Chapter Four

            So, I’m a vampire. What does that even mean? Obviously, I need blood. That seems to be a consistent theme for vampires. But all other vampire ‘rules” seem to vary based on which author is telling the story. I need to remember everything I’ve ever read or seen about vampires.

            Stakes through the heart or beheading can kill – fairly certain. That seems to be pretty consistent between tales. Could I go out in the sun? I’m not sure. It was night when I was out last.  The sun would be rising soon, and I could test that theory out.  Would I die if I don’t drink blood?  And how long could I go without? I guess I will have to test that out as well. What else was there…?  Oh! Crosses. Godly things. And sometimes they can’t enter houses without an invitation. That’s all I remember. I guess I will need to brush up on my vampire lore and make sure I don’t die of something painfully obvious. Die again. You know what I mean.

            Mads always wears a cross around her neck.  I guess that one is false. Or maybe I need to closer to the cross? I reached out and grabbed her necklace. “HEY!” said Mads. Nope, nothing. I felt fine. “Sorry, I was just checking to see if I could. I can.”  At least I had a mission now. Better yet, I had two missions.  First, find out how to not die. And secondly, kill Mr. Bitey.  That asshole had jumped into my car and attacked me out of nowhere. For no reason. He killed me. Why? And how would I go about finding him?  Maybe I could call the police and see if I could find one of those sketch artists to track him down. Do they have sketch artists that work on their own, outside of the cops? I’d have to check into that. It’s probably best not to get police involved if I didn’t have to.

            Madison gave me a hug and said she had to get to work. “I’m sorry that you’re dead, but I’m also glad you’re the kind of dead that still walks and talks. Just don’t bite me.” She seemed a bit freaked out still, but she is handling it better than I probably would have been if the roles were reversed. She might even be handling it better than I am now, as the actual vampire. And just like that, I was alone again.

            Cooper still seemed a bit freaked out by me as well, but it was understandable. Especially, now that I know I’m dead. I wonder if he can tell (smell?) that I’m dead. Do I stink? God, I hope I don’t smell dead. I’ve always heard that dogs can sense things.  I’m hoping it is some sixth doggie sense and not one of the primary five giving me away. I’ll just have to keep spoiling him until he loved me again. I can do that! I gave him a bone and patted him on the head.

            Now it is time to find the Numero Uno asshole. I wonder what his name was. Watch it be “Gary” or “David”. Something generic and boring. That would serve him right for murdering me. A boring name.  I opened my laptop and started searching for different sketch artists nearby. I found a few in Dallas. I’m not sure if they could do what I needed, but I would just have to call and find out. Damn. I can’t call anyone! I still don’t have my phone. I guess that is the first step. Why is everything so hard?

            I saw daylight peeking in through my curtains. If I had to get a new phone, I’d have to leave during the day. Or maybe I could try the impound lot at night if they were still open. I decided to wait a bit and let the sun fully rise before I tested the sun theory. The way my week has been going so far, I didn’t want to push it. With my luck, I’d be just fine when the sun was rising – then once the sun was fully out, I’d burn to a crisp.  A fried Rachel. That’d really freak somebody out. I can’t even call around to find out where my car and things are until I get a phone. I can’t even drive.  How do people get around without a car? Uber... But don’t you need a phone to get an uber? How do people get around without a car and phone? Walk? Bicycles. I’m going to look absolutely ridiculous as a grown woman pedaling around town on a bicycle.  Nevertheless, I think I might have an old bike buried in my garage somewhere though.  The closest phone store is at good 5 minutes from here in a car. Good thing I can’t die from exercise. I don’t think…

            I walked into my garage and started throwing junk aside looking for my bike.  Apparently, I had super strength. That’s cool. Well, it’s cool as long as I don’t accidentally launch any of this junk through a wall, I’ve got enough to deal with right now as it is. Underneath the many piles of unnecessary garage items, I found my bike. It’s old and dusty, but the tires still looked okay somehow.  I walked back into the house with my ancient purple bike in hand. While I was digging through the garage, the sun had finished rising. I guess it is time to test out the sun theory.  If I was about to be barbequed, I didn’t want to die alone. “Cooper! Come on boy. Outside!” He didn’t want to come.  Little shit. I grabbed a treat and he decided he liked me again (for now). “Outside! Let’s go.”  I opened the door and we walked out.