Ava lay on the damp earth, breathing heavily and enjoying the stable wetness beneath her. She was still dizzy, and her head still spun, but at least the world itself wasn’t spinning. She was vaguely aware of the white rope laying on the ground, loose and tied to a huge boulder nearby, and Ezzie laying next to her.
“Wh—what just happened?” she managed to say.
“You stupidly walked into one of the spinning worlds,” Ezzie said, scolding her.
Spinning world. How fitting.
“Can you stand?” Ezzie asked.
“I—I don’t know,” Ava said, not sure if she could yet. “You came in, after me. You saved me.” She remembered those curtained doorways, on the third floor, and barely managed to suppress a shudder. That hadn’t been good, and the spinning had only increased.
“Yes,” said Ezzie. “Now we’re even.”
Ava supposed they were, since she had saved them from the bad men—or those mountain men rather. She remembered the fun booth and Elizabeth. She really wished her phone worked. She tentatively got to her knees and clutched her head. She sorta felt like she was going to spew, which wouldn’t be good. Ezzie stood up and untied the rope from around her waist. Apparently the fast spinning hadn’t affected her as much. Ava wondered how long she’d been in there.
“How long were you in there?” she asked.
“Not long,” said Ezzie, letting the loose rope fall to the ground.
Ava waited for the dizziness to pass. She was relieved to be back in what Ezzie had called the fog lands. And away from that dreaded third floor and the spinning world. She was never running in the fog lands again! Even if she saw the demon. Thankfully she didn’t feel its presence.
“I saw mirrors.” Ezzie frowned, gray lips taunt over her emaciated face.
“I didn’t,” said Ava. She’d just felt the presence of the demon. “What’s wrong with mirrors?”
“I don’t like my reflection.”
“Why not?” Though Ava supposed if she was as thin as Ezzie she wouldn’t like her reflection much either. She wanted to take Ezzie to Burger King! Though she supposed Ezzie wouldn’t like that very much, being a strange vampire immortal and all.
“I just don’t,” said Ezzie. “Can you stand?”
Ava tried, but fell back down to her knees. “Not yet.”
“No one in recorded history has ever escaped a spinning world,” said Ezzie. “We were lucky.”
Lucky? Ava shuddered at the thought of being stuck in that constant spinning world forever, just laying there with those dreaded curtained doorways around her or being stuck with the flower named girls and their not-so-fun booths. Her mom’s awful words were still stuck in her mind, and Mark’s slyly grinning, chubby face. God she hated him.
“I hate Mark,” she suddenly said without meaning to.
“Who’s Mark?” Ezzie asked. “That’s a strange name.”
“No one,” Ava quickly said.
“Okay,” said Ezzie. Then, “Give me your hands. I’ll help you stand.”
Ava gave Ezzie her hands, and again Ezzie’s hands were icy cold. With some help she managed to stand, but then the dizziness overcame her and she leaned heavily against Ezzie, way too aware of how close she was to her. Ezzie smelled like flowers, and Ava remembered how Elizabeth smelled like cinnamon.
“I’ll be fine in a few minutes,” she said into Ezzie’s sharp shoulder. She thought her heavy weight would make Ezzie fall, but it didn’t, and in a few seconds the dizziness and spinning passed, and the world was concrete around her. No more spinning. Ava was grateful for that. She was sick of spinning. She never wanted to feel that spinning again! She stumbled away from Ezzie and almost fell down. “I think I’m okay now.”
“Alright. Good. You can’t run in the fog lands. It’s too dangerous.”
Ava was definitely going to remember that!
“I never will again!”
“Good.”
They stood in silence for a little bit, just the chilly, dense gray fog around them. Ava longed for her reality. Why wasn’t whatever Mark had given her wearing off by now? She was starting to feel like maybe she wasn’t dreaming.
“Let’s go to the rollercoaster now. Stay close to me. And don’t run!” said Ezzie.
“Don’t worry. I won’t. I promise!” Ava did not want to walk into another one of those spinning worlds. Even if she saw the demon she wasn’t going to run. “Let’s go.” Ava really hoped the rollercoaster would take her back. She felt the book in her bag—still cold and damp. She wondered when it was going to dry off. Maybe never.
“Good.”
Ava stayed close to Ezzie as they slowly and cautiously walked. One of those strange, six legged creatures ran across her feet and disappeared in the fog, and Ava couldn’t help a shriek.
“Be quiet,” Ezzie said.
Ava stayed quiet.
Eventually they came to a strange, seemingly abandoned city, and the fog cleared somewhat, revealing cracked cement and tall, broken skyscrapers and other barren, cement buildings, and Ava’s curiosity was instantly piqued. They walked the silent street, going further into the abandoned city. Ava wanted to explore the empty buildings.
“Sometimes the bad men come here,” said Ezzie.
“That’s not good,” said Ava, not wanting to be captured by them again. “So where’s the rollercoaster?”
“At the very center of the city, down this street,” said Ezzie.
“Okay.”
They continued their walk, Ava careful not to trip over any of the broken cement, and eventually she saw the remains of a rollercoaster, rising in the distance, above the buildings, which had thinned out. Relief filled her. She really hoped this would work. Otherwise she didn’t know how she was going to get back.
“Oh thank god,” she said.
“What is this god?” asked Ezzie.
“Nothing,” said Ava.
They walked up the rusty steps to the main platform of the rollercoaster, wisps of fogs swirling around their ankles, and came to the dim orange light of the platform. The train cars were still there, paint on them fresh and new looking, blue and purple. Ezzie went to the control booth, and Ava followed her. Her relief was filled with cold disappointment when she saw how smashed and broken it was. Ezzie had definitely destroyed it, completely obliterated it. Pieces of metal even hung off it.
“Well, you definitely did a good job,” Ava muttered. “Now what?”
“Just get in a train car,” said Ezzie. “We have to send you and the book back to this mortal world.” Ezzie sounded frantic.
Ava felt somewhat frantic herself. She got in one of the train cars, her favorite seat, and clutched her bag and the book and waited, but nothing happened. Disappointment filled her.
“This isn’t working!” she said.
Ezzie was frantically pressing on the control booth, but still nothing happened.
“Well, you certainly did a good job,” said Ava.
“How was I supposed to know it would send you here,” snapped Ezzie.
Ava didn’t know. Her hopes sunk. She was never getting back. Memories assaulted her—her mom, Mark, Elizabeth, her sexuality confusion and fear.
“What do we do?” she asked.
“I-I don’t know,” said Ezzie, leaning back from the control booth.
That definitely did not reassure Ava. Anger suddenly filled her and pissed off she stood and got out of the train car. This was all Ezzie’s fault. There was no point in sitting in there any longer. She went by Ezzie and stared at the broken controls, willing them to fix themselves. Of course they didn’t. She was never escaping this nightmare. She’d be stuck in this horrible fog place forever.
“We have to get you back!” said Ezzie. “My sisters can never discover you!”
“What is the deal with you and your sisters?”
“They can’t discover what I’ve done!” Ezzie said.
“Why not?”
“They just can’t okay!”
“Okay.”
They stood in silence. Sudden hope filled Ava.
“Can’t we get a mechanic to fix it?”
“I don’t know one,” said Ezzie solemnly. She frowned.
“There you are!” said a sudden voice, and Ava started. Not the mountain men again!
But then it registered it wasn’t a man voice, and a girl stood on the platform, hair long and orange and braided, with the same strange, purple eyes as Ezzie. She wore a long, flowing dress. Another strange vampire girl? Unlike Ezzie though, she was rosy and chubby and healthy looking. Ezzie started too and horror filled her face. The girl gazed at Ava, with her strange purple eyes, and sudden confusion filled her face and she flinched.
“Who is that?” she asked. “What is she?”
She approached them, and Ezzie stepped away from the control booth, sudden resignation crossing her gaunt face.
“She’s no one,” she muttered.
“Oh! She’s definitely someone!” said the girl. “Where is she from? How did she get here? What is going on? Is she the reason why you needed the rope? We were worried about you, but I was the only one brave enough to come looking for you!”
This new girl was awfully cheerful.
Now she sniffed the air. “Oh, she smells so… sweet! I’m getting hungry.”
She looked at Ezzie, purple eyes blinking.
“Why does she smell so sweet, Ezzie?”
Ezzie didn’t say anything, and Ava didn’t like the way the new vampire girl was smelling her. Couldn’t vampires smell blood? What if she lunged at her? Well, Ava knew how to protect herself, and suddenly she had no doubts this new girl even would lunge at her. These immortal people seemed to have no concept of violence, and she assumed this new girl was the same.
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“You can… smell her?” said Ezzie.
“Of course. You can’t? You know I have a great sense of smell!” said the new girl.
“That’s true,” muttered Ezzie.
“What’s her name? Where did she come from?”
“No where!” said Ezzie. “Go away, Luna.”
Luna pouted. “That’s not very nice.”
“Um… standing right here guys!” said Ava. “My name is Ava.”
“Ava! What a pretty name!” said Luna, dancing where she stood. “This is so exciting! Where did you come from?”
“Um…”
“Don’t answer her,” said Ezzie. “Go away, Luna.”
“No. We have to introduce her to Rosalie and Amelia. I’m sure Rosalie will be able to tell me where she’s from, since you won’t, Ezzie.”
“I’m from the mortal world?” Ava said.
“What’s the mortal world?” Luna asked.
How was Ava supposed to answer that?
“What’s the mortal world, Ezzie?” Luna asked.
Ezzie didn’t say anything.
“Well, fine. If you won’t tell me I’m sure Rosalie will know. Come on strange mortal girl Ava!” And Luna walked up and took her hands. She sniffed. “Oh, you smell so good! I just want to eat you up!”
Ava didn’t like that, and she pulled her hands away.
“I guess if anyone would know how to send you back it’s Rosalie, Ava,” said Ezzie. “Just don’t say anything!”
Great. Then Ava guessed she wanted to talk to Rosalie. Hopefully this Rosalie vampire girl wouldn’t be able to smell her like Luna could. She was happy Ezzie didn’t seem able to.
“Then let’s go I guess,” said Ava.
Luna danced where she stood. “Oh! This is so exciting! Where did you meet her, Ezzie?”
Again Ezzie didn’t say anything, instead she just frowned. “I’ll lead,” she said finally. “Come on, and be quiet Luna. The bad men come here.”
“Then why do you come here. It sounds dangerous,” said Luna.
“I don’t know,” whispered Ezzie.
“Oh. Okay. Well, I’m hungry! We’ll follow you, Ezzie. I want to stay as close as possible to you, strange mortal girl Ava,” said Luna.
Ava just wanted to get as far away from Luna as she could, but figured it was impossible.
“Don’t say anything,” Ezzie whispered to Ava as she passed her, and her and Luna followed Ezzie off the platform, away from the rollercoaster and through the abandoned city. Ava was suddenly afraid to meet these sisters of Ezzie. Ezzie seemed pretty against it, and she didn’t know why. Other than that Luna seemed to be able to smell her that was. She didn’t understand though, especially since Rosalie seemed their only hope in offering her a way back to her reality. And what was the big deal about the book and why couldn’t her sisters discover what she’d done, and what exactly had she done, besides destroy the controls on the rollercoaster and save her from a spinning world? Maybe her sisters would have the answers, since Ezzie wasn’t talking, which just made her frustrated.
Luna walked close behind her as they followed Ezzie through the dense fog, and Ava was all too aware of how she was still sniffing her. She did not want to become anyone’s meal! But luckily Luna remained silent as they walked, as Ezzie had requested. They passed by a spinning world arch, so closely Ava could have reached out her hand and touched it. She shivered and clutched her bag and that strange book closer. Maybe this Rosalie vampire girl would know what the deal was with the book, though Ezzie had commanded her not to say anything, and she thought maybe it was for the best if she remained silent. Soon they came to a tall, crumbled brick wall and a narrow opening. Inside the fog cleared, and above Ava saw a multitude of bright stars. Did they ever have daylight here?
They followed a broken road, past crumbled brick buildings, and bright purple flowers sprouted through cracks in the brick, smelling sweet, like Ezzie had smelled when they’d been so close.
“Oh, this is so exciting! Amelia and Rosalie are simply going to adore you, strange mortal girl Ava!” said Luna, practically bouncing as they walked. “I’m so happy we’re almost there. You make me so hungry!”
Ava didn’t like the way that sounded, but she wasn’t afraid Luna would lunge at her anymore. These immortal people didn’t seem to know what violence was, much less being able to commit it, hence it being so easy to escape the mountain men.
They came to a crumbled brick fountain, spewing blood red, splashing liquid, which Ava realized, with disgust, was blood. A girl sat on the edge of it, hair the same color as the purple flowers, reading a book. A different girl sat on a cement bench nearby, staring at her reflection in a hand mirror, green hair cut short and streaked with silver. Both girls were plump and rosy and healthy looking, and Ava wondered what was up with Ezzie. Why didn’t she look like her sisters? Why was she so emaciated? Was she sick?
Both girls drank from chipped, ceramic cups of blood.
“I found Ezzie!” declared Luna. “And this strange mortal girl Ava! Doesn’t she smell delicious?”
Both girls looked up—the purple haired one away from her book and the green haired girl away from her hand mirror. Both had those strange purple eyes, and both sniffed the air.
“She does,” said the purple haired one.
“What’s a mortal?” said the green haired one. “Whatever I guess. Is she the reason why you needed the rope, Ezzie?”
Ezzie didn’t say anything.
“I’ve read brief passages that mention mortals. I believe they’re from a different world entirely. I believe they fall asleep eventually and never wake up,” said the purple haired girl. Ava assumed that must be Rosalie, and the other one must be Amelia.
“Something like that,” said Ava.
“You’ve read about the mortal world?” Ezzie asked.
“Just a brief reference,” said Rosalie, setting her book down beside her and taking a huge gulp from her cup of blood.
Luna danced to the fountain, cupped her hands in it, and drank greedily. She wiped her mouth off.
“Not as good or as sweet as you smell, strange mortal girl Ava!” she declared, again taking Ava’s hands, and Ava pulled her hands away and wiped deep red blood off on her skirt. She did not like that fountain of blood. Bile rose in her throat. It made her repulsed. She’d never been good around blood.
She backed up, closer to Ezzie. Ezzie at least felt safe.
“Is the blood where you’re from sweeter?” Luna asked, wiping off her own hands and leaving a red stain on her gown.
“I-I don’t know,” said Ava.
“Where’d you meet her, Ezzie?” asked Rosalie. “How’d she get here?”
“And why’d you need a rope?” asked Amelia, again picking up her hand mirror and admiring her face. “But whatever I guess.”
“I just found her in the fog lands, okay,” Ezzie said.
“Why was she wandering there. It’s dangerous. The bad men and the spinning worlds—” started Rosalie.
“Ezzie saved me from one of those,” Ava interrupted, not being able to stop herself.
Now all purple eyes widened, and from Ezzie’s forlorn look Ava could tell she’d said the wrong thing, and she regretted it.
“You actually went in a spinning world!” said Luna.
“How utterly foolish!” said Rosalie.
Amelia looked up from her hand mirror. “Aren’t you both just lucky.”
“Yes,” whispered Ezzie. “Very lucky.”
Ava wanted to speak up about the book, but didn’t know if it was a good idea. Ezzie had told her not to say anything after all, and she’d already ruined it.
“They were in the abandoned city, at a rollercoaster,” said Luna.
“Why were you there?” asked Rosalie.
“I need to get home. How can I get back? The rollercoaster sent me here, but Ezzie destroyed the controls.” Ava felt like she was going to start crying. Rosalie absolutely had to have an answer. She didn’t think they had very many options. Other than the rollercoaster, Ezzie didn’t know how.
“You do smell tasty,” said Amelia.
“Yes,” agreed Rosalie. “Why?”
“I-I don’t know!” said Ava.
“Why’d you destroy the controls, Ezzie? I want to go to this sweet blood mortal world!” said Luna. “Oh how it sounds tasty. Do they have more than one fountain of blood?”
“Um—” began Ava.
“No,” Ezzie interrupted. “Shut up, Luna. We just have to send her back. Do you know how Rosalie? Have you read anything about it?”
“Oh, so sweet and tasty! Can I lick you?” Luna came far too close again, and Ava backed away. She suddenly had a feeling this had been a terrible idea.
Rosalie frowned. “I have read that there are edges to the fog lands, but that is all. And she does smell tasty, Luna,” said Rosalie, standing up and approaching Ava.
Ava did not want to be licked.
“She does smell sweet. I want a taste,” said Amelia, standing up and also approaching.
Ava resisted the urge to run. Suddenly she was really happy she wasn’t on the rag or had any open cuts.
“Go the fuck away!” she said, preparing for a physical fight. She’d show these immortal girls some violence if she needed to.
Ezzie stepped in front of her, which Ava was grateful for.
“Get away from her,” she said.
“But we only want a lick!” said Luna, dancing. “Just a tiny taste.”
“There’s an edge to the fog lands, Rosalie?” Ezzie asked.
“I’ve read a brief passage about it yes, a long time ago. You’re hiding something from us,” said Rosalie. “Why would you destroy the controls on this rollercoaster if it could take us to where the blood is sweeter?”
“It’s really not!” said Ava.
“All mortals aren’t as sweet as you smell?” said Amelia. “Not that it particularly matters.”
“I don’t know why I did,” said Ezzie quietly.
“Did you go there and not bring us?” asked Rosalie.
“What? No!” said Ezzie.
The immortal girls advanced, and Ezzie and Ava backed up further, Ava tripping over a broken brick. What if the edges of the fog lands led back to her reality, or the mortal world, or whatever they wanted to call it.
“Then why? And you lied about discovering her in the fog lands. I can just tell,” said Rosalie.
“No I didn’t! I found her wandering alone!”
“Highly doubtful,” said Rosalie.
“We just want one lick,” said Amelia.
“We want to go to this strange mortal world!” declared Luna, licking her lips.
“No!” said Ezzie.
“Oh yes,” said Rosalie.
“Indeed yes,” said Amelia.
“Come on! Just a lick! It can’t hurt,” said Luna.
“No. We’re leaving now. Thanks, Rosalie,” said Ezzie, sounding panicked. “We’re going.”
“Oh, no you’re not,” said Rosalie, and all three girls jumped at them.
They pushed Ezzie away as though she were made of paper, and shoved Ava to the ground before she could even react. Fuck they were fast! She hit her head hard on the broken bricks and saw stars. They licked her neck and her hands, tongues warm and wet. They bit at her neck. They pushed up the sleeves of her black hoodie and licked at her arms. They bit, but not too hard, but it still hurt, and Ava frantically tried pushing them off, but they were heavy and strong. She kicked upwards. She tried standing, head aching. She inched backwards, away from them, and kicked upwards again and punched with her fists, finally hitting one of their faces.
“Ouch! What was that?” It was Luna.
Ava kicked, again connecting with one of them, and all three backed away, purple eyes wide. Ava frantically got to her feet.
“That hurt!” said Amelia. “What were you doing?”
“Violence,” said Rosalie, as all three immortal girls backed further away. “I believe that was an act of what is called violence.”
“Get away from me!” said Ava, pulling down the sleeves of her sweater, head throbbing. Her heart beat rapidly. Ezzie stood back in front of her.
“We’re leaving now,” she said.
“Were we guilty of this violence too?” asked Amelia. “Not that it matters much.”
“Maybe,” said Rosalie.
“Go away strange mortal girl Ava,” said Luna, hand on her face where Ava had punched her. She sounded hysterical. “Just go!”
“Lunge again and I’ll punch you again!” said Ava.
Rosalie and Luna backed up further. Amelia looked longingly at her hand mirror.
“We won’t,” said Amelia. “Just leave.”
“And you go too, Ezzie. You’re the long sleep to us,” said Rosalie.
“No!” said Ezzie. “Please! I didn’t know!”
“You’re lying again,” said Rosalie.
“I swear I can’t smell her.”
“Maybe we’ll forgive you,” said Amelia. “Not that it matters much.”
“There’s something wrong with you, Ezzie,” said Luna.
“I know,” Ezzie whispered.
Ava wondered what exactly was wrong with Ezzie. She definitely wasn’t like her chubby, healthy looking sisters. “Go!” Rosalie commanded.
A look of defeat crossed Ezzie’s gaunt face, and she stared down at her sandaled feet.
“Okay,” she said. “But I swear I didn’t know.”
“Whatever. Just leave,” said Amelia.
Ava followed Ezzie down the broken brick street, leaving her sisters behind thankfully. Their licking and biting had reminded her of Mark’s gross touch, and she shuddered, rubbing at the bites on her neck. She felt violated, and shame overcame her. Had she led Mark on? Was she really a whore, like her mom had said? It made her sick to think about. They came to a half-broken building and entered it through an arched wooden doorway. The room opened up to a rusty bathtub filled with water and sunken purple flowers. Towels were thrown on the ground and open cabinets lined the walls. The partially open roof revealed the bright stars above. The cabinets were empty, except for an empty glass vial that had red blood stains on it. Ava wondered if this was where Ezzie lived.
“Do you live here?” she asked.
“Yes,” whispered Ezzie.
“Why can’t you smell me?”
“I don’t know. I lost my sense of smell a long time ago.”
“Why?”
“I just did okay!”
“Okay,” Ava said.
She wondered why Ezzie wouldn’t tell her, but figured it really wasn’t that important anyway. Then a sudden revelation filled her, and she couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen this before.
“How much blood do you drink?” she asked. “Are you an anorexic? Do you have anorexia nervosa?”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“It’s when you purposely starve yourself.”
Ezzie didn’t say anything, and Ava took that as a yes.
“Why don’t you drink enough?”
Ezzie looked at her feet.
“You can tell me.”
“I want them to see,” Ezzie finally whispered.
“See what?”
“That there’s something deeply wrong with me and I can’t explain it.”
“Are you depressed?”
Ava didn’t know a whole lot about anorexia, but thought that a lot of the time the sufferers were depressed, and Ezzie definitely seemed solemn compared to her sisters.
“I’m not exactly sure what that is.”
“Do you feel empty and sad?” Ava asked.
Ezzie looked up. “How did you know?”
“I just guessed.”
“Oh.”
“You should drink some blood,” urged Ava.
“No. My sisters told me to leave.” Tears filled her eyes. Ava hoped she wouldn’t start crying.
“They’ll let you come back,” said Ava, trying to sound reassuring.
“I hope so.”
“So are we going to the edge of the fog lands?” Ava asked, just wanting this nightmare to be over with.
“I suppose so. Though Rosalie wasn’t sure if it even led to your world.”
“I know. But the rollercoaster doesn’t work. What choice do we have?”
“Not much I guess.”
“Come on. Let’s go. Before we do you should drink some blood though. Maybe you just need an SSRI.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
Did these immortal people know anything?
“It’s an antidepressant.”
“Oh. I’ve never heard of that.” Though Ezzie sounded a little hopeful. “It would help with the constant emptiness I feel?”
“It should.”
“Okay.”
“Now go drink some blood before we leave,” said Ava.
Ezzie sighed. “I can’t!”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t okay.”
“Okay.”
“Now let’s go,” said Ezzie. “We’ll go past the bad men oasis. I’ve never been that far before.”
“Sounds good,” said Ava.
“We have to get you away from my sisters anyway.”
“Yes.” Ava could agree with that. She took the book out of her bag and stared at the blank cover. It was still damp and cold in her hands. “So what’s the deal with this book? I want to know before we leave.”
“It describes the mortal world, where the rivers flow with sweet blood. It doesn’t matter anymore. My sisters already know I betrayed them. I just didn’t want them to leave me! I can’t go to your world and be tempted by all that blood! The fountain is bad enough!”
“Maybe it would be good for you,” said Ava, still not wanting to tell Ezzie that she was wrong about her world, that there were no rivers of blood, though she thought of warfare and violence. There was plenty of blood in the mortal world. Just not literal rivers of it.
“No it wouldn’t.”
“Yes it would.”
“I can’t be alone.” Ezzie frowned and wiped at her eyes. “You can just leave the book here if you want. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“No,” said Ava, putting the book back in her bag. “I want to keep it.”
“Okay I guess. Come on.”
Ava followed Ezzie—the depressed anorexic immortal girl who needed an SSRI—down a brick hallway and back out into the fog lands.