by Betsy Flak
“I told you that guy was weird.” Paige tosses her stick-straight locks over her shoulder.
You shrug, relaxing into your normal banter with Paige. The wind calms to a mere breeze. “He didn’t seem that weird to me.”
Arching a dark eyebrow, Paige glances at you out of the corner of her eye. “We’ll call it a momentary lapse of sanity then.”
Paige leads you back toward the alleyway. When you reach it, the lamps closest to the entrance still flicker. Inky blackness shrouds the middle.
Even though the alley is quiet, your heart speeds. Your feet refuse to move forward. You do not want to see the dead body of the man you killed, no matter what Davey claimed earlier.
Paige peers back at you. Her fingers intertwine with yours, then tug you forward, into the alleyway.
You bite your lip, but follow Paige.
A third of the way in, your jaw drops. The body is gone, as is the bat. There’s not even a speck of blood where the man collapsed.
Paige stops a couple of feet away from the bike rack. You stumble to avoid running into her.
When she turns around to face you, she’s so close that you can smell the coffee on her breath. Her fingertips skim down your cheek. “I’m just sorry it had to be you.”
Confusion furrows your brows. “Paige?”
With a sad smile, she backs away from you.
A body slams into your side. You crash onto the rocky asphalt. Talons slash your abdomen, tracing your ribs. Daggers of pain stab through your torso, then radiate through your body. Every breath is agony. Tears spring to your eyes. A gust of wind churns around you.
Rough hands flip you onto your back. Your skull bounces off the unyielding ground. Stars in the night sky swirl above the brick walls looming over you.
A man with greasy locks blocks them out. His pitch-black eyes swallow the lamp light. Canines almost an inch long poke through his lips. His fangs shine so white it hurts your eyes.
Like a boa constrictor, fear winds around your torso and squeezes. It’s the man you thought you killed only minutes ago.
He leers at you, then darts to your neck. The movement is nothing but a blur. Twin knives puncture your throat.
Your life drains away.
Oops, I forgot to scream.
You die.
To continue, click here.
You ignore Davey’s order and dash to the bat.
The figure becomes a blur surging at you.
So does Davey. He tackles the man. They tumble over the damp asphalt, away from you.
Your breath hitches, but you bend down and grasp the naked handle of the bat anyway. The metal is as cold as ice. While you shadow Davey and the creep grappling on the ground, the bat shakes in your hands.
The man thrusts Davey into the asphalt, then climbs on top of him. He pins down Davey’s arms and legs. His hands wrap around Davey’s throat.
You swing the bat like you’re aiming for a homerun and your attacker’s head is the softball.
The man drops like a rock.
Davey wriggles out from beneath him and rushes to your side.
The bloody bat clatters to the ground. Your jaw falls slack. Your tongue trips over your words. You can’t believe what you’ve done. “D-Davey…I…I k-killed him.”
A callused thumb caresses your cheek. “No, you didn’t.” Davey’s brawny arm drapes over your shoulders, pressing you back toward the alley’s mouth. “C’mon. It won’t stay down for long.”
Your muddled mind can’t comprehend his words. “It? Won’t stay down?”
Only a frown answers you.
“But what about my bike?” You twist around.
Davey’s arm tightens around your shoulders. “We’ll get it tomorrow, okay?”
“But how…” Your brain freezes, replaying the incident in the alleyway on a loop as you and Davey turn onto State Ave. It’s dotted with people oblivious to what just happened.
Davey’s arm retreats from your shoulders, but his fingers trail down your bare forearm. They interlace with yours. With his free hand, Davey slips his phone out of his pocket, taps the screen, and places it to his ear. “Yeah, can you come pick us up?”
Davey’s brown eyes flick to yours, but your butterflies are long dead. You’re numb to the world.
“Yes, us. Listen, Magda, I’ll explain later… Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
His sister’s name jolts you out of your stupor. “Magda’s picking us up?”
To your surprise, Davey chuckles and squeezes your hand, strangely at ease out in the street. Strangely at ease after…whatever that was in the alley. “Someone’s gotta take you home. And I let her have the car so I could stay with you.”
Your cheeks flush. Davey doesn’t beat around the bush.
His smile widens, revealing those perfect white teeth. Davey tucks a lock of your hair back in place. His fingertips brush against your forehead.
A butterfly wing twitches in your stomach. Maybe they’re not dead after all.
“You sure you’re okay?” Davey murmurs, his brow furrowed with concern.
“Yeah, um…” You drop Davey’s hand and wrap your arms around your abdomen, holding yourself together. “Just…what was all that about? I mean that guy, he straight up attacked us. Why would he do that?” The hysteria rises, as does your voice. “And how could he possibly survive that hit to the head? Shouldn’t we call an ambulance or something? Davey—”
Davey places both hands on your shoulders and squeezes. He ducks down to capture your tortured gaze. “I know it feels crazy right now, but it’s going to be fine. You’re going to be fine. Magda and I will explain everything as soon as we’re safe.”
“Safe? We’re not safe now? And what does Magda have to do—”
The click of familiar heels against the sidewalk interrupts you. You swivel around. Paige strides toward you from the direction of that alleyway. Her birdlike features twist into a scowl. Her hands close into fists.
You go to her side. “Paige, what’s wrong?”
Her hand grabs yours. Her grip crushes your fingers. “C’mon, we’re leaving.” She glares at Davey.
Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Davey glowers back.
You wheedle your hand out of Paige’s. “No, Paige, it’s all right. Davey’s gonna give me a ride home.”
Paige tilts her forehead toward that creepy alley over a block away. “Why not take your bike?”
“Oh, um…” Heat curls up and around your neck. Paige will never believe your story. “Like I said, Davey’s giving me a ride home. I’ll get my bike tomorrow.”
“Nonsense. My bike’s back there too. Let’s just go.” Paige reaches for your hand, ready to lead you away like a naughty child.
Do you allow her to do so, trusting in your years of friendship? Or do you dodge Paige’s hand and choose Davey?
If you go with Paige, click here.
If you stay with Davey, click here.
“You asshole, you promised!” Paige screams.
Behind your curled body, chains clank. You struggle to peel your dry eyes open. It’s like you’ve been sleeping for days, weeks even. But you’re not well-rested in the least, not after all those nightmares stalking you every minute.
Your fingers massage your throbbing temples. You try to swallow, but your mouth is drier than dust. At last you pry your eyes open.
A pockmarked ceiling greets you. You shift to your side, then push yourself up into a seated position. Your hands rest against the damp cement floor. You scan around you.
Even though it’s dark as night, you see everything in horrifying detail. You’re in a long, low room. A shadowy hallway is centered on a whitewashed wall opposite you. Its paint is peeling, revealing the russet color of the bricks beneath it. At the far end of the room are sliding doors with more than a few glass panes broken. They’re shut, although there’s no lock. The remaining two walls are blank. No windows, no hallways, no doors. No way out.
Dirt and rodent droppings litter the
floor underneath you. Termites munch on the rotted wood panels at the base of the walls. Rooted into the ground are steel rings, through which greasy chains are looped. They attach to the locked handcuffs over your wrists and ankles. Not twenty feet away, Paige crouches, trussed up the same.
Her face whips toward you. Her oily hair whirls about her in tangled locks that are almost black. Paige growls at you with her fangs bared.
Your gums throb. Canines of your own jut into your lower lip. Your fingers dart up to touch them.
“Yes, they’re real,” a voice booms. A figure emerges from the hallway. He saunters toward you, then stops two yards away.
With your fingers still poking at your fangs, you assess your chains. He’s inches out of your reach. Not that it matters; he’s your master now.
When he grins, it’s more like a snarl. He flashes his own canines. “Nice of you to join us this fine evening.”
Your fingers fall away from your fangs. You accept them as real, but you can’t quite put it together. “W-what happened?”
He leers at you, his almond eyes crinkling with amusement. A hand waves toward Paige. “Why don’t you tell the story, Paige?”
Paige snaps her jaw.
His finger wags at her. “Uh-uh-uh. Let’s not forget who’s in charge here.”
Paige glares at him as she backs up to the wall behind you. She moves along it until her chains are taut, until she’s as far away as possible from you. Then she squats down and angles herself toward you. “Listen…I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry I brought you into this.” Her ebony eyes find your master. She scowls at him. “He was supposed to leave me alone, but as you can see, he didn’t.” Paige raises her handcuffed wrists.
Still you don’t understand. “Paige, what are you talking about?”
Paige rolls her eyes. “You never were the sharpest tool in the shed, were you? All those missing people, I delivered them to him.” Her head tilts in your master’s direction.
His grin grows wider.
Awe, hatred, and fear war within you.
Oblivious to your inner battle, Paige continues, “His name’s Khan by the way. Or at least that’s what he told me to call him. Anyway, I had a deadline tonight and you filled it. Unfortunately, so did I.” Paige shifts toward Khan. She gestures to her new tattoo, visible through a ripped sleeve. “I thought this was supposed to protect me. Which, if you recall, was the only way I agreed to go along with your plan.”
A bark of a laugh erupts from Khan. “And if you recall, I am a vampire, child. I don’t tell the truth. Though now that you’re one of us, I’ll admit it. Not even the Clan possesses magic that can create a tattoo to protect humans from us. You were foolish to trust me.”
Your brows collapse with frustration. You need them to get back to the point. “Wait, so, Paige, you’ve been delivering people to this…this monster?”
She meets your gaze without a speck of remorse. “Yes.”
“And I was one of them?”
Paige’s wide mouth twitches toward a frown. “Yes. But I didn’t mean to! It was you or me—”
“And it ended up being you and me,” you interrupt.
Paige stares at her clasped hands. “Yes.”
At last you put the pieces together. The new canines, the thirst, the last few moments of your life… “And now we’re vampires?”
“Yes. Which…” A ghost of a smile plays over Paige’s chapped lips. “Which is kinda cool, right? When you think about it?”
“Yeah, I—”
“Enough!” Khan cuts you off, his voice sharp as a knife. He stalks forward with a naked blade in one hand. When he steps toward Paige, the dagger extends toward her.
Paige shrinks away from it, pressing her body against the brick wall.
Khan grabs her hand and wrenches it toward him. He lays the blade flat against her forearm.
Paige shudders.
As Khan unlocks Paige’s manacles, he commands, “Paige, tell our new friend here about this nice li’l weapon.”
The whites of Paige’s eyes flash. She gulps. “Whatever you do, don’t let it cut you. It burns like a mother.”
“Exactly right.” Khan finishes with Paige’s handcuffs, then stalks toward you. The blade darts near your wrist, impossibly fast.
You’re faster. You jerk your wrist away.
Khan’s fang-filled smile gleams in the darkness. “Good. You learn quick.” His hot breath tickles your neck when he whispers, “Maybe I’ll pick you instead of her.”
Like with Paige, Khan lays the blade along your forearm, then unlocks your shackles. You don’t dare one breath while that dagger touches you. Once you’re free, Khan shoves the knife back into the waistband of his faded jeans. He walks to the center of the floor, midway between you and Paige.
There, his hands rise. His voice booms into the empty room like he’s an announcer in the Colosseum. “Now, my lovelies, it’s time for you to fight. Paige, you want to survive? This is your final test, then we shall ride off into the sunset. So to speak, anyway.” He shifts toward you. “And you, you’re mad about Paige sacrificing you to save herself? You’re mad about Paige killing all those innocent people? Kill her and move on with your eternal life.”
Paige glares at you, then bends down. Her fingers wrap around a loose chain.
Do you take advantage of Paige’s distraction and attack first? Or do you try to talk Paige out of it?
If you attack Paige first, click here.
If you try to talk Paige out of it, click here.
You return to your book and ignore Davey looming over you. Only when his mug clatters against the polished counter do you glance up at him.
Davey’s hand rubs the back of his neck. “Um, well, I guess I’m gonna go.”
Darting back to your book, you mutter, “See you later.”
“Yeah. ’Bye.” Davey hurries out the door.
By the time Sammy and Bryce return—over an hour and a half after they left—it’s dark out.
Bryce’s fingers comb through his messy waves as he passes through the gate behind a smug Sammy. “Busy tonight?”
“Not any more than usual.”
Bryce checks his watch. “There’s only an hour or so till we close. You can go if you want. Sammy and I can handle things from here.”
You turn away from Bryce and toward the back room, then roll your eyes. Oh, something’s gonna get handled. But that’s the owner’s problem, not yours. At least you’re out early.
As soon as the door closes behind you, you text Paige.
You still over at Julia’s?
You take your time changing back into your school clothes, waiting for Paige to answer. After packing your single possession into your limp backpack, you can dawdle no longer. You check your phone one last time, but there’s still nothing from Paige. Guess I’ll just go home.
You wave goodbye to Bryce and Sammy, already cuddling behind the counter. You head out the door, then walk along State Ave toward the library and the alleyway behind it. You dodge moony-eyed couples and groups of rebellious tweens hurrying home to angry parents.
When you reach the library, you round the corner, your hands in the pockets of your shorts. The overhead lights flicker at the alleyway’s entrance. Farther in, the lights are completely out, including the ones by the bike rack.
Shivers crawl up your spine. Your foot hovers in the air at the mouth of the alley.
What is it with today and the creep factor up a zillion and one?
You shake it off. When you stride into the alley, your back is straight and your chin lifted, like you don’t have a care in the world. You reach the bike rack. Paige’s bike is the only other one in the rack, which is weird. She should have ridden it to Julia’s house this afternoon. Even if she didn’t, Julia’s dad would have kicked Paige out well over an hour ago. Next to your bike, you swing your backpack around to find your phone and use it as a flashlight to unlock your bike.
Crrr-runch
The hairs on the back o
f your neck stand up. You twist around in slow motion.
A dark silhouette looms before you, just past the dumpsters. Hands form claws on either side.
You step backward.
The inky figure stalks forward.
Your heart pounds. You can’t breathe. You can’t think.
Your eye catches on a dented metal bat on the opposite side of the alleyway. It shimmers in the flickering light from the alley’s mouth.
Your fingers twitch at your sides. Should you dart to the bat and fight? Or should you run for your life?
If you take the bat and fight, click here.
If you run for your life, click here.
Not daring to slow down even a hair, you swing right. Julia’s house isn’t too far away. Plus, Sammy and Bryce probably locked up Corner Coffee the second you were out that door. If they are still there, they’re likely in the back room “assessing inventory” anyway. No, heading to Julia’s house is the best option.
Your feet pound against the cement as you dash down State Ave. You dodge the few people in your path, ignoring their curious glances.
A little over half a block away, your heels dig into the sidewalk. You skid to a halt.
Paige rushes toward you with her palms raised. “Stop, stop! What is it? What’s wrong?”
The sight of Paige brings it all home. You left Davey alone in an alley with some creep attacking him! He told you to do so, but you shouldn’t have listened. Two against one is better than one against one.
But three against one is even better. You tug on Paige’s arm, dragging her back to the alley. “C’mon, c’mon, we gotta go help Davey!”
“Davey? What do you have to do with him?” Paige wrinkles her nose in distaste, but allows you to lead her toward the alley without a fight.
There’s no time to wonder why. “I’ll tell you later, Paige.”
When you reach the mouth of the alleyway, the lamps closest to the entrance flicker. Inky blackness shrouds the middle. Silence batters your eardrums, at odds with the street traffic from State Ave behind you. Your heart speeds.
