"Hey Mags," Jason said as he entered his house. "Sorry I'm late..." He glanced in the kitchen and living room, but she wasn't there. He swallowed, his body tensing. "Mags? Maggy?" he called out and rushed up to her room.

Knock, knock. No response.

"Maggy?" he opened her door and peeked in, but she wasn't there. "Where could she be?"

He checked his room just in case and then checked the kitchen and living room for any messages left behind. Jason sat down near the entrance and stared at where her shoes normally sat. "Where'd she go this late?" He pulled out his phone and dialled her number.

'Please leave a message after the beep.'

Beep.

"Hey, Mags, where'd you go? Call me back as soon as you hear this."

Not sure what else to do since his parents were away for the weekend, he called Roy. "Hey, Roy, how was your date?"

"Hey, Jay, it was good... but we didn't click; kept slapping my hand away during the movie," Roy laughed.

"Did you drop her off at home?"

"Nope; she didn't seem to want me to... said she'd have someone else pick her up."

"You happen to leave her there by the theatre alone?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Why didn't you wait with her?!" Jason snapped at him.

"Whoa there; she didn't want me to wait around so I left. What's the big deal?"

"She's dead, Roy, Emily is dead!"

"Wait, what?! How could she be dead? I saw her last night."

"Who's dead?" Jason heard a familiar soft voice over the phone and his heart sunk.

"Roy... who's with you?" Jason asked, fearing the worst.

"Uh... It's Maggy."

"Why is she there?!"

"Dude, chill... and please don't burst my eardrums. I came by your house earlier, but you weren't there. Maggy seemed lonely and bored, so I took her out."

"Took her out, where?"

"Well, I was going to treat her at that little cafe at the corner – you know the one – but it was closed already, so she came over to play video games. Why does it feel like you don't trust me all of a sudden?"

"You were just playing video games?"

"Yeah, what else did you think we'd be doing? It's not like it's the first time I've gamed with her."

"It's the first time she's been to your house."

"Well, yeah, she said it'd be best if we didn't touch your stuff without asking and she doesn't have any two-player games... besides, it seemed like she wanted to be out of her house. I guess it's a bit... lonely there most of the time. Sorry, I took her out without you knowing..."

"I don't need his permission to go out!" Maggy huffed.

Jason cursed under his breath.

"Come on, Mags," Roy patted her on the back. "He's just worried about you."

"I'm tired of everyone worrying about me all the time."

"Don't say that; it's great to have a family that cares about you."

"Family?" Maggy laughed. It felt like only Jason ever cared about her.

"I'm coming over to pick her up," Jason said.

"Yeah, okay bud." They both hung up.

Jason hopped back into his Jeep and headed for Roy's house a few blocks away. He approached Roy's front door and took a deep breath.

"Jason?" He turned to see Roy's father had parked in the driveway. "Is something wrong?" he asked, holding a bag full of groceries.

"Uh... No..."

He opened the door and nudged his head. "Come on in; it's not like you to be shy."

"Yeah, thanks... Actually, I'm here to pick up my sister," Jason said, trying to glance into the living room.

"Maggy is here? That's... surprising... Um, want a snack or anything?"

"Nope, just here to pick up my sister... wherever she is."

"That might be a problem," Roy said, coming down the stairs. "She sorta barricaded herself in my room."

"She's in your room?" Jason growled.

"Okay, calm down," Roy's father patted his shoulder.

"It's where my gaming consoles are... which you know about already considering how often you've played with me," Roy pointed upstairs. "Are you going to go get her or..."

"Yeah, I'm going."

"And what was all this about Emily being dead?"

"You should check the news."

Roy nodded and headed to the living room to check on the news both on the TV and his laptop sitting on the coffee table.

Jason headed upstairs and knocked on Roy's door. "Come on, Mags, let's head home."

She sat on Roy's bed, hugging his pillow.

"Mags, I know you're in there." He turned around, "Hey, Roy, is it okay if I bust your door down?"

"What?" Roy yelled up the stairs, trying to hear him.

"It's okay? You don't mind? Alright, on three. One, two—"

The door opened and Maggy pushed past him. She rushed down the stairs and turned to Roy. "Thanks for tonight..."

"Anytime, babe."

Jason came down after her. "Ahem," Jason glared at him.

"I mean, Maggy..." Roy swallowed.

"Sorry about this," Jason bowed his head slightly to Roy's father.

"Teenagers," he shrugged. "It's what happens. Take care of her, Jason."

"I will." Jason left and found Maggy sitting in the back of his Jeep, arms crossed and head turned away. "Why are you sitting back there?"

Maggy gritted her teeth, frowning as she stared out the window and refused to respond.

Jason sighed and started his vehicle. They drove home in silence, Jason glancing back at her in the rearview mirror every minute. Maggy barely waited for the car to shut off before getting out and heading into their house.

"Maggy! Come back here," he chased after her and grabbed her arm. "Why'd you go with him after I warned you about him?"

"Seriously?" she tried to shake free from his grasp, but his grip was too tight. "Don't you get it? It's lonely here. Our parents are barely ever home, my only friend is busy more than half the time and you're MIA lately. Since I... got sick, I've been shunned by everyone... So sue me if I wanted to hang out with Roy – your best friend – for a little while..." Tears formed in her eyes and she huffed. "You don't have... to get so angry..." She covered her eyes with her free arm.

"Maggy..." He pulled her into a hug and she tried to wiggle free. "I'm sorry, Mags... I didn't realize how much you were struggling. I'm sorry I haven't been here for you enough. And I'm sorry in advance for being busy this next week."

"You're going to be busy? Why? What are you doing? Are you going to see that boy again?"

"Why does it sound weird when you say that?" he pulled away and stared at her face.

"No reason," she wiped her tears away.

"It's actually Will's sister I'm... involved with."

Maggy froze. "Wait a second. Involved with? Did you get a girlfriend?"

"I'm... not sure how to answer that, but if a woman named Samantha Gilbert—"

"Gilbert? Your teacher?! Holy crap, Jay, what are you thinking? Is that where you went tonight? Will's house, aka Samantha's house?"

Jason stared at her, dumbstruck. She seemed to know more than she should.

"Oh my gosh, Jason, you scold me for hanging out with Roy – and just playing video games – but you were off hanging out with your teacher in her house? How inappropriate is that?! Let me go, you hypocrite."

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"Maggy, it's not so simple... The situation is complicated, and she needs my help with something... private."

"What would that be? Her urge to be with a younger man?"

"Maggy! We haven't... done anything yet—"

"Yet..." Maggy scoffed.

"And she's in danger, they both are. I'm trying to help them—"

"Then call the police."

"The police can't help them. They've..." Jason trailed off, wondering how much he could tell her. "Been running for a long time and this time they're threatening the students. Honestly, I want to tell you to stay home for the next week, but I'm not sure you'd be safe here alone either."

"Students... The girl you said died that went out with Roy?"

Jason nodded. "Yeah..."

"If people's lives are in danger then that's even more reason to go to the police!"

"They can't!"

"Yeah, right; you're just lying to cover for yourself," Maggy shoved him back.

Jason tripped and landed on the floor. The vial in his pocket fell out and rolled away from him.

Maggy stared at the red liquid in the vial. "Is that..." she stepped away, shaking. "Blood?" Hyperventilation, she ducked down and grabbed onto her head, her eyes scrunched closed. An image of a man with fangs attacking her flashed through her mind and she screamed. Her blood trailed down his mouth as he pulled away, distracted by something.

"Crap..." Jason pocketed the vial and knelt down in front of her. "It's okay, Maggy," he stroked her head and tried to pry her hands away from her face. "You're safe."

"I was... attacked..."

"Breathe, Maggy, breathe..."

Still shaking, she touched her neck. "That man... he bit me..."

Jason froze. He couldn't exactly lie to her and tell her she was hallucinating, but he couldn't tell her the truth.

"Those fangs..." she swallowed. "Was I attacked by a vampire?" She finally looked up at him to see his shocked face. "I was?"

"Hold that thought." Jason pulled his phone out. "Hey, we have a problem."

"Are you an idiot or what?" Will asked, standing on Jason's front porch. "You only just left and you're already more trouble than you're worth."

Jason stepped aside to let him enter, Will's comments rolling off of him. "What are you going to do?" Jason asked.

"Where is she?" Will glanced around his house.

"Upstairs in her room... She's not catatonic like last time, but..."

"You told me as much on the phone." Will headed upstairs and knocked on one of the doors.

"How'd you know which one?" Jason asked.

Will tapped his ear. "Can I come in?"

"W-who is that?" Maggy asked.

"William Gilbert."

"Wait, your name's William? I thought it was just Will?" Jason grumbled.

Will shot him a glare and continued, "Can you let me in?"

Maggy stared at the door, unable to muster a response.

"Please?"

"Are you going to hypnotize me like your sister did?"

Will looked at Jason again. "How much does she know?"

Jason shrugged. "I assume it broke completely and she remembers everything."

"Fine, I'll just break in and fix everything." Will gripped the handle and it turned. "It was open?"

"Don't get mad at me; you're the one who didn't check first."

"You stay out here," Will pointed at him, expecting him to make the situation worse.

"But—"

"Stay," Will poked him in the chest, pushing him back.

"Ow," Jason rubbed the spot on his chest. With how much smaller than him Will was, he forgot how strong Will actually is.

Will entered Maggy's room, locking it behind him. "Hello, Maggy, nice to meet officially meet you," he pulled a chair over from her desk and sat beside her bed.

She glanced up at him. "I guess you're a vampire, too?"

"And yet you're not trembling or anything..."

"Honestly... I think I'm in shock a bit... or something like that. My heart is racing quite a bit though... Your sister saved me, right?" Will nodded. "She also hypnotized me to forget the attack?" Maggy bit her lip, gripping her shirt.

"Yes, though she didn't do a good job if you remember already."

"Gosh, I feel like I'm going to start hyperventilating again..." she waved herself.

Will reached out and she flinched back.

"You're going to erase everything again, aren't you?" Maggy asked, her eyes tearing up. For the past few days, she had trouble remembering what had happened the day she ended up exhausted and had to stay home the next day from school. And it had haunted her not knowing why.

"A high possibility, but right now, I want to help you. Look at me," Will gripped her chin and stared into her eyes. Her eyes widened when his eyes glowed red. "Calm down. You're okay; you're safe in here." He sat back, releasing her.

She took a deep breath and her body settled. "Whoa..." Her heartbeat normalized. "That's... amazing! What did you say to me?" She frowned. "I can't remember for some reason."

Will stared at her with a raised eyebrow, taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"I... Uh... Tend to suffer from an anxiety issue, and right now I feel... way better than even normal. Like this weight was lifted off of me."

"I see..."

"Um... Wouldn't erasing it all be dangerous? Besides, it didn't work for long the first time."

Will's eyes narrowed. "You want to remember getting attacked by a vampire?"

"Not exactly... But Jay said something dangerous is going on, and wouldn't me not knowing be more dangerous? Who knows what I might end up doing?"

"How do you figure that?"

Knock, knock.

"Go away, we're talking," Will said and he heard Jason shuffle away, cursing under his breath.

"Is it true a girl from our school was murdered?" Maggy asked.

"Yes."

"And it has something to do with the people you want to get away from?"

"How much has he told you?"

"Just a bunch of vague things..." Maggy frowned. "I'm always left out of important conversations..."

"That happens when you're the younger sibling."

"I guess..."

Will leaned closer, resting his elbows on his knees as he gazed at her. "Why do you really not want me to erase it? It would be better for you to forget the attack, and unlike my sister, I'll make it last." Will winked at her.

Maggy played with her hair, pulling it over her face a bit, as she looked away from him.

"Cute..." Will smiled at her reaction.

She blushed. "W-why are people after you? Did you guys do something bad?"

Will's brows furrowed. "I'm sure we've done some bad things over the years, but no, they're not after us because of something we did, but rather who we are; my sister is special."

"You care about her a lot?"

"Yes, as your brother cares about you. Which he does, you know?"

Maggy sighed. "I know he cares about me; he's the only one in the family who actually does, but he's either keeping an annoyingly close eye on me or not around at all. Can you let me keep my memories?"

"Why do you want to keep it?"

"Jason... he's dating your sister, right?"

"Pretty much."

"And if I forget what she is and how she saved me, I might... intervene, but it sounds like you need his help for some reason."

"We do."

"So, it's better if I remember... and I'll even call in sick and take a week off school like Jason wants..."

"I see," Will nodded. "I will have to take a few precautions though, if you don't mind."

"Okay, but is there any way for you to make sure I don't have nightmares from the attack?"

Will smiled at her and grasped her hand, kissing the back of it. Her heart skipped a beat. "That, I can do." He glanced around her room and gripped her chin again. "You will have pleasant dreams about bunnies whenever you sleep."

"I will dream of bunnies..." A moment later, she shook off the daze. "Again... I can't remember what you said."

"That's normally how it works."

"So I'll never know what you actually hypnotize me to do?"

"Not unless you break it again..."

"Maybe I should have Jason in here so you don't try anything funny..." she chewed on the inside of her lip as she eyed him.

"Oh?" Will's face lit up. "Do tell, what is it you think I'll do?"

"I don't know; if you can hypnotize me, it can be anything, right?"

"I suppose, but as a gentleman and someone who is receiving assistance from your brother, I'd rather not spoil the relationship by doing something stupid."

"I have to ask... what assistance can my brother provide? I mean... if vampires are real and they're super strong and whatnot, what can my brother offer? He's not an idiot, but he's not the brightest either and we're well off, but not exactly super-rich—"

"You two ramble the same," Will chuckled, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb. "At least it's cute when you do it. And to answer your question with complete honesty, he's helping feed my stubborn sister."

"Feed as in... blood?"

"Yes, my dear, she will be drinking his blood; she did it once already. Are you afraid of us now?"

Maggy fiddled with her blanket. "No, but I don't know why. If anything, I'm curious... but I guess I'm always curious."

"Sometimes that's a good thing, other times, it'll get you into deep trouble."

Knock, knock.

"How come you're not done yet?" Jason complained from the other side of the door. "You'll excuse me if I'm not comfortable leaving you alone with my sister for too long in a locked room."

"Jason, if I wanted to do something, I would and you wouldn't be able to do anything to stop me, but I'm not going to, so leave us alone," Will said, rolling his eyes.

Maggy giggled and covered her mouth, hoping Jason didn't hear her.

"But why is it taking so long?" Jason asked, tapping his foot as he stared at the closed bedroom door with crossed arms.

"Because I'm not going to erase her memory, but rather I'm spending quality time talking to her."

"Um... what?"

When Will didn't explain, he thumped his fist on the door again. "What the hell, man? You're supposed to be helping her."

"I am, just not in the way you wanted me to."

"Go away, Jay, we're okay in here," Maggy said, holding back a smile.

Will recognized the gleam in her eyes once they started talking. As someone who spent more than enough time alone – even when he was human – he knew she was lonely.

Will took a deep breath. "Are you sure you'll be okay staying away from school for a week?"

"Jason can pick up my homework and I could probably miss a few weeks and still be okay."

"You excel in school?"

"Yeah, school work is easy for me; people are what's hard. Dealing with them, I mean..."

"I get it, trust me. I'd be willing to come over and hang out with you if it wasn't for the people chasing us. It's bad enough to put your brother in danger, never mind a cutie like you... If anything, you're in danger too..." He frowned.

"Don't worry; I'll stay at home, I promise. And I wouldn't mind if you came to visit..."

"After we've finally dealt with Evan and are no longer in danger, I'd love to. In the meanwhile, how about I give you my phone number and you can call or text me if you need to?"

"Do I have to be in trouble to—"

"No, you can contact me anytime for any reason," he winked at her.

"O-okay," she handed him her phone. He put his info in and texted his phone so he could save her number. He handed her phone back. "Thanks."

"If you somehow end up having a nightmare or need help with your anxiety, I can help you with that."

"Okay... Do you... need blood too?" She shifted around nervously.

Will looked at her wide-eyed.

"I-I mean, if your sister needs blood and Jason is helping her, then do you need—"

"Let me stop you there," Will held his hands up. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, I have an ample supply of blood on hand and at request if need be."

Her eyes widened.

"That probably didn't sound good, but I mean I have blood bags and know a place where people offer their blood to vampires regularly... That probably didn't sound good either."

"I get it," Maggy sighed and turned away. "I guess my blood isn't good enough for you... Even though I'll just be sitting around stewing for the next week."

"I never said you're blood wasn't good enough. Based on the sweet scent you give off, you'd taste good... delicious even... I think I'll shut my mouth before I say something else that could send you running."

"I'm not as fragile as you all seem to think I am," Maggy mumbled. "Yes, I was terrified when the vampire attacked me, but who wouldn't be when you thought they didn't exist..."

"I think a young girl who got attacked in general – by anybody – would be terrified. And it's not a matter of thinking you're fragile, although I think all humans are, but rather—"

"You don't have to explain; we're not going to be seeing each other until things are settled anyway. Might even forget me afterwards anyway..." she sighed, gazing out the window.

"I'll text you though, to keep you company."

"Really?" her face lit up.

"Yeah; I apologize if I don't get back to you immediately, but I'll definitely always reply. Friends?" Will held his hand out to her.

She giggled and shook his hand, surprised by the warmth. "Is this how you normally make friends?"

"Ah, well, I used to do this all the time. I've learned how to do things differently now, but that was just like the old me. I guess it makes it feel like a business transaction," Will laughed.

Knock, knock.

"I should head out before your brother breaks the door down," Will stood and rested his hand on her head for a moment. "Stay strong, Maggy; I'm hoping to fix things soon. Goodbye."

"Bye," Maggy watched him leave and sighed.

Jason eyed Will as he passed by. "Um... So... What's going on?"

"Why don't you talk to your sister about it? Seems you've been a bit absent lately and you two should enjoy a quality chat."

"Right, I'll do that," Jason frowned.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"You will?"

"At the very least my sister will," he smiled at Jason knowingly and left.

"Hey, Mags, how are you feeling?"

"Tired. It's late; both of us should get to sleep. Can you shut off the light?"

"Yeah, sure... Goodnight, Mags," Jason sighed as he flicked the light off and closed her door. Jason crawled into his bed and stared at the ceiling in the dark, his mind swirling and stomach a ball of nerves. He wanted to help them, but was giving his blood the only thing he could do?