The Vampire of Downing Street and Other Stories by Cross Amy

Author:Cross, Amy [Cross, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Dark Season Books
Published: 2017-05-04T04:00:00+00:00

Five

The house is dark and quiet. Flat on my back in bed, I stare up at the ceiling and listen to the vast, overwhelming silence. I've had plenty of sleepless nights over the past year, of course, but somehow this is different. This time it's not sorrow that's keep me awake, or fear. This time I'm awake because I feel that something very bad is about to happen.

Frank doesn't understand.

I can fix this, I know I can, but I need him to back off.

Finally I roll onto my side and grab the metal stub I've been using to carve words into my bedstead. Sometimes I worry that I'll forget my old life, so lately I've been carving the names of my family into the wood, along with certain things I remember them saying. I could just write this stuff down, of course, but the carving feels therapeutic. Plus, having the names actually engraved into the bedstead makes them feel closer somehow. They're still a part of my life.

“Rachel!” a voice hisses suddenly. “Open up!”

Turning, I see a dark shape on the other side of my window. I knew Frank would arrive eventually, although deep down I was hoping he might change his mind and leave.

Getting to my feet, I avoid the creaking floorboard as I limp over to the window. As soon as I've slid the main section open, Frank starts climbing through, carrying the two spears in his hands. He doesn't make too much noise, although after a moment he steps on the creaking board and I immediately put a finger to my lips. In truth, I was considering not letting him in at all, but I guess that would be the wrong choice. After all, I should be on his side, and I should want to kill these creatures. Not just Meanie. Both of them.

“You're doing the right thing,” I imagine Dad telling me. “You're fighting back.”

“Take this,” Frank whispers, handing me one of the spears before tapping his throat. “Remember what I told you. Get them right here.”

I nod, even though I honestly don't know if I can do something like that. I've never hurt another living creature in all my life. Maybe if I was angrier, this would be easier, but for some reason I haven't felt much anger. Just curiosity. Maybe something's wrong with me.

“Think how good you'll feel once they're dead,” he continues. “Once you know you've done the right thing. These creatures aren't your friends. They're just like the ones that murdered your family, and the ones that murdered my family, and we have to start striking back somewhere. Even if they scream as they die, you can't show them any mercy. Is that understood?”

Again, I nod.

“Have you seriously never tried to kill them before?” he asks.

“Not since the beginning,” I reply. “As soon as I realized that Friendly was going to protect me, I kind of held back a little.”

Even as those words leave my lips, I realize how pathetic I sound.

“Past mistakes don't matter,” Frank tells me.

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