FROM THE SHADOWS

[05] FACING VAMPIRES

Wandering around an empty graveyard with a fog hanging over it was about the last thing Mabel wanted to be doing on a Friday night. She'd never been fond of graveyards, she found them depressing. It sounded so obvious, but she couldn't help it. She never wanted to be buried herself. She hated the idea of rotting six feet underground, while your loved ones would cry over your grave. She'd rather be cremated, spread out somewhere beautiful or meaningful. When her loved ones would visit a place like that, they'd still be sad, but at least there was some beauty or memory attached to the place. Something bittersweet. Something which did provide a little light to the situation, some comfort to take the edge off. Not some abandoned place where the air was stiff with sadness and loss and grief. If she were to die, spread her somewhere with light and happy memories. Someplace that would ease the pain.

Mabel huffed to herself, shaking her head. Her mind was wandering too much. She usually only got this deep when she was actively avoiding something and her mind was distracting her. The near constant buzz of her phone in her back pocket reminded her of what she was avoiding exactly. With a sigh, she pulled out her phone and looked at the many, many, missed calls and text messages from her father. She ignored them and opened Liam's text. In it, he told her that her father had stopped by again and that he'd told him that he'd spoken with her and assured him she was okay. Mabel wasn't upset with him about it. She sent a message back, telling him it was okay, and then opened Evie's messages.

Evie's held another tone. One of them read: 'If you need to talk to another girl, I'm here' and 'Did someone do something to you?', followed by 'Do I need to punch someone and then get you snacks and a movie?'.

Mabel smiled at her concern. Liam was her best friend, had been since the moment they met a few years ago, but Evie had quickly established herself as someone very important to Mabel. When Liam told her he had a girlfriend, Mabel wasn't sure what to think. She was a bit wary of Evie, who felt the same about her boyfriend's girl best friend. But less than ten minutes after meeting each other, Liam had regretted ever introducing them. The two had quickly bonded over music and teasing Liam. Both girls loved finding new or underrated artists and shared them with each other, while Liam only listened to the Top 50 on the radio. It was something neither understood and their shared love of music and quickly grown into something more. A close friendship followed and, while Liam was still her best friend, Evie was definitely one of the people closest to her heart as well.

Glancing around the graveyard and finding the others preoccupied with finding the grave of Mary Milligan, Mabel turned to her phone and dialled Evie's number. Evie answered after the second ring. "M?"

"Hey, Eves. This a bad time?"

"No, no, it's fine," Evie reassured her. Mabel didn't hear anyone in the background but still asked.

"Is Liam there?"

"Uh, no. Why? Did you need him?"

Mabel shook her head, even if Evie couldn't see. "No. I just— He'll come with solutions and I don't need that right now."

"Well, I'm here to listen if you want. What's going on, M? You're dad's still worried sick and Liam said you heard him say somethings that upset you. Is that what this is about?" Evie was always sharp. It was one of the things Mabel loved about her.

"Yeah. I just... You know how, when my mom died, my dad had to take care of me alone? I mean, Jocelyn helped, but he was my only legal guardian, you know? And he had to give up a lot of things in life just to raise me. I know he passed on a couple of promotions and he couldn't just go out with friends and I got kicked out of my other school, so I know I'm a handful and—"