Part Six: The End Of You, Tonight

Glade was feeling somewhat torn. Though his heart shivered with delight at the thought of seeing Lexie again, leaving Maia still made him feel uncomfortable. Each time he would hug her closely as he thought of the route their lives had taken- the struggle, the suffering, and now the resultant joy. He knew he was just being foolish- they were safe now- but he couldn't help but worry. And though you'd never know it, though Maia was only young, she knew more than anyone else of the dangers that stalked them always. She would never tell Glade though, even if she could form the words. Instead her tiny fingers grasped his clothing as he said goodbye, and when he handed her over to Kale and Heather she just watched him go and hoped he would be okay.



Inside the house, Kale and Heather watched as their friend disappeared into the darkness. Their plan was then to settle down and enjoy the evening together, but someone had other ideas...
Barely five minutes after Glade had left, Kale got a phone call that would take him away from the house. Being a ghost, as you can imagine it's somewhat difficult to get a real job, but the family still needed money. And so Kale had an unofficial job- no one knew what it was, but you can just imagine what sort of vocation a ghost might be suited for.
A few minutes after the call came to tell Kale there was a job for him to do, he said goodbye to his wife with a kiss and headed out into the night.



As Kale walked off into the distance, the disaster watched- and waited.



When Glade reached the meeting place he came to stop as he saw Lexie in front of him. The sound of the swing creaked through the cool night as Lexie played in abandon- a carefree smile lighting up her face, and Glade was captivated. Eventually she saw him and halted, a mildly confused expression playing across her features as ambled across the grass to greet him.



With Lexie within reach Glade could do nothing else put wrap his arms around her and pull her into his embrace. She folded into his chest easily and rested her head against his shoulder, putting her initial surprise at seeing him to one side for a moment. But it did make her wonder though... How had he known she was here? She had only just decided to head his way less than an hour ago, so coming across him like this was a bit of a weird coincidence.
Little did Lexie know, the meeting was more designed than either of them could have realised...



For some time after that Lexie forgot all about her confusion, and instead her mind ran with questions of a different kind. It became like any other first date- full of lingering looks and tender touches, but all the time her head swam with neurotic thoughts. They told her that it wouldn't last and that she wasn't worth it; the echoes of her past conspired to drag her down, but she knew that to live she had to let live- and allow the past to be just that.
The one who had nearly destroyed her... there would be time for that menace. For now she focused her attention on the boy who held her hand, and hoped he would not hurt her.



As the stars conspired to form a map across the skies, Lexie and Glade followed its light as it brought them together. Limbs crossed on a rusted bench, their breaths came in unison- echoing the rhythm of their blood as it pulsed. Hearts speechless with enthusiasm they sat entwined, and before long their lips reached- found the rapture.



Of course after that moment the words ended the bliss- they always do. Without speech life is simple and thrives on touch, but with the absence of silence comes chaos. Lexie only asked why Glade had decided to come to the park that night, but the instant look of bewilderment he gave her told her something was wrong. It was then that he told her- about the note he had found in his letterbox that had instructed him to come to this meeting- the note from her. But it wasn't from Lexie, and it never had been.



When Lexie told him that she had never sent him that letter he smirked at first- wondering who it was from and thinking of what a strange coincidence it was. But then the terror hit, and he felt his heart plunge.
As Glade turned and sprinted away from the scene, Lexie let out a startled sound before her legs found the power to run too. Racing off into the night, Glade and Lexie sped towards home... but by then it was 10:46, and it was already too late.



At 10:31 Heather was pacing the hallway inside her house. She and Kale had been together for so long now it felt abnormal to be apart, and every second of his absence was unnerving. It was similar to that feeling you get when you know that there's something you've forgotten- the creeping shiver that tiptoes up the back of your neck. Only... this time it was worse than before.
With her attention focused solely on Cayden and her own paranoia, Heather forgot all about Maia for a moment, and that was all the time she needed to crawl outside.



At 10.33 Heather turned and saw Maia's feet in the doorway as they slipped out of view. She started to shout then realised it wouldn't do any good- Maia was only a little girl after all. Pausing to place Cayden safely in his crib, Heather hurried out of the door and after Maia, spotted her sitting on the porch, and picked her up. At 10:34 Heather turned back towards the doorway, and saw the waiting danger.



The woman was still- her eyes deep and dark, yet reaching and deadly. Her stare haunted Heather, and she turned to put Maia down on the floor behind her; creating a barrier between the girl and the monster as she gave way to memories. Heather had lived in Riverview long enough to at least know of all the residents, but even if she didn't she would have recognised this creature anywhere. Glade's troubled description of the night he had met the vampires played through her mind, with a shadow soundtrack of alarm bells ringing.



Though she was deathly afraid, Heather spirit was strong. She had been through too much to just give up now, and so she tried to remain tall and not tremble as she prepared herself for the attack she knew was coming. At 10.36 the vampire advanced- her steps across the wooden floor seeming so large and imposing as they trampled Heather's resolve. With the teeth coming, there was nothing to do but panic.



A bite, a scratch, a wound- all words; all pointless. In the moment when the vampire's teeth pierced Heather's skin the words fell out, replaced by a scorching agony that grew and grew. The limbs became weak, the attempts to fight off the enemy became futile. At 10:38 it was over, and all that was left was the dim pulse.



The vampire stepped over the flesh, picked up the prize, and walked away.



At 10:39 the pulse grew weary.
Dur-dum... Dur-dum... Dur-dum... Dur....

Part Five: Scheme of the Century

Six weeks earlier...

At 6am Avalon rose from bed, pushed the sleep from his eyes, and set about beginning another day ruling his kingdom. He had such plans for today; a bit of torture, a bit of berating Glade, a lot of Marylena... But there was something wrong there.
As Avalon looked at Marylena, who stood in the corner of the bedroom ticking over, he knew that something was amiss. The clockwork doll was quiet as she always was- the flesh stretched over her metal lips was no basis for sound- but it was something more than that. She stood frozen, her eyes clinging to the closed doorway, her body barely moving... but her heart- it's hollow tick grew louder; formed a crescendo, like an alarm going off...
It was then that Avalon discovered Glade and Maia were gone.



Marylena could only listen in abject terror as Avalon's vicious howl echoed through the rooms. She closed her eyes, the lids creaking shut in deep satisfaction as she thought of her children, hopefully now safe on the other side of the world. She was able to experience joy for the first time in years, but this was mirrored by an overwhelming fear of what Avalon would do to her if he knew she was involved in Glade and Maia's disappearance. But then she realised- how could it be any worse than what he did to her now on a daily basis?
Walking out into the hallway she prepared to greet her King, returning to faithful servant mode as always, but the malice etched on his face made her tremble inside. She tried her best to tell lies with her features, but though her mechanical shell masked most sins, her eyes always told the truth. In end she had to turn from him, but it was too late- he had seen what she tried desperately to conceal.



As Marylena turned her back on him Avalon felt his blood burn. How could this... this thing betray him like this? He didn't know exactly what involvement Marylena had in the escape, or even how she had managed it, only that she was guilty of disobeying her King, and that deserved a punishment worse than death. In truth all Avalon's punishments were worse than death...
But there was no time for that. The more pressing matter was catching up to Glade and Maia- his defective bride would have to wait. He gave her a hit of his justice to educate her for now, and then he was on his way out the door.



For weeks after that Avalon scoured the neighbouring lands searching for any trace of Glade and Maia. The reason behind his actions seemed to get lost as time went on- his plans of passing the kingdom on to Glade when he died were redundant, and it was pure revenge in the driving seat.
Maybe he had been foolish thinking Glade could rule anyway- the boy was weak and relied too much on his feelings. No, Avalon would hold onto his kingdom until it was wrenched from his aching grasp. But before that time came he would make Glade pay for defying him.



And so to now- the moment when Avalon finally caught up with Glade. As he watched his son embrace the woman next to him, Avalon felt his teeth grind together in a fury. He could smell the girl from here- the scent of her perfume intoxicating him; cutting out all reason until only the pleasure drive remained. He could take her now...
No. No this had to be planned- Avalon couldn't let his libido take over, nor could he just rush up to Glade and destroy him there and then. This would require logic and strategy. He needed to take his sweet time in ending Glade; first ripping everything he cared about away from him. But he couldn't do it alone. A scheme of this magnitude would require accomplices.
Avalon needed to go into the depths of Riverview, and seek the demons out.



La Crypte was the dark place- the void where all the bad elements came to writhe in the shadows. In a town like Riverview the sinful souls often outnumbered the good, so you could be sure that the bar always had more than a few creatures lurking inside. This night was no different.



As Avalon entered the premises he took a seat at the bar and ordered a drink. He made the pretense of acting like he was just thirsty, maybe in need of a little company, but really he was listening. The hum of conversation pulsed around him and Avalon sorted through it- discarding the useless on his search for something better. In time he found it.



There, in the darkest corner of the room, the vampires reigned supreme. Drake and Silver were well known thoughout the town, so much so that even the cruelest hearts of Riverview kept their distance. For most people being wicked is something they choose, even if they don't realise it at the time, but for vampires it's different. With one broken bite the soul dies but the body is reborn; without consequence, without reason. The vampire lives for pleasure, for pain, for blood. Silver and Drake embodied this spirit fully, and Avalon knew that would make them the perfect partners in crime.



As Avalon walked over and took a seat at the vampires' table, Silver turned sharply and spat out a hostile hiss. She wasn't use to this sort of behaviour, and most people paid for it with their lives, but when Avalon didn't retreat at her expression she was left puzzling.
Avalon only took a brief moment to introduce himself to the creatures, and then he launched into what he wanted from them. He paused and stared slightly as Drake let out a bitter laugh from the other side of the table, and after this he focused all his attention on Silver. She responded rather more favourably to Avalon's words- a cunning grin present on her face as she listened to his plan.



On the opposite side of the room the other patrons could only observe as the King and the vampires plotted the destruction of another. They knew what was coming, but they couldn't have stopped it even if they wanted to. Avalon and Silver were two creatures both diabolical in design, and destructive in nature. The days to come were likely to be full of pain and suffering, and just one thing was certain. Not everyone would be getting out alive.



Back at home Glade was in a jubilant mood. After his meeting with Lexie yesterday he could barely have a minute pass without thinking of her. Her eyes, her lips, her everything... He was simply enchanted.



With no way to contact Lexie, Glade could only wait for some sort of sign from her. Eventually his wishes were answered when he found a letter in his mailbox asking him to meet her in the park later that night. Anticipation made him nervous but Glade remained excited as took a bath, got dressed, and prepared to meet her.



Staying at home just waiting would have been maddening, so instead he headed to Kale and Heather's. Glade had told them a bit about Lexie, but he didn't exactly know a whole lot himself so he could only share so much. Kale's response had been to smile and congratulate his friend, whereas Heather had a more teasing style. All in all though, they were happy for Glade and said they couldn't wait to meet her.



As the moon began to rise Glade prepared to leave. He kissed Maia and said began to say goodbye to Kale and Heather.
Meanwhile, outside, a catastrophe loomed.



Her teeth were sharp, impatient, and ravenous.

Part Four: Dreams and Reality

Glade listened intently as Heather told the story of how she and Kale had met, nothing but her words and the sound of breathing filling the cool stillness of the room. When she was finished, Glade could only stare. These people, they had been through so much in their lives, yet now they were willing to open themselves up to him and share their secret. In that moment Glade knew that he had formed a true friendship, perhaps for the first time in his life.



That day, Glade left Kale and Heather's house with a sense of calming contentment. He still had questions- about the neighbourhood, about the creatures that swelled in the darkness, but there would be time for that. Kale and Heather had shared something so personal with him, it didn't seem fair to press them for more details. Besides, his own secret still left a black mark on his heart, one that he couldn't bring himself to mention. Kale and Heather knew there was something wrong in Glade's past of course; something that had driven him to come to Riverview, but they wouldn't push him to share. They had all the time in the world for him to make peace with his history and to relieve it with them.



In the time following their meeting Glade grew ever closer to Kale and Heather. They were a regular feature at his house, always coming over for dinner or to spend time with Maia. Glade had forgotten what it was like to just relax- to just exist without worry; without the creeping feeling that there was an impending doom to be averted.
Before long Heather gave birth to a baby boy who they named Cayden. It was the first ghost baby to be born in the world for half a century, but there would be no headlines or fanfares. This was yet another secret the couple would have to bear- the secret of how their love had transcended rules and morals, had brought them together, and had started a family.



In the evenings, after making sure Maia was safe in her crib, Glade would sleep. To most people sleep is just a necessity- something that keeps them sane, but to Glade it was more than that. When he closed his eyes and his mind would fall into a quiet dusk it didn't stay dark for long. Sooner or later a figure arrived to drift through his dreams- the girl with the pink hair.
Glade had not seen her since his first week in Riverview, he didn't even know her name, but she never strayed far from his thoughts. And so he dreamt, his vivid mind painting illusions that seemed so real at the time. In the morning he would always wake up disappointed.



Dreams can only sate the soul for so long. In recent days Glade had learnt a lot from Kale and Heather about the town and the people who lived there. They told him about the vampires; about where they lurked in patient malice and how best to avoid them, and before long Glade felt he knew enough to make the trip to town safely. It would have been safer to just stay at home of course, but sometimes to get what you really want you have to take a little risk. And so one day Glade left Maia under the careful watch of Kale and Heather, and headed into town.



Immediately his destination was Simhenge. Bruises on his skin still echoed the terror of what happened last time he had visited this place, but it was where he had met her so he had to return. Some fear still remained, but as Glade cautiously edged towards the water the sun seemed to grow brighter, and its presence warmed his spirit.



He didn't expect for her to just be there as she had before, but Glade was disappointed nonetheless by her absence. Now he really was in despair. He knew nothing of this girl so he had no way of finding her, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try. The thought of it filled him with trepidation- knocking on doors in this town was beyond stupid considering the dangerous creatures that roamed the lands. Still, Glade tried to fight the fear.



Walking back into town he looked up at the sky, his mind sending unspoken questions to the universe. So much in his life had been chaos and misery- Glade didn't know how long he could live without answers. But then he felt his heart began to beat faster. Immediately Glade passed it off as panic and tried to calm himself, but the echo remained; grew stronger. That was when he looked up, and saw Her.



Standing on the bridge ahead of him was the figure who haunted his dreams. Walking up to her at first Glade couldn't speak- his heart was beating too fast and stopping speech from forcing its way up his throat. The most he managed was a smile, and he felt his heart lurch as she returned it with her own. A sweet smile but mocking nonetheless; the corners of her lips twitched upwards and formed an inside joke of their own.



Eventually Glade's tongue was his to control again, and he used it to ask the girl her name. The last time they had met there had been much toying- much games, but this time the pretense was over and she wasn't playing anymore. For whatever reason she didn't need to resist him; didn't need to play pretend like she wasn't happy to see him, so when he asked her for her name her smile grew wider and she replied- Lexie.



Glade grinned and repeated the name a few times to himself, enjoying the feel of it on his lips. Whilst he did this Lexie just watched and smiled, appearing as transfixed as he, but before long she remembered something important. Looking at Glade in earnest she told him that it wasn't safe here and asked him to come with her- she knew a place they could go. Glade understood her fears and of course said yes.
As they walked away from Sinhenge Glade couldn't keep his eyes off of Lexie. She seemed so bright, so full of life. She was what he needed- an antidote to all the gloom that had plagued him in the past.



Before long they arrived at the old playground, a symbol of the decay of Riverview sadly mirrored throughout the town. The swings were dank and rusted, the grass was overgrown and disheveled, but to Glade and Lexie that didn't matter. It was quiet, secluded, and gave them the freedom to be alone together.



They stayed in the park a for long time, just talking quietly amongst themselves. Glade watched her mouth as she spoke and just ached to kiss her, but he didn't want to risk doing anything that might make her run off again. And so their topics of conversation remained neutral- just little discussions about their interests, about the town.



As the night grew deeper Glade and Lexie sat entwined. Their lips were inches from ecstacy but neither would make the move. And so they gazed at each other, and both lamented the moment when they would separate.
They didn't even notice that someone was watching from the shadows...



Someone with murder in mind...

Part Three: The Ballad of Kale and Heather

Five years ago, in the Valley of the Sun...

Heather lived a poor existence. She had a roof over her head and food to eat, but it was her soul that remained unsheltered. Her life consisted of cleaning, cooking, and errands, and it was dark. Not depressing, just without colour. Not miserable, just without laughter.
This life Heather lived soley because of her mother; her mother who told her how to dress, how to speak, how to act. Her name was Katia, but no one called her that.



Some people choose to live in the past because they're scared of the future- Mrs Dementieva was a prime example of this. She always insisted everyone call her by her married name, even though no one had seen Mr Dementieva for years. Heather suspected that her mother had never really been married at all, and it was just a way of keeping up appearances.
That was her mother's way really- it was always about what the neighbours would think. In truth it seemed the neighbours opinions were of more value to Mrs Dementieva than her own daughter's. Heather was brought up to be quiet, be respectful, and never answer back, and if she did she was severly punished.
Mrs Dementieva knew all about suffering. She knew just how long someone could be locked in the dark before they lost their mind. She knew just how long someone could be held under the water before they drowned. Heather could have considered herself lucky in a way- her mother's skill in torture was such that she would always stop at the last minute. She would always end the pain just before Heather would break. It would always stop just before the last gasp.



It was always tricks and mind games. Mrs Dementieva would twist things- try to make Heather think that she was doing it for her own good, try to make her think that it was her fault she was acting this way. But Heather wasn't stupid. Though she had been put down by the years of torment, a fire still burned inside of Heather's heart. Her mother's cruel ploys and subterfuge may have resonated on the surface, but Heather still fought inside. She knew there was more to life; she knew that things could be better. It was just a matter of time.



The day that time came seemed like any other. It was early morning, and Heather was out at the the grocery store pertaining to her mother's demands as usual. She didn't see him arrive, she just turned around and there was light.
From the moment Kale came into her life, Heather felt herself changing. The concept of love at first sight was alien to her, and she still didn't believe it in now. All Heather knew was here was a man who made her smile; who made her feel like she was worth something. For so long she had listened to her mother tell her that she wasn't good enough, and though she had told herself she didn't believe it, part of her still panicked that maybe it was true. Now she knew that it wasn't.



Heather's life was so heavily controlled by her mother that it was difficult to find time to be with Kale, but somehow they managed. It started off with simple gestures; a warm friendship formed and with it came affection. A brief brush of the lips was everything. Kale was like oxygen, and Heather ached for him with every breath.



As their bond grew stronger, Heather knew that Kale would have to meet her mother. She didn't want him to- she didn't like the idea of her sunshine joining with her darkness, but she needed Mrs Dementieva's blessing if she and Kale were to see each other as much as she wished. But, as expected, the encounter did not go so well...
From the minute Mrs Dementieva laid eyes on Kale she was incensed. Animosity boiled inside as she laid eyes on the stranger, because it was then she really looked at her daughter for the first time in a long while. Staring at Heather, she saw the glow about her; the quiet joy that formed a secret smile on her face. Mrs Dementieva told her daughter right there and then that she was never to see this man again, and for once Heather did not remain speechless. It started with one word, a simple 'no' and after that anger was rising. The two sides threw hatred at each other, and Kale found himself caught in the middle.



From that day on, Mrs Dementieva knew she was losing the hold she had on her daughter. Her icy grip no longer bended Heather to her will; Heather was stronger now with Kale beside her, and this made her mother more insanely furious than she had ever been before.
With her fear of her mother dwindling, Heather saw Kale more and more frequently. She shrugged off the rigors previously placed on her and fully embraced her love. Though they decided to keep it a secret, Kale and Heather got married.



They were married at the local city hall for legal purposes, but later that night they slipped away into the woods for their own private ceremony. This is how Kale and Heather wanted it- just the cool night air and each other for company as they said their vows; words formed through breathless lips as they promised their hearts. That night they became man and wife, til death do them part.
With the dawn slowly approaching Heather had to say goodbye. Though she ached to spend the night with Kale, in all senses, Heather had to return home before her mother grew suspicious. They kissed as they parted and went back to their lives, all the while remaining joyful at their secret plans to leave as soon as they had saved enough money.



The following morning Heather was sent out by her mother's instructions to run some errands in town. As she walked towards the shops a coy smile played across her lips as she thought of her new husband. In just a few days time they would be away from this place, safe in Riverview together.
Meanwhile, back at home Kale was thinking about the same thing. He knew that nothing would be able to stop them leaving, so when Mrs Dementieva called and asked him over to the house he couldn't see the harm in going. Maybe she'd changed her mind about them?
As he got to the open front door Kale heard a voice calling him, and by following it he ended up in a room he had never seen before. A long dark pool ran the length of it, and Mrs Dementieva sat in stoney silence in the distance.



It terrified him. For reasons he couldn't explain, Mrs Dementieva's cold quietness made his bones twist with terror. Trying very hard to remember how to breathe, Kale walked up the steps to greet the woman. He waited for her to speak; to explain why she had asked him here, but she didn't. Not at first.
Initially she just glared, eyes barely blinking as she fixed her chilling gaze on Kale's bewildered face. And then she asked him. No, that wasn't right- she told him. She told him to leave this town and never see Heather again.
Kale laughed and turned to walk away. It was a mistake he would not live to regret- he wouldn't get the chance.



Only a few footsteps were able to echo through the bleak room before the pain hit. Kale felt his legs give out as the hot sharp sensation spread from his side throughout his body, and he crumbled into the water. The water gripped him in a frenzy, the liquid pulling him down into its depths. Kale tried so hard to fight it but it hurt so much, and if he just stopped struggling he would be able to relax. There was so much comfort to be found in just giving up.



And then darkness. Black. It was just so black. Dark, coarse liquid forcing its way into his lungs, and forcing life out.



When Heather returned home her mother was waiting for her. She didn't even try to seem sympathetic, Mrs Dementieva just told Heather that Kale had died in a car accident. No commiseration, no sympathy- she even tried to make Heather feel like it was her fault for falling for him in the first place. But her mother's words just washed over her like nothing, because from the moment she knew Kale was dead and she felt her heart slam into her ribcage that was it for Heather. All colour drained from her life and all emotions cascaded freely as the walls of her heart fell down.
Heather locked herself in her room after that- she needed to be alone with her grief, but that wasn't all... Heather may have spent her life serving her mother, but she also spent her life learning. The books she buried herself in had taught her many things, such as the mythology of ghosts.



Many years ago, ghosts had roamed as freely as regular human beings. They had lived a peaceful existence, but one day everything changed. An organisation came into power that decided ghosts were an affont to everything they believed in, and consequently they were banished. Since then, the practice of restoring ghosts was halted and the laboratories burned down, but some books on the subject still remained.
When Heather had learnt of Kale's death she waited for his funeral to pass, and stole his urn before it could be destroyed. Placing it in her room she then waited. And waited. Weeks passed and still nothing, but Heather would wait forever for Kale. Then finally, one night his ghost appeared.



Ghosts were blasphemous, ghosts were a sin- this was what Heather had been taught by society her whole life. But Heather was smarter than that. Her love for Kale enabled her to see past the world's narrowminded judgements. They belonged together, and the fact that he was a ghost was no more important than the colour of his skin or his accent. That night, Kale and Heather were finally able to spend the night together, and it was perfect. In the morning they would leave forever, and that was perfect too.



After returning in his ghostly guise, Kale had spent the night wondering if he would disappear just as quickly as he had materialised. He stayed up until dawn just watching Heather sleep and praying he would not be torn away from her again. He wasn't. Something was keeping him in this world, and Kale strongly suspected that something was Heather.
When Heather awoke in the morning Kale was fast asleep. She got dressed and tiptoed lightly down the stairs where she found her mother in the kitchen. Skipping all niceties and pleasantness Heather told her mother the truth- Kale was alive, as a ghost, they were married, and they were leaving. Now.
How she got from talking to agony Heather was uncertain. One moment she was looking at the mother, the next she was lying on the ground, pain seeping from her broken face.



Kale awoke as he heard the shouting downstairs. He recognised the voice; it was a voice that would forever bring chills to his soul, but what bothered him more was that he couldn't hear Heather's voice too. Racing down the stairs he found his love lay damaged on the floor, with the monsterous Mrs Dementieva hunched over her; her cruel wretched hands inflicting misery on Heather. Feelings of revenge burned through his veins and he could have killed her. But Kale was not that person- he would never be that person.
Kale would have his revenge, but it would not be murder. He would save Heather, he would say everything he ever wanted to Mrs Dementieva, he might even injure her a bit, but he would never end her life. And that was exactly what happened.



Leaving Mrs Dementieva to live her life in bitterness and gloom forever was punishment enough. Kale and Heather would go on, they would be happy, but she would never change.
As Kale and Heather left Sunset Valley they were both bruised and shaken by their experiences. They left a shade smarter; a great deal braver. They had survived oppression, they had survived even death. They now felt they could survive anything.