Vampire's Breath

5.

I flinched and stumbled backwards. If I don't hit the wall, I think I will fall. The flashlight fell out of my hand. It clinks

hard to the floor. The voice made the old man look at us.

tion. In the trembling beam from Cara's flashlight, she blinked a few times. Then her pale little hands rubbed her eyes, as if rubbing sleepiness from her eyes.

He groans softly. And try to focus on us,

squinted his eyes and rubbed his eyes.

My heart was beating so fast that I thought it was going to explode right through my shirt. My temples were throbbing, and I let out a gasp of breath.

1-1-" Stray way. I could see his entire body trembling as he stood in front of me, training light on the old man in the coffin. "Where am I?" the old man was hoarse. He's shaking his head. He looks dazed. "Where am I? What am I doing here?" He squinted his eyes at the flashlight.

His pale and bald head shone in the light. Even his eyes were pale, like silvery. He licked his white lips. His mouth is dry, though,

the voice of "I'm so thirsty" he said with a raucous whisper. "I'm so thirsty."

He sat down slowly, with a loud groan. When I withdrew, I saw that he was wearing a robe, a delicate purple robe that was compatible with the purple coffin.

He licked his pale lips again. "Very thirsty .... And then he saw Cara and I.

He blinked again. And squinted at us. "Where

me?" he asked, looking at me sharply with that

scary, silver eyes. "What room is this?" "This is my home" I replied. But his words tun

come out with a weak whisper. "Thirst once.." he murmured again. Groaning and muttering to himself, he raised one foot on the coffin, then the other.

He slid to the floor. He did not make a sound when he landed. He looked very light, because I didn't weigh anything.

The coldness of fear froze the back of my neck. I'm trying to make a backup. But I was pushed against the wall.

I glanced at the open doorway. It seems a hundred miles away.

The old man licked his dry lips. Still squinting, he stepped towards Cara and I. He tidied his robe with both hands as he walked. "Who are you?" How to successfully choke

exiting. "How did you get here?" I cried, found my voice. "What are you doing in my basement? How did you get into that coffin?" Those questions came out of me. "Who are you?"

He stopped and scratched his bald head. For a moment, he seemed to struggle to remember who he was,

Then he replied, "I'm Count Nightwing." Him

nodding, as if reminding himself. "Yes. I'm the Count

Night wing."

Cara and I were both panting. Then we

start talking at the same time.

"How did you get here?"

"What do you want?" "Are you a vampire?"

He covered his ears with his hands. He closed his eyes. "The voice.." she lamented. "Please, speak softly. I've been asleep for so long."

"Are you a vampire?" soft ask. "Yes. A vampire. Count Nightwing." He nodded in the lead. And opened his eyes. He looked at Cara, then at me, as if looking at us for the first time. "Yessss," heed. He raised his hand and

start moving towards us. "And I'm so thirsty. Very thirsty. I've been asleep for a long time. And now I'm thirsty. And I have to drink now."

Count raised his hand and gripped the purple robe. The robe spread behind him like wings, and he flew into the air.

"It's thirsty." he muttered as he licked his dry lips. "It's so thirsty." His silvery eyes locked onto Cara, as if trying to hypnotize her and hold her in place.

I have never been so scared in my entire life. I admit. I am not easily afraid. And Cara doesn't either.

We've watched hundreds of vampire movies on TV. We laugh at them. We think the idea of a fanged man flying while drinking human blood is funny,

We were never a little afraid. But it's a movie. This is real life!

We had just witnessed this man - who called himself Count Nightwing - rise from the coffin. The coffin is practically in my basement!

And now, he stretched his hand out and he floated across the room towards us. Mumbled about how thirsty he was. Squinting weird and scary eyes down Cara's throat! I admit I'm scared. But not for

So, yeah-fear of moving. "Hi!" I flinched and grabbed Cara's hand, "Come on!" I cried. "Let's go!"

He's not flinching.

"How-yo!" I screamed, pulling it

He looked at the pale face of the vampire

He's not moving. He didn't blink. I grabbed his arm with both hands. I tried to drag him away. But he stood glued to the floor as frozen as a statue. "Very thirsty .." the old man raspy. "I am you

drink now!" "How-to get rid of that!" myrag. "Get out

I am attractive with all my strength - and interesting

he's at the door.

The moment we reached the tunnel, Cara blinked her eyes and shook her head. He let out a startled cry, pulled his arm and started running.

We both came out of the small room and passed through the curved tunnel. Our shoes clapped loudly on the hard stone floor. Noise echoed from the walls. Sounds like a thousand b

run from vampires! My legs feel soft and weak. But I put myself forward to run. We ran through the dark tunnel, following the curve of the stone wall. How to lean forward, his arms stretched out in front of him as he ran.

He gripped the flashlight tightly in one hand. The light bounces everywhere. But we don't need it. We know where we run.

Cara is a very fast runner - faster than me. -

When we turned around again, his long legs were pumped up, and he was quite far ahead of me.

I looked back.

Did the vampire follow us?

Yep.

He was close behind, floating near the ceiling, and,

his robe fluttered behind him. "How-to!" call me gasping. The yellow rectangular light began to appear

up ahead.

The door! The door to my basement! If we can get to the door, I thought.

If we can get to my basement, we can slam it

the door behind us. And trap Count Nightwing in

tunnel.

If we can get to the basement, we'll be safe.

Mom and Dad must be home by now, I decided.

Please be at home! Please! In front, a rectangle of light from the open

the doorway grew bigger. How to run fast, panting at every step. I'm a few feet behind him right now, running as fast as I can. Struggling to pursue. I'm not turning around. But I can hear the cover

the vampire robes are close behind me. How to almost reach the door.

Go, Cara, go! I figured. My chest feels like it's about to explode. But I ran harder, desperate to catch up. To reach the door. To jump into the basement for safety.

"Ohhhhh!" I screamed when I saw the rectangle

the light starts to grow smaller. "The door—has been closed

ing!" my screams. "Yetoooooo!" Cara and I both lament.

The door closed hard.

How to not stop in time. He hit the door

And bounced, stunned. I grabbed her shoulder to calm her down

"Are you okay?" He didn't answer. His eyes are closed

doorway. He grabbed the doorknob. "Freddy" he muttered. "Look!" There are no door handles! There is no button on this side

from door.

With a panicked cry, I lowered my shoulders

the wooden door and lifted my body there. Again. Nothing happened. My shoulders are throbbing in pain. But

no budging. "Help!" I'm yelling. "Someone-please! Let us out!"

Very late.

Count Nightwing got us stuck. He landed quietly, his robe down

hers. A faint smile expanded on his pale face. His silvery eyes were wide open with excitement. His tongue darted back and forth over his layered, dry lips.

"Run through it" whispered Cara in my ear. "Run back to the tunnel. Maybe we can make him chase us and make him tired."

But the vampire lifted his cloak to block our path. Can he read our minds? Holding his robe aloft, he stepped into Cara.

ady "It's thirsty.." he murmured. "It's so thirsty."

Then he lowered his face down Cara's throat.