Home Random Page


CATEGORIES:

BiologyChemistryConstructionCultureEcologyEconomyElectronicsFinanceGeographyHistoryInformaticsLawMathematicsMechanicsMedicineOtherPedagogyPhilosophyPhysicsPolicyPsychologySociologySportTourism






CHAPTER 18 PIZZA FOR A VAMPIRE

Billy leaned over his friend—and gasped again. It—it isn’t Jay!”

“I recognize him,” Kylie said weakly, her hands still pressed tightly against her cheeks. “Don’t you remember? He’s the guy April went off with earlier tonight.”

“Yes—Rick,” Billy remembered.

He leaned over the body. Brushed swarming sand flies off the boy’s face.

His eyes stopped at the throat.

At the two puncture wounds in the neck. A tiny drop of blood clung to each hole.

Rick’s face was as white as flour.

He’s been drained, Billy realized. Completely drained.

“This is so . . . awful,” Kylie moaned.

“And what about April? Where is she? Do you think something has happened to her?”

Billy couldn’t take his eyes off the twin red puncture marks.

No, he thought. Nothing has happened to April. Nothing has happened to that vampire.

Not yet.

• • • • •

 

The next night Billy met his friends at the Pizza Cove. Everyone was there—Nate, Jay, Irene, Kylie, and April—sitting at two tables pulled together.

“After we found Rick’s body, Billy called the police from a pay phone on Main Street,” Kylie explained. “I was really freaked out. I couldn’t even talk. But he was great.”

Yeah, great, Billy thought glumly. And I was questioned for more than an hour. It’s a good thing Kylie was there to back up my story. That’s the second murder I’ve been involved in. The second one . . .

Billy studied his friends’ faces as Kylie told them about Rick Tyler. Jay seemed even more tired than last night. He sat beside April, staring at the others with bloodshot eyes.

He can hardly hold his head up, Billy thought. This is really bad news.

Billy studied Jay’s neck. He didn’t see any bite marks. But he was sure they were there.

Billy shifted his gaze to April. How many sips has she taken? he wondered. Three sips, and Jay becomes a vampire. How close is he?

April shredded her paper napkin, tearing off little pieces and putting them in a pile. Her hands shook.

She seems really upset, Billy thought.

But he knew she was acting.

“I can’t believe I was the last person to see Rick alive,” April said tearfully.

Jay offered her a slice of pizza.

“I can’t eat,” she declared, shaking her head. “I’m too upset.”

Of course she can’t eat, Billy thought. Vampires can’t eat food.

He studied April’s face. Her smooth white cheeks. Not a trace of a tan. She had never been out in the sun, he knew. If she saw sunlight, she would die.

Nate sighed. “You know, all I want is to have a great summer,” he said. “But nobody is having fun. There are police all over the beach and the town. Everyone is so upset about the two murders. I even heard someone else say vampires are the killers!”

“I’m really sick of hearing about vampires,” Irene declared.

“It’s so stupid,” Kylie agreed. “Everyone knows there is no such thing. I can’t believe people are so superstitious.”

“They’re real,” Billy told her. He kept his eyes on April. “Don’t let anybody tell you they’re not.”

April glanced at him, her expression blank, as if she wasn’t interested in what he was saying. What a great actress, Billy thought. She should be the star of the play.



“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Irene asked.

“Yes, he does,” Jay chimed in. “Billy has been talking about vampires ever since we got here!”

Nate and Irene laughed.

Billy felt a hot ball of anger growing in his chest. He forced himself to stay calm. Ignore them, he told himself. Don’t get into an argument about it.

Irene took Nate’s arm and pulled him out of his chair. “You promised to take me dancing,” she told him.

“I’m a total klutz,” Nate protested.

“No problem,” Irene informed him. “I’ll show you everything you need to know.”

Nate shrugged. “Anyone else want to come?”

They all shook their heads.

After Nate and Irene left, Billy turned his attention back to April. He studied her as she joked and flirted with Jay. She was pretty cute, with straight blond hair and beautiful emerald eyes.

She’s a vampire, he reminded himself.

Not a cute girl. Not a nice girl.

A vampire.

“Have some pizza,” Billy said. He shoved a slice of pizza in April’s face.

She reacted with disgust.

He knew she would.

“No thanks,” she said, waving it away. “I can’t eat. Really.”

“No. Try it,” Billy insisted. He shoved it under her nose again. “It’s really excellent.” He wanted to make her squirm.

“No. Really,” April said sharply, pulling her head back.

“Just a taste,” Billy insisted.

“Give her a break, man,” Jay cut in. “What’s your problem, anyway?”

Billy slowly lowered the pizza slice to the plate. He kept his eyes on April.

She knows that I know, he realized.

She knows that I know the truth about her. She’s probably thinking about how she can shut me up.

Billy felt a chill of fear. I’m in danger now, he told himself. Real danger. But not if I act first.

 

 



Date: 2015-04-20; view: 552


<== previous page | next page ==>
CHAPTER 16 ROMANCE | CHAPTER 19 VAMPIRES EVERYWHERE
doclecture.net - lectures - 2014-2024 year. Copyright infringement or personal data (0.012 sec.)