Page 17 (1/2)

Mr Crepsley checked us out of the hotel as soon as we got back, in case the staff noticed Evra’s disappearance, or the vampaneze forced him to reveal our location

"What if he escapes?" I asked "Hoill he knohere to find us?"

"I do not believe he will escape," Mr Crepsley said regretfully

We checked into a new hotel not far from the old one If theboy in a pirate costue hour, he kept his suspicions to hied Mr Crepsley to tell me more about the vampaneze He said they never drank from vampires - our blood was poisonous to other vaer than vah the difference wason blood They only drank from animals as a last resort

I listened closely It was easier not to think about Evra if I had so else to focus on But when dawn came and Mr Crepsley headed for bed, I was left alone to think about what had happened

I watched the sunrise I was tired, but I couldn’t sleep How could I face the nighte breakfast, but one after one s it I turned on the TV and flicked between channels, barely noticing as on

Every so often I’d think it must have been a dream Evra couldn’t be dead IMr Crepsley and dreamt it all Any minute now, Evra would shake me awake I’d tell hiet rid of me that easily," he’d say

But it wasn’t a dream I had come face to face with the vampaneze He had abducted Evra He had either killed hi to These were facts and had to be faced

The trouble was, I didn’t dare face theo crazy if I did So, rather than accept the truth and deal with it, I buried it deep, where it couldn’t bother me - then went to see Debbie Maybe she could cheerin the square when I arrived It had snowed heavily during the night and she was building a snoith some of the local kids She was surprised but happy to see me so early She introduced me to her friends, who looked at me inquisitively

"Want to come for a walk?" I asked

"Can it wait till I finish the snowman?" she replied

"No," I said "I’m restless I need to walk I can coht I’ll come" She looked at me weirdly "Are you okay? Your face is as white as a sheet, and your eyes have you been crying?"

"I was peeling onions earlier," I lied

Debbie turned to her friends "See you later," she said, and took o?"

"Not really," I said "You lead I’ll tag along"

We didn’t say ed ood news I asked Mom and Dad if you could come over on Christmas Eve to help put up the decorations and they said you could"

"Great," I said, forcing a smile

"They’ve invited you for dinner, too," she said "They were going to ask you over for Christmas Day, but I know you’ve made plans to spend it in the hotel Besides, I don’t think your dad would want to come, would he?"

"No," I said softly

"But Christmas Eve’s okay, isn’t it?" she asked "Evra can co early, at about two or three in the afternoon, so there’ll be plenty of ti the trees You can -?

"Evra won’t be able to co to think up a good lie Finally, I said, "He’s got the flu He’s in bed and can’t move"