From Sunset Till Sunrise

by Jonathan Rosen

“If you ever want Abby to return to normal …” Herb slid his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “You have to get rid of Lily’s dad.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ABBY, QUEEN OF DARKNESS

  The rest of the day went by in kind of a blur. All I could think about was whether I really would be able to kill a vampire. I couldn’t concentrate on anything else but that. I mean, I didn’t even like killing bugs because the crunching sound made me squeamish. How was I supposed to do anything to something that looked human?

  “Devin!” Mom snapped her fingers in front of my face.

  I looked up to see her standing over me. “What?”

  She put her hands on her hips. “I’ve been talking to you.” She pointed to my plate. “You haven’t even touched your dessert. I made the apple pie especially for you. Everyone else is finished and you’re still sitting there. Are you okay?”

  I looked around the table and realized the only other one there was Tommy.

  He held up his empty plate. “I finished mine, Aunt Megan. And it was delicious.”

  Mom smiled. “Thank you, Tommy.”

  I rolled my eyes and pushed the plate across the table. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m just not that hungry.”

  Her brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

  Okay, I had to admit, there was a big part of me that really wanted to blurt out that our neighbors might be vampires, and how Abby was only a bite or two away from becoming a bloodsucking little monster. But I was torn. While I did want to say it, I also knew how insane it sounded. This time, I better wait for more proof. “Yeah, Mom. I was just thinking about some things.”

  She grinned. “I bet I know what.”

  “You do?” I asked.

  “Yep. I’m willing to bet that you’re thinking about a certain dance with a certain pretty neighbor?”

  I looked at Tommy. He shrugged.

  Stupid. He was no help whatsoever.

  I turned back to Mom. “Well, not exactly what you think. I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s not such a great idea for me to go to the dance.”

  “What are you talking about? Of course you’re going to the dance!”

  “I’m just saying, how much do we really know about them? I mean, what if they’re a psycho family of serial killers?”

  “What?” she said. “Where do you come up with these things?” Her eyes narrowed. “Did your dad let you watch scary movies again?”

  “No, I didn’t watch any scary movies. But really, we don’t know anything about them. Maybe they go around from town to town, putting on shows so they could kill people? The show is just there to lure them in. Did you ever think of that?”

  She stared at me for a moment before speaking. “Devin, he’s the principal of a school. There are heavy background checks on anyone who works in a school, so they can’t be psychos.”

  “You haven’t met some of our teachers,” Tommy muttered.

  “Wait, I know what this is about.” Mom reached out touched my cheek. “Is this because it’s your first dance? It’s okay to be nervous.”

  “What? No! I’m not nervous! I just don’t want to go!”

  She frowned. “But you already told her yes.”

  “I don’t care, I’m not going.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I wanted to do everything to take them back, but it was too late. They were out there. They seemed to hover for a moment before landing in Mom’s ears.

  Her expression changed. Her nostrils flared. “What did you say?” Each word was slow, deliberate.

  Tommy raised his hand. “He said he wasn’t going to the dance.”

  “Shut up, Tommy,” I said through the side of my mouth.

  Mom wagged her finger at me. “Now, you listen to me. You are going to that dance, and do you know why you’re going?”

  I sighed. “Because I told her I would.”

  “Yes, because you told her you would. I understand that you’re nervous, but do you know how difficult it is for a girl to work up the nerve to ask a boy to a dance? Why, when I was your age, I never would’ve been able to do that. So you’re not going to embarrass or humiliate me, or that sweet girl, by agreeing to go and then turning her down afterwards.” She turned to Tommy. “I hope you’re not the same way, Tommy.”

  He shook his head. “No, I told him it was a bad idea, Aunt Megan.”

  I sighed again.

  “Good for you, Tommy,” Mom said, and turned back to me. “Now, there’ll be no more talk about canceling.” She pointed to me. “You’re going. Do you understand?”

  I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to the dance and nodded.

  “Good. Now, go get your sister and tell her it’s time to come in.”

  A cold wave washed over me. I noticed my hand tremble. “Come in? Come in from where?”

  Mom hitched her thumb over her shoulder. “She’s sitting on the porch playing with her dolls.”

  “On the porch?” I yelled and looked out the window. It was already dark outside. “Why’d you let her go outside?”

  “What are you talking about? Why can’t she go outside? She’s right in front of the house.”

  “She shouldn’t be outside, like, ever!”

  “What—”

  I didn’t wait for her to finish the sentence. I bolted out of my seat, ran to the front door, yanked it open, and jumped out onto the porch.

  It was mostly dark, except for a small circle of light from the overhead bulb. There was nobody there, except for Abby’s doll, which was sitting propped up against the wall of the house, staring at me.

  My heart pounded. I could almost hear it in the quiet of the night.

  “Abby?” I called out quietly. “Abby?”

  No answer.

  I walked slowly toward the doll.

  “Abby, this isn’t funny. Come out!”

  My legs trembled.

  There was some rustling coming from the bushes on the side of the porch.

  It was cool outside, but somehow sweat slid down my face.

  “Abby, I know that you’re in there. So come out now, and stop playing games!” I reached the railing and inched forward, leaning over the side. “Abby?”

  A tap on my back. “What?”

  I screamed and whirled around, tripping over my feet, and crashed to the porch floor.

  I was flat on my back, staring up at the top of the porch.

  Abby’s face came into view. She stared down at me. “Did I scare you?”

  The sounds of my panting echoed.

  “What’s the matter with you? Don’t sneak up on me like that!” I took a deep breath to regain my composure. “Where were you?”

  She pointed to the opposite end of the porch. “I was right over there. You looked the wrong way.” She smiled. Her teeth flashed in the darkness.

  I peered around her to see the other end of the porch. The only thing there was Dad’s rocking chair, which creaked back and forth. “There’s no way you were over there. I looked.”

  She nodded. “Yes, I was.” Another grin. It was different than her usual ones. It was threatening. “You must’ve missed me. I was right over there, standing in the shadows. I like the shadows.” Her voice was almost like a whisper, yet I could hear it clearly.

  “Uh-huh.” Okay, that did it. I never thought there’d be a way for her to get any creepier, but she found it. “Well, Mom says to come inside.”

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Ask her if we can stay out a few more minutes.”

  “No! No more being outside. Let’s get into the house now! It’s nighttime already.”

  Abby’s head swiveled slowly in my direction. “I know. And I love the night.”

  I briefly wondered how many other kids were terrified of their little sisters. “Mom said now, so let’s go!” I started to pull myself up when a shadow crossed the path of the light.

  “Awww.” A girl’s voice. “Can’t you let her stay out for just another couple of minutes?”

  I whirled to the o
ther side and fell again.

  Standing on the steps of the porch was Lily. She smiled down at me. “Having trouble with your feet?”

  She was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. All black. If she hadn’t been so pale, I’m sure she could’ve disappeared into the night.

  “Where’d you come from?” I asked, and scooted back across the porch toward the door.

  Lily took another step and blocked my path. She leaned down. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”

  Abby nodded. “He gets scared easily.”

  “Shut up, Abby!”

  Lily pointed in the direction she had come from. “I just walked up. I guess you didn’t see me because you were so busy with your sister.”

  I scooted back some more and peeked at the door. I wondered how close I needed to be to reach it before she could kill me.

  Instead, she plopped herself down beside me and smiled. “It’s really nice out. I love the nighttime.”

  “Me too,” Abby said.

  I ping-ponged my eyes back and forth between them, wondering who scared me more. I motioned toward the door. “I should probably get going. I just came out to get Abby, and if I’m not back inside in a couple of seconds, everyone will worry about me and maybe call the police.”

  Lily laughed, like she knew I was lying. “They’d call the police for you being on the porch for a few seconds?”

  I nodded. “My mom is very overprotective.”

  Abby shook her head. “He’s lying.”

  “Shut up, Abby!”

  Abby leaned into the doorway. “Mom, Devin wants to know if he can stay outside with his girlfriend?”

  I winced, and realized that now it didn’t matter if Lily was a vampire. I wanted to die anyway.

  “Oh, that’s so cute,” Mom called from inside.

  Please make this stop!

  “Okay,” Mom continued. “Tell him he can stay out a little longer.”

  Abby smirked. “You’re welcome, Devin.”

  Mom shouted. “You come inside, though!”

  Abby stomped her foot. “But I don’t want to go inside yet!”

  “Abby!”

  She frowned. “Fine!” She turned to me and glared. “I’ll wait for you inside, Devin.” She stormed into the house.

  I watched her go in, and the weirdest thing happened. For the first time in my life, I think I would’ve much rather had Abby stay with me than leave me alone.

  I turned back around and jumped. Lily was closer than she was before.

  “I guess it’s just us now,” she said.

  Normally, that sentence would’ve been a great one, but now it just made me nervous. I eyed the door once more. “Uh, yeah, but not really. I mean, everyone is just right inside that door, and they’d hear if I screamed or anything.”

  Okay, yeah, I heard how stupid that sounded.

  She laughed again. “Scream? Why would you scream?”

  “Uh. I wouldn’t. I’m just joking.”

  “Oh, that’s funny.” She smiled.

  Wow, were her teeth bright.

  “Anyway,” she said. “I just came by to say hi and talk about the dance a little, if it’s okay with you?”

  “Oh, yeah. About the dance …”

  “I’m really excited about it. You’re going to have such a great time. I’ll take you on a tour, show you around the school, and after, we’re planning a really big surprise for everyone who comes.”

  “A surprise?” My voice caught in my throat. “Like, what kind of a surprise?”

  Her eyes twinkled. “Well, that would spoil it, wouldn’t it?”

  The whole time I was talking to her, I found it difficult to concentrate. I kept watching every move she made. Her fingers, in case they turned into claws. Her teeth, in case they became fangs. No matter what it was, I was going to be ready.

  “Devin?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can I tell you something?”

  This was it. She was going to confess, right before she killed me. Tell me that she needed my blood in order to survive. Or turn me into a zombie overlord, to help her rule over her army of the undead, and—

  Okay, I needed to calm down.

  “Uh, sure.”

  “I’m glad we met. It’s always tough to move into a new neighborhood and make friends, but you’re really nice.”

  All right. I hadn’t expected that.

  Her eyes were really sparkling.

  I was getting lost in them.

  I realized that I wanted to be there for her. Be her friend. Go to the dance with her.

  “I’m happy too, Lily. I’m sorry I was acting so strange.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, I’ve never seen anyone so nervous. What was all that about?” She looked me over. Her eyes widened. “Oh, I know.”

  I tensed up. “You do?”

  She nodded. “You don’t know how to dance, do you?”

  I exhaled. “Yeah, that was it.”

  She reached for me.

  I flinched. Okay, maybe I let out a squeak too, but I’m not really sure.

  She laughed loudly this time. “I don’t bite. Now, my dad on the other hand …”

  “What?”

  “Will you relax? I’m just joking!”

  “Oh.” I exhaled.

  She reached out again, and this time put her hand on my shoulder.

  Her touch calmed me. It was like a soothing feeling went through my body, like I was lying in a warm bed, wrapped in a thick blanket.

  Her smile broadened.

  Wow, seriously, her teeth were bright.

  “Devin, you don’t have to be nervous. A lot of people don’t know how to dance. It’s just moving to the music. A step here, a step there.” She snapped her fingers. “You know what? Let me show you.” She jumped to her feet and reached for me.

  I held my hand up. “No, really—”

  Before I could make a move, she grabbed my wrist and yanked me to my feet in one swoop.

  It was like I weighed nothing at all.

  I stared down at her hand as I rubbed my wrist. “How’d you do that?”

  She winked. “I’m a lot stronger than I look. Remember, you never want to mess with me.”

  I shook my head fast. “Uh, I won’t.”

  “Good.” She placed her hands on my arms to guide me. “Now, consider this your first dance lesson. Just follow along.”

  “But there’s no music.”

  She reached up and pressed her finger to my forehead. “It’s all in here.”

  The second she made contact, thousands of images flashed through my mind. All of them, of her … and me.

  I stared into her eyes.

  They were dark and piercing. It felt like she could see everything I was thinking.

  I took in every detail about her.

  Her face, her eyes, her lips. Everything was perfect. But her smile was different. It was the best of all. And her teeth. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. They were unbelievably bright.

  She moved to an imaginary tune, which for some reason seemed to match the rhythm in my mind.

  She pointed at me. “Now, your turn.”

  I didn’t want to, but felt my body moving along. I copied what she was doing.

  She clapped. “Look at you! You’re dancing.”

  I glanced down at my feet. It was like everything was moving on its own. Like I had no control.

  Her smile got wider. “That’s it. You’re doing great. Just let it take you over.”

  She leaned closer. Her face was inches from mine when suddenly, her eyes narrowed. She backed up and looked past me. “What’s that?”

  I snapped out of my trance and turned to see a hand sticking out of the door. A hand carrying a cross and waving it back and forth.

  I knew that hand. “Tommy?”

  Tommy peered out, just sticking out his face. “Oh, hey …”

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  “Um, just checking the weather.”

  Lily stayed behind me
. “With a cross?”

  “Uh, well, it’s not really a cross. It’s kind of a double-edged thermometer. Tells you the temperature and precipitation levels. I think we’re expecting rain.”

  Lily nodded slowly. “That sounds interesting.”

  “Yeah, it is. Do you want to see it?” He thrust his arm out toward us, but stayed mostly inside the house.

  Lily backed up another step. “I don’t see any place to read temperature on it. Are you sure that’s a thermometer?”

  “Huh?” Tommy pulled the cross back and turned it over in his hands. “Oh. I guess it isn’t working. Must be broken.” He tossed it into the house, where it clanged loudly.

  “What was that?” Mom called from inside.

  Lily rested her hand on my arm. Jolts shot through me. “Well, I’d better go. It’s getting late. Why don’t you come over tomorrow night and we can continue?” She glanced at Tommy. “And you can bring your cousin.”

  Tommy nodded. “We’ll be there.”

  I whipped my head in his direction. “What?”

  She smiled again. “Don’t tell me that you’re still nervous? C’mon, Devin, I won’t take no for an answer. Pretend your life depends on it.”

  Tommy glanced at me.

  Lily laughed. “What’s with you two? I’m joking!” She shook her head. “I swear, boys are so silly sometimes.” She gave a wave. “See you tomorrow, Devin!”

  She walked off down the path and crossed the street to her house.

  Tommy stepped out onto the porch and stood next to me. “You’re welcome. I think I just saved your life.”

  I lifted my arm to my nose and smelled her perfume still on me. My stomach churned. “Do you really think she’s a vampire?”

  “What are you talking about? Of course she’s a vampire. You saw the way she backed up when she saw the cross.”

  “Because you scared her. It had nothing to do with the cross.” I turned to him. “And why would you come out with a cross anyway?”

  “Just in case she was about to attack you. I didn’t have time to get a stake. Don’t worry, though, we’ll figure something out before we go there tomorrow.”

  “Before we go there? But I don’t want to go there!”

  “Why wouldn’t you want to go there if you didn’t think she was a vampire?”

  I thought about the dancing and how it felt like I was in a trance, but maybe it was just the moment. She was so pretty, and her perfume was dizzying. Still, though …