It's time, it's time! Halloween time, of course!
October. Cooling air, colorful leaves blowing around, and the sound of bare branches scratching against windows in the night…
I love this time of year. So here we go, Halloween! Twilight and all its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. I like to play in the world she's created.
Halloween Card – Chapter 2 – Not a Relaxing Drive
The woman smiled and reached out, touching Bella's hair. "Nice hunting," she said.
Bella pushed the woman's hand back. It was hard and cold, like touching a statue.
Who were these people?
The crunch of tires on rocks caught Bella's attention. She glanced back at the entrance to the beach and saw a car turning toward them. Another visitor. She would be safe. All she had to do was get in front of this new car. When they stopped to avoid hitting her, she could ask for their cell phone, saying hers was dead. That way, she wouldn't have to insult these strange people who were giving her the creeps. No reason to be unfriendly, though that "hunting" remark was weird.
Maybe she should worry so much about insulting them.
She exhaled, stepping further away from the brunette, now smiling naturally. "Really, thank you but I think…"
"Think what?" the demonic pixie said, waving at the driver in the new car.
Bella's heart sank. Were these their friends? Still, she might be able to appeal to them. Maybe they weren't all creepy.
A dark sedan with tinted windows pulled up next to them, the gravel grumbling under its tires as it pulled to a stop. The short girl opened the rear passenger door. "Hop in," she said to Bella.
Bella's momentary relief evaporated, leaving her feeling worse than before. "That's OK, I'll just call my dad," Bella said, stammering slightly but hoping it would scare them off. "He's the local police chief, you know."
"I always like a man in uniform," the other woman laughed, showing startling white teeth.
"Oh, Esme, you're just such a traditionalist," the short girl said.
Fear for her father suddenly invaded Bella's soul. "On the other hand, you're here," Bella said, "and I'm sure he's busy tonight. I'm headed back to Forks and would appreciate a lift."
She paused by the car door, pulling her school I.D. from her jeans pocket and letting it slip to the ground by her shoe. Charlie would find it and come after her if she didn't make it home. She shuddered at the thought but told herself to be brave. She could still get away, even if she got in the car. The I.D. was there, it would start the search. She heard a pinging sound from the car and looked up. The driver's side door was open.
"Did you lose this, Miss?" a male voice asked.
Someone was standing next to her in the dark. Another one! This guy was huge. How had he gotten to her so quietly? He towered over Bella, muscles swelling out the sleeves of his white track suit. When he smiled, Bell couldn't suppress her fear and screamed.
"Now, now," the woman called Esme said, "No need for hysterics. We're just going to give you a lift." She clamped her hand over Bella's mouth.
The hand was as cold and hard as Bella remember from when she touched it earlier. Bell grabbed Esme's hand, trying to free herself. She twisted, trying to angle herself so she couldn't be pushed into the car, fighting to stay outside.
To no avail. The man put his hand on the top of her head, and she was shoved into the backseat.
Esme got into the front seat. Bella seized the door handle and tried to open it, but the tall guy was already in the driver seat and the lock wouldn't open. He must have activated the childproof locks. Though she knew it wouldn't help, she banged against the window, screaming "Help! Help me!"
The car took off, spinning and wheeling quickly despite the rock strewn surface of the parking lot. The ride was smooth once they hit the pavement. Bella couldn't see out the windows, but felt the left turn onto the 101. That was the direction of Forks. She fumbled with her purse, trying to cover her actions with the cape of her vampire costume. Maybe she could get off a text without these people noticing? If not, how could she leave a note? Could she jot something down and toss it out the window?
Even if they saw her do it, maybe they wouldn't be able to find the note in the darkness.
"Beautiful weather, though a full moon would have been nice," the demon pixie mused.
"There'll be another one in ten or so years, you know," Esme replied.
"So dim out," the pixie said. "I like to have a little light while I work, that's all." She touched Bella's vampire cape. "Is this your costume?" she asked.
"Yeah," Bella answered. What were the suggestions when kidnapped? Talk to them. Make them see you as an individual. It will be harder for them to tear you apart…nope, that was not a thought she wanted to continue. Still, talk. "I was at a Halloween party," she continued.
"So you're a vampire?" the guy driving asked. "Really?"
"Yes, a vampire. Let me get my fangs going." Bella dug in her bag, pulling out the plastic fangs and a piece of paper and pen to use for writing a note. She put the fangs in her mouth, slipping the pen and paper onto the seat under her cloak, and chomped the fangs a few times. "Pretty scary, huh?"
"I don't believe it," the guy laughed. "We've got a vampire among us. Classic."
"How about you?" Bella asked, her mouth dry, trying to draw him out. "Did you dress up for Halloween?"
"Naw," he said. "I wanted to, but Ma Esme…"
"Son," the woman in the front seat interrupted. "That's enough," she said softly, putting a hand on his arm. "Enough. We'll be home in a few minutes."
Her words put a chill through Bella.
The car slowed down and Bella saw a few lights outside the window. They must be in Forks. If they drove over 35 mph, maybe Charlie would notice. As subtly as possible, she pushed on the window button. Nothing. Childproof protection must extend to the windows. This was bad, very bad.
She took a deep breath. Focus, stay focused. She still had the pen and paper. When they got to someplace darker on the road, she would write something, her hand hidden under her costume.
Two minutes flew past, and the car picked up speed again. They must have blown though Forks.
What were they going to do? Kill her? What was that remark about hunting? Now that they had gone past Forks, Bella's fear was making her nauseous. She leaned forward, choking and coughing.
"Pull over, dear, unless you want the child's vomit in your car," the woman named Esme said.
""Not exactly," the driver said.
He pulled over and Bella tumbled out of the car. She was tempted to retch into the back seat to leave a clue. The seats were leather, so surely that would leave some kind of DNA clue. Something else for Charlie to find and nail these people, if she didn't make it home.
Maybe if she cut herself?
Just thinking about the possibilities was too much. Bella retched into the darkness on the side of the road. Looking around, she could see that they weren't on the 101. They were on a smaller road. The ride had been so smooth she hadn't noticed the turn. She struggled to recognize where they were. Was this the turn-off for another highways? A small side road? Were there any houses nearby?
Maybe she could scratch a note for Charlie in the dirt. She dug into her pocket for a Kleenex and pulled out her school I.D. She wiped off her mouth on the tissue then wrapped her I.D. in the Kleenex before dropping it on the ground. Surely these freaks wouldn't dig through that. She started to scratch a note with the toe of her shoe when she was interrupted.
"A clever one," the woman said, scraping up the whole mess and putting it into a black backpack. Bella noted with a frisson of fear that Esme was wearing rubber gloves. This woman had come with rubber gloves, prepared to remove any evidence.
Bella got back in the car, drained and terrified. They were clearly experienced.
"Maybe we should allow her a phone call?" the pixie suggested.
"Or perhaps a text," the older woman said. She took Bella's phone and scrolled through it. After a few seconds, she tapped something then pocketed Bella's phone. "I sent a note, telling the last person you texted, 'My car broke down. Come get me.' The more the merrier," she said.
Who? Who else did they involve? Who was the last person she had texted? Her father or Angie? No, no, no…
They didn't leave. Bella sat with her feet hanging out, the passenger door open. The others waited, silently, not moving. After a moment, there was a musical tone alerting a new text. "Jessica," the woman said, seeming to guess what Bella was thinking. "Jessica just replied that she is coming, and when are you going to get rid of that heap of junk truck."
This would be her chance. She had to get away. Or at least try.
She leapt from the car and took off, running into the darkness.
Behind her, she heard a peal of musical laughter.
"She's on the move!" the man exclaimed.
"Spirit, this one," someone said.
Were they coming? Maybe they would follow her in the car. She would stay on the road where it was easier to see her footing until she heard the car coming. Then she could cut across the field and into the trees. She could always wait there until it was light. They couldn't be that far from the main road.
Xxx
Thank you for checking out my most recent posting, post-Halloween. (Mid-apocalypse?)
Please leave a review. Reviews make my pumpkin smile, which is a good thing, because he's been having stare-downs with the local squirrels, and those guys are hungry.
I will send a preview of the next chapter to all reviewers. And a certain blond gentleman will be making an appearance then…
