markdown-monster-club/chapters/chapter_26.md

# Chapter 26

“Are you serious?!” Abraham asked.
“Just drive, Abraham!” Michelle shouted. Abraham nodded and went back to focusing on the road, but he couldn’t remove that news from his mind. Asher’s father was a vampire…and a powerful one! Not only that, but it was Asher’s own father who had bitten him in the first place? But why would a vampire be helping a group of witch hunters? His head was swimming with confusion. He glanced in the mirror to see the rest of the group…how were they holding up? Asher was sitting in the far back of the bus, trying hard to rest. Calypso was helping treat Sarah, who was slightly bruised from her clash with Drake. Tamil and Katie sat together, neither speaking, but both looking very concerned. Annie was silently looking out the window as they drove. Michelle sat behind Abraham’s seat, and she was staring out at the dark winding road.
“You’re confused, huh?” Michelle asked.
“More than slightly.” Abraham admitted. “But I don’t know if Asher would want to talk to me about it.”
“He probably wouldn’t…it’s not something he likes to share with other people. Then again, I suppose family matters are like that for everyone. No offense.” Michelle said, remembering that Abraham was an orphan.
“None taken. But…I don’t mean to pry…I just want to know-”
“You want to know what happened between Asher and his father.” Michelle said. “Normally, I would tell you that it’s Asher’s call whether you know or not…but since Drake now knows you’re with us, you’re in just as much danger as the rest of us. You have a right to know.” Michelle paused for a moment and then leaned forward, resting her cheek on her hand.

“There are three ways to become a vampire. The first way is blood consumption; drinking a vampires blood will make you one. The second way is through the classical biting…but the bite isn’t enough. The bite must penetrate a vein and then the vampire must insert some of his saliva or body fluid into the bite so it mixes with the blood. The third way is a very…unseemly way. By drinking the blood of a human with your dying breath. If you spend your last moments of life drinking the blood of another human, you will be reanimated as something inhuman.”
“And what happened to Asher? Which happened to him?”
“Slow down and give me a moment, okay?” Michelle snapped. “Asher’s father, about 4 years ago, was a soldier in the army. While in Iraq, his truck hit a road side car bomb. His entire squad was killed in the explosion. Terrified of dying, Drake desperately tried to cling to life…he needed water, so he crawled to one of his comrades and tried to drink his blood…thus reanimating him as a blood drinking vampire. Revived, and rejuvenated, Drake returned home to his family.”
“I’m guessing they weren’t too pleased with his new vampire self.” Abraham asked.
“No we weren’t.” Asher hissed. Michelle and Abraham both spun to see Asher standing next to them. His red eyes stared forward furiously.
“Asher, I’m sorry I-”
“No…it’s fine.” Asher said. “I’ll tell you what happened.” Asher sat down next to Michelle and continued the story. “My mother resented him for what he’d become and my father attacked my mother in a blind rage. Unwilling to let me live either, he tried to bite me and kill me too. However, the moment he bit down on my neck, his chest touched my cross necklace…my mothers gift to me…and it burned his chest, forcing him back. I had no means of fighting back, so I did the only thing I could…I bit him back, and in doing so got his blood in my mouth. He retaliated by striking me across the head. I feel dead…or so my father thought. I woke up an hour later as a vampire. After all, I had bitten him and tasted vampiric blood…plus he’d bitten me and gotten his saliva in my veins. There was no doubt I wouldn’t become a vampire.”
“Asher…”
“When a vampire is born…it must feed immediately. So I fed from the only source of blood available…my mothers body. I couldn’t stop myself. But in doing so, I carried a piece of my mother with me from that place. I hated myself for what I was…I wanted to run away and die…but I needed to punish my father for what he’d done to our family. For his cowardice…” Asher finished.
“But why is he helping those witch hunters?” Abraham asked.
“Those weren’t witch hunters…they were the Dawn Bringers.” Michelle explained. “Drake works with them.”
“But I thought the Dawn Bringers hated vampires and monsters.”
“They do, but they have an understanding with Drake.” Michelle answered. “Drake is still a coward, and he fears that he may be killed by another monster one day…so he helps the Dawn Bringers rid the world of monsters so that he won’t be challenged or threatened with death.”
“That seems risky…a vampire working with vampire hunters.” Annie whispered, having listened in on the conversation. Asher nodded darkly.
“I’m sure Drake intends to kill them if he no longer sees them as useful…and I’m sure the Dawn Bringers feel the same.” Asher pointed out. Abraham didn’t speak but just absorbed this story. He’d never have guessed that Asher’s past was so horrible. He couldn’t imagine having been turned into a monster in such a sudden and horrific manner…and then being forced to feed from your own mother. It was disgusting and terrifying. How had Asher lived like that for so long? It was unreal.

“Where are we going?” Annie finallya asked, breaking the deafening quiet.
“Back to Solomon’s cottage.” Michelle said. “It’s our home…and yours too.” Annie giggled and hugged Michelle’s arm. Michelle flinched a moment, not used to this display of affection. “I’m sure we’ll find a place for you to stay.”
“We’ll need to explain all this to Solomon of course.” Sarah spoke up, finally sitting up after being treated for a while. Calypso helped her sit up and Sarah smiled at Asher and Michelle. “You think he’ll be okay with us being home a few days later than we planned?”
“He’ll be fine…unfortunately we’ll have to wait to see him tomorrow.” Michelle sighed. “Abraham pull over at the next gas station.”
“Why?” Annie asked.
“We took a train to get here originally, and we’re also having to take an alternate route home. We need a map, supplies, and rest.” Michelle said. Abraham looked around and found a gas station. He pulled over and rolled around behind the building, parking the bus.
“Alight, listen up gang…we’re camping here tonight.” Michelle announced. “We need to get a few things done before we turn in though. I know everyone is hungry and sleepy…so we’re going to get some food and a place to rest.” Abraham stood up and stretched his legs from after sitting so long.
“Hate to ask but…how are we going to get food?” Abraham asked. “I didn’t bring any money.” A small chuckle emerged from the rest of the club.
“Abraham…what time is it?”
“Almost 3 in the morning.”
“I’d prefer it were midnight…but we’ll make this the new haunting hour.” Michelle laughed.
“Can I help?” Annie asked, tugging on Michelle’s arm. Michelle nodded.
“Oh yes. Everyone gather around…I’ll explain the plan!”

Abraham and Michelle climbed out of the bus and stretched their bodies. Michelle walked around back and opened the back door for the others to get out and go to their positions. When he was done, she walked to Abraham and took his arm, hugging it tenderly and leaning against him.
“Ready?” She asked.
“All I gotta do is just play the role, right?”
“Don’t worry, you’ll do fine. Right now, you’re my boyfriend okay?” Michelle whispered.
“Got it.” He lead her to the gasstation door and opened it. Michelle giggled and leaned against him, acting uncharacteristically girly and upbeat. The cashier behind the counter looked up.
“Can I help ye?” He asked gruffly.
“Yes, please sir…seems we have a bit of a problem.” Abraham said, holding Michelle. “We ran out of gas about a mile back. Can we borrow a canister to fill with gas?”
“Um yeah, guess so. Just wait here a minute.” He turned from the counter and began to walk toward a closet nearby. As he was heading there, Michelle looked to the glass door and winked to Abraham.
“Show time.” She whispered. “Tamil is in position.” Abraham nodded.
“OH MY GOD! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!?” The cashier spun around and looked to where Michelle was pointing and his face went pale. Banging against the door, lumbering and moaning horribly, he saw a mummy, his eyes glazed over and his mouth hanging open.
“uuuuuuuggggghhhhhh~” Tamil moaned.
“I-It’s some kind of zombie or…or mummy or something!” The man screamed.
“OH NO…THE CURSE FOLLOWED US!” Michelle screamed.
“WHAT CURSE!?” The cashier shrieked. Suddenly all the lights went dead and the entire gas station was plunged into darkness. The cashier couldn’t see it, but three more figures silently entered the station from the back door.
“We’re all gonna die! We’re gonna die!” Abraham started screaming! “RUN GET OUT OF HE-AAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHH!” Abraham screamed as suddenly 8 long spider legs grabbed him from behind and yanked him into an isle, out of view of the cashier. Sarah let out a loud shriek of evil laughter and she pretended to bite down on Abraham. The cashier couldn’t see what she was doing…but he could see her 8 long legs…and her terrifying body.
“WHAT THE LIVING HELL!? GET ME OUT OF HERE!” He cried, running for the door. Just as he got there, Tamil managed to break through the glass and started moaning, reaching out to him like a mindless zombie. The cashier was surely pissing himself now. Michelle let out a loud scream as she was grabbed by the shoulders by another figure. The cashier spun around to see a dark shadowy boy, gripping Michelle tightly. His red eyes fell on the cashier as he pretended to bite down on Michelle’s neck. Asher snarled and Michelle screamed, pretending to be dying.
“HEEEELP! HEEEEEEEELLLLP” Michelle let out one last loud scream and finally passed out. Asher tossed her body aside.
“I’m still hungry.” He growled. The cashier would have screamed, but he was too busy crapping his pants. With a shriek like a scared little girl, he blasted past Tamil and out into the night, screaming and crying about monsters.

“Nice work guys.” Michelle called out. The entire club burst into laughter and walked out into the open. Sarah helped Abraham to his feet and Asher rubbed his spit on Michelle’s shoulder, where he’d accidentally cut her shoulder. Katie slithered in from behind the drink maker.
“What a shame, I was hoping I’d get to play too.” She laughed.
“Next time, maybe.” Sarah giggled. “Abraham, you did well for you first ‘Haunting Hour.’”
“You guys do this often?” Abraham laughed.
“Well sometimes.” Calypso explained, walking inside, holding Annie’s hand. “See we only do it on occassions where we need to clear people out of a building.”
“We call ‘Haunt Hour.’” Tamil said, brushing the broken glass off of his knuckles. “We pretend be monster. Scare away humans.”
“And let’s all give a big round of applause for Annie, who did a great job killing the lights for added affect.” Sarah cried. The group started clapping for Annie, who blushed and covered her face with her hands.
“Stop it! It was nothing!” She laughed. Abraham just smiled at his happy family.
“Well guys,” Asher annoucned. “There’s food and drinks all around. Eat up.” The gang seperated and began grabbing snacks and foods to eat while Abraham helped Tamil find his way to the different snacks. He even tricked Tamil into eating a spicy potato chip, which caused Tamil to cry out and guzzle water like a fish. For the first time since the werewolf incident…everything seemed so happy and carefree. Who cared that Drake and his crew were still after them? It was a wonderful evening to be together.

Suddenly, Abraham became aware of the gentlest of tuggings on his shirt. He turned and there was Annie, holding a bag of potato chips in one hand and her stuffed cat Mr. Blacky in the other.
“You’re Abraham, right?” She asked.
“Yes, I am.” Abraham replied kindly.
“You are not like the others…you’re a human, aren’t you?” She asked. Abraham smiled.
“Yeah, you’re right.” Abraham replied. Annie sat down next to him and stared at him for the longest moment. He began to wonder if she’d just asked the question to confirm it, but then she turned and watched the party once more.
“Why did you join this club?” She asked.
“Hmm?”
“You’re a human…among creatures.” She said. “Aren’t you scared?”
“Well…maybe at first I was.” Abraham admitted. “But I’ve come to really love these guys. They’re not really creatures or monsters to me anymore. They’re…just family.”
“Family…huh…”
“What about your family, Annie?” Abraham asked. Annie shook her head.
“I don’t want talk about it.” She answered darkly. “I’m just happy to be here.”

“EVERYONE!” Tamil suddenly stood up and shouted. “KATIE AND I TALK! SHE SAY WE NEED GO BACK TO BUS!” He cried.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Sarah asked.
“There are cops coming!” Katie snapped, pointing out the window. Everyone looked and, sure enough, there were police officers walking their way carrying flashlights. Annie squeaked and buried her face in Abrahams shirt.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t like police…” She whimpered.
“Why not?” She didn’t answer, but there was no time for her to. Asher and Sarah were on the move.
“Michelle, get everyone to the back of the gas station. Sarah, Katie, and I will handle this.” Asher said.
“Asher, we can’t kill them! They’re innocents.” Michelle barked.
“I know that. Just trust me, alright?” When the police finally showed up outside the door, Katie and Sarah were positioned on opposite sides of it, ready to spring. The door opened.
Both officers were attacked at once. Katie lashed out and coiled around the first one so fast, it was like she was a living spring. Sarah moved in and began wrapping her web around the second one, securing his arms to his sides. The two let out cries and screams of terror, but Asher walked out of the shadows next, and his appearance silenced them. Abraham couldn’t see it, but from the slack jawed look the two cops were giving, Asher was using his hypnosis.
“Both of you are fine.” He whispered seductively. “This is all just a bad dream. You dozed off on patrol. Walk back to your cars and go to sleep. Tomorrow, this will all be over.”
“Right…of course…”
“Everything is just fine.”
“Everything is….just…fine. Right…”
“Now…go back to your car.” Sarah unwrapped the officer and Katie released her hold on the other one. They stumbled out the door as if zombies in a trance, moving slowly but steadily to their car.

“Okay, all good.” Asher said. Annie looked up at Abraham and blushed a little.
“I’m sorry.” She whispered. “I didn’t mean to…you know.”
“Hey, don’t worry…we’re gonna keep you safe, kid.” Asher winked, walking by and laying down. “But I’m pooped. We should all go ahead and turn in for the night.” Annie smiled and hugged her stuffed cat close, laying down.
“Abraham, you get some sleep too.” Michelle whispered. “We need you to drive tomorrow. You need more sleep than the rest of us.” Abraham nodded sleepily and stretched out. As he did, he felt a small body move up against him, hugging him like she was his baby sister, Annie nuzzled into Abraham’s chest and Abraham just smiled down at her. She was so frightened of everything…she needed this family more than he realized. But he’d gladly be here for her…just like the club had been there for him.