The next day, I wake up at 5:30 in the morning and get ready. I go into the kitchen and greet my mom.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDq4mcL5WZ
"Did you sleep good dear?"448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKhSGfEm0C
I shrug in response. 448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLKK5UJPJ1
"Oh, you've got to know if you did or not."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqxkHEwBKR
"Well, I guess," I mumble.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunfaTIzJ1K
"Okay, come on. Let's go."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRMuEGeUtI
"Already? We don't have to be there until 7:30."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cFJoBCX1S
"It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's 5:47." She heads outside to the car. 448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgROF9JNig
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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHRWxx2Uj9
**********448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t2ZtaivAe
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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMM19zOmxr
"Who's this pretty thing?" The stranger walks up and shakes my hand.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4vdPZA9f3
"Oh, that's my daughter," mom says.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP2UX1UdDE
"What's your name? Mine is Richard Phillips."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDNGTc0SeM
"Nikki," I reply. "Nikki Henderson."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfm3myJsqp5
"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?"448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWeXYUJb61
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."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4RsXtUfAv
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Mom crosses her arms.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1EqsOWq9R
He coughs. "Yes, ma'am. Tomorrow. We want to get him out of England as soon as possible."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XfArDtISI
"Why?" I look at mom, then at him.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfASjiu1SGl
"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."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fFw2iZYMV
"Oh." I look over at his body.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr82hGgHLe
"Well, we have to go get arrangements ready. Stay here."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmqapJqMa8
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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAe29XjaBg
After an hour or two of getting things ready and setting things up, mom and I finally leave. Once in the car, I ask,448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzVkliVp2y
"Are we coming back tomorrow for the open casket funeral?"448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejy4EF4rEZ
"More than likely not."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuj0gHYLrb
"Come one. Mom," I moan.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHrWpT2LSu
"No."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD9O0kyEjS
I slouch in my seat and cross my arms. "Fine."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZPrcYgEdM
"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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwwJ8bXeat
Eleven Years Later …
Location: Sighișoara, Transylvania Year: 2031448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3S5tFJweU
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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENwi5xTdPK
"Come on. Get up."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMiHS8yZhc
"What? Why? It's not even 5:00 yet. Where are we going?"448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1RESGByYv
"The funeral home."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIQ57HTLJF
"Why?"448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK6rm7Qzsv
"They need to see me."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsu0iCyU7V
"What for?" I stretch and get out of bed. I yawn. 448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbCWXHD9w5
"Something." 448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbUW6zEbdZ
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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLywJeJhc2
"We don’t know what it is, but he seems to not be decaying. We aren't sure."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXipQRXyZB
"Who did you say it is?"448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPpv1gxP8f
"Count Dracula."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGe0vKahbW
"Oh, gosh." She looks at the body. "He looks like he just got buried."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3rLCrezhn
"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."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC8AWSDWaS
"I know the perfect place to contact. But we're going to have to go there personally. You and me."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z9FIrVSuB
"What about me?" I look up.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jYfNqG5Kz
"You can stay here and watch the body. Let us know if you see anything." He smiles. "Okay?"448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTofbGW0DS
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7r2l34eAqo
"Well, let's go." He throws some keys at mom. "You're driving."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ih28EAqK6
She shrugs. "Alright. Sweetie, stay here."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx2Qcck7EK
"As if I could go anywhere," I reply.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62xpkD8PzN
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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPipdTLB1SQ
I lift his arm up and sit down. I set his arm in my lap and pull out my phone. Time for waiting.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aVzzV0Xa6
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. 448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHzM7Sn8M0
"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? 448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogL1WHj8tE
"H-how are y-you even alive? Sh-shouldn't you be dead?"448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbliulhKbaE
He smiles. "Maybe."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZyWlUBNaH
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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsQOv4GnmQ
"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."448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgayZahdXUE
"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.448Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ901eZjKiCd
