The next day, I wake up at 5:30 in the morning and get ready. I go into the kitchen and greet my mom.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rOja4vfvk
"Did you sleep good dear?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUfqCUahC4
I shrug in response. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf3u6dFH3a
"Oh, you've got to know if you did or not."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmcT3qlv43
"Well, I guess," I mumble.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmOEpxN9fi
"Okay, come on. Let's go."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJLgYfaggD
"Already? We don't have to be there until 7:30."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmHS2jCSAd
"It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's 5:47." She heads outside to the car. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2HZKYcCin
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmKWcXJ5ll
**********275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dzHBIHKRA
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltmISi7tTr
"Who's this pretty thing?" The stranger walks up and shakes my hand.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDfMhPTzJj
"Oh, that's my daughter," mom says.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi3qmboQhg
"What's your name? Mine is Richard Phillips."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLgoYJMWtG
"Nikki," I reply. "Nikki Henderson."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4K5cZPr8W
"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?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOc0p0Hdgx
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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6HAe3J033
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Mom crosses her arms.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUZ2z3GTGb
He coughs. "Yes, ma'am. Tomorrow. We want to get him out of England as soon as possible."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6SpEF6Xuo
"Why?" I look at mom, then at him.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JgcHJA05U
"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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJHI80QpyG
"Oh." I look over at his body.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDnKAJB0hX
"Well, we have to go get arrangements ready. Stay here."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcOQCPhcJC
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46rqkdgNzg
After an hour or two of getting things ready and setting things up, mom and I finally leave. Once in the car, I ask,275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlErgDVJGBM
"Are we coming back tomorrow for the open casket funeral?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDM7lR7suS
"More than likely not."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAkM2lrUDg
"Come one. Mom," I moan.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPk8cihxni2
"No."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbvDvGdOTI
I slouch in my seat and cross my arms. "Fine."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKLmBZn673
"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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LuY9lYnjs
Eleven Years Later …
Location: Sighișoara, Transylvania Year: 2031275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hFVgwOypZ
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7tho8yiW2
"Come on. Get up."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDOezeqtFf
"What? Why? It's not even 5:00 yet. Where are we going?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZHMs2KZqy
"The funeral home."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW2GNeT2VA
"Why?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuSmN1yiVG
"They need to see me."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxBQl69j0O
"What for?" I stretch and get out of bed. I yawn. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKCrpssmuU
"Something." 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwgJZLasPy
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3I5dZJQOSB
"We don’t know what it is, but he seems to not be decaying. We aren't sure."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatyUgPktD3
"Who did you say it is?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB3hvlncx6
"Count Dracula."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGbxynwtC2
"Oh, gosh." She looks at the body. "He looks like he just got buried."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqgfKcYvfA
"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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTUV2Xo6uq
"I know the perfect place to contact. But we're going to have to go there personally. You and me."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpSdIpQfQN
"What about me?" I look up.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CoFFLPlFP
"You can stay here and watch the body. Let us know if you see anything." He smiles. "Okay?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof0XkRuS8k
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Z7ukpvk3Z
"Well, let's go." He throws some keys at mom. "You're driving."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRXygal4cC
She shrugs. "Alright. Sweetie, stay here."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIJ6USeOfD
"As if I could go anywhere," I reply.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGcZOcDxZD
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMBgXUtHe8
I lift his arm up and sit down. I set his arm in my lap and pull out my phone. Time for waiting.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpL9i2XfJt
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. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrznIbDm59
"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? 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ975R4vOktD
"H-how are y-you even alive? Sh-shouldn't you be dead?"275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4uBZfMPrL
He smiles. "Maybe."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvn8OHFnBrj
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmUX84DN3X
"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."275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghyWmdcxuw
"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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxIawUn4XM
