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Mr Crepsley’s eyes darted fro on a low-built structure to our right "There," he pointed "That looks deserted We will try it and pray that the luck of the vampires is with us"

There was no fire escape where ere, so we hurried down the stairs at the back of the budding and out into the alley Sticking close to the walls, we crept to the building we’d set our sights on, broke ato gain entry - no alarms sounded - and found ourselves in an old, abandoned factory

We stumbled up a couple of floors, then ran as fast as we could to the back There we discovered the shell of a decrepit aparth the lower floor, we eht, dark, unpopulated alleys We paused, ears open for sounds of pursuit There weren’t any

We shared quick, shaky grins, then Harkat and I wrapped an arht foot and we hobbled forward at a slower pace than before, enjoying our period of respite, but experienced enough to know that eren’t out of the frying pan yet Not by a long shot

Through the alleys we fled We passed a few people, but none paid any attention to us - the afternoon was darkening with heavy clouds, casting the already gloomy alleys into pools of ht, but to huures in the half-light Neither the mob nor the police followed We could still hear the ruckus they were creating, but it hadn’t moved on from the three apart, ere in the clear

We stopped outside the back of a super was purple up to his knee now and he must have been in immense pain "We need ice for that," I said "I could slip into the supermarket and?"

"No!" the vampire barked "You have already inspired oneantics We can do very nicely without inciting another"

"I was only trying to help," I gruhed, "but reckless risks only make matters worse My injury is not as serious as it looks A few hours’ rest and I will be fine"

"How about these bins?" Harkat asked, tapping a couple of large, black rubbish bins "We could crawl inside and wait - for night"

"No," I said "People use bins like this all the time We’d be discovered"

"Then where?" Harkat enquired

"I don’t know," I snapped "Maybe we can find an e We could duck into Debbie’s if ere close enough, but we’re too far ?"

I stopped, eyes settling on a street sign across fro the bridge of my nose "I know this place We’ve been here before, ere searching for the vampaneze killers, before we knew about RV and Steve"

"We travelled almost everywhere in our search for the killers," Mr Crepsley commented

"Yes, but I remember this place because - because ?"

I frowned, and then it caers "Because Richard lives close by!"

"Richard?" Mr Crepsley frowned "Your friend from school?"

"Yes," I said, excited "His house is only three or four minutes away"

"You think he’d shelter us?" Harkat asked

"Maybe, if I explain things to him" The others looked uncertain "Have you any better ideas?" I challenged them "Richard’s a friend I trust hiht about it a moment, then nodded "Very well We will ask hi the supermarket, we struck for Richard’s house, and this time I walked with a bounce in my step I was sure Richard would help After all, hadn’t I saved him on the stairs at Mahler’s?

Weno tie chiround, so once I was sure that Harkat and Mr Crepsley were settled, I crept to the edge of the roof and loweredup beside ht of you o alone"

"Very well," he said, "but I ait outside the , in case you run into trouble"

I didn’t see what sort of trouble I could run into, but Mr Crepsley had a stubborn look in his eyes, so I siot a toehold, drove ernails into the stone of the wall, then climbed down to Richard’s room like a spider

The curtains were drawn, but not all the way, and I was able to see directly intoon his bed, a packet of popcorn and a glass of orange juice propped on his chest, watching a rerun of theAdda at the antics of the TV freaks, and I had to s this when three real freaks of the night had just turned up Fate has a strange sense of huht startle hilass, then pointed it out to Mr Crepsley (who’d scaled down the wall beside me) and raised my eyebrows in a silent question: "Can you open it?"

The vaht hand together very,very swiftly When he’d produced a strong static charge, he lowered his hand, pointed his fingers at the latch, andhappened

The vampire frowned, leant forward for a closer look, then snorted "It is made of plastic!" I turned aside to hide a smile "No lass with the nail of his right index finger Itnoise, which Richard didn’t hear over the sound of the TV Mr Crepsley popped the glass inwards, crooked the latch up with his finger, then swung out of the way anda deep breath to steady myself, I pushed theopen and stepped into the room as casually as possible "Hi, Richard," I said

Richard’s head jerked around When he realized who it was, his jaw dropped and he began to quiver

"It’s OK," I said, taking a step closer to the bed, raisingto hurt you I’m in trouble, Richard, and I need your help I’ve a cheek to ask, but could you put me and a couple of my friends up for a few hours? We’ll hide in the wardrobe or under the bed We won’t be any bother, honest"

"Vuh-vuh-vuh," Richard stuttered, eyes ith terror

"Richard?" I asked, concerned "Are you OK?"

"Vuh-vuh-vaer at me

"Oh," I said "You’ve heard Yes, I’m a half-vampire, but it’s not what you think I’et comfy, then I’ll tell you all about?"

"Vampire!" Richard screamed, loudly this time, then turned to face the door of his roos: "Mum! Dad! Vampires! Vampires! Vampires! Va into the roorabbed the boy by his throat, and breathed sharply over his face Gas shot up Richard’s nose and into his led, terrified Then his features relaxed, his eyes closed, and he slumped back on the bed

"Check the door!" Mr Crepsley hissed, rolling off the bed, crouching on the floor defensively

I obeyed ih Richard’s reaction had leftthe door a crack, I listened for sounds of Richard’s faate his cry They didn’t co room was turned on and the noise must havethe door "We’re safe"

"Soa few popcorn crumbs from his clothes

"He was scared witless," I saiddown at Richard "We were friends - he knew ht I was here to kill him"

"He believes you are a blood-crazed monster," Mr Crepsley said "Humans do not understand vampires His reaction was predictable We would have anticipated it and left hi clearly"

Mr Crepsley turned slowly and exaood place to hide," he said "The boy’s family will probably not bother hi There is plenty of space in the wardrobe I think all three of us could fit"

"No," I said fire of hireat But he didn’t He was afraid ofto stay"

Mr Crepsley’s expression shohat he thought of that, but he respected u the brief struggle the popcorn had spilled over the bedsheets, and the glass of orange juice had been knocked over Stopping to shovel the popcorn back into its packet, I found a box of tissues, ripped several free and used thee juice I made sure Richard was OK, set the TV to stand-by, bid ain frouided humans ished to kill me