Chapter 4

"Attention Wal-Mart shoppers! We will be closing the south entrance in 10 minutes, please exit through the north entrance."

Abby wandered among the aisles in the "Girls" section of the store. It didn't occur to her that a few decades ago she would not have described herself with that term. She stopped at a discount rack filled with various "summer dresses" when a particular one caught her eye.
"You don't have to settle for the cheap ones, Abby" Owen reminded her.
"I know...maybe I like this one?" she said with a mischievous grin.
"Pink...figures...I should have known."
"Yeah...you got a problem with that?"
Owen grinned and walked over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently.
"No...I think you're cute...try it on."
Abby held the dress against her.
"I'll be right back!" She kissed him on the cheek and almost skipped away.

Owen watched her go into a dressing room. He really had never liked shopping. But with Abby it was ok. She had such a good time. He reminded himself to try to talk her into buying some jeans too so the dress would last longer.

"I'm back! What do you think?"
Owen looked up. There was Abby, the love of his life...stunningly beautiful in a pink flowered sun dress. As usual, Owen didn't know exactly how to express himself.
"You look great, Abby!...Wow!"
"So that means you like it?" she giggled.

"Psst...dude...check it out."
"What?"
"Those two kids in line."
"Yeah...so?"
"You see that roll of bills the little dude has?"
"Don't you mean 'had'?"
"Ha! Good point!"


Abby and Owen walked out into the parking lot with their bags. Abby couldn't wait to try on her new clothes.
"Let's go to the park tonight, Owen...I want to..."
"Hold up!"
The two young lovers stopped and turned to face two men in their 20s. Both were covered in tattoos and both appeared to have made quite an effort to dress as "street" as possible. The smiles faded from Owen and Abby's faces.
One of the thugs spoke up.
"Let's not waste any time here...just give us that big wad of cash you've got and you can go on home to mommy."

Nothing happened. The thugs regarded the two kids with puzzlement. Both just stood there staring at them. Their eyes never wavered...never blinked. No fear.
"I guess we've got two deaf kids here..." the thug said. He reached for Owen, "I said..."

With lightning speed, Abby's arm shot forward. Her fist slammed into the thug's arm and an audible crunch could be heard. The thug screamed. He backed away and fell to the ground holding his ruined arm.
"Augh! What the...FUCK!"
The second thug looked at Abby in amazement. "Shit girl...you know kung fu or something?"
He stepped forward and threw a kick at her face. Abby easily caught his foot and twisted it. He crumpled to the ground screaming in agony.
"You broke my ankle! You little bitch!"
Owen was on him in a second. He grabbed the thug's head with both hands and pulled him up to within inches of Owen's face.
"Watch who you call BITCH!"
The thug's eyes widened. He saw something primal in Owen's eyes. Something that scared him more than anything he had ever seen.
"I'm...I...I'm...sorry!" he managed to stammer.

Owen shoved the thug to the ground in disgust.
"You're lucky I didn't meet you last night."
Owen took Abby's hand and they turned and walked away into the darkness. Left behind were two young men who were suddenly feeling less "tough" and reassessing their lifestyle choices. They watched the shadowy figures dart away suddenly...and leap a fence?

Once they were far away from the humiliated thugs, Owen and Abby stopped behind a building and couldn't help giggling.
"It doesn't pay to make my Abby mad!"
"They were messing with my man!"
Owen kissed Abby on the lips. Abby paused.
"Owen...?"
"Yeah?"
"Were they...bad?"
"Not like the guy last night. He was a bad one. Those two just needed a lesson..."
Owen turned to her.
"...which you gave them!"
Laughter rang out in the dark.

Abby changed into her new dress and the two young vampires ran gleefully through the big park. They found a lonely spot by a small pond and settled down to enjoy each other's company. Owen suddenly turned to Abby and put his hand on her thigh.
"Abby...there is something I want to do."
She grinned shyly.
"Really?"
Owen giggled.
"Not that!"
Abby feigned hurt feelings. Owen saw through it and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
"No...I was thinking..."
Abby looked at him.

"...I want to go see my Mother."