Chapter 2

Another day. Just like every other day. A small green chameleon comes crawling out the window of a large tower. It hides in a dark corner behind some flowers. Panting wildly to try to catch its breath, the chameleon froze in place, not wanting to be seen.

"Ah, ha!" said a girl as she flung open the wooden slats to the window, looking for the small creature. As she looked and didn't see anything, she smiled mischievously knowing where the little reptile was hiding. "Well, I guess if Pascal isn't out here, I'll go look inside," the blond girl said.

She nonchalantly walked back inside, keeping an eye on the window. The chameleon named Pascal gave a sigh of relief and a chuckle that he wasn't found. Or was he? Some blond hair quickly wrapped around him. Quickly pulled out of his hiding spot, Pascal squeaked in fear.

"GOT YOU!" Ericka exclaimed.

Pascal panted hard as he was almost scared to death.

"That's twenty-two for me. How about twenty-three out of forty-five?" Ericka asked her little friend.

He frowned at the thought of more hide and seek.

The blond girl saw this and asked, "Okay, then what do you want to do?"

Pascal used his tail and pointed to the outside.

"I don't think so. I like it in here," using her head to gesture inside the tower, "and so do you," she said.

Pascal gave her a frowned stare and stuck his little tongue out in disgust. "Phttt."

"Oh, come on Pascal, it's not so bad," Ericka said as she started her chores before she could do whatever she wanted.

Ericka : 7 AM, the usual morning lineup

Start on the chores and sweep 'til the floor's all clean

Polish and wax, do laundry, and mop and shine up

Sweep again, and by then it's like 7:15

And so I'll read a book

Or maybe two or three

I'll add a few new paintings to my gallery

I'll play guitar and knit

And cook and basically

Just wonder when will my life begin?

Then after lunch it's puzzles and darts and baking

Paper mache, a bit of ballet and chess

Pottery and ventriloquy, candle making

Then I'll stretch, maybe sketch, take a climb

Sew a dress

And I'll reread the books

If I have time to spare

I'll paint the walls some more

I'm sure there's room somewhere

And then I'll brush and brush

and brush and brush my hair

Stuck in the same place I've always been

And I'll keep wondering and wondering

And wondering and wondering

When will my life begin?

Tomorrow night

Lights will appear

Just like they do on my birthday each year

What is it like

Out there where they glow?

Now that I'm older

Mother might just

Let me go...

Ericka as an amazingly talented girl who could do basically anything you can imagine. But truthfully, she had been tired of being stuck in the same tower every day, and longed to venture out of the tower to see the floating lights. Lying on her bed, she put her hands behind her head, staring intently at the ceiling. She begins to count all the knots in the large dark wooden beams, just thinking what it would be like to see what those mysterious floating lights. Ericka often confided in Pascal and told him her dream of wanting to see the floating lights that came only on her birthday. She really wanted to see them up close because she knew they were special and she felt connected to them, somehow.

"You look like you could use a change of scenery," said a female voice.

This startled Ericka as she franticly began looking around on who was in the tower. She became frightened.

"Who's there?" the blond girl asked.

"Don't be afraid, I'm just a meager little shadow cat. Call me Salem," said the voice. Soon near the window came a shadow of a cat.

"How did you find this place?" asked Ericka .

"I travel in the shadows. The shadows of the hills and trees lead me here. I brought you something by the way. I think you should check it out," said the cat as she handed Ericka a pamphlet.

"Hotel Transylvania? What is that?" asked the girl.

The cat's answer was delayed as she was busy grooming her whiskers. "It is what it says. A hotel in neighboring Transylvania. You know I heard you talking about some floating lights? Yes?" Ericka just nodded as she looked over the pamphlet. "My master, the owner of the hotel could help you see those floating lights. His name is Count Dracula."

This perked Ercika's curiosity. "Would he really help me see the floating lights?"

"He would. He is a nice gentleman. Very chivalrous and old fashioned..." said Salem in a sly tone, "...and very handsome."

Ericka arose from the comfort of her bed and sat up. With the pamphlet now in hand, she went over it. Reading it word for word, over and over again like she was trying to find some magical meaning to it all. Having spent too much time looking it over, her gaze moved to above her painting above the mantle. A painting of her seeing the gleaming and glistening floating lights off beyond the mountains, slowly rising behind hills and trees.

"I really want to know what those lights are and where they are coming from. I'm old enough now. Maybe Mother will let me go see them or this… hotel," she thought, hoping her mother would say yes. "I mean, how bad could it be just to see and then come back home? It shouldn't be that dangerous." Her birthday was only a three days away. Maybe she could have the best birthday ever by seeing this hotel and the lights. Ericka continued to daydream, wondering what it was like beyond these walls, if there were people just like her out there. What new places are there to explore? As her mind lay occupied with hopes and dreams, she never heard her name being called from outside.

"Ericka ! Let down your haaaair!" yelled a woman's voice.

This startled Ericka. Regaining composure, she realized who called her name. It was her mother, Gothel.

"Quickly! Salem, you've got to hide. Pascal! Don't let her see you." Hiding the pamphlet first, Ericka told them as Salem quickly bolted for the shadows of the curtains while Pascal hid behind the curtain of the mantle, blending in with her painting.

Ericka came to the window and looked down to see her mother. "Oh, hi Mother," she said trying to hide the fact she was daydreaming.

"Ericka? I'm not getting any younger here," Gothel said staring intently up at the girl's face.

"Coming, Mother!" Ericka called back from the open window.

Sometimes whenever Gothel returned to the tower she would call, 'Ericka, let down your hair!' Hearing her voice, Ericka would loop her hair over a hook hanging above a window in the front of the tower and toss it out the window, all the way down to the tower and to the ground. Being a strong girl,Ericka hoisted Gothel up to the tower room as she hung onto her long hair. It was tiring but she was used to it. With many years of practice.

When Gothel ascended into the tower by way of Ericka's hair, Rapunzel greeted her, "Hi, welcome home, Mother."

"Ugh,Ericka!" Gothel sighed, removing her hooded cloak. "How you manage to do that every single day without fail! It looks absolutely exhausting, darling."

"Oh, it's nothing." Ericka shrugged casually.

"Then I don't know why it takes so long!" Gothel laughed teasingly, confusing Ericka. "Oh, darling, I'm just teasing."

"Okay," said Ericka, "so mother, as I was saying, in three days-"

"Ericka, Mother's feeling a little run-down. Would sing for me, dear?"

"Oh! Of course, Mother."

It had become a ritual for the two of them: Ericka would sit on a stool in front of Gothel while she brushed her hair, and Ericka would sing the song that made her hair glow and replenish Gothel's youth. Only this time, Ericka sang too quickly.

"Flower, gleam and glow, let your power shine, make the clock reverse…"

"Wait!" Gothel tried to calm her singing, but Ericka didn't listen.

"Bring back what once was mine…"

"Wait!"

"Heal what has been hurt, change the fate design, save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine."

It happened in a quick flash as Gothel's youth returned as the older woman had to brush Ericka's hair only a few times.

"Ericka !" Gothel scolded with a frown, and then grumbled, "Someone's feeling a bit perky today."

"Sorry, it's just that I haven't seen you all day Mother. Is everything okay?" Ericka asked.

"Yes, everything is okay. I've just been really… busy," Gothel replied.

"Does this being busy have anything to do with my birthday? Hmmm?" asked Ericka, giving Gothel puppy dog eyes as she folded her hand behind her.

The woman gave the girl a blank stare until a small smile came to her. "You know I wouldn't forget about my precious daughter's birthday. Your eighteenth birthday!"

Ericka was overjoyed and caught Gothel off guard in a quick hug. As they hugged, Gothel was reminded to ask the blond girl something important.

"Oh, I almost forgot to ask what you wished for your birthday." Ericka looked at her mother with some nervousness. She turned away and walked to her bed and sat down in defeat.

"What's wrong, darling?" asked Gothel, sitting next to Ericka.

"Well, what I really want for my birthday is something you probably will not be able to get me."

"Now, now. You know you can have anything you want and I'm sure I can get it for you. Try me," said Gothel, putting a hand on the young girl's shoulder.

Ericka looked at her and took her mother's hands, looking serious.

"Please don't be mad at me for asking, but… for my birthday, could I… go out to see the floating lights?" the girl asked, saying the last part quickly, clenching her teeth together as looked away and closed her eyes, expecting to get yelled at.

Gothel was angry on the inside, but she knew Ericka would be asking this eventually. She remained calm and sighed at the girl. "Ericka, you're young and very curious about the world."

Erickalooked up at her mother and saw only kindness in her eyes which calmed her down. "If you only knew what the world was really like. Like I know it. It's very dangerous. Poison ivy, venomous snakes, thugs, ruffians, and even cannibal ogres are out there. All they want to do to young women is take advantage of them, rape them, and even eat them. It's too dangerous." Gothel continued as her kind smile turned to worry. "And there are some unexplained things out there like monsters. Mummies that leave curses, werewolves in the shadows ready to strike and devour you, and even men with pointy teeth called vampires who want to just control your mind, enthrall you for themselves, and suck all your blood. And you know what, my dear. These evil men and these evil monsters are all after your golden, long hair. They would stop at nothing to get to it and cut it off your head, killing you in the process." Gothel tried her best to scare Ericka out of leaving the sanctity of the tower where it truly was guarded by cannibalistic ogres.

Ericka's face was frozen. Her skin looked a shade lighter as her eyes widely stared at Gothel, full of fright. "C…C…Cut my hair?" she said as she took a hand and put it on her head terrified at the idea of losing her long, golden blond hair.

"Yes my dear. Why would you ask this when you are safe here and can have anything else in the world?" Gothel asked.

"I don't know," she sighed. "Maybe I'm just curious about what is beyond this tower. How the world is and… and what those floating lights are about. I mean, they happen every year on my birthday. Almost like they were meant for me." Ericka leaned against the fireplace as she gazed up at her floating light painting. "But with all the evil out there, I wouldn't be safe."

Gothel came up to the girl and gave her a deep embracing hug. It felt safe and warm to Ericka. "Now do you understand?" She pulled out of the hug and put her hands on the shoulders of the blond girl and stared intently into her. "Now you know you are safer here, in this tower where no one can get to you. Will you obey your mother and stay here?" asked Gothel softly.

Ericka looked at her and seemed sad. Not sad that she wasn't allowed but that she had made her mother upset.

"I'm sorry, Mother. I never meant to upset you. I promise I will stay here," Ericka said as her hopes of ever seeing the floating lights had died.

"There's my good girl. I have another errand to run, but I will not be long," Gothel said as she readied herself to leave the tower. "Be good,Ericka," she said as she climbed down the girl's white hair to the ground below.

"I will, Mother," Ericka called out.

An hour past by with Ericka still staring at the pamphlet that weird cat gave her. She sighed, thinking and feeling it was pointless to even think about going. Peering upside-down in the window came the black shadow cat. Ericka did not notice until the cat dropped on to the window sill and spoke.

"Are you going to keep staring at that pamphlet until it comes to life or are you going?" nonchalantly asked Salem as she cleaned her whiskers.

This startled Ericka a moment, then realizing who it was. "I don't think I'll ever get to see the lights. Or this hotel you told me about," Rapunzel replied in a defeated tone.

"But why not? You can leave anytime you know?" the cat asked.

"But Mother would be very angry with me. And she is coming right back so I wouldn't have much time."

"Listen, sweetheart, bend the rules a little. You can't be stuck in this tower forever! If you want to see the lights so badly, come to the hotel. Come see my master. I'm sure he will be dying to help you."

Ericka thought about it. Would she have plenty of time to see the hotel and ask this mysterious Count Dracula to take her to the lights and be able to get back before her mother came home? She thought it would be like killing two birds with one stone, even though she would not do that to a poor bird. She would be able to see what this Hotel Transylvania is and see the floating lights. Making up her mind, she faced the black cat with a little smile.

"Ericka! Let down your haaaair! I have a surprise for you," came the voice of Gothel from below.

With a whispered tone, Ericka became worried her mother would see the cat and get suspicious. "She's here. You better…hide?"

Looking at the window sill, the cat was gone, nowhere to be seen. Quickly Ericka hid the pamphlet again as she rushed to pull her mother up. "Hello Mother! I have something to tell you."

"I don't think it's better than your favorite soup, it is?" asked Gothel. "Oh, and please, no more about the stars."

"No mother, it's even better. It's…"

"You know what I said dear. Please no more silly talk about leaving and these stars," Gothel interrupted as she pressed Ericka to stop. Her anger was building inside of her.

"But Mother, you would like it," said Ericka as she was about to pull the pamphlet out. "It's…"

Gothel could not bear it anymore. Her anger came out as she shouted at Ericka.

"ENOUGH! YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS TOWER…EVER!"

The look of astonishment and fear came over Ericka's face after being yelled at. It almost looked like she was about to cry.

"Oh, great. Now I'm the bad guy," Gothel sighed as she slumped down in the chair behind her.

Ericka looked at her as her hand slowly fell off the drawer the pamphlet was in. She looked up at her painting of the floating lights watching her dream float away with the lights. She looked down at the floor, feeling determination to go see those lights, no matter what. She thought quickly and found the best way to accomplish this is to have her mother go away for a long time. A long trip to get her some paint. And she knew exactly what kind.

Very quietly and calm, Ericka spoke to her mother, "All I was going to say, Mother, is that…I know what I want for my birthday now."

"And what is that?" asked Gothel, sounding annoyed.

"New paint. That paint made from the white shells you brought me," the girl replied.

"Well, that is a very long trip,Ericka. Almost three days' time," rebutted Gothel.

"I just…thought it was a better idea than the stars," sheepishly replied the white girl.

Gothel looked at Ericka and her pouty face. She couldn't say no to that and the fact that she is forgetting about leaving the safety of the tower warmed up her cold heart. She stood up and walked over to the girl and hugged her.

"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own for a few days?" asked Gothel.

"I know I'm safe as long as I'm here," replied Ericka .

Gothel gave her daughter a kiss on the top of her head. That evening, they made Ericka's favorite, hazelnut soup and enjoyed each other's company and ate the pie Ericka made for dessert. After dinner, Ericka made her mother a basket with fruits, cheese, and bread for her journey to the sea. They hugged one final time.

"I'll be back in three days' time," Gothel said. "I love you, dear."

"I love you more," replied Ericka.

And teasingly, Gothel replied back before climbing down her daughter's hair, "I love you most."

Ericka watched as her mother walked away from the tower. She stopped short of the secret entrance, turned around and waived one last time. Ericka waved back before Gothel disappeared into the shadow of the cave. As quickly as possible, Ericka put on a dark blue hooded cloak and made a small basket for herself and quickly ran to the window where Salem was again.

"Atta girl!" purred the cat, quite pleased with what Ericka had planned.

The long haired girl held the basket out to the cat and said, "Climb in."

"Oh, first class service. I don't have to climb walls, I'll let you do that," Salem said jokingly.

"There's one more thing," she said. "In the basket, Pascal," Ericka commanded to her little friend.

Pascal complied as he jumped inside the basket.

"Oh, now I have to share?" said the cat, sounding disheartened.

Ericka gave her a hard look.

Salem let out a sigh and finally gave in. "Very well."

Ericka jumped from the tower using her long hair, and her bare feet made contact with the soft grass for the first time. She ran to where the cat told her to go, feeling ecstatic about being outside for the first time. A little scared but her fears are brought down by her happiness.

Being so excited, she did not watch where she was going and almost stumbled upon a couple of large ogres. She stopped and hid behind a large boulder. She observed them for a while until they were on top of her, she tried to sneak by but accidently stepped on a stick. With a loud snap sound, one of the ogres quickly turns around and saw Ericka there. Catching her, he brought her up to his face and sniffed.

"Well, looky what we have here? A naughty longed haired chick who doesn't know when to listen to her mama," the ogre sneered.

Ericka tried to break free of the ogre's grip but couldn't. He was just too strong. Soon he started to pick at her dress and started to rip it.

"Hey! Be careful! You'll rip my dress!" as soon as she said this, the ogre ripped her dress.

His fingers moved up her squirming legs and his fingers were about to reach for her undergarment, exposing her womanhood. Ericka screamed and yelled as she knew what was happening. The ogre became horny after smelling her and knowing who she was. The ogre started to grab his large manhood and lightly stroked it in a fit of evil pleasure. Ericka was struggling harder, trying to break free of this rape. The dumb beast took both her legs in one hand each and spread them apart as he slowly lowered her closer to something she wished she never had seen.

Before the worst happened, Salem came up and used her claws to scratch the ogre's eye, causing him to cry out in pain and to drop Ericka. The ogre quickly recovered but only saw the shadow cat toying with him, getting his attention.

"Over here you stupid, horny beast," Salem shouted mockingly.

Ericka takes the opportunity to run into the dark forest where the other ogres dared not follow. Salem quickly caught up to the girl. Panting as she leaned against a scary-looking tree, she tried to catch her breath and to make sure she was okay. The bottom of her dress was ripped but she was not hurt.

"Are you okay,Ericka?" asked a concerned Salem, while Pascal peeked out in concern.

In a shaky but calm voice, Ericka answered, "Yes, I'm fine. My dress is not. He tried to rape me," she quickly said bouncing to and from the subject of rape and her dress.

"Now let's go before they get brave and follow us," the shadowed cat announced.

"But where is this hotel?" Ericka asked.

"Follow me."

Running as fast as she could, Ericka followed the shadowed cat, hoping to live her dreams in time, before her mother gets back and knows she was away. She even hoped this Count Dracula would help her. Little did she know she was going to be in for a very big surprise when she finds Hotel Transylvania.