21st Century | z.p l.s

IV.

They spend one more night reading and researching because extra knowledge never hurts, unless you read so much you forget to sleep and eat and end up dying, in that case knowledge does hurt, but in general terms it doesn't. And then after that they dedicate a night to shopping for weapons.

Now Liam didn't even know there were shops open all night that sold more than chips and cheap booze, but apparently, there are and Louis knows all of them.

They get swords, knives, holy water blessed at midday on a Sunday, garlic, a portable heater (for the garlic) and some wooden crosses. Louis wants to get a crossbow but a sharp look from Zayn and a small comment from Harry ("You don't know how to use a crossbow Lou. There's a bigger chance of you just shooting one of us instead.") ends the discussion quickly.

From time to time, as they browse through shops Liam didn't even know existed and question the legality of some of their items, Liam catches everyone looking at him with apprehensive eyes.

They don't think I'm comfortable with the idea of killing Norman and Lexi, Liam thinks, and then he thinks they're right, because he doesn't feel comfortable with the idea of killing anyone but feels even worse about the idea of Niall or anyone else dying because some vampires can't control their stupid thirst for blood.

After buying everything useful they could think of, they spend another night creating their plan of attack because if they're going to do this, they're going to do it right.

"Me and Harry take Norman, Zayn and Liam take Lexi. Zayn you'll be the one holding her down and Liam, you won't get close until you have a clear sign the bitch is down, understood? Then, and only then, you chop off her head and burn the body. Same goes for us Haz, I go in first and then you kill the asshole."

"What? But that's not fair, you can't just go ahead while I-"

"No butts outside the bedroom Harry. This is how we're gonna do things and it's not open for discussion."

The joke is inappropriate for the discussion they're having, but it makes Liam laugh anyway because he's easy to humor and it is a good one, circumstances where it's being used aside.

Despite being amused by Louis' words, Liam understands too well how Harry feels, knowing in his heart that he'd rather throw himself in front of a lion than let Zayn do it for him. But he also knows vampires are more stubborn than a mule and if Louis says that's how things are going to be done, then that's how things are going to be done.

The next night is spent building up courage, having lots of sex and in Zayn's own words "Making unforgettable memories just in case something happens."

Too soon comes the night where they have to leave their little lair and face the music even though everybody wishes to do anything else but face the music, which is probably a salsa or a tango, stuff nobody besides the bloody Spanish knows how to dance.

To make matters worse, they are going out on a Thursday. Liam hates Thursdays. Anyone in their right mind hates Thursdays. Liam's whole family died on a Thursday. Thursdays stink of death and misery and hate. Also, in the words of Arthur Dent, Liam's never got the hang of Thursdays, and while he's sure Zayn and the others haven't either, he can't say the same for Norman and Lexi.

Through Zayn and Louis' directions, they arrive at an abandoned warehouse near the river when the moon is already up in the black sky and there's not a soul in sight. Liam can't help staring at the decrepit building in front of him as his brain tries to digest the thought that not only is he going to be stepping inside it in a couple of seconds, he's going to be stepping inside it to meet two vampires who want to kill him and his friends.