Here's the next installment. There's a bit of gore in this one too.
Elli washed plates from dinner that night by hand. She needed something to do that would distract her from her thoughts. She'd been thinking about all of her dreams, and was trying to piece together what they could mean, but to no avail. It had been weeks since the memorial service was held for Karen. It would seem things were getting back to normal, but Elli could tell the town was still haunted by it.
All of Elli's wounds had healed by now, except for the two slices down her back. It looked as if they scarred. She asked the Doctor about it, and he had said it may take longer to heal, or it may stick with her forever.
It was late at night, a little past midnight. It needed to feed… after all, it hadn't gotten a bite to eat in a month. It searched the town hungrily for victims, but found no one. No one in this hick town would be up so late… then it heard a giggle coming from the beach.
Swiftly, it glided and soared to the beach with two powerful wings. Once at the beach, the wings retracted into it's back, as if to hide them. It saw a pink haired girl wrapped up in a blanket with a dark man. It waited until the two of them rose.
"Do you want me to walk you home, Popuri?" asked the dark man.
"Nah. It's alright Kai. If Rick sees you at my house… you know."
Kai nodded, "If you say so. See you tomorrow, babe." He kissed her cheek and started off alone.
Popuri stayed standing for a few moments, sighing in happiness, before she finally started to walk home.
It jumped down from it's hiding spot and crept up behind her… Popuri stopped walking, sure that she'd heard something. After a little while, she decided it was nothing. The creature suddenly lashed out and grabbed the young lady, covering her mouth so she couldn't scream. It ran it's long slender fingers across the girls white neck, licking it's lips.
Popuri shivered, and squeezed her eyes shut. "It's alright… I'm dreaming. I'm dreaming…"
It grinned at Popuri's words. "Yes…" it whispered in her ears. "You're just having a nightmare." It laughed, "Oh, how you wish it was a dream, dearie." Carefully, it turned the girl around, licking it's lips. It wanted so badly to dig in… but it wanted to mess with it's prey first.
Popuri gasped. "You? Are you trying to scare me or something?" Suddenly she was laughing. "Good one! I almost fell for it!"
It glared. How dare anyone call it a joke? It lashed forward and bit into her neck, piercing the soft skin and sucking up the blood eagerly. Popuri gasped in pain. She sputtered and struggled against the creature. It had meant to just drink a little bit, just to show her that it meant business, but couldn't stop. Her blood was so… sweet tasting. Unlike Karen's whose was thin and sour, this girl's was thick and sweet.
It moved a strand of the girl's pink hair back for easier access and drained what was left in that area. Popuri crumbled to the ground once let go of. It smacked it's lips and moaned, the taste still in it's mouth. The creature ripped off the girl's dress, grazing it's fingers across her stomach. Surprisingly, Popuri shivered. Apparently, she was still holding on by a string. The creature grinned and bit into the girl's twig thin arm, eating viciously. Popuri cried out and stopped moving altogether, dead. The creature grinned with delight and finished off the rest of the girl rather quickly, discarding the remains in the lake. (After it had flown there)
Elli woke with a strange desire to see Rick's family. For some odd reason, thinking about them brought a smile to her face. She got dressed and made the choice to head to poultry farm. She was surprised to find almost the whole town there. Rick was crying at the fireplace and Lillia was patting his back. Elli cocked her head and turned around. Doctor stood in front of her.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Popuri's gone missing. She didn't come home last night. Aki said the last time he saw her was on the beach."
"Oh my… Not again." Elli frowned. Doctor nodded
"Yes… It's rather peculiar, no? First Karen, then Popuri. Strange."
Popuri hadn't returned, and it was days later… Things were definitely strange.
The creature had the desire for flesh again, and it had only been a couple of days since it's last feeding. It was early in the evening this time, about 8:30 pm. The desire for flesh was overpowering, and it needed blood. It needed more of that pink haired girl's blood. Unfortunately she was long gone. Fortunately… she had family…
It made it's way to the poultry farm, feeling daring. It knew the boy of this family was always at the bar at this time, so this would be easy. It also knew that the son wouldn't return until about 11, so there was plenty of time. It stepped inside, only to find Lillia crying in front of the fireplace. It would have to act fast, as there were only2 and a half hours. It approached the frail woman, thinking it wouldn't be hard to overpower her. It was right.
With ease, the creature grabbed Lillia by the neck and snapped it. Lillia crumbled, dead. It grinned and ran it's tongue along her neck, picking the perfect spot to bite. It looked for the softest, ripest spot and bit down, drinking it all in. About an hour had passed, and it had broken through the back window, again disposing of the body in the lake. It wiped it's mouth, remembering the sweet syrupy like taste of the Poultry family's blood.
The days went on and Lillia was found to be missing. The whole town was shaking in fear. As was Elli. She couldn't believe all of this was happening. Part of her wondered if the man who had hurt her, also gotten to these people and killed them? She didn't know and she wasn't quite sure she wanted to find out. She stayed by herself most of the time, trying to make sense of it . She talked to Ann, but not as much as she used to. Ann was really the only one who cared about her, it seemed. Of course, people were disappearing, and there were more important things than her… but…
She and Ann tried to crack the system. They tried to figure out where this killer would strike next. It would seem that he only went after the girls of the town. So far, they had only been light haired girls who owned businesses. They couldn't put their fingers on it, but they assumed the next victim could be anyone really. Even either of them. The murders seemed to only happen at night, so the two friends vowed to stay in the cellar with doors locked together, until the killer was found.
Elli's dreams haunted her every night. They were always of the night she was attacked. Tonight she uncovered more of it.
"P-please. Let me go…" Elli was pleading, begging him, but he laughed and stroked her face. He had inflicted many wounds on her already, and now announced that he would finish it. Elli saw herself crying, and the memory came flooding back.
The man lowered his head to her neck and pierced her soft skin with razor sharp teeth. Elli screamed loudly as he sucked on her neck, drinking up the blood that flowed inside her. She sa herself growing weaker. It looked like she was done for…
A flash of light shined in their direction.
"Is there anyone there? Are you ok?" It was the voice of that new farmer, Claire. Elli saw herself shivering and bleeding, but she did not see the man that had attacked her. It was like he vanished.
Claire rushed to Elli's side, "Oh my God! Don't worry. We'll get you to the hospital."
It faded to black, and switched to Karen backing away. Delicate, yet powerful looking hands stretched toward her. They looked familiar…
There was a flash and Popuri was in view. Elli stirred in her sleep, unaware that she was smiling. And licking her lips. Popuri screamed and fell down, pleading like Karen did. A familiar female voice cackled evilly and told the girl she was destined for her.
The scene switched to inside the poultry farm. Lillia was sitting in front of the fireplace. Elli saw a darkened silhouette step forward… All she could make out was a small frame and short hair. Quickly and briefly, the head of the killer turned around. The eyes were so familiar… So big and brown. Something was different then she was used to. There was some darkness where she was used to innocence. But whose eyes…
Elli woke with a start, sweating and gasping. "Oh my God… It was me…"
So she finally realizes who has been killing everyone off, and what happened to her on that night. What will she do about it?
Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon.
Reviews are loved. :D