Randy, Howard and Phanty ran through the cemetery avoiding the skeletal hands that were bursting through the ground. Right in the middle of the panicked escape Randy's phone began to ring. Randy grabbed the phone and answered the call.
"Hello?" asked Randy as he kicked one of the bony hands away.
"Hello, Mr. Cunningham?" asked Lady Kryptina over the phone
"Lady Kryptina? Why are you calling me?" asked Randy as one of the skeletal hands almost grabbed Howard.
"I just woke up and I'm unable to find Gothetta." said Lady Kryptina over the phone
"What?!" asked Randy before being tripped by one of the bone hands.
Randy landed on the ground as some of the skeletal hands were trying to drag him under, but Randy was able tonight them off.
"What do you mean?! Isn't she there with you guys?!" asked Randy as one of the bone hands punched him in the face.
"No, I've already searched the premises and she isn't here. I found a note that said 'getting ready for tomorrow, be back soon'. What does that mean?" asked Lady Kryptina over the phone.
Just as Randy was about to answer the question or think of an answer the skeletal hands began slapping him. After grabbing the hands and pulling them away he realized something. Tomorrow was Friday, he had completely forgotten the dinner reservations his mother had made.
"Aw man, I completely forgot. Tomorrow my mom wanted to meet Gothetta. She must've gone out to get some new clothes for the dinner." said Randy before a bone hand shot out of the ground trying to poke his eyes.
Randy blocked the fingers with his palm and then shot back to his feet to run out of the cemetery.
"I'll call her and find out where she is, you guys just stay at the mansion." said Randy before hanging the phone.
Randy ran quickly catching up with Howard and Phanty. The group could see the gates of the cemetery and freedom just at hands reach.
"What was that call Cunningham?" asked Howard as he felt bony fingers scratch his behind.
"Gothetta decided to do some surprise shopping at the last minute, she must be in the mall. Where would she most likely go to buy clothes at this time?" asked Randy
"Why would I know that?" asked Howard
"Because out of all of us you are the only one that has an older sister and would buy clothes at some point!" yelled Phantasma before screaming from all the lightning happening all around them.
Howard paused for a moment thinking about it.
"Oh, right." said Howard before a skeletal hand punched him where the sun don't shine.
Howard bended forward in pain just to be them punched by all sides of his face by several bone fists.
Randy turned around and pulled out a chained kusarigama to slice all the bone arms around Howard, and then shot his scarf to pull Howard back to where they were.
As they continued their escape none of them noticed a lightning striking a freshly dug grave. A monstrous decomposing hand broke out of the ground followed by another and then a mangled corpse came out the Deadite Nomi-Randy.
"I. Live. Again." said Deadite Nomi-Randy now looking like a burnt creature with scars all over its face.
Meanwhile as everything was going to heck, Gothetta found herself in a clothing store looking at some of the shirts that were on display.
Gothetta grabbed a purple shirt with a spattered sunflower on it. She looked at it with delight at the irony. She grabbed it and pressed it against her to see if it fit her, but her smile dropped as she realized that she couldn't see her reflection.
"What am I doing?" asked Gothetta to herself.
One of the few problems of being a vampire was not being able to see how she looked like. It was even harder when she was trying to look good for someone special.
Gothetta decided to put the shirt back where she found it but it fell to the ground. Just as Gothetta was about to pick up the shirt someone beat her to it. Gothetta looked up and saw a woman in her early forties wearing a blue navy shirt, a black jacket, white pants, and mid height beige heels, she carried a black bag hanging on her shoulder. However the thing that made Gothetta look at her more directly was her curly purple hair and blue eyes.
"I'm sorry young lady, you seem to have dropped this." said Elizabeth as she handed the shirt to Gothetta.
"Oh, thank you ma'm. I was just a little out of it." said Gothetta
"I think there's more to it. I hope you don't mind me asking but, is everything alright?" asked Elizabeth.
Gothetta looked down for a minute before looking back at the kind woman. She knew that she couldn't reveal everything that she was going through with the complexities of her relationship, the slight jealousy she felt towards Heidi, the Deadites and the meeting that was tomorrow, but maybe talking about something else would help. However she decided to avoid such a talk as to not divulge sensitive information for her.
"I have some stuff in my mind lately. I don't think you want me to go into detail." said Gothetta looking at the shirt.
"Honey, I was a teenager once, I think I understand. Let me guess, boy problems?" asked Elizabeth
That had been the stroke that broke the camel's back.
"More like meeting his mother for the first time problems. I really want to make a good impression but I can't help but think that once she gets to know me she'll make him to break up with me." said Gothetta with worry.
Gothetta wasn't exaggerating or making it up. Some part of her was terrified about what would happen if Randy's mom found out she was a vampire. Images of Randy's mom jumping over a table with a stake on her hand trying to stab her with it. Gothetta couldn't even blame her if she did. That was one of her biggest daymares.
"Oh don't worry sweetie, I'm sure you two will hit it off easily. Why don't you let me help you get something." said Elizabeth
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly ask you for assistance. I'm sure you have your own things to worry about, I don't want to take any more of your time." said Gothetta trying to be nice to her.
"Nah, it's no bother let's get you something sweet for your prince charming's mother." said Elizabeth as she dragged Gothetta to another section of the store.
Elizabeth and Gothetta began looking at some of the different dresses, shirts, and pants of the store and they each grabbed a couple of different articles. Gothetta started looking at some of the darker dresses that had some urban designs, with some interesting color clashes of pink and black. Elizabeth on the other hand held up some shirts that would fit Gothetta and compared it to her to see if it fit. They then walked towards the fitting rooms where they each tried on the clothes that they had grabbed.
First Gothetta walked out of the fitting room wearing a yellow t-shirt, white pants, a red scarf, white slip on shoes, and a pair of sunglasses. Elizabeth gave Gothetta a thumbs up in approval, but Gothetta wasn't all that convinced, she did like the red scarf but the rest was a little too bright for her.
Gothetta went back inside to change once more and then came out with a different outfit. Gothetta came out wearing a black one piece Flamenco dress that had some red spots on her skirt and sleeves, had black high heels and her usual spider necklace. Gothetta seemed happy to be in that dress and Elizabeth seemed to be impressed with the dress as well, meaning that she approved of it. Sadly as soon as Gothetta took a step she fell given the height of the heels.
Gothetta went back inside to change once again. After a minute of being inside the changing room she stepped out wearing a purple t-shirt with a painted bat, a jean jacket, and a strait long dark purple skirt and a pair of black shoes. Elizabeth gave her the thumbs up with a smile and Gothetta walked out knowing what she would be buying.
After each of them paid for their own clothes they walked out of the store sharing a laugh.
"I cannot thank you enough for your help. I needed to talk to someone." said Gothetta
"You're welcome. I know what it was like when my husband introduced me to his mother, now she was something out of a nightmare." said Elizabeth
"Well, I can rest easy with what Randy has told me about her." said Gothetta causing Elizabeth to stop in her tracks.
Elizabeth looked over Gothetta as she began to get an idea of who she truly was. It was true that Randy was a very common name and there were several Randy's in Norrisville alone, but Elizabeth needed to be sure about her suspicion. Just as Elizabeth was about to ask Gothetta about it, Gothetta's phone started ringing.
"Oh, I'm sorry I got to take this. Hello?" asked Gothetta as she answered the call.
"GOTHETTA! WHERE ARE YOU?!" called out Randy from the phone
This call was loud enough to catch Elizabeth's ears and almost leave Gothetta deaf from one ear.
"Randy? What's wrong? You almost left me deaf from that." said Gothetta answering the call.
"I just got a call from Lady Kryptina saying that you disappeared without telling anyone where you were going. I got worried. Where are you?" asked Randy over the phone.
"I just went shopping, I thought that I would be back before anyone would noticed. I'm sorry for worrying you. I'll be back soon I promise." said Gothetta causing Elizabeth to put on an curious look.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you, you still don't know much about the city to move around on your own. Call Lady Kryptina and tell her you're on your way back. I'll meet you there." said Randy
"I will. See you soon, love you." said Gothetta
"Love you too." responded Randy before Gothetta hung up.
Gothetta turned to Elizabeth who was now giving the young girl a sly smile.
"Sorry, my boyfriend can be quite overprotective since this is my first visit to the city." said Gothetta
"Well he is a little right about that. Now that I think about it, we never truly introduced each other." said Elizabeth with a motherly smile.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, how embarrassing. Hello, my name is Gothetta." said Gothetta introducing herself with an embarrassed blush and an open hand.
"A pleasure to meet you Gothetta, my name is Elizabeth Cunningham. My son has told me about you." said Elizabeth introducing herself and shaking Gothetta's hand.
Gothetta froze on the spot upon realizing who she was talking to. Before Gothetta was none other than the woman she had been nervous to meet for the last couple of days.
In that second, all time seemed to have gone completely still for Gothetta. In that moment, Elizabeth suddenly appeared to be much taller and almost towering over Gothetta. She then began to wonder if she had actually done or said something that could have triggered the change in scenery. Had Elizabeth known who she was from the beginning or had she just found out?
"Hey, are you alright?" asked Elizabeth snapping Gothetta out of her funk.
Gothetta quickly pulled back and bowed in respect out of reflex at the words of her boyfriend's mother.
"My apologies I had no idea of your identity Mrs. Cunningham. Randy never gave me a full description of yourself only how well you raised him and how good of a woman you are. Please forgive me for anything that I said or did that was out of place." said Gothetta calling upon all the codes of conducts that she was raised with.
Elizabeth was astounded with Gothetta's complete shift in personality. First she was acting like a slightly troubled girl, then a happy cheerful one, then she was frozen upon a realization and now she was acting like one of those girls in waiting she saw in her favorite TV dramas. Honestly, Elizabeth couldn't help but chuckle, she could see why Randy was attracted to her.
"Oh, Gothetta, please, there's no need for that. You're not talking to the queen of England." said Elizabeth as she helped Gothetta up.
Gothetta was slightly confused at how laid back Randy's mother truly was.
"Now I do understand that you snuck out of where you're staying, am I right?" asked Elizabeth
"Um, yes. I was a little embarrassed about having to go shopping so that I could look good for tomorrow. Even if Lady Kryptina was alright with it." said Gothetta
"Well after you call your teacher and tell her that you're alright, you and me can go grab something to eat." said Elizabeth
"Wait, what? Shouldn't you be telling me that I should go straight back to where I'm staying?" asked Gothetta a little confused.
"Normally I would but you'll be grounded regardless, so why not enjoy this escapade a little longer." said Elizabeth as she sent a text from her phone.
"I guess you're right." said Gothetta as they began walking to the restaurant.
"Besides, if I gave you till tomorrow then I wouldn't be able to get to know you without you having some sort of plan in mind." said Elizabeth giving Gothetta a look that gave her chills.
Gothetta gave Elizabeth a slightly scared smile but she knew that she didn't have much of a choice.
On the outskirts of Norrisville Randy, Howard, and Phanty were leaning against a brick wall catching their breath. After Randy had called Gothetta to ask where she was they decided to take a break.
"I can't go another step, we are taking a cab if we have to run away any more." panted Howard
"At least we're out of the cemetery. I think I can feel a pulse." said Phanty feeling like she was almost alive.
"We have bigger problems than that. Since I messed up the incantation something very bad is now on the loose. We need to get this book translated and the right incantation to fix this mess." said Randy holding up the book.
"Do you know anyone that is good with ancient dead languages?" asked Howard
"What about that sassy scientist, he could help?" suggested Phanty
Before Randy could answer Phanty he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket, signifying that someone had sent him a text message. Randy picked out his phone and his eyes widen to the point of almost popping out of his skull.
"You have got to be kidding me!" screamed Randy after he read the message.
"What is it?" asked Phanty looking over Randy's shoulder.
The message read 'Just met your girlfriend, she is quite lovely. We're going to Al's Dinner. See if you can make it there before I get out every secret out of her'. Randy was white in the face.
"I have to get there now!" said Randy sprinting to Al's Dinner.
"Oh, we cannot miss this." said Howard as he and Phanty followed after Randy.
As the trio went straight to the restaurant a small legion of undead warriors began to gather in the old cemetery.
"It begins." said Deadite Nomi-Randy wearing armor