The next day, I wake up at 5:30 in the morning and get ready. I go into the kitchen and greet my mom.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQahMF4BMGb
"Did you sleep good dear?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4x9czy9HJ
I shrug in response. 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5ElraDVrD
"Oh, you've got to know if you did or not."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWD8EzZwg4
"Well, I guess," I mumble.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTivnwvDEy
"Okay, come on. Let's go."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdf56f2zyl
"Already? We don't have to be there until 7:30."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMxZtwNcAl
"It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's 5:47." She heads outside to the car. 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQPu7lFmSK
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXgyY9oj1U
**********442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOFigFXyOq
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdxxJUunlQ
"Who's this pretty thing?" The stranger walks up and shakes my hand.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFwjYJTmL5
"Oh, that's my daughter," mom says.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2tXPz9K7i
"What's your name? Mine is Richard Phillips."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xlkdhN1Zm
"Nikki," I reply. "Nikki Henderson."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDshQDLhMKz
"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?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sMZ4EblDD
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."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVds0qrXUZC
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Mom crosses her arms.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOraJwx0ERI
He coughs. "Yes, ma'am. Tomorrow. We want to get him out of England as soon as possible."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifOEBNOqBW
"Why?" I look at mom, then at him.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukSYOkal4T
"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."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wDzvsthy7
"Oh." I look over at his body.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97W4s1fKxg
"Well, we have to go get arrangements ready. Stay here."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hIvlMjESB
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJuXq8VZBQ
After an hour or two of getting things ready and setting things up, mom and I finally leave. Once in the car, I ask,442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPojT0DJN82
"Are we coming back tomorrow for the open casket funeral?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXIEPW61v2
"More than likely not."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhUMOGAgh5
"Come one. Mom," I moan.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs64l410TKi
"No."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm84SLugz2
I slouch in my seat and cross my arms. "Fine."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBHCRMML16
"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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35nzG4v1Nr
Eleven Years Later …
Location: Sighișoara, Transylvania Year: 2031442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhZTVwwhrE
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGY0HBPyL8
"Come on. Get up."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PZcUsGVmx
"What? Why? It's not even 5:00 yet. Where are we going?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6e0wKNn93
"The funeral home."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXH7Be3tSc
"Why?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWvkOHs9n0
"They need to see me."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUhTQP5xKT
"What for?" I stretch and get out of bed. I yawn. 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NSnvz91TH
"Something." 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRkBewKmWr
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjisFphDT2
"We don’t know what it is, but he seems to not be decaying. We aren't sure."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtAGCzgtRw
"Who did you say it is?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWY1NT3ZgD
"Count Dracula."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPScwj0ReRG
"Oh, gosh." She looks at the body. "He looks like he just got buried."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTmzPbSMmG
"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."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvuOXG0Je0
"I know the perfect place to contact. But we're going to have to go there personally. You and me."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSC4yzlCFiu
"What about me?" I look up.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXV1cxkOKd
"You can stay here and watch the body. Let us know if you see anything." He smiles. "Okay?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UbKeDSks1
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kem7bjGbJ
"Well, let's go." He throws some keys at mom. "You're driving."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Jcokbc6q9
She shrugs. "Alright. Sweetie, stay here."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYZ9TGWCxH
"As if I could go anywhere," I reply.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36G1EwxoG1
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9fQQQoWE4
I lift his arm up and sit down. I set his arm in my lap and pull out my phone. Time for waiting.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEvlMlrtWe
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. 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLMTR3N13S
"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? 442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoekcvKdWL
"H-how are y-you even alive? Sh-shouldn't you be dead?"442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUppiUPDI3
He smiles. "Maybe."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJPBpkRXue
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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw1V5cDGLQ
"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."442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk4u4UFyIT
"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.442Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFUdhtCjhD
