The next day, I wake up at 5:30 in the morning and get ready. I go into the kitchen and greet my mom.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw4ZEGAuyB
"Did you sleep good dear?"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gAuNYyp8a
I shrug in response. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1v1QuWO7e
"Oh, you've got to know if you did or not."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgd43YIc5xa
"Well, I guess," I mumble.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOYR0kqbzg
"Okay, come on. Let's go."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXQrdgNMz1
"Already? We don't have to be there until 7:30."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50JSoF3MLF
"It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's 5:47." She heads outside to the car. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW7pxgWihZ
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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOlpeuZ2uX
**********441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RyeP0ezpi
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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmoO7VAHfk
"Who's this pretty thing?" The stranger walks up and shakes my hand.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIahBi9hjU
"Oh, that's my daughter," mom says.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2znZiasGN8
"What's your name? Mine is Richard Phillips."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejkXNPa5s5
"Nikki," I reply. "Nikki Henderson."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenqBDvzTIX
"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?"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRRlB3cTUv
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."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ427eU5vkmW
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Mom crosses her arms.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGacVjE9RTV
He coughs. "Yes, ma'am. Tomorrow. We want to get him out of England as soon as possible."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wT1jPtUqu
"Why?" I look at mom, then at him.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AX2SbZrgu
"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."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE97DBdMOjF
"Oh." I look over at his body.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KOkPNjdN6
"Well, we have to go get arrangements ready. Stay here."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1OHIjYxgM
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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMIfovoQE3
After an hour or two of getting things ready and setting things up, mom and I finally leave. Once in the car, I ask,441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSQ8jnmxHp
"Are we coming back tomorrow for the open casket funeral?"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpgeF2Q52l
"More than likely not."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUgQqRpw1K
"Come one. Mom," I moan.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZR260hHcsX
"No."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMq4v8BHmF
I slouch in my seat and cross my arms. "Fine."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqdcegROKi
"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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G6zA6ZUBp
Eleven Years Later …
Location: Sighișoara, Transylvania Year: 2031441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qadvSVUrA
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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagazFUGZrm
"Come on. Get up."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa98btXDE1k
"What? Why? It's not even 5:00 yet. Where are we going?"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5pvVuw3P9
"The funeral home."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPjz2yr5s0
"Why?"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezkFfgfUuE
"They need to see me."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM0Jmx3V1C
"What for?" I stretch and get out of bed. I yawn. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjKUfsB8oX
"Something." 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGoiY0rrjM
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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpig1xHYS3
"We don’t know what it is, but he seems to not be decaying. We aren't sure."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXF1IG8T0f
"Who did you say it is?"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOu08HggNQ
"Count Dracula."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu3phKpU8B
"Oh, gosh." She looks at the body. "He looks like he just got buried."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPbYVdIPIA
"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."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEzQyNmyaw
"I know the perfect place to contact. But we're going to have to go there personally. You and me."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnRSjhgmYj
"What about me?" I look up.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAri26X5Cy
"You can stay here and watch the body. Let us know if you see anything." He smiles. "Okay?"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZNSjaKNFA
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtV0mi7yGP
"Well, let's go." He throws some keys at mom. "You're driving."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTbtNH3hhI
She shrugs. "Alright. Sweetie, stay here."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNtEsK2gPl
"As if I could go anywhere," I reply.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU00wue8wlx
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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURn3B3La4v
I lift his arm up and sit down. I set his arm in my lap and pull out my phone. Time for waiting.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i7IOCWhoN
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. 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM54dyxVwr5
"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? 441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiqVmkd8mE
"H-how are y-you even alive? Sh-shouldn't you be dead?"441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N3l3nck13
He smiles. "Maybe."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotcdvLu6Mo
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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRd6VRrNEc
"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."441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ30W8bki5c
"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.441Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb0j6chWsy
