Act Two Chapter Five - Mysterious Ways

“Good evening.” Said Michael, pulling open Rebecca’s coffin. He did his best to match Deborah’s bad Bela Lugosi accent that she had used on him on his first night as a kindred.

Rebecca looked up at him and simply shook her head. “Is that supposed to be funny?”

“I thought you’d appreciate the joke.” Said Michael with a smile. He looked down at her. She had gone to sleep in her coffin in the nude and now he was delighting in her immodesty. It seemed so out of character from the innocent and rather chaste young woman who a year before had refused him after the dance.

She got up. Michael walked over to the table and sat down. He just watched as Rebecca looked herself over, as if not believing herself what she had become.

“This is real, isn’t it?”

“Every bit of it.”

“Not a mark. No zits, no discoloration, nothing.” She walked before a mirror to marvel at herself. “Every blemish gone.”

“One of the gifts of our kind of vampire. We are reborn flawless, beautiful. The same as we were and yet not.” He stood up and moved behind her, running his hands across the soft skin of her shoulders and arms. His fingers lingered at the butterfly tattoo on her upper right arm.

“That stayed, I notice.” she commented.

“And I’m all the happier for it. Not the Rebecca I remember, but I like that you’ve so adorned yourself.” He gave her a playful kiss on the neck.

“So what sort of ink does she have?”

“She?”

“The one that turned you.”

“What makes you think it was a she?”

“A guess. But a right one I think. Someone had to teach you how to do what you did to me last night. Shawn never…” She paused, remembering.

“She has a Chinese dragon.” Michael interjected quickly. “Its head by the shoulder, snaking down to the center of her chest, with its tail curled under her breast like so.” He traced with his finger the path that Deborah’s dragon tattoo followed. “It’s quite beautiful, as is she.”

“I killed him, didn’t I?”

“Yes, he is dead. And when Corwin arrives, we will need to find a way to dispose of his body. You will also need to learn to temper your hunger. We need not kill to feed and the dead tend to draw too much attention to us.”

“I feel like I should be more upset at what I’ve done, but I’m not. I killed him and I don’t feel anything.”

Michael smiled, almost imperceptibly. It had worked. Her lack of remorse was due to the bond between them, not any lack of conscience on her part. Three times, she had fed from him, twice without even knowing it. The first in the 2-liter of soda Corwin had offered on the night of their arrival. The second, dropped with the drug into the sodas Corwin had given them at Hokie House the night of their supposed food poisoning. The third was the blood that brought her to unlife.

“Perhaps," he suggested coldly, "it is proof that he wasn’t as important to you as you once thought.”

“Maybe” Said Rebecca, confusion in her voice. “But even so...”

“I wouldn't dwell on it. What's done is done.”

They were interrupted by a rapping at the door. Corwin walked inside, accompanied by Julia. “Ah, just in time.” Said Michael.

“What’s going on?” asked Rebecca.

“Time to clean up the mess." said Michael. "All of you, outside.” He moved quickly between the new arrivals and headed out the door. He walked over to the parked car where Shawn’s body still lay in the mud. A light rain was falling and fog had descended upon the woods.

“The rain will provide a good rationale.” Said Michael.

“I don’t follow.” Said Corwin.

“We have two lives whose disappearance we have to make excuses for.” Michael hoisted Shawn up into the front seat of the car. “Car accident will work. Slick road. Unfamiliar territory. Crash and burn to mangle the bodies beyond recognition. Two closed casket funerals and no further questions asked.”

Michael looked at Julia without saying a word. “We’ll need to find a second body and burn the car.” She replied.

“Yes, A Jane Doe in the morgue would be nice, but we might be able to make due with less.”

“My parents will bury their second child. Only John’s left.” Said Rebecca with a quiet whisper.

“Yes, how tragic.” Said Michael somewhat apathetically. “Speaking of that, it might be of some use to our purposes to play up the unfortunate tale of these two tragic figures. They did, after all, come to our wonderful town to pay respects to a friend who had died by suicide.”

“Isn’t that a bit risky? Tying these two to you?” asked Corwin.

“Hiding in plain sight.” Said Michael with a dismissive tone. “The more detail that emerges in the police report and in the press will convince people that all the proper authorities have done their homework and that there’s no need to inquire further into the real fate of Shawn and Rebecca.”

“And how would they know that?” Julia asked.

“Why, Blacksburg’s finest will no doubt have interviewed the person who saw them alive last, a mutual acquaintance of the suicide victim.” He looked sharply at Corwin.

Julia nodded.

“It seems we have our story. Now you guys just need to make it real. Come, Rebecca. Let’s leave these two to their work.”

Michael headed back inside and wiped the rain from his hair. “This doesn’t feel right.” Said Rebecca.

“What do you mean, my dear?”

“You’re writing me off like you did yourself. Everything back home I must leave behind: my parents, my brother, my friends…”

“There are costs to pay to be what we are.” Michael pulled her into his arms. “In truth, I struggled with the same regrets. The same concerns when I was turned. It’s normal.”

“Is it also normal to feel nothing at having killed someone? And not just someone, but someone who had shared my life for the past year, who’d been intimate and caring and loving towards me? I know who I am, Michael, and I know the person I should be would have been utterly traumatized to have taken a life, any life, let alone the life of someone close to me.”

“That I have no answers for.” Lied Michael.

“How did it feel for you?” she asked bluntly. “You’ve killed; I know you have.”

“Twice. Three times, if you count Shawn. It may have been by your hand, but…” Michael let the thought trail off.

Rebecca nodded. “Yes, I suppose so. You knew what I would do once I became what you are.”

“I warned him to leave. He didn’t listen.”

“It does bother you.” Deduced Rebecca. “You remember each one. You consider yourself to blame for Shawn. But why does it affect you and not me?”

“You underestimate yourself.” Said Michael. “The dark gift deadens certain emotions, yes. But the fact that we are having this conversation is proof in my mind that Shawn’s death has not left you unmarked. You may not feel what you think you should feel, but what you’ve done disturbs you nonetheless. That’s good. We need to hold on to that which keeps us human.”

“Because we are monsters.”

“Never doubt that. Alright, Rebecca. It is time for you to learn as I did what it means to be a wolf in the midst of lambs.”

----

It felt odd, Michael had to admit, to find himself in the role Deborah had taken on just one year before. Here he was, imparting what wisdom and knowledge he had, to his childe, a newly turned vampire who knew nothing of the world she had just entered.

After they had left Julia and Corwin to the task of disposing of Shawn's body, Michael drove Rebecca to downtown Blacksburg for her second night of hunting. As Deborah had done with him, he intended to teach Rebecca restraint while feeding. Shawn's unfortunate demise was easily covered up, but further deaths would draw attention to them. Michael was particularly anxious about this. It was bad enough to endanger the Kindred's sacred Masquerade, but he could be doubly damned for embracing a childe without permission.

“I see why you love this town so much. Why you wanted to come all the way down here to go to school.” commented Rebecca as they walked up Main Street. All around them were students enjoying the Saturday bar rush.

“You have all the benefits of a large city with few of the drawbacks.” admitted Michael. “Culture, entertainment, a lively nightlife, but little traffic, noise, crime, and all the other mess. Here, regardless of your interests and hobbies, you can find a kindred spirit. There are clubs for just about everything on campus and many of the townsfolk participate. Of course, part of that is because many of them are former students themselves, the ones that couldn't handle the work.”

“That would be me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I'm not the student you were and you know it. Books and learning all that dry stuff, no thanks. I'm more theatrical than academic. I'm much more at home on a stage in front of a crowd.”

“People come to this school for that too. Boar and Mitch were both theatre majors.”

“Who?”

“Two friends. You'll meet them soon enough.”

“Are they like you?” She paused. “Like us?”

“No, they are still human although they know the truth.”

“Like Corwin and that policewoman?”

“Yes, they too. But one must be careful. The most sacred and important of our laws is to keep ourselves secret from those around us. That is the reason you must not kill when you feed.”

Rebecca looked embarrassed for a moment. “I...” she began.

“A baby must learn to crawl before walking. So too a vampire often kills in their first feedings before learning restraint and control.” Michael stopped walking and turned her to face him. “This lesson you must learn quickly. Secrecy is not our only law. There are...hierarchies, systems of government, and one must often obtain permission from one's betters before creating another of our kind. When I turned you, I did so without permission and if any other vampires find out, we could be in a lot of trouble.”

Rebecca nodded. “You broke the rules to bring me into your world. You wanted to be with me that badly?”

Michael nodded. It was a lie of course. But it had been less than 24 hours since she'd been turned. There were many nights yet to come for Rebecca to learn the fullness of the curse he had inflicted upon her.

Rebecca smiled, content with his answer. “So, how does one keep discrete when trying to drink someone's blood? It's not exactly normal human behavior.”

“There are a variety of means.” said Michael, continuing his walk. “You are more physically powerful than your prey, so you can overpower them like a robber in a dark alley. But that's rather crude, if effective from time to time. It's quick and easy. Personally, I prefer a subtler tactic.”

“Such as?”

“Well, consider what you saw in the mirror earlier tonight. A body without blemish; sexy, seductive, beautiful. As a member of the Daeva clan, you have latent powers to enhance that. Draw your prey into your web, seduce them, ravish them, and leave them breathless, all the while drawing what sustenance you need without them ever knowing. People in the throes of passion tend to overlook certain things.”

“But, isn't that a bit disloyal?”

“To whom? To me? Oh, come now. There's a difference between sex and love and you know it. Besides, seeing you take some pretty young thing into your bed, seeing them utterly under your power, that's kind of a turn on.”

“Is it now?” she said with a curious smile. "You've changed. You used to be so moral, so judgmental. I find it hard to believe you'd find me with another woman arousing. That just isn't you."

"Much has changed." admitted Michael. "I'm free of all that now."

"Free?" she repeated. "And so am I."

Michael nodded.

“Well, shall we go find some pretty young thing then?”

“Don't be so hasty. The night is still young. It's one thing to know how to hunt. It's another to know what to hunt. It is still yet another to know what to do once you have someone at your mercy under your fangs. Here is the most important lesson. For it is after you bite that things become most critical. We are creatures of passion, and restraint is not in our nature. Thus, you must be cautious not to take too much or your new found lover will die in your arms.”

“How will I know?”

“I was told you will simply know and that was proven right to me.”

Rebecca nodded. “Alright. Let's try. I'm getting hungry.”

They wandered inside Bogen's. Michael himself immediately began scanning around for a meal for himself. He was being somewhat particular tonight. Contrary to his usual habits, he wanted something quick and easy. No calculated seduction for him. He wanted a quick bite so he could focus on Rebecca and her lessons.

He soon spotted a group of four sorority sisters in a booth across the restaurant. One of the four had clearly had a few too many and was passing out in the booth. Her friends, either apathetic or oblivious, seemed more interested in their conversation and in checking out the comings-and-goings of various young men to notice.

“So,” interjected Rebecca, momentarily distracting him, “seeing me with someone else is a turn on?”

Michael nodded and returned his attention to the four sorority girls. Two of them got up and headed towards the bar. A third lingered for a moment to check on her now unconscious friend before following. Michael saw his chance.

So did Rebecca.

As Michael moved carefully towards the booth, Rebecca intercepted the straggler. She gave the blond a piercing stare, which stopped her in her tracks. Michael paused to see what would happen next. Rebecca walked up to the sorority girl and grabbed her, pulling her into a passionate kiss, right in the middle of the restaurant.

Michael could hear the comments of disgust, annoyance, and arousal explode from all the nearby observers. With all eyes, or at least most, now centered on Rebecca in the middle of the room, Michael slipped into the booth undetected and went down on the sleeping sister's neck.

He drank quickly and quietly. No one noticed him, and even if anyone was watching, what they would see would appear no more odd than a guy making out with his girlfriend. Michael had spent the last year teaching himself to mask the Kiss as a kiss and now it was proving useful.

That skill that Michael had practiced, Rebecca seemed to come to naturally. She moved from the lips to the neck and only Michael, with his sharpened senses, could tell that her fangs were drawing blood beneath her mouth. She held the kiss for a few seconds and then released her prey. The girl staggered a bit, flushed with passion, looking at Rebecca with confusion and desire, before continuing on to the bar to join her friends.

Michael rejoined her. What he said to her earlier was true. Watching her in action was arousing, especially when she was with another woman.

“That came to you way too easily.” commented Michael, standing up as Rebecca approached.

"Which part? The feeding or my choice of victim?" retorted Rebecca.

"Both," Michael looked her up and down, as if this young woman that he had loved and obsessed over for years was a total stranger to him now. Was this behavior something that had she had hidden from him for all the years he'd known her, or something new? Michael didn't know which.

"I always told you I had things about me that I couldn't tell you." she paused. "This was one of them."

"Really?"

"Yeah." she admitted. "But, as you said, I'm free now. I've never had the courage to do that before, no matter how much I've wanted to. It's fun."

"Your first step into a larger world."

"One you've already taken. So, I'm disappointed. You got to watch me in action. Would've been nice to see the newer bolder Michael Allens at work tonight.”

“One kiss wasn't a lot of action.”

“I thought the purpose of this lesson was to be discrete.”

“That wasn't exactly discrete. This may be a college town, but there are still some behaviors that people find a tad shocking. Even for me. I never knew. I would never have guessed you swung both ways."

"I never told anyone. Never acted on it until tonight. You've given me quite a gift." she gave him an affectionate pat on the cheek.

“You didn't take much. That came naturally too.”

“Again, discretion. Having her pass out in my arms would have made a bigger scene.” Michael obviously couldn't disagree with that. Once again, he looked her up and down, mystified. All that had taken him weeks and months to master seemed to come so easily and naturally to her, and she'd been a vampire less than a day.

Rebecca brushed past him and headed towards the patio door. Michael followed her outside in the cool autumn night. Because of the temperature, few were outside.

Rebecca leaned against the railing and breathed deeply, taking in the scents and aromas of the town around them. “Give her a few minutes.” she said as Michael moved beside her. “I'm sure she'll come looking for me. I'll bet you $100 she's bi or a lesbian, probably in the closet like I was. But I've awoken something within her, and I don't think she'll be satisfied with just a kiss. If you think what I did in there was hot, just wait until I take her home.”

“Caution, my childe. It's never wise to reveal your lair to your prey, especially since the purpose of this exercise tonight is to leave them alive.”

“Dark alley, back of her car, either one would work instead.”

“You take to this life almost too easily.”

Rebecca shrugged. “Maybe so.”

“Alright, it is time for the teacher to become the learner. What makes you so certain that your prey tonight is homosexual or has those tendencies?”

“Little clues. Hints. They way she walks, carries herself. The way she smells. Her awkwardness at her friends ogling those guys. Subtle, almost imperceptible, but still there. You've never picked up on that sort of thing?”

“A woman's a woman to me. Whatever their normal inclinations, they seem vulnerable to my charms.”

“And gay men?”

“I don't hunt men generally.” answered Michael. “In a pinch maybe, but they're more the snatch-and-grab types for me. Although...” he paused for a moment, “there is a way they can be fun. Taking some arrogant ass down a peg or two before snacking. It's quite a treat to see some frat boy or football player who thinks he's all that try to beat me up. That is fun, but I don't seduce men or specifically hunt gays in order to feed. That I don't enjoy.”

“How do you know? Maybe you should try sometime.” she suggested slyly

“No, thank you. I don't exactly have the proper anatomy for a dick to feel good going into me.”

“You don't have to be on the bottom.” she teased.

Michael gave her a sidelong glance that indicated he was done with this line of conversation. Rebecca took the hint and shrugged. “You've given me the freedom to be who I am. I just wondered if maybe there was some of that in you too.”

"No, and it's not that I haven't had the opportunity to explore that. It's just not there." He looked at her. "Does that disappoint you?"

"No. You are who you are. And I think you know who that is now more than ever." She paused. “She's back.”

Sure enough, the sorority girl had come out onto the patio. She looked about, clearly searching for someone. Michael stepped away from Rebecca and moved further into the shadows. Now, with Rebecca alone, the blond girl approached.

“Glad I didn't take that bet.” thought Michael to himself.

----

Michael did watch for a time as Rebecca ravished the girl in the alleyway behind Bogen's. There was an almost feral passion to the two of them and Michael did find it arousing, and the temptation to join them as he sometimes did with Deborah emerged. But he let it pass.

He walked away, close enough to still hear them, but far enough that the sounds of their sex were not distracting or overpowering. He watched the masses of students and townspeople on the street, waiting for Rebecca to finish. He didn't worry that Rebecca would control herself. Everything about her unlife seemed to come easily and naturally to her, as if she was born to become a vampire.

It scared him, in some ways. He began to wonder if her lack of remorse of Shawn really was just the blood-bond, or was there something truly that cold and unfeeling within her. He did not like such thoughts, but the evidence was there nonetheless.

And then there was this newly emergent bisexuality. Rebecca was right about one thing: His former self would have responded to that with moral indignation, even if deep down he found it stimulating. Still, he'd seen Deborah hunt and seduce women on occasion so that no longer shocked him. But Rebecca? Sweet little church girl that she had once been? It was nearly impossible to imagine her in the arms of another woman, and yet that was exactly what was going on just a few short yards behind him.

“She's your reflection, Michael.” The thought came almost as an epiphany. “Just as it was all a ruse and a mask for you, so too was it for her. This is her true self now emergent, unhindered by religion or morality or conscience. All that she once wanted to do, she now feels free to do. Just like you.”

That realization brought no comfort. For along with it was the voice of Mathias. “You have a spirit of wrath about you. Someday, it will get you into more trouble than you know.” Michael shivered visibly at that, even though the temperature was hardly that cold. But his thoughts were chilling. “What if she reflects me there too?”

Act Two Chapter Six

So what happened to the campaign?

Well, as you may have guessed, during the year hiatus my writing wasn't the only thing that dropped off. So did the Philly by Night 2012 campaign.

World of Warcraft Cataclysm had a lot to do with it. So did going broke, having a car accident, being sick, giving birth (not my wife, but one of the players in the campaign) and all the ups and downs of life. We just couldn't keep it going.

I may revisit the plot at some point in fan fiction, since that is up and running again.

Dance in the Vampire Bund

One element of my "past life" at Virginia Tech that hasn't really made it into the fan fiction is that is where I became a rabid anime fan. Now 20 years later, I'm something of an "old fogey" otaku ("Current stuff all sucks. Back in my day...") so I'll fully admit I don't keep up with thing as well as I once did.

Lately, I've been using my Netflix account to remedy that to some degree. It should probably come as no surprise that vampire/gothic themed anime are one of the things I've been checking out. The series I've been enjoying the most is Dance in the Vampire Bund.

This is a somewhat disturbing series. It's not scary because it's not really horror. It's much more the "urban fantasy" romance genre (like, ugh, Twilight). But that's part of what makes it disturbing. There is a lot of fan-service in this series, most of it focused on the lead female protagonist, Mina Tepes.

Have I mentioned that Mina has the body of an 11-year old girl? Yeah, fan-service plus that equals creepy. I'm marginally familiar with the Japanese genre of "lolicon." Never thought I'd get interested in an anime series based thereon.

The opening title is a good example of what I'm talking about...



The series plot is solid enough for me to overlook the creep factor to a large degree. (Most of us wouldn't have gotten into the gothic scene if we weren't willing to get a little creeped out from time to time.) And the character of Mina herself raises an intriguing question that I'm going to explore in the fan fiction later.

Either way, if you don't mind the creepy lolicon stuff, check it out.

Act Two Chapter Four - Sympathy for the Devil

Knock. Knock. Corwin rapped on the motel room door.

The door to the motel room cracked open. “Can I help you?” said a suspicious Shawn from behind it.

“I’m Corwin. Michael Allen’s roommate. I’m the one who contacted you.”

“Ah, good. Come on in.”

“Thanks. I brought food.” Corwin proffered a bucket of Kentucky Fried and a 2-liter of soda.

“Thanks. We’re starved.” Admitted Rebecca.

Corwin set down the bucket and popped open the 2-liter. Rebecca sat down next to him and dove into a breast, while Shawn stood back for a bit.

“So, you think he’s alive?” said Shawn.

“Michael? Yes, I do.” Said Corwin. “Eat. They’ll be time enough to talk in a bit.”

Shawn stepped forward and grabbed a drumstick. He sat down. “You explained some in your letter. But not everything.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d come. I’ll need your help if what I think has happened has.” Corwin took a bite himself.

“And that is?”

“Well, let me start with a story. Last October, about a year ago now, Michael was in bad shape. He’d broken up with his high school girlfriend and was pretty depressed over it.” Corwin’s tone gave no indication that he knew Rebecca was that girlfriend, and if her glance to Shawn gave it away, Corwin gave no sign. “I think that left him open to get involved with some bad people. A few days later, he came by our room, gathered up a bunch of things and left. That was the last time I saw him. When he was declared missing about three weeks later, I presumed foul play. Now I have a different theory.”

“Go on.” Said Rebecca, getting more food.

“What if that rough crowd didn’t kill him but recruited him instead? It’s the only thing that makes sense given what I’ve seen.”

“You’re sure you saw him?” inquired Shawn.

“Absolutely. And if it hadn’t been a crowded bar, I’d even have spoken to him. But by the time I got through the horde of people, he was gone.”

“If you saw him, then so have others.” Concluded Shawn.

“Indeed. Finding him, now that we know he’s alive and around, shouldn’t be too difficult. The tricky part is going to be what to do with him once we do find him.”

“Ain’t that the truth?” said Shawn, looking at Rebecca as if sharing a private joke. “So where do we start?”

“If you’re up for it tonight, we can go downtown and do some asking around. But I know you’ve been on the road today and may want to rest.”

Rebecca looked at Shawn. “What do you think?”

“I say we get started. The sooner we get to it, the sooner we’re going to have our answers.” Shawn paused. “Sooner we can get back home.”

“Then let’s finish our food and get going.”

----

They parked downtown and walked towards Hokie House, figuring to start there. Any number of the bars in Blacksburg could have sufficed, but Corwin decided that would be the best starting point. It was popular and often crowded.

Rebecca and Shawn lagged behind Corwin a bit, conversing with one another. “It seems such an odd thing for Michael to frequent this sort of place.”

“Everything points to him being a vastly different person that he used to be. Let’s not forget, the last time we were here, my brother almost died. Now, the reason why makes sense.”

“You think Michael did it?”

“It adds up, doesn’t it? Michael falls in with the criminal element, gets a taste of power, sees his old nemesis from high school and decides to settle the score.”

“And what will you do when we find him?”

“He has a lot to answer for, Becca. Not just for what he did to Todd, but what he did to you, his parents, all his friends back home. I don’t know what I’m going to do when we find him, but I’m certain that Michael will regret whatever it is.”

“No,” said Rebecca forcefully, stopping and putting her hand on Shawn’s chest to stop him. “No, we’re here to save him not punish him.” Corwin noticed their pause and turned around to rejoin them.

“I didn’t contact you two to avenge the wrongs he may have done you. You were his friends once, as was I.” Emphasized Corwin. “And we may be the only chance of bringing him back from whatever hell he’s condemned himself to.”

“Michael and I were never friends.” Said Shawn sharply.

“And yet here you are.”

“I came for her. She’s the one who used to love him.” He turned to Rebecca. “And the more we learn about what’s really going on, the more I hope you realize how unworthy he was of that.”

“Stop it, Shawn. You’re not making this easier.”

“You can always go home.” Said Corwin. “if you’re not going to help. Rebecca and I can do this alone.”

“You think I’d trust you to lead her into danger alone? No thanks. I may not like it or any of this, but I’m in.”

“Very well. Let’s see what we can find out.”

----

Their search was not entirely fruitless, but what they gathered they found of little use. Yes, Michael had been there. No, no one had seen him tonight. No, no one knew where he lived or what he did for a living. Still, Corwin’s story now had corroboration. They knew he was telling them the truth.

Although tired, Shawn was restless when they returned to the Red Lion Inn. “I think there may be a more efficient way of going about this.”

“What’s that?” asked Corwin.

“Alright, what do we know? You suspect he’s involved with criminals of some sort, a gang or the Mob or whatever. We know he’s been seen in the Hokie House and whatever other bar you were in…”

“Sharkey’s.”

“Alright. Hokie House didn’t card at the door; they card at the bar.”

“You can bet he’s got a good fake ID by now.”

“Maybe so, but here’s my theory. Whatever criminal element exists in this town, I can guarantee it’s here to cater to the student body. Drugs or prostitution. Vices. We’re not talking gun running or animal smuggling or money laundering here. He’s probably a dealer, a point man, or a pimp. So he’s going to want to hit those places with the easiest access to the most students.”

“In other words, those places that let in the under-21 crowd?” said Rebecca.

“Exactly. He may frequent other bars for his own pleasure, but when he’s doing business, he’ll be at places like we were tonight.”

“Convenient,” added Rebecca, “since none of us have fake IDs and can’t get into those bars that check at the door.”

“So what do you want to do?” asked Corwin.

“Stake out the same location. Hokie House seems quite popular. I say we cage the joint for a few nights.”

Corwin shrugged. “Works for me. Rebecca?”

“Can’t hurt, especially if we know he’s been there within the last week. He’s bound to come back at some point.”

“Then it’s agreed. Tomorrow night then.” Corwin got up to leave.

“Tomorrow.” Agreed Shawn. “See you then.”

“Good night.” Added Rebecca as Corwin departed.

---

Corwin came over to the pool table, his hands full with three sodas. “Two Cokes, one Diet, as requested.”

“Thanks. It’s your shot.” Replied Shawn. It was the next night and they were back at Hokie House. The three of them had staked out a pool table for themselves and had played several games of Cutthroat to pass the time. No sign of Michael yet though.

Corwin lined up his shot and sank a solid. “So how long do we wait?” He took the offered soda and drank.

“Place is pretty dead tonight. It was busier last night.” Observed Rebecca. She drank from her diet as she tried to figure out her next shot.

“Thursdays are an off-night here. You get the hump-day crowd on Wednesday and, of course, the weekend starts tomorrow.”

“A light crowd doesn’t help us. Whatever poison Michael may be peddling, a quiet bar means two things. Fewer customers and what he’s doing may be more obvious to probing eyes.” Said Shawn. “I say we finish this game and call it a night. Better luck tomorrow.”

Rebecca shook her head rapidly, as if trying to shake off something. “I agree. I’m not feeling myself.”

“Yeah, I’m a little off too.” Admitted Shawn. “Must be something we ate.”

“That’s Chinese for you.”

“No, that’s cheap Chinese for you.” Said Rebecca with a wry smile. Her look contorted a bit. “Ugh. Feeling a little dizzy.”

“Maybe we should go now?” offered Shawn sympathetically.

“Doesn’t matter to me. I’m losing anyway.” Replied Corwin.

“Nothing’s going to happen tonight. Let’s get back to the motel.”

They knocked the remaining balls into the pockets and put away their cues. Corwin took a couple of big gulps off his drink and then headed out the door. Shawn and Rebecca followed.

“Too bad you’re not feeling well,” admitted Shawn. “I was kinda hoping you and I would…you know…tonight.”

“I’m not exactly in the mood even if I hadn’t eaten bad Chinese.”

“You’ve been kinda cold lately.” Complained Shawn mildly. “Distant.”

“Can you blame me?” she replied as they reached Corwin’s car. “I’ve spent the last year of my life thinking I had something to do with his disappearance. Now I find out it’s all faked. I’m a jumble of emotions, Shawn. You don’t want to be in the middle of that mess.”

“Yeah, I do.” Offered Shawn. “You couldn’t sort it out alone with your brother and you won’t here.”

They got in. “Yeah, I had Michael to help me.”

“And me." reminded Shawn.

“And what would Michael say to that? That you’ve already taken his place in my heart and in my life. And now, you want his job too? To be that consoling shoulder like he was?”

“If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be like this to begin with. One tragedy in your life was enough, but he didn’t see it that way. His faking all this was deliberate and you know it as well as I. He did it to hurt you.” Shawn’s temper flared. “You say you’re a jumble of emotions. You shouldn’t be. You should be angry.”

“Maybe I am. But maybe there’s a part of me that still loves him.”

Shawn darkened at that admission. Rebecca continued. “Yeah, that’s a part of this too. You say it should be simple. It’s not. You forget something, Shawn. I cheated on him. I betrayed him. Michael has a right to be angry with us.”

“And that justifies what he’s done?”

“No, the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. But to pretend that we’re blameless and that it’s all his fault is a lie.”

Shawn was quiet for several minutes as they drove across town. “Maybe we shouldn’t be here.” He admitted after a bit.

“We’re his only hope.”

“But if what you say is true and if what I think about what happened to Todd is right, he may just as easily shoot us as talk to us.”

----

By the time they got back to the Red Lion, both Rebecca and Shawn were feeling quite queasy. Shawn staggered back to the bathroom and began to vomit. Rebecca collapsed onto the bed and watched the room spin above her for a bit.

“Maybe the hospital…” she began to think, just as unconsciousness took her.

She awoke to find the room still spinning and someone atop her, hands groping at her. “Shawn…” she muttered weakly. Or did she? Was she even awake? Rebecca couldn’t tell. The whole world seemed unreal and dreamlike.

“Not Shawn.” Came a voice.

“God, Michael! Is this real? Or just a dream?”

“What do you want it to be?” His voice seemed distant, and yet close.

Rebecca didn't know how to answer that. Is this real? Do I want it to be? What do I want? Why did I come here? The questions spun around in her head but a single moment of clarity cut through them.

“Hold me. Tell me you’re real. Tell me…” she said. There was a desperate longing in her voice that Rebecca knew she meant it.

“I can do more than that.” She felt him enter her.

“Oh God, I should never…” She felt his hand against her mouth, gently silencing her. She kissed the fingers, relishing each thrust of his body.

“We’ll be together again soon.” Said the voice. And Rebecca slipped into oblivion once more.

The world rushed back into her mind in what seemed to be a few seconds later. She was alone, lying on the bed. Shawn was next to her, sleeping soundly. Her head hurt. She ran her hands down her belly and discovered her pants and panties had been removed. Her nethers were still moist and tender. What had happened? Had it been a dream? A hallucination?

She sat up. “Shawn, you awake?”

“Ummm” was the only sound she got out of him.

She gave him a shake. “Hey! Wake up.” He stirred.

“What?”

“Did you?”

“Did I what?” He looked down at her naked lower half. “Maybe.” He admitted. “I don’t remember. Everything’s so fuzzy.”

“I thought I felt someone on me last night. In me.” She looked embarrassed, but decided to say nothing more.

“You moaned his name several times last night.” said Shawn, as if reading her thoughts. “Whatever made us sick really fucked us up. I was seeing things. Hearing things. I’m not sure what was real.”

“Can food poisoning do that?” wondered Rebecca.

He shrugged. “We probably should have gone to the hospital instead of coming back here. How you feeling now?”

“Death warmed over. But I think I’ll be alright.” She paused. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called out to him. Shouldn’t have said his name.”

“Don’t worry about it.” That surprised Rebecca. “I really shouldn’t be so jealous. He used to be a good friend and I know you still care about him. We wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”

“I want to save him, Shawn.” In the back of her mind, she admitted to herself she now wanted more than that. But she said nothing of it. “What time is it?”

“11:30am. Wow.” exclaimed Shawn. “We have most of the day ahead of us. What shall we do with ourselves?”

“Might be a good idea just to stay in.” admitted Rebecca. “We got our asses kicked by whatever that was last night. Neither of us is 100%. And I've got an idea of what we might do...” She opened and closed her legs tantalizingly. “Maybe I can make up for last night a bit. I think we might enjoy it more fully conscious.”

“I’m sure.” Said Shawn with a smile. As he climbed on top of her, she closed her eyes and imagined someone else.

---

Corwin was right on schedule that night. Shawn let him in. He came inside, minus his almost customary offering of food, and looked the two of them over briefly.

“You both look better than when I dropped you off last night.” He said. “Feeling better I hope?”

“Much.” Said Rebecca.

“Let’s hope for some better luck tonight…and no food poisoning. What are you up for dinnerwise?”

“Something mild. No Chinese.” Said Shawn adamantly.

“Fair enough. I think I know just the thing.”

Macado’s was a semi-local restaurant chain, serving sandwiches of various sorts. Corwin figured that was “mild” enough and drove them over from the Red Lion to the nearest Mac’s off University City Blvd.

“From here to Hokie House.” Declared Corwin after they’d ordered.

“Right now, I just hope this meal stays down.” Confessed Shawn. He looked over at Corwin. “Out of curiosity. Did you get sick last night?”

“A little.” Admitted Corwin sheepishly. “But not, I’m almost embarrassed to say, like you guys.”

“Not sure what we had on the buffet that you didn’t.” wondered Rebecca.

Corwin shrugged. “Beats me. I hope you guys aren’t too upset with me. It’s not like I brought you down here to give you food poisoning.”

“Ah, don’t worry about it.” Said Shawn. “No harm done.”

“I hope we see him tonight.” Said Rebecca, changing the subject. She tried not to sound too eager.

“Well, tonight and tomorrow should be good bets.” Said Corwin. “If all our guesses about his activities are right, he’ll be working the town tonight. I can’t imagine he won’t hit Hokie House at some point before last call.”

“You sound almost a little too eager.” Said Shawn.

Rebecca blushed. She apparently didn’t sound as uneager as she'd hoped. “I want to know the truth, that’s all.” It was not a complete lie, but she was now trying to cover her tracks. “You still upset about last night? I would have thought today would have ended that.”

“Did I miss something?” asked Corwin, confused.

Shawn looked like he was about to say something, but then thought better of it. “No, it’s nothing. Just a private joke.”

“You don’t share your girlfriend’s enthusiasm for finding our mutual friend.”

“I said before Michael and I were never friends.” Shawn said defensively. “I’m here for her. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it. After all, one of our guesses is that this guy nearly killed my brother, beat to within an inch of his life. Not exactly someone I’m eager to see.”

“Well, eager or not, odds are good we’ll see him tonight.”

----

Getting a pool table on a Friday night at Hokie House proved far harder than the night before. So the trio had to content themselves with simply mingling amidst the crowd. That had an advantage: Allowing them to spread out a bit. But there was also a disadvantage: Those looking for a salve for their loneliness were drawn to an attractive young woman who appeared to be alone.

For their parts, Shawn and Corwin were left to their own devices. Guys, even handsome ones, tended to be the hunters, not the hunted, in this environment.

Shawn noticed Corwin watching him almost as much as he surveyed the crowd. It was a look of curiosity more than anything else, as if Corwin was gauging Shawn’s reaction to all that was going on. Shawn didn’t appreciate the scrutiny and found that he was liking their guide less and less as time went on.

Rebecca made her way over to Shawn’s side. “I’m growing tired of being hit on.”

“You should be flattered.” His tone was insincere. After a second, he softened. “Hell, I’d hit on you if I was on the hunt here.”

“Thanks, I think.” She replied. “You know, if I wanted a dick between my legs, I could take home any guy in here.”

“If you want a dick between your legs, all you need do is ask.” Flirted Shawn.

She gave him an askance look. “Thanks for proving my point, Mr. One-of-the-guys-in-here.” She teased in return.

“I would have thought you had enough earlier. Between last night and this afternoon.”

“I did,” she said, half-truthfully, wandering over to the stairs to look down on the lower level of the bar, “but there’s something about this…” She stopped mid-sentence.

“What is it?” asked Shawn, straightening up and looking below as well.

A tall pale young man in a black trench coat had walked inside. As he entered, it was as if the entire room turned to look at him.

“That’s him.” Said Shawn. “My God, he’s changed.”

They both could see it. Gone was the sheepish nerd they had remembered. The young man before them seemed self-assured, confident, and completely within his element. They watched closely as two or three young women made their way to his side. Rebecca felt a twinge of jealousy herself as one of them put her arms about his waist. She let out a slight cry.

Despite the noise in the room, the distraction of the crowd, and everything else, Michael looked up and looked right at her. A predatory smile crossed lips. It chilled her to the bone.

“Go,” barked Shawn to Rebecca. “He’s seen us.”

Michael took a step back and headed back towards the door he came in, making for an escape. Rebecca tried to dash down the stairs, but the press of the crowd slowed her progress. By the time she reached the bottom, he was gone.

“God damnit.” She swore. “How did he hear me in this noise?”

“I don’t know, but the streets are clearer. Keep moving.” Pressed Shawn. They pushed their way outside onto the street. They glanced about looking, but did not see him amidst the crowds of college students walking up and down the strip.

“Damn. We can’t have come this far to fail now.” Lamented Rebecca.

“There, that black sedan!” barked Shawn. He pointed and Rebecca saw Michael’s tall form get into the driver’s side of a nearby car. The car started up. Rebecca darted into the street, determined to block the car with her body.

“Becca!” screamed Shawn when he saw what she was doing. Michael veered and swung around her, missing her by a good bit and scaring a number of the mingling students on the sidewalk.

“Are you mad?” snarled Shawn as he dashed out to fetch her.

“I wasn’t going to let him get away that easily. He knows it’s us.”

Corwin’s car came around the bend and Corwin laid on the horn. The pair spun around startled. “Come on. Now’s our chance.” Shawn and Rebecca dashed over and got in. And the chase was on.

“Did you see him?” asked Shawn as Corwin sped down Main Street. “Black Pontiac or Buick, some GM car. Couldn’t get the exact make and model in the dark.”

“I saw him. That should be him about three cars up. Looks like he’s turning onto Price’s Fork.”

“Stay with him.”

“Pray the lights are cooperative.” Said Corwin, making the turn.

At the next light, Michael’s car made a right, heading up Tom’s Creek. Corwin stayed with him. They followed him through town, keeping close, but not too close.

“I don’t want to spook him into racing off on us. I want to know where he’s going.”

“He knows we’re after him.” Said Rebecca. “He saw us.”

“The more threatened he feels, the more dangerous this becomes.” Said Corwin. The black car reached US 460 and then sped across the highway onto an old road leading into the woods. Corwin continued to follow, but the darkness of the woods made it harder to see their quarry.

“What is this place?”

“Undeveloped land. There’s been talk of putting apartment complexes back here, but none of the contractors have started any work here yet. The only thing back here should be old farmhouses and cabins.” The pavement quickly turned to dirt and Corwin slowed his car down to avoid crashing in the dark woods.

“You sure he’s still ahead of us?”

“Quite sure. The woods are too thick for it to have gone off-road and there’s been no side roads. Look, there’s a cabin up ahead.”

“And a car parked outside.” Added Rebecca. “The one we want.”

“Alright, let’s be careful.” Said Corwin. “I’m going to drive past and then park a little bit away. That’ll put some distance between us and the cabin and maybe make him think he lost us. Maybe then we can approach unnoticed.”

Corwin kept going down the road and pulled over to the side after about 200 yards. He got out, and Shawn and Rebecca followed suit. They said nothing, a palpable sense of danger had come over each of them. The only sound they could hear was the noise of the woods, birds, crickets, and what not. Rebecca had a brief flashback to another woodland adventure, nearly a year ago, her and their quarry alone in the night.

“Had we gone all the way that night, would it makes things now worse or better?” she wondered grimly. She followed close behind Shawn. Corwin took point as they closed on the house.

“No lights on.” Whispered Corwin, crouching behind a fallen tree. “Odd.”

“He can’t have been more than 2 minutes ahead of us.” Added Shawn in a hushed tone. “He's got to be here.”

“He’s probably waiting for us.” Added Rebecca, remembering Michael’s smile at the bar. The thought chilled her.

“We can come back tomorrow. I don’t like this.” Admitted Shawn.

“No,” said Rebecca. “I want to know now.” She stood up and headed towards the house.

“Becca!” said Shawn with exasperation, almost raising his voice. “Be careful.”

“He won’t hurt me.” She said and then headed for the front door. The others followed, more cautiously.

The door was unlocked. She stepped inside. The first room, a kitchen/dining room combo, was somewhat messy, with a stack of books on the table. Rebecca paused at the pile to examine them.

“Roleplaying games. Shadowrun, BattleTech.” she said aloud.

“Those were Michael’s staples.” Added Corwin. “He’s here all right.”

“Indeed he is.” Said a voice. The lights came on with a flash, blinding the three of them.

When the blindness faded, they could see the same tall lanky figure they’d spotted at the bar in the doorway behind them. Now seen up close, they knew for sure.

“You’ve done well, Corwin.” Said Michael.

“Thank you, mi’lord.” He replied. Rebecca and Shawn looked at him in disbelief, doubly so at the handgun Corwin now pointed at Shawn.

Michael walked inside and closed the door behind him. “Bind him.” He ordered.

Corwin motioned for the two of them to move further inside. Wary of his weapon, they did as commanded.

“So it was a trap. All of it a trap.” Said Shawn.

“You wouldn’t have come if I’d just asked.” Said Michael.

“You underestimate how she still feels about you if you believe that.” Shawn almost didn’t believe those words escaped his lips, but he was too angry now to care.

“We came to help you.” pleaded Rebecca. She turned to Corwin. “How much of it was a lie?”

“Not as much as you might think.” Answered Michael. “Falling in with the wrong crowd, all that was true. Although not quite in the way that you think. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Shawn, it was in fact me who hospitalized your brother a year ago. You had that right too.”

“Son of bitch, I knew it.” Heedless of Corwin’s gun, he lunged at Michael. Michael grabbed him by the throat and flung him back, as easily as he might manhandle a small dog.

“You should take a lesson from what happened to him. If I can so easily pulverize him, surely I’m not the skinny little wimp you remember. Hurry up, Corwin, before he hurts someone.”

Corwin grabbed Shawn and forced him down into a chair. Corwin then bound him securely, tying his wrists together and then his arms to the chair.

“What are you going to do with us?” said Shawn, unable to conceal his fear any longer.

“I’m going to talk.” Said Michael. “I’m going to tell you what’s really going on.”

“Then why tie him up?” said Rebecca.

“That will become clear in time.” Said Michael. “He stays put. As for you, I will not harm you.”

“I don’t believe you.” Said Rebecca. ““You’re not the Michael I remember. He was kind. You’re a monster.”

Michael laughed at that, a loud boisterous laugh that chilled Rebecca down to her very bones. “You said yourself once I had a dark side. You were right. I’ve simply come to terms with who I really am. The whole world has been telling me all my life that I’m a freak, an outsider. Well, they were right and I’m not fighting it anymore. Is there darkness about me? Yes. I don’t put up with people’s bullshit like I used to. No one makes a fool of me, not anymore.” He looked at Shawn fiercely. “Your brother learned that lesson the hard way.” He softened as he turned back to Rebecca. “Besides, I think you’ll like this version of me just as much, if not more so, than the old me.”

“Not likely.” she said. It sounded only marginally more forceful than she meant it. Deep down, she knew he was right. Every word, every motion, even the most frightening, seemed to turn her on all the more. She couldn’t believe how attractive she found him. It was almost unnatural.

“You never could lie to me.” Said Michael with a sly smile.

“That doesn’t change what’s happening now. You trick us into coming down here, hold us at gunpoint, tie Shawn up.” Rebecca tried to sound fiercer than she felt, but Michael seemed unfazed.

“Each of those things you accuse me of has a reason behind it. A good one. Let’s start with the trickery. Ok, I admit to that. I had Corwin write that letter to pique your interest. I wasn’t sure if I still mattered. I didn’t know if you’d come. If I made it into a mystery to be solved, that would give me time to find out for sure. Corwin’s been spying on you the whole time, relaying to me your thoughts, concerns, and ideas about me all along.”

“The whole thing a set up.”

“It also gave me a clear picture about him.” Said Michael, pointing to Shawn. “What his real motives were.”

“He came because of me. If Corwin’s been spying on us all along, you know that.”

“But at one point,” Interjected Corwin. “he let slip the truth. Something about making Michael regret running into you two again.”

“And I contradicted him.” Added Rebecca. She looked at Michael. “I told him we weren’t here for that. We came to help you.”

“I don’t doubt that you did. But not him. He came for revenge. As his attempted assault on me a minute ago proves.”

“I don’t believe you.” Said Rebecca.

“I’ve said no lies tonight, Rebecca.” said Michael, walking over to Shawn. “But what have we here?” He reached into the pocket of Shawn’s jacket to pull out a small pistol. “A H&K P7. Nice little gun. Small, concealable. Perfect for keeping secrets from the woman you’re sleeping with, eh?” He looked at Rebecca.

“That’s not mine. I don’t own a gun. I swear, Rebecca, I’ve never seen it before.”

“So, who do you believe?” said Michael, ejecting the clip and tossing the gun to Corwin. “Did I abduct you tonight, hold you at gunpoint without reason? Do I plan to murder you or worse? Or is it as I’ve said, just an elaborate scheme to find out the truth about you and to protect myself from him.”

“I don’t know.” She replied honestly.

“This may not sound like much reassurance, but if I truly wanted to harm you, I could have done it at any time.”

“You still can.” Said Rebecca with a shiver.

“Yes.” Admitted Michael. “I could. But tell me, which is the better course? To want to do something and be unable or to be able to do something and not want to?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The difference between who I was and who I am now.” He reached up to run his hand across her cheek. She did not flinch at his touch.

“Don’t touch her!” demanded Shawn. “She’s mine.”

“A mere possession, Shawn? How cold of you.”

“I didn’t mean it that way and you know it.”

“But how can we trust your word when you’ve been caught in a lie?”

“No more than we can trust you. You faked your own death. Disappeared. Do you have any idea what that did to her, especially after she buried her brother under similar circumstances? Which of us is the greater sinner, I wonder?”

“That!” exclaimed Michael excitedly. “is a very good question. Which is the worst indeed. Or the better? Perhaps we should let Rebecca decide. If she chooses you, you both may walk out of here, minus your gun of course, and I will bother you no more. If she chooses me, then you can go, but she stays.”

“And you accuse me of thinking of her as a possession.”

“Oh, you are right, Shawn. That was a poor choice of wording.” Admitted Michael. “Regardless of her choice, you are both free. But with or without her, I want you out of Blacksburg by this time tomorrow. Corwin, untie him and leave us.”

“Yes, mi’lord.” Corwin cut Shawn’s bonds and freed him. He then headed out the door without a word.

“Your bodyguard is gone, with the guns.” Said Shawn, coming to his feet.

“I believe you’ve already seen ample demonstration that I am quite capable at hand fighting. And working to carry out your vendetta is not likely to win you points with the lovely Rebecca.” Retorted Michael.

“You can’t seriously be thinking of staying with him. Living in his world, with all that violence and ugliness.” Pleaded Shawn.

“Who says we have to stay there?” replied Rebecca, her eyes never leaving Michael. “Surely there’s a better life than that for you, Michael.”

“Ah, yes, and now we get back to your purpose in coming.” Said Michael. “To redeem me, to save me from myself. What will you do to bring me back to the light?” Between his words and the look in his eyes, it was obvious what Michael had in mind.

“Don’t do it, Rebecca.” Said Shawn. “He’s toying with you. Can’t you see it? This is just a game to him!”

“Forgive me, Shawn. But I can’t leave him here. I have to do this.”

“That sounds like she’s made her choice.” Said Michael. Michael dug into the pocket of his trench coat and tossed his car keys to Shawn. “Go back to the Red Lion. You are free to go.”

“Don’t do this to me. Rebecca.” Pleaded Shawn.

“Now you know how it feels.” Said Michael cruelly.

Shawn’s face hardened in anger. “This isn’t over, Allens. I won’t let you do this to her.”

“Go, before you regret it.” Said Michael commandingly.

Shawn turned and headed out the door in a rage, slamming the door behind him.

Rebecca looked at the door for several long minutes, saying nothing. “I hope I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life.”

“You can always follow him out if you think so.”

“I don’t know anything anymore. Nothing is certain.”

“Is that truly so? Nothing?” said Michael, coming to her side.

“I came for you. I stayed for you. And yet there’s still a part of me that can’t believe you’re really here. That you’re really alive. Shawn was right about one thing. What you did hurt me just as badly as my brother's death, if not more so. And I don’t know whether to hate you or love you.”

“You broke my heart, Rebecca. With him. That act, more than anything else, condemned me to this hell.”

“So you don’t know whether to hate me or love me either.”

Michael gave a curt nod in reply to that.

"So what happens now?" said Rebecca, fear rising in her voice.

"You can either kill me or kiss me. I leave that choice to you."

“I don’t think I’ll stop at just kissing.” She admitted.

Michael pulled her into his arms. “Stop fighting it. We’ve waited far too long.”

---

Shawn sat in the car, pensive. Even through the closed windows, he could faintly hear the sounds within the cabin. His girl with him, with twice the gusto and ten times the passion she’d ever mustered with him.

He should have left. He should have taken the keys and driven back to town. Left her to her own stupidity.

That wasn’t his first mistake. He should have pressed Michael on the lie about the gun. There had been no gun in his pocket. How Michael had managed that bit of prestidigitation, Shawn didn’t know. But it was well played and Shawn knew he’d been outmaneuvered.

He’d been outmaneuvered on everything. Everything masterfully played. The letter, the spy in their midst, the planted gun, everything there to undermine him and to win her back. Even Corwin’s pointed questions, designed to draw attention to his jealousy. The only thing that didn’t seem to add in was the food poisoning from the night before.

"Wait a minute," he thought. "Could it have been?"

Rage filled him. “He did it!” Shawn yelled aloud. “He had us drugged. He came into the room! He raped her. I didn’t touch her last night, he did!”

He stepped out of the car and was about to head towards the house. Suddenly, Rebecca was before him, naked as the day she was born.

“Eeyah!” exclaimed Shawn, startled. “How did you…Why are you naked?”

She gave him no answer, but looked at him with an odd look. Like a predator toying with its prey. It was extremely unnerving.

“There’s something you need to know…” Shawn began.

Rebecca growled at him, a sound no human should be able to make. He jumped back, striking the car, his heart in his throat. He watched as her canines lengthened. “What the…Oh, God, no!”

Rebecca lunged in, fangs bared. Shawn got out a scream, but only for a second.

Act Two Chapter Five