The next day, I wake up at 5:30 in the morning and get ready. I go into the kitchen and greet my mom.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE91LHFAPGc
"Did you sleep good dear?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i5kcT1DXy
I shrug in response. 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P5uUM9HP1
"Oh, you've got to know if you did or not."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifNmCxwRLP
"Well, I guess," I mumble.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Z5pzSHGrv
"Okay, come on. Let's go."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ww4sEQMt5
"Already? We don't have to be there until 7:30."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yydyc3nKB
"It takes about an hour and a half to get there. It's 5:47." She heads outside to the car. 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c3lKxjAHI
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOJo3ErUcT
**********352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtkFYHdSNt
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAULaVnvsAr
"Who's this pretty thing?" The stranger walks up and shakes my hand.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLPr3GolUH
"Oh, that's my daughter," mom says.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLpo6bRPpe
"What's your name? Mine is Richard Phillips."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzdreUOh2V
"Nikki," I reply. "Nikki Henderson."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGobDCFXgZ
"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?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSUqnyzjAg
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."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqtvRtsrnb
"Tomorrow? So soon?" Mom crosses her arms.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXsXXfxWeB
He coughs. "Yes, ma'am. Tomorrow. We want to get him out of England as soon as possible."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTptLCYf80z
"Why?" I look at mom, then at him.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsQlZ8hFv8
"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."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk5fxNTrgr
"Oh." I look over at his body.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmgIoCsgon
"Well, we have to go get arrangements ready. Stay here."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QRkYFMA7E
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst0YfLlt1L
After an hour or two of getting things ready and setting things up, mom and I finally leave. Once in the car, I ask,352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiKuOaPFHI
"Are we coming back tomorrow for the open casket funeral?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmujiIOBnhO
"More than likely not."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecBlkHHA3J
"Come one. Mom," I moan.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5RNMcbJyk
"No."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpJ7NgnvpT
I slouch in my seat and cross my arms. "Fine."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNRIWIuqxn
"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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MLQPq9XCi
Eleven Years Later …
Location: Sighișoara, Transylvania Year: 2031352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ad0D3k0gt
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVawJ9NJTY
"Come on. Get up."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRYqVXAABh
"What? Why? It's not even 5:00 yet. Where are we going?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTTqiwZ3GX
"The funeral home."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAI80RuL1Z
"Why?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrtfd9c3i0
"They need to see me."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyLh4knN97
"What for?" I stretch and get out of bed. I yawn. 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4NmTGm6hU
"Something." 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBZTZQQwfU
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeMEaiIfiZ
"We don’t know what it is, but he seems to not be decaying. We aren't sure."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHztjdfYmd
"Who did you say it is?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6kXKXoHco
"Count Dracula."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfelzeMBKm
"Oh, gosh." She looks at the body. "He looks like he just got buried."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC50t0oqda
"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."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEM9bZOPy8p
"I know the perfect place to contact. But we're going to have to go there personally. You and me."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhlIfJZuJG
"What about me?" I look up.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKyy0QuRgS
"You can stay here and watch the body. Let us know if you see anything." He smiles. "Okay?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiaB4ylZnq
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNhb9bJvNo
"Well, let's go." He throws some keys at mom. "You're driving."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0vu6TX3iq
She shrugs. "Alright. Sweetie, stay here."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrRGFknW4F
"As if I could go anywhere," I reply.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiVD6hUxAd
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2lTgRu6lt
I lift his arm up and sit down. I set his arm in my lap and pull out my phone. Time for waiting.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpgicaG6oB
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. 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE9P0TkfqE
"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? 352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvNLCzScD1
"H-how are y-you even alive? Sh-shouldn't you be dead?"352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyhbeTW0vW
He smiles. "Maybe."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsxwdh2BOS
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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerQvYOUq66
"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."352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgVrfrajlS
"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.352Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlmkLwBVd7
