The next day, I wake up at 5:30 in the morning and get ready. I go into the kitchen and greet my mom.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUuXZUpQte
"Did you sleep good dear?"348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6KJjzNueS
I shrug in response. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxABDunA9v
"Oh, you've got to know if you did or not."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQksRoz1tf4
"Well, I guess," I mumble.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeWdUpiJAW
"Okay, come on. Let's go."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi134vOYX1J
"Already? We don't have to be there until 7:30."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xosRLprSL
"It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's 5:47." She heads outside to the car. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedhPuVVZAH
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24ilnrRSsS
**********348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU7UB5uUvS
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnHgtmIgLc
"Who's this pretty thing?" The stranger walks up and shakes my hand.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22Ic8aVJgo
"Oh, that's my daughter," mom says.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Oc84VOtA
"What's your name? Mine is Richard Phillips."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIBza62BIZ
"Nikki," I reply. "Nikki Henderson."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYM5Ag2nNgP
"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?"348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyd0cS3XBn
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."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5Ch7s3Tmq
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Mom crosses her arms.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cnOgDBSmg
He coughs. "Yes, ma'am. Tomorrow. We want to get him out of England as soon as possible."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWqmFIYEWO
"Why?" I look at mom, then at him.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu5xXj67mY
"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."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbqHtpEHmO
"Oh." I look over at his body.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWns6tMbTH
"Well, we have to go get arrangements ready. Stay here."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUjLnrjRhL
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2orGjtSi8a
After an hour or two of getting things ready and setting things up, mom and I finally leave. Once in the car, I ask,348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZRo4ZiMu1
"Are we coming back tomorrow for the open casket funeral?"348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6ZkH6Q7fH
"More than likely not."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob3OXngzl9
"Come one. Mom," I moan.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSPOs3jUqR
"No."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy87moXj851
I slouch in my seat and cross my arms. "Fine."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGkJxFkjNW
"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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp3XQtEybe
Eleven Years Later …
Location: Sighișoara, Transylvania Year: 2031348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTveeN2Agp3
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqyxGYGqcK
"Come on. Get up."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWIwpQbjIk
"What? Why? It's not even 5:00 yet. Where are we going?"348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFuV7rKAsw
"The funeral home."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPy7RqsIfk
"Why?"348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkdK9Z28AN
"They need to see me."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlTxS8PZnv
"What for?" I stretch and get out of bed. I yawn. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEmZW2JLaf
"Something." 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5iwquEpB5
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5lsF6hZyh
"We don’t know what it is, but he seems to not be decaying. We aren't sure."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUEhUN44Wi
"Who did you say it is?"348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GbySD6rtX
"Count Dracula."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8IKq1pppD
"Oh, gosh." She looks at the body. "He looks like he just got buried."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqOGBMoBwg
"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."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkLfa8plQX
"I know the perfect place to contact. But we're going to have to go there personally. You and me."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLroKbxEn4
"What about me?" I look up.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIP29pVNYe
"You can stay here and watch the body. Let us know if you see anything." He smiles. "Okay?"348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mS32DdG0O
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR5xj5vh6r
"Well, let's go." He throws some keys at mom. "You're driving."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlQnlWwpos
She shrugs. "Alright. Sweetie, stay here."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3CZB1nIXa
"As if I could go anywhere," I reply.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD7ysDMyis
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCQKlpdYan
I lift his arm up and sit down. I set his arm in my lap and pull out my phone. Time for waiting.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeb7bXRdpi
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. 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsEo9ZIH8Z
"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? 348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9Gwun052q
"H-how are y-you even alive? Sh-shouldn't you be dead?"348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5EtihljVi
He smiles. "Maybe."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQkyxxkJV8
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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCjjUhslal
"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."348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOmndaC8oN
"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.348Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt66duVI1h
