It was a warm summer's day, and the sun was shining bright in the

                                                blue, cloudless sky. Oh, how she hated days like these.

                                            You really couldn't walk around in black clothes: way to hot. But wearing

                                        less would give her a tan. Something she hated even more.

                              At least her sunglasses looked perfectly ordinary now. But that must've been the

                    only ordinary thing about her.

As she left her last class of that morning, she heard the voice of the one and only Trevor.

Quarterback in the football team and he hated absolutely everyone who didn't fit in with him and his

friends. An don't even mention all those cheer-leading girls in pink and white who were always

darting around him.

Yuck.

Every time she saw those girls, she immediately got the urge to run into the nearest bathroom and

empty her stomach. She quickly turned the other way before they would see her, because they would

surely start picking on her again, like last week. She still had bruises on different places on her body.

Looking around, she saw a bathroom and fled into it. But she only noticed it was a men's room until

she was inside.

“Oh great, now look what you’ve done!” she said to herself.

She turned around fast, ready to leave this place as quickly as she had entered it, preferably before

somebody noticed her being here. But a soft, gentle voice coming from behind her asked: "What are

you doing here?"

She froze.

She had immediately recognised the voice: the only one who used to understand her, but who had

graduated last year, leaving her alone in this horrible place called school.

"Erm, I'm hiding...again. From Trevor and his friends. You know, those idiots! But, Gustav, what are

you doing here, I thought you graduated and would never come back to this shit-hole again?"

Gustav laughed.

“Well, I certainly do hope it’s obvious why I’m in a toilet: I’m taking a piss.”

Rhynn rolled her eyes.

"Duh, captain obvious, but why are you taking a pee at school? Out of all the toilets in the world you

pick these...these, ugly, dirty things that people call toilets."

“You probably hadn’t noticed yet, but I’m dressed kinda... normal. That’s because I’m a teacher, and

I’m gonna teach the art of writing down the twists of ones mind to the last years’ students.”

Her eyes widened. "What the fuck? YOU a teacher? Why would you want to teach?"

“Well, because the headmaster asked me. And I thought I might even be able to teach all those slimy

bastards something about people like you and me, too.”

Rhynn laughed out loud. "You think you can do that? Don't make me laugh, please!"

“Well, I think I already did make you laugh. But you might want to be a bit more silent, Quarter-

pounder and his greasy mayonnaise girls could come bursting in any moment to take it out on you

again.”

"Damn, I hate that guy!" She sighed and looked at him from head to toe. Hell, he was indeed dressed

like a teacher, and she just couldn't believe her friend since forever was going to give arts; though he

had always been good at it.

Suddenly it struck her.

“But... you can punish them now you’re a teacher, right?”

Gustav thought about that for a moment.

“Well, yes, but..."

Rhynn danced through the bathroom. "This is going to be great and I have arts 5 times a week!"

“Rhynn, control yourself! I can’t punish them for being who they are; I can only punish them if they

really do something to you!”

Rhynn stopped dancing and looked at him with puppy eyes.

Don't give me that look girl; you know I don't like that! I will, however, try to stop them before they

hurt you, and when they do hurt you, I will punish them. But now we have to get you out of here, I’m

sure you wouldn’t like it if anyone saw you coming out of the men's room.”

She hadn't thought about that yet. "Yeah, thanks man, I love ya! I owe you a lot, I guess."

“I’ll just pretend I haven’t heard that, it’s illegal to be in love with your teacher. Do you think you can

fit through that window over there?”

“I sure do hope so, but you're not that good looking and to be in love with you? Come on, no way!”     She flashed him an evil grin. "No way!"

“Thank god,” he muttered and he walked towards the window. “Now get that boney ass of you over

here and get it through the window. I’m supposed to be in a staff meeting right now.”

He helped her reach the window and she pulled herself up. She managed to crawl through it just

before the door of the bathroom opened.. "Thanks man, have fun at the meeting."

She heard a muffled “thank you” coming form the other side of the window. She didn’t pay attention

to the rest of the events in the toilet, and turned around to enjoy the rest of her lunch break.

Trevor and his friends walked into the bathroom, coming face to face with Gustav. They both stared

at each other in horror. Trevor was the first to recover, and said:

“What are you doing here?! I thought you graduated last year!”

“I hear that question a lot to day. But you’ll understand it soon enough anyway.

Now if you and your friends would please get out of my way, I have important business to attend.”

“Yeah right, as if you would ever have anything important to do!” spitted one of Trevor’s friends at

Gustav.

“Try to keep the rain inside friend; you wouldn’t want to spit on a teacher, now do you?” Trevor’s

friend looked at him dumbly and stepped aside.

“Since when did you become a teacher at this school?” Trevor asked.

“Since our respected headmaster asked me to,” he answered. “See you in class, kids.”

Trevor shot daggers at his new teacher.

“And what class would that be…sir?” He asked mockingly.

“You’ll see soon enough. If I’m not mistaken, I will be teaching you this afternoon.”

And with that, he left the bathroom, leaving Trevor and his friends behind in horror.

Rhynn ran into room 124 for arts. This was the only class she had looked out to today and that

Gustav was her teacher now made her happier then she already was.

“Hi Gustav,” she said, while taking her place in the back of the room.

“Hi Rhynn, long time no see.”

A girl with black hair and red streaks in it, an attitude and a tic for writing sat next to her. She

reached under the table and pulled her black and white striped socks up again.

“Hey, is Gustav a teacher now? Cool!” she said. She was just going to say something else, when

Trevor and his group came in.

“I wonder who his favourite student is going to be. O, actually, I already know, right Rhynn?”

“Trevor, fuck off!” Jacky told him.

“Ooh, I see you’ve found yourself a friend, Rhynnoceros.”

Trevor’s girlfriends giggled.

“But Trevor,” Jacky said, “Unlike you I don’t go around dating every dinosaur in the cheer-leading

squad.” And she pointed to his blonde girlfriend.

The blonde got red with anger and shouted: “Don’t call me like that you freak, my name is Josephine,

uh!”

“What, your name is ‘Josephine uh?’ I’ll remember, I think…”

Gustav had followed everything and quickly put an end to the ‘conversation’ by telling everyone to sit

down.

Gustav started his lesson, but no one really paid attention. Everyone wondered why Jacky so

suddenly helped Rhynn. They never were close friends or anything.

Jacky and Rhynn noticed this, but they decided not to pay attention to them. They liked following

their favourite class, and Gustav, better. Well, at least Jacky did. She had had a crush on Gustav    

since…well, forever! But she knew it was against the law to hook up with a teacher, so she just tried

to become friends with Rhynn now, because she surely would be close to him a lot now he had turned

up again. And Rhynn wasn’t that bad either.

“Today you all will be writing a story about vampires. Try to place yourself in an alternative mind- I

think that won’t be very hard for some of you. You will have to do research first, and I want to have a

description of the most important characters of your story. That is your homework for the next

lesson, by the way.” “Do you mean I have to place myself in their minds?” Trevor asked disgustingly,

pointing to Jacky and Rhynn in the back of the class.

“Not necessarily theirs, I don’t think they would allow you to. Just find the alternative hidden inside

you.”

“Oh great,” Trevor answered, “next time you’ll see me at school, I’ll be dressed in black, with eyeliner

and all that stuff. Ow, Rhynn, where can I buy some black eyeliner?”

“I think you’re confusing Gothic with Alternative, although they are a lot like each other. But if you

want to know, I get it in that small shop next to the coffeeshop. I think you’ve tried to break in a few

times. Hidden feelings, Trevor?”

“Maybe you should shut up you bitch, before I…”

“Before you do what, Trevor?” Gustav suddenly asked. “Before you start working on your assignment,

perhaps? You know, you should be careful now; I have the authority to punish you. And I will not be

light on you.” Trevor sat down, shooting evil glares at Gustav and Rhynn every now and then. But

eventually he started working on the assignment, like the rest of the class, while Gustav handed out

some papers.

“Hey, Rhynn, would you like to come to my house to work on the arts assignment together? I don’t

really have any inspiration left, and maybe we can help each other.”

Rhynn looked at her new friend and nodded.

“I’d love that, Jacky! I do have to drop by Gustav first; I have to ask him something.”

“I’ll come with you. You know, Gustav’s cool.” Jacky said.

“Hey, you do know it’s illegal to fall in love with a teacher, don’t you?” Rhynn countered.

Jacky halted and said: “Who said I’m in love with him?! I just like him, but that is definitely NOT the

same as being in love with him!”

“Haha, calm down, I’m just teasing you.” Rhynn laughed.

“Hey, maybe we can go by the coffeshop and drink some coffee too?”

“Sounds great you know, but I think we also need to visit Trevor’s favourite shop!”

“Maybe we can even meet him there….? And watch him buy some new eyeliner.” Jacky giggled, but

stopped with it quickly, as it sounded too much like Trevor’s girlfriends.

Rhynn grinned. “I would love to see his face if he knew we would be watching.”

The girls pictured the whole scene in their heads, laughed out loud and went looking for Gustav.

“Hey, girls, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be working on your assignment?”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to see you about. I would like to read what the rest of the class wrote.

I want to know what they really think of, well, our style.”

Gustav looked Rhynn in the eyes.

“I’m very sorry, but I’m not allowed to do that. Not without their own permission.”

Rhynn looked at him with her puppy eyes again.

“Rhynn, stop it!”

“But Gustav, it’s really important for us.”

“I’m not going to change my mind, Rhynn.”

“But Gustav…!”

“No! Rhynn, stop it, you will not get them unless you ask the writers for their permission.”

“Fine, whose character descriptions do you already have?”

“Giselle's and Josephine’s.”

“Oh, great, they’ll never let me read it. Anyway, want to go to the coffeeshop with us? I hope you

don’t mind, Jacky!”

“No, of course I don’t mind! You know how I think of him.”

Gustav looked at her with a strange look on his face, but luckily she didn’t notice.

“Okay, I’ll come,” he said. “But I can’t stay too long; I still have to think of an assignment for my

other class.”

“Maybe we can help you!” Jacky offered.

They sat down at a small table and soon the waitress brought three mocks filled with steaming hot

coffee. Gustav’s glasses became foggy. Trevor came in, of course with all off his fake friends.

“Well would you look at that. Our art teacher and his favourite students at the coffeeshop. What’s

next, the hotel room?”

“Well, what’s next for you? The little shop next door maybe?” Gustav countered.

“I don't have the guts to go in there...all those freaks!" Trevor said while looking sad. "Well, we could

always accompany you, right?" Rhynn said while she and Jacky stood up. They grabbed Trevor by his

arms and walked out of the coffeeshop. Gustav immediately followed them, no wanting to miss

anything.

When they entered the shop, a little bell ringed above the door. Trevor looked absolutely horrified.

The clothes there were only black and other deep colours, things he would never wear. And on the

counter, there it stood. A small bottle with all kinds of eyeliner. Jacky let go off his arm and walked

over to the counter. She grabbed a random colour eyeliner.

"Hmm, this one isn’t black, too bad." She put it back and grabbed one that was actually black and

walked over to Trevor.

"Now Trevor, this is black eyeliner, sure you don't need one?"

He swallowed hard. “N… no thank you. I… I don’t even know how to put it on, anyway.”

“Well, we’ll just teach you then,” Rhynn said with a cheerful voice. “It’s really not that hard.”

Jacky flipped the cap off the eyeliner and gave it to Rhynn.

"Don't move Trevor, or it will screw up." She carefully put the eyeliner to his face and created a small

dark line under his eyes.

"Could you please stop shaking?!" Rhynn said. Trevor couldn't do anything as long as Gustav was

watching them; he could feel his teachers’ eyes on his back. When Rhynn was finished they both

stepped back to admire their handy work. "Do you think you can place yourself into the mind of an

alternative person now Trevor?" Gustav asked gentle. Something inside Trevor snapped.

"How could you let them do that?!"

He snatched the eyeliner and stepped closer to Gustav.

"If anything like this happens again, I'll go to my father and make sure you'll get fired. I hate you!"

Trevor stormed out off the small shop and the woman behind the counter giggled softly. "I finally got

revenge for all those years!" Gustav sighed. "Yups, but he actually looked good like that, don’t you

think Jacky?"

“Wait… Rhynn… you are not falling in love with him, are you?!” Jacky screamed. Now it was her time

to be horrified. But she wasn’t the only one looking horrified; Rhynn and Gustav looked horrified too.

“You don’t honestly think I could do that, do you? I was just saying the eyeliner looked good on him!”

The girl behind the counter giggled.

“Girls, I don’t want to ruin all the fun, but he just ran off with an eyeliner that hasn’t been paid for

yet.”

“Don’t worry,” Gustav said. “I will pay for it. Wait, I’ll take another one with it. The festivals are

coming again, and I’m planning on attending as many as I can.”

He paid for the two eyeliners and turned to the girls, who were now looking around the shop.

“Hey, Jacky, look at what I’ve found!”

Jacky rushed to Rhynn to see what she had found. It turned out to be a small, black book, bound in

leather and obviously very old. There were dark red stains on it, and they could only guess what they

were.

"Looks like blood." Jacky said. "But, what's it about?"

Rhynn opened the book carefully, not wanting to damage it. She read a part of the first page before

she walked to counter and said: "This will come in handy for our assignment, Jacky."

She turned to the woman and asked how much she asked for it.

"Well since you have given me the best show in years, I think I'll just give it to you two. Who would

want it anyway?" The woman shrugged.

"Thank you so much!" Rhynn said happily. "Come on, let’s go home and read it Jacky!"

“Wait, I want to look at the dresses. The new Sinister collection is in.”

“Sinister?” Jacky asked.

“Yeah, that’s a really good brand for dresses and such. They always have exactly what I want.” With

that she walked to the dresses and started going through them.

“Oh wow, this one is gorgeous!” Rhynn held up a black dress, with some purple on the body and the

skirt. The sleeves were very wide at the end. The body looked like a corset. It really was beautiful.

“Wow,” Jacky and Gustav said. “It’s beautiful. Try it on!” Gustav encouraged her. Rhynn disappeared

into one of the changing cabinets and they waited. After a while she came out again, wearing the

dress.

All three people in the shop stared at her with open mouths. Jacky was the first one to recover: “How

much does it cost? It looks like it’s made for you.”

That dress is 99, 95. You can have it for 75, because it really does look like it’s made for you. And I’m in a really good mood.”

Rhynn changed back into her own clothes and she paid for the dress. And then they finally left the

shop, promising the girl at the counter to come back often

As soon as they stood outside the shop again, Gustav started to walk away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Rhynn asked.

"Well, I still have to make up that task for my other class you know."

"And we said we would help you with that, so we’re going to do that!" Jacky protested. "It's very nice

you want to help, but you two have to work on your own assignment and you just bought a very

interesting book for it. So I advise you to go and read it at home, maybe you can help me another

time, but really go do something useful with your day!" His face was so serious that it almost scared

Rhynn.

"All right, you win, but we will help you sometime, okay?"

"That's fine girls, but I really have to go now, see you tomorrow!" With that, Gustav walked away,

leaving the girls standing in front of the shop.

"Well, let’s go to my place and read that book." Jacky said.

"Hell yeah, I'm pretty curious what's in it." Rhynn answered. They walked to Jacky’s house, where

they went upstairs to her room. Jacky seated herself on her floor, amidst some very interesting

looking stuff. Rhynn sat on Jacky’s bed with the book.

“Shall I read it out loud?” Rhynn asked.

“Of course! I want to know what’s in it too, you know.”

Rhynn laid the book in front of her on the bed. “It looks like it’s some kind of journal, or diary.”

“Cool!” Jacky answered.

Rhynn started reading:

        “Friday, the 13th of December, 1748.

        School in London. 7th grade, last year.

        I’m not so sure why I’m writing this down, but maybe one day someone will be reading it. Then,

        the reader might wonder why I didn’t start writing earlier. Well, the reason is simple: my life has

        never been this interesting yet. Let’s hope it will stay interesting.

        Today, something happened to me. I’m not sure whether it’s good or bad. But it did happen. I’ll

        write it down as if it were a story. It’s from my teachers’ perspective, someone who I have always

        looked up to. And I always thought he was somewhat curious.

        “Today’s lesson is about a subject I suspect you already know something about. Does anyone have

        an idea?”

        Some fingers were raised into the sky.

        “Yes, mister Northren?”

        “Werewolves?”

        “No, although you are close. The subject is vampires. Now, who knows something about them

        already? Mister Northren again?”

        “Vampires live at night and sleep at day. This is because sunlight will boil their skin.”

        “I see you are very well-informed about fairy tale vampires. That is based on facts however.    

        Vampires can build up resistance to the sun over time. But does anyone know something about

        real vampires?”

        No one raised his hand. Everyone was as silent as the grave.

        “You disappoint me. But I’ll tell you everything.” Everyone was still quiet.

        The teacher went on:

        “Vampires normally look just like you and me. They only have a paler skin, and they usually are a

        bit thin. They live of the blood of people, large mammals and small mammals. It is true that they   

        hunt at night, but that is merely not to be noticed. When they have found their prey, their corner

        teeth turn into fangs, which they use to pierce the skin of their prey. Oh yeah, they don’t have to

        pierce the neck, it can be any place of the body. Then, they lift the teeth a little bit out of the

        body, so the blood starts to flow. By sucking a bit, the blood flows into their mouth. The victim will

        be sucked completely dry. Unless found, and helped very quick, the victim will die within the

        minute. He or she will then turn into a vampire themselves. The person is now immortal, unless

        killed again. However, a way to achieve this is currently unknown.”

        Some of the students sat at their tables staring at their teacher with open mouths. The description

        was the most detailed and accurate one they had ever heard. One finger was raised into the sky,

        somewhat shaky.

        “Yes?”

        “How is it possible that you know the feeding process of a vampire that precisely?”

        “I have been studying them very thoroughly.”

        Another finger was raised.

        “Yes?”

        “Sir, is it true that vampires can change into bats and fly?”

        “An interesting question,” he raised his voice a little. “They can not turn into bats. Nor can they fly.

        They occasionally develop the ability to float, and they all have exceptional speed and strength,

        though some only possess those qualities when in need. But I hope that out of this, you can all

        conclude that you will have to be extremely careful when handling vampires.”

        A girl asked, without raising his hand:

        “Sir, have you ever met a vampire?”

        Silence. The teacher turned his back to the class. He answered:

        “Yes, I have met a vampire. Several of them. And it didn’t stay with that. I have been… very close

        to them.”

        With a swish of his black robes he turned back to the class, with a rather evil looking grin on his

        face. The grin showed two pointy, white fangs.

        Oh, I will never forget this day. I sat at the front, closest to my teacher. I knew he would be going

        for me. And he did. He grabbed my arm and before I knew it, he was sucking my blood, and soon I

        fainted. I woke up a few hours later in this small village hospital. It is night. The very first thing I

        noticed was that I had no pulse. I am dead. My tongue went to my corner teeth. They are pointed.

        I am a vampire. I think I will fulfil my dream: travel the world. When I have seen all I want to see,

        I will settle down somewhere in England, or perhaps America.

        But now I will leave this hospital through the window. I don’t want anyone to see me. I need the

        quiet night now.”

“Wow, Rhynn, this is absolutely great! I already have loads of inspiration for my story and my

characters!” Jacky grabbed her notepad and a pen and started writing.

“Hey, Jacky, give me some of those too! You’re not the only one with inspiration, you know!”

Jacky gave her some writing stuff too and soon the only sound in the room was that of the scribbling

of pens on paper.

“Okay, sit down everyone, sorry I’m late. Did everyone do their homework?” Gustav sat down in his

chair.

“Sir, I forgot to get it out of my locker.”

“Go get it, but don’t take too long.”

The girl left the class.

“Okay, is there anyone who would like to read the description of their most important character in

front of class?”

Rhynn, Jacky, Josephine and two guys raised their hands.

“Josephine, you may go first.”

She walked towards the front of the class and Gustav handed over her character description.

“My most important character is a girl called Josie. She had blonde hair, blue eyes and always makes

sure she has a tan. She is a cheerleader at her school, Montague High. She always wears her cheer

leading costume, a short pink skirt with a white top. She wears very expensive Prada shoes, like I

do,” she showed her shoes, “She is seventeen years old. That is my most important character.”

“Very good Josephine. Does anyone have a question about Josie?”

Rhynn raised her hand: “Does she also wear her costume in winter? It seems a bit… cold.”

Josephine answered: “Yes, but she wears pink and white striped stockings then. And the football

jacket she got from her boyfriend Trey.”

There were no more questions, and Josephine sat down.

“Okay, we don’t have any time for the rest of the characters. We will spend the rest of this class

drawing character sketches. You will also have time to work on these next class, and at the end of

tomorrow I want them handed in. Start working on them now, and I will come by to check if you

really did do your homework.”

Everyone started drawing and Gustav checked everyone.

“So, that book you bought yesterday, was it of any help?” Gustav asked when he reached their table

to check their work.

“Hell yeah, we’ve just read the first pages, but the descriptions are so vividly.” Jacky answered him.

“Yeah, I already started my story. It’s going to be so cool.” Gustav nodded while he read Rhynn’s

work.

“Did Trevor bother you two again?” He asked. “This is good by the way!” He handed Rhynn her work

again.

“No, I hope he doesn’t start all over again, but I think he will…” Rhynn said sadly, knowing that guys

like Trevor would never stop with bullying.

“This is also good Jacky, keep up the good work!” Gustav told her before he walked to the next table.

“Hey Jacky, shall we go to my place to read the book again?” Rhynn asked.

“Cool,” she replied. “By the way, did you already figure out what the cover of the book says?”

“Yeah, half. I’ve got it with me.” She got the small book out of her bag. “I’ve been carrying my bag

around very carefully all the time, because I didn’t want to damage the book even further.” She gave

the book to Jacky and got a bit closer to her.

“Look,” she pointed to some letters, “I think this here says ‘Lucius.’ Though it could also be ‘Lukas.’”

“No, I think it is ‘Lucius.’ This is clearly a ‘c’. Do you think it is the name of the one who wrote it?”    

Jacky asked.

Rhynn replied: “That would be so cool. Then we would just know a real vampire by name. The only

cooler thing would be knowing him personally.”

“I totally agree. Shall we read during lunch break? I think we will have to use all the time we can get

to read it.”

“Very true. And I’m just really curious to know what happens.”

And the girls continued trying to figure out the rest of the name.

“Finally, lunch break!” Rhynn said while she got out of the math’s classroom. “I’ve been looking

forward to this ever since art class.”

“So have I. Let’s find a place outside; it’s too hot in here.”

So they went outside and found themselves a place on the grass. They got their lunch and the book

out and started eating. When Rhynn had finished her first sandwich, she carefully opened the book

again and started reading it to Jacky.

        “Saturday, the 27th of August, 1757

        The Carnival. Venice.

        I did not have much time to write the past years. While I am actually writing this I realise how

        stupid it must seem, but even a vampire has things to do, to take care of.

        I am in Venice now. It is very beautiful here, like they told me it would be. There are small canals

        and small boats everywhere. But the carnival had started a day ago and everywhere were people.

        Most of these people were dressed in very exclusive clothing: women in dresses and men in suits.    

        This city seemed rich, but I came here a few weeks ago and the difference between these weeks

        was huge. It was like they saved all their money just to look good during the carnival.

        I also bought a suit, black and red. I thought it quite fit me. I was on my way to the mayor’s

        house. Well, palace, it was very big, you could call it a mansion I guess. I walked up the stairs and

        there she stood. A girl with long black hair, and her eyes seemed black in this beautiful night. I

        guess she was waiting for someone, but no one came for her. At least, not in time.

        I walked up to her and politely asked her why she was waiting outside while she could have been

        inside, where the party was and the warmth. She shivered when she heard my voice. It was lower

        than when I was human; I always took it for just another vampire-thing.

        She took my invitation and we went inside together. The music soon absorbed the both of us and

        we danced the entire night. I think I liked her. The way she looked, danced, talked; everything

        about her seemed so perfect and she hadn’t even taken her mask off yet. I couldn’t care less. I

        haven’t felt this happy since that day in London.

        I was so wrapped up in this girl that I forgot that I was a vampire. I’ll never make that mistake

        again. It was about six in the morning when the ball ended. We walked outside, me and that

        beautiful girl. I didn’t realise it was six in the morning, nor did I care.

        I asked her name while we walked through this city of false identities. She told me her name was

        Rhylynn. The most beautiful name a woman can have if you ask me. I sound sappy don’t I? But I

        don’t really care, as long as her soul survives the ages.

        Her small, but warm hand holds mine. I don’t talk much, but she talks enough for the both of us.

        Her voice sounds like the voice of an angel from heaven and all I can do is agree with her. I don’t

        notice the sun rising in the east, for we walk westwards.

        At some point I could feel the warmth of the sun, but it didn’t bother me. If I would burn and die, I

        would die happy. But I didn’t burn. Nor were there flames, just me and Rhylynn holding hands.

        The sun rose fast and I was on my way to take her to the hotel. There it began. Suddenly my

        vision blurred. I couldn’t see anything. I couldn’t hear like I used to. The only thing I heard was

        my own blood burning inside of me. I let nothing show to Rhylynn, but right in front of the little

        hotel I collapsed on the ground.

        I remember how she looked at me shocked and asked me what was wrong. I managed to tell her I

        had to get into the hotel. She supported me and when we reached the room I had hired I couldn’t

        hear, see, smell and feel at all. I could speak, oh yes, but I had no idea what I said. I think she

        kneeled at my side and tried to nurse me back to health, not knowing what I was, or who I was.

        Then suddenly, something controlled me. I think one would call them instincts. The only thing I

        saw was that wonderful vein through which five litres of blood flowed in one minute. I suddenly

        longed for blood like a man who has been in the desert for weeks, longing for water. I don’t think

        it had mattered whose blood it was.

        The next thing I remember is that my teeth had sunken deep into her neck. I could feel how her

        skin broke; I could feel how her heart beat and how the blood flowed. It felt like my body came to

        life again. Everything in me was set on fire. My vision became clear again and I could hear

        everything again. But when I realised I was well on my way to suck Rhylynn dry, it was too late.

        I let go of her, disgusted by myself. How could I let this happen? I stared at her body, her neck

        obviously broken. Blood smeared across her beautiful neck and her eyes wide and her mouth open

        in a silent scream. I realised I couldn’t save her, I realised that I had loved her; I realised that I

        would never be the same again.

        “The vampire is here!” Some men screamed just outside my door. I panicked. They had weapons,

        I did not and the sun was shining. I had no where to go.  The men burst into my room and

        advanced on me. I slowly stepped back. Then they attacked. I had no idea what to do, but I kicked

        him and he flew back into the wall. I was amazed by my own power. Then I advanced on them.

        Faster then they could see and I struck them down one by one. I sucked them dry one by one. I

        never had so much blood in one night, but I didn’t care about that. I had only eye for Rhylynn on

        the floor. Dead. Killed by me. And I cried. I felt sorry for myself, losing her, but most I felt most

        sorry for her. She had no idea what happened and she would never learn the truth.

        I waited the entire day. And when the night finally came I took her body and buried it near the

        church. I went into the church, something I would never do, and prayed for her soul. After that, I

        left Venice and I don’t plan on returning there, never, ever, the rest of my eternal damned life.

The girls would have read more if lunch hadn’t been over.

“Oh damn, I haven’t even finished my sandwiches yet!” Rhynn hastily stuffed a sandwich into her

mouth and started chewing.

“Well, next up is Geography. You can eat then, we’re in the back of the class and the old bastard

never pays attention to anything but his maps anyway.”

Rhynn nodded, not being able to speak with her mouth stuffed.

They got their books out of their lockers and headed for the geography classroom. They sat down in

the back of the class and Rhynn was finally able to swallow her sandwich. She took a bite of her last

sandwich and pulled the journal out again.

“I think we can try to figure out the name of our vamp. It’s not as if we have something better to do

anyway.”

So they spent the rest of the hour trying to figure the name out. However, all they got to know was

that the first letter of his last name was an ‘n.’

Next hour was PE. The only class Rhynn hated with a passion. Jacky on the other hand liked it.

“Try to see it positive. No books, no uncomfortable, wooden chairs and no silence, what could you

wish more?” Rhynn just shook her head.

“These things are just way to short and this white T-shirt makes me look like a zombie!” Jacky

laughed. “Well, you’ve got problems and problems!” Rhynn glared daggers at her before they went

inside.

Their PE teacher was named Hanson. The man was old and dirty. Hence the white shirts Rhynn once

told Jacky, because when it rains they shine through. Everyone had started their warming-up round

when they came in. They started their rounds and when they were almost finished they saw Trevor

talking to Hanson. Hanson just looked at them

“I think you ladies need to run a round more, you two came in late.” Rhynn couldn’t believe what she

just heard. Never, ever did they have to run an extra round and now because of Trevor’s big mouth

they had to. After an hour of listening to the annoying voice of Hanson and playing soccer they could

finally get away.

“Rhynn, would please stay for a few seconds?” Hanson asked when they were about to leave. “I’ll see

you in a bit Jacky.”

“Rhynn,” Hanson started, “I’ll have to give you detention. You almost didn’t participate in the game

and you came in late. You’ll have to report and then stay an hour after school.”

“And Jacky not? She came in with me! That is so not fair.”

“Jacky did play soccer, you didn’t, but if you want Jacky to stay, I’ll bet she’ll do it.”

“No way!”

“You can go now and don’t forget it!”

“So what happened?” Jacky immediately asked when Rhynn sat down next to her in history class.

“Detention!”

“What the hell?! For what?”

“For not being active during the games.”

“And what do you have to do?”

“Well, the deputy headmistress said I had to help mister Howles with sorting the books. Do you know

how many book that guy has?! It’s going to take ages before I’m finished!”

“At least you don’t have to scrape gum off the tables.”

“I would be finished a lot sooner than with this! Now I don’t have time to read Lucius’ book.” Jacky

frowned.

“Yeah, that sucks!”

Trevor came in and started drawing a very naughty picture of the headmaster and their history

teacher, miss Prince on the blackboard. When he was finished, he sat down. As if they had timed it

that way, miss Prince came in right after that. She saw the picture on the board and froze.

“Who… who did this?” she asked, with a shaking voice.

Trevor answered her: “Jacky did it!”

“What?!” Jacky and miss Prince exclaimed, at the same time.

Miss Prince sat down in her chair. “Jacky, come see me after class, please. I can’t believe you really

did this.”

“Miss Prince, you don’t honestly believe Trevor, do you? You know I would never do something like

that.”

“I don’t want to discuss this now, miss Lee.”

Rhynn calmed Jacky down by pulling the black book out again.

“Let’s try to figure out the rest of Lucius’ last name, okay?”

Jacky didn’t say anything, but started staring at the book.

Halfway through class, Jacky whispered: “Wait, give me the book for a moment.”

Rhynn did what she said. Jacky opened the book on the first page. Then she closed it again, and

looked at the cover again.

“His last name is Northren.”

“How the hell did you figure that out?”

“Well, if he wrote it himself, which is most likely true, then he would be the student on this page,

Northren!”

“Stupid we didn’t think about it sooner.” Rhynn answered.

Class was over and Rhynn went out, while Jacky stayed behind with miss Prince.

“Miss Prince, I really didn’t do it. You know I wouldn’t do anything like that and especially not during   

History, this is my favourite class!”

“That’s what surprised me the most. I really don’t understand why you did it.”

“But..!”

“I don’t care, detention for you young lady! Go see the deputy headmistress immediately!”

Jacky left class, fuming. Rhynn didn’t have to ask how it went. Together, they walked to the deputy

headmistress. Jacky went inside with a paper she got from miss Prince and put it on the desk.

“There there, miss Lee, have you landed yourself detention again? I thought you had finally got

enough after last year.”

“Please, don’t remind me of that. Just tell me what my detention is.”

“I think I will let you organise the books in the library. Yes, that suits you.”

“Okay.” Jacky said and she left the small office.

When she was outside, Rhynn asked: “So, what is your detention?”

“It’s not that bad, you know. I’m going to help you.”

“Cool!”

“We were supposed to help you mister Howles.” Rhynn told the old librarian.

“Ah, miss Lee and miss Collins, glad you two could come.”

“Yeah, whatever!” Jacky whispered.

“Here,” he gave them a list with titles, “You two can start with the books in the back, most people

don’t read them anyway, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t finish it in an hour.

They walked towards the back while reading the list.

“Hey, this would be a cool name for a vampire.” Jacky said and gave Rhynn the list, while pointing to

a title. It said: “Journal of Sem Gybson”

Rhynn asked: “Are you going to use it in your story? I still need a name for one of my characters, so

if you aren’t going to use it…”

“You can have it.” Jacky answered.

They had reached the back and started organising the books. It was easier than they had thought, so

they still had half an hour to go when they were finished.

“I’ll go ask mister Howles what we’ve got to do now. You just wait here.” Jacky said and she walked

away to look for the old librarian.

Rhynn looked at their work and saw the book Jacky had pointed out to her earlier, the journal. It was

an old book, just like Lucius’ journal. She got it from the shelve and opened it. The letters were curly

and written with dark red ink, though it could also have been blood. She looked at them closer and

decided it was definitely ink. She turned the pages, sometimes reading a few lines, and when she

reached passages she thought were interesting, she read them entirely. And then, on the first real

journal page, she noticed a name she knew very well.

Lucius.

She read the pages:

        ‘Wednesday, 15th of December, 1763

        Dej, Transylvania; Home.

        I had an unexpected visit today. My old friend Lucius. We used to be best friends, until he had to

        move to England because his parents had to flee. For what, I still don’t know. Neither does Lucius,

        by the way.

        The first thing I noticed was footsteps in the snow. They were big, but not deep. I thought that

        was strange. I followed them, keeping my eyes focused on the snow. The first thing I saw of

        Lucius were his black shoes. I slowly looked up, noticing his black trousers, and then his black

        jacket which hung half open. There was nothing under his except for white skin. I saw a little scar

        just under his breastbone. I knew that scar. I knew exactly how it had gotten there: when we were

        kids we used to go out in the woods every day, trying to catch wolves and other big animals. One

        day he had caught a wolf cub. They wrestled, Lucius being careful not to hurt the cub, but in the

        excitement of the moment he forgot that it was just a cub, and he hurt it. The cub then scratched

        that exact place under Lucius’ breastbone with his paw and ran.

        I couldn’t believe Lucius was back. Lucius looked at me with a strange look on his face, until he

        recognised me.

        “Sem! It’s you! You still live in this old place!” he said,, almost shouted.

        “Hey, big guy, you don’t have to shout, I’m standing right in front of you!” I said, “Wow, you’ve

        changed a lot! Come to my place, It’s way too cold out here.”

        “Cold? Oh, of course, it’s winter. Good Idea, Sem! Do you still live in your old house?”

        We started walking.
        ”No, I’ve build myself a place at the edge of the woods, just a little outside of the village.

        Apparently I’m quite scary, because the small children aren’t allowed to play near my house.”

        We arrived at the edge of the village. My house was a little further; we could already see the roof.

        We talked about what had happened when Lucius had left. He told me everything he did to the

        point he got here. But I think he’s keeping something behind. I know there’s something he doesn’t

        want to tell me. Maybe it has something to do with his choice of clothing, which is way too cold for

        this time of the year. But I’ll get it out of him. He’s going to stay here for a while, he said he might

        even live her for a few years. That would surely give me the time I need to get that little secret of

        his out of him.’

“Rhynn, what are you reading?” Jacky asked when she came back.

She replied: “the Journal of Sem Gybson. I think you’ll find it interesting that this guy is the best

friend of our dear Lucius Northren.”

Jacky’s mouth fell open. “What?! Show me!”

Rhynn showed the pages to Jacky and she read them.

“Wow, this is so cool!” she said, a bit too loud. Mister Howles came to check what the noise was

about.

“Girls, what are you doing? This is a library, a place where you have to be quiet. And you two should

be working on organising the shelves! I’m terribly sorry, but you’ll have to come back again

tomorrow!”

Rhynn wanted to object, but she decided against it after a glance from Jacky.

“Okay, mister Howles. But we would like to lend this book.”

“Very well.” he said and they walked to the counter. When they were done, Howles said:

“You may leave now. I expect you back tomorrow.”

The girls left for Rhynn’s house to read Lucius’ journal.

        ‘Wednesday, 15th of December, 1763

        Dej, Transylvania; the place I called home in my childhood.

        I think excuses are in place. I haven’t written anything in the past six years. There were many

        times I wanted to, but I just couldn’t bring myself to it. But now I’ve finally found some rest.

        In the past six years, I have been to many places. I have made friends in Germany, I have been

        back in England to see my old teacher. But the place I have been to most, is the grave of my

        beloved Rhylynn in Venice. I come there to cry and lay roses at least once every year.

        The last time I was there I decided to go back to the land I grew up, Transylvania. I lived in the

        small village of Dej, near the city of Cluj-Napoca.

        I arrived here this morning. I was just walking through the village, going through my memories,

        when my old best friend Sem Gybson bumped into me. I didn’t recognise him at first, but I was as

        happy as a child when I did. So was he. I think he was a bit bewildered over my choice of clothing;

        black shoes, black trousers, and a black vest that I leave hanging open, and a black glove on my

        left hand. I must say I like my clothes. Even though the don’t exactly suit this time of the year;

        people seem to think they are too cold.

        We went to his house, a villa he built himself just outside the village on the edge of the forest. We

        used to play there every day. I still have a scar just under my breastbone from a wrestling match

        with a wolf cub.

        I told Sem everything that happened from the day I left Dej with my parents. I still don’t know

        why we left, but my parents always told me it was important. The only thing I didn’t tell Sem was

        that I am a vampire. I think he knows there is something I didn’t tell him. But I leave it to him to

        find it out. He has plenty of time to do that; I’m going to restore my parental house and live there

        for some time.

        I’m going to sleep now, it has been a long day.’

“Hey Rhynn, I think I’m going home, it’s getting kind of late you know.”

“Maybe you could sleep here tonight? My parents aren’t anywhere near home and yours are on

Jamaica.” Rhynn suggested.

“Yeah, all right I guess. But I would still have to go home to pick up some stuff, toothbrush and all.”

Jacky answered before she got up from the chair she had been sitting on.

“You do that, I’ll go and get some chips and cola, we have the entire night and tomorrow it’ll be

Saturday!” Rhynn jumped up and ran to the door yanking her coat from the

hat-rack and waited impatiently for Jacky to follow her.

“Geez, why the hell are you in such a hurry now?” Jacky asked.

“I want to read more and I want something to eat, so hurry up will you!”

“All right, I’ll run home and run back here!”

Jacky stuffed her hands deep into the pockets of her jacket while they walked through the dark   

streets of Glasgow. It wasn’t cold here, but the neighbourhood had a dark aura. The old houses

looked like there hadn’t lived anyone for ages. Rhynn and Jacky walked silently next to each other

and as fast as they could without looking like they were in a hurry.

The neon lights of the mall gave them somewhat a warm feeling.

“See you soon right?” Rhynn asked

“Yup, give me twenty minutes!”

“Bye then!”

Rhynn crossed the street and entered a supermarket, leaving Jacky alone. Jacky almost ran through

the streets, but didn’t want to admit she was a bit scared. She looked at one of the flickering

streetlights before she bumped into someone. A few books fell on the street and Jacky mumbled an

apology before she stuffed the books back into the hands of the owner. She didn’t pay attention to

who it was, but ran away from him as fast as she could.

She quickly ran up the stairs to the first floor, where their front door was, but slowly took her keys

out of her pocket as if she didn’t want to scare anyone, and opened the door. She quickly stepped

inside and closed it behind her. She scurried through the house, throwing the things she needed into

a bag. She stopped when she heard a man playing saxophone in the apartment next to this one.    

Since when did the neighbour play saxophone, or did someone else move in? She shook her head and

grabbed her bag before leaving the place she called home and ran back to Rhynn’s house.  

    Rhynn just opened her door when Jacky arrived back.

    “Hey Jacky, come in. I just got back.”

    Jacky went inside and stood there for a while, breathing heavy.

    “Wow, you ran really hard, didn’t you? I got two pizzas; I’ll put them in the oven.”

    Rhynn got her bags from the floor and walked into the kitchen. She put the pizzas in the oven and

    put the rest of the things she had bought on the kitchen table.

    “Hey Jacky, shall we get a mattress from the attic?”

    “Okay, but I really hope those pizza’s don’t take too long. I’m starving!”

    They went to the attic and carried a mattress down to Rhynn’s room. There they made the bed and

    got the two journals.

    They went downstairs again and waited for the pizzas to be ready. They watched the news while they

    waited. There were boring topics as usual: a new satellite had been launched, a suicide bomber had    

    blown himself up somewhere in a busy market in Israel, and snow in Russia had caused a lot of traffic

    accidents. The weather of the next day was going to be normal English: rain.

    They ate the pizzas when they were finished and drank some glasses of cola. Between bites, Rhynn

    said:

    “Shall we read Lucius’ or Sem’s journal?”

    “I want to read Lucius’ first. You can read Sem’s alone, I’ll read that one later.”

    “Okay.” was Rhynn’s short reply.

    They finished their pizzas in silence and put the TV out. Rhynn sat down on the couch and Jacky

    seated herself in a very comfortable chair. Jacky started reading:

        ‘Wednesday  the 5th  of January ,1764

        Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, around midnight. The Laughing Mattress hotel.

        I already wrote that Sem knew that there was something I hadn’t told him. Well, I can tell you it

        was hard to hide the fact I’m vampire. He almost watched every move I made. It annoyed the hell

        out of me, but he didn’t ask any questions, never.

        Today it’s the last day of the year. Sem has bought us champagne and some snacks. I feel guilty

        because of it. I don’t eat or drink any of that anymore. Sem knows this, but he still hasn’t figured

        it out.

        The rain outside reflects my mood precisely. I feel like crying, but I promised myself I wouldn’t do

        that anymore. I sit in a wooden chair and just stare at the raindrops falling continuously. I hear

        Sem saying something about this awful weather and not being able to play with some fireworks. I

        really don’t care about that now.

        I realise on this very moment that Sem was lonely. No one came here to wish him a happy new

        year. I think that no one ever came here. Why the hell would they fear Sem? I really don’t have

        the answer.

        “Sem?” I ask.

        “Yes?” he answers

        “Why don’t  you move away from this place? You could start all over next year.”

        “I can’t” he replied softly.

        “Why not?”

        “I don’t have the money for it.”

        “That isn’t a good excuse Sem.”

        “I know, but this is my home, I can’t just leave it!” he exclaims.

        “I know this is your home, but you’re lonely and no one ever comes here.”

        “I know that too, but I just can’t leave it behind, I have tried so often.”

        “Then why did you come back?”

        “As soon as I know I’ll tell you.”

        I sigh. Why can’t he leave this place?

        I hear him move a chair and within seconds he sits next to me. He hands me a glass of

        champagne and slowly sips of his own. An hour has almost passed before we start to talk again.

        “Why don’t you drink that?” Sem asks

        “I’m not thirsty.” I answer truthful

        “Weird.”

        “Why?” I ask and realise that was stupid.

        “Because you haven’t eaten nor drunk anything at all it those two weeks you were here.”

        I don’t answer him. He knows, I can tell it. Besides that, I’ve known him for years and he’s pretty

        smart.

        “Are you a vampire?”

        Again I don’t answer, but I seem him nod slightly from the corner of my eyes. Maybe he had

        known it since I arrived.

        “Are you?” he asks again.

        “Yes.”

        “That would explain all of it.”

        “All of what?”

        “You not eating, sleeping during the day, being away at night.”

        “So you did notice it.”

        “Yes, I don’t sleep very much and I’m often awake during the night. I have heard you sneak out on

        many occasions.”

        “Next time I’ll be more careful not to wake you.”

        “Don’t let it bother you.” Sem says and I know he means it.

        “It should at least bother you a little bit.”

        “What exactly?”

        “The fact I am a vampire.” I say quietly, it sounds so strange.

        “I doesn’t bother me, I know I’m your friend and I know you wouldn’t just, drink all my blood.” He

        smiles stupidly.

        “Why wouldn’t I do that?”

        “I just know.”

        I show my fangs and he grins widely and offers me his wrist.

        “Go ahead.”

        I stare at his arm, but I can’t do it. Not to him.

        “Thought so.” He tells me happily.

        I sigh again. He knows me to well; I could never hurt him on purpose.

        It’s almost midnight now and it had stopped raining an hour ago. Maybe there would be fireworks

        after all. And suddenly I hear voices, I can’t hear exactly what they say, but they are there.

        “Did you hear that?” Sem asks

        “The voices?” I ask

        “No, it sounds as a drum or something.”

        Now I hear it too, it reminds of the ancient wars. I listen more closely, using my vampire senses.

        What I hear frightens me.

        “Sem, we have to go!”

        “Why?” he asks, scared by the fear in my voice.

        “They want to kill us!”

        “What the hell…!”

        The people come closer, and fast. Then suddenly someone kicks in the door in.

        “Sem, run!”

        “No!” he runs to the kitchen and returns with a kitchen knife. Something inside me wants to laugh,

        but another part in me fears for his life.

        “Sem, get out of here now! I don’t want you to risk your life to save mine!”

        I must have sounded more angry than I intended to do, because he nods and runs for the kitchen

        again. I hear the door open and the sounds of twigs snapping under his feet.

        Fire!

        I smell it and I also see it. Some men have brought torches. I see one of them throwing a torch

        onto the roof.

        Damn!

        I also run for the kitchen door; no arguing with fire. It would definitely kill me. As soon as I reach

        the door I notice the men hidden behind the walls and they’re armed.

        I curse again.

        I can’t run and I can’t hide, this situation is so fucked up. I know I have to decide what I’ll do, sit

        here and risk being burned alive or run and risk being shot it the back.

        I choose the second option. I run for the woods as fast as I can, but not having fed in three days

        isn’t helping any. I turn around to see if there are men, to check if my mind is playing tricks on

        me. It was not. Three arrows followed me and hit me. I fall to the ground and growl in pain. I hear

        them leave quickly, not wanting to be here when I recover.

        I don’t know how long I have been lying here, but when Sem finally came back it had seemed like

        ages. He pulls the arrows out of me and tries to assure me that I’ll be fine. I don’t believe him. The

        house had been burned down and I needed blood.

        I hear him cut his wrist with the knife he had with him. I can practically taste it already. He holds it

        in front of my face.

        “You need it more then I do at the moment.”

        “Only if you come with me, away from this horrible place!” I say weakly.

        “I promise.”

         Then I dug my teeth deep into his wrist and hear him hiss softly. I knew I hurt him, but it also

        hurt me. His blood consumed me. I didn’t think I’d have the willpower to stop myself… 

        Thank god I could. But I did drink a bit too much of him. He had fainted, and I hadn’t noticed. I

        waited, and he woke up for a moment.

        “Sem, you can’t go on like this! You need blood, or…”

        He looked into my eyes. I think he saw my concern in them.

        “I… I know what you can do to save me… g… give me blood, Lucius… you know what I mean…”

        And then he fainted again. I thought I knew what he meant, but what if I was wrong? Then I

        would change his life forever; the only way to get out of it would then be his death…

        He woke again.

        “Lucius, please… let me drink…”

        I hesitate. Do I really want to do this? Is he sure he wants it? I look into his eyes. I knew I had to

        do it if I wanted to save him. So I got a small letter opener from my pocket and cut my wrist with

        it. I hold my arm over his mouth and pinch the wound together, making the blood drip out of it

        faster. It drips into his mouth. Sem doesn’t swallow at first, but eventually he does. I can almost

        feel my own blood spreading through his body. His body starts to die. I get sick from watching, but

        I know I can’t turn away, for the sake of Sem. I have to support him now. I see something

        dripping on my black glove. Suddenly I notice I am crying. I hadn’t done that in a very long time.

        Then Sem’s body lies still. For a brief moment panic spreads through me. Had I done something

        wrong? Should I have given him more blood?

        My panic was proven unnecessary. He opened his eyes and looked at me.

        “Thank you, Lucius. Please, help me get up. We have to get out of this place.”

        I help him get up and support him until he can stand alone.

        “Sem, you’ll need fresh blood soon. I can try to catch some ravens and crows for you, but you

        need human blood to stay alive.”

        He nodded. We silently walk through the woods for several days, while I frequently catch birds

        for us. Thankfully at the fifth day we reach the city of Cluj-Napoca. We end up getting a chamber

        at a small filthy hotel annex café called The Happy Mattress. What a ridiculous name.

        At night, I go out to get us some blood. I find a hospital, where I help some old people and their

        suffering. I had asked their permission; I had sworn myself an oath that I would never again suck

        anyone completely dry after Rhylynn, unless the person gave me permission to do so. I returned

        to the hotel to find Sem sleeping in his bed. I woke him and he drinks the blood I brought him,

        and then he went to sleep again. I decide to do the same; the past days weren’t easy.’

Jacky wiped a tear off her cheek with her sleeve.

“Wow, that’s wonderful! I wish I could meet those guys!”

“Well, maybe we can,” Rhynn said, “They’re vampires, they could very well still be alive. We only

have to track them down.”

“That would be so cool.”

“I think I’m going to see what I can find about this in Sem’s journal.” Rhynn said and she reached for

the other book lying next to her on the couch. She opened it and flipped through the pages until she

found what she sought.

“Here it is!” she shouted. “Oh, do you want to drink something?”

“Yes, but I’ll get it. I’ll get you some too. And I’ll take the crisps with me.” Jacky got up from the

comfy chair, got the stuff and sat back again. Rhynn drank some, ate some crisps, drank some more

and wiped her hand on her trousers. She started reading, occasionally stopping to eat and drink:

        ‘Saturday  the 6th  of January ,1764

        Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania. The Laughing Mattress hotel.

        The last days were horrible. I will not write down every detail; I don’t have the strength to do that.

        At New Years’ Eve, I finally found out Lucius’ secret. I already suspected it, but he has finally    

        confirmed that he is a vampire.

        That same night, the villagers banished us from my own house. We fled into the forest, but Lucius

        got hit by three arrows. He had lost a terrible amount of blood. I let him drink from me. But he

        couldn’t restrain himself; he hadn’t fed in three days. I fainted. When I woke up, I saw his

        concerned eyes staring at me. I told him to give me blood. I think he wasn’t sure what I meant

        exactly. Eventually, he did get it, and he cut his wrist to let me drink. His blood spread through

        me. The next moments were the most horrible moments of my life; I died. Or rather undied. For a

        brief moment I didn’t know anything. Then I opened my eyes and saw Lucius cry. I never thought

        I would see him cry.

        But to make a long story short, we arrived at this hotel-café in Cluj-Napoca five days later, on the

        fifth of January. Lucius got some blood for me; I drank all of it. He is a true friend. I think we will

        now go to Paris, and then settle down somewhere in England. Of course, if we settle down, we will

        occasionally go somewhere else; otherwise life would get too boring.’

“This is everything he writes about this,” Rhynn said, “And he only wrote one more entry. He

obviously doesn’t like writing down his personal life that much.”

“Well, I think we can still read that one. But I do want to sleep after that, I’m starting to get tired.”

“Yeah, so do I. It’s been a pretty long day.”

And then Rhynn read again:

        ‘Tuesday the 23rd of July, 1836.

        Paris, a small hotel.

        We have travelled to Paris really slowly. Lucius introduced me to some of his friends, and he has

        taught me everything he knows about vampirism. But finally, we reached Paris. It is a truly

        beautiful city. I can float and jump short distances already, so I jumped up the Arc de Triomphe

        Napoleon has finished building last year. It gives a beautiful view.

        However, we will not stay here for long. We don’t really like Napoleon; something no one except

        for vampires know, is that he wants to kill every vampire in this world. He is a vampire hunter in

        disguise.

        We have decided we will move to Glasgow in two weeks. We hope to find a boat that can take

        us there. Otherwise we’ll have to steal one, and then we would have Napoleon breathing in our

        neck all the time.

        I will not bore my readers, if there are any, anymore. This was my last entry. I think I’m just going

        to leave it somewhere when we are in Glasgow. I think I will put it between the books in the

        library of Lucius’ old school he promised to show me.

        Well, this was all. Goodbye.’

Rhynn yawned, and Jacky soon followed.

“We’ll clean up tomorrow. I’m too tired to do that now.” Rhynn said, and Jacky agreed. They went

upstairs, brushed their teeth, got into their pyjamas and went to sleep.

“Good morning, Rhynn!” Jacky said when Rhynn finally got downstairs.

“G’morning Jacky.” She answered with a sleepy voice.

“I baked some eggs. Here you go.” And Jacky put a plate with baked eggs in front of Rhynn, who sat

down at the kitchen table.

“Thanks.” And she started eating.

“Wow, you really aren’t a morning person, huh? I was already awake at eight, and it’s ten o’clock

now!”

“I just haven’t slept that much the past days. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lucius.”

“I would really love to meet those guys. I hope they really did move to Glasgow; that would mean it

is possible to meet them one day. Oh, we should tell Gustav about this, he might be able to help us!”

“I think we should continue reading today. We’ll tell Gus in class Monday.”

“Good idea. I’ll read this time; you’re not really awake yet.” Jacky said, and she walked to the couch

to grab the book. She sat down at the kitchen table again and started reading:

        ‘Sunday the 23rd of July, 1836

        Paris, a small hotel.

        We finally arrived in Paris. On our way from Transylvania, I introduced Sem to some of my friends.    

        We’ve been to Russia to meet Igor Kratsky and his family, we’ve paid the Hopmann family in

        Germany a rather long visit, and, of course, we’ve been to Rhylynn’s grave. In Venice we stayed at

        the same hotel as I did back with Rhylynn. Thank god it wasn’t the same room.

        Now, we’re finally in Paris. I have taught Sem everything I know about being a vampire, and

        yesterday I saw him jumping up the Arc de Triomphe. I think he enjoys his new life.

        He has also hunted all alone for the first time. He did that when we were in Switzerland. He told

        me he had lots of fun.

        We will not stay here for long; Napoleon knows there are vampires in Paris. We are not safe here;

        we will have to find a boat to get to England. We will sail to Dover, and from there we will go to

        Stonehenge, visit Gybsdale in Wales, and then go to our final destination: Glasgow. I am very

        curious to see how much my second hometown has changed in my years of absence. I will pay my

        old school a visit and I have promised Sem to show him the library. He likes reading.

        I hope to find a house for us somewhere near that school. I hope my old teacher still lives there; I

        want Sem to meet the one who made me a vampire, and thus indirectly made him a vampire.

        I will try to write more often, but I don’t promise I will. Sometimes nothing interesting happens for

        a long time, and sometimes I just don’t know how to put it down.

        Oh yeah, something worth noting: I think Sem is in love with Igor’s daughter. Sadly (for Sem) Kari

        has recently engaged herself to the Tsar’s son. I feel sorry for him.’

“Shall I continue reading?” Jacky asked.

“Yes, but wait a moment. I have to go to the toilet.” Rhynn stood up and walked to the toilet.

“Hey, good idea. I’ll go upstairs.” And Jacky put the book down on the table, went up the stairs and

to the toilet.

When both girls were finished they decided to do the dishes and clean the kitchen a bit first. When   

that was done, Jacky sat down on the couch and Rhynn in the comfy chair. Jacky read on:

        ‘Sunday the 6th of August, 1836

        Somewhere between Calais and Dover, Le Soleil Jaune.

        We have finally found a ship that will take us to Dover. It is called Le Soleil Jaune, or The Yellow

        Sun. It is a merchant ship, and I have heard there are also some of Napoleon’s agents aboard, so

        we will have to be careful. I have made sure we have blood to drink on our journey; I’ve filled

        some bottles. It sounds a bit weird, but it is the only way to survive here at sea. It wouldn’t be

        smart to drink of the people here aboard.

        I just hope no one notices we don’t eat. Someone brings us food every day, but we throw it in the

        sea, though the scents are wonderful. I have tried to eat a little bit from it, but I got sick.

        The captain said we would probably arrive in Dover the day after tomorrow. Thankfully, because I

        noticed that Sem has seasickness. Poor guy.

        Well, a short entry today, but I don’t have any more to say, or rather write.’

“Just go on, it was a short one.” Rhynn said.

“Okay, but it is your turn. You’re not that sleepy anymore.” Jacky replied, and gave Rhynn the

journal. Rhynn looked where they were and read on:

        ‘Thursday the 16th of November, 1836

        Glasgow, Britain, our new house.

        When we arrived in Dover, we stayed there for a while in a hotel, of which I already forgot the

        name. We decided to keep the remaining bottles of blood for emergency cases. The first night,

        Sem and I went out hunting together. It was great fun.

        After three days, we went to Stonehenge, just for some sightseeing. Then we went to Wales where

        I introduced Sem to Ian Gybsdale. He has helped me a lot when I still had to learn everything

        about vampires.

        They seem to get along very well. We stayed there for two weeks and then we went straight to

        Glasgow. We decided to sleep in a hotel until we had found a place to live. Luckily, my old house

        was for sale, with all the furniture etc. still there. The price was very low, so we immediately

        decided to buy it. We inhabited it the same day and started cleaning. We first did the bedrooms, so

        we could at least sleep. Apart from some rats, there were no creatures in here. The next morning I

        discovered the shower still worked, so I cleaned the bathroom and took a shower. Sem followed

        after me. Then we continued cleaning the house. It went fast, and we were finished before night

        fell.

        I think we are going stay here. Travelling is fun, but it is even better to come home. So we might

        leave occasionally, but this will always be our house.

        If anyone reading might ever be interested in visiting, you are welcome to come. I will not say

        exactly where our house is, but I will give some hints:

    -We live in walking distance from my old high school, located in the north of the city.

    -This is definitely not a chic neighbourhood, and I don’t think it ever will be.

    -It is in the shortest street of Glasgow.

    -The entrance is on the first floor.

    -The number starts with a 2.

        These are all the hints I will give you. All that is left for me to say, is have fun, and you are

        welcome in our house.

“That was the last page,” Rhynn said, with a sad tone in her voice. “At least we have some hints to

where they live.”

“Yes, and I might already know the street. You know, he said it was the shortest street in Glasgow. I

would have to check if it is really true, and if it also was in his time, but I think my street is the

shortest in Glasgow. And as far as I know, those houses are old, and the only ones with the entrance

on the first floor. And it’s not a chic neighbourhood.”

Rhynn’s mouth had fallen open.

“THAT would be AWESOME! But that first hint. The only school in the north of Glasgow, is our school.   

It’s old.”

“And Sem said he would leave his journal in the library of Lucius’ old school. And we found his journal

in the library of our school. It has to be the same school!”

“Let’s visit Gustav now?” Jacky suggested.

“I think we have to wait ‘till Monday…” Rhynn told her.

“I can’t wait that long Rhynn! Can you?”

“Shit, you’re right Jacky, let’s visit Gus now.”

“Hi girls, what can I do for you two?” Gustav asked them as soon as he had opened the door. “You

know this is my day off so don’t expect a lot of help hey.”

He let them in and Rhynn grabbed both the diaries out off her bag.

“We want you to help us.” Rhynn told him.

“With what? Want some tea?” Rhynn and Jacky both shook their head.

“No? Something else then?”

“Gustav, sit down!” Jacky ordered him. “You’re driving me nuts!”

Gustav sat down while Jacky almost jumped around with excitement.

“All right what the hell has gotten into you two?”

“Well, I tell you,” Rhynn started. “Remember I found that diary about vampires and all?”

“Of course, you bought that lovely dress on the same day.”

“Well, we read that and it has belonged to a vampire, later we found another one in the library and

we think that they really exist.”

“Who? What? Those diaries, or the vampires?” Gustav asked.

“Well, both!” Jacky answered.

“You two are crazy!” Gustav declared.

“But what if they really exist, we even have an idea of where they live.” Rhynn opened Lucius’ diary

and handed it to Gustav.

“Read that.” She told him and pointed to the hints. Gustav read them slowly, twice.

“This can’t be true…”

“But if it is…we have to find that house!” Rhynn said.

“Yeah, but if those vampires are there, what do we do when they attack?”

“I thought you didn’t believe in vampires Gustav?” Jacky asked him.

“No, I don’t, but what if?”

“Well, too bad, but we have met vampires!” Rhynn told him. Gustav smiled a bit.

“Then tell me, where do we have to look?”

“Well,” Jacky said, “we know that it has to be somewhere in my neighbourhood. It isn’t chic and you

can walk to school form there.”

“All right, that matches the description, but what about the shortest street?”

“Well, I think that would be the one where I live in. It has only an apartment building and it’s five

apartments wide and it’s the only building with the entrance on the first floor.” Gustav nodded.

“Which house would it be then?” Jacky thought for a while before she spoke again.

“It can’t be twenty-six, because I live there. On number twenty-eight lives an old lady and some

people moved into apartment twenty two years ago, so it should be twenty-two or twenty-four.”

“Those are your neighbours, should be easy, normal people know everything about their neighbours.”

Rhynn said.

“Guess I’m not normal then, because I can’t remember who lives in both houses…”

“What the hell…that’s weird Jacky.”

“Do you have a house keeper?” Gustav asked. “If so, he should know.”

“Yeah, mister James and he also has the keys to every house!”

“Jacky! We’re not going to break in or anything!” Gustav exclaimed.

“Of course not, why would you think that?” Jacky answered with a grin.

“Are you coming with us Gus?” Rhynn asked.

“Huh? O, of course, I couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t help you two get into trouble and something

bad happened right?”

“Yeah right, sad excuse to come with us Gus, but that’s all right, lets go!”

They almost ran to Jacky’s house. They almost got run over by a car, but they didn’t care. When they

arrived at the apartment, they decided to go to Jacky’s house first, to catch some breath and have a

drink. When they could finally breath normal, Jacky said:

“I think mister James is home right now. He always sleeps at three, and right now it’s half past two.”

So they left the apartment again and went down a flight of stairs. Jacky knocked on the door with a

shiny silver ‘1’ on it. After waiting a little while, a middle aged man opened the door and said: “Ah,

miss Lee. What can I do for you?”

“Uhm, I just realised I don’t know the names of my neighbours, but one of them has borrowed some

sheets from us last week. And my mother just phoned me to tell me I had to get them back to wash

them.”

“Ah, I see. Come in, I will get the list.” Mister James opened the door wider to let the three of them

inside. They went inside and waited in the hallway.

“Please, don’t stand in the hallway. I would almost start to think I’m not a good host. Make yourself

comfortable in my living room, please, while I get the list.”

They took the invitation and sat down on the old fashioned couch. After a while mister James got

back with a list. He sat down in a chair and put the list on the table.

“Take a look, maybe you recognise the name.”

Jacky got the list from the table and scanned the names.

“That is the one! L. Northren.”

“Ah, strange fellow,” mister James said, “He and his roommate, or maybe boyfriend, I don’t know for

sure; they hardly ever get out during the day. They already lived here when I became the

housekeeper.”

“Well, thank you very much mister James. I’ll go get the sheets, before I forget the name again.”

Jacky quickly checked the number before she gave the list back. Number twenty four. She couldn’t

believe she was going to meet two real vampires.

It was the second time Rhynn knocked on the door.

“Shit man, why don’t they open the door?” Jacky asked, obviously annoyed by it.

“Maybe because they don’t exist?” Gustav suggested.

“You saw his name on the list right? The hints in his journal? They have to live here!”

“Jacky, calm down!” Gustav tried

“It’s just not fair man” Rhynn said, also disappointed.

“Disappointment is a lesson that you have to learn in life, you just have to get over it.” Gustav told

them quietly.

“O shut up Gustav, this isn’t funny!”

Gustav sighed.

“Maybe there are more people named L. Northren, or maybe it was all a sick joke and it’s just made

up by some idiots…” Rhynn mused.

“Lets go to my place and get something to drink; we could even play a game?”

“Scrabble?” Jacky asked.

“That’s boring!” Rhynn answered.

“Then what?”

“Card games until we can’t see them anymore?” Gustav proposed.

“Hell yeah!”

“Good morning class.” Gustav said. It was Monday again. A week after they had found the journal.    

The day was almost over and their last class was Arts. Jacky and Rhynn had been waiting for it all

day. Today Gustav would let them read one of the short stories, like he had promised the day before.

They didn’t know whose it would be, but that didn’t matter really.

This class passed by quickly. Some people were busy with writing stories and others talked quietly

with each other. Gustav helped everyone who needed it and never had the chance to talk to Rhynn

and Jacky. Not that they cared about it. They were too busy with writing their own stories while

discussing what would fit best into it.

The bell rang and everyone started to leave.

“Jacky, Rhynn, could you please stay for a bit?” Gustav asked. The girls both nodded and waited for

the rest to leave the room.

“I’ve something to tell you two.” His eyes lit up and a grin splits his face.

“Shoot it!” Rhynn told him.

“I am going to Waldrock, you know, that metal festival in Holland?”

“What?” Jacky asked. “Take me with you?!” She dropped to her knees and folded her hands. “I would

do anything for you if you let me go with you!”

“I don’t know Jacky…your parents…” Gustav said.

“Hey, what about me?” Rhynn asked.

“I can’t take both of you with me, do you know how much that is going to cost me?” Gustav

exclaimed.

“We’ll find a job and make money and we’ll pay our own tickets and…and…” Jacky continued.

“Jacky! Shut up!” Gustav almost shouted.

The school day was over, and Jacky and Rhynn were walking through the park.

“Whatever it takes, we’re going to Waldrock!” Jacky said, almost shouted.

“Well, I’m not sure. I don’t think Gus wants us to go with him. You saw his reaction.”

Jacky was quiet. “Geez, is he our friend or not? He’s supposed to be happy that we want to go with

him. Otherwise he would be all alone.”

Rhynn thought about that, and answered: “Maybe he has other friends he’s afraid of showing. He’s

been acting a bit weird the past few days.” Jacky thought about it.

“Well, what if we just take a job, make money and go there on our own…maybe we can figure out

what’s wrong with Gus and…”

“We can’t just follow him around!” Rhynn said.

“I know, but I want to know why he’s acting strange and all!”

“All right, maybe we should do it, but there is no way my parents will let me go to Waldrock without

an adult you know.” Jacky frowned.

“Damn, you’re right.” Jacky answered. “But I think we can solve that problem too…” She grins

mischievously. Rhynn cocked an eyebrow at her friend.

“I’m not even going to ask…”  Jacky bursts out in laughter at this.

“Rhynn, I’m just going to ask if my cousin wants to tag along, that’s not that bad is it?”

Rhynn nods.

“All right, it isn’t, but I don’t know if my parents let me go even if he goes with us…”

“Don’t worry, he’s smart and has a girlfriend, it’ll work out, just wait!” 

“Okay, shall we go to my place and see if we can find a job?”

Jacky answered: “Maybe we can better go to mine. My parents won’t come home until tomorrow, so

we have plenty of time.”

Rhynn agreed and they walked to Rhynn’s house, buying several newspapers on their way.

“Well, they’ll only take one of us. Just like everyone else.” Jacky sighed.

“Shall we go next door to see if they have cool stuff?” Rhynn said to lighten up their moods.

“Good idea.”

They left the crowded Starbucks shop and went in next door. The girl that gave them the journal was

there again, putting things on shelves. The girls looked around, and suddenly Rhynn said: “Erm,

excuse me, but could you use two pairs of helping hands? We’re looking for a job, but everyone

wants to take only one of us.”

The girl replied: “Oh, I’m terribly sorry, but it’s the same here. We’re just too small. But if one of you

would like to work here, it would be really great.”

Jacky had walked next to Rhynn while they were talking, and said: “Rhynn, you should take the job.

You know more about the stuff in here than I do. I’ll take the job at Starbucks next door.”

“So Rhynn, what can I get you?” Jacky asked, dressed in the Starbucks uniform and the biggest smile

Rhynn had ever seen on her friends face. Rhynn grinned.

“I’d like some coffee please.” She answered politely. Jacky pouted and walked away to get it. She

returned ten minutes later.

“Here you go!” She put the mug down in front of Rhynn and flopped down across her.

“I have twenty minutes off now and I sure as hell hope your job is more fun then mine…” Jacky

sighed deeply. “Running around with coffee and tea. Damn, why did I even take this job?!”

“Well, at least you have something to do.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s just say that not many people come to that shop to buy stuff. I’ve helped two people today and

that’s it!” Rhynn complained loudly.

“Wow, and I was thinking you would have a lot to do.” Jacky said. “O well, who cares, how long until

we have the tickets?” Rhynn grabbed a small note out her pocket.

“Erm, like two more weeks and then we will go to Waldrock. I can’t wait!” Jacky drummed with her

hands on the table.

“Hell yeah! As long as Gustav doesn’t find out.”

“Find out what exactly?” A male voice suddenly asked. Jacky saw Rhynn stare and turned around to

see Gustav.

“Hey, cool to see you around here!” she tried to lighten the mood and Rhynn kicked her under the

table. Jacky groaned in pain and shot her an angry look. Gustav cocked an eyebrow.

“I come here quite often, but why do you wear one of those uniforms?” he asked.

“Well, I work here you know.” Jacky shrugged.

“Why the hell would you work at Starbucks? You never do anything Jacky.”

“Well, I wanted money and picked the job which paid the best and it was Starbucks…”Gustav looked

at her suspiciously.

“And you need money for what? And what are you two trying to hide?”

“I’m saving for a new CD player you know, Rhynn practically destroyed the other one. My parents  

didn’t want to buy me a new one and suggested I would work for it myself.” Jacky lied easily. Gustav

observed her.

“Rhynn practically destroyed it? Rhynn can’t even hurt a fly!”

Jacky smiled.

“Destroyed it, is maybe a bit to strong. I just spilled my drink on it all right? Shit happens!” Rhynn

defended herself fiercely.

“All right, all right! I believe you okay?” Gustav sat down next to Rhynn and Jacky stuck out her

tongue at Rhynn.

“What the hell?” She asked. Jacky shook her head. Gustav looked at the two, not knowing exactly

what to do with the two of them. They both looked at Gustav’s surprised face and burst out in

laughter.

“All right, you two calmed down a bit?” Gustav asked.

“I have only five more minutes left!” Jacky piped in.

“Then shut up and listen!” Teacher Gustav was back.

“I thought about it for a while. I would love to take you two with me, but I can’t. That festival is kind

of rough and I want to enjoy it, not baby sit the two of you.” He sighed. “And besides that, I’m your

teacher and I can’t take students with me, it’s not fair for the others, even if you buy your own

tickets!” He silenced Jacky before she could say it.

The two weeks passed way to slow for Rhynn and Jacky. They couldn’t wait to go to the festival. They

had had their salary a week ago and they could hardly restrain themselves from buying expensive

stuff. They were surprised by how much they got; there was more than enough left to buy souvenirs

at the festival.

“Oh, there he is!” Rhynn whispered to Jacky. They walked behind Jacky’s cousin Ralph and his girlfriend,

Daisy. Rhynn and Jacky made sure Gustav couldn’t see them. They had already spotted him; he had just

entered the men’s room of the huge airport.

“Passengers for flight NE7 please go to gate 6. I repeat…” a feminine voice came drifting out of the

speakers.

“I think that’s us,” Ralph said, while he checked his ticket, “Yep. This way. Keep your tickets ready.”

So they went to gate 6. A stewardess checked their tickets and they had soon found their seats. They were

placed next to each other somewhere in the front.

“Finally, we’ve made it into the airplane!” Rhynn said. “What a stressful morning this was… and we still

have to start flying!”

Jacky sighed and grabbed her MP3 player. Ralph gave them two bottles of water and the girls gratefully

drank from them. Rhynn was kneeling on her chair to take a look round the airplane.

“Fuck!” she uttered and quickly sat down again.

“What is it? Gustav?” Jacky asked and risked a glance over her shoulder. “Damn. I hoped we wouldn’t need

these…” She opened her backpack and pulled two cowboy hats and two magazines out of them. Rhynn

looked at her as Jacky gave her one of each.

“Jacky, you don’t honestly think I’m going to put that on, do you? There is no way I’m going to wear that!”   

She grabbed the magazine and started reading.

“Well, suit yourself, but it’s not my fault if Gustav finds out we’re here.” Jacky answered, while she put on

the hat.

“Hey Jacky, cool hat! Can I wear it?” Daisy asked.

“Of course, I can only wear one at a time, and Rhynn doesn’t want to wear it. Keep it.”

“Are you sure?”

Jacky nodded.

“Thank you so much!” Daisy said and put on the hat.

“Please put on your seat belts. The airplane is ready for take off. We ask a moment of your time to explain

safety measures.” The voice went on while everyone listened. When that was over with, the plane took off

and soon they were flying towards the Netherlands.

Jacky and Rhynn dropped themselves on the soft bed at the same time.

“That was the worst day of my life.” Jacky said.

“I totally agree. All I want now is food and sleep.”

The flight had been smooth, and so had the landing in Amsterdam. But getting to the hotel was a different

story. First they couldn’t find a cab. And then, when they had finally found one, he didn’t understand a

word of what they said. Nor did they understand him. And then, when he finally understood that they

wanted to go to the hotel, he had stopped in front of the wrong hotel two times. At that point their bill was

quite high already, so they had decided to get out of the car. It took a while until they had found someone

who could tell them how to get to the hotel, but they took a wrong turn and ended up in a street they

would rather have missed. The thought alone of all those women in front of the windows showing

themselves made them shudder.

But they and finally found the hotel and miraculously, they found their rooms without getting lost. Ralph

and Daisy had gotten into their room and Rhynn and Jacky had entered the room across theirs.

And there they were, in a country they didn’t know muck about, in a city they had only heard bad things

about. And of course they still had to get to the festival. But that was a thought for another time; all they

wanted now was food. So they got up again, both took a very refreshing shower and went to the hotel

restaurant. Ralph and Daisy were already there so they joined them.

“Ah, good you’re here girls. I’d like to tell some, well, rules.” Jacky sighed extra loud.

Ralph ignored her and went on: “Tomorrow you can do whatever you want, as long as you don’t get into

trouble. And make sure you don’t go to sleep too late, because we’ll leave at ten the following morning. A

friend of mine will be picking us up. He might come earlier, because we haven’t seen each other for a long

time. And if you’re going outside tomorrow, make sure you let one of us know. And call us occasionally, I

don’t want you two to get lost here in Amsterdam. I don’t want to sound too much like a parent, but it’s

dangerous out there. Especially for two young girls like you; just think of the wrong turn we took on our

way here.” Everyone was quiet at that. A waitress broke the silence by asking for their orders. They all

ordered a light tomato soup with salad and bread. That was about all their stomachs could take at that

moment.

When they were eating, Rhynn asked: “Ralph, can you tell me something about that friend of yours? I

assume he’s also going to the festival, so I do want to know him a bit better.”

The rest of the conversation was about the festival. They managed to get a dessert down their throats and

sat at the table for a long time after that.

Work In Progress by Nathalie van Basten Batenburg and Loura Collignon