It all started on July 29th, 2003. I remember it like yesterday. It was a
hot summer day, in my hometown of Red Kill, West Virginia, and I was
spending the day in the comfort of my air-conditioned apartment. Red Kill
is a relatively small town, but most of the residents keep to themselves.
You'd never see the people around there having a block party, or anything
like that.
Our apartment was small, but it served its purpose. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchenette/living room, and a tiny balcony. Not much of a view though. I lived with my brother, Trevor, and his girlfriend Lucinda. My mom worked as a live in maid in the next town over, so we didn't see her much. Trevor and Lucinda were pretty easy to live with though. Both were 23 or so at the time, in their "prime" I suppose. Lucinda worked as a waitress at the local diner in town, for just above minimum wage, and Trev worked as a mechanic at Ed's Motor Repair Shop, which was just across the street from our building. I always like it was my fault that the worked such bad jobs, that the only reason they were still in Red Kill was to take care of me. I was sure of it too, after I left and they moved to New York.
Anyways, I was sitting there, and Lucinda had just gotten home from work. It was hot as hell, and our crappy little air conditioning unit wasn't working so well.
"Dully, can you run up to Asian Moon, and get these things, so I can start dinner?" Lucinda asked me, handing me a list of things written on a small pad of paper, decorated with pictures of sailboats.
"Sure," I replied, pulling my long brown hair into a bun. I grabbed the 20 dollars Trev had left that morning, and headed to Asian Moon, this middle- eastern quickie mart up the street. My best friend, Kita's family owned the shop. I opened the door, bathing myself in the spicy smells that filled the shop.
"Hello Miss Dulce, how are you today?" Mr. Shadhan, Kita's dad, greeted me.
"Hey Mr. Shadhan. Luci just sent me to pick up some things for dinner," I answered, leaning on the counter. Suddenly, Rakeam, Kita's brother appeared from the back room. I felt my cheeks fluster, and my spine tingle. I had had a crush on Rakeam for as long as I could remember. His smooth caramel skin, and dark brown eyes heated me up, despite the fact I was sure that on that particular summer day I couldn't have gotten any hotter.
"Rakeam, help Miss Dulce find her things," Mr. Shadhan instructed him. Rakeam smiled at me, and led me to the back of the store.
"Hey Dulce," He said, picking up a box of rice (the first item on my list) off of the middle shelf in the aisle, "What's up?"
"Nothing much, Luci just sent me over here to pick up some things," I replied non-chalantly. He flashed a smile at me. "Nice outfit," He said, half laughing. I looked down, gasping in horror at the fact that I had forgot to change out of my bikini top and old pink shorts. It wouldn't have been a big deal, if I hadn't accidentally spilled ketchup all over the shorts that morning, and if the bikini top wasn't an old ratty one that was handed down to me by Lucinda.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," I said embarrassed. I grabbed the paprika and crossed my arms against my chest.
"No problem, I hear ketchup stains are in these days," He smiled. Rakeam had this way about him that made you melt.
"Really?" I asked, biting my lip.
"Really," He nodded, placing his hand on mine, stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. With the great smells, and natural lighting of the store, I felt as if I had just died and went to heaven. The bell on the door clanged, interrupting my little fantasy, and upon the realization that the person entering the store was my brother, Rakeam dropped my hand, and went back to work getting my things.
"Hey kid," Trev said, rustling my hair on his way to the freezer in the back.
"Don't call me that," I huffed. I hated when he called me kid. My name is Dulce, and I am a grown women. Well.maybe not a grown woman, but close enough.
"What should I call you, Oh great Dulce?" He joked, I smiled, and he slung his arm around my shoulders. Trev takes after our dad, and all the girls have been green with envy ever since he "settled down" with Lucinda. Everyone likes Lucinda though, so she doesn't really have to worry about any one actually trying to get between the two of them. They are the perfect couple. The only problem is me. A lot of the older people in town see me as trouble, with my purple streaked hair, and nose ring. I have spent a lot of nights wondering why I can't just be like everyone else. Then again, I've spent an equal number of nights happy that besides Kita, and Luci, I'm the only girl in town with a bit of originality and dignity left. So haha hillbilly town, put that in your pipe and smoke it.
"Hey I got to get back to work," Trev told me, paying Mr. Shadhan for the soda he was drinking, "Tell Luci I'll be home around 5, okay?"
"Sure thing," I replied.
"Stay out or trouble kid," Trev smiled, at the sheepish look I gave him, "I'll see you later." I walked back to the freezers, grabbed myself and Lucinda a couple of cold cokes, and returned to the front. Rakeam had already collected my things and bagged them, secretly adding in my favorite kind of gum.
"That will be $11.19," Mr. Shadhan told me. I dug the money out of my pocket and set it on the counter, before grabbing the bags. "Thank you, Miss Dulce, and say hello to Lucinda for me," Mr. Shadhan smiled. I smiled back and waved, and began my walk home. The town was quite, as it normally is on a Thursday afternoon. I walked slowly, not wanting to go back home quite yet, as I turned the corner; I heard the shuffling of feet behind me. When I turned too look, I noticed a red headed girl behind me. I had never seen her before, and even though Red Kill isn't tight-knit, you still know everyone there. I quickened my pace nervously, something just didn't feel right about this chick. I ducked past the McAllister's house, and she followed me. This supremely wigged me so I stopped.
"Okay lady, all I have is a box of rice, and some chicken, there is no reason for you to mug me," I explained as she approached me, "That, and I have quite a set of pipes on me, so the whole town is going to hear me if I scream." Now that I look back at it, I have no idea why I was so frightened by a skinny red head.
"There's no reason to be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you," She explained. I still kept a good 5 feet between the two of us.
"Who are you?" I asked cautiously, "And what do you want?"
"I'm here to explain your destiny," She began. Ten minutes later, I was standing there, my eyes wide, mouth hanging, and I was totally convinced she was a lunatic.
"So your saying that all that fairy tale stuff is true?" I asked.
"Basically, yeah," She replied.
"And I have to fight it?" I said raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, not alone, but yeah," She explained.
"Ok either, this is some crazy dream, or I'm going nuts," I laughed, "Because this is bull shit."
"No, Dulce, you are the chosen one!" She assured me.
"Can't you find someone else? I mean, I almost failed gym class. I really don't think you've got the right girl," I explained.
"No, you don't understand. You are the slayer. There are no substitutes. What about all those potential girls, can't they just do it? I thought you said there were millions." I replied confused.
"Yeah, but your like the ultimate slayer. Your needed in the fight against evil," She said back. I could tell she was getting frustrated with me, "Come with me." I knew she wasn't going to give me a choice, so I decided to make a compromise.
"I'm already late getting home, just let me drop this stuff off, and I will go with you," I told her honestly. I was sure it was a bad idea, and I'd probably be murdered, but hey, this was a lot of excitement for a small town girl like me.
"Sorry I took so long, I started talking with Kita, and totally lost track of time," I lied to Lucinda. I hardly ever lied to her. She smiled, pushing her golden blonde hair behind her ears.
"I was wondering where you were," She said taking the bags from me.
"Can I go hang out with her a little while longer?" I never lied to Luci, so this was hard to do.
"Sure, just be home in time for dinner," She instructed. I grabbed a cardigan lying on the couch and put it on, before running back outside.
The "woman" who still hadn't told me her name, led me to the town cemetery. I was so freaked by then that I considered running home.
"Watch," She told me, pointing to the grave in front of me. Suddenly, the dirt began to move, and an arm shot up from it. I screamed and nearly shit myself right then and there. Following the arm was a body, and incredibly pale body.
"Whoa, Rick, is that you?" I said looking at the so-called vampire in front of me. It looked just like the guy who used to live on the floor above us. Out of no where he lunged at me, and without thinking, I threw him off of me, and in mere seconds, had him pinned to the ground.
"What do I do?" I yelled frantically. The woman threw a piece of wood at me, and I forced it into his heart, as if I was an old pro.
"You just staked your first vamp," She said happily.
"So that's what you call it," I smiled, "Man, that was a trip!" For some reason, I got a real buzz from this.
"I think your ready for the big leagues," She laughed, "I'm Willow by the way." Wow, Miss nameless really does have a name!
Our apartment was small, but it served its purpose. It had two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchenette/living room, and a tiny balcony. Not much of a view though. I lived with my brother, Trevor, and his girlfriend Lucinda. My mom worked as a live in maid in the next town over, so we didn't see her much. Trevor and Lucinda were pretty easy to live with though. Both were 23 or so at the time, in their "prime" I suppose. Lucinda worked as a waitress at the local diner in town, for just above minimum wage, and Trev worked as a mechanic at Ed's Motor Repair Shop, which was just across the street from our building. I always like it was my fault that the worked such bad jobs, that the only reason they were still in Red Kill was to take care of me. I was sure of it too, after I left and they moved to New York.
Anyways, I was sitting there, and Lucinda had just gotten home from work. It was hot as hell, and our crappy little air conditioning unit wasn't working so well.
"Dully, can you run up to Asian Moon, and get these things, so I can start dinner?" Lucinda asked me, handing me a list of things written on a small pad of paper, decorated with pictures of sailboats.
"Sure," I replied, pulling my long brown hair into a bun. I grabbed the 20 dollars Trev had left that morning, and headed to Asian Moon, this middle- eastern quickie mart up the street. My best friend, Kita's family owned the shop. I opened the door, bathing myself in the spicy smells that filled the shop.
"Hello Miss Dulce, how are you today?" Mr. Shadhan, Kita's dad, greeted me.
"Hey Mr. Shadhan. Luci just sent me to pick up some things for dinner," I answered, leaning on the counter. Suddenly, Rakeam, Kita's brother appeared from the back room. I felt my cheeks fluster, and my spine tingle. I had had a crush on Rakeam for as long as I could remember. His smooth caramel skin, and dark brown eyes heated me up, despite the fact I was sure that on that particular summer day I couldn't have gotten any hotter.
"Rakeam, help Miss Dulce find her things," Mr. Shadhan instructed him. Rakeam smiled at me, and led me to the back of the store.
"Hey Dulce," He said, picking up a box of rice (the first item on my list) off of the middle shelf in the aisle, "What's up?"
"Nothing much, Luci just sent me over here to pick up some things," I replied non-chalantly. He flashed a smile at me. "Nice outfit," He said, half laughing. I looked down, gasping in horror at the fact that I had forgot to change out of my bikini top and old pink shorts. It wouldn't have been a big deal, if I hadn't accidentally spilled ketchup all over the shorts that morning, and if the bikini top wasn't an old ratty one that was handed down to me by Lucinda.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," I said embarrassed. I grabbed the paprika and crossed my arms against my chest.
"No problem, I hear ketchup stains are in these days," He smiled. Rakeam had this way about him that made you melt.
"Really?" I asked, biting my lip.
"Really," He nodded, placing his hand on mine, stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. With the great smells, and natural lighting of the store, I felt as if I had just died and went to heaven. The bell on the door clanged, interrupting my little fantasy, and upon the realization that the person entering the store was my brother, Rakeam dropped my hand, and went back to work getting my things.
"Hey kid," Trev said, rustling my hair on his way to the freezer in the back.
"Don't call me that," I huffed. I hated when he called me kid. My name is Dulce, and I am a grown women. Well.maybe not a grown woman, but close enough.
"What should I call you, Oh great Dulce?" He joked, I smiled, and he slung his arm around my shoulders. Trev takes after our dad, and all the girls have been green with envy ever since he "settled down" with Lucinda. Everyone likes Lucinda though, so she doesn't really have to worry about any one actually trying to get between the two of them. They are the perfect couple. The only problem is me. A lot of the older people in town see me as trouble, with my purple streaked hair, and nose ring. I have spent a lot of nights wondering why I can't just be like everyone else. Then again, I've spent an equal number of nights happy that besides Kita, and Luci, I'm the only girl in town with a bit of originality and dignity left. So haha hillbilly town, put that in your pipe and smoke it.
"Hey I got to get back to work," Trev told me, paying Mr. Shadhan for the soda he was drinking, "Tell Luci I'll be home around 5, okay?"
"Sure thing," I replied.
"Stay out or trouble kid," Trev smiled, at the sheepish look I gave him, "I'll see you later." I walked back to the freezers, grabbed myself and Lucinda a couple of cold cokes, and returned to the front. Rakeam had already collected my things and bagged them, secretly adding in my favorite kind of gum.
"That will be $11.19," Mr. Shadhan told me. I dug the money out of my pocket and set it on the counter, before grabbing the bags. "Thank you, Miss Dulce, and say hello to Lucinda for me," Mr. Shadhan smiled. I smiled back and waved, and began my walk home. The town was quite, as it normally is on a Thursday afternoon. I walked slowly, not wanting to go back home quite yet, as I turned the corner; I heard the shuffling of feet behind me. When I turned too look, I noticed a red headed girl behind me. I had never seen her before, and even though Red Kill isn't tight-knit, you still know everyone there. I quickened my pace nervously, something just didn't feel right about this chick. I ducked past the McAllister's house, and she followed me. This supremely wigged me so I stopped.
"Okay lady, all I have is a box of rice, and some chicken, there is no reason for you to mug me," I explained as she approached me, "That, and I have quite a set of pipes on me, so the whole town is going to hear me if I scream." Now that I look back at it, I have no idea why I was so frightened by a skinny red head.
"There's no reason to be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you," She explained. I still kept a good 5 feet between the two of us.
"Who are you?" I asked cautiously, "And what do you want?"
"I'm here to explain your destiny," She began. Ten minutes later, I was standing there, my eyes wide, mouth hanging, and I was totally convinced she was a lunatic.
"So your saying that all that fairy tale stuff is true?" I asked.
"Basically, yeah," She replied.
"And I have to fight it?" I said raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, not alone, but yeah," She explained.
"Ok either, this is some crazy dream, or I'm going nuts," I laughed, "Because this is bull shit."
"No, Dulce, you are the chosen one!" She assured me.
"Can't you find someone else? I mean, I almost failed gym class. I really don't think you've got the right girl," I explained.
"No, you don't understand. You are the slayer. There are no substitutes. What about all those potential girls, can't they just do it? I thought you said there were millions." I replied confused.
"Yeah, but your like the ultimate slayer. Your needed in the fight against evil," She said back. I could tell she was getting frustrated with me, "Come with me." I knew she wasn't going to give me a choice, so I decided to make a compromise.
"I'm already late getting home, just let me drop this stuff off, and I will go with you," I told her honestly. I was sure it was a bad idea, and I'd probably be murdered, but hey, this was a lot of excitement for a small town girl like me.
"Sorry I took so long, I started talking with Kita, and totally lost track of time," I lied to Lucinda. I hardly ever lied to her. She smiled, pushing her golden blonde hair behind her ears.
"I was wondering where you were," She said taking the bags from me.
"Can I go hang out with her a little while longer?" I never lied to Luci, so this was hard to do.
"Sure, just be home in time for dinner," She instructed. I grabbed a cardigan lying on the couch and put it on, before running back outside.
The "woman" who still hadn't told me her name, led me to the town cemetery. I was so freaked by then that I considered running home.
"Watch," She told me, pointing to the grave in front of me. Suddenly, the dirt began to move, and an arm shot up from it. I screamed and nearly shit myself right then and there. Following the arm was a body, and incredibly pale body.
"Whoa, Rick, is that you?" I said looking at the so-called vampire in front of me. It looked just like the guy who used to live on the floor above us. Out of no where he lunged at me, and without thinking, I threw him off of me, and in mere seconds, had him pinned to the ground.
"What do I do?" I yelled frantically. The woman threw a piece of wood at me, and I forced it into his heart, as if I was an old pro.
"You just staked your first vamp," She said happily.
"So that's what you call it," I smiled, "Man, that was a trip!" For some reason, I got a real buzz from this.
"I think your ready for the big leagues," She laughed, "I'm Willow by the way." Wow, Miss nameless really does have a name!