Page 14 of My Road Trip with a Vampire: Season One

Dennis faces the boy, clapping a hand on his shoulder.

“What’s your name, kid?”

“James.”

“Your friend’s name?”

“Jessica.”

“Good. James, you’re going to help us find Jessica before something else finds her.”

At first, I think he’s compelling him, but James shows none of the spacey demeanor my mother had when she was under Dennis’ spell. He just swallows hard and nods.

I’m so focused on what’s happening that I don’t recognize the cold air creeping along my spine until bony fingers touch my neck.

“Dennis!” I call out, spinning around.Shit.My heart is beating fast. I need to get it under control; I’m usually not on edge like this when I hunt alone.

Dennis moves quickly. James stays on his heels, but he tosses a look over his shoulder. He’s weighing his options. He wants to run. It doesn’t seem like either of them can see the ghost in front of me.

The girl in her prom dress.

Her bouffant hair and sweetheart neckline are visible to me now. There’s mascara running down her cheeks.

“What do you need?” I whisper, cutting a glance at Dennis and James.

“What’s going on with you two? Are we going to find Jessica or what? I need to get home.”

Prom girl twitches, her outline fading again, but I catch what she’s mouthing.

“The girl,” she whispers, then she’s gone.

“Are you all right?” Dennis asks, his hand on my low back. I nod and step away from him.

“We need to find the girl.”

We start walking toward the woods. It’s not so deep here. There’s a major road nearby, so I’m not surprised when James protests.

“It’s really not that dangerous out here. I’m sure she’s fine—”

“Is it that inconvenient for you?”

James pulls his hoodie up, protecting himself from Dennis’ glare.

“It’s cold.”

Itiscold and not the ghostly kind. The ghost chick isn’t nearby, but the Pennsylvania chill is gnawing at my fingers and nose.

A twig snaps up ahead. I step in front of the guys, pushing branches full of dead leaves out of my way.

“Jessica?” I call.

There’s a whimper. Then the cold rushes in. I suck in my breath, the sharp chill of death stabbing at my throat.

There’s a flash of copper in the brush. I bend down, parting the foliage.

There she is. Jessica. And the prom girl is right behind her. Skeletal fingers curl around the teenager’s shoulders.

“Dude. What the fuck?” James yells, then bolts.