Chapter 12 (Enjoy)
Declan casually slides into the booth as Abby responds to whoever was texting her phone.
"Hey Abby."
"Hey." She sets her phone down.
He looks at his watch, "Almost closing time isn't it?"
"Don't worry Mr. Chartson won't close up for at least another hour. We're good."
He runs his overly sweaty palms on his pants.
"So…."
"So….." She counters, "What's new? Besides the diary?"
"Not much, found out what happened to my birth parents."
"Cool, where are they? What happened to them?"
It takes him a moment. "Death." It comes out awkward.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Abby, It's okay ,really. I didn't actually know them." His eyesight falters off towards the door.
"Still that must be hard, to learn that both of them…." Her words fall off.
"I guess. What's new with you?" He quickly changes the subject.
"Same old."
There's silence for a moment.
"Abby I'm sorry not to be rude, but is there an actual reason you invited me here tonight?"
"We can't just hang out? Besides it isn't like you have anything better to do."
"And how would you know?"
"Please, unless it's a date with a diary, I'd say you're officially off the books."
"Fair enough, but don't change the subject. Why am I here? You did seem upset earlier. Any reason why?"
She bites in her bottom lip.
"Abby it's okay, you can tell me." He grazes her forearm.
"I don't know how to say this... without sounding crazy."
"Just go slow."
"Okay," she exhaled, "I think something terrible is going to happen to Helena tonight."
"Why do you think that?"
"I just know."
"Nobody just-"
"What?"
"Nothing continue." He remains quiet.
"I've been having these dreams lately, seeing things."
"Like what?"
"Declan it doesn't matter, you're here for a completely different reason." She playfully fidgets with her fingers.
"Hmmm?"
Her eye's stay fixated on her hands."I kinda need you to tell her."
"What, no." He instantly refuses.
"Why not?"
"Why Not? I'm not walking up to a girl and telling her something's terrible gonna happen. No way. Why can't you do it?"
She folds her arms."Really? Have you seen us two together?"
"Fair enough….. okay I'll do it, but you have to do something for me."
"What?"
"Go to the town center with me, look up some old articles about the fire."
"Uhhhhhhh fine. Whatever, just go before she leaves."
"Okay."
He walks away and comes back to the table three minutes later, soaking wet.
"What happened?" She quickly hands him napkins.
"She uh, told me I was a complete maniac and dumped ice water on me."
"Uggggggh." She rest her fingertips on her temples.
He lightly touches her shoulder,"Don't get too upset, we'll watch her walk to her car to make sure everything's okay."
"Alright let's go."
They periodically peek around the concrete corner, keeping a safe distance and checking in.
"See, look she's fine."
They watch her get into her car and start it up.
"I guess." Abby lets out a sigh of relief. They begin to walk back into the building.
"See,all that worrying for nothing." He says.
"I guess you're right."she smiles.
Two seconds later, the sentimental moment is interrupted by the loud sound of shattered glass and Helena's scream.
They quickly run to see a man raising her high in the air before bringing her neck to his lips.
She squeals and panics.
"HELP!" She screams.
"We have to help her!" Abby says.
Declan grabs Abby up."Wait, someone's coming."
A truck pulls up on the scene.
Two men get out dragging the creature off of Helena.
They put a collar on him, repeatedly electrocuting him.
"Who are these guys Abby?" He whispers.
"I don't know Declan. What is that thing?"
A nicer car approaches and Matt steps out, with Kelsee at his side.
"How how's your evening going?Mr. mr. Mayor?" The guy stutters.
"It'd be better if I didn't have to be dragged from the lab to deal with this."
Matt brings a swift kick to the vampires face.
Abby turns to Declan."What is Mr. Donovan doing here?"
Declan brings his index finger to his lips, quieting their conversation.
Helena slowly stands up walking over to Matt.
"Mr. Donovan, thank God you're here! Can you call the ambulance that thing attacked me!"
Matt looks at Helena and then Kelsee.
"Take care of her, Kelsee, would you?"
Kelsee grabs her up, forcing the young girl to look into her eyes.
"It was an animal that attacked you here tonight, go to the hospital and let them look at that bite."
Helena stands back before blinking her eyes a few times, "You can't just expect me to just forget what happened, that guy bit me." She was hysterical.
Kelsee yanks Helena by her Right arm,"Mr Mayor we have a problem."
"What is it Kelsee?"
"Seems like this one's on vervain." She drops her to the ground.
"How?"
"I don't know sir."
He looks at the others in the circle and narrows his eyes."How?"
"Sir we don't know!"
Matt stoops down to caress her chin.
"You should've lied!" The vampire screams.
"Shut him up!" Matt yells back.
"You should've just let me kill you, he'll be worst!" He chuckles afterwards.
Matt steps back to backhand the vampire before they throw him in the truck taking him away.
"Is that true Mr. Donovan …..are you going…... to kill …..me?" She starts to whimper, "I promise I won't say anything!" She tries to move away.
"No, no, no. Shhhhh." He embraces her letting her flowing tears stain his suit. He lightly brushes her hair with his fingertips, comforting her.
Abby feels relief sprang up, where there was once doubt.
"Let's go see how she's doing Declan."
"Wait."
"What do you mean-"
Matt continues to brush her hair before abruptly twisting her neck to the right.
Her lifeless body falls and Abby has to fight the overwhelming urge to scream.
Declan quickly brings his hand over to cover her mouth. He covers her eyes with his other hand, making sure she looked away.
He can feel her breath on his knuckles as the hot tears slowly begin to roll off her cheeks and onto his skin. She's taking in deep breathes and her can only hold her tighter to calm her down.
"Kelsee, get rid of the body, would you?"
"Yes sir."
He looks down at his stained suit, disgusted. "Could you also get me a new tux."
"Of course."
He sheds the old one and she comes over, putting on a new one. She brushes and pats over him.
"How do I look Kelsee?"
"Good as always sir." They both look down at the body in the trunk, "like it never happened."
"Thought so. Now could you tell the kids I'll be home late. I have more pressing matters to attend to."
Matt looks up at the sky, sighing.
"I need to find out who has vervain in my town."
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