Yuul found herself in a supermarket just outside of the small town she found herself in. Thankfully it wasn't too crowded inside. Yuul would've preferred to stay at her temp home until Mary and Shana got back from shopping but Shana insisted that Yuul stay with them throughout the day. Mary was looking up and down the snack cake aisle while Yuul just stood in the center, staring at the various products before her.
"Hey Yuul, what kind of snacks do you like? Sweet? Saltly?" Mary asked as she picked up some chocolate snack cakes for herself.
"Uh...is this for our stake out for tonight?" Yuul asked, picking up a couple of boxes and looked over their contents.
"What? No...well not all of it. We needed to go grocery shopping anyway. Besides finding vampires in Missouri of all places is unlikely. A lot of forest but not a lot of cover from the sun. But there could be a den somewhere in forest. Plenty of animals they can hunt at night, they wouldn't even need to set foot in town. Wouldn't need to hide who or what they are or even what they're capable of. But like I said, finding even one out here is not common. They usually like human blood more than an animals."
Are you sure we should be talking about this in such a public area?" Yuul looked over at a couple just outside of earshot from the two of them.
"Why not?" Mary shrugged, "I'm technically not a hunter and the people here have seen much stranger than a couple of pale freaks with sharp teeth."
Yuul didn't seem convinced but even still, she felt nervous about someone listening to their conversation. Even if she didn't fully know why.
Shana soon came into the aisle with a cart full of items. Several bottles of water, boxes of ingredients, toilet paper, and other items filled the cart. It was really just a normal shopping trip. "Just snack cakes? Don't you guys want chips? Something other than sweet?"
"I was getting to that but Yuul looks like she needs something to perk herself up. She always seems so low energy." Mary turned to Yuul with two boxes of snack cakes, one chocolate and one vanilla. "So which will it be Sleeping Beauty?"
Yuul narrowed her eyes at Mary before taking the vanilla cakes and dropped them into the cart. "Why are we getting snacks for a stake out?"
"There's a lot of forest to has a lot of abandoned places just outside of town. Even outside of Jefferson City. It could take us hours of exploring before we come across anything. Walking around in the summer heat can leave you feeling drained. I'm hoping we can find the creatures before the sun sets. Being in the middle of a dark forest with a vampire is not ideal."
"...And uh...how long do these stake outs usually take?"
"Could take a few minutes, or an hour...or a few nights." Mary explained, "Like I said, there's a lot of land to cover and these blood suckers can be hiding in old buildings, abandoned mines or even ghost towns."
Yuul wasn't thrilled about spending hours upon hours of walking around in a forest. Even if there were snacks. Her unenthusiasm evident on her face.
"Hey don't sweat it though. I think you need to exercise to get some energy. I mean, you were in bed for god knows how long." Mary bumped her elbow against Yuul's arm.
"I would rather stay in bed and nap. Maybe just to keep myself safe from the monsters." Yuul protested meekly.
"Nonsense!" Mary shouted loud enough for her voice to be carried to other aisles. "You should be more active Yuul. You'll never get anything done if you stay in bed all day. A nap every now and then is fine but you have to get out there and seize the day!" Mary grinned up at Yuul, dispite having just met recently she found Yuul easy to get along with. Maybe because she was so different from the people that lived in the town of Sullivan. Most of the people that lived there were mostly elders or middle aged adults with families. Respectful people for the most part however they could be very judgemental. That isn't to say that the people there hated outsiders but they were more cautious around people that didn't fit their 'mold'.
"Oh, speaking of...I'll be right back. I have to get something." Mary then ran off, leaving Yuul alone. With a sigh, Yuul looked at the various products before her. She didn't have any intention to grab anything. Especially since the cart Mary left behind was pretty much full of stuff already. Looking at the cart she couldn't help but wonder how much longer they will be at this supermarket. Although, she wasn't looking forward to the stake out they would go on after this either. Being bored at a supermarket in a town she didn't know or hiking in a humid forest somewhere exhausting herself. Both options were not things she wanted to do.
"Excuse me!" a heavy set man in a police uniform called out to Yuul as he walked into the aisle. "Do you happen to be Yuul B. Alwright?"
"Uh..." Yuul was a little taken aback by the sudden appearence of a cop. "I mean...yes. Is there a problem?"
"Oh no! No problem at all. I was just wondering if I could ask you a few questions?"
"Ok...sure?" Yuul was starting to feel anxious now, why was this police officer questioning her.
"Perfect! Let's head down to the station." The man pointed his thumb out of the aisle.
"Um...I'd feel more comfortable here. I'm waiting on a friend."
"Well you can give your friend a call after we're done."
"Uh, no...I think I'll wait for my friend..."
The policeman was clearly displeased with this turn of events, with a sigh he stepped closer and quickly grabbed onto Yuul's arm. His grip was iron tight, even though Yuul wasn't physically strong, struggling didn't seem to budge his arm at all. Like his hand clamped onto her arm as tight as it can be. "This could've been easy..." He muttered as he pulled Yuul effortlessly.
"Wh-What did I do?!"
"Shut up and come with me!" He spat as he quickly turned to Yuul. As he turned back toward the direction he was walking, his face was met with a can of beans. The metal can connected with his temple and exploded, spilling beans all over the man's face as he stumbled back. His grip loosening around Yuul's arm. Holding onto the destroyed can in her hand, Mary looked over at Yuul.
"You ok?" Mary said as she dropped the can onto the tile floor.
"Yea...this officer was acting weird though."
"That's no ordinary cop...his blood feels...funky..." Mary stated, eyeing the unknown man before them. "That is a ghoul."
The man was only slightly bruised from Mary's attack as he wiped the beans the poured against half of his face. Frowning at Mary. "Yea, that's right girl. This would've been easy if you would've come without being difficult!" He growled at Yuul.
"So Yuul...I'm going to need your help with this guy.I can't use my magic against him." Mary chuckled at Yuul, it was obvious that Mary didn't take the enemy seriously even if she was at a disadvantage. Before either of them could do anything the ghoul, jumped toward the ceiling. The man hopped behind the large shelves that towered over Yuul and Mary. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the shelves slowly began tipping over. Items feeling over and smashing against the hard floor. Thinking fast, Mary grabbed Yuul's arm and pulled her out of the aisle. They were near the end making it easy to escape the trap. Even if being crushed under the weight of several hundred products didn't kill them, they would've been trapped underneath. Loud crashing sounded out throughout the store, earning a few glances over in their direction. Mary still held on to Yuul as she ran toward the clothing department.
"This ghoul is surprisingly very open about his abilities..." Mary commented, pushing Yuul into a circular rack of clothes then going in after her. The cramped space left little room between the two. "You ok Yuul?"
Yuul however was panting heavily. Not only was she almost crushed but she had to run on top of it. "Yea...I think so."
"So...listen. This ghoul could be a problem. I don't know if I can use blood magic against him. At least not my kind...but we don't really have to kill him, just knock him out or something."
"Shouldn't we leave...?"
"Why? If we capture this ghoul we can have him spill the beans. We wouldn't have to waste out time with a stakeout."
"Oh!" Yuul perked up, "Then what's the plan?"
"...I was hoping you could come up with one."
While the two of them hid they could hear footsteps coming their way. They were fast, inhumanly so. The ghoul was searching for them. The small clothes rack wasn't going to protect them for long.
"Tell you what, let's wing it. I'll distract, you find a way to put this guy to sleep or trap him or something."
"What!? But I never-" Before Yuul could finish, Mary was already moving out.
"Good luck partner!" Mary jumped out of the hiding spot and was ready to fight the ghoul. Leaving Yuul all alone surrounded by large overpriced jackets. Still hidden, Yuul moved around to look at her surroundings. It would be...near impossible to find a weapon in the clothing section. However, Yuul did spot the tool section. The down side is it was quite a distance away. She would have to expose herself. There were no hiding spots between here and there. Either way, this was the best course of action. Yuul looked back to see Mary was taunting the ghoul, the ghoul becoming more frantic in his movements. If Yuul was going to make a move it would be now. Yuul carefully but quickly left her hiding spot and moved toward the tools. Even when Yuul was being as quiet as she could, the ghoul's senses were heightened. His ears perking up then his head snapping toward her direction. It took Yuul all of her willpower not to freeze in fear. Instead, she ran faster. The ghoul targeted Yuul, his legs kicking off the ground and shot himself toward her. He would've made the distance in a second if not for Mary. Throwing a metal piece from one of the many racks, making sure to sharpen the edge with her blood magic. The make shift javelin striking the feral man in his chest. Not killing him, but pinning him down to the floor.
"Hey, focus on me big boy." Mary taunted again, the ghoul pulled himself up. The metal stuck in his torso as he turned back toward Mary.
Yuul had made it to her goal, taking a moment to catch her breath. Looking around for something that can at least be used as a weapon. Yuul had to hurry, unsure how long Mary can hold out against the monster.
For what felt like hours, Mary was on the defensive. Dodging the ghoul's attacks, only counter attacking to keep his attention on her. However, this was also angering him. His attacks becoming more and more feral. The ghoul crawled as he tackled Mary when she moved in for a counter. Pinning her down with his larger frame. Pulling the metal object from his chest, he used it to impale Mary. Mary coughed up blood as it pierced her lung. A cruel smile creeping onto his face as he finally landed a fatal hit on her.
Yuul with axe in hand, watched in shock at what was happening. Even from a distance, Yuul could tell that he wasn't done with her quite yet. The grin on his expression excuded sadism. Yuul gulped down her fear moving in close but making sure to distract the man long enough to land a hit. Pulling out a wench from her pocket, Yuul tiptoed closer before throwing the wrench onto the tile floor far away from her. The noise echoing throughout the store. The man's head craned toward the source of the noise, with this small moment. Yuul dashed in from behind and swung the axe as hard as she can. Embedding it into the man's skull. The ghoul finally fell over. Yuul watched to make sure the ghoul wasn't getting back up before checking on Mary.
"Mary!" Yuul called out, watching Mary gasping for air. Blood pooling onto the floor. This didn't seem like Mary could survive this.
Hearing a shuffling behind her, Yuul looked back to see the ghoul stand back up. Half of his body covered in blood, even with an axe in his brain he had a look of explosive anger on his face. Panting heavily as he walked toward Yuul. Lifting his clawed hand above his head, ready to bring it down on his prey. Before he could however...his body stiffened once again. Then fell forward.
"Are you ok Yuul?" Shana stood walked up from behind Yuul, calm despite the the scene around them.
"Yea..." Yuul breathed a sigh of relief, however there was a hint of sadness in her voice, "Uh...Shana...Mary is..."
Shana looked over at Mary and saw the state she was in...but didn't seem bothered by it at all. "Are you just trying to scare Yuul? Get up and help me carry this guy."
Mary then leaned up, gasping and coughing as she began pulling on the metal that was stuck in her chest. Much to the shock of Yuul. Eventually, the metal piece was freed but Mary was pretty much covered in blood. "Hey...*cough* I was stabbed with this thing...it went through my lung...alright? Not fun..." Mary spoke as she wheezed every so often, then standing on her feet as if nothing had happened.
Yuul was left there, contempling how she got into this position in the first place and who exactly were Shana and Mary. Questions upon questions.
"I really need a nap..."
