Not Supposed To Be This Way…
Abby Ebon
I glimpsed it through the hole, its warped human and bat-like face leering at us – its eyes reflecting yellow-light, like a cat.
It snarled at us – and Mark, who was closest to the door – leapt back in surprise.
He cursed, of course, but I was more interested in Seth taking a chainsaw from the corner, (who the hell would be dumb and/or brilliant enough to keep gasoline and a chainsaw in the same place?) and firing it up – to my surprise it worked.
Watching a vamp getting its face ripped up (and cut off) by a chainsaw is a very enlightening (and bloody) experience; I couldn't understand where or when Luke ate something that looked vaguely pinkish when upchucked.
Mark, Luke, and I grabbed the three gasoline containers, and a lighter, the plan was to trail it behind us until we made it out of the mall and then torch it.
Feeling faintly nauseated from the fumes and the scent of puke, we make our way out of the storage closet, I hear laughter not very far off – and Seth attempts to find the source; which we knew was Scarlet, or one of the other little girls, but it was for not.
We edged our way back to where the check-out was, easing out way down the walls, slipping between isles, and ducking down under crates as we went.
I'd never noticed how much a mall was like a maze before – but then, I never really had time to visit one.
Let me tell you – darkness makes all the difference. We were a few feet from the door (Seth figured we could use the chain saw to cut through) when things went for the worse.
The first sign that something was wrong was when Mark yelped, and when the flashlight swung around – Scarlet held him pressed against herself, her nails pressed to the skin of his neck and stomach.
If she started to transform, she'd disembowel him. His gasoline container had spilt over, and the bottoms of our shoes were soaked with it.
"Hello, hunters….drop you're weapons… and drop that lighter girly, unless you want to kill your boyfriend here." I stiffened, why did everyone assume I was with Mark?
Nonetheless, that didn't mean I wanted to see him killed. I set the lighter down – my nearly empty gasoline container beside it, Scarlet smiled smugly.
"That's a good girl…now, Seth, how ever did you find me?" Scarlet purred, out of the corner of my eye I saw Seth shudder.
Behind me, I heard the clank of Luke's wooden staff slash-make-shift stake – and the soft tap of his gasoline container dropping; Seth gently put the chainsaw down, keeping a tight grip on the flash light, for all the good it would do us.
"Wasn't too hard, Suzy; you aren't exactly the sharpest vampire – I mean, a mall, is where you always liked to go." Seth shrugged, looking somewhat guilty. Scarlet had the nerve to lick her lips, leering at Seth.
I tried not to feel too possessive; I have no claim on Seth….yet.
"My offer still stands Seth…join me, and I will let these three live…" Scarlet purred, and Mark, for the first time in his life, looked uncomfortable in a woman's arms.
"I keep telling you Suzy, nothing is gonna get me to come around; not since you Turned." Seth told her, speaking to her as if she were a child unable to understand no.
She pouted, and I saw Mark's bent sword shifting on the side not facing the vampire – it was just at the right angle to drive into her side; with her distracted by Seth, Mark had to be careful to keep it that way.
I heard Luke's softly indrawn breath, and the vampire's attention shifted to him.
"Well, if you don't want me – I could always Turn these two…" She threatened, leaning down – her fangs pressing against Mark's neck.
Mark stiffened, shut his eyes – and shoved the bent dagger-sword into her – she shoved him away – tossing him into the exit, he went through the window glass, and I can only assume he hit the pavement or sidewalk outside.
Snarling, and trying to rip the sword from her side, she didn't pay attention to us.
On unspoken signal, I snatched up the lighter – and Seth, apparently fond of his chainsaw, grabbed it – Luke threw the stake staff into Scarlet, shoving it into her heart.
We ran for the shattered glass – going through it, even as we heard a wail of the vampiric-child behind us.
As soon as we made it out – Luke was at Mark's side, checking for a pulse, he raised his thumb, finding one – and I was too busy watching the vampire-child scramble on all fours toward the exit, flicking the lighter to try to get a flame.
"Come on, Kate!" Luke yelled, noticing the vampire child.
Two feet… the vampire-child's snarling lips, expression twisted into hate and glinting fangs.
"Kate!" Seth hollered, knowing as he started up the chainsaw that he would be too late to save me.
The vampire-child, lunging toward me, transforming…A flame – without a thought I threw it into the mall – it flared up, the flames surrounding the vampire-child in seconds; I heard it scream, and disappear from sight.
I stood there, dazed, panting, disbelieving that it was all over so fast – and we, miraculously had survived.
Now, we had to get Mark to the hospital, Seth helped Luke get Mark into the back of his jeep, and I sat shot-gun beside him; the chainsaw, all that was left of our little adventure, went into the front of the pickup with us.
The nearest hospital took us near a grove of trees that led off to a mountain pass. In all the excitement- we had forgotten the full moon.
None of us knew it then, but there are other things then vampires that walk in the night…
As Seth drove, keeping his eyes on the road ahead, we hit a turn hard – and then I yelped a warning – seeing a dog-shape in the road, Seth swerved- nearly sending us off the road.
We hit a tree instead.
Luke yelled – and I turned around in my seat, three huge 'dogs' had surrounded us; each of them could have weighed in at 120-250 pounds – easy, then I saw their eyes – human eyes….
They were werewolves…
"Fuck! You've got to be kidding me!" Seth yelled, finding that his jeep no longer worked.
In the distance I thought I heard a howl go up. They were howling at the moon, I looked toward it – and sure enough, it was full.
Up ahead, through the grove – I thought I saw a cabin.
Seth, cussing under his breath, grabbed his chainsaw – and motioning for me to follow him out from his side of the jeep; the chainsaw roared to life, and we edged our way to the back, letting the flip down, and I jumped in to help Luke get Mark out of the back.
"Hurry it up you two, our… friends …are getting braver." Seth growled, keeping the chainsaw leveled at them.
"Saw a cabin a bit up ahead in the grove, if we can get to it, we can hole up till morning." I said, frantically trying to remember all my werewolf lore.
Mark's eyes fluttered open and the first thing he saw was my cleavage, he leered, and if I weren't feeling particularly nice to him, I'd have smacked him one – he knew it too. Then his eyes snapped to what Seth was threatening with a chainsaw.
"Shit, those wolves?" Mark muttered, I started to worry about a concussion – but we'd have to handle that after we got him through this alive.
"No you ass; they're werewolves, don't you read?" Luke grumbled, pulling Mark's arm over his shoulder, helping his twin to stand.
Slowly, with Mark on his feet, we stumbled into the grove, heading to the cabin, the werewolves stayed at a distance at first, letting us see them. As we walked, we saw glimpse of them, the flash of human eyes – the lift of a shadow, snarling teeth.
I got the distinct feeling we were being herded to the cabin. Before I could voice this, they attacked; taking down Luke and Mark.
Before I could move to help them, Seth, who had been trying to get the cabin door to open - had pulled open the door open, grabbed me around the middle, and pushed us into the cabin- the door slamming shut just as a werewolf lunged for it – shaking the door.
I shook – imagining what was happening to the twins – would they be made into werewolves?
Would they be eaten tonight, only to find their remains tomorrow?
Furious, I turned to Seth, interested in him or not – they had been my friends.
"You fucking idiot! They could be dead! We could have at least tried to save them!" I screamed, hitting my fists into his chest – he took it, grunting, letting me beat up on him.
"I'm sorry Kate, I couldn't, no, I won't watch you die for them…" Seth trialed off- not bothering to explain himself to me, and it was likely he did not know the reasons for his own actions.
I started sobbing, I couldn't help myself. I thought of the horrible things that could be happening to them and – remembering them, and Seth let me lean against him, holding me.
Comforting me, in his own way, and despite being the reason for my condition; I couldn't help but fall for him a little more – I only hoped they'd live through the attack. Then I could watch them kick his ass for a change.
I heard a howl go up; and through the window I saw the twins changing…
They screamed – the screams distorting into howls as they changed into werewolves, under the light of the full moon, where once two men had been, two wolves – silver and black, stood.
Author Note: This story is only going to be another chapter long, and then you learn the reason for the title;
"You know, Kate, it's not supposed to be this way…"
"Oh? And why is that, Seth?"
"I'm supposed to be on top…"