Vampire Hunter: Corey Crowgarden's guide to killing vampires for fun and profit.

lesson 1 part 5

Carrie saw the plumes of black smoke on the horizon and felt her stomach clench. She reached over and shook Bobby, who woke with a yawn.
"Whaaaaaat," he said with a yawn and a stretch, and she pointed down the road. He pulled his phone from his pocket and called, letting it ring. He hung up and scrolled a bit, then called again.
"No answer," he said.
Carrie drove a little faster.
When they topped the hill they looked down into the valley on the east side of the road. The source of the smoke was obscured by trees, but the location of the plume offered no comfort.
Carrie sped in earnest now, as they listened in silence to the tires throwing stones against the car on the dirt road. Once they cleared the embrace of the thicket of pine trees there was nothing to shield them from the sight.
Tim had always been very proud of the old family home, built in the 1880's by his great, great grandfather. It had been renovated many times, first to add plumbing and conveniences, and later to accommodate more comfort. He had taken great pains to maintain the red brick facade and the intricate brickwork around the windows and doors.
It was all gone.
Carrie leapt from the car letting it stall running towards the burning home. She was screaming "Crystal! CRYSTAL!"
There were firemen and emergency vehicles all along the drive, hoses being sprayed at the burning ruins.
Tears ran down her face as she sobbed out her sisters name. Bobby was running to catch up. He had put the parking break on and grabbed the key out of the ignition.
Two firemen intercepted her and blocked her path into the fire.
"WHERE'S MY SISTER!" She screamed.
"Get her back!" The firemen yelled to Bobby. He wrapped his arms around her and held her. He pulled her back and she wept as he pressed her into his collarbone, feeling her swaying on the edge of collapse.
"No, no, no, no," she murmured as he held her tight and kissed her.
Her mind raced with terrible thoughts, Crystal burning in the house, overcome by smoke. She imagined her lying on the floor surrounded by toppled bookshelves, pin under the weight.
"Bobby, this can't... I mean.. " she sputtered words as her mind flooded with terrible image's quicker than her tongue could express her horror.
"She's all I've got, Bobby."
'That's not exactly true,' he thought as she gulped and gasped for air. "CALM," he said, "deep breaths."
She drew in and held it for a moment, tasting the soot and ash in the air. She shook and started to weep again.
"Another one."
She tried this time, thinking of her breath going in, but the scent of the smoke set her weeping.
"Okay," Bobby said, "let's go back to the car. We are just in the way."
She stood there motionless, not weeping; not even breathing it seemed.
"C'mon, Carrie," Bobby said, "don't make me carry you." He moved his arms down her thin, athletic frame.
"You better not," she said, and escaped his embrace to walk towards the car, like a wobble kneed prize fighter saved by a ninth round bell.