Vampire's Breath

10.

"Oh!" I screamed when I heard the cough. Behind us. From hallway. "That's it!" i'm whispering. "It's the Count of Nights

the wings!"

"Destroy the windows!" Cara insists. "No. He'll hear us! He'll find us!" I whispered back.

I lowered the pan to the floor. And turned to study the window.

Cough again. Closer this time. "Listen" I whispered to Cara. "It was pushing out, I think." I grabbed it with both hands and pushed the dust-covered window glass. Lean into it. Driven with all my strength. Slowly, slowly, the window slid out. With a groan, I pushed it open as far as possible. A cold night wind swept through my body. I grabbed Cara's hand and started giving her a boost.

A voice behind us in the doorway made me jump. "Rurry!" i'm whispering. "He's coming!" My heart was pounding, I pushed Cara to the window. Then the two of us rushed out in panic to the ledge "Did he see us? Is he in the kitchen?" Whispering way.

"I don't know" I told him. "I didn't see. But he must be in the hall."

"If he sees us... Starting way. A gust of wind drowned the rest of his words.

The night breeze was cool and refreshing on my skin. Thick clouds drifted above the full moon, plunging us into total darkness.

We both knelt down, turned our backs to the kitchen. Curled close beside Cara, I struggled to keep my balance on the narrow ledge of the stone window.

"Let's go." I urged.

We both turned and faced the window. Then, gripping the stone ledge with both hands, we began to lower our feet against the wall, lowering ourselves to the ground. Lower more. Is lower... "Hey, I screamed when my feet wouldn't be tight. A beam of moonlight pierced through the clouds. I look down. And opened my mouth with a hoarse shout.

My feet kicked the air. My hand gripped the ledge above me. I looked down into the empty room.

Far below I could see the jagged dark rocks that glowed dimly under the moonlight.

Far below!

Miles downstairs!

"Ohhhh." I groan in fear. The castle was built on a steep rock cliff. And we're hanging on the side. Hanging on our arms. Dangled...

My arm is starting to hurt. I could feel my hand slip, losing its grip on the ledge of the stone window above me.

"How-to!" my hands scratched the dark stones on the wall, I struggled to hold on to anything!

But I fell too fast. Legs kicking. I thrashed. The wind blew towards me as if trying to push me back

going upstairs.

Is that me who howled like that? I fell too fast to hear my own screams. And then suddenly I stopped.

Stop yelling. Stop falling. A black shadow enveloped me. I felt something sharp stabbing my shoulder. The hot breath grazed the back of my neck.

I heard a loud flapping sound. Heart rate that is pounding.

Clutched within this shadow, I felt myself being pulled upwards.

I looked back - and saw two red-eye lights. A hot breath came out from his gaping mouth. This is gonna make me mad! I realized.

I was trapped inside this red-eye shadow. Trapped in his claws while taking me higher. Be taller.

And then darkness surrounded me.

s. I landed somewhere. I landed hard on my feet with a loud noise.

Darkness lifted. I opened my eyes and saw Cara. His mouth was open in amazement. "Freddy!" he choked. "Freddy-?"