Lifers: Installment Two

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. So hot. Who turned up the heat? And--wait. I sat up and a throbbing pain pulsed through my head. I needed water. Now.

"Finally awake?"

I knew that voice.

A blurry outline headed toward me. I blinked several hundred times before Nick's face became clear.

Nick. Memories rushed back. The alley. Nick's hand over my mouth.

"You kidnapped me!" My jell-o arms pushed against his chest. Cool water spilled onto my shirtsleeve.

"Well if you don't want any."

"I do." I grabbed the water and took a long drink. Water spilled out of my mouth and over my clothes and I didn't care.

Did he seriously just chuckle?

I wiped my mouth dry. "What?"

"You hungry too?"

"Yes actually."

"I'll get a bib then."

My first impulse was a good slug to the shoulder, but I stopped. Nick was holding me--against my will. Nick was in the same gang as Trista's brother. Nick was dangerous. I shrank away from him sinking deep into the pillows of the armchair.

"You okay, Cass?"

"You know my name?"

He rolled his eyes. "You are a regular."

"Do you seriously expect me to believe you work at the coffee shop?"

"Do you think I'd wear that sissy shirt in public if I didn't?"

What was his game? Honestly, the room didn't exactly scream dark and scary. It was a regular living room. Black leather sofa--the cushy kind, like the chair I was huddled in--a glass-topped coffee table, and even a TV decked out with all the gaming accessories. A kitchen off to the left, a dining area to the right, and a hallway which I suddenly hoped contained a bathroom.

As nice as it was, I'd been drugged and dragged here. "Where am I? And why am I here?"

Nick rubbed his hand over his neck. "This is my place."

Butterflies, a whole flock or herd or whatever, filled my tummy.

"Relax, Cass, you're not a prisoner or anything."

I wasn't? "Give me my phone."

He pulled it from his pocket and tossed it to me. "Battery's dead."

Of course it was.

"Don't worry. I texted your mom. She thinks you're with Trista."

"On a school night?"

"Yeah, well I had to do a little begging, and remind her it was the anniversary of Jason's funeral."

If hearts can stall then rev back to life, mine did. How did he know the day Jason was buried. I didn't even know the day ... "You knew her brother?"

"Yeah. Pizza rolls?"

My stomach couldn't have waited to growl? "Please. As long as they aren't laced with anything."

Nick smiled. It wasn't devious or impish. A real, genuine smile. "This is going to be a hard one to explain, but I did this to protect you."

I snorted.

"Let me get you some food and I'll tell you ... everything I can."

That sounded vague.

The oven beeped and Nick headed toward the kitchen.

Without him blocking my view, a clear view of the door lay ahead of me. I still had my shoes on. Pocketing my dead phone, I slid off the chair. The carpet squished under my shoes, still plush and new. Hopefully no squeaks in the floor then. I filled my lungs and raced to the door.

The cold golden knob wouldn't turn. I fumbled with the lock. Come on! Warmth surrounded me. I wasn't alone. The lock rattled in my shaking fingers.

Nick's fingers overlapped mine and the lock turned. "Lefty loosie."

A whimper squeaked past my throat.

Strong hands gripped my shoulders, surprisingly gentle. "Cass, I won't hurt you."

Click! The handle turned. I threw the door back, and Nick stepped away.

The hallway was lined with blue, patterned carpet that dizzied me as I ran. My heart slammed against my chest, pushing me forward. I passed a couple kissing by their front door and headed for the elevators. No. They'd take too long. Ah, stairs! I swung the door open and headed down them.

My whole body shook. My legs wouldn't move fast enough. I tripped. My hands gripped the cold rail to keep me from spiraling down the steps.

A door further down opened and clicked shut. I froze.

"The girl saw me, that's why he grabbed her."

My heartbeat thundered in my ears? Were they talking about me? Or was I paranoid?

"And you tailed him here?"

"No. I live here now. I tailed him downtown and lost him in the city square."

"What does the girl look like?"

"Leggy, dark hair, hot pink t-shirt with--I dunno a penguin on the front?"

Not paranoia.

"Tell the others. We have to find her and silence her."

"But she's with Nick--"

"I don't care who she's with. She saw you. It's your mess to clean up."

Holy crap. I clasped one hand over my mouth to hold in a scream. The other gripped the panda on the front of my hot pink shirt.

I just needed to get out of the stairwell. My legs trembled under my weight.

Shuffling steps came closer.

Up. I'd go a floor up and ride the elevator down. I'd find Nick, change my clothes and ... panic pulled my lungs tight. Calm down. Just find Nick.

And ask him what the heck was going on.

Lifers: installment one

"Ooh, let me guess." Trista swiveled her head to peruse the whole coffee shop.

"Give up?"

She didn't look at me but stuck out her index finger. "No. Someone made your eyes sparkle when we walked through that door and I'm gonna find him."

I rested my chin on my hands, content to watch her twirl her blonde curls. She always did that when she couldn't figure something out.

I leaned back in my chair smiling to myself. Trista would never guess who I was crushing on. He wasn't my normal type.

If she didn't guess, there would be no embarrassing laughter, or twitterpated eyelash flirting, or her whispering in my ear every time she saw him. That meant I might have a chance before she scared him away with her ... excitement.

The sound of nails clicking against the formica brought me out of my daydream.

Trista rolled her eyes. "What are you smirking at."

"You'll never figure it out."

She leaned over the table. "You know, best friends are supposed to confide in one another."

"Yeah, and if you hadn't chased away my last three crushes, I'd confide."

She slumped back in her chair. Then her blue eyes got all round and that famous pout that always worked on her father found a way to my heart.

She was my best friend. I didn't want to hurt her.

"Please, Cassidy? I promise I'll be good. I won't say a word." She crossed her heart. "I'll just ..." her eyes lit up. "I'll text you! You know like secret codes and stuff? We'll come up with a whole code list!"

It sounded less harmless that her typical excitement, and her eyes were so hopeful.

I smiled. "Sure."

"Really?" She squeaked. "Okay. Tell me." She sprouted a goofy grin that showed off all of her perfectly straight, brilliantly white teeth.

My eyes darted to the counter.

In that one second I took in his muscular shoulders in that tight polo with the Java House logo on it. He looked so good in teal. I could never tell what color his eyes were. Sometimes green, sometimes blue. His name tag was always crooked in a my-pecs-are-too-big-to-wear-this-thing-right kind of way. And it read: Nick. My tummy flipped.

When my eyes darted back to Trista her big smile was gone.

She sat there with her mouth open and actually dropped her phone. No fun secret code text vibrated my back pocket.

Trista shook her head slowly. "No. No, no, no."

"What? I have to get permission to like someone?"

Her eyes skirted around the coffee house, this time there was nothing flirty in her gaze. "Come with me?"

"Trista--"

"Cass, this is important." She picked up her pink bag and her latte and headed out the front door.

I followed her. Outside I grabbed her arm. "What was that?"

She turned to face me and her glossy eyes sent a cannonball crashing into my stomach.

"He's bad news, Cass."

"You know him? I thought he was new in town."

She shrugged her eyes on the sidewalk.

"What aren't you telling me?"

Trista told me everything. Sometimes I tuned out her voice.

"I've seen his picture in ... in my brother's things."

Oh.

Oh that was bad.

Very bad.

Her brother was the only subject forbidden from discussion. All I knew was that he was in a gang, and he got out, and then someone killed him. That was enough.

I linked my arm though Trista's and started walking toward her house.

Very unlike Trista, she was quiet for a long time. But she hated to cry, so I just walked with her. Arm in arm. When we were a block from her house she looked at me.

Her stare was serious--also unlike Trista. "Promise me you'll stay away fr--"

"I promise."

She smiled, though her eyes were a little dewy. "So, I was thinking maybe we could still do operation secret code with the texting. We just need to find you a new guy to gush over."

A smile warmed my face. "Sounds like a plan."

She waved at me before she went inside. I caught the time on the huge hands of the grandfather clock in the front foyer. Ten? Yikes.

I stuck my hand in my back pocket to text my mom and let her know I'd be home soon. She got worried if I wasn't home by ten on a school night. No phone.

Crap. It must've fallen out of my pocket. My first thought was to go into Trista's house and use her phone to call my mom. But my phone was probably where I'd last used it--the coffee shop. And I didn't want to explain to Trista why I was going back there.

Jogging, I retraced my steps. They took me all the way to the coffee shop, which was closed.

I pressed my face up to the glass. There was some scrawny guy taking out the trash and a girl grabbed the register drawer. I had to get inside. My phone was like ... like my connection to the world. I banged on the glass, but no one seemed to care.

I raced around back hoping to catch scrawny at the dumpster.

"I don't know." A shaky voice rounded the corner.

I raced around the building and stopped. A chill spread through my body freezing every vein.

A man stood towering over scrawny with a fist in the air. Blood dripped out of Scrawny's nose and spotted his teal Java House polo.

He saw me. His hand reached out all limp and helpless like Adam's hand on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. "Help me."

The big guy punched Scrawny again, leaving him slumped against the brick wall, then he turned to face me. A freaky yellow-green gleam flashed over his eyes.

A scream rose in my throat and I fought hard to keep it in.


Exhaust filled my nostrils.

"Get in."

I tore my eyes from big guy's lumbering form. Nick sat in a black car waving for me to get in.

Nick? This was very bad. I ran.

An engine revved.

I kept running.

Footsteps hit the hard asphalt behind me.

My lungs burned. My tired legs wobbled.

I jolted backward. Strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me off my feet. I flailed and kicked. I reached behind me. My fingernails found flesh and I scratched.

And then everything went dark.

Blind Date

Mary pulled into my shared driveway and lowered her sunglasses. “Wow. Can you say ripped?”

I glanced toward the next door neighbor’s side of the yard. From the passenger’s seat, I had an uninhibited view. The rubber ping of a basketball resounded as Brandon—shirtless and sweaty—bounced it against the cement.

Mary was still ogling.

 I rolled my eyes. “You can’t stand him.”

“Yes I can.”

“Can’t.”

“Candy, there’s a fine line between jealousy and hatred.”

“Oh.” I laughed as I opened the passenger door. “So all this time you’ve been jealous that Brandon and I were such good friends? Because I have a million emails and text messages that say otherwise.”

“That’s what I’m trying to clear up. If you wanted to hang out with me and Brandon at the same time … now I’d be okay with it.”

“Yeah, because now he’s hot.” I slammed the passenger door of her silver Malibu and opened the rear door to collect my bags. How Mary made me spend so much money on frivolity I had no idea, but she was right, I’d look super cute in that black and white checkered pencil skirt tomorrow.  “You and Brandon don’t like any of the same things.”

“Candy, don’t doom our relationship before it’s even started.”

I laughed. “And when is this relationship going to start?”

“Set it up for me?”

I leaned in the open window of the passenger side. “No.”

“Why not? It’s not like you want him.”

I glanced over my shoulder. Brandon took another shot, seemingly oblivious to the girls staring at him thirty feet away. “We haven’t exactly been hanging out lately.”

“That’s probably because he’s been throwing himself at you for like five years—he’s tired of the rejection.”

“Rejec—he has not been throwing himself at me. I would have noticed that.”

“So you do like him?”

“No!”

Mary narrowed her contact-created blue eyes, then pushed her sunglasses back on. “Methinks thou protesteth too much.”

“Half the words in that sentence aren’t even real anymore.”

“Well, I’ll see you tomorrow. Wear the pencil skirt and I guarantee Brandon will have forgotten he’s sworn you off. Just be sure to make good on any advances.” Mary batted her false eyelashes. “You might only have one shot left to snag his heart.”

I waved as my melodramatic friend backed down the driveway. Then I turned to my neighbor. My best friend. Yeah, I could shop with Mary, and talk girl talk, but Brandon and I used to be inseparable. I deposited my shopping evidence just inside the back door and wandered over. “Hey.”

He nodded in my direction. “Candy.”

“How’ve you been?”

His eyes focused on the bouncing ball in front of him. “Busy.”

“With your new friends?”

That comment earned me a quick glance. “I guess.”

“Well if you can schedule some time for your old friend tonight, I was hoping for a couple hour marathon of last season’s supernatural. You know something to take my mind off of the fact that summer officially ends in sixteen hours.”

Brandon smiled—was I supposed to miss a smile that much? “You making popcorn?”

“My dad will.”

“So we’ll actually be able to eat it then?”

I swiped the ball. “Oh, you wanna go there?”

“I already did.”

I shot. Net. I crouched, waiting for his move. “So, you coming?”

“Sure.”

Subwoofers blared vibrating the ground between my house and Brandon’s as a black 80’s Stang rushed up the driveway. The Binder brothers—all three of them. Brandon’s new friends. He’d never liked them before. The twins, Luke and Carter, were already in college. Max was our age—a senior this year. None of them really talked to anyone, but for some reason, six weeks ago, they swarmed around Brandon while I was in the bathroom at the movie theater. Now whenever they showed up, he raced out to meet them like some adopted puppy. He was starting to look like them too. Buff, dark circles under his eyes, and that cross ring on his thumb. 

“Hey, Brandon. Up for a little last-night-of-summer fun? I heard it’s ladies night at Kit’s end of summer party. We’re invited.”

“Sure. Let me change.”

I tossed the ball onto the grass. “Sounds fun, can I come?”

“Why not?” Carter shot me a smile.

 Brandon glared at me. “I thought you had plans tonight, Candy.”

I wasn’t about to let his saying my name through clenched teeth stop me. These wolves in boys clothing were not going to steal my best friend. Not if I could help it. “With you. Since you’re going out …” I shrugged.

Brandon’s eyes darted toward the brothers then back to me. “Okay. Go change.”

“She looks fine.” Carter opened the door, slid out and motioned to the back seat.

Brandon cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe you should let your dad know.”

I walked toward the car and pulled out my phone, fingers flying over my qwerty keyboard. After a quick chirp I flashed my phone at Brandon so he could read Dad’s response. Have fun. Be back before curfew.

He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. I walked past him and slid into the back seat next to Max who bobbed his head at me. “Hey, Candy.”

“Hey.” The interior smelled like spearmint.

Brandon rushed up to Carter, their chests almost touched. The Stang’s roof blocked my view of their faces, but Brandon’s hushed voice traveled. “If she gets hurt—”

“She won’t. Tonight is harmless.”

Whatever that meant. I ventured to look at Max still smiling next to me and Luke who turned around and nodded once. His eyebrow ring glinted in the setting sunlight.

I felt suddenly insecure. “You’re sure it’s okay that I show up uninvited?”

Luke chuckled. “You’re hot enough.”

“Are you sure I shouldn’t change first?”

“Second thoughts?”

Well, kinda.

Brandon finally climbed into the backseat smelling amazing. Since when did he wear cologne?

*

Strobe lights danced off the walls, and shirts, and couches. I’d heard about Kit Wheeler’s mansion, but it seriously exceeded expectation. A pool in the yard surrounded by statues? Check. I sat on the white leather couch with a perfect view of the backyard—alone. Where had Brandon gone to anyway? They left me with Max who was pretty content to suck face with the girl on his lap. I stood up.

“Leaving so soon?”

I spun on my heel. Whoa. I had never, in all my life, seen anyone as hot as this guy. Dark eyes, golden hair, he didn’t even have a summer tan, but he was rocking the pale face. I pointed toward the patio. “Actually, I was just—” Just what? My cheeks flushed.

“I thought I’d better come over and introduce myself before someone else got brave enough to approach an angel.”

He actually lifted my hand and kissed it. My knees melted.

“Hey, Candy. Wanna dance?”

Brandon? Where had he been? I turned toward him, but his eyes locked on tall, pale and gorgeous.

 “Back off, Leo, she’s with us.”

Carter? Where did he get off sounding so … protective? Tension built a wall around us and I wanted out. “You guys know each other?”

Leo stared at Carter and a smile stretched his lips. “We’ve met. In passing.” Leo looked into my eyes again. “I didn’t know you were taken.”

I stepped away from Brandon, casting him a glance over my shoulder. His eyes widened. Before he could speak, I held my hand out for Leo to take. “I’m not. I’m just here with some friends.”

*

“I told you the checkered skirt was awesome. You look amazing.”

I slammed my locker door and listened to Mary jabber as I walked toward my third hour. My head was pounding. I scanned the halls like some hunted mouse. Leo said he was a new student at Beech High this year, but I hadn’t seen him yet. I nearly tripped in my heels as Mary grabbed my sleeve and yanked me back a step.

“Who. Is. That?”

“Leo.” My voice came out in a whisper.

“You know him?”

“Yup.” I tugged Mary along.

She resisted. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

“Ummm, no.”

“Candy, why not?”

Someone placed a hand on my shoulder. “Because it’s best to stay away from guys like him.”

Brandon.

Mary stared at Brandon a second before she pointed to her eye and winced. “Nice shiner.”

I pulled her sleeve. This time she let me tow her along.

“What is going on here, Candy? And where were you last night? I must have texted ten times.”

“Twelve.”

We took our seats just before the bell rang. I turned to Mary when Ms. Kilne’s back was turned. “I think you’re right about Brandon. He got all jealous last night when I was dancing with Leo.”

Mary’s eyebrows raised. “You danced with hot Adonis man? You’re claiming both of them now, aren’t you? Isn’t one enough?”

I shook my head. “Leo is bad news. Brandon’s right, stay away from him.”

“Care to share some details?”

I sighed and my breath came out shaky. “If I could remember them I would.”

Mary sat up and leaned closer. Concern creased her forehead. “Spill.”

“I think he drugged me.”

“Leo?”

“Yeah. I went to Kit Wheeler’s party last night with Brandon and the Binder brothers. Leo was there. I danced with him. I remember something about feeling a little scared, then things got really blurry. The next I knew, I was in the backseat of Luke’s car with my head in Brandon’s lap and a bucket of vomit on the floor.”

“Whoa. Did Leo give you a drink?”

I put my head in my hands trying to remember. Mrs. Kilne’s droning voice seemed to pull something to the surface. “The only one who gave me a drink was Max.”

“Max drugged you? You better tell Brandon.”

I sighed. Brandon did not have a black eye when he’d dropped me off last night. That meant despite my warning, he’d gone back out with those brothers. “I don’t think he’ll listen.”

When I reached my fifth hour class my head was throbbing. I had no time for the anal Mr. Peck. He sent me to seat twelve B. I rolled my eyes and counted twelve rows.

“Nice skirt.”

Leo. My stomach twisted. “Hey.”

“Are you feeling any better?”

“Better?”

“Last night while we were dancing you got dizzy. You almost collapsed on the floor. Don’t you remember?”

“Oh. Yeah. The details are a little foggy.”

“I trust your friends got you home safe and sound?”

“Yeah.”

“Odd lot, huh?”

That comment rubbed me the wrong way. “Pardon?”

Leo held up hinds hands. “Calm down. I’m sorry. I just meant they’re the protective type. I mean, a girl can make her own decisions, right?”

My head felt heavy. “Right.”

“You wanted me to drive you home, but they practically pulled you out of my car. Not that I really blame them. But still.”

“Well, I wasn’t feeling myself. I’m sure they were just watching out for me.”

“Right. That’s what friends are for.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you seemed a little uncomfortable with those guys and I was offering you a way out. Truly, if it weren’t for the way you latched on to that Brayden character—”

“His name is Brandon.”

Leo chuckled. “Okay Brandon. I would have thought they dragged you there without your consent.”

I suppose it could have looked that way to an outsider. The rest of class Leo made it clear that he was nothing but a gentleman. There was no way he was the offender of last night’s dizzying episode. That left a myriad of questions for Brandon.

*

When I pulled into the driveway he was home and trying to skirt into his house. “Brandon!” I stormed up to him. In the daylight his cheek was purple too. I lifted a hand to his face. He pulled away. Had the Binder brothers done this? “What happened?”

“I got in a fight.”

“Spill.”

“Please stay away from Leo.”

“He did this?”

“I accused him of trying to hurt you.”

“Your new friends couldn’t help you out?”

“Leo had friends waiting too.”

He did? “Why did you even go back?”

He just stared at me.

“Well, could we hang out tonight?”

“I’m busy.”

“Brandon—”

His cell cut me off. He didn’t even apologize, just answered it and walked away. “Yeah, I’ll be ready.”

So I’d lost him. Was it because I’d chosen Leo? Hadn’t Mary warned me not to mess up?

*

“Hello?”

I turned back to Mary and focused on my locker comm.

“Don’t you get enough of that eye candy from your bedroom window?”

“What?”

“Come on. I’m your only remaining best friend. You can’t expect me to fall for the I-wasn’t-staring-at-Brandon crap.”

“We haven’t hung out in almost two months.”

“Candy, you have to stop. That ship has sailed.”

“All the ships have sailed.”

“Leo? I thought you were okay with him moving on.”

“Yeah. Sort of. When I wanted something else.”

“You’ve got to stop putting off that vibe.”

“Vibe?”

“Mark says you’ve got this I’m-not-interested vibe. Just let it fall for a minute and I’m sure Leo will be glued to you.” Mary wiggled her eyebrows.

“Speaking of glue, here comes Mark.”

Mary let out a silent squee and turned to face him.

I rolled my eyes, but happily. It was good to see Mary so on cloud nine. I opened my locker door and an envelope fluttered to the floor. I picked it up, peeled it open, and pulled out the card. There was a cute little basset hound puppy in the front. Inside, big droopy ears arranged the letters to spell ‘sorry’. Beneath it, in handwriting I couldn’t identify, read: Candy, I’m sorry I’ve been distant lately. I want to make it up to you. Will you meet me at 1271 Cogdon street tonight at nine?

Hmmm. A Halloween date? Brandon had always wanted to take me out on Halloween.

I looked over my shoulder to see if he was still there. He was, talking to Max and the couple girls who had 

flocked their way. At least Brandon didn’t dress like the brothers. He’d kept his button down flannel shirts and brown boots. He glanced my way and sent me a soft, almost rueful, smile. My breath caught. Maybe it was from him. Maybe I had one chance left. I smiled back. Then I plugged the address into my phone and headed out.

*

Twelve seventy-one Cogdon was an abandoned house. The dark kind. Snow draped the rooftop contrasting the pitch black exterior. No tire tracks dented the snow outside. I made sure it was the place—again—then headed out of my car.

I slammed the door and walked toward the dilapidated iron fence. A thump thump sounded behind me. I froze. My heart sped. Reluctantly I turned back. A black cat sat on the trunk of my car licking her paw. Catching my breath and reminding myself that there’s no such thing as ghosts, I clicked the unlock on my fob. Hearing the noise, kitty hissed and dismounted. I opened the trunk and grabbed my Maglite. It might just be too dark in there.

The iron gate was unlocked. I pushed through it and it squealed. I was going to kill Brandon for this. He was forever begging me to go with him to a haunted house. He better have something truly romantic planned.

Snow crunched under my black heeled boots as I walked up the winding walkway. There were no tracks on the snow-covered steps. The porch light was conveniently out. No doorbell. Dark green paint chipped off the door revealing dry, sepia wood beneath. The handle was an ornate brass piece molded in the shape of a dragon. 

Right at my eye level sat a brass door knocker. Its dragon eyes stared at me. I curled my fingers around the ring between its jaws. It was cold even in my gloved hand. The first knock echoed. A click followed the second and the door creaked open. Clutching my Maglite, I stepped over the threshold.

My boot tapped against the wooden floor sending a loud clack into the empty space ahead. I pushed the door open wider to fit through. It groaned. My stomach squeezed. This was not a good idea. I headed backward through the door, pulling it with me. The door protested and the dragon handle slipped through my grip. Strong fingers closed around my left wrist and pulled me aside. A hand cupped over my mouth. Panic seized my chest.

I swung the flashlight behind my head and missed. I stomped with my heeled boot on my captor’s foot as I bit down on the tiny bit of skin I could catch of the rough palm over my mouth. He swore. Released, I fell forward with force. The Maglite thunked down and rolled away from me.

Light flicked on, blinding me. I shook.

“Candy?” The light turned off.

I knew that whisper. “Brandon?”

“Are you okay?” He helped me up.

I latched onto him. “Yeah, you?”

He was close enough for me to make out his features in the dark. The circles under his eyes looked darker, but a smile warmed his face. “I’ll live. Sorry about grabbing you.”

“Didn’t you expect me?”

“No.”

No?

“Did you follow me or something?” He peered out the front door. “It’s not safe for you to be here.” He took my arm in his hand and guided me toward the rear of the house. I resisted. I had no intention of going any deeper into this house without an explanation. “At least let me get you upstairs.”

I eyed the two staircases flanking the balcony just beyond the entryway. If the chandelier lit this room it was probably beautiful. Right now it looked dangerous and creaky.

I turned to face Brandon and grabbed both of his arms. “What’s going on here?” Something sticky, warm and wet seeped through my glove. I looked down. “You’re bleeding.”

“I know. Listen, Max has a car out back. Let me get you closer and you can make a run for it.”

“A run?”

“You shouldn’t be here.”

So he’d said. “I was invited here.”

“You? I should have known. How stupid—I thought he’d given up on you.”

“You’re not making any sense.” I looked down at the floor and caught sight of something glimmer. A razor blade. “Bran!” I grabbed his arm and shoved up his sleeve. A long, thin cut. “What the hell?”

“It’s not what you think.” He pushed me closer to the staircase and into the darkest corner.

I pushed back against him. “Not what I think?”

“Shhh.” His eyes, scared and wild, implored me to take him seriously. “There’s not time to get you out of here now. Take off your shoes and give me your coat.”

“What?”

“Please, Candy. You don’t know what you’re up against.”

I pulled my jeans up to my knee and unzipped my boot. When my foot hit the cold floor, I wished I’d worn socks instead of panty hose. “And what am I up against.”

“You wouldn’t believe me.”

I slid out of my coat and handed it to him. “Tell me.”

“Leo is a vampire.”

“You seriously brought me here to play a prank on me?”

Brandon stuck out his bleeding arm. “Does this look like a joke to you?” He squeezed his arm and blood oozed from the long cut and dripped to the floor. He moved behind the staircase and I stared at the liquid on the floor.

My knees trembled. He wasn’t kidding. He wasn’t … “Holy—”

“Water.”

“What?”

He handed me a super soaker. “Holy water kills them. Squirt anything that moves. If it screams, unload on it. Fast.”

I grabbed the toy. It had been painted black, but seemed otherwise unremarkable. “Where’s yours?”

“I wasn’t expecting company.”

“I’m not taking your weapon.”

“Relax. I’ve got this.” He held up something that resembled a railroad spike.

I reached out to touch it. “A woodchip.”

“Go hide behind the railing and wait. I’ll move your jacket so he thinks you’ve wandered farther into the house. Then I’ll lead him away with this.” He pointed to his bloodied arm.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

“He’s not my first vamp, Candy. I’ve been training with the Binders. It’s kind of a long story and—”

“If they’re so seasoned how come they’re not in here bleeding?”

Brandon put his palm on my arm. Was I supposed to love the warmth of his hand that much? He whispered, 

“Leo hates me.”

“Why?”

His smile was crooked. “He thinks I’m competition. He thinks you’re in love with me or something absurd like that.”

“Absurd?”

Brandon’s eyes rounded. “Your guy’s here.” He towed me back to the stairs. “Stay here. Please.”

I watched him leave. Then I sank onto the third step, super soaker ready to fire, in the absolute quiet. The door creaked. I had to tell myself it was just the wind. It seeped under the threshold and chilled my feet. Another groan upset the floorboards. Did old houses always have to be so creepy?

“His blood smells enticing, but not as sweet as you.”

Leo.

I shook. In the dark I swore I saw a form move in front of me. An ice cold hand touched my shoulder. I screamed. I aimed. He was too close! The nozzle of the gun wouldn’t fit between us. I struggled to back away, but tripped over the stairs. His thumb found the pressure point at the base of my neck and he squeezed while he extracted the gun from my grip.

“Good girl.”

He led me into the center of the room, right under the chandelier in front of the balcony. Brandon’s body was placed prostrate between the two staircases. Blood caked his temple. My knees gave out. Leo held me up. “I thought you might like the surprise. He almost had me.” Leo faced me and pointed to a gaping, bloodied hole in his shirt. “Unfortunately, the stake didn’t penetrate deep enough before I pulled it out. Don’t worry. He’s not dead yet. I’m a sucker for romance. Tragedy really. This looks like the perfect place for a little Romeo and Juliet. Don’t you think? I’ve always wanted to rewrite that one.”

Brandon moved.

My heart thudded against my ribs.

The vampire’s eyes narrowed. He turned around to catch Brandon reaching toward the super soaker. Leo grabbed me in his vice grip and pulled me to him. “Let’s see if you’re fast enough to reach the water gun before I drain your girlfriend’s blood.”

Brandon lunged for the weapon. Leo tossed me aside. I flew backward. A squeal pierced the quiet. The skin of my bare arms shrieked against the wood floor. Leo sat on top of Brandon, pinning his arms down. The vampire kicked the super soaker across the room.

“Any … time …” Brandon choked.

I scrambled to get up and my hand grazed something cold. The Maglite. I sent it spinning at Leo’s head. It clunked off of him. His eyes landed on me. I stood weaponless. He lunged at me. Water sprayed from over the balcony. Leo screamed, falling to the floor at my feet. Steam rose off of him.

“Take that, bastard!” Max unloaded the whole gun.

Leo’s screams resounded off the naked walls until nothing remained of him but a puddle of ash like the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz.

I slumped to the floor, mouth open, and stared at the pile of wet ash.

Max slid down the banister and landed in front of me. He put up his hand for a high five. “You were awesome.”

Brandon pushed Max’s shoulder. “You were a little late. Did you see how close his teeth got to Candy’s neck?”

“Relax, I had to wait until he couldn’t see me. Your plan to move was brilliant.” Max turned toward me again. “And you were awesome! Maglite to the head. I mean bam!”

Brandon took my hands in his and helped me up. “You okay?” He chuckled.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Max is right, the Maglite thing was awesome.”

“You idiot.” I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close.

Max picked up the flashlight. “You should have seen Leo’s face. Dude, she can come with us anytime.”

Brandon hugged me tight. “No. She can’t.”

I buried my head in his chest and peeked at the mound of black on the floor. “So, my boyfriend is a vampire slayer? How awesome is that?”

He stopped breathing for a moment. “Did you just call me your boyfriend?”

“Are you complaining?”

“Absolutely not.”

The Price of a Wish

“I hate you!”  

 Elain slammed her bedroom door so hard one of the papers taped to the outside came undone and slid halfway under the door.  She was too angry to pick it up.  She heard her mother’s footsteps stop right outside her bedroom.  The paper moved and Elain stepped on it to prevent her mother from picking it up and putting it back on her door.  It was stupid, she knew, but it felt good to be angry, to rebel, to impede her mother from doing something, even if it was something as mundane as picking up one of Elain’s old drawings.

The paper ripped.  Elain heard her mother gasp as she released the paper.

“Elain Marie,” her mother said sternly, “I have had enough of this disrespectful behavior.  You will stay in your room for the rest of the night.”

“Good!”  Elain yelled at the door, but her mother’s footsteps were already growing fainter.  

She picked her foot off the pink construction paper on the floor. It was faded from time spent in the sun, and now crinkled, scuffed and torn, but she recognized it. It was cut in the shape of a heart. She pulled it through the slit between the floor and her door and turned it over. Stick figures in crayon hugged one another, she and her mother. Elain tossed it across her room and watched it flutter to the floor as she walked over to her bed.   

Another drawing was taped to her headboard. It was a picture, of better quality, being more recent, of herself, her sister and her mother all walking home from the ice cream shop, stupid smiles on their faces and ice cream cones in their hands.  

Angrily, Elain ripped the picture down and remembered with a shudder why it had been taped there.  The wooden carving of the stag stared back at her.  Turning her back quickly on the soulful stare of the nightmare-inducing creature her great-grandfather had carved, Elain let herself fall to her mattress; it bounced beneath her as she stared at the ceiling. 

It wasn’t her fault. Her mother was so unfair to be angry with her. It wasn’t like she meant for her sister to fall and scrape her knee. Kyra was always dragging behind. Did she really have to watch her every moment? Because that just wasn’t fair. It’s not like Elian even wanted her to come along, and it was hard enough to get to play with those girls anyway without her little sister having to tag along.   

No, it wasn’t fair for her mother to be mad at her. She should be thanking her for begging to have Kyra invited in the first place!

Now she was grounded from playing with her friends for a whole week!  All because Kyra whined and stomped.   

All that whining worked for her. Her parents loved Kyra more anyway. Well, maybe Elain would run away.  Then they’d be sorry. Then they’d know how much of a help she really was. Then they’d realize how badly they treated her. But she would be gone, and they’d have to live with their misery.

Angry tears streamed down Elain’s face, some drying to her cheeks. She wiped them away and sat up.  That’s just what she was going to do. Later tonight, when they were sleeping, she’d slip out the back and run away. She got up and grabbed her backpack, ridding it of homework, she packed her most needed possessions. Then she tucked her bag under her bed and pretended to sleep.

***

Elain opened her eyes. Moonlight spilled in through her bedroom window and onto her face. She’d fallen asleep! Scrambling to her feet she stopped and listened. Sometimes the old house made strange noises in the night, but this was different. 

Tap, tap, tap.

Elain turned toward the window.  

Tap, tap, tap.

Her eyes grew wide. There was something moving in the moonlight, casting a huge shadow onto her bed.  The shadow of a man. Elain’s bedroom was on the second floor, there was no reasonable explanation for a man to be standing on her windowsill, and yet there was the shadow of one. She rubber her eyes, and to her surprise, the shadow was gone.

Elain walked over to the window and looked out. She saw nothing on the quiet streets below. She opened the window and peered down. The night air was cool, but comfortable, like summer lingering into fall. She looked to the side; the rose of Sharon bush grew to the side of her window, but wasn’t tall enough to cast a shadow. She looked to the other side. The ivy. That had to be what cast the shadow. It must have blown in the breeze over her window and she thought it looked like a man.

Relieved, Elain closed the window and turned back toward her bed. She was wide awake now, time to follow through with her plan to run away. Perhaps she could stay in the garage unnoticed for a time. 

Leaning against the window she looked at her bed, her own shadow spread across the unmade covers, but something strange seemed to be growing from her head! Elain turned to see if the ivy blew in front of her window again, but it didn’t. Looking back, she noticed that the growth was not part of her shadow at all, nor was it even a growth. It was a man. A very small, ugly man.

“Who are you?”  Elain asked, jumping away from the window and her bed.

“Is that how you greet guests? My, what a strange place I’ve come to.”  The little man removed his red cap and scratched his head.

“Guests!  Guests are typically invited.  I don’t recall inviting you.”

“You did. I mean you still wish to go to Runaway, don’t you?”

“Runaway?”

“You certainly are the repetitive type.”  The little man jumped from the bed and walked toward her.  He must have only reached her kneecap in height.

Elain twisted her lips.  “I must be dreaming.”

“It was your wish, to show your family how sorry they would be if you were gone, wasn’t it?”

“I—well I suppose,”

“Then, Toadstool at your service.”

“Toadstool?”

“I thought we were done with that.”

“Done with what?”

“Would you like to come to Runaway or not?” The little man sighed.  “To show your family a thing or two about missing you.” Toadstool leaned on Elain’s backpack and twirled his red cap over his finger.

“How do I get there?”

“Ah!” Toadstool stood straight, snapped his cap on his head and bowed.  “I thought you’d never ask.”  He reached up to grab Elain’s wrist and towed her to the window.  “We’ll be taking a wyvern.  Best way to travel such a distance.”

“I am dreaming.”  Elain said as she stared at the scaled tail dangling in front of her window.  

Toadstool lifted the window with ease and stepped onto the sill.  “Going up?”  He extended his hand.

“But how will I get back?”

Toadstool bowed his head and shook it, and stepped back under the window.  “Those who go to Runaway never wish to go back.”

“Why not?”

“Because they get what they asked for.”

“But what if I don’t?”

“You will.”  Toadstool’s smile was suddenly frightening.

“And what’s that?”

“Your family will see how awful they were to drive you away.  They’ll miss you terribly.”

“Then, I’d want to come back, and tell them I’m all right.”

Toadstool’s eyes narrowed for a moment, and Elain shrank away from him. “I will not be going with you and your wyvern,” she said.

“I think you will.”

“You can’t take me!”

“Yes, I can!” Toadstool reached for her, but a growl resounding behind Elain caused the little man to jump back. 

Elain was afraid to move.

“You cannot take who does not want to be taken, Toadstool.” A voice said softly after the growl had faded.

“She does want—"

The growl cut him off again.  Elain saw a light surrounding her from behind and fear kept her from turning toward it.  Toadstool shied from the light, holding a bony arm up to his eyes.  He skittered back and grabbed the wyvern’s tail.  The beast shrieked as it flew away, the little man clinging to it.

Elain was alone with the creature now.  She turned, slowly, toward it.

It was not what she’d expected at all.  It wasn’t a huge roaring creature like a lion or leopard.  Instead, it was slender, tall and white.  A stag.  To think a frail, peaceful creature was capable of such a growl made Elain shudder. 

“You are wise to have denied his invitation.  There is no returning from Runaway.  The Redcap would have taken your spirit and left your shell of a body for your family.”

“I would have died?” Elain felt a shiver deep in her heart.

The stag nodded and at once Elain recognized its soulful eyes.

“It’s you, isn’t it?  The deer from my bed?”  

“It was good that you uncovered me tonight.  How am I supposed to protect you from your dreams when you keep me hidden?”

“You protect me?”

“Of course, Fawn.  Not all dreams are safe.”

“Neither are all wishes.”