Yet again I found myself being placed under house arrest. Apparently letting V go was the stupidest thing I’ve ever said and Jordan really meant it, as opposed to all the other times he’d told me that.  I knew my gut instinct rarely proved me wrong so wasn't going to let it go. Heading into the living room, I picked up the remote to the TV, quickly changing the channel. If there is one thing I know about the male species is that what I just did could start a mutiny.

“Oi! I was watching that!” Chris snapped, quickly making a move to grab the remote from my hand.

“My house, my rules!” I sang back smirking.

“Don’t need to be a bitch about it,” he muttered.

Sadly, it didn’t get the reaction I wanted and going through all the channels a reality show on bridezilla’s might work in my favour.

“It’s not that I don’t want her to be a bridesmaid, it’s just I can’t have her looking all fat and like that in my photos!” The rather obese bridezilla starting waving her finger at her innocent sister, causing the pair to start throwing sugared almonds at each other.

“You’re kidding, you want to watch this?” Chris asked in disbelief.

“Hell yes. I bet you five bucks the bride will sprout horns and turn into a dragon any, minute, now…” She didn’t and Chris looked at me as if I had instead. “Eh, worth a shot.”

He lasted two ad breaks before we were tied together, wrestling in the middle of my living room. I’d tucked the remote under the waistband of my jeans and I refused to let him get the advantage and pin me down. Jordan soon walked in and changed the channel via theTV, so sports were back on. It took Chris a minute to realise this and giving in, he let me go. “Ha! We win!”

“Sure about that?” I taunt, getting up they both watched me carefully. “Enjoy your game.”

Going into the hallway, someone scoring a goal had them distracted and I waited until the team went to kick again before changing the channel back – making them miss it.

“What the hell?” Jordan yelled, getting up he flicked it back.

Just as he sat down, I did it again. Three times this went on before Chris worked it out and appeared in the doorway, glaring at me. “Remote. Now!”

“This?” I held it up before putting it away again. “No.”

Then it was on. The guys tried to corner me, and in the end I was left at their mercy as they began to tickle me. My screaming caught Zane’s attention from out the front and coming in, he didn’t look impressed. “What is going on?”

“Elise is-“Jordan and Chris yelled out as I went to answer at the same time.

“They are-“

“Stop!” Zane commanded, “One at a time.”

“I was just trying to watch TV and these two idiots had to come in and ruin it. I get you all want me to stay here and not do anything stupid,” I mocked, “but how can I do that if I can’t even watch TV?”

Sure it was a total lie, and I felt guilty for abusing Zane’s trust right now, but I had shit to do.

“LIAR!” Chris declared, “Dude, she came in and took over and then-“

“It is her house CJ and don’t ever call me dude.” Zane warned, glaring at them. They went from men to little boys in seconds, not willing to stand up to him and instead stared sheepishly down at their feet. “Elise watch your reality garbage, you two outside with me.”

Sure enough, the trio went out the front and sneaking to the front door, I slowly closed the wood door behind them, locking it. Running into my room I slipped on my boots and packed a small bag with a few things I was going to need. Turning the TV volume up, I was about to go out the back door when there was knocking from the front. Shit.

I dumped my bag and ditched the boots outside the back door and ran to the front, opening it while smiling innocently. “Yes?”

“What were you doing?” Jordan demanded.

“Watching TV?”

“Why was this shut and locked?”

“It does that sometimes, the wind from the back comes through and closes it. Are you checking up on me?” I accused.

“Well, yeah. We’re not that stupid Ellie. Keep the door open.” I really didn’t like his attitude and I watched him head back over to where Zane was checking some ropes and other equipment.

I needed a plan, more than just getting them in trouble with Zane. It had be something to make them all back off and give me enough time to get away. It was nearly sunset and I’d only be able to get V moved during the night hours. The second they knew I was gone, they’d alert the warehouse and that would make things even harder.

Going out the back, I stashed my gear near the garage and looking in briefly, I found something new sitting beside my car. The black Honda was as tempting to me as a burger would have been to that bridezilla and I nearly cried seeing the keys sitting in it. I had to be imagining this, it was just too good to be true.

“Elise?” Zane called out, startling me.

I quickly left the garage and seeing the bin, slammed the lid down as he appeared around the corner.

“What are you doing?”

“Garbage. Bin. Ring any bells?” I lied.

“Oh, right. Hungry? We’re trying to work out what to do for dinner.”

I followed him back in and instantly frowned at the party that had broken out in my house. All three Van Helsings had arrived, and coming in the front Kieran, Raya and her brother joined them. Logan was talking to Chris by the front door and as I stepped inside, Jordan instantly had his arms around my shoulders.

“Thought you might enjoy some company, Zane gave these guys the night off so why not have a bit of fun?” He enthused, grinning.

I had to give it to them, it was a great plan.

Playing along, I chatted with Raya while Zane and Jordan ordered pizza. Tom kept his distance, while Drew and Nigel joined us. Vodka, whiskey and rum were bought out and catching Nigel pouring a round for us, I was quick to notice how little was put into their cups compared to mine.

‘Well played guys,’ I thought, impressed they had come up with such a great distraction. Considering they had been willing to use tranquilisers on me before, and now they were trying to get my drunk - how bad were they at keeping me in one place. How good did that make me at getting away? Either way, it wasn't going to work and now I saw my out.

It was easy to switch cups, the red plastic disposables all the same and seeing each of them react to the amount of alcohol they weren’t expecting as they went to have a drink was amusing. I challenged Nigel to a sculling competition, while he had my cup and I had his, and did the same to Drew. I made a show of hardly eating, focusing more on drinking, yet if I wasn’t switching cups, I was pouring mine out in loudly declared bathroom visits or down the kitchen sink.

Stupidly I wiped my eyes with a little soap on my hands, making them glaze over and turn a little red so by the time eight o’clock came, I was looking and acting the part of the town drunk. Annoyingly, it was Logan who started to try and settle me down, stopping with the booze and trying to give me water. I had the music cranked and wondered how long it would be until the neighbours started to complain, not that I cared. Logan kept close so to make him back off, I went to sit on Drew’s lap. Set on creating a situation, I was slurring my words slightly as I pointed my cup in the direction of Tom.

“You’re an asshole.”

“You’re a bitch.” He retorted.

“Tom, come on. You really have been acting like an asshole to her.” Drew defended.

“So?” He shrugged, sitting back comfortably at the dining table. “Ever heard of treat others how you want to be treated?”

“Have you?” I snapped.

“You think you’re so clever don’t you, capturing the big bad vampire? You got lucky!” Then it started, and I let the table argue it out. Surprisingly, they were all on my side and Tom was left on his own. It was a nice change and I actually regretted my own plan as it was bound to turn them against me again.

So I concentrated on my cup, pretending not to listen as I swayed slightly to emphasize my drunken state. Raya on the other hand wasn’t faking it when she started giggling and then fell off her chair. 

“You really are an asshole Tom!” She kept giggling and Kieran looked completely confused, sniffing her cup to find it had more rum than cola in there. “You talk all this shit, but have you ever thought about Elise’s feelings? You’re mean! “

“My feelings?” I join back in and wave it off like it was nothing, “don’t worry about them Ray, no one else does!”

Instantly Jordan reacts to that. “Ellie, you know that’s not true! We worry about you all the time and-“

“Save it.” I slur. Standing up, Drew helps steady myself before I take a few steps towards Logan. “I’m like, bi-polar, aren’t I Logey? So it doesn’t matter what my feelings are.”

Everyone goes silent for a second, and Logan narrows his eyes at me unimpressed. When he speaks, I wish he hadn't as his voice is flat and void of any kind of emotion. “Hot and cold Bunny.”

“You’re a jerk.” I poke him hard in the chest and when I go to walk away, I actually do stumble and manage to spill the last of the cola in my cup all over my shirt. Of course Logan catches me before I fall on my ass completely.

“You’re drunk.” He practically whispers, and I hate being this close to him – more so out of fear he’ll work out I’m faking it, not because I can't stop myself from enjoying him holding me.

So I do the most natural, drunken thing I could do at a time like this. I shove him away, start crying and run into my room – locking the door. I keep making sobbing sounds as I strip and change, telling everyone to leave me alone and that I hate them all. After a few tries, they do as I ask and as the music is lowered, I can hear Raya giggling while outside my door, Zane and Logan can faintly be heard arguing in hushed whispers. Zane thinks I shouldn't be left alone and Logan reckons you can't talk logically to me when I'm drunk. What ever.

With everyone distracted, I slide open my window. I’m glad I had already moved the coverings so I don’t have to make any extra noise, especially with those two so close. Once outside, I keep to the dark patches of my yard to get around to the garage. I hope the sorry note I left my bed is enough and putting my boots on, I grab my bag and wheel the rather sporty looking motorbike out via the side access, avoiding the need to open the actual garage.

I make it out to the front and once I’m a couple of houses down, get on and start it up. It had been too long since I’ve rode one of these and now I’m ready to party.

-x-

 Judging by the calm and quiet appearance of the warehouse, I hadn’t been discovered as missing yet. Then again, I wasn’t going to risk that. Parking behind some rejected wooden pallets, I didn’t really have much of a plan. It was ten o’clock so I had still had a few hours of darkness on my side and keeping low, ran along the length of the building towards the door. I did like the idea that I could just walk in and go straight to V in his cell, but that wouldn't be realistic. If I could get inside though, I would be able to get some clue as to what was going on.

I slowly twisted the knob only to find it locked, and it was then I noticed the pin panel by the door. I had never seen it get used before, but it made sense. Anyone might just try and come in here, so it wasn’t like it would be left unlocked. Looking up, the broken windows and abandoned appearance didn’t transfer over inside, so I didn’t like my chances in getting in that way. Sighing, I looked around the area usually used for parking and remembered the slab of concrete that had lifted. The dark made it impossible to see much, but it did give me an advantage in seeing the headlights of a car coming in the distance.

I ran back over to the bike and waited, praying for them to lift the underground access and someone up there must like me, as that was what happened. Danielle was driving a rather sleek red Porsche so clearly with V locked away, everyone was taking it easy or maybe she was too good to sleep here like the others. As soon as the door began to close I ran over and quickly hid amongst the cars already parked down there. I was in, but now what?

“If the girl was here Zane, the sensors outside would alert us to her breaking in and if she did just come in, we'll detain her. There is no way she’d be able to get across town yet anyway and I don't know why her going missing again is such a big deal to you.” I guess my escape had been discovered. “I don’t care, I’m continuing with my plans. Pack up has begun and my team will be returning to base in twenty-one hundred hours with the vampire in our custody.”

That’s what she thought.

I waited for the door inside to be shut before creeping out and going over. Climbing up the stairs, the door was locked and banging my head against, it I figured things were too easy. Breaking it down wasn’t really an option so I went back to hide. If Zane knew I was gone, it was only a matter of time before they all came here, and I didn’t want to be around for that. They mustn't have told Danielle about my intentions either otherwise I don't think she'd be so quick to dismiss my disapperaing act.

Finding a new hiding place, I tried to work out a more feasible plan and doing a once over of the garage, found no other ways out. I was screwed. Unless someone unlocked that door or decided to leave, I was trapped. Minutes ticked by, I had to think of something and it soon occurred to me, that Danielle never locked her car and going over to it, held my breath as I opened the door.

“Jackpot!” I whispered, not only didn’t she lock it, she left the keys in the ignition. What the hell was wrong with these people to keep doing that?

Looking through the console and glove compartment, I pulled out a bunch of different swipe cards and tucked them in my back pocket and helped myself to a mint before seeing what else she had stashed away in here.

“What are you doing?” Ailin asked from the backseat and spinning around, she looked more amused than anything else.

“Mint?” I held out the bag and she shook her head.

“Hunter.” She warned. Having been with Zane and Jordan, she knew all about my reasons as to why I was here.

“Hypothetically, if I was to say that I was going through with my plan to get V out would you turn me in?”

“I wouldn’t approve of it, but I’m sure you have your reasons. Hypothetical ones of course?” Was that sarcasm she was using right now?

“Of course. You wouldn’t happen to know of someone who has the ability of time travel, you know able to appear here and there in a puff of black smoke?” I asked hopefully.

“You want, me, to assist you?”

“Hypothetically?” I mumbled weakly, yet I realised it was the most fool proof way of getting in and out.

Her hand grabbed mine and the familiar wave of dizziness had me closing my eyes and I had to take a few deep breaths before I could focus properly again. Looking around, I was outside of V’s cell and Ailin was nowhere to be seen.

So far so good.

Looking inside, he was curled up under the window and even for a vampire he looked pale. New wounds covered his bare chest and knocking on the door, he didn’t move. Well that wasn’t going to make things easy.

I went down the corridor and checked to find the room empty. Going in, I looked over the computers and realised they were monitors for the camera’s set up all around down here and for the cell. Zane must have turned them off before and after a few clicks here and there, I managed to do the same. Spying a fridge in the corner, I opened it to find small glass milk bottles full of blood and as yuck as it was, V was going to need these.

Going in, he still didn’t move and I hesitantly put down the bottles before leaving the room, just in case. It took a couple of minutes we didn’t have for him to stir and with a growl he knocked over a couple of them before throwing one across the room.

“Fuck. Off.” His voice was weak and croaky, a clear sign of his current state.

As I slowly opened the door, he looked up and a tiny smile appeared on his face. “You actually came to get me out?”

“Not hungry?” I looked at the mess he made and he laughed.

“Famished, but not for that Hunter.” Licking his cracked lips, he used the wall as support to stand and using the last of his strength, decided to try charging at me. While I was ready, it didn’t matter and he went flying across the room and landed with a sickening thud. Looking behind me, Ailin was back in demon form.

“Thanks.” I offered, and she only nodded, throwing me another IV bag. “Not your kind of blood type?”

“It’s drugged,” He groaned, and throwing him the pouch, he sniffed it before ripping in.

“You’re welcome!” I prompted.

“When we get out, I’ll thank you!” He retorted, licking away the blood that now ran down his chin.

“You of little faith!” Though, he had a point. Getting in was easy, getting out might be an issue.

“Hunter.” Ailin growled and turning, she held out her hand. It was one thing helping me in, but to help me leave as well seemed a little too much. Why couldn’t I always have this kind of luck?

“Come on vampire! Try to bite me again and I will dust you.” V hesitantly came over, studying Ailin closely before finally taking my hand. Closing my eyes, I braced myself for the rush and as the feeling disappeared, found her gone, again. We were back outside by the bike and I quickly got on it. V simply stood there. “You wanna walk or get on?”

“I forgot what that is like!” He groaned, stumbling as he struggled to get his leg over the side. The second I felt his weight behind me, I kicked off and we left the warehouse. Where we were going, I wasn’t sure, but now I had a weak, hungry, half naked vampire to take into consideration, as well as a nearly empty tank of fuel. On top of that, we were nearing midnight, which meant I’d soon need to find somewhere to stash the vamp away from the sun and I’d have Zane’s team as well as my friends and Danielle’s team out looking for us.

Keeping to the outskirts of the city, I remembered the supply shop and I pulled up outside the back entrance. Taking out silver handcuffs from my bag, V was too weak to protest as I put them on, yet the look he gave me was murderous as the silver burned into his flesh. “Not taking chances V, deal with it.”

Knocking on the door, it didn’t take long for the same guy as before to open up and I shoved V in first.

“Ignore him, big night.” I smiled at the guy, going over to the clothing section. “Can we use your bathroom?”

“Yeah, it’s just in the back.” Owen pointed out and I ripped off the tags to the stuff I was getting for V.

“Thanks, can you charge me for this?” I handed the barcodes over and he nodded, going over the cash register. “Oh and call anyone?” Pulling out one of the smaller pistols I’d brought here in my last visit, I twirled it around before tucking it behind my back.  The message was obvious and he only nodded, looking a little fearful.

“Was that necessary?” V whispered as I practically dragged him into the bathroom.

“Want to be stuck in here when everyone finds out where we are?”

“Could be worse, this is a weapons supply store.” Ignoring that comment, I shoved him down to sit on the toilet and went over the sink, grabbing some of the paper towel. Wetting it, I started to clean up some of the wounds and dried blood. "Why are you doing this?"

"You offered me a deal, I took it." As long as he held up his end by telling me everything, we wouldn't have any issues with each other.

"No, this." His hand grabbed my wrist and looking at him, the green of his eyes looked faded into a greyish blue, and with his unshaven appearance, I had to admit Francis chose a handsome vampire to fall in love with. Well, a Slayer turned vampire.

It was obvious what he was trying to, and I can't believe he was stupid, or desperate enough to try and use his compulsion on me.

"You look a mess and I don't want any extra attention coming our way. Oh and you can quit trying to doing your little brain washing thing too!" I purposefully pressed hard against on of the cuts making his hiss in pain.

"I was curious to see if it would work, can't blame me for trying." He admitted after the pain subsided.

"You were a Slayer, you know that shit doesn't work on us!" My patience was running thin with him already.

"But it did work on you once, you probably don't remember your little hero friend doing it." 

 I had him up and slammed into the wall beside the toilet in seconds, knowing what he was getting at. "Don't you dare. Do you really want to push me into killing you now?"

"Temper, temper!" He taunted, and for added emphasize I twisted his arm, "You and I are quite alike Hunter."

"We are nothing alike!" 

"If you say so." He stopped struggling and eventually I let him go. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing darling girl, you live, you love, you lose."

"Stop calling me that."

He smirked, but said nothing else and after a few minutes of silence, for what ever reason, I kept cleaning him up.

V closed his eyes and I wasn’t sure if he was falling asleep or passing out, just like how he hadn't exactly fought back either. Once I was done, I slapped his cheek to wake him up and he instantly went on the defence, his face changing with a snarl.

“Get dressed.” I ordered, not bothered by his vamp face.

“How?” He held up his wrists, instantly calming down.

I unlocked one of the cuffs, and waited outside the door, giving him a moment of privacy.

“Is that all for this evening?” Owen asked with a yawn and heading over to the counter, looked through the variety of bullets they had on offer.

“Yeah, just the clothes.” I was about to sign the receipt when looking a little more, human, V came out dressed ready for combat.

The first thing he did was pick up a machete, “She’ll have one of these too.”

“No I-“

“Yes!” Something about the way he said it, had me sighing and adding it to my order. I was done arguing and besides, it would make beheading him that much easier when he pissed me off.

Going outside, I grabbed my bag and going with the theme of the night, left the bikes key in it and started walking; new machete and all.

“Why aren’t we on that?” V soon asked.

“Not my bike and it probably has a tracker on it.”

“So apart from a demon, you had no help getting me out?” He asked, his steps still slow and he looked exhausted.

“Like I need help when I have her,” I stopped and looked around. It was a pretty isolated part of the city. “We need to get away from here.”

“Well Hunter, this is your plan!” V taunted, discreetly trying to get off the remaining cuff with no luck.

“I don’t really have a plan, I don’t exactly work like that. Either way, your fucking life is in the balance. Piss me off, you die, don’t help me and get captured again, you die. Notice a trend here?” I glare at him.

“Charming creature aren’t you?” He mutters, looking around before sniffing.

Then he started to run.

“Seriously? Did you miss the part about how pissing me off ends with you dying?” I called out and then started running after him.

Despite his weak state, the jerk suddenly found some speed and he went towards the industrial area, almost where I had found the warehouse with Kieran, Raya and that Tracker in. Rather than keep going that way though, he soon turned into an alley and I was able to catch up. 

“That wasn’t - what is that smell?” I instantly covered my nose and mouth my hand. It was like off meat, urine and general garbage decided to throw a party and then die at it.

“That is dinner.” V answered, not hiding his own disgust.

Kicking away a cardboard box, the street light offered enough light to see the old man slumped against the side of a dumpster. All around him empty bottles of beer were now neglected and the dark gash on his forehead was hard to miss. He had no shoes or socks and seeing the broken beer bottle, looking a little closer to see blood on the glass. He clearly went down fighting.

“What do you-“I froze in horror as V lifted him by the shirt and checked his pulse. “Oh, you’re not going to-“

Again I was at a loss of words as the man’s head was jerked to the side and V found himself ‘dinner’. Being what I am, I should have stopped him from preying on the innocent, but I couldn’t think that far ahead and by the time I managed to gain some control of my body back, the man was dropped back against the dumpster.

“Think of it this way darling girl, better him than you or even your little friend at that shop!” V turned to face me, his fangs still stained red.

He did have a point, and this man was close to death. Walking over, I snapped the other cuff on his wrist. “Run off again, I’ll shoot you before can go a meter.”

He hissed in agony as again the silver cut into his flesh and using the chain between his wrists, pulled him back out onto the street. Our little snack stop had cost us time and with no one around at this time of night, I regretted ditching the bike.

“I don’t doubt it. Learnt my lesson with that!” He walked at my side as we kept going. “Got a plan yet Hunter?” V taunted instead.

“No, but how about you inspire me to come up with one by starting to tell me everything you know.” It was the reason why I got him out, so time for him to keep his end of the deal.

“Where do you want me to begin?”

“You said Selene was just their pawn, you know, with the other vampires. What did they gain by that fiasco?”

“Well, each of their attempts at opening the portal let out something of importance. No one would help a couple of old vampires, not the fae or even the witches. Apparently dogs are more trustworthy than us as they were easily brought to assist her.”

“What were they getting out?” Dread filled my stomach, not sure if I wanted to know.

“Everything no one would want to be released. I did like the rumour that I could cure vampirism. It was used a couple of times in different area’s too, to get some of the others out.” He chuckled.

“Who are the others?”

“Oh you know, the usual suspects.”

“No I don’t, which is why we’re talking now.” I stopped walking, tempted to beat it out of him.

“Um, well, Dracula for starters!” He turned, looking at me cautiously.

“Dracula?” I repeated doubtfully, making him nod quickly. “Oh that changes everything!”

“I know!” He agreed, nodding again. He clearly missed my sarcasm.

“No you don’t.” 

“What?” Now V looked like he was about to run again.

“You don’t’ know at all. That’s why they’re ‘the others’ or ‘the usuals’. Oh V, this is sad and I almost feel sorry for you!” I pulled out the gun and his confidence really was gone now.

“I do know, I just don’t want to tell you!” His voice went higher, like Jordan’s when he lied. God knows how old and he was still as easy to read as a book.

“You have until the count of three.” I raised my hand so he was looking right down the barrel. “One.”

“You’re bluffing.” He stuttered.

“Two.”

“I won’t be intimidated Hunter. If you were going to shoot, you would’ve by now!”

“Three, goodbye Vaaron.”

Pulling the trigger, he cowered away yelling, “Okay!”

“Okay?” I repeated coyly, getting out the round from my pocket to load back into the gun. Next time I wouldn’t be bluffing.

“You’re right. I don’t know who they are, but I know one of the creatures is Vlad, well Dracula because he was the one who told me to keep you and your kind busy.” V admitted.

“So, you’re the new Selene?” There was no hiding my amusement with this.

“It would appear so.”

Then I laughed to the point where I had to stop because the pain in my side was too much. Wiping away tears, V looked ready to kill me, but nothing about him was intimidating anymore.

“So why all the, I’ll tell you what you want to know crap when you don’t actually know anything?”

“I had planned on either killing or escaping you by now Hunter.” He answered coldly. “I told you I wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating you again, but I have.”

I decided to take that as a compliment.

“What’s to say I won’t kill you now I know you’re useless to me?” I taunted.

“You just got me out of those Slayers custody, practically gave me a sponge bath in that bathroom, let me feed and didn't shoot me - again. You're not going to kill me, I was right about you being different. Besides, how will you find my dear vamp friend? Not so useless now am I?”

“Touché.” He did have a point and we kept walking. “So, the bounty thing. You or them?”

“That was I.” V sighed, taking a step to the side so he was out reach of my coming slap.

“Asshole. End it!”

“Not so easy to do, demons aren’t easily controlled once they have an idea in their tiny minds.”

Well that was comforting, but it had been a demon that told me about it and he had mentioned some of the plans the vampires had. I was wasting time with V; I needed some demons.

“There is a cemetery not far from here. It might be a good idea to hide out and start again tomorrow night. No one ever thinks to look in those places.”

“Of course-“I paused. I rarely ever went into cemeteries yet it’s a place humans flock to for a glimpse of the supernatural. Shame it didn’t actually work that way, but he had a point. Zane or any of the others wouldn’t consider looking at one. “- we don’t. Good idea!”

 Now we had direction, we walked a little faster and made it with some time to spare. Going through the rows of tombstones and memorials, the air seemed to have a chill to it that had been missing so far tonight. The wind had the old oak trees creaking, while smaller rose bushes rustled as if gremlins were running around us. Twice I jumped at a shadow of movement out of the corner of my eye and I knew it was only my imagination getting the better of me.

“Not scared are you Hunter?” V taunted, guiding us down to an older area where tombs took over from gravestones.

“No, but are these places always so creepy?”

“There are hundreds of bodies in various stages of decomposition below us, not creepy at all.” Oh so now he has a sense of humor.

I used my phone as a torch and finally we stopped at one of the nicer crypts. The limestone was silver under the moonlight and the angel on the roof, glared down from above. It did nothing to calm my nerves, and feeling around the left column, V found something that had the door sliding open.

“Wait here, I’ll make sure it’s not already being used.” He winked, and rolling my eyes, followed him inside anyway.

Going to the back wall, V felt around again and from the centre of the room, the floor slid open to reveal a very narrow staircase down. Only adding to the atmosphere, a spark flew along the wall and lit up a row of candles to light the way down.

Tombs don’t do that, unless we’re in some kind of Mummy’s Revenge movie and I'm not seeing Brendan Fraser running around the place. If he expected me to go down there with him – he is delusional.

“What is this place, really?” I demanded.

“You have your safe houses, I have mine.” He quipped, shuffling around by the wall again and pulling out a stick, he went outside.

Not wanting to stay alone in there, that familiar sense of dread returned, making me follow him back out. “What are you doing?”

The second he rammed the stick in the grass in front of the nearest tombstone, the earth seemed to tremble like there was an earthquake and smirking he turned back to me. “Keeping you busy.”

“What?” Instantly I pulled out my gun and raising it he shook his head.

“I’d save those bullets if I was you.”

“What the fuck did you just do?” The trembling stopped and I looked around cautiously, only for him to use my distraction against me so I was left pinned against the wall of the tomb.

“Sorry about this!” He hissed, his mouth soon heading towards my neck. Mother f- and yet it never happened as instead he whispered into my ear. “We’re not alone. Someone is already down there, I'm surprised you didn't sense it. He had always planned it to be like this, so you're going to have to deal with it! I'm only warning you because of the kindness you have already shown me. There is only one way for us to get out, so when night returns, be ready.”

“What is this? Who is down there and how can I even trust you?” I snapped, still struggling to get free.

“You can’t, but you don’t have a choice. Now yell something at me so it would sound like we’re still fighting!”

Like I needed to act that out, but I wasn’t going to make this easy on him.

“Fuck. You!” Lifting my leg as if to knee him, I didn’t get it very high before he stopped me, and reaching down the side, I managed to grab the handle of the dagger in my boot. Bringing it up, I was able to stab him in the arm and with a growl, he stepped back. Smirking he glanced at the stick and then had the balls to laugh.

“Good luck.” He ran inside and chasing after him, the door shut in my face.

 Banging on it did nothing I had no idea what he used to open it in the first place. He was dead. No second chances, nothing. I hated he managed to make me prove everyone else right; not having a plan was a bad idea and he didn’t exactly give me a warning on what was happening now. Looking at the machete we’d got at the store, maybe he did.

With a huff, I went over to the stick and deciding to make sure I had enough bullets ready, I realised my bag was inside. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I noticed something on the top of the stick and looking over the engravings the symbols were unlike any I had seen before.

Pulling it out, I screamed as something had the ground shifting where it had been and looking around, the patches of earth around the tombstomes all trembled slightly – as if something was coming up.

“Oh shit!” I cursed, backing up against the tomb door again as the first, decaying hand appeared. It was soon followed by a head as all around the dead began to rise. “Zombies!”

Instantly I thought about what I put in iBob. I didn’t want an, I told you so, marking my final resting place and pulling out my phone, I went for what might be the lesser option of disgrace, even if it was  going to be more painful.

“Elise, where the-“Logan yelled down the line.

“I’m at the Pollen Street Cemetery and Houston, we have zombies!” I hung up, and rather than stand there watching the delightful event take place, the rancid smell of death and decay was enough to get me moving and I started to run towards the way we came in.

This was bad; really bad and it was all my fault.