Chapter One : Embuscade
The Factory lights glared hotly on Merton's spiked head, illuminating his pitch-black hair. Outside, rain poured non-stop and the crack of thunder, could be heard.
Merton unenthusiastically stirred his Coke with a pink straw. Tonight, the Factory just didn't seem as entertaining as usual. He was woken out of his stupor when Tommy slid gracefully into the seat opposite him.
"Hey Merton! How's it going?" he asked.
"Well…" he tilted his head diligently "considering the fact that I've been sitting here alone for the most of two hours, drunk precisely eight different beverages and have taken five subsequent trips to the little boys room, them I'd say it's going very well, thank you."
Tommy, unerred by Merton's sarcasm, glanced reproachfully at his watch.
"Well…it is getting kinda late. Maybe we should scoot home."
Merton planted his palms on the tabletop and lifted his backside off his seat; leaning forward he said "Right you are Tommy! Scoot away!" then he shuffled out from between his chair and the table. Tommy followed, though a bit more smoothly, and proceeded to exit the factory.
"Hey Buddy?" Tommy glanced at Merton who was strolling along next to him.
The raven-haired boy looked up from the ground. "Huh?"
Tommy peered cautiously between the trees of the park and halted abruptly causing Merton to stumble to a stop.
"Did you see that?" he asked.
A look of fear passed over Merton's pale face. "What! Where?! I told you Tommy, we should have taken the other way through and now we're about to be tortured and mauled by the demons that inhabit this sparse undergrowth, who knows what ghastly fate awaits us between those shrouded trees! Flesh eating rabbits or large pink and purple elephants! Oh, who is so cruel as to subject us to this formidable death!? Who I tell you!!? Whoooo-
"Merton! Calm down! It was a squirrel."
Merton looked sheepish. "Oh."
"Don't be so sure." A deep menacing voice spoke out from between the trees, startling Tommy and Merton.
Merton squeaked uselessly and Tommy pushed him behind himself protectively.
"Who's there?"
A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, a hood obstructed the upper half of his face but his mouth was in view and Merton saw the glint of a fang.
"Watch it Tommy! I saw fangs!" he muttered in Tommy's ear, accidentally brushing his lips against Tommy's cheek.
Tommy concealed a shiver and spared a glance at his friend, oblivious to the tingle coursing through his tensed body.
Surprised he found that he'd wolfed-out.
The stranger's grin grew wider.
Tommy drew his attention back to the figure.
"Who are you?" he asked.
The man slowly lowered his hood, to reveal a tall, regal, handsome man of about thirty. His hair was a brilliant pure white, slicked back nicely. Merton peered cautiously into his eyes and was startled to see blood-red pupils staring back at him with unveiled curiously.
"My name is Abolir, I am High General Vampire in the service of Lord Demolir of High Rise, Section A." after this announcement he bowed halfway then said "and who, may I ask, are you?"
By now Merton had moved out from behind Tommy and inched forward a way so he was beside him.
Tommy slid out of his defensive stance and poked his thumb at Merton " This is my friend, Merton Dingle, and I'm Tommy Dawkins." Tommy briefly wondered why he'd trusted his identity with the stranger, clearly Merton thought so too as he gave Tommy an incredulous look.
Abolir inclined his head slightly. "Pleasure."
Tommy glance up at the over-cast sky and felt a drop of rain hit his forehead.
"So…" Merton ventured, "What are you doing in Pleasantville, Abolir?"
Abolir's grin returned but with a crueler edge to it.
"Recruiting." He stated, then reached into a deep pocket and withdrew a small silver object resembling a whistle but longer, with more holes and intricate carvings on the surface.
Merton studied the object closely as Abolir brought the tip to his lips and blew, emitting a sharp piercing sound that made him wince.
Suddenly, they found themselves surrounded by half-a-dozen cloaked figures.
Abolir whipped his whistle back into his pocket.
Then he spoke in a strange language, "Qof frok!" and flicked his hand at Merton and Tommy.
Merton looked around panicked as the figures rushed at them.
Tommy, however, punched the nearest Vampire in the gut and then kicked the legs out from beneath a second.
It was a moment later that he remembered Merton and looked around to see him backing up towards a tree with three Vampires approaching steadily.
Tommy growled and started their direction but was stopped when two Vampires bowled him over. He felt a heavy weight on his back and attempted to rise but found he couldn't.
"No really! You don't want to eat me! I'm bony! I have a pasty complexion and I'm sure my flesh is disgusting and chew-
"Drif im yuup!" the middle figure commanded. Then to the two at his sides he said, "Fao rak im."
Merton was pinned tightly to the tree, his hands bound painfully around the back.
Tommy saw two Vampires approach with a cage and was jolted when the burly Vampire who had been restraining him threw him into the cage and locked it quickly.
Abolir, who had been watching during the whole fight, stood forward into the space between Tommy and Merton.
"Epo froc innocens?" he asked then motioned to a tall figure to move forward. "Sacris, check."
Sacris, still robed, moved toward Tommy in the cage. Eyeing him warily Tommy watched as Sacris started to sniff the air around the cage. After he seemed satisfied he said, "This one is tainted, doctor. A werewolf." He pronounced his w's like v's and he turned to Merton after a nod from Abolir.
Tommy looked puzzled. Couldn't they already see he was a werewolf?
Merton was looking extremely frightened as Sacris was definitely sniffing closer than comfortable.
He shuddered as Sacris brought himself even closer. Merton could feel his nose brush his cheek and he turned his head to the side.
He heard a chuckle form inside the many folds of robes before Sacris turned back to Abolir and bowed deeply.
"Ductor, this one is very innocens. Elx mzoedalq fu fro oco, cod? Mopyowf yup fro sacrificare!"
Tommy was getting frustrated at all of the foreign talk, but he noted that Merton was looking rather pale, paler than usual. Maybe he understood what they were saying?
Merton understood alright. And he did not like it one bit.
Oh well thought Merton at least it can't get any worse.
Then it started to rain.
A/N: ..again….mua hahahaha…oh I just love torturing Merton ^^
Translations:
Qof frok = Get them
Drif im yuup = shut up fool
Fao rak im = tie him up
Epo froc innocens? = are they innocent?
Elx mzoedalq fu fro oco, cod? = and pleasing to the eye, yes?
Mopyowf yup fro sacrificare = perfect for the sacrifice