Talisman 01 - The Emerald Talisman

a sigh of exasperation. I needed chocolate.
    The double fudge ice cream was still in the freezer, untouched and hard as a rock. I managed to scoop up enough to drown my sorrows, as I caught sight of the morning paper.
    The headline read “ Teen death in alley. Authorities asking for help. ” I flipped to the story with uneasiness. Apparently a student from Soquel High was found dead downtown. Authorities were asking for eye witnesses. A wave of nausea hit me as I read the gory details.
    I wondered if I should report something, but knew that was impossible. Vampires were doing the killings. But I worried if Phil was involved. The whole situation confirmed the danger everyone was in and the validity of Nicholas’ concerns. Apprehensively, I looked out the kitchen window, peering into the black night. No one was there, but it still seemed eerie. They were out there somewhere, ready to take anyone who crossed their path. Would I always be afraid of the dark now?
    I heard the soft sounds of the TV in the next room and decided to keep Luke company—being with him felt safer than being alone in the kitchen.
    “Hey,” I said, as I slid into the La-Z-boy.
    Luke sat mesmerized with his face glued to the TV. The program he watched showed continuous clips of wild animals in their habitat. I had to turn away when a lion brutally snapped the neck of the gazelle before ripping into its flesh.
    “What are you watching?” I asked, while putting down my bowl. I had suddenly lost my appetite.
    “ When Animals Attack .”
    I peeked through my fingers to see if it was safe, but re-shielded my eyes when the tiger separated the baby elephant from the pack. I couldn’t watch anymore.
    “Crazy, isn’t it?” he asked with a sick smile on his face.
    I started to imagine the same scenario but with the boy from the newspaper article. I could see him minding his own business walking down the street, maybe coming from the local drugstore with cold medicine for his sick grandma, when he hears a noise. Maybe it’s an animal whimpering or a baby’s cry that lures him into the alley. When he finds nothing he turns back towards the street, but is greeted by three dark figures blocking his way. One cackles an ominous laugh and they jeer and tease him, getting excited as they watch their victim grow anxious with fear. Then one crouches down like a tiger and before the boy knows it, he’s thrown against the wall and the vampire sinks his teeth into his neck. I gasped.
    “What’s wrong with you?” Luke asked with a puzzled look.
    I snapped out of my trance and realized my gasp was misplaced. At the moment a commercial played with cuddly koalas promoting Fluffy Soft toilet paper.
    “Oh, I remembered I’d forgotten something,” I said with a straight face.
    He gave me a funny look, shook his head then noticed my ice cream.
    “Is there any left?” he asked, pointing at my bowl.
    Luke popped up off the couch headed toward the kitchen before I finished nodding my head yes.
    During the commercial, I was tempted to change the channel, feeling anxiety from the graphic images in my head. But I couldn’t completely blame the show for my state. The events from my real life caused the distress. I wondered how it could be so enjoyable to become basically a cannibal. Then to my horror, I realized, if I were in the same room during a feeding frenzy, I would be able to know. The thought made me shiver.
    I decided Nicholas was right. I could never defend myself in an attack. And I wasn’t positive what Phil’s intentions were, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I’d eat crow and beg for Nicholas’ forgiveness tomorrow, before my shift started, then quit my job. But just in case, I decided to be prepared.
    While Luke was still in the kitchen, I snuck down the hallway towards the garage. The cold rush of damp, dusky air wafted across my face when I quietly opened the door, the darkness a little creepy for my liking. Was this considered part of the house? I figured it had to be.
    I felt the wall for the light switch and flicked it just when Aladdin darted between my legs. I yelped as she disappeared into the house.
    The light penetrated the room and I felt foolish for being afraid to be in my own garage. Everything looked just as it always had, floor to ceiling cabinets on one side and a work counter on the other. Luke’s tools lay on the floor, along with other unknown devices. The space where Dad normally parked was empty; around it was