable. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind they were bite marks.

After she passed, we continued and made it to the road. We didn’t go out into the road because we wanted to keep a low profile. We continued along the tree line of the streets until we reached my house.

Ray and I didn’t say anything to each other until we were upstairs in my room. Ray just kind of sat there for a bit with a far off look on his face as if to be really thinking hard about something.

“Vampires”. He finally says. I didn’t say anything in return. I was pretty well convinced that was the case. Why else would people be abandoning their lives to go live in an abandoned barn with random people?

“Vampires”. He said again. “What are we going to do”. I ask him. “What every other vampire hunter has done in ages past”. He replies. “Take them out”. He adds

More shivers course my veins as he says his last statement. “How do we do that”? I ask him. “We’ll start tomorrow. For now, sleep”. He says, then turns to face the wall on his cot he brought with him.

We wake up the next day around nine thirty. We probably only slept six hours. Which was enough, but I didn’t want to make it a habit.

Mom left a note on the counter saying that she took Jaden to the Library and that she will be back around two after running some other errands.

We ate a big breakfast. Hot oatmeal, eggs, bacon and orange juice. After that, Ray and I went out back to get to work on everything we would need for our hunts.

We entered my old tool shed that we hadn’t used in awhile. We only used it for storage these days. A few years back, dad and I built a new, bigger tool shed.

Ray started to grab old brooms, shovels and all other garden tools with long wooden handles. He immediately started to cut them in half with a saw.

Then, he would cut some in half again. After sawing off the old, rusted out tool heads, he began to whittle the handles to sharp points.

About an hour into our work, we had completed enough stakes to be content with. I even made extra incase Williams and Andrew wanted to help.

I wasn’t quite sure how they would react to what I was going to tell them though. I had cancelled our trip to the desert for obvious current affairs. Plus, I wouldn’t feel right about leaving my family at this point.

Around two thirty, just after my mom returned home, Ray and I went to the grocery store. We piled a few cloves of garlic into the basket. Also, bought some snacks to put in our pockets to fight off hunger when we would be out and about.

People were staring at us as we made our way to the check out stands. I don’t blame them though. Having a shopping cart full of garlic probably did look and smell strange.

I had to be to work at four thirty, so we hurried to check out and returned back home. I only had an hour to shower and be to work.

Later that day at work, I called Andrew when it was slow. “Hey Drew”. I said to him after he picked up. “I was hoping you would help out with something tomorrow”. I told him.

“What is it”? He asked. “Come over to the costume shop and I will tell you about it here“. “Ok. Williams is here too”. “Can he help too”? Asked Andrew.

“Bring him for sure. I was going to call him after we hung up”. I said to him. “We’ll see you soon then”. He said. Then we hung up. I was hopeful they wouldn’t think I was crazy.

By now, our store was quite empty. Being the only costume shop in town, they didn’t last long. It remained slow for the next few hours.

Around six p.m. a few customers entered. They were boys probably in the age group of junior high. Hyper and full of energy, they joked with each other while wearing some werewolf masks.

I had to settle them down after they almost knocked over a revolving rack with makeup and fake vampire teeth. A few pairs of teeth fell to the floor. The boys picked them up, walked to the register and purchased the werewolf masks.

Soon after they left, Williams and Andrew entered the store. “What’s going on”? Asked Williams. I look around to make sure no one is going to enter the shop and signal for them to follow me to the back of the store.

Once I felt we were out of ear shot of any potential listeners, I tell them what I learned. It probably took me twenty minutes to tell them everything.

“Vampires”? Asks Williams with a sarcastic voice. “Listen man. I was skeptical at first too. That’s why I want to prove to you what I saw”. I tell him.

“How are you going to do that”? Asks Andrew with more toleration in his voice. “Tomorrow, during the day, I’m going to take you to this old barn I saw them going into”.

“We will meet up at nine a.m. tomorrow morning”. I say to them. After talking for a minute more, I hear the bell on the front door ring.

“See you guys then”. I say to them and walk up front to see who it is that came in. As I’m walking up towards the front, I don’t notice anyone there.

Andrew and Williams shrug their shoulders as they walk out of the store. “Maybe someone just pushed it open for fun as they walked by”. Said Williams as they walked down the sidewalk.

I nod to them and re enter the store. It’s now seven p.m. and time for me to start my closing duties. It shouldn’t take me long to close. There isn’t a lot of things left for me to do.

We now close the store at seven thirty. This close to Halloween is always slow enough to close early. Not to mention everything that happens after dark now.

Ray pulls up a few minutes before closing. It was a relief to see him since the sun was pretty well down. He came into the store and gave me a nod.

“You about ready”? He asks me. “Yeah, just a minute more and we can go”. I reply. “My friends are going to come with us tomorrow morning”. I add. “Good. We will need some help”. He replies.

No one was out on the streets as we drove home. It looked like a ghost town now. Which wasn’t far off from it had become.

Ray and I got home, ate dinner and went upstairs to discuss our strategy for the next day.

Chapter Eleven

It was nine fifteen a.m. and Andrew and Williams weren’t here yet. I started to wonder if something had happened to them last night. I hated that thought.

Suddenly, they appeared around the corner down the street. They looked tired as they got closer. As if they didn’t sleep very well last night. I don’t blame them. I was up kind of late myself worrying about things that may go wrong.

“Hey guys”. I greeted them as they entered my property. “This is my Uncle Ray”. I say to them and they all shake hands.

We all went around back to gather up all of our equipment. We packed stakes and garlic. Also crosses and blessed water. Ray went to a church and told a bishop that he needed the water for a sick relative and had it blessed.

As we walked down the street, it felt unusual. Typically, I would be doing this at night. Now, we had to work during the day if we wanted any kind of advantage. I imagine we will need all the advantages we can get.

The barn popped into view as we rounded the hill that kept it from view from the street a few football field lengths back. Trees also helped keep it covered by surrounding it for the most part.

We approached the barn cautiously and crept quietly to an window on the side. I couldn’t really see anything inside. It was too dark and the windows were too dirty from years of dirt caking on.

At this point, we decided that we wouldn’t talk to keep a low profile from here on out. Ray led us around to the front door where he barley opened it to look inside.

There was little light inside and he couldn’t make out any objects. He opened the door more to let light shine in. He could see well enough that there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

He then opened the door all the way to let light flood the floor. Old tools that must have been multiple decades old were scattered about the barn entrance. They looked like they were recently placed there to block the walk way further into the barn.

We slowly entered the barn. After only a few feet of walking, a loud bang came from further in. We stopped to listen for any other movement or sound.

I could hear my heart beat so loud, it blocked out most other noise. Suddenly, a cat jumped out from the darkness and bolted past us out of the barn. It made Williams about jump out of his shoes when it ran past him.

With a sigh of relief, we continued into the barn. Ray started to pull sheets from the windows to allow more light to penetrate the barn. It was bigger inside than it looked from the outside. The trees that surrounded it made it appear smaller.

We were half way through when we noticed someone laying in the hay sleeping. Cautiously approaching the person, Ray signaled for everyone but him to stop. Williams, Andrew and I came to a halt about ten feet away as Ray continued on.

Ray stood just inches from the still person sleeping. He then kneeled down beside he or she. He stayed there a good two minutes observing before he returned to us.

Just as he was about to say something to us, the person rose from the hay. I gasped at the sight of seeing Scott Patterson rises to his feet without even bending his knees or using his upper body at all. As if to be floating.

Ray whirled around just in time to meet the vampire and narrowly dodge as Scott lunged for Ray. Without thinking, I reached into my bag and pulled out a stake. Andrew and Williams did the same.

“What do you plan to do with those”? Asks Scott with a hiss in his voice. We don’t reply. Scott begins to move closer to us with his teeth baring angrily. “You have disturbed my slumber”! Yells Scott with the same hiss.

Suddenly he lunges towards me and the others. I narrowly dodge, but he captures Williams in his clutches. Andrew screams at Scott. “let him go”! Scott just laughs.

Where is Ray I think to myself as I frantically look around the room. I then decide to lunge at Scott with the stake in my hand. He easily dodges and kicks me in the chest as I fly by him.

Then Andrew attempts the same move with his stake and suffers a similar result. We both lay there gasping for breath. My vision starts to blur in and out of focus. It wasn’t looking good at this point for Williams or any of us.

Continuing to laugh, Scott then draws Williams closer with his mouth opened more wide than humanly possible. Still out of breath and unable to move, I watch in horror.

From the top rafters comes a splash of water the volume of a twenty ounce bottle. Steam starts to rise from Scott instantly after the contact. He drops Williams and begins to cover his face and eyes with his hands.

He screams out in pain a sound so evil and ear piercing. Holy water. I think to myself. Ray must have dropped it from the rafters.

I immediately jump to my feet to take advantage of the situation. I wasn’t sure how long this window of opportunity would be open.

Still thrashing around, I lunged toward Scott and bury the stake in my hand deep between his shoulder blades. I continue to push it deeper into him as he falls to the floor.

I turn to see Ray staring at what was left of Scott Patterson. His body starts to instantly turn to dust. A gurgling sound raises from his body before the last of him disappears.

From all the disturbance, we hear lots of movement coming from the back of the barn. Hisses and snarls arise from the shadows as we back up towards the door.

“Run”! Yells Ray before we see anything surface into the light. Without any hesitation, we run for our lives out of the barn. We don’t stop running until we reach the road. We don’t look back once.

“Lets call the cops”. Said Williams between deep breaths. “No. They wouldn’t believe us anyway”. He replied also trying to catch his breath.

We hastily walked towards my house. Looking back every few steps. My heart was still pounding so hard that I could barely hear what Andrew and Williams were talking about.

“I cant believe that just happened”! Williams eventually said after returning to a semi normal heart rate. “I know”. Replied Andrew. “My chest hurts”. Complained Andrew. I couldn’t blame him though. So did mine.

“Meet back at my house at four p.m. I tell Andrew and Williams”. “That gives us five hours”. Ray added. “What then”? Asked Andrew. “We get organized and go back”. Replies Ray.

We part ways and return to our homes. Ray and I don’t say much on the way home. I could tell that Ray was deep in thought and I should be in the same place.

“Where have you boys been”? Asks mom as we approach the house. She had Jaden out side letting her ride her little bike. ? “I took Ray on a hike to show him around”. I reply to her.

“Hi Jaden”. I call to her as she does another turn at the top of the driveway. “Hi Lando”. She sometimes leaves the n off at the end of my name. I don’t mind it though. Ray and I go inside to eat and drink to re energize our selves.

“We will need more long wooden spears for stakes”. Ray finally says to me after eating a couple of sandwiches and drinking half of his glass of juice. “Also some bungee chords”. He adds.

I don’t question what he says. I feel good about having him here. I doubt I could do it without him. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if he wasn’t there today.

Ding dong. I hear the door bell as it wakes me from dozing off. I stretch out and get up from the couch. As I’m walking towards the door to answer it, I start to get nervous.

“Hi stranger”. Says Rachel as I open to the door. “Hi”. I reply with a smile on my face. I was so relieved to see her, I instantly embrace her and pull her close to me.

“I missed you”. She says with a upset look on her face. “I know. Its been crazy lately”. I reply. “What’s been keeping you busy”? She asks with an annoyed look on her face.

“Work and chores around here. Also some family stuff”. I tell her. I didn’t want to lie to Rachel, but I wasn’t sure how she would handle the truth.

“Oh”. She says. And gives me a big smile and hugs me tight again. “Well I’m glad to see you now”. She says as she pulls away and continues to smile.

Ray was upstairs sleeping still. I was instructed to wake him up at three p.m. That was one hour from now. I had to figure out a way to keep Rachel away and safe. That wasn’t going to be easy.

“I hope you don’t go out at night”. I tell her. “I’m too scared to”. She replies. “Good. You should be”. I tell her with a serious face.

“Do you know what’s going on around here lately”? She asks with seriousness in her eyes. “I think I might”. I tell her as I look to the ceiling to avoid eye contact.

“Well”. She asks as she looks deeper into my eyes. “I will tell you when I know for sure”. I reply. Even tough I did already know. Without a doubt.

We sat and talked about other things for awhile longer. About happier times. She told me of times she had with her cousin while living with her. Things that made me smile with embarrassment.

“One time we had a fart war that lasted for ten minutes straight”. She tells me. “Gross. I don’t want to hear about that”! I tell her with a disgusted voice.

She playfully punches me in the arm. I tickle her and kiss her on the cheek. We felt very comfortable around each other. At least, I felt comfortable around her. I guessed she felt comfortable with me if she tells me about a fart war she was in.

“Hey. I have to help my dad with some stuff in a little bit. Do you want me to call you later when I’m finished”? I ask her. “I guess”. She says with a fake whiny voice.

“You better not forget about me”. She says as she pinches my bicep. “How could I”? I say as I pinch her bicep back. We tell each other bye and I close the door.

It was now three fifteen. I was fifteen minutes late from waking Ray up. I hurried upstairs to wake him. I wonder exactly what he had in mind now. Whatever it was, I hoped it worked.

Chapter Twelve

I call Ray’s name to try and wake him up. No response. Again I call his name. This time louder. He opens his eyes and looks at me.

After his eye’s adjust, he stands up from the bed. He doesn’t say anything to me. He just stretches then gathers up some equipment for round two of today. You could see in his eyes that he was ready.

We go down stairs to eat lunch and prepare for the rest of the day. Now I have an idea of what is to come. I’ve never been so worried in my life.

After we eat, we go out side to make sure we have all the supplies we will need. Holy water sure came in handy. We also need plenty of stakes to make sure we can seal the deal. Or drive the nail in the coffin if you will.

It’s four p.m. This time, Andrew and Williams are right on time. I watch as they approach my yard for the second time this day. They have a certain confident swagger in the way they walk.

“You guys ready”? Asks Williams with a straight face. Neither of them ever change their stone like facial expressions. I have never seen anyone of them this serious before in the history of our friendships.

“Just about”. Replies Ray, matching their tone and attitude. Of course he raises it to a higher level of calm and collectedness. He acts as if he was born to do this.

We double check all of our packs and begin to make our way back to the barn. My mom left a note to me stating that she took Jaden to the park and would be gone until six p.m. Dad was meeting them there after his meeting.

I was relived I didn’t have to explain to her where we were going again. I didn’t want to lie to her and I knew she wouldn’t like to hear the truth. Same as Rachel but on a more serious level.

I start to feel my heart rate quicken as the barn comes into view. The sky is filled with scattered clouds that are starting to join each other. The wind picks up as the sun is engulfed.

Andrew looks at his watch and breaths a big sigh. “What time is it”? I ask him. “It’s four thirty seven”. He replies in a whisper voice.

Williams looks at Andrew an sighs too as if to mock him. Although I think we all needed to take a deep breath. Who knows how many of them would be waiting for us this time around?

We slow our pace as we become fifteen feet from the entrance. Ray pulls out a stake for left hand and some blessed water for the right. We all do the same. Except now, I notice Williams is wearing a cross around his neck.

Ray ties a string to the door knob to be able to open it at a safe distance. He backs up about five feet and begins to open the door. We all stand at the ready with our weapons anticipating what will come next.

The door to the barn is now wide open. No movement or sound comes from within the barn. Ray begins to slowly move towards the opening.

After a seconds hesitation, I follow. Then Williams and Andrew fall in line behind me as we enter the barn. We stop and spread out in a straight line to allow our eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Armed and ready for battle, we walk with our backs to each other towards the center of the room. We walk this way to cover all angles the vampire’s may attack us at.

We stop when we reach what we think to be the center of the main floor. Silence is all we hear as we stand quietly with our backs towards the center still. I can feel the tension rising within our circle. Blood pumping to the heart at great speeds.

After a minute, Ray takes out his gigantic flashlight and turns it on. He shines it slowly around the room to get a a good look at everything around us.

The barn is littered with old farm equipment. Everything from a rake to a tractor. All the items are rusted and out dated. Forgotten in a time capsule of our town’s history. More history is to be added soon.

After scanning the barn a few different times, I wondered where all the noise was coming from earlier after Scott was destroyed. Who ever it was, they weren’t revealing themselves now.

My heart rate settles down a bit from the lack of action. However, I never let my guard down. I knew there were more of them here. They just didn’t want to show themselves now. Frustrasted from the result, Ray tells us to walk towards the entrance.

As we get within ten feet of the entrance, a loud bang comes from the back corner of the barn. We immediately stop and shine the flashlight in the direction of the noise we heard.

Suddenly, a shadow leaps from behind a knocked over barrel and darts toward us. “Stupid cat”! Yells Andrew as the black stray streaks past us out side. We continue and exit the barn.

“I wonder where they all are”? Asks Williams out loud but to no one in particular. I ask my self the same question in my mind. They were there earlier this morning. They knew we had been there too. Both times.

“We need to give it a day or so before we go back again”. Says Ray. We will strike at dusk on the evening before Halloween. No one said anything in return. I needed to gather myself anyway. I felt like having a nervous break down.

The rest of the day was spent in the back of my mind. Also in the front and sides for that matter. I couldn’t stop my mind from racing. It was out of control.

That night at dinner was no different. My dad would ask me questions but I wouldn’t really give a sloid answer. I Just sort of grunted in response. I couldn’t concentrate long enough to do otherwise.

“Whats wrong Landon”? Asks my mother would concern showing on her face. “Oh”. I say snapping back into realtiy. Or what I had always thought to be reality. “I’m just tired”. Was my answer. I really was. I was physically and emotionally drained.

Ray had asked to eat later after he took a walk around the town for a bit. I asked him if he wanted me to join him but he said no. He must have needed to be alone to think.

Like clock work, Ray showed up back home just as the sun disappeared behind the hills to the west. I was already for them to rise from behind the towering mountains to the east.

However, with light comes darkness. With good comes evil. Sadly, this is how the world has always been.

These two choices lie within all human beings.

Everyone has a sense of right and wrong. It just all depends on how we are raised. Also, how our parents were raised. And theirs before them clear back until the beginning of human kind.

I think about how accustomed our society and the world has become to wicked ways. Children being sent messages that aren’t so hidden anymore on our television sets.

The media showing kids to live. What’s cool and how to get popular. More and more people are becoming lazy and out of shape. Our society has provided this comfortable lifestyle for us.

When the first great depression hit our economy and our country, people were more intuned to the ways of nature. They could still fend for themselves. These days, with our economy slipping downward, people are not in tune with the old ways. Only the strong and wise will survive.

With my mind racing from subject to subject to subject, I suddenly stop. I relax and settle down back to normal. Jaden comes and gives me a hug to make my worries go away.

“What cha doing brother”? She asks me as she hugs my arm tight. “Just thinking”. I tell her as I hug her back. “About what”? She asks persistently. “Nothing important”. I tell her. “Just some stuff you shouldn’t worry about”. I add.

I spend the next hour watching cartoons with my little sister. We laugh and have a good time. Something I will strive to continue to do as I age throughout my life time. Just laugh and have a good time.

Soon, Jaden falls asleep. I pick her up and carry her to her room. I lay her down on her bed and kiss her fore head. I would do anything to protect her. Anything!

Chapter Thirteen

It’s October Twenty ninth. The leaves on all the trees have pretty well died an fallen to the ground below. Weather around this time of year is unpredictable.

The kids may have cool mild temperatures for trick or treating. Or they could be trudging through a blizzard. I’ve experienced both numerous times throughout my trick or treating carreer.

Yesterday, I called in to the police station to ask if they had sent anyone to check out the old barn on the south side of town. To see if they could find any clues leading to our last towns people.

They told me they have checked it a few different times. The person on the other end of the phone at the police station told me they have checked every square inch of the town.

I guess they didn’t have good timing when they went to the old barn. We didn’t either the second time that we went that day. I realize that timing is everything.

Trying to be optimistic, the town was preparing for the Halloween parade that was to take place later today. I had to work for a few hours to help get everything finalized.

The costume shop I worked for has a float that will be in the parade. It was my job to help bolt down the decoration so they don’t fall off. It was exciting to see all the town kids full of life and energy.

I was going to meet my family at the parade later in front of the shop. It’s roped off along the curb for employees and their families. It was the best seats we could get.

It was now four fifteen. The parade starts at five p.m. Our shop is in a rush to make sure everything is ready by then. We seemed to be on schedule as far as I could tell.

“Landon, make sure the trim is stapled all along the bottom of the floor on the float”. Yells my boss Jon from across the warehouse we were using to construct the float. I hurry and grab the stapler to double check the perimiter of the float. I only have to put a couple of staples in on the entire float. I do it just to make Jon happy.

At four thirty, the float drives off with all the people that will ride on it to go get in line. I sit down and take a drink out of my water bottle. I was so thirsty that I had no other choice.

“Good work”. Says Jon as he walks over to sit by me. “Thanks”. I reply. “You can leave now and find you family for the parade. Make sure and be back here at five thirty”. He says, as he stands back up and walks away.

I sit for a minute more to finish my water. Everyone else has now left. Just minutes ago, it was bustling with busy workers like bees preparing the float. It made my mind wander to unpleasant thoughts.

The warehouse is completely silent. Everyone must have follwed the float right out. Most of lights had been shut off. Only the lights that light the path to the exit are lit.

I turn a corner to see the exit fifty feet away. I contiue towards it with a sigh of relief. Daylight pours in through the doorway. Im only twenty feet away from outside now.

Boom! The door slams closed after someone runs through it. I stop instantly and stand with a defensive ready stance. The person has a balck cloak on with the hood covering their head and face. A liggitement Halloween costume.

The person slowly starts to walk toward me. I back up a few steps and call out, ”who are you”? No reply. Their pace quickens and then suddenly stops about ten feet from me.

I am now in full stance them as well. Im glad they didn’t. My heart was pounding out of my chest. They have been so frequent, I may have a heatrt awaiting altercation. If they had come much closer I may have advanced on attack too.

“What do you want”? I ask the cloaked individual standing before me. They pull the hood down slowly off their head. It must be the longest hood ever sown onto a robe.

“Snow White”? I say subconsciously. “Who”? She replies. “Irena. What are you doing here?! I thought you were missing”? I ask ask her.

“I know exactly where I am”. She says with a snarl in her voice. “Does your mother know where you are? Does she know that you are safe“? I continue to ask. “She has never known anything”. She says as her snarl worsens.

“Are you alright”? I ask her as I take a step back. “You need to just accept what is happening in your town”. She says to me. “What are you talking about”? I ask as I now advance a few steps toward her.

She matches me and begins to again slowly advance toward me. “I told you that I was from Romania. That is the truth“. She says as she starts to walk into the dark shadows away from the light of the path in the warehouse.

“The news said you were from Syracuse “. I say to her. “Why did your mom tell the police that you are from the north part of New York state in Syracuse?

“My father and I moved from Romania to Syracuse when I was ten. He met that lady there last year and married her. She is my step mom“. She informs me. “She doesn’t know anything“. she adds.

I can’t see her at this point. She is too deep in the shadows. I have a good idea where she is from the sound of her voice though.

“You have already interfered with our plan by destroying Scott. He was intended for a big role in our plot”. She says to me. “I can not allow it any more”. She adds. Her voice now seems to be surrounding me.

I whirl around in a circle following her voice from the shadows. “I wont allow you to do this”! I scream out at her. “Ha ha ha”! She cackles with a sinister laugh. “Its already to far along for you to contain”. She replies to me still chuckling.

Out side the parade is starting. I hear the blasts of fire works sound off in a row that lasts a good thirty seconds. Quite extravagant for a Halloween parade.

“I have been given the assignment to make sure you don’t get in the way any more“. She says to me. Her voice still circling me like a pack of hungry wolves.

After standing still a minute more, I make a dash to the door. Reaching out to grab the handle, I am tripped from behind and fall hard into the door. I hurt my shoulder a little from the impact.

I stand to face her, as she jumps to the other side of me and kicks me in the side with the power of a football punter. She easily knocks the wind from my lungs and I slide down the door to the floor. I lay gasping for breath, while she walks around me giggling like a little girl.

“I thought you would have been tougher than this to transform into one of us“. She says to me still giggling. She bends over me and grabs my chin to square my face up with hers.

“You will make a much better servant than you ever made an enemy”. She whispers to me. I notice a little container of water hanging out of my shirt pocket.

I grab the bottle and take off the cap. I was thirsty and needed a drink to wet my dried out throat from gasping for breath. I dub the entire contents of the bottle into my mouth.

The water tastes so pure and fresh on my tounge. There was only about two swigs in the bottle. I slowly swallow half of my mouth full. I let the other sit there for a second.

Suddenly, I realized where the water came from. “Hurry and swallow your last drink of water you will ever need”. Says Irena with a smirk on face.

She is still bent down close to my face. “Swallow it, or I’ll hit it out of your mouth”! She screams to me. I keep it there in my mouth and smile. She cocks her hand back ready to strike me.

I spit the water all over her face and in her eyes. She jumps back and screams out in pain. “What have you done to me”?! She yells. I quickly jump to my feet and search for wood.

There is nothing useful that I can spot in the light nearby me. I am frantically looking around for anything to protect myself. With my back turned, I have my legs kicked out from underneath me.

Enraged, she picks me up by my shirt and raises me above her head. “You are no longer going to be human”. She says to me with teeth ready to sink into my neck.

I struggle and kick to try to free myself. It’s no use. She has me in her clutches and is lowering me toward her fangs. I am fearing for my life as I have never done before. It seems to be the end for me.

Irena yells out in pain as her shoulders tense to squeeze back and together. She drops me as she turns around and falls to the floor falt on her face.

I see a black wooden stake sticking out of her back between her shoulder blades. Her face twisted in horror as she dies with the expression stained on her face.

I look up to see Ray standing above her breathing heavily. After Irena’s body desinigrated, he held out his hand to help me to my feet. Without saying a word, we walk out side to find my family for the parade.

Chapter Fourteen

Ray and I find my parents and Jaden sitting in front of the costume shop. The parade had just barely started. “Where were you”? Asks my mom as we pull chairs to the curb and join them.

“I just had some stuff to finish up in the shop before I could leave“. I reply to her. “Hi Lando”. Says Jaden as she jumps up to sit on my lap. “Hi”. I say back to her. We sit and watch all the floats slowly drive by.

The street is lined with the towns people and the people in the parade. The majority of the crowd has costumes on. Kids are wild with excitement as a someone in the wolf man costume runs down the street howling and giving high fives.

Evey once in awhile, I spot someone wearing a cloak similar to the one Rachel was wearing. They always seem to be swallowed up by the crowd after a few seconds though. How many more of them are here? I ask myself.

The parade only lasts about a half hour. When it ends, I take a couple of wooden stakes from Ray and place them in a back pack he brought for me. There is also some more blessed water. Ray has been carrying these things around with him lately everywhere he goes.

“Make sure your sister and the rest of my family get home safe”. I tell Ray. “I will come and pick you up in an hour after you get done with your clean up duties”. He replies to me.

They walk off and dissapear into the crowd. I turn and begin to walk back to the shop to get everything taken down and put up from the float. The people of the town quickly get in their cars and drive home to adhere to the eight p.m. curfew that is still set in place.

I am one of the first to get back to the shop. I get a broom and dust pan to sweep up the ashes that was once Irena. I am not even fazed at the thought of sweeping up vampire dust. It fells natural now.

“That went well”. Jon says as he walks past and pats me on the back. “The float looked good”. I reply as I dump the ashes into the garbage. I follow Jon to the float to help with taking it apart.

After all of duties are complete, I say goodbye to Jon and walk outside to wait for Ray. It’s seven p.m. the sun has pretty well sank behind the western hills now. The streets are deathly silent.

Across the street and fifty feet down, I see someone walking long the sidewalk in my direction.

As they get closer, I notice the same kind of cloak Irena was wearing covers them. I quickly duck into the side alley of the shop.

I stay hidden behind some garbage cans as the cloaked person gets closer. They stop directly across the street and faces me. I feel like they know exactly where I am and it makes me very nervous.

The unknown, cloaked individual continues to stare in my direction. I don’t know whether to run or to stay out of sight. My chest starts to hurt from stress as the hooded person takes a step into the street towards me.

Head lights appear to light up the person in the costume. It must have scared him or her, because they retreat into the trees behind them. My heart rate slows, but chest continues to burn.

Ray pulls up right in front of the alley and stops. I run and quickly jump into his truck. I put my seat belt on as we drive away. I look back towards the trees the person ducked into. No sign of anyone.

“Did you see that person in that familiar cloak”? I ask Ray while holding my chest. “Yeah, I did. I wonder how many of them were out tonight”? He replies.

It looks like a ghost town as we drive through the streets. They are empty with not even stray cats visible to the eye. I couldn’t have asked for a better Halloween scene in my life. I just wasn’t sure if I could handle it.

We didn’t say much to each other on the ride home. Seem like we don’t ever say much to each other unless it’s important. It runs in that side of my family. I personaly think it’s a good way to be.

Shortly after arriving home, We ate dinner. Following dinner, my whole family watched a movie. To get in the spirit of Halloween, mom wanted to watch a movie about witches. She didn’t realize that I’ve never been more in the spirit of Halloween.

The movie finishes and I retire to my room to go to sleep. It again, has been an exhausting day. I can only imagine how I will feel after tomorrow night. If I make it that far, that is.

My body is drained of all energy. My mind however, is racing with excitement. I cant help to think to myself. Why me? Why my little town? Of course I fail to produce any answers.

I look at the clock on my dresser to see the time being one thirty a.m. I toss and turn unable to fall asleep. I start to become frustrated and take it out on my pillow by punching it a couple of times.

That only makes me more awake and more frustrated. I get up and go downstairs to the kitchen to get a drink of water. My throat is bone dry and in need of liquid.

I return to my bedroom. As soon as I enter, I see a shadow at my window. It quickly vanishes as I enter further into my room. I rush to the window to see what it was.

I look out to see nothing but trees blowing in the wind. I sigh and figure my fatigue is affecting my mind. Then flying away into the moonlight, I see a bat.

Instanlty, I start to put garlic all throughout my house. Hanging in on window seals. Placing it on end tables. I put it everywhere. I don’t want to leave anywhere to chance.

After decorating the interior of my house with strong odored garlic, I return to my room and pull the shade down over my window. I lay back down on my bed in hopes to settle down and fall asleep.

It’s now two fifteen a.m. I finally start to doze off. I have a very peaceful feeling come over me. My body actually leaks my exhausten into my mind, and I fall asleep.

Chapter Fifteen

The sunlight dances all around me as it seeps through the tree tops. I make my way through the winding forest trail with grandpa leading the way. Carrying our fishing poles and tackle boxes, we carefully step over branches and roots of the trees that Surround us.

Grandpa is wearing his same old straw cowboy hat. I have on one his many foamie trucker hats to shade the sun from my eyes and face once we emegre from the trees. Out of the cover of the forest, it’s somewhere about ninety degrees out side. Birds are chirping and squirrels leap from tree to tree as we make our way to our fishing hole. Well, one of our many fishing holes we go to. There are plenty in grandma and grandpa’s little town .

We come to a clearing that looks like it is a natural coloseum for plays and other forms of entertainment. Bowl shapped and grass filled, it is a perfect place to sit and enjoy our surroundings for a bit.

The way the light floods the other side, it illuminates the stage where birds swoop through. Wild flowers dance gracefully as the wind sways them back and forth.

The whipering of the wind on the tree tops provides the music for the production of nature at it’s purest. I sit beside my grandpa and soak it all in. Nothing else in the busy world we live in could take my concentration of this serenity I’m experiencing.

“Beautiful, isn’t it”? Grandpa says as if to read my mind. “The way we can sit here and let all of our worries dissapear”. He continues. I just nod my head in agreeance.

We take a couple of sandwiches out of our packs and eat them casually as we continue to rest and relax in our private outdoor theatre. The sun is at it’s highest point in the sky declaring that is high noon. A perfect time to be resting in the shade.
After we finish our lunch, we continue on through the forest. It’s only another mile or so to our fishing spot. There is also plenty of shade there. If there wasn’t, the fish wouldn’t bite our hooks because of the afternoon summer heat.

Butterflies swoop between trees and circle our heads. The sun light glistens on their wings and produce a radiant glow. It makes me happy to see them. We walk up a hill a quarter of a mile and around some thick bushes.

The water of the pond reflects the light and dances atop the ripples the wind produces. I have been coming here since I can remember. I always like to see how it changes and grows with the passing of each year.

“Here we are”. Says grandpa in his calm and cool tone of voice. We set up our chairs in our usual place under the willow tree that hangs over the bank on the western side. The same place since I was young.

I take out a worm and sew it onto the hook. Grandpa does the same and we cast our poles out into the water. Grandpa’s line goes just a little bit farther out into the pond than mine does. I’ve been getting closer to the same distance as his the past couple of years.

“What do you want be when you get older”? Grandpa asks me as we sit watching the ends of our poles for a fish to bite. “I don’t know”? I reply as I shrug my shoulders.

“Well. What do you like to do now”? He asks. “I like to draw and paint”. I say as I pull leaves off the tree we are sitting underneath. I actually love to draw, I think to myself.

“Then you can be an artist”. He says and pats me on the shoulder. “Maybe”. I reply. I didn’t want to think of when I got older. It seems people always for the worst when the age. I guess it just depends on the person.

My fishing pole starts to bow violently. It appears I have a bite. I grab my pole and yank upwards to snag the fish good. Then I start to reel it in.
The fish is fighting back for his life with all his might. My pole looks as if it is going to break in half. I continue to reel it in, but very slowly. My hand starts to tire after a few minutes.

I finally get a glimpse of the fish as it approaches the surface caught on my hook. It’s a whopper. If I can reel it in, it will be the biggest fish I have ever caught. I am very excited now. My fishing pole has never beenthis strained. “You can do it”! Yells my grandpa in excitement. “It’s a monster”! He continues to shout. I reel it in inch by inch.

Eventually it gets close enough for grandpa to slip the fishing net underneath it an scoop it up out of the water. He has to use both hands and still struggles to lift it free from the pond.

I drop my pole and join my grandpa in the effort to drag the fish onto the bank. After I help, we yank the fish up on shore. I stand to catch my breath after the long battle.

“Oh look at that”! Grandpa yells. I smile at him then look back to the fish. It was the biggest fish I had ever caught. Probably the biggest I have ever seen for that matter.

I decide not to fish for the rest of the day. I feel I have accomplished what I came here for. Grandpa moves down the shore a few feet and casts out his line again. He then lays it against a rock and walks back to where I was sitting.

“You could be a professional fisherman aftrer this catch”. He says with a smile and ruflles my hair. “I guess”. I reply and look down to hide the embarrassment on my face.

“You’ll do great in life”. He says to me as he walks back over to watch his pole. It was the best compliment I have received in a long time. I smiled and looked out over the pond that I know so well.

After about ten more minutes, Grandpa’s pole started to bend slightly. He looks at me and says in a low gruff voice. “Uh oh”. The pole bends again, a little more this time.

After a third time, he picks up his pole and yanks up on it hard to snag the fish. He is able to reel it in much easier than the fish I wrestled with a bit ago. After a minute, the fish surfaces.

It’s a good sized fish. Almost as big as mine. It’s not as aggressive as mine, so it easily is scooped up in the net. He hooks it next to mine on the metal chain and throws it back into the water.

“It’s been a good day”. He says with a smile. “We have been blessed”. He adds. “Grandma will be excited to cook these up for dinner“. I reply. We Gather up our equipment and fish and start to make our way back down the mountain. The sun tells me it’s about four thirty.

The forest is quickly getting darker with every minute as a storm rolls over head. Grandpa looks up to inspect the threatening clouds, then quickens his pace. I match his pace to get out of the forest before the storm hits.

Rain starts to sprinkle on my face lightly. A few drops soon turn into a few more, and so on. Now it is a steady spring shower. The car is about a half mile away.

Suddenly, two cloaked figures leap from the bushes and tackle grandpa. I instantly drop my gear and go to help grandpa fight off the attackers. Grandpa is strong and is able to throw one of them to the ground.

Just before I reach them, two more people covered in black robes and hoods jump out from the forest darkness to grab and trip me to the ground. I struggle, but it’s no use. I am pinned to the ground by the two individuals.

I watch in horror as a fifth person emerges from the trees. The two that have grandpa hoist him to his feet. The fifth person walks over to grandpa and bends grandpa’s head to the side to expose his neck.

I scream out as I watch grandpa struggle to get free. It’s too late. The man sinks his teeth into grandpa’s neck and begins to suck his blood. When he drinks his fill, they drop grandpa and he falls to the forest floor.

I am kicking, screaming and struggling with all my might to get free. The man that bit grandpa turns and walks towards me. His hood masking his face so I can not se who it is.

Just like grandpa, he pushes my head to the side and lowers his fangs toward my neck. I continue to scream and struggle, but it’s no use. They have me tightly in their grasp. I close my eyes to await my sealed fate.

I scream out one last time before the person sinks his teeth into my neck and begins to suck my blood. It feels like a vaccum draining me of my life liquid. I slowly fade and hit the ground. I look up for an instant to see nothing but faceless people in black robes and hoods standing above me. Then I black out.

I rise rapidly from my bed in a cold sweat. Ray is siting in my chair watching with concern on his face. “It’s just a dream”. He says to me. As I pant to catch my breath.

“However, it is the day before Halloween”. He continues as he rises and walks out of my room. I lay back with a thud on my bed and continue to try to settle my heart rate.

Chapter Sixteen

The entire town is completely decorated with Halloween decorations. It looks like one big spook alley with haunted house after haunted house.

I smile to see when I see excitement on the children’s faces. Like I had when I was younger.

Halloween had always been a fun time for me. Even though everything looked scary, it was all out of good times and light heartedness. A time to celebrate our dead, not mourn them.

Jaden ran around the house in her cute little witches costume chanting, trick or treat. She was enjoying herself so much. No worries in life yet. No responsibilities to stress her out. I am going to keep it that way as long as I can.

Mom and Jaden went to the store to pick up some last minute decorations and candy to hand out. Ray had been outside in the back yard since I woke up. As far as I could tell, he was meditating or something. I didn’t want to disturb him whatever he was doing.

I decided I wasn’t going to exercise today. I needed to save my energy for sundown. I would get plenty of strenuous activity then. I needed to mentally prepare myself like Ray though.

Ring, ring. The sound of the phone buzzes through out the house. I walk over to it and answer. “Hey sweetie”. Says Rachel on the other line. “Hi”. I say as if I truly miss her. Which in fact I do. “Im coming to see you”. She informs me. “I cant wait”. I reply. We hang up and I go in the kitchen to make a sandwich.

Ray enters through the back door and comes over to make himself a sandwich. We give each other high fives as we pass. No words exchanged between us.

I sit at the table and begin to eat. “What was your dream about”? He asks without looking up from making his lunch. “Fishing with grandpa….and vampires”. I tell him.

He chuckles and continues to make his sandwich. “We both got bit”. I tell him. “It was just a dream”. He replies, still not looking up at me. He was really putting a lot of meat and cheese. He was big though.

“When are we going”? I ask him. “At Five thirty”. He replies. “We need to start to get everything ready at four”. He adds. “I will call and get Andrew and Williams over here by then”. I tell him.

It was twelve noon. I had four hours to be with Rachel and do whatever else I needed to before it was time to get down to business. I felt like I didn’t even have enough time to breathe. I was stressing out bad.

Ding dong. The doorbell made me jump off the couch with surprise. I answered to see Rachel standing there in an angel costume. She looked so beautiful. I couldn’t even speak or I would have told her so. Instead, I just hugged her and escorted her in to sit down.

“Hey honey”. She said cheerfully. “Hi. You look so pretty”. I reply. She giggles and leans in to kiss me on the face. I return her kiss but on her lips instead. Her cherry chap stick tastes good.

“The float looked good in the parade”. She says to me. “Thanks. It was hard work but very worth it”. I reply. She cuddles close in my arms.

Ray had gone upstairs to take a nap before we had to go to work. It just occurred to me that Ray and Rachel had never met. Oh well. They will soon enough.

“What are you doing tonight”? She asks as she leans her head onto my shoulder. “I am going to hang out with my Uncle Ray”. I reply. “That should be fun”. She says back to me.

We sit and talk for the next hour or so. Joking and teasing with each other. She pinches my arm and I squeeze her sides to make her jump. I love when we play. It makes me feel like a little kid again.

She bids me farewell at about three p.m. and leaves my house. It was perfect timing because I need to get things organized for later this evening. I instantly start to miss her. I hate to think that this might be the last time I see her.

I go into the kitchen to get more to eat and make some for later. I know I will be hungry from the energy I will expend. I make about six sandwiches. I figure Ray will want some too.

A few minutes later, Ray enters the kitrchen yawning. “Hey bud”. He casually says as he walks to the sink to get a drink of water.”Hey. I reply and take another bite of my sandwich.

Williams and Andrew show up at three fifty. “Hey guys”. I say as I invite them in. “Yo”. Replies Andrew. Williams gives me high five. “Lets go get organized”. Says Ray. We all walk out to the back yard.

In the back yard, we all look like busy bees. Sharpening stakes and filling containers with blessed water. My neighbor peeks his head over the fence.

“What ya doin”? He asks me. “Oh, you know. Vampire hunting”. I reply. He chuckles and replies. “Have fun”. Then walks off.

We all look at each other and chuckle a little bit amongst ourselves. If only he knew we were serious. No one will believe us unless they experience it for themselves. Hopefully no one else has to experience it.

It’s now four thirty. We have all of our equipment packed up and ready to go. We all sit around the patio table and discuss our plan of action. Ray says we should be organized with a plot. I agree.

After everyone is clear on their duties, it is five p.m. It’s time to go. The sun will only be in the sky for about another two hours. We need to set up and prepare.

We make our way towards the barn. Walking down the streets makes it easy to get into the mood for what we are about to do. Houses are covered in spooky decorations.

Fake spider webs line trees and bushes. Coffins flood front yards along with scattered bones. Jack-o-lanterns carved to perfection with jagged teeth and scary eyes. Our town probably puts more effort into Halloween decorating than most towns do decorating for Christmas.

All four of us have our back packs filled with essentials for vampire exterminating. People look at us in wonder as we make our way through the neighborhoods.

I couldn’t get what Irena was saying about their plan out of my head. What did she mean? The conclusion I came to was they are trying to turn us all into vampires. At least that’s the obvious conclusion.

We arrive to the path that leads to the barn. Ray stops at the entrance and just stares for a moment. Then he continues into the woods. We all follow behind him.

We make the last turn to see the barn in sight. It looks just as eerie a the first time I saw it. Maybe a little more now actually since I know what is living there. We cautiously approach.

When we get about fifty feet away, we stop and observe. I look around for any movement in or around the barn. Nothing seems to making a disturbance. I don’t let that fool me though.

Ray signals for us to stay put as he slowly moves closer to the barn. We watch, ready to spring into action with our stakes at the first sign of danger. Which could come without any warning.

Ray approaches the nearest window as gazes in. He looks around for about a minute and return to us. He has a concerned look on his face. I can’t imagine what is wrong.

“What’s going on”? I ask him. “They aren’t here anymore”. He replies. We all look at each other in wonder. Where could they have gone? I think to myself.

“Where could they have gone”? Asks Andrew as if to read my mind. No one says anything for a minute. “How can you tell”? Williams asks Ray.

“ Cause the big door in the back is wide open and there is way to much light in there”. He replies. “I couldn’t see any sign of anything unusual” Ray adds.

We all decide to enter the barn and investigate the scene. We enter through the usual front door and look around. It deffinetly looks like they all left.

Foot prints lead out the big door in the back that the farmer once used to drive his heavy machinery in and out of. We follow the footprints out a few feet, but then they dissapear.

About a quarter of a mile down the path leading from the back of the barn, We see a river. It must be the same river that runs through town. I just have never followed it.

“I wonder where they went” Andrew says to break the silence. No one says anything. “It’s now five fourty five”. Williams says as he looks at his watch. Ray walks back into the barn.

I sit on the ground to rest my legs and stare up at the sky. Somewhat relieved to not find anything, but frightened at the thought of where they might be. I had no idea.

A few minutes later, Ray exit’s the barn and begins to walk toward the river. No one says a word. We just follow him into the woods again. I had no idea what he had in mind. I trusted him though.

Ray must have figured that the footsteps led in this direction before they disappeared, so we would go this way. At least this what I came to conclude. It was exciting to explore somewhere new in my own town anyway.

The trees and bushes started to get thick and hard to walk through. We walked on anyway. We weren’t going to let it stop us. Not something like that.

After a few hundred yards of trudging through the thick forest, we came to a clearing filled with tall grass. It didn’t look like it belonged. As if it was cleared for a purpose by humans years ago, but not maintained.

We continued to walk through the clearing. After about twenty feet into it, Williams tripped and vanished into the tall grass. He immediately jumped up to his feet.

“You guys need to come look at this”. He said with a shrill voice. We walked over and saw what he was looking at. It was surprising what we saw.

“Tombstones with no names on them”. Willaims states the obvious. “I didn’t know this place existed”. Andrew added. “No one has mentioned it to me”. I said.

We soon discovered about a dozen of them spread out in the clearing. None of them had any writing or engraving on them of any sort. This place gives me a bad feeling. I think to myself.

The time is seven p.m. the sun is rapdly decending over the western hills. We journey on to the other side of the hidden cemetery. We pass multiple more graves. Similar to the others with blank tombstones.

As we barely leave the clearing on the other side, we notice an old building draped with vines and surrounded by thick vegetation. The first thing that comes to mind is that it is a crypt.

We cautiously approach it while inspecting the surrounding area for any movement. The wind starts to pick up as th esun drops further in the late October sky.

“I have a good feeling that they are here” Says Ray. “I call that a bad feeling”. Replies Willams jokingly. We continue toward it slowly. We are only fifteen feet away.

The stone door to the crypt looks like it has been opened recently. I doubt anyone has really known about it for fifty years before then. We hold back before opening it.

“Get ready”. Says Ray as he pulls a stake from his pack. He also pulls out a container of blessed water. We all do the same. I look at Andrew and Williams and nod my head to them.

Armed and ready for what may surface from the old building, Ray begins to push the stone door aside. It’s heavy, So Andrew jumps in and helps him.

After they get it open enough to slide in sideways, we enter. It’s very dark inside. The sun only has an hour left in the sky. Williams turn on a flash light and shines it around the room.

It’s not very big inside. I would guess ten feet long and ten feet wide. There is a single coffin in the center of the room. With stakes raised above our heads, we approach it.

Again Ray is the one to walk over to it first. My heart begins to pound in my chest as he struggles to remove the lid from the coffin. My chest pains flare up again. I do my best to ignore them and stay focused.

He finally is able to push the lid off. It falls to the floor with a thud. It is empty as Williams shines the light inside. However, I notice the bottom of the coffin is off center and there is a gap.

I walk over to it and lift the bottom out. It reveals a stair well. It’s covered with spider webs. I take the flashlight from Williams and shine it down the stairs. It goes down quite a ways. It curves, so I cant see the bottom.

Ray begins to move the spider webs out of the way with his stakes. “We aren’t going down there are we”? Asks Williams with a squeak in his voice. “Of course we are”. Replies Andrew with an unpatient sound in his voice.

Ray takes a deep breath and steps up into the coffin and vanishes into the stairway. I follow and then Andrew and Williams does the same. We carefully desend into the unknown.

Around the turn of the stairs, it looks like it continues another fifty feet below. I wonder to myself why this place was built and dug out so long ago. We continue on to the bottom.

Eventually, we come out of the stairs into a cavern looking area. There are no lights and plenty of squeaks from rats. My stomach starts to churn from the feeling of stepping on rats every ten steps.

Williams shines the flash light on the wall and reveals a torch hanging from it. Ray picks it up and lights it. Then he hands it to Andrew. We twist and turn through different little rooms as they slowly become smaller. At least there aren’t any rats now.

It smells damp and musty down here. We wind through the odor filled cave in a single file line. The path continues to get smaller and smaller until we are bent over crawling through.

The ceiling gets so short, we are practically crawling. Finally, we enter into a huge area. There are a few torches lit on the walls. Andrew places the torch he was carrying in a holder on the wall.

“There they are”. Whispers Ray to us. I look over to the other side of the room and notice about ten figures laying in hay. We slowly crawl towards them, stakes in hand.

It’s appearent they are sleeping still. It must be almost time for them to arise. I think to myself. They are almost close enough to us to distinct faces. The hay hides their features though.

We inch toward them not wanting to make any sound. I get close enough to see one their faces. I don’t recognize him. I don’t think he is from our town. However, I can tell that he isn’t human anymore.

Ray signals to us to start the plan. My heart begins to race. The pain returns as I wince and grab my chest. I manage to fight through it. We all move into position.

Each of us standing over a night stalker, we raise our stakes high above our heads. All looking at Ray, he gives us the signal with a nod of his head. I take a deep breath and clutch the stake tight.

All at once, we drive our stakes down with full force into the vampire’s chest’s. As we do this, they let out ear piercing roars of pain and begin to desinigrate.

Instanly, we all move to put our backs to one another for our defence. The other six vampires leap to their feet in reaction to the blood curdling screams from their fellow demons.

Ray pulls out one of his water ballons filled with holy water and launches it towards two vampires in close proximity. It hits one dead on and splashes the other. The one he hit clutches his face as steam rises from it. The others run towards us in rage from our intrudance.

Now all of us start to launch blessed water balloons at them. We hit three out of the five right in their head’s and chest’s. While they cry out in pain we charge them with our stakes.

The two that we missed met us before we could reach the wet ones. One of them squared up with Ray, and the other, with me. Andrew and Williams ran around us to the stunned vampires.

The one that I was battling did not look familiar. His face pale with dark circles around his bloodshot eyes. He must have been a victim from a neighboring town. I lunge forward to bury the stake in his chest but he easily dodges my thrust.

My vision begins to blur except for the vampire in my sight. My heart rate speeding above normal. The night stalker and I circle one another. Slowly moving closer and closer.

An ear drum bursting scream comes from behind me and breaks my concentraion. I turn to see Ray pulling a stake back from a vampires heart. In the background of that, I see another vampire dead with Andrew and Williams battling two more.

What was a split second turn of my head to see that scene, the vampire I am battling jumps on me pins me to the ground. I struggle to get free, but it’s no use.

The demon lowers his exposed teeth toward my jugular. Instantly he jumps off of me and back about ten feet and hisses. I look up to see Ray chase after him. I jump to my feet and chase him too.

The vampire that almost bit me begins to run to the back of the open area trying to escape. Ray quickly pulls out some small wooden darts and begins to hrow them at him. A few hit the vampire and he slows down.

Running slower now, Ray is catching up on the vampire and I am right behind Ray. The demon approaches a small opening at the back of the open cavern. The vampire is about to squeeze through when Ray leaps and buries a stake deep between it’s shoulder blades and instantly drops him.

After a few seconds the vampire turns to dust and we return to Williams and Andrew. As we get closer, I notice that they are gone. There is no sign of anyone. Then I hear a cry for help. I t came from behind a rock about fifty feet behind us. We run to the sound of Williams scream.

When we look around the rock. My stomach cringes at the sight that I see. All the vampires are gone. The last one disintegrates just as we come onto the scene. Then I see the worst part.

Clutching his neck, Andrew sits on the ground against a rock. Williams is crouched down beside him comforting him. No one says anything. Andrew barely looks alive at this point.

“It’s too late”. He manages to gasp. “Don’t let me become one of them”. He says. Then he passes out. We all sit in silence as Williams holds his head up.

We all just stare at him. Suddenly, his teeth start to grow into fangs. “Stand back Williams”. Orders Ray. Williams doent reply and doesn’t move.

“Out of the way”! Shouts Ray. Williams finnaly stands, walks a few feet away and slumps down a wall and begins to cry. “There has to be another way”! He screams.

I look down and away as Ray approaches Williams with a stake in hand. Without any hesitation, He lunges forward and sinks the stake into Williams’ chest and walks away.

I stay motionless. Andrew continues to mourn the loss of our good friend. The loss of our brother. Ray walks off toward the small opening the one vampire tried to escape of earlier.

I help Andrew to his feet and we continue on towards the opening with Ray. Ray slips into crevese without any delay and disappears. Andrew and I follow shortly after.

Chapter Eighteen

Still in shock from the loss of our friend, we continue through the tunnels. Ray didn’t seem to bothered about having to end Williams’ life. I watched his teeth grow, so I know what he was becoming.

Clutching our stakes, we make our way throught the windy cavern. As my new reality sets in, I become angry. I lost someone close to me because of these creatures. I will not lose another.

After a little while of walking, Ray stops to take a break and get a drink of water. I do the same as well as pull out sandwiches for everyone. I am starving. Andrew refuses the sandwich and I place it back in my pack.

The break was only temporary. Just as quickly as ray stopped, he rose to his feet and continued on. The path seemed to continue on with more of the same twists and turns. It seems endless.

Up ahead about fifty feet, moonlight pours into the cavern. “We must have reached the other side”. Says Ray. We walk closer and closer to the lit area. When we enter the lit part, we look straight up hundreds of feet to see the night sky.

It’s almost as if we are standing at the bottom of a silo of some sort. “Where is this place”. I wonder out loud. “This is the bottom of the volcano in Jagged Peak. It’s been inactive for hundreds of years”. Replies Andrew.

Moonlight pours in to the bottom of the deep crater. It lights the majority of the open area. We all start walking toward the center. Looking at the old lava rock was interesting. I had never heard about this place. Although, it isn’t the most accessible area.

Clouds roll over the top of the opening and block the moon out for about ten seconds. Not long enough for us to turn on a flashlight. Then they pass on to let the light shine in again.

“Nice of you all to join us”. Comes a thick Eastern European accent. We whirl around in all directions to see who greeted us. Atop of a big rock in the center of the old volcano is a man. We all stand still waiting for his next words or move.

“You took my daughter’s life”. He says very calmly. “No. her life was taken when she became a filthy blood sucker”. Replies Ray harshly. Ray’s words sent shivers through my body. I expected this to enrage the man.

“She became more powerful than she ever dreamed”! He hissed back at us. “Well. Not powerful enough to survive our run in”. Ray again provoked the man above us.

I couldn’t see his face. He wasn’t wearing a hood or anything. The light just perfectly and mysteriously shadowed his face. I was anxious to see what he looked like.

Wind started to pick up as the man floated down from the rock like a feather to the ground. Ray, Andrew and I backed up a few feet from seeing this. I clutched my stake and hid it behind my back.

“You have been quite the interference in our conquest”. said the man as he continued to float along the ground towards us slowly. I never seen such an eerie sight in my life. It is not of this world. Or so I had thought my whole life.

“I cant have you getting in our way anymore”. he continued. He was heading right for me. “ My Irena told me about you”. he said while looking right at me. “She also told me about your sweet little girlfriend”. He added.

This angered me. “You know nothing you pathetic night stalker”. He yelled back at him. He continued towards me and was only about ten feet from me now.

Suddenly, he dodges out of the way of a blessed balloon hurled from Andrew. A split second later, he dodges with similar quickness, a stake being lunged at his heart by Ray. He just chuckles as he repositions himself and continues toward me.

“You think I am as easy to defeat as my inexperienced minions”? He said while still laughing his evil laugh. “You will know my true power. Than you too, will be a slave for me for the remainder of the universe”. He added.

I was becoming very nervous as he approached me without moving his feet still. A thousand things were racing through my mind. What am I to do about this creature? I wondered if there was anything I could do.

“It’s a shame your other friend didn’t make this far. He would have made a fine slave for me”. said the vampire. This enraged Andrew. “Williams was a good kid”! Andrew yelled. “You are just a coward that needs a bunch of freaks to do your dirty work”! He added furiously.

Again Ray lunged at him with his stake. Again the man dodged, but this time Andrew connected with a holy water balloon right on the side of the vampire’s head.

“Aagghh”! Screamed the vampire as he jumped back to take cover. It looked like the water affected him, just not as much as it did the others. At least he was vulnerable now.

“The person blessed this water must not have been very worthy. I have had more potent holy water doused on me in the past”. Said the demon. “Even the most unworthy person has more power than you. The right kind of power on the side of good”. Said Ray with a calm voice.

“You think that. But I have been around for quite sometime. I only grow stronger with each passing feast of human blood”. Replies the man with a snarl in voice.

“Maybe I will demonstrate my powers to your family and your little girlfriend”. Added the vampire. He began to transform and change shapes. His body began to twist and curl into a smaller form. He was changing into a vampire bat.

The demon started to fly towards the top of the volcano. I grabbed some bungy cords and a cloth out of my pack. Andrew and Ray held either side and I loaded a balloon. I launched the ballon. It missed him to the right. He was almost out of range.

I loaded another, pulled back and let it fly. Direct hit. Steam began to rise from the bat as he spiraled down towards the ground. The vampire bat regained control and swooped up again towards the top.

The third balloon I launched missed by at least five feet. I hurried and loaded another. I pulled back, judged where it should go and let it fly. It hurled through the sky toward the bat. The bat was almost out of range again. The balloon hit dead on. The bat again spiraled down to the ground. This time, it didn’t regain control and hit the ground at a very high speed.

Dust was thrown up into the air where the bat had landed. When the air cleared, it revealed the man standing there again in his vampire human form. He looked more agitated than I have ever seen anyone or anything look before in my life.

In the blink of an eye, the man was right in front of my face from twenty five feet away. He picked me up in his powerful hands and held me high above his head. I was helpless within his grasp.

“Your journey ends here”. Screamed the man right in my face. Andrew tried attacking him with a stake from behind, but the vampire quickly kicked him without even looking. This sent Andrew flying about ten feet through the air.

I looked behind the demon to see Andrew struggling to get back on his feet. Where is ray? I thought to myself. I haven’t seen him for the past few minutes.

Suddenly, a balloon with blessed water smacked into the back of the vampire’s head. He dropped me to the ground as he winced in pain. This was the third or fourth balloon he had been hit by.

I hurried to my feet and backed up a little bit. Then, I took out a balloon of my own and hurled it towards the night stalker. Mine hit him as well. He continued to cry out in pain.

Andrew was now standing and trying to regain his balance. He was kicked with brutal force.

Andrew staggered towards the vampire clutching his stake in his left hand.

The man was still clutching his face in agony. Andrew now only feet away from the vampire, dove with what strength he had left at the demon. He sunk his stake deep between the night stalker’s shoulder blades.

“Ahhhhhh”! The vampire now to his knees trying to reach around and remove the stake from his back. I took the opportunity that I saw and dove towards the demon too.

My stake buried deep in chest. However, in my haste to run the man through, I slipped and he again gained control of me. I again lay helpless in his clutches pinned to the ground.

With two stakes sticking out of his back, the vampire had become somewhat weak. He still had way more power than I could over come. He held me at his will.

With desperation in his eyes, he bared his fangs at me and began to lower his mouth toward my neck to feast upon my blood. Andrew was laying on his side in the fetal position. The vampire had kicked him again with his second attack.

Inches from my neck now, I could smell blood from prior victims on the demon’s breath. It’s all over. I think to my self. We did more than anyone else could have imagined to do. I close my eyes to accept my fate.

Splash, splash, snap. The sounds were two holy water balloons hitting the vampire from above. The third was Ray’s wooden stake piercing the vampire’s flesh as he drove down through his neck into his chest cavity. He drove it right down into his heart to join the other two stakes buried there.

The man let me go from his hands. I could feel what life was left in him slipping rapidly. After about thirty seconds, I easily pushed him off of me and he toppled over to the ground. He layed there looking up to the sky.

As steam began to rise from his body, he started to desinegrate. “Thank you for freeing me from this curse”. Said the man as he turned to dust. The night became silent. The winds became cold. A fresh breeze of security blew down into the old volcano.

Ray extended his hand to help me to my feet. As he pulled me up, I noticed Andrew barely getting to his feet. He was still struggling and holding his stomach. He hobbled over to us and stood over the remains of Irena’s father.

“Let’s go home”. Ray said quietly. We all made our way back the way we came. It didn’t take as long to get out of the cave, as it did making our way into it. It was a relief to be out in the fresh air of night.

All I could think about the entire way home was that Williams will now be known as one the lost towns people. Who would ever believe our story of demon vampires?

How I could look his mother in the eye and not tell her the truth? These questions were eating at me the remainder of our journey home. I could tell that Andrew was thinking similar thoughts. I wasn’t in the mood to discuss them though.

It was one fourty five a.m. by the time Ray and I made it home. I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted at what had just taken place. Plus, it has been building up this whole month. My chest still hurts very bad.

I retire to my room without saying anything to Ray. We just look at each other, embrace in a hug and walk in opposite direction to our sleeping quarters.

I lay in bed wondering if this all really happened. Whether or not is was all just a bad dream. A nightmare. The pain I felt in all aspects told me it was reality. I struggle for an hour, but finally fall asleep.

Chapter Nineteen

Halloween day. I woke up in haze trying to separate reality from dream. It all came rushing back to me and I had no desire to promptly rise from my bed. Williams is no longer with us.

“Landon. Now Williams has gone missing. When did you see him last”? My mother’s words would have shocked me as she entered my room if I hadn’t been there to witness his demise. “Yesterday”. I replied.

She turned and began to weep as she left my room. There has been an infestation in my town. I had no idea how many more were left to cause terror in my little town. I will find out soon enough.

I went down stairs eventually to see Jaden playing in her costume, ready for trick or treating tonight. I volunteered to go with my family for obvious reasons. I wont let anything happen to them.

On the t.v. news was breaking of yet another missing person. My friend Williams. It had been a too frequent occurance in my tiny little Rocky Mountain town. The population was dwindling from a mixture of vampire infestation and people moving away from fear of one of their family members becoming missing.

As I sat on the front porch in the morning sun shine, I thought to myself. Irena’s father was relieved to not be a vampire anymore. Although he had more power than anyone else on Earth, he didn’t want to live forever. Who would want to see the world progressively get worse as time went on.

It’s not your average household’s fault either. There are a few men who control the world’s currency and everything else for that matter. The media tells us how to live and what to buy. The food in our grocery stores are processed with a long list of preservatives and ingredients that we cant even pronounce.

The Vampire’s simply take advantage of our mindless wandering that occurs in our daily lifes. We have been separated from nature so much, that I doubt that we could survive in the wilderness if we had to again. We are destroying the Earth instead of giving thanks and using it for good.

Kids ride by on their bikes enjoying their innocence. Those days are priceless and can never be replaced. One day they too will grow and become part of this society we call life. It’s all we have known and all our parent’s have known.

Ray pats me on the shoulder as he sits down next to me on the front porch steps. We don’t say anything to each other, as usual. We just praise the sun and the safety that comes with it.

It just occurred to me, Irena was able to be outside in the day light. I wonder why she didn’t turn to dust? Maybe that is just a misconception. A stereo type that has existed for ages.

Maybe there are vampires living among us in our daily lives. At work, at school and when we go shopping. The only thing I know is how to exterminate them. I imagine I will get plenty more practice destroting them in the future.

On this particular day, everyone is celebrating death and horror. Decorations colorful of yellow, orange, red, white and black drown every house in sight. Lawns have tombstones and skeletons dangle from trees. Jack-o-lanterns light the paths up sidewalks to doorways inviting those who dare to receive their treat.

It is simply childs play at this point. I’m celebrating today in honor of Williams and how he valiantly fought along side us to help end this terror being caused in our town. He gave his life so others could live theirs out. I hope we all cherish every second we are given.

I don’t dress up to go trick ot treating. People keep asking me what Im supposed to be. The only answer I ever have is that I am a vampire hunter. They chuckle and I smile along with them.

I smile because they have no idea what I’ve been through to keep this sacred day light hearted and fun. They don’t know the sacrifices that have been made by my friends, my uncle and I, so they can take their kids around more safely collecting candy.

I smile as we walk door to door, selling homeowners a trick if they don’t hand out a treat. Jaden is so carefree and joyess. It makes me even more pleased to have done what I did. Maybe now she too can live her life without worries and pain.

Altough, Pain and suffering go hand in hand with joy and ecstasy to make up the components we call life. I silently howl at the moon in my mind. I howl as if I were a werewolf. I would hate to have to collect silver to hunt those next.

I smile at the thought of chasing down a human turned to super wolf beast. I smile at the thought of the power I have developed fighting the demons I have already have delt with.