Chapter 6

Sunday, December 15th

8: 23 P. M.

For a moment, Doc's mind locked up. He couldn't believe he was actually flying. Then he felt the wind whistle through his hair, felt his wings beating steadily, and believed. An admixture of fear and ecstasy filled his heart as he rose further into the sky.

Mysteria, who had flown far ahead, came back to him, smiling broadly. "Isn't it great? You're totally free up here."

"I can't shake the conviction I'm going to plummet to my death at any second," Doc admitted, looking down at Lyons Estates. He hoped no one happened to be looking back.

"You can't fall, Emmett. Relax and enjoy it." Mysteria did a flip, apparently just to show off her own ease at flying. "Betcha you're too chicken to do this." She swooped low over a row of houses, then rocketed almost vertically back into the sky.

"That's easy! Child's play!" Doc called to her. He did a few quick calculations in his head to insure he wouldn't crash as he tried the stunt and angled himself properly. With a deep breath, he swooped down, skimming his fingers along the rough roof tiles. Doc glanced at his fingertips to see that they were badly scraped. Before his eyes, they healed themselves. "Incredible," he whispered, not paying much attention to where he was going. He rocketed upwards.

Right into Mysteria.

They were both knocked flat by the crash. "Oof! You play rough," Mysteria commented, rubbing her stomach.

"I'm sorry, Mystie," Doc promptly apologized. "I was paying attention to something else. You were right when you said our injuries heal in seconds. Nanoseconds, more likely."

"That's okay. No harm done." She kissed him rather passionately. Doc felt his heart rate speed up enormously. "God, I love her." "You have to see Hill Valley from the sky. It shines like a star from all the life within it. It's beautiful." She flew off.

Doc followed, using all his senses to the fullest. There were hundreds of lungs and heartbeats to hear, each with a distinct rhythm, but all melding together to make a soothing beat for the whole town. The details of all the houses were all visible to his sharp eyes, even from high above. The various blood scents nearly overwhelmed him, despite the fact he wasn't hungry. The wind had it's own nice smell and felt deliciously cool against his skin. Laughing happily, Doc flew beside his girlfriend, taking in all he could of his hometown.

Eventually, they reached the clock tower and the Town Square. They settled themselves on the ledge, overlooking the nearly silent square. Doc shifted a little in his seat, uneasy. His eyes kept straying to the huge gap he had made in 1955, when he had almost fallen to his death.

Mysteria noticed this and slid an arm around him. "You've got nothing to worry about. Even if you did fall, you'd be no more than slightly banged up."

"This may seem like a morbid question, considering the circumstances, but how can vampires die?"

"First promise me you won't commit suicide if I tell you."

"Swear on the DeLorean," Doc promised.

"Okay then. It's fire that is our main enemy. If a fire can burn hot and long enough to reduce us to ashes, we're out of commission permanently. To stop a vampire or prepare it for burning, you should stake or decapitate it. Or both."

"Decapitation I understand, as it severs the nerves that could facilitate healing. But wouldn't a vampire just pull out a stake?"

"An injury to the heart is serious and requires a healing coma. It takes around an hour to heal enough to remove the stake. I know that from personal and very painful experience. But I don't want to talk about death, Emmett. I want to talk about life." She kissed him passionately again. "Specifically, ours." Her hands ran down his spine, sending electric tingles up it. Doc held her close, inhaling deeply her special blood scent. Their lips met a few times more, each time more passionate than the last.

Suddenly, Mysteria bit Doc on the neck. Doc was startled, but not angry. The nip had felt very good, actually. Mysteria smiled mischievously at him, her eyes aglow. "Just for practice," she purred.

"One good bite deserves another," Doc retorted, his own eyes lit with fire. He sank his fangs into her pale neck, licking up a few drops of blood. Mysteria sighed happily.

After that bit of love play, they simply cuddled for a while, listening to Hill Valley's citizenry. "Oh, this is so romantic," Mysteria said, her head on Doc's shoulder.

"Jennifer's always pestering me to let her and Marty borrow the DeLorean and come up here. She wants to see the sun rise at a time when Marty would still be awake," Doc commented, watching the glowing form of Red Thomas get up and stumble towards a bush. A urine scent followed soon after, making him wrinkle his nose. "Now I can better understand why she's so insistent. It is lovely up here."

"You know, that's not a bad idea, watching the sunrise from up on the clock tower," Mysteria said, raising her head. "What say we do it?"

"I think I would enjoy it, but I have my reservations. We both know well the sedative effect of the sun's rays upon us."

"We'll just stay long enough to see the sky turn pink. They we'll be awake enough to get home. How's that?"

"Good idea. And I'll see if Marty can lend us some sunglasses too. I estimate that sunrise should be at about 6:00 A. M. So we should meet back here at 5:30."

"5:30 it is. I'll see you then." They kissed once more, then went their separate ways. Mysteria left to drop in quickly on Jennifer, while Doc returned to the McFly house. His room was deserted when he got there, but he could hear Marty muttering to himself next door. He could also hear Linda on the front step, getting friendly with her boyfriend Greg. Doc ignored the 19-year-olds and went to see Marty.

Marty was hunched over his science book and notebook, studying some complex equations. He looked up as Doc entered. "Hey, Doc. How'd the flying lesson go?"

"As you would so aptly phrase it, 'It was heavy'," Doc told him, leaning on the desk. "Mystie and I shared a very pleasant hour on top of the clock tower. We're going back later to watch the sun rise."

"Just like Jen wants to do," Marty said with an ironic grin. "Are you going to let us up there, or will I have to be dragged there at 6:00 by her?"

"Don't worry, I've seen she has a point. It's very peaceful up there. Anyway, I came in because I heard you mumbling. Homework?"

"Science," Marty groaned. "The teacher explained it in class, but I still don't get it. I should've taken chemistry instead of physics. Who needs physics?"

"If it weren't for physics, all the laws of nature wouldn't exist. Not to mention time travel, as that deals in quantum mechanics. In fact, I majored in quantum physics in college, and eventually got my Ph. D. in it."

"Yeah, and you got that award for it, too," Marty nodded. "It's all a fog to me, Doc. I'll never understand this."

"10 bucks says you become a scientist like me," Doc joked.

"No way! I'm a rocker." Marty fingered an imaginary guitar. Suddenly, his face went white. "Hold on-Doc, is that bet fixed?"

"I honestly don't know what profession you choose," Doc swore. "When I went to the future the second time, I just wanted to make sure we were both all right. Your son recognized me, and you looked much healthier and happier than you did before. Frankly, that's all I care about." Doc patted his friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Just remember: the future is not set, and if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything."

"Okay. What I'm putting my mind to now is the idea that you would help me with my homework. Let's see if I can accomplish that." Marty smiled at him.

Doc grinned back, thinking, "Even though everything has changed, nothing has." "Sure, Marty. What exactly is confusing you?"