Chapter Two

The fallen leaves gave wet crunches beneath her feet as she pressed forward. Her lungs burned as they took in breath after breath of the fridge air. But ZeldaQueen knew she couldn't rest. She had no idea what was going on, but it was terribly wrong.

Gaia was always a crazy world, perfect for escaping from reality. But the line had always seemed to have been drawn at dangerous things like vampires. Where had they come from? Were they previously human Gaians? Were they actually dangerous? She never actually saw them hurting anyone…

No! she thought firmly, pushing that last thought to the back of her head. You saw them. You didn't want to, but it happened. All of those Gaians, attacked in the Marketplace. They almost got you too. And it looks like they got everyone else…


The Barton Towns were eerily empty. It was possible to walk for stretches of time across fields and villages seeing only an odd bug or trash collector or maybe someone shaking trees and bushes for gold. But inevitably, there'd be a party or mass gathering that shook the monotony of solitude, reminding all that they were not alone. Today though, it was like a ghost town. As far as she could see, ZeldaQueen was the only one in there, although once or twice she could have sworn that she saw curtains snap over the windows of houses she passed. There was no time to look for friends though. She had to get to her own house, pack her stuff and then…what? Where would she go? ZeldaQueen shook her head. That would come later.

The door to The Happy Hylian was always unlocked fortunately, and ZeldaQueen burst in, not bothering to turn on the lights and hardly registering the gentle click of the door not quite closing, but staying a fraction of a centimeter open.

"Guys? C'mere! Time to go!" she shouted, rummaging through drawers and pulling out items. Within an instant, there was the sound of little peeps as a Baby Chicky, a Cutie Chicky, and a Chubbi Chicky came tumbling up to her. "Everyone here? Good." panted ZeldaQueen. "Keep close to me guys. We're going to need to go out on a…trip for a little while." She reached her hand to the back of her closet and grabbed a bag containing 3163g – her entire savings of Gaia Gold.

Next, she went through her Items. Not a lot she could carry, so she took what was most important to her. Her two MCs – Autumn Glory and Mecha Form – and her Mimzy doll were the first things that she grabbed. Then her Magic Plains Orbs, and Mimzy Aura for possible weapons in the future. She continued to empty her closets and drawers until she finished with her Ubi Parasol and Fan and Alchemist Book. She paused and looked around, glad that she lived in the world of Gaia, which had the unique feature of letting its inhabitants store their possessions in security vaults in thin air, allowing them access to the things later. Finally, ZeldaQueen grabbed the clothes and items that she deliberately left out. She didn't know what tasks lay ahead, but she wanted to be sure that she wore something easy to move in and not too constricting. In about two seconds, she had slipped into her Syaoran's Cloak, Smoke Glamrock Sleeveless Top, Prisoner's Pants, and Neutral Dress Starter Shoes. The Straw Hat she wore would help shield her head while not drawing a ton of attention to herself and the Syaoran's Goggles would loan protection to her eyes. The three chicks she kept at her side. They were her only pets and she didn't trust them to be safe in the security vault. Not that she ever told anyone her password or anything, but still there were too many hackers to be certain.

"Everybody here?" she whispered, ducking behind her bedside table to collect the chicks. "I think it's time for us to…"

ZeldaQueen's voice trailed off as her throat closed off in fear. She could hear it, only slightly more audible than her whispering. The front door had given the telltale ghost of a creak as it swung silently open. Who was there? She couldn't see or hear them. Her heart pounded in fear and her body went cold as she held the chicks in her arms, willing whoever it was to go away.

"Is it certain that she is here?" a voice asked, smooth and unconcernedly. "No one else is in this village."

"The door is slightly open," another replied. "She must be here."

"And?" a third retorted. "That means nothing. She might have left prior, forgetting to close the door in its entirety as she fled."

"Even if that is the case, KOforev&eve swore that he saw her enter and not exit," the second voice said. "And he ought to know. He lived right next door to here and was in the house until moments before."

"Can we assume that his word is sufficient for trust?" the first voice asked.

"Of course," said the second voice. ZeldaQueen could hear the smug tones of someone reminiscing over a great success. "I turned him myself. He told me everything immediately."

ZeldaQueen's mind raced. Those people were vampires, that much was certain. Apparently people had been hiding in Barton Towns and the vampires must have been invading the villages, turning anyone who they found. Had everyone been turned, or were there some survivors? Obviously the latter, if all of the humans were gone, surely there'd be some sign by now…

"Spread out!" the commanding third voice called out, yanking ZeldaQueen from her thoughts. "Find out if she is here or not. If she is, then whoever finds her may turn her."

Escape looked nearly impossible. The house, though upgraded, was still only one room and there wasn't enough space to dodge around three vampires and run out of the door. Even if she did get outside, they would almost certainly chase her down and capture her before she had taken two steps past the doorway. What she needed, was a secret way out, one that would allow her to escape with the element of surprise… the Egyptian Escape Hatch! That was it! It had only been put in a few weeks ago, and conveniently hidden behind her kitchen stove. An idea was starting to form in her head and it just might work…

ZeldaQueen carefully shifted the chicks to one arm and moved to a better kneeling position, so that she could stand easier. When the three vampires seemed as far from her as they were going to get, she stood up in one swift motion.

"THERE SHE IS!" one of the vampires screamed, but ZeldaQueen was already moving. She reached out her arm and scrabbled for the light switch. Her fingers connected and she snapped it. Instantly, she began to blink as her eyes smarted from the sudden light. The vampires, however, covered the eyes and fell to the ground shrieking in pain. ZeldaQueen noticed with interest that they all had Syaoran's Goggles around their necks. Vampires must have sensitive eyes and the tinted lenses would protect them in excessive light. They must have removed them in the darkness though. As she mulled over this, ZeldaQueen made a terrific break for the stove. There was only just enough space to squeeze behind it and the Escape Hatch in the wall, but she made it.

"C'mon guys. Let's get outta here," she muttered to the chicks as she moved down the hatch as fast as she could. It wasn't so easy. The hatch was too small to stand fully upright in and run down. Instead, she had to move in a sort of a crouch. She couldn't crawl either, since that would mean putting down her chicks. But light was at the end of the tunnel.


SUCCESS! thought ZeldaQueen rapturously as she burst out into the sunlight. But the battle wasn't won yet, she realized. The vampires were still around. She needed to find a place to hide and fast. She thought hard. Right now, she needed to go one step at a time. And getting out of Barton Towns was the first step. From there, she could try to escape to Durem or some other area. ZeldaQueen ran straight for the nearby grove of trees. She could use the cover and darkness that they provided to escape. She walked as slowly as she dared. Though the impulse to run for her life was strong, she knew that it would greatly increase her chances of being caught. If any vampires were still nearby, they'd surely hear her crashing through the woods. But so far there seemed to be no vampires about. Was it possible that the three in her house where the only ones in this area?

"Come here, my precious one."

Of course not. Straining her eyes, ZeldaQueen could see it, a Vampire straight up ahead. As silently as she could she steeped backwards and ducked behind a tree.

"We can find you, no matter where you are hidden my darling. Please, just come out"

More pale forms were visible now, slowly and methodically searching for her. Their eyes, no longer masked by the Syaoran's Goggles, gazed unemotionally, piercing the darkness and drawing in all that it hid. Too late, ZeldaQueen remembered darkness was the vampire's element! She should have stayed in the light, not the shadows! She cursed herself, but it seemed to be too late. She jumped as a pasty hand clamped down on her shoulder and a male vampire said "Hello my love. Are you ready to join the family?"

There was no escape. About five vampires surrounded her and she had no protection. All she could do was hold still and hope that it didn't hurt…