CHAPTER EIGHT:
OCTOBER 29, 1995:
I wake up around 7:20, horrified at how long I have slept. I have not thought about that night in ages, an am absolutely horrified by what would happen next, but that story will be for another time. I know. Right now I have more pressing matters to attend to. I need to find out the reason behind the flashes I had the night I arrived. It has never happened before, and I wonder who it is that I saw lying dead on the ground during the last flash. I change once more, and remember I do not have my car. I phone Harold and he agrees to pick me up. As I wait for him, I can’t help but wonder what Pike is up to at the moment, what that psychopath has in store since I’ve killed his newborn lackeys. Harold arrives around ten minutes later. The first thing I note is how tired he looks. He shrugs it off when I press him, telling me he was up all night working on the next chapter. What shocks me is when he reveals he is about to kill off a character. When I press for more information, he simply replies he’ll let me read it when it’s done. He doesn’t say another word until we get to the school parking lot. Once we do, he quickly climbs out of the car, and gives a quick cough before replying “See you later.” I ask him if he’ll take me back to the beach from last night, and he quickly assures me he will. I begin to sense something different in him. His illness, which for the love of me I still cannot pinpoint, has worsened. I realize I’m not only running out of time to stop whatever Pike’s plans are, I’m running out of time to help Harold too. I walk into the school, and see Vincent at his locker. “Hey.” I call to him. He turns and smiles, apparently he is happy to see me. “Hey! Uh… Ashley right?” he asks. I nod. “That’s right, and your Vincent right?” I reply. Vincent nods. “I didn’t get to talk much to you yesterday.” He responds. He looks around. “Look. I got class. Can we continue this discussion at lunch?” he asks. I nod. “Sure thing.” He nods appreciatively, and takes some books out of his locker before rushing off. I run into Danny on my way to English, and he promises to see me at lunch also. After another long period of high-school English class, which I note, I did not see Vincent in the entire class. I shrug, wondering why he seemed in such a hurry to get to class when I talked to him. I head for gym, hoping to at least see Harold, and am disappointed when I do not see him there. I ask the teacher where he is, and he looks saddened. “He gave a doctor’s note saying his kidneys are getting worse. He went to Study Hall.” He replies. Now I know what is wrong with Harold. He has kidney cancer, the reason I did not detect this is because it is not currently treatable, and is still a relatively new condition. I wade through the classes until lunch, where I see Danny and Vincent at a table. I don’t see Harold, and briefly wonder where he is, until I remember Danny’s comment that he eats in the computer lab. I sigh, helping him cannot come soon enough, but I still can’t do it yet. If I do, Pike will likely discover my connection with him, which would endanger more lives than one. I walk over and sit next to Danny and Vincent, who both greet me. “Harold wasn’t in gym today.” I mutter. Danny sighs, but Vincent looks confused. “Who’s Harold?” he asks. “A friend of mine and Ashley’s too apparently.” Danny replies, before turning to me. “He’s sick. It’s gotten worse.” He replies. Vincent shakes his head. “That sounds awful.” He says sadly. Vincent then decides to change the subject. “Did you guys see the news this morning? Mike and Jason were found dead in the woods.” Danny turns, horrified. “Mike and Jason? What happened?” he asks. Vincent sighs. “I met them yesterday. They seemed nice enough…” Danny looked at him “Vincent, what happened?” he asked a second time. “The police said they had their necks snapped.” He said sadly. “They’re saying whoever it is could be “The Vampire” killer. Danny looks at him astounded, while I keep quiet. The rest of the school day passes with everyone talking about the teens I had killed the night before. I meet Harold at his car, clearly things have gotten worse. I get in, and he agrees to take me to my car. I listen to him cough the whole way there, and realize I must make an important decision soon. After he drops me off, I get into my car. I have no idea what awaits me back at my apartment…
EARLIER:
PIKE’S POV:
I pace around. The school day was about to end. Then I hear the phone ring, and I pick up. “You saw her there today too? Good. Proceed with phase two. I’ll get into position.” I hang up, and smile. Blood will spill before the night is over, and all of it will be because of Ashley Garland.