The next day, I wake up at 5:30 in the morning and get ready. I go into the kitchen and greet my mom.198Please respect copyright.PENANATHnKWGVl3w
"Did you sleep good dear?"198Please respect copyright.PENANAoB3GtXoYDs
I shrug in response. 198Please respect copyright.PENANAnGkIUv3qPi
"Oh, you've got to know if you did or not."198Please respect copyright.PENANAxj6GWhqM6Z
"Well, I guess," I mumble.198Please respect copyright.PENANAPaNCeccmws
"Okay, come on. Let's go."198Please respect copyright.PENANApzRMcO5DZx
"Already? We don't have to be there until 7:30."198Please respect copyright.PENANAvde0JROdMd
"It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's 5:47." She heads outside to the car. 198Please respect copyright.PENANAmkU4bv6QCo
I moan, get up and go outside to the car. I get in the car and mom turns on the engine. She pulls out of the driveway and we head off.198Please respect copyright.PENANA8BEOWgbpQC
**********198Please respect copyright.PENANAsXwDyEQ7yR
Once we get to the funeral home, we head inside and go to the back. Mom tells me to wait where I'm at and goes out a pair of doors. I look over at something covered in a sheet. I walk around looking at the pictures on the wall. After a while, when I can't control my curiosity, I walk over to the sheet covered object and pull the sheet away. I find a body with the eyes closed. Very carefully, I lean in and slowly lift my hand. I quickly poke the face and pull my hand away, closing my eyes. I slowly open one eye and look at the body. I heave a sigh and open my other eye. I reach up and pull the eyelid open. Suddenly, I hear someone approaching. I jump up as the door opens and mom walks in with someone.198Please respect copyright.PENANAJ0qJchAaD7
"Who's this pretty thing?" The stranger walks up and shakes my hand.198Please respect copyright.PENANAZXTRkarwov
"Oh, that's my daughter," mom says.198Please respect copyright.PENANAqBm6n1Y3rs
"What's your name? Mine is Richard Phillips."198Please respect copyright.PENANA8rbChp6Us6
"Nikki," I reply. "Nikki Henderson."198Please respect copyright.PENANANCtbZmOYIw
"Beautiful name." He looks over at the body. "You been looking at him. One interesting thing, isn't he? Funny lookin'. I examined his teeth and looked at some online pictures. It's him, alright. The great Count Dracula." He coughs. "Amazing, isn't it?"198Please respect copyright.PENANAdENkOjDYFU
I nod. "I've always wondered what it would be like to meet him in person, but this is good enough."
"Well, we've got to get him ready for open casket tomorrow."198Please respect copyright.PENANAwKUlIQzkiR
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Mom crosses her arms.198Please respect copyright.PENANAJAJR3WDin7
He coughs. "Yes, ma'am. Tomorrow. We want to get him out of England as soon as possible."198Please respect copyright.PENANAC74zqsMrTy
"Why?" I look at mom, then at him.198Please respect copyright.PENANAGnyU7qXVdV
"He doesn't belong here. He's going to be sent down to Transylvania to be buried. He's not being buried up here in England."198Please respect copyright.PENANAcBBIlc6C9I
"Oh." I look over at his body.198Please respect copyright.PENANAfxLl7qpPLQ
"Well, we have to go get arrangements ready. Stay here."198Please respect copyright.PENANAj6dBLczj7Y
Mom and Richard leave and I walk over to his body. I lift my hand up and pull back his upper lip. I examine his teeth and gasp. I straighten up, sit down and gaze down on him. I sigh. Oh, he's so handsome. I want to kiss him. But I'm not going to.198Please respect copyright.PENANAjoydvtlYBd
After an hour or two of getting things ready and setting things up, mom and I finally leave. Once in the car, I ask,198Please respect copyright.PENANAv0WiGSH1Us
"Are we coming back tomorrow for the open casket funeral?"198Please respect copyright.PENANANCxYfNXTsc
"More than likely not."198Please respect copyright.PENANAGAaUrOHhrG
"Come one. Mom," I moan.198Please respect copyright.PENANAflEeNUY9oc
"No."198Please respect copyright.PENANAwI3aMCqXGE
I slouch in my seat and cross my arms. "Fine."198Please respect copyright.PENANA7HemAEGwSP
"Sit up, young lady."
I moan and sit up. I turn and look out the window. I sigh. Back home and staying there. Yay. Not.198Please respect copyright.PENANAqJ88F4KLtU
Eleven Years Later …
Location: Sighișoara, Transylvania Year: 2031198Please respect copyright.PENANAiddlkDbXWx
Just woke up from the craziest dream ever. It's only 4:45 in the morning. Suddenly, my bedroom door opens and my light comes on. I squint.198Please respect copyright.PENANARk9pcMpXPk
"Come on. Get up."198Please respect copyright.PENANATxyeS8v4hO
"What? Why? It's not even 5:00 yet. Where are we going?"198Please respect copyright.PENANAFLPsKrctf5
"The funeral home."198Please respect copyright.PENANAEvY8sDqx5R
"Why?"198Please respect copyright.PENANA9blNjyZwsK
"They need to see me."198Please respect copyright.PENANAmLqzuDi6xl
"What for?" I stretch and get out of bed. I yawn. 198Please respect copyright.PENANAHxjveXU8HH
"Something." 198Please respect copyright.PENANAcoS8Nirt1H
Mom leaves and I get dressed. I go to the kitchen and we head to the car. We get in and head to the funeral home. Once there, we head inside and go to the backroom. Mom tells me to stay and goes out some doors. I sit down on the bed or table. I quickly jump up and turn around. A sheet. I pull back the sheet and see a body. Oh. Please don’t tell me she's going to help with another funeral. Suddenly the doors open and mom comes in with someone.198Please respect copyright.PENANA2Z98ivBEJq
"We don’t know what it is, but he seems to not be decaying. We aren't sure."198Please respect copyright.PENANAvXJJ986K1d
"Who did you say it is?"198Please respect copyright.PENANAZkrW0AjhOE
"Count Dracula."198Please respect copyright.PENANATf4xdp5ewe
"Oh, gosh." She looks at the body. "He looks like he just got buried."198Please respect copyright.PENANA9XlxGdytLE
"He was put in a tomb in his casket. We don't know what it is with him, but he seriously doesn't seem to be decaying. We aren't sure what's going on."198Please respect copyright.PENANAfDb2b2oJzN
"I know the perfect place to contact. But we're going to have to go there personally. You and me."198Please respect copyright.PENANAlwlhF4x2GZ
"What about me?" I look up.198Please respect copyright.PENANA5zQeGWKf7C
"You can stay here and watch the body. Let us know if you see anything." He smiles. "Okay?"198Please respect copyright.PENANAwx4K6zVReD
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever."198Please respect copyright.PENANAMpYPzceu5F
"Well, let's go." He throws some keys at mom. "You're driving."198Please respect copyright.PENANAXzvvTR8dza
She shrugs. "Alright. Sweetie, stay here."198Please respect copyright.PENANAKP6qHGEZZ7
"As if I could go anywhere," I reply.198Please respect copyright.PENANAPoSrxApaDH
They leave. I turn around and look at him. "Why aren't you rotting?" I raise my eyebrows at my own remark. I snort. "What am I kidding? I'm literally talking to a dead body." I laugh at myself.198Please respect copyright.PENANAhGRzMeij6Y
I lift his arm up and sit down. I set his arm in my lap and pull out my phone. Time for waiting.198Please respect copyright.PENANAiY7wAAsMPt
An hour passes by and they still aren't back. I look over at him and smile. I hold his arm and lean down. Suddenly, we're face to face. I set my phone on his chest and use my free hand to touch his face. 198Please respect copyright.PENANAiYvB66ZhEC
"You're so handsome," I murmur. "I want to kiss you." I gasp and a smile spreads on my face. I lean in closer until our lips are touching. I lean in closer and kiss his lips. I pull away and smile. I lean in and kiss him again. And again. I sit up and wipe my face. "What is wrong with me?" I look down at him and brush a stray strand of hair off his forehead. I look away and start stroking his hand. I stop stroking his hand and look up. I sigh. Suddenly, I swear I feel movement on my lap. I look down to a completely still, unmoved hand. I look back up and feel movement again. I look down and this time I watch in horror as the hand clenches and squeezes my leg. I shriek and jump up, practically jumping across the room. I whirl around and find a standing up Dracula, my phone in his hand. Wait! My phone? 198Please respect copyright.PENANA8EntUmacnX
"H-how are y-you even alive? Sh-shouldn't you be dead?"198Please respect copyright.PENANASRoeKeIUKE
He smiles. "Maybe."198Please respect copyright.PENANAcQBo7HNbYE
I just stare at him, wide-eyed. He chuckles and I see light gleam in his eyes. Suddenly, he's getting closer. I back up and hit the wall. I glance at the door and glance at him. I try racing to the door, but it's too late. He's done got me cornered. I put up my hands as tears stream down my face. Suddenly, I feel his hand making its way through my arms. He pulls my arms away and looks at my face. He sets my phone down and smiles. I feel his hand close around my jaw and I look up at him. He smiles again. I sniffle.198Please respect copyright.PENANAznXoxuBYQS
"Ah, hush. Enough of the tears, my dear." He chuckles. "I am quite hungry, though. I've been lying in a tomb for quite some time and I haven't had a thing to eat."198Please respect copyright.PENANAEm7gXxdkyM
"Please, no. I d-don't—"
"Shh. Hush now. Stay very calm." He smiles and I notice the familiar red color around his irises. "You're doing very well." He opens his mouth and I watch as the fangs grow longer. I shriek as his fangs sink in my neck. I moan as I feel him draining me of life. He comes up for breath and I sink to the floor. He looks down at me and grins wickedly. I suddenly feel really light-headed. I go unconscious.198Please respect copyright.PENANAEvo77GK7Ur