The Dowellton Shadows

It was a warm summer day in the shady little town of Dowellton. Many trees hung over every house. There was one house in particular that had the most shade in the entire town, and in it was a family of four. The usual mother, father, son and daughter. My family is kind of abnormal. I live with my father in a small shack of a house. My name is Katrina Turton.

It was a typical day, for my summer vacation routine. My best friend Kari and I met at the park nearly every day, then we'd walk to the store and buy coffee. I opened my window to let in the fresh air. It was nice, but smelled moist. I supposed it rained last night which was good, because my marigolds were dying. I was beginning to think about planting a few more when dad started yelling,

"Katrina Marie!!"

I shuddered at the sound of my middle name, but answered anyways,

" What do you want now? I was thinking!"

"Get yourself down here before I drag you down!"

Afraid of what was to come next, I just did as I was told as quick as could. When I got there he was holding an envelope and a piece of paper. After shoving it into my hands, I cringed as he yelled.

"Are those your grades? Two F's?? TWO? What's your excuse this time?? Your teachers out to get you again? They hate you so bad they want you to fail?"

He did this every time the reports came. I drop in one or two classes, and it throws him for a grand loop. He always acts like the world's going to end, because I'm the smartest kid in the world.

" In science I don't do the vocab, and in history, I can't remember the homework. I gotta go meet Kari. It's almost one."

He tried stopping me as I ran out the door, but I just kept going.

When I got finally got to the park, Kari was already waiting for me by the pavilion, where we always sit.

"Hey Kar. What's up? I need my coffee bad today. Dad got mid-grades today."

She laughed sarcastically and said.

" Yeah, so did mine. We have the best grades ever!"

She flung her arms up for fake enthusiasm, and we cracked up as we got to the store. We bought our coffee, as usual, and went back to the pavilion to sit. Then Kari started saying.

"I was on the computer last night with Ben. You know, Ben Edwards?"

My eyes shot open at the mention of his name. He was 'The Son of the Shady House' as we call him. She had my attention, and I was interested, so I shook my head for her to continue.

"Well I was talking to him on IM, and he sent me this link for a site. He was goin insane with laughter. It was really kind of creepy. "

She pulled 2 pieces of paper out of her pocket and handed them to me. It was a picture of the Edwards's house, and a weird article of how that was supposed to be the house of a family of vampires. I love vampires, so naturally i read it closely and said.

"Well, this could explain alot with that kid and his sister!"

We both laughed and started walking. After a while of mindless talking, Kari stopped and said.

"Finally! We're here, Kit- Kat!"

I looked at her strangely as I tried to figure out what she meant by 'Kit-Kat'.

"Kit-Kat? Since when is my name Kit-Kat? Is there some secret little prank that your not telling me about? Cause if there is I wanna know! Seriously... I hate not knowing things. It makes me mad."

She started laughing as she explained

"No, no! It's nothing like that, it's just when I was talking to Ben, he started saying something and accidentally didn't type the rest of your name, so it was K-A-T. So I said 'Hey! Let's call her Kit-Kat!' and he started laughing again and said 'yeah, sure why not?'. Alright? You get it now?"

I took a sarcastic sigh and looked at the house we stopped at. It was his! It was Ben Edward's house. I started hyperventilating. I had a huge crush on this kid for a while now. I have no idea what Kari was thinking bringing me here! My eyes were wide open at this point. I looked at her and started stammering.

"Woah, woah, woah! Uhh...What are we doing here?!? You know I can't go in there! I won't have a clue as to what to say, you know that!"

She smiled and teased

"You'll be just fine! Ben and Alicia invited us over, don't worry! Plus, I think he likes you. He was asking alot about you last night"

She smirked and started walking towards the door. I was shaking uncontrollably, out of nervousness, and finally followed. By the time I finally got to the door, and stopped shaking, Ben answered. My eyes tried to jump open, but I held back as much as I could. I couldn't believe how strangely better than the other boys he looked. His dirty blonde hair and his eyes...so strange they were. I could never tell the exact color, even now, staring into them, I can't tell. He finally said.

"Ah, finally! Kit-Kat and Kari! Hey there! Come in, don't worry bout the parents, they're out of town."

He laughed his signature mind melting laugh, and I entered. I listened closely and heard a catchy little tune from a piano somewhere. I started bouncing my fingers without knowing it, and Ben and Kari caught on. We all started laughing then Ben said.

"Yeah, that's my little sister practicing. She's so hooked on that song."

It sounded like she hit a wrong note, because she smacked the keys making a horrible noise. We all shuddered, then followed Ben to see what was up. We entered the room, and her head shot up.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know they were here! This retarded piano...the one key always sticks, so I miss it nearly every time. I just overreacted this time, I suppose. Would you like to hear the entire thing?"

Ben looked at us and we shook our heads yes. She looked much happier now, as she cracked her fingers to start over. The same song played, and we watched and listened intently. I looked over at Ben who, right now, somehow was standing right next to me. He was smiling, obviously proud of Alicia's progress. I put on a small smile as well to compliment her. This time the key didn't get stuck, so she finished beautifully. She looked at us as we clapped, and she looked happier than I'd ever seen her.

She had these big hazel eyes and shoulder length dark brown hair. Her and I were almost twins, except for the fact that her hair's straight as a bone. My hair's wavy, and i hate it. Ben looked down at me and then said.

"Kit-Kat, go stand next to my sister quick, would you? I need to see something"

Without arguement, I did as I was told. It was really strange how he noticed at the same time I did how alike we were. He started eyeballing us, compairing detail, I assumed, and then said.

"Wow, that's just plain weird. Kari, dont they look almost identical? I mean, c'mon now! Same color hair, and eyes, I suppose, and nearly the same height."

Kari started looking closer and jumped out of her skin

" Holy snap! Thats weird! You two should dress the same one day and see if anyone mistakes you for the other.

Me and Alicia started laughing at them. We both knew how alike we were long ago. We all went into the kitchen, and started drinking some cherry soda. Ben looked at us and started laughing. I looked up at him and gave him a face that said 'what's ur problem?' He just laughed harder and said in a joking tone.

"It tastes like blood. That's why we have 3 bottles of it. It's a substitute, so we dont attack you people at school!"

We all started laughing except for Alicia who was giving him a scolding or worried look...as if he said something wrong. It was at that instant that I got suspicious. She pulled him aside and was loudly whispering.

"Did you show them the site?? Tell me u didn't tell them anything!"

He got defensive quickly.

"I showed the site to Kari, and she must've printed it and showed it to Katrna! I'm sorry, I thought they'd take it as a joke, and if you don't make it obvious, they may still think it is!"

By this time they were basically yelling at each other, so we heard everything. Kari and I looked at each other and started worrying. Then I finally said.

"So, by the way you two are screaming at each other...are you really vampires?"

They looked at each other, and then finally Ben said.

"Fine, yes we are, and we can't do anything about it."

Ben looked at his sister, and the y both looked at us. Their eyes changed... I can't describe how, but they changed dramatically. Then we both saw their fangs. We turned and tried hightailing it out, but I knew we wouldn't make it. Sence I study vampires, I knew about their incredible speed, and I was right. They both were at the door before us, and they grabbed us by our shoulders. Ben had me, and Alicia had Kari. Then Ben said in a melt your mind tone.

" We're sorry we have to do this...we can't have our secret revealed...now just relax."

He smiled the most adorable smile I've ever seen in my entire life and then he wispered.

" You won't feel a thing..."

I knew what was coming next, and I was right. He sank his fangs deep into my veins. All I felt was a slight pop, and then a stinging sensation as he swiftly sucked the blood clear out of my body. It was almost as if I could feel every blood platelett being removed, but strangely it was slightly pleasureable. Then the next thing I knew I woke up shreaking with pain from the bite wound. Ben and his family was surrounding me. Then I realized I was chained to some type of bed, like in a mental house, except there was a blacklight. Kari was standing there too, apparently already thru with all her pain and screaming. Inbetween the screams I tried talking.

"Ben! Why couldn't you just let us go?!?"

I went insain at that instant with pain. I was thrashing as much as the chains would allow. My skirt ripped nearly to shreads, and my shirt turned into a tube top. When it was all over, they released me, and gave me a net top to cover my shoulders with. After that day, we moved to another shady town, because our skin shined like a thousand diamonds in the sunlight, and that was too noticable and risky for us. Now the family was Father, Mother, Son, and 3 Daughters...Kari and I were now part of the Edward family. Condemned to keep our secret forever, and to run at the first hint of knowledge...and this is how I live...now this is my life. I am not Katrina Edwards. This has been my life. Now it starts again.