Chapter 2
After a quick shower, I threw on my new clothes and walked into the night, not wanting to hang around this house of horrors any longer. A short walk later, I came upon a clearing in the woods. The small meadow lay next to a stream babbling over the rocks as it passed by. The sound was soothing.
When I left Harold’s house, it was about five-thirty in the morning. Sunrise would be coming soon. I sat on the ground in the middle of the field and looked up at the stars again. My head spun trying to grasp just what had happened this evening. I was buried alive, well, not really, because if I was in fact a vampire, I guess I was probably dead at some point. I was attacked by a guy in the woods who dissolved into a heap of dust when he was impaled on a tree branch. So I’m guessing he was also a vampire. As far as I remembered from all the vampire movies I’d seen, a stake to the heart can kill a vampire. And, to be honest, I wasn’t too sad that he was gone. But what about Harold? Good old Harold and his old lady. He didn’t deserve to die. He seemed like a nice man. He just smelled so good. I had no control.
The cogs turned in my brain. I didn’t want to be a monster and walk around killing everyone in sight because they smelled like muffins. I thought of my parents. They definitely would not approve. And I certainly couldn’t go back home. They thought I was dead. That alone would cause too many problems. But what were my options besides that? I picked up a stick from the ground. I could just take this and run it through my heart. Poof. Turn into a pile of dust.
I pointed it at my heart. And after a minute I set it back down. Who was I kidding? There was no way I could kill myself. I needed something easier. I thought about what else could kill a vampire.
Sunlight.
I could just sit here as the sun rose and crumble into nothing. I bet it would hurt, but at least I wouldn’t be doing it to myself. I would just be letting nature take its course. Another vampire fact: vampires would definitely roast in the sunshine. But in one book I read, they sparkled. So either I would die a horrible death OR sparkle. I really hoped I didn’t sparkle.
I decided this was the best option. Passive suicide.
I laid flat on the ground. The sky spread out above me, constellations rotating until I could see Orion, his belt twinkling. It was always my favorite constellation. My dad had been so into them, we’d spend hours in the yard looking through his telescope as he showed us each constellation, the planets, and the Milky Way. God forbid there was a meteor shower, an eclipse, or a comet whizzing by, he’d park himself outside all night. I always had a hard time seeing what he showed me. He was so excited about it, I just pretended that I could. But Orion—Orion was the only one I could find every time, no matter where it was in the sky.
“I miss you, Daddy,” I whispered as a tear slid down my cheek. The sky began to lighten. Dawn was on the horizon. This was it. Do or die. Or just die. The sky faded from a deep blue to a light pink as the sun crept up, inching its beauty and warmth into the sky. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, ready to go out in a blaze of glory. Literally. The sun spread over my body. I opened one eye. Shouldn’t I at least be smoking by now? I thought it would happen faster than this. Nothing was burning. What the hell?
I sat up, opening both eyes and taking in the bright sunrise. I held my bare arm up to the sun. Nothing. I checked my legs, felt my face. Not even a sunburn. My skin appeared to be its same dark shade. Well, there goes that plan I guess. I looked down at my skin again. At least I wasn’t sparkling. I might have had to stake myself if I was.
Clearly it wasn’t my time, but now I’d have to come up with a plan B. I jumped to my feet and paced across the clearing. I had two problems. Everyone thought I was dead, so I had to make sure not to run into anyone I knew. My bigger problem was people. After my encounter with Harold and his wife, it was clear I couldn’t control my desire for their delicious smelling blood. Ew. It was still kind of gross to think about that. At least it smelled like stuff I liked.
So I could try to control it or kill fluffy animals in the woods. Probably not happening. Or look for a place I could get blood where no one has to get hurt. Maybe some kind of clinic or blood bank. I knew there was one on the other side of town. Rochelle, Illinois, wasn’t very big, but the town was a little spread out. Having a car would definitely help.
Finding a road and maybe a gas station or some kind of parking lot would be a great place to start, so I decided it was time to move. I ran through the trees, testing to see how fast I could go. I figured I would stop when I found a road and got my bearings. My feet flew, barely touching the ground, and trees whipped by in a blur. A motion to my right caught my eye and I skidded to a quick stop, peering around a tree to inspect. No more vampires, just a deer this time, I noted with a sigh.
The large buck chewed his food, glancing at me with disinterest. He might want to be a little more afraid. I could eat him if I wanted to. But his blood smelled funky. No thanks.
Another quick run through the woods brought me to a road that I recognized. If I turned right and walked about a mile I’d end up in town. Again, the problem was that too many people in town knew me. If I walked up and asked for their car they’d call my parents and say they’d seen me.
I thought back to the previous night. Both Harold and his wife seemed eager to follow my instructions after I looked them in the eye. I could try that again. Even if I knew them, I could tell them I was someone else.
I wove in and out of the trees on my way into town, concealing myself in the shadows whenever cars drove past. Up ahead I saw the truck stop I remembered. I slowed down and crept to the edge of the trees, looking over the expansive parking lot. Large semis were parked along one side, their drivers most likely loading themselves with greasy food at the diner. At the regular pumps, cars and trucks took turns filling up. I wasn’t about to drive off in a semi, so I scoped out a few of the cars. Minivan? No. Old Hyundai? No. Mustang? Yes please. A newer, black Mustang pulled up to a pump and a guy, maybe a little older than me, opened the door and jumped out. With my new extra-good vision, I was able to make out his face, even from this distance. I didn’t know him, thank god. I checked out the other patrons. Again, no one I knew. This was my chance.
I left my hiding place and strolled across the parking lot, trying to make it look like it was completely normal for a teen girl to be hanging out at a truck stop in slippers and no coat, despite the cool temps.
“I like your car,” I said, as I approached the guy. His hair was spiked out in all directions and he stank of cologne. It was a little early in the morning to reek like that. I couldn’t even smell his blood through the awful stench, which was good. I had no desire to eat him. I didn’t even want a taste.
“Uh, thanks.” He gave me a once-over. He turned away and inserted the nozzle into the tank. He turned around, looking surprised that I was still standing there. “Uh, can I help you with something?”
I moved in a little closer, trying not to wrinkle my nose at his cologne-stink. I batted my eyes and threw him a brilliant smile.
“Can I have your car?” I tossed my long hair.
“Um, yeah, right.” He chuckled and turned back to the pump.
I tapped him on the shoulder.
“Look, would you leave me alone?”
I widened my eyes, looking straight into his.
“Your eyes…”
“Yes, yes I know, they’re beautiful. Here’s what you’re gonna do for me. You’re gonna give me the car keys. Then you’re going to call a friend to pick you up and tell them you sold the car to someone for a lot of money.” I held his gaze.
“Here are the keys. Sold the car for a lot of money.” His eyes carried the same glazed look as Harold’s. He dropped the keys into my hand.
My eyes darted around, to see if anyone noticed our conversation and I realized everyone else had gone.
I took out the nozzle and hooked it back into the gas pump. With one last look at Mustang boy, I hopped into the driver’s seat and turned the key in the ignition. The engine roared to life. I drove out of the truck stop and turned on to the main road into town. I had two more stops to make before leaving Rochelle.