Meadows: A Vampire Story

Sandy Thatcher tried to ignore the thick white mist that was hanging over Edinburgh's Meadows. She tried to think of the uncharacteristically warm summer days that she had spent picnicking on the same grassy area that now could harbour anyone or anything in the mist and shadows. She tried to ignore the stories that had been flooding the news about young girls disappearing. She tried to concentrate on the pile of schoolwork that she knew awaited her at her desk.

But the truth was that Sandy terrified, even though she was not alone. Her best friend Charlene Mulligan seemed impervious to any real or imaginary terror that could lurk in the northern twilight. She babbled on and on about last night's episode of "Britain's Got Talent," as if they were sitting in a warm, safe Starbucks rather than two girls walking alone in the middle of the night.

"Did you see that dancing dog? Wasn't it just adorable and -"

"We should have taken a taxi," Sandy cut in.

"They're too expensive. Besides, a walk will do us good. Maybe we can walk off those calories that we drank at Ellie's party."

Suddenly, both girls stopped dead in their tracks as they heard a whimpering in the distance.

"Oh my God, it sounds like a puppy.

Sandy didn't have time to respond before Charlene ran off into the mist toward the whimpering.

"Charlene, no, it's too dangerous!" Sandy called after her in vain. She knew that she should follow her, but she couldn't make her legs move. Time seemed to stand still until she heard the unmistakeable sound of Charlene's own high-pitched screams.

Without giving her next move a second thought, Sandy jumped into action and ran into the mist towards the shrill sound. She could barely see the ground in front of her through the thick white air.

But she could very clearly see the horror that awaited her. A hunched, pale creature held Charlene in its arms, her neck torn open and her dark blood dripping from its gaping mouth.

Sandy instantly knew what the creature was.

***

"Sandy, you didn't finish. What was the creature?" Dr. McCullough looked at Sandy through his thick spectacles, his gaze warm yet concerned.

Sandy didn't respond or couldn't respond - which it was didn't matter.

"You didn't finish your story, Sandy. What was the creature?"

When Sandy finally spoke, it was so softly that neither the doctor nor the attendant that was waiting to take her back to her room could hear what she said. "A vampire," she whispered.

"I think we're done for the day, aren't we, Sandy?" Dr. McCullough gave a subtle nod to the attendant.

Without a word, Sandy stood and allowed the white-uniformed woman to lead her away.

Two housekeeping assistants watched the girl's slow progression down the fluorescent-lit hallway to her own room.

"Poor girl, what's she in for?" The oldest housekeeper, a ginger-haired woman in her fifties gave a pitying look to the diminishing figure.

"Didn't you read about it in the papers?" The younger housekeeper, a black-haired wiry woman in her thirties, responded. "A university student. Killed her friend in the Meadows. Said it was a vampire."