“Yes.”
A creaking floorboard. Another groan.
Destiny gazed around the dark kitchen. Where’s the light switch?
“Coach Bauer?” Her voice came out tight and shrill. “Coach? Is that you?”
A scraping sound. Loud breathing.
Someone is here. Someone is very close.
It has to be Coach Bauer. Why doesn’t he answer?
“Coach? It’s us—Destiny and Livvy.”
Another muffled groan. From behind the door to the basement?
Destiny jumped as a hand grabbed her shoulder from behind. She cried out.
“Sorry,” Livvy whispered. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I…I don’t like this. Let’s get out of here.”
“Okay.”
But before she could move, Destiny heard the creak of a door. She turned and watched with growing panic as the basement door slowly, slowly swung open.
“Coach? Is that you?”
Livvy tugged her arm. “Let’s go!”
Destiny moved to the wall. She found the light switch and flicked on the kitchen lights.
“No! Oh, no!” She uttered a moan of horror as the pale, hollow-eyed figure stepped out from the basement. Clamping her hands to the sides of her face, Livvy opened her mouth in a high scream of terror.
Clinging to each other, the girls stared wide-eyed as the ghastly figure loomed closer.
“Mrs. Bauer!” Destiny shrieked. “It can’t be. You’re dead!”
“I’m not dead,” Mrs. Bauer said in a hoarse whisper. “I am undead.”
Chapter Seventeen
“He Won’t Let Me Die”
Livvy gripped Destiny’s arm so hard it hurt. Destiny gasped in horror as the woman moved toward them. Her bloodless face, the gray skin sagging over her jaw, the eyes sunken deep into the dark, round sockets, her skin peeling off, a patch of yellow bone visible beneath a hole in one cheek.
She used to be so beautiful. Mom always talked about how she wished she could look like Marjory Bauer.
“He…won’t…let…me…die.” The hoarse rasp rattled from deep in her throat. Every word seemed a struggle.
“Mrs. Bauer? Is it really you?” Livvy, hiding behind Destiny, finally found her voice.
“The poor man—he won’t…let me die. He…can’t…bear…to…part with me.” Deep in their sockets, the gray eyes rolled up till only white was showing.
“He doesn’t know how…selfish…he’s being. I…want…to…die!”
“Mrs. Bauer—please—” Destiny staggered back, stumbling over Livvy.
“I…want…to…die, but he won’t…let me!”
“Dee, look—look what she has in her hand,” Livvy whispered.
Destiny lowered her gaze. Mrs. Bauer gripped a wooden stake in her hand, shaved to a point at one end.
“The poor man,” Marjory Bauer continued. When she shook her hair, Destiny could see the skin tear at the back of her neck, a wide hole revealing gray tendons and yellow bone. “He keeps me here. But I want to die. Please? Please?” She raised the stake. She held it out to Destiny.
Destiny took another step back, into the kitchen counter. “Mrs. Bauer, what are you saying? How did this happen to you?”
“He keeps me in…the…basement,” she continued, ignoring Destiny’s questions. “He still wants me near him. But…I…can’t…stand this life. Asleep all day…no light…never seeing the light. Forced to prowl…and to feed.”
Again she raised the stake to Destiny. “Please? Please end it for me?”
“No!” Destiny cried. Her back pressed against the counter. She couldn’t escape. “No, I can’t, Mrs. Bauer.”
Destiny glanced at her sister. Her eyes were wide with terror. She had backed up to the kitchen door and was fumbling for the knob.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do it,” Destiny told the woman. “I—I just came to return Coach’s playbook. Livvy and I—we won’t tell anyone about you. I promise. We’ll keep your secret. We—”
Mrs. Bauer floated closer. She had Destiny trapped against the kitchen counter. She raised the stake one more time, and Destiny saw that the skin had fallen off her fingers, leaving only bone.
“You…won’t help me…escape…this nightmare?”
“I’m sorry. No. I can’t. Let me go. Please.”
The sunken eyes rolled up in her head again. “Jenny took my dolly when I was five. Did you know that?”
Destiny swallowed. “I—I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Livvy motioned frantically for Destiny to escape with her out the door. But Mrs. Bauer had Destiny pinned against the counter.
“Jenny took my dolly, so I had to buy a new one. I was only five. I cried and cried. I didn’t want to play with Jenny anymore.”
Oh my God. She’s completely lost her mind.
Mrs. Bauer’s eyes rolled down and locked on Destiny. “So hungry,” she murmured through her blackened lips. “Always so hungry. I must feed now. That’s why I awoke. I must…feed.”
She loomed over Destiny…so close now, Destiny could smell her rotting skin. “Thank you…for coming, dear.” Mrs. Bauer let the wooden stake drop from her hand.
“Mrs. Bauer, please. We won’t tell anyone. I swear. I—”
“Thank you for coming. I’m hungry…so hungry. I must have blood. Now.”
Her bony hands shot out fast. She caught Destiny by surprise. Destiny tried to squirm free, but the hands were strong, inhumanly strong. They wrapped around her head and tightened.
Destiny saw Mrs. Bauer’s sunken eyes go wide with excitement. She saw the curled, yellow fangs slide down from the woman’s blackened gums.
She tried to scream. She tried to pull free. But the bony hands held her in place.
Mrs. Bauer’s sunken belly made a wet, gurgling sound. Destiny felt a wave of sour breath wash over her face as the woman dipped her head—and lowered her fangs to Destiny’s throat.
Chapter Eighteen
Who Is the Restorer?
Destiny gave a final cry of protest and waited for the pain to shoot through her body. She felt Mrs. Bauer’s dry tongue scrape against her skin. And then she heard the woman let out a startled gasp.
Mrs. Bauer pulled back her head. Her eyes, sunk so deep in the hollow cavities, stared at Destiny. “You too,” she whispered.
Livvy grabbed Mrs. Bauer by the shoulders. “Let go! Let go of my sister!”
Mrs. Bauer drew back, stumbling over Livvy. She spun around and ran a bony finger along Livvy’s throat. “You too,” she whispered again. “You too. You too.”
Livvy jumped away. Feeling the spot on her throat where Mrs. Bauer had touched her, Livvy edged beside her sister. “Let’s go, Dee. Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
“You were bitten too,” Mrs. Bauer whispered. “I see the marks. And…I can…see it…in your eyes.”
Trembling, still feeling the scrape of the woman’s dry tongue on her skin, Destiny threw an arm around her sister’s waist. “Wait. Don’t run away,” she whispered. “She won’t harm us. Maybe she can help us.”
“You have until…the next full moon,” the woman rasped. “Not much time. Only a few weeks. Save yourselves. Save yourselves.”
“But—how?” Destiny cried. “What do we do?”
“Only a few weeks,” Mrs. Bauer repeated. She scratched her cheek and a chunk of skin fell off. “But…be careful. The hunters are out. The hunters…will find you.”
“So it’s true?” Destiny asked. “There are vampire hunters in Dark Springs?”
“Jenny took my dolly,” Mrs. Bauer said, her eyes rolling up into her head. “Jenny took my dolly, so I pushed her in the mud. Her Sunday School dress was ruined. Ha ha.”
“Mrs. Bauer, please,” Destiny said. “Are there really hunters?”
“Jenny gave me a lollipop, but I hit her in the face with it.”
“Can you help us?” Livvy cried. “Can you help us get back to normal?”
Mrs. Bauer moved quickly again. S
he lurched forward, grabbed Livvy’s hand, and pinched the skin hard. “You’re a lovely one. You don’t want to be like me. Undead. Ha ha. What rhymes with undead?”
Livvy winced from the pain. She swung her arm, but the woman kept the tight grip on her hand. “Well, can you help us?” Livvy choked out.
“Have you seen…the Restorer?” Mrs. Bauer asked. She let go of Livvy’s hand and turned to Destiny. “The Restorer is the one. He can…restore your life. Too late for me. He couldn’t help me. But you…may have a little time.”
Destiny’s heart began to race. Was there really someone who could save them? Someone who could keep them from becoming like Marjory Bauer?
Her heart thudded in her chest. “Who is the Restorer? How can we find him?” she asked.
“Too late for Jenny,” Mrs. Bauer said, shaking her head. “She fell off a horse and cracked her skull open. Good-bye, Jenny. I’m sorry I was so mean to you. I didn’t know you would fall off your horse, did I?”
Destiny grabbed the woman’s tattered sleeve. “Please. Tell us. How can we find the Restorer?”
“You need parental guidance. Guidance.”
“Huh? Guidance? I don’t understand,” Destiny said.
“The hunters are coming,” Mrs. Bauer replied. “They know who’s been naughty and nice. They know. They’re going to kill the naughty ones. But…they won’t kill me. My husband…won’t let them kill me. Please—kill me.”
“Mrs. Bauer—the Restorer? Tell us.”
“So hungry.”
“Please?”
“So hungry. I must feed. You too. You too. You’re one of them. You’re one of us.”
“Yes, but who is the Restorer?”
“So hungry.” Mrs. Bauer spun away from them. Destiny could see the torn skin, the gaping hole in the back of her neck. The woman pulled open the door and disappeared into the night.
Destiny held on to her sister. A heavy silence enveloped them, the only sound their rapid breathing.
“Is this really happening?” Livvy said finally.
“Let’s go.” Destiny pulled Livvy out the door. “Can you drive? I feel shaky.”
“I guess.”
Inside the car, Livvy dropped the key on the floor. She fumbled for it, then struggled to jam it into the ignition.
“Oh my God. That poor woman,” Livvy said, shuddering. “Did you see what she looked like?”
“I’ll never forget it. I’m going to have nightmares forever.” Destiny grabbed Livvy’s arm. “Look at me. I can’t stop shaking. We can’t let that happen to us, Liv. We can’t! We have to find the Restorer. There isn’t much time.”
Destiny fiddled with the dashboard dials. “Can’t we turn the heat up? I can’t stop shivering.”
“Destiny, there is no such thing as a Restorer. It was just crazy talk—like Jenny and the lollipop.”
They drove home in silence. Dr. Weller’s SUV was parked in the driveway. Through the windows, Destiny could see all the lights on in the house. Still shivering, she jogged to the back door.
Their dad greeted them at the door. In the harsh light on the porch, he looked tired, old. “I just got home a few minutes ago,” he said softly. “There are some people here to see you.”
Destiny and Livvy stared at each other. They both had the same thought.
The hunters!
Chapter Nineteen
Ari Strikes Out
Destiny gasped when she stepped into the living room and saw the visitors. Courtney, Fletch, and Ross sat on the floor, cheering Mikey on as he played a PlayStation racing game.
Courtney climbed to her feet. “Dee, hi. Why do you look so shocked?”
Destiny and Livvy exchanged glances. “We…uh…just didn’t expect you,” Destiny said.
“Where were you?” their dad asked. “I was surprised to find Mikey with Mrs. Mitchell next door.”
“Uh…just doing some things,” Destiny answered. Pretty lame. Could everyone see how upset and frazzled she was?
“Yeah. Things,” Livvy echoed. Not helpful at all.
“Well, it’s Mikey’s bedtime,” Dr. Weller said, scratching his graying hair. “How about it, Mikey?”
“How about no way?” Mikey replied, his fingers moving rapidly over the controller, his car rounding a turn on the video speedway.
Fletch used Mikey’s shoulder to help push himself up from the floor. “Pretty cool game.” He stretched his long arms over his head. “You guys want to go out or something?”
“I don’t think so,” Destiny said. “I’m…really tired.”
Ross stood up. “It’s only a few days till school starts. We’ve got to make the most of it. Who wants to go down to Donohue’s, get some burgers, see if anyone else from school is hanging there?”
“I don’t have any money,” Courtney complained. “Someone has to treat me.”
Fletch turned to her. “Hey, Court, we’re always treating you. How come you never have any money?”
“Maybe it’s because I’m poor?”
“Nice move, Fletch.” Ross slapped his friend a low-five. “Got any other questions for her?”
“Give me a break.” Fletch grabbed Ross and started wrestling around.
“Hey, cut it out, guys,” Destiny said.
Please leave, everyone. Please. I’m so frightened, I can’t think straight. I keep seeing that hideous woman…keep hearing her warnings rasping in my ears.
Ross held up a fifty-dollar bill. “Look—birthday money from my grandmother. I’ll treat everyone at Donohue’s.”
Fletch put an arm around Ross’s broad shoulders. “You the man!” He turned to Livvy. “You coming?”
Livvy crossed the room to Destiny. “Maybe we should go,” she whispered. “You know. Help take our minds off…everything.”
Destiny shook her head. “Not me. But if you think it will help you…”
Livvy had her eyes on Ross. “Yes. Maybe it will….”
“Come on, you two,” Courtney called from the front door. “Before Ross changes his mind.”
Livvy turned and hurried after the others. She pulled her cell phone to her ear. “I’m calling Bree, guys. Maybe she’ll want to meet us.”
The door closed behind her. Destiny shut her eyes, enjoying the silence. But as soon as she closed them, she pictured Mrs. Bauer, her skin torn and decayed, her eyes tiny marbles sunk deep in her skull.
Destiny started to the stairs. Her dad stood at the stove, waiting for the kettle to boil. He turned when he heard her enter. “Not going out with your friends?”
Destiny shook her head. “No. I’m kinda tired.”
He narrowed his eyes at her, studying her.
Should I tell him what’s happening to Livvy and me? Should I?
The teakettle on the stove whistled. He turned back to it.
Destiny hurried up the stairs to her room. She dropped down at her desk and clicked on the lamp. Then, elbows on the desktop, she buried her face in her hands.
This is a nightmare. I feel so helpless, so all alone.
I almost told Dad just now. But I can’t do that. He looks so terrible, so old and sad. Besides, what could he do?
Destiny stepped to the mirror. She smoothed her fingers gently over the tiny puncture mark on her throat. Why doesn’t it heal? She brought her face close to the glass.
What did Mrs. Bauer see in my eyes?
Yes. My eyes do look strange. My pupils are so tiny.
She picked up the phone and punched in Ari’s number. He picked up after the third ring. “Ari, hey. It’s me. What are you doing?”
“Dee—hi. I’m watching Night of the Living Dead. The 1990 version. I’m comparing it to the 1968 version. You know. The original.”
“Which is better?” Destiny asked, trying to sound interested.
“The original, of course. The grainy black-and-white photography is so much more terrifying.”
“Ari, can I ask you something? Remember what we were talking about this afternoon?”
&nb
sp; “You mean vampires?”
“Yeah. Well, I have one more question. Have you—”
“How come you’re so interested in vampires all of a sudden, Dee?” he asked.
He sounds suspicious, she realized. She felt her throat tighten.
“Hey—I know why!” he said. “I knew it! I knew it!”
Destiny nearly dropped the phone. I should never have gone to see him. He’s figured it out.
“It’s because you agree with me!” Ari declared. “You agree that it’s not a virus that killed those animals. It’s vampires.”
“Well…yeah.” Destiny let out a long breath of air. “Right. And I…uh…want to learn as much as I can.”
Whew.
“Cool,” Ari said. “What were you going to ask me?”
“Well, have you ever heard of someone called the Restorer?”
Silence at the other end.
Then, “The Restorer? You sure you don’t mean The Regurgitator? I remember a low-budget, independent film—totally gross—called The Regurgitator. This giant creature kept throwing up on Tokyo.”
“No. It’s not a movie,” Destiny said impatiently. “I think it’s supposed to be a real person.”
“The Restorer?”
Come on, Ari. Please know who it is. Please come through for me.
“Is the Restorer a teacher?” Ari asked.
“Huh? Why do you say that?”
“I kinda remember some book I read on vampire lore. A long time ago. There was a teacher in it who claimed he could cure vampires. Is that what you mean?”
“Yeah. I guess. A teacher…. Can’t you remember anything else?”
“No. Not really. I guess I struck out, Dee. You stumped me. You win the prize.”
She sighed. “What’s the prize?”
“Uh…you and me go to a movie tomorrow night?”
“What’s second prize? No. I’m kidding. We’ll have to see about tomorrow. Hey, I’ve got another call. Catch you later.”
She clicked off the phone. She didn’t have another call.
But she had to think. A teacher…
Mrs. Bauer had said parental guidance. And Ari had said a teacher.