The Vampire Stalker

Chapter 21

IN THE HOSPITAL, I told Luisa everything, with Katie filling in the parts that I was too weak to explain. Luisa was stunned and furious and relieved that I was okay — leave it to Luisa to experience so many emotions all at once. She sat by my side and held my hand as I got stitches in my neck. Luckily, the hospital staff didn't pay any attention to our conversation.

Next, the police came. Alexander had disappeared after dropping me off at the hospital. Although he was the hero who had stopped the vampire killer, he couldn't tell the police who he really was. I answered a few questions, but insisted I hadn't seen who had staked Vigo.

By the time Katie, Luisa, and I left the hospital, it was dark outside. Luisa's dad picked us up. On the drive home, we saw that the streets were flooded with people celebrating. Word must have gotten out that the vampire who'd been terrorizing the city was dead. There was no fear anymore. Everyone wanted to party. It was Halloween, after all.

I'd called Mom from the hospital and given a brief explanation: The vampire was dead and I was fine. When I got home, she and Chrissy surrounded me with hugs.

"Are you sure he's dead?" Chrissy asked.

"Yes. I saw him staked. Alexander killed him."

"What a remarkable young man," Mom said, and Chrissy nodded in agreement.

I went to my room to change. My shirt was covered in dried blood. Instead of putting it in the laundry basket, I put it in the trash. I never wanted to see it again.

I had an overwhelming urge to shower, but I didn't want to get the stitches wet, so I used a cloth to clean myself up in the bathroom, then I put on fresh clothes. I saw the purple bruises on my arms where Vigo had held me, and I flashed back to those seconds of terror.

The door buzzer went off, followed by a knock a couple of minutes later. I knew who it would be.

When I came into the living room, Mom was hugging Alexander and thanking him profusely. I heard Chrissy say that he could stay here any time he wanted, and she would give him her room. Alexander looked embarrassed by their gratitude, and relieved to see me walk in.

"Amy. Do you feel well enough to go out for dinner?"

"Sure." It was true; now that I was home and safe, I felt almost normal again. And I was starving.

"Excellent."

When we stepped outside, the chilly air hit me. It was cold enough to see your breath, and I remembered another frosty Halloween years ago when Mom had tried to fit my costume over my winter jacket. I was glad that there would be trick-or-treating tonight.

When we got into the car, he didn't immediately turn on the ignition. "I am obliged to you."

"For what?"

"For agreeing to go on a date with me."

I smiled. Our first real date. It was about time.

First and last. My heart ached. It wasn't going to be easy to spend the next few hours with him, knowing that he would be leaving soon. But we wouldn't be parting in despair, not anymore. There was hope for Alexander. Hope for all of Otherworld. If Vigo could be defeated, so could Leander. Good had conquered evil in my world, and it could in Alexander's as well.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"I have somewhere in mind."

He drove past a group of teens running along the sidewalk, shouting as if their school had just won a sports championship. Their exuberance made us laugh.