Chomp

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23: 

I waited on Lizzie Miller's porch shifting from one foot to the other. She lived in a nicer neighborhood than me meant specifically for the rich and wealthy. The house was more of a mansion with a long driveway and cream pillars. A fountain depicting a naked baby angel spewing water from its mouth completed the manicured lawn and garden. The door opened to reveal a stern-faced Mr. Miller, Lizzie's father and city councilman. He crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a once over. 

"Hello, sir," I attempted feeling slightly intimidated but offering my hand, "I'm Leo Vasquez, Lizzie's date to the Halloween dance." 

The large man rose a thick brow, taking my hand in his before pulling me towards him so that he could send a message. "Listen here," he growled, "My little girl is sweet and innocent, and she even knows the value of a dollar. Somehow, she likes a poor kid whose intentions are unclear. But let me tell you, boy- if I find out that you've touched a single hair on my little girl's head, I'll castrate you with the chainsaw I keep in the garage. Is that clear?" 

"Crystal," I said swallowing the lump of fear in my throat as he released me and straightened up to call Lizzie to the door. 

Her blond head bobbed into view. She wore her hair up in a bun and must have been wearing contacts because her glasses were gone and her blue eyes were ringed with mascara and eye liner. Her lips were pink and glossed, the fitting white dress she wore expressing curves she hadn't had the year before but the white ballet flats still sweet and innocent like the rest of her. She looked cute, I admit, as she stood on her toes and pecked a grumpy Mr. Miller on the cheek. 

"I'll be home by 10:30, daddy," she said tugging me away from the door. 

I almost raced to Wendy's car parked on the street. She and her boyfriend were waiting patiently in the car for us. "You look beautiful, by the way," I told Lizzie who beamed with flushing cheeks. 

"And you look dead," she giggled referring to the zombie tears of flesh I'd managed to create. 

We climbed into the car making casual conversation and listening to whatever came on the radio. Wendy was dressed as a lady bug and her date was a bumble bee. It was only eight o'clock by the time we arrived at school and handed over the tickets that cost me ten bucks just to re-enter a free facility. As expected, the decorations were a bit cheesy and the music was beyond what I'd listen to, but I had fun regardless. Lizzie was possibly one of the worst dancers and I couldn't stop laughing at how terribly off-beat she was, but she didn't seem bothered.

A slow song began to play and I was ready to sit down to escape swaying to the corny song, but Lizzie was having none of it and I finally gave in thinking of her father's threat. I had no desire to lose my family jewels or any other body parts for that matter. I placed my hands on Lizzie's small waist and she reached up to loop her hands together behind my neck. As we spun in slow cirlces, I caught sight of Cole dancing too closely for my liking with Ray. She had this huge smile on her face with her back to his front as he whispered things into her ear causing her to giggle. 

"Ow! Leonardo, you're hurting me," Lizzie hissed. I realized that my grip on her waist had tightened and quickly apologized. 

"Are you thirsty?" I asked over the music. Lizzie smiled and I led us toward the table littered with refreshments, mostly sugary treats with Halloween themes. 

I poured us both some punch and handed the green liquid to Lizzie who drank gratefully. My eyes continued to wander over the dance floor and to my dismay, Ray was leading Cole out of the gymnasium and into the hallway. I heard my own date calling after me, but my feet were already moving across the linolium tiles through dense fake fog and between sweating grinding bodies. Thrusting the double doors outward, I peered into the halls and spotted two familiar forms pressed against each other in a less than appropriate manner. 

Something inside of me snapped. I felt betrayed, hurt, and confused. Most of all, I felt pissed off. Ray had her back to the wall, the already provocative skin tight dress riding up where Cole's hands caressed her thighs. A leg was wrapped around his waist as she pulled him closer with a heated expression and her eyes growing dark. Storming towards the couple, I snatched Cole backwards by his Batman cape and spun him around before landing a solid punch to his jaw. 

He slid across the floor with a thud holding his jaw with his eyes clamped shut and groaning. Ray leaned against the wall with her dress still hiked up and a smug expression on her face. I had to hold back from wacking her too. What had come over me? I wasn't sure but I did know that I didn't like the way they had been touching and enjoying each other's company. I moved to tower over Ray who giggled.

"I knew you'd come for me," she breathed biting her red bottom lip.

"What the fuck, Ray! You think this is a game?" I growled furious by her reaction. Cole sat up slowly, his eyes seemingly unfocussed as he rubbed his face and stared up at us. "And you . . . How could you do that when you're suppose to be my best friend!" 

Cole's brows came together in confusion and he looked to Rayna as though she had all the answers. I was losing my mind. "Leo . . . what the hell are you talking about? And how did I get out here?" 

His question made me pause. Was he being serious? "Dude, you just had your hands all under her dress! I know what I saw."

The sound of laughter had me piveting to glare into eyes that were completely black. Ray's long pinned tresses turned into straight black locks and her skin darkened. Her face and body began to morph until she was someone else. Someone I remembered all too well. She flashed her fangs at Cole and I, hissing and leaping for me with extended claws. It was the same woman from the day Ray and I had been attacked. Cole scrambled backwards, getting to his feet and ready to run. 

"Grab Lizzie and get out of here!" I shouted at him, blocking the vampire's path to him as he bolted for the gym doors. I just hoped that he would listen to me and not flee in fear or alert everyone that the real Halloween freak show was in the hallway. 

"What will you do now?" the vampire hissed. I swallowed back the lump in my throat and spotted the fire alarm. She caught on quickly as I made a mad dash for it.

Of course she was faster and caught me roughly by the back of the neck, lifting me off of my feet a few inches and throwing my body. I rolled stopping with a thud as I hit the lockers. I was dizzy and wished Ray would pop up at any second and find me. I got to my feet, dodging just in time as the woman's fist jutted out and put a hole in the wall beside my head. I attempted to tackle her to the ground but she was much stronger than me. Her fingers curled around my throat, sliding me up against the lockers and choking me. 

"I hear the blood of a witch is like fire . . ." she hissed up at me. 

Come on, Leo. Think! Think! One hand clawed furiously at her hand while the other snaked slowly into my pocket while she was fixated on the pulse in my throat. I felt my vision blurring as I snuck quick glances at my phone, finding the camera app. The vampire licked her lips as she drew closer in anticipation of the first bite. 

"Actually," I managed to choke out, "It's more like swallowing electricity." Her brows drew together and I took that as my cue to snap the picture. 

The flash was bright and enough to burn her eyes and blind her. She dropped me, hissing and cursing as she swiped at the air in rage. I wasted no time in hurrying to the emergency fire extinguisher beside the alarm. Taking my shirt off, I wrapped it around my fist and broke the glass before grabbing the tool from its holding. The affects of the flash were already wearing off as she charged at me. I blasted her with the foaming substance until there was none left. Raising the extinguisher above my head, I wacked her in the back of the head and face several times before turning and pulling the alarm. 

"I'll kill you!" the vampire shrieked with insanity blurring her vision as she sprang out with her claws extended and teeth bared to bite. 

Disoriented myself, I was in no way capable of getting out of her way. Her claws sank into my bicepts and her pointed canines reached to rip out my throat. I let out a cry as we collided to the floor, my head bouncing painfully against it. All that I could remember were my hands trying hard to push her away, palms forcing against her chest. There was a bright flash of light, screaming, and then total darkness . . .

A/N: Another chapter uploaded. Things just got crazy and Leo got Jelly. Hope you enjoyed it. :)