The Giant Dipper came to a jolting stop at the ride's conclusion. As Zara exited back onto the boardwalk, Josh casually slipped his arm around her shoulder. Leaning into her, his lips whispered in her ear:
"Do you want to go somewhere?"
Zara looked sharply at him.
"No," she said, swiftly slipping away from him. "I think I'd rather not."
"Come on," he whined, and grabbed her arm, his nails cutting her painfully.
"Get the hell off me!" Zara seethed. She screamed for help.
"Not until I get what I want," he hissed.
At that time, Zara knee, quite forcefully, attacked his groin. Josh howled in pain, and doubled over. Zara shoved her way through the crowded boardwalk and stumbled into an alleyway. Dark clouds rolled across the sky, and everything went dark. She screamed again as heavy footsteps thundered after her and Josh's rough hands gripped her waist. She slapped him across the face, but he threw her against the wall. She slumped to the ground, and looking down, gasped. Next to her was an ashen corpse. Suddenly, she heard a strange gurgling sound, and Josh crumbled next to her. She turned away, repulsed by his mangled face, and found her self staring into pair of gleaming, bright eyes. A shiver ran down her spine as she gave way to her exhaustion and was lulled to unconsciousness by the sound of bat's wings.
She couldn't see. The boardwalk was tinged with a blood red hue. But it was abandoned. All that remained were the echoes of the souls that had walked it the night before. But it was fading, melting in a swirl. And then, she was caught in it, and vanished. She was standing in her bed room now. A stranger stood over her, his eyes glowing red, but his face was blackened by shadow. She took a step backward and fell sprawling on her bed. He leaned over her.
"Join us, Zara" he whispered.
Zara's breath caught in her throat as he brushed his lips lightly over hers. She looked into his eyes and was held there in a horrified trance.
"Don't be scared Zara," he said as his mouth approached her throbbing veins.
Zara blinked. She opened her eyes and was looking into the face of a twisted creature, his fangs protruding from his amused grin. Blood stained her clothes as he tore into her.
She bolted up in bed, shoving her fuscia sheets from her. The room was very dark, and though she tried desperately, she could not remember how she had gotten home. Her forehead dripped with cold sweat. Shaking, she went to her old bathroom and splashed cold water on her face to calm her nerves.
It broke the heavy silence, the window swinging open, and its eerie creak filling the room as it moved on its hundred year old hinges. She whirled. But, the window stood open, the curtains like flags in the night. And no one was there.
Zara's piercing scream was heard across Santa Carla, and, not far away, a vampire smiled.