Ashley

Left foot right foot. 

We were running but I didn't know where. What I did know was that all the blood exploding behind us from the bathroom was from Paul. I also knew that I didn't care. A change of heart if you will.

I turned corners behind the running Army store sponsors.It was then I felt my head gyrate and sweat trickle down my exposed arms. I suffered a shaky breath, supported by the wall. Everything was muted except my suffering. I slid down the walls, unaware where I was. I planned on staying there too. I wasn' safe. Consequences overlapped in my head of my actions. 

I could feel almost pornographic breaths slipping out of me as I sit with my head in my hands. My ears changing the pitches of everything, including a nearby voice. 

"Ashley!"

Quiet.

"Ashley!"

High pitched. 

"Ashley!" 

Most of it Ultrasound. 

"Ashley! Ash! Wake up!" 

Slow motion. 

My arm slackly dumped around an alien neck and I was carried to darkness, at least that's what it looked like through my feverish eyes and dusky illumination. A door was crashed shut. I winced. 

"It's okay baby, Sam's here. Sam's here." A voice echoed. 

I saw a blue jacket and a blonde quiff. A pair of scared eyes met mine, much like my own. A panting mouth, much like my own. Me, me, me, God. 

"Sam?" I rustled hoarsely, shifting in his lap to get a better look at him. His arms cradled me lovingly as I met his eyes, now scared and confused. My hands felt his cheeks, soft and warm, even though they were covered with what looked like smoke.

"What happened?" I demanded, feeling my vision and hearing come back, along with my feelings for Sam. The tingles in my back as he stroked it, said so. 

"Death by stereo" He laughed. 

I laughed into the crook of his neck, my rightful place, feeling him inhale sharply as my lips grazed against it. I did it again on his cheek and across until I was almost kissing him, leaning in further until-

"SAM!"

"ASHLEY!"

I groused into him. Way to demolish a moment right? 

"Sam are you alright?" Edgar whispered growing closer with his picked up weapons. 

"Ashley where did you go?" Alan whispered too. "Wait...what's wrong?"

"She's having a bad day," Sam answered for me, directly assuming this, probably from all that TV in Phoenix. 

"Well, Ashley come on we've all had a pretty shit day-" Alan misinterpreted. 

"No! She's. Having. A. Bad. Day." Sam said clearly. I heard 'oh's' and 'right's' being exchanged. I stood up with a little strain then lost balance a bit, testing out everyone's reflexes. 

"How many left?" Alan asked as we all paced towards a bed, I looked around trying to get my bearings right but I didn't know this room.  I mouthed some questions in confusion as the guys had a little meeting below. 

"I nailed one of them downstairs with a bow and arrow," Sam responded, I mean whispered, hunched. 

"Alright, Sam-o" Alan encouraged with a hand on his shoulder. I crouched down to join in on the fun. 

"Nice nickname, Al-o" I smirked. Chortles occurred, lightening this truly horrifying spirit going on. 

"We trashed the one that looks like Twisted Sister..." Edgar barely spoke in an extra hushed whisper. The corners of my mouth twitched both up and down a little at them all, remembering the burning skull at the bottom of the bathtub and the pride I felt.

"Yeah, you might wanna hold off bathing for a while," I warned, laughing to myself. Everyone just gave me a concerning look, I mean comparing this to my reaction to Marko. He told the truth and I made the future. I wasn't going to pretend I was rock solid about the whole thing though... 

I rolled my eyes, turning to Alan who looked as if he wanted to say something, with a slight scepticism. 

"Totaly annihilated his night stalking ass," Alan said with a fist to the table. I steadied the vibrations and hit him on the Beret.

"Ow!"

"Well...Ashley helped a little..." Edgar understated.

"A little?!" I objected remembering each limb I used to end a life or a death. Fuck, Vampires are complex. 

"Go Ashley" Sam huffed with a smirk, my cheeks cooked. It was then and only then I was grateful for the insignificant moonlight gleaming through the blinds. Lines were created on our faces from it. 

"Death to all vampires!" Alan started. 

"Maximum body count!" Edgar proceeded. 

"We are awesome monster bashers!" Alan followed. 

"The meanest" Sam said to me. 

"The baddest" I finished with a grin. 

With a grunt and a slap we did a handshake, true to only the monster bashers over the years, once Edgar and Al, then Edgar, Al and I, now Edgar, Al, I and Sam. A rock sign appeared on all our hands. 

A huge bed explosion sidetracked our eyes from our celebration and boastfulness. 

Memory foam and strips of blue bedding were strung all over us. We all squealed in unison, defying the whole 'don't make a sound' rule we had going on. My back bumped the edge of the bed, in line with the others. We watched as Laddie struggled and yelled amongst the destruction, looking like a true rock god in a video. I didn't struggle to defend, I knew he was just a boy. 

I was sandwiched between Alan and Sam as my head lay slightly on a khaki chest and my legs between some Levi's. Laddie then ran towards us standing on Alan's crotches, letting out an indescribable noise. A breathing Laddie was now in the corner of a room, not wanting to cause any harm. 

"Holy shit. It's the attack of Eddie Munster!" Alan breathed to me. 

I chuckled breathlessly, covered in bed sheets, vampire blood, dirt, garlic, rocks. Boy, what a collection. 

"Get him!" 

I burst to my feet standing in front of the boy, who was clawing at me to get past. Suddenly the closet doors opened and I guarded the boy defensively. Star's hair followed her every step towards me and the boy. 

"Stop! You get away from him! You just stay away from him!" She cried holding him behind her close. I'd always wanted a bond like that with a sibling but I was not fortunate enough to earn one. 

"He's just a little boy" I yelled pointing at the three halted in front. They gave a questioning look to the monster-like boy behind us and I understood their uncertainty but he wasn't there, there yet, you know? 

"LET"S GO!" They all commanded to each other. Before I left for another battle, I grabbed Star pulling her into my arms. 

"Did you know?" I asked her, her body froze in realisation. 

"Did you?" I sobbed a tear escaping, or two. 

"I'm sorry. You were meant to be Michael's first, I protected you. I would've never let that happen." she promised, holding me dearly. 

"I know. Stay safe. Find Michael." I commanded backing away, waving to the two. One crying and one calming down. 

I ran through hallways again, just like before and before until I reached some stairs. Stairs I walked down to save Nanook and stairs I climbed up to kill Paul. 

The room below was bright red yet dark. It was like a true horror atmosphere. Silence except for a chuckle in the corner somewhere. I looked around frantically, my feet shifting in fear. 

"You afraid to face me, David? HUH?!" I yelled looking around, hearing every single shake in my voice. I walked down the stairs as quietly as I could, imagining all the things that could come behind me or push me down. 

"Come on" I whispered mainly for my own motivation. 

My imagination came true as I felt a force push me down. I tumbled down the planks of wood until a harsh thud met my back below. I groaned, trying to get to my feet. 

"I tried to make you immortal," David spoke sternly from the shadows. 

"You tried to make me a killer!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, hearing the familiar screeches near me. 

As I got to my knees, blood flew out of my mouth as a blow hit my face. My head jerked back, but I straightened it up spitting on the floor. I smirked to myself. 

David laughed in the corner of the room, the light reflecting around his face. His face suddenly turned stern as I got up feeling my body rushed with adrenaline but something was different. 

"You are a killer." He growled, his fangs shining in the light. 

My tounge explored my own mouth almost cutting in half at a sharp object. I could already feel the orange and red in my eyes. I hyperventilated, unable to recall how. 

"H-how?" I stuttered. 

"All it takes in a little drop..."

My mind flashed back to the explosion in the bathroom, an open wound located on my arm from the day. All it takes is a little drop in the veins.