Narrator-
While the apprised aunt and her oblivious niece shared lunch, across town in Georgie's lounge, the bar owner received an unexpected guest. The assassin snuck her way into the building and prepared to catch George off guard. But before she could make her final move, her plan was exposed.
"I know it's you, Elaine." George spoke, while he saw to organizing the bar.
Elaine, a tall, pale-skinned woman with long raven black hair and aqua blue globes suddenly dropped behind George. She wore all leather clothing, her lips painted blood red.
"Georgie." she greeted with a traitorous smile.
"And to what do I owe this pleasure?" George kept his voice neutral but continued on with his task.
"Now, now is that any way to treat the daughter of the Mayor? Not to mention an old friend?" Elaine questioned with a cock of her head.
George sighed and stood straight. He turned and faced Elaine who smiled her pearly white teeth along with her fangs.
"That's better." She mused.
"Why are you here, Elaine?" George now demanded with a strict tone.
His gaze hard, and his teeth were hidden by the firm line of his pressed lips.
Elaine rolled her eyes and groaned, "fine."
She then crossed her arms and rested on her left hip.
"Heard you had a special visitor last night."
"Did I now?" George asked in a mocked wonder.
Elaine ignored his taunts.
"And apparently his visit wasn't in vain."
"Oh?"
"Cut the crap George, who's the girl?" Elaine demanded.
"Whoever she is, I'm not sure if she's any of your concern and plus I don't know what you're talking about." George denied.
Elaine released a dry laugh. George remained unfazed.
"You know I will find her, with or without your help."
"So then why are you here, Elaine?" George demanded.
Elaine paused. With her arms still crossed, she stepped up into George's personal bubble. Her aqua orbs drilled into his own, her lips were pursed and firm. George remained unmoving.
"What's to stop me from ripping your heart out right now?" Elaine quizzed darkly.
"Nothing." George replied smoothly.
Elaine released her lips into a soft smile. She hummed out a soft 'Mmh' and gave a short chuckle then she walked away without another word.
#
By the late evening, Miranda was dressed in her uniform and ready to go. She applied two strokes of mascara to her eyelashes, and a swipe of her favorite shade of red lipstick. She spritz on her perfume just in time for her aunt to knock on the door and remind her that it was time to go. Grabbing her phone, keys, and small backpack, Miranda exited the shed and was once again met with Aunt May, who greeted her with a bottle of water and a small bowl filled with fruit.
Miranda gratefully accepted the items, although she couldn't stop herself from saying, "Auntie, you know I can find these at my job, right?"
"I know." The aunt replied.
"But if I pack them for you, then you will be obligated to take a break and eat." May reasoned, then she added in a motherly tone, "I just want you to take care of yourself."
"Thank you." Miranda said in return with an appreciative smile.
Then she made her way through the backyard and out of the side gate to her green beetle. Miranda entered her vintage bug with a smile. She placed her mini backpack in the passenger seat, and her phone in the small square area beneath the radio. She inserted her key in the ignition then turned it. The old engine coughed and squeezed and sputtered but refused to start.
"Come on baby." Miranda muttered softly.
"It's only been a day." She added then twisted the key, shutting the engine off.
Placing her foot on the brake, Miranda breathed in and exhaled through puffed cheeks. She pumped the brake pedal with her right foot, before deciding to start the car again.
"Come on, work for me." Miranda begged under her breath, before deciding to turn the key again.
The engine released a groan, then with a vibration throughout it's entire metallic figure, the car roared to life.
Miranda released a bright and relieved smile. She clicked in her seatbelt but waited for a moment to allow the engine to warm up, as the smell of mechanical exhaust rose from beneath the car's hood and back pipe. Once the engine groaned less and hummed a bit more softly, Miranda knew that it was time to go. Performing the maneuver required to shift the vehicle into drive, Miranda drove out of her aunt's driveway, and using landmarks and memory, she found her way to Georgie's.
Upon arriving, Miranda wasn't surprised to find the main parking area already full. Nor was she surprised by the long line of club-goers waiting to be admitted into the hottest spot in town. Miranda parked her green beetle next to Jamie's white Wrangler which appeared brand new. Then grabbing her personal items, including the small lunch that her aunt packed, Miranda exited her car and made her way inside the club, after being allowed entrance by the thin pale man who stood guard at the back door. Remembering her training, Miranda made sure to lock her bag and cellular device away, but not before sending a quick text to her aunt, to inform her that she arrived safely.
Once that task was complete, Miranda then followed the dimly lit corridor which eventually enlarged into the club. It didn't take long for Miranda's heart to fall victim to the booming bass of the dance pop mix the DJ belted out from his spin table. Squeezing her form past the pale creatures that crowded the mouth of the hallway, then forcing her way through the waves of dancing clubgoers, Miranda eventually reached the bar where she entered using the small swinging Staff Only barricade. Upon pushing her physique safely behind the bar, Miranda finally found an escape from the lack of breathing room due to the dense amount of bodies that filled up the dark social square.
When Jamie felt Miranda brush past her, she turned around and greeted, "Hey Miranda! Welcome to your first official day- well, night, you know what I mean."
Miranda felt herself straining to hear Jamie's words, and yet it appeared the vampire spoke in a normal range. As if the vibrations of music booming through the air was nothing but a faint whisper.
"I almost thought you wouldn't come," Jamie continued with her normal tone, unaware of the human girl's struggle, "but I am happy to see you. How are you feeling?" Jamie asked in finality.
"I'm Okay!" Miranda screamed absent-mindedly.
Jamie winced and quickly replied, "I can hear you just fine Nanda, no need to scream."
"Oh..." Miranda blushed, "Sorry."
Jamie smiled and nodded as if Miranda's actions were truly no offense.
"Is it me, or is it more packed in here than last night?" Miranda asked, her pupils scanning the room before looking back at Jamie.
"It's Friday night," Jamie simply explained, "Now grab your notepad it's gonna be a crazy night. But you already know what to do." Jamie encouraged with a smile.
Miranda nodded and retrieved a notepad and pencil from below the bar. With a smile, she equipped herself with the small Staff pin above her left breast, then she walked from behind the bar, across the small swing gate, and then she ventured into the thick wave of clubgoers, which consisted of the ash-like creatures, and their occasional "normal" appearing partners.
Miranda spent a major part of the entirety of her shift on her feet. Her routine mainly consisted of traveling between the bar and the right side of the club. She scarcely had the chance to speak with George, who also traveled throughout the club, greeting guests and entertaining friends. The only time Miranda managed to sit, was the quick thirty-minute lunch break, where she gratefully downed the fruits and bottle of water her aunt kindly provided earlier.
Miranda shared brief conversations with Jamie, when the short-haired bartender filled her orders. But even in a busy environment and state of mind, Jamie still managed to avoid any conversation that involved the events from the night previous. Aside from the aching in her feet and the occasional rude partygoer, the evening went by uneventfully.
There were no unexpected guests, and though slightly relieved, Miranda acknowledged that a part of her looked forward to seeing the handsome stranger who plagued her dreams during the overnight hours. While she wasn't sure of everything that occurred the night prior, she knows that the mysterious man did come into the club, and while she wasn't sure what she would've done had he showed up again tonight, Miranda still wished to see him.
Before Miranda knew it, her shift was over, and it was time to go home. It was 3:00 AM and the crowd only appeared to be growing. Miranda waved at Jamie after making sure to return the notepad and pencil to their original place, but she kept the pin on her shirt. Then once again, Miranda fought her way through the walls of pale cold fleshy bodies until she could escape into the dimly lit hallway.
Even inside the corridor, the voices of the clubgoers and the thumping baseline of the DJ's mix followed after Miranda's receding form and penetrated her ear canal like a shadowy harmony. The sensation of the waves travelling from the club to the corridor was almost ominous, so much so, that Miranda was even colder than usual, and her skin erupted in dots of goosebumps. This encouraged Miranda to escape the club even quicker. She retrieved her personal belongings and walked up to the guard who barred the back door. Without a word, the mute, tall, skinny, pale man unlocked the passage, and allowed Miranda to walk out.
As soon as Miranda exited the building, and stepped onto the pavement, she noticed the erection of the hairs of her neck as they rose in caution. Miranda stood still for a moment, while her vision scanned the alley which served as the employee parking lot. There appeared to be no one lurking around as far as Miranda could tell. But that didn't ease her worries, because Miranda had the strange feeling that she was being watched. The slight discomfort in her bowels, and the cold sweat running down her spine told her as much.
The alley itself was lit by two light posts. Aside from the giant green dumpster pushed against the wall at the end of the alley, the cars were the only other objects occupying the scene. Though she wore a long sleeve shirt, Miranda still felt as cold as she did when leaving the club. But she wasn't sure it was due to the temperature, because the night itself was warm and slightly humid. Not only so, but the kind of cold Miranda was experiencing was a chill in her bones. The kind of chill that could make a skeleton's knees knock together. Upon acknowledging this chill, and the cautious air that urged her anatomy to start pumping adrenaline through her veins, Miranda's shape shivered from head to toe.
Realizing that she had spent more than enough time playing statue, Miranda removed her car keys from her pocket, then pulled on the thin straps of her tiny backpack, practically stapling it to her shoulder blades and back. Then with a determined breath, she began marching towards her car.
Miranda made it to her car and rushed the key into the door lock, when in her peripheral vision she caught sight of a terrifying picture. On the roof of the building bordering the other side of the alley, stood a man dressed in black, his head covered by a heavy hoodie. His orbs were looking directly at Miranda, she didn't need a light to tell her as such.
A gasp erupted from Miranda's throat. She turned around in a fright, her fingers losing their grip on her car keys. The man jumped from the roof and landed directly in front of Miranda. This caused her eyelids to widen in shock, because the man appeared unfazed by the death-defying drop.
Miranda found it difficult to gulp or breathe, for her shock and terror formed a suffocating hiccup which pulsed from her lungs. The man smiled at Miranda's obvious shock and horror. His dark pupils with golden rims drank in her fearful visage, and something churned in the pits of his stomach at the sight.
He smiled and displayed his dented canines, then he said "Boo."
Miranda's vision cut to black, and her shock-ridden physique collapsed in Asher's arms.