The next day, I wake up at 5:30 in the morning and get ready. I go into the kitchen and greet my mom.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzJWWiKnzo
"Did you sleep good dear?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNFauYSS5O
I shrug in response. 440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7J2sA1MGW
"Oh, you've got to know if you did or not."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmlIaxHon0
"Well, I guess," I mumble.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UUtm0guHb
"Okay, come on. Let's go."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdHKgEJfGf
"Already? We don't have to be there until 7:30."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDpIR5BAL8
"It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's 5:47." She heads outside to the car. 440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixZlei2qUk
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfjIAkhR7f
**********440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7sCidSA5j
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObIoKCoLmH
"Who's this pretty thing?" The stranger walks up and shakes my hand.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9204qYcID5
"Oh, that's my daughter," mom says.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj8pIehppm
"What's your name? Mine is Richard Phillips."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaG2xgvcZF
"Nikki," I reply. "Nikki Henderson."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAGbPIneMh
"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?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfUfLlLgGS
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."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmttq5d9DU
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Mom crosses her arms.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXvPjiC6Zz
He coughs. "Yes, ma'am. Tomorrow. We want to get him out of England as soon as possible."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkROydXrdjG
"Why?" I look at mom, then at him.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1auq08kgzx
"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."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nTixNVgfs
"Oh." I look over at his body.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCUu2jdGDG
"Well, we have to go get arrangements ready. Stay here."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TQ1V7OaXv
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2VpgREU9r
After an hour or two of getting things ready and setting things up, mom and I finally leave. Once in the car, I ask,440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mGFxGaQFM
"Are we coming back tomorrow for the open casket funeral?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8enRbzToR
"More than likely not."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vQIx80mt0
"Come one. Mom," I moan.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCYVTsc6Xd
"No."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGx3yfSYRq
I slouch in my seat and cross my arms. "Fine."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5MayoFM3U
"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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0mFkZFf1B
Eleven Years Later …
Location: Sighișoara, Transylvania Year: 2031440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnD0q5F4us
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjblNoYfpY
"Come on. Get up."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeZfuwfldc
"What? Why? It's not even 5:00 yet. Where are we going?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN26D19cwC
"The funeral home."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToHU4IBnQY
"Why?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxphBuPKPKZ
"They need to see me."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30xhNrpMre
"What for?" I stretch and get out of bed. I yawn. 440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49OIFCkHcT
"Something." 440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4YU59Jkoj
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutOTlefFMy
"We don’t know what it is, but he seems to not be decaying. We aren't sure."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjPrLBdnrs
"Who did you say it is?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq34iJPFYb2
"Count Dracula."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5zRLJrz5r
"Oh, gosh." She looks at the body. "He looks like he just got buried."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRqH62isfu
"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."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aY1cOPoGP
"I know the perfect place to contact. But we're going to have to go there personally. You and me."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ9CfrIQzq
"What about me?" I look up.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqQ4HMJxZ0
"You can stay here and watch the body. Let us know if you see anything." He smiles. "Okay?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJv8l3FjUk
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCF9R5XiN7
"Well, let's go." He throws some keys at mom. "You're driving."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFm0jM0zmS
She shrugs. "Alright. Sweetie, stay here."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaIat1uAZq
"As if I could go anywhere," I reply.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7PxUOkWOC
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwwEE3XbG9
I lift his arm up and sit down. I set his arm in my lap and pull out my phone. Time for waiting.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0R7C46MLw
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. 440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tIta6rmoq
"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? 440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCtRR2sIhE
"H-how are y-you even alive? Sh-shouldn't you be dead?"440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNJ4N7YWAf
He smiles. "Maybe."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhduYrkP9WH
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeI3hpISmD
"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."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOkyIRSjoX
"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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zH4ZfQdVk
