Bloodless Part 1. Ch. 1 Heart stealing thieves

Submitted by Intrige on Tue, 12/18/2012 - 01:11

Eli walked along the street, in the city. He was looking around everywhere, where to go? What to buy? He was already exited, it couldn’t just be anything. First of all it had to be small, and second: It really had to mean something. Not just a funny treat like a plastic banana on the size of a thumb. Or a simple Rubik’s cube with numbers on it or something. This really had to be something. But what? He would meet Oskar in an hour by that weird statue in the middle of the city. He looked at his watch, thirty minutes wasted already. It was actually a bit lonely walking alone, but it had to be done. It had to be a surprise.

The street was dry and people walked him by in a hurry. Most of them probably longing to get home, but the shops were still open for another hour. Some teens and big kids like he was were walking slowly around chatting to each other. A young couple walked in front of him, a few years older maybe. All dressed in black with dark make-up. Even the boy wore some, and they were holding hands. Weakly smiling to one another. They sure looked in love. He shock his head, damn it. Get this thing over with. He always hated shopping for presents, then he had to do it alone.

Eli was staring at the black dressed couple, the boy looked at him now. He nodded, smiled proudly. The girl started to giggle, and they passed him by. Eli turned around, as they walked the boy took a hold around his girl and pulled her closer. Eli turned around again as he sighed.

He looked around again, trying to think of something. A nice shirt? No, a toy? Maybe if it is something from a memory, a good time. If only he could give Oskar a box and inside it would be a note where it was drawn a heart, that would work. No it wouldn’t.
Some people walked in the way, coming out of a door. They were holding something and looked pretty exited. Eli looked up at the sign for the shop. Documentaries. Interesting, Oskar loved knowing things, anything from wars to inventers. Maybe buying him something he would feel nostalgic about? From the 80’s, that would kick it off. Good plan, he nodded to himself.
He opened the door, stood there.

“Hello? My shoes are pretty dirty, you think it is okay that I can come in?” A man ‘s voice answered quite a bit angry.
“You see the doormat you’re standing on? Dry off and come on in.” Eli did what he was told with a smile, it would have been so much easier without that invitation thing. Eli walked over to the man, gave him an excusive smile.
“Sorry I’m a little slow sometimes.” The man raised his eyebrows.
“No shit, now what can I get you little lady.” Eli leaned over the counter, the man read a comic. The radio was on somewhere. And it was a bigger shop than expected. Filled with small discs in little covers. Really amazing the man made a living. Eli knew about the internet and how people could steal from there. But this seemed to have something internet hadn’t, strangely enough.
“Yeah do you have anything from the 1980’s?” The man looked, up, this probably wasn’t the usual.
“Hold on for a moment.” Then he walked off through the door behind him, probably the storage room. He moved on a lot of stuff inside of there, and it took quite a while. Then he came out with a box, he placed it on the counter. On the side it was written with weak and worn out maker: 80’s.
“Nock yourself out kid.”
“Thanks.”

Eli put the box on the floor and started looking. Grapping some thin covers, looking at it. Russians, no. Swedish culture, no. Literature, no. Toys, maybe. Eli put it aside, but really he looked for something interesting. Whatever that would be.
“It’s weird that you have Swedish stuff.” Eli looked up at the man.
“Yeah I know, but they were pretty good back in the days.”
“You remember much of it?” The man shock his head.
“I was only a toddler, but my dad sure liked to talk about it.” Eli nodded, tried looking some more. He picked up yet another cover. Then everything stopped, what the.. Eli got very surprised.
“Swedish pool killings (Oskar Erikson)” It said. Eli looked up at the man.
“What did that came out?” He pointed at the cover. The man nodded, snored as he answered.
“A few years back, I have only some copies left, it sold well back then.”
“I can see why.” Eli stoop up, put the box back on the counter. Threw in the one about toys. Eli put it in front of him, he found some money from his pocket too.
“That documentary sure is scary.” The man smiled weakly.
“What’s it about?” He grabbed the money, pushed some buttons.
“Some kid in Sweden who disappeared, they had no idea back then. But since vampires were discovered they made the documentary to, well. Prove that it actually was a vampire who did it.”
“Nice, yeah I’ll take it anyway.” The man laughed weakly.
“It is in Swedish though, but has English subtitle.” Eli grabbed it, looked down at it as if something was missing.
“Can you wrap it in? It’s a gift.” The man nodded, went off again. After a few seconds he came with some paper with rainbow stripes on it. The wrapped it nicely in and gave it back to Eli.
“There you go, and welcome back. Nice to see someone being interested in the old days instead of that new shit.” Eli had to laugh.

“Thanks, and I sure will. Bye!” He waved, the man waved back. And he went off.
He saw Oskar by the statue, neither of them could actually tell what is was supposed to be. But Oskar stood there all right. Waiting, relaxed. With his short beautiful hair made orange by the weak street lights. So with his face and loose clothing. Eli’s face got wormer, and he began to smile. As always Oskar smiled back.
Eli walked to him and gave him a hug.
“I actually missed you.” He said. Oskar laughed.
“What do you mean by: Actually?” Eli laughed too and gave him a quick kiss. Then he took Oskar by the hand and started waking. People looked at them with hidden smiles. Eli felt proud.

They walked in silence for a while, just enjoying the presence of each other. Then suddenly Oskar started to giggle. Eli looked over at him.
“What?” Eli asked half smiling.
“This is so funny, ok. What do you call a suicidal person you’re about to feed on?”
“I don’t know, what?”
“A Happy meal.” The both burst out in laughter while leaning on each other. It lasted for a long while and somehow people just can’t stop smiling at them. They started to move while they still laughed.
“Where did you hear that?” Oskar smiled proudly.
“I made it up myself.” Then he gave Eli a funny face and said with a ghostly voice:
“And I live right here, on the jungle-gym!” They both began laughing again.

Eli unlocked the door with their keys and opened the dark apartment they rented. They paid a man for being their parent when renting it from the house lord. They usually slept in abandoned houses or caves in the woods. But this was perfect and cozy.
Eli laid the keys on a small table that was there when they got the apartment. They decided to have their gifts on the very same table, and just leave it with that. No one would grab it and open it when it was right there. Both of them with a big smile, really looking forward to tomorrow.

Oskar turned on the lights. A pretty small apartment, they were in the living room. It had orange walls, but not very bright. They never had much, but like the table a small couch and amazingly a small TV was there. An old one, those who looked like a box and not a flat screen. Oskar liked it so much, said it sort of reminded him of the TV he and his mom had in Blackeberg. Since it was brown, he had said. Later on they had bought a disc player, Eli sure was happy for that now. On the one shelf they had in the living room they had placed their dark brown memory box they never ever left without. And beside it all of their Rubik’s cubes, those in bigger sizes. They sort of lit up the place with all the colors.

They lay down on the couch and snuggled up against each other. Turned on the TV and started relaxing. Yesterday they had been feeding, no hunger or thoughts about feeding to think about. Resting in Oskar’s arms as the people went home to their families and beds. Nothing was better, life was almost perfect.
After a while they got bored and found a monopoly board game to play. It lasted the whole night, with Oskar still making funny jokes, he’s got a good day.

By the dusk they turned off the TV and cleaned the board game, turned off the lights in the living room. The one small window there was covered with a black sheet, but they could sense the sun was coming anyway. Instead of walked to the bathroom like they normally would do, they actually went to the bedroom. The bed inside of there was a hole in the wall, it was built that way. And over it they had yet another sheet they had glued to the wall. It was a small window there too that they also covered, of course. They didn’t bother turning on the lights this time. The room was dark blue and very empty, also very small.
They dressed off to their underwear and stepped inside the bed, the sheet making it a very confortable lair. With blankets and pillows all over the place, even a normal and thick bed cover, they snuggled up once again.

“Good morning.” Oskar said, Eli giggled a bit, said the same thing back. And then Eli fell sleep laying on top of Oskar. His head resting between Oskar’s shoulder and head.

*

Oskar awaked slowly, his eyelids were heavy. When he opened them Eli’s face was very close to his, he was still sleeping. Oskar began to smile.
“Eli.” He said while touching his cheek. He slowly started moving, and he started breathing.
“You heavy sleeper.” Oskar commented, Eli weakly began to smile. He opened his eyes and said:
“Good evening to you too.” They leaned over and kissed a bit before they got out of bed. Oskar had planned it all out, and first they were going to take a bath with lots of foam.
“Wait there.” Oskar said, then he went into the bathroom and turned on the water poured in some foam from the bottle and found those small tea candles and a lighter. Placed those on the edge of the bath tub and lit them up. The light had been off from the beginning Oskar and opened the door again. By this time the bathtub was half filled with water, and lots of foam. Oskar grinned.

He slipped his head out and said:
“You can come in.” Eli smiled back and looked around in the poorly lit room. Eli started jumping like a six year old as he said in excitement:
“Oh this is so romantic!” Oskar closed the door behind him.
“Don’t be such a girl.” They both began laughing and dressed off again.
Both Eli and Oskar had made beards of the foam, they played around and pretended to be old people.
“This is probably what we would look like by now.” Eli looked down.
“At least you would, I wouldn’t be here.” He said. Oskar moved closer to him and said gently:
“But you are.” Eli looked pretty funny as an old man, both of them started to giggle as they kissed and imagined what it looked like. When they released their beards were messed up, Oskar dried Eli’s beard off. Removed some hair he had in front of his eyes.
“We would be an old married couple.” Oskar said.
“I wonder what fifty years of marriage is called? Thirty years is diamond anniversary, or something.” Eli said. Oskar lifted his shoulders.

“I don’t know, what is bigger and greater than diamonds?” Eli dried off Oskar’s beard as they both stood up and stepped out of the bath tub. All of the tea candles were spilled water on. They found some towels and dried off, stepped into their underpants again.
They sat on the couch, fully dressed and wet haired. Holding their gifts in excitement.
“You first.” Eli said. Oskar nodded and breathed deeply.
“I really hope you like this, it was so hard to find anything.” Eli rolled his eyes as he smiled.
“Tell me about it.” He said. Oskar handed it over to him, and Eli weren’t careful about wrapping it up. It was a small box with a yellow lid. Oskar smiled as he opened it and looked inside. Eli took two small bracelets in his hand.
“Is it..?” He asked, Oskar continued quickly.
“Pure gold? Yes.” Eli took a closer look at it. It was two bracelets both with one half of a heart. Oskar touched one of the half hearts with two of his fingertips.
“They will never rust. Last forever. Just like us.” Nothing was on the hearts, no letters with best friends or anything, just simple and pretty. Something he knew they would always wear.

“I love them!” Eli bent over and hugged him tightly, Oskar was relived. It was so usual to give loved ones jewelry. Eli then kissed him many times on the lips and sat down on his lap.
“You want me to put it on you? Like in the movies?” Eli grinned.
“Sure.” He answered, and turned around while removing some of his hair from the back of his neck. Eli gave him one of the bracelets and Oskar opened it and put it over his head. Eli then opened the other bracelet and put it on Oskar. They pulled each other close and rested on each other’s shoulders. After a long while Eli whispered:
“This sure will last for more than fifty years.” Oskar hugged him tighter, feeling Eli’s fast heartbeat against his chest. His face got wormer as he said, for the first time tonight:
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” Eli responded right away. They released and Eli found his present. He held it with both of his hands, it sure looked thin.
“This aren’t as cute. But it is also something for the both of us.” Then he handed it over and Oskar too opened it very fast. At first he was a bit disappointed; did Eli just buy him a movie? But then he saw the tittle.
“Swedish pool killings Oskar Erikson?” He said out laud. His eyes got wide, was it even possible? He looked up at Eli who still waited for a positive reaction.

“I can’t believe this exists!” He said with a big smile. He grabbed Eli and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you, we are going to watch it right away.” Eli moved a bit away from him, his gaze became more serious.
“I haven’t seen it yet, so I have no idea if you’re going to like it or not. It was made a few years back.”
“Is it a documentary?” Eli nodded and smiled. It would be weird if it actually was a movie about him.
They sat down in front of the disc player, put the small plate out of the cover. Those discs sure had shrieked thought the time. Back in the 80’s they were big and black, then they became smaller and in silver. Now they are small plates of glass with a hole in the middle. It didn’t matter which way they put it, technology sure was amazing. Oskar knew Eli was even more amazed, before he was turned not even glass existed.

Oskar put his finger on the small blue light on this oh so small disc player. Something they actually could bring along with them. And a small blue stripe came out of it, he put the disc inside and it closed by itself right away.
They sat down on the couch as the documentary started. Oskar was really excited, Eli took his hand. Gave him a comforting smile.

The first thing that came up was TV news reports from that time, of reporters standing in front of the pool house.
“With three witnesses two brothers were brutally killed inside this pool house, one of the witnesses missing.” In Swedish! Oskar got surprised. Clip upon clip about reporters telling the same thing, showing an old picture of Oskar, saying his name over and over again.

“Oskar Erikson, have you seen this boy. Have you seen this boy? Please report to the police if you’ve seen him.” Then an image of his mom crying on the screen yelling:
“Please, who ever have done this. Please set him free, get him home. He’s just a little boy, haven’t done anything. Please.” Oskar felt himself tear up, mommy? Eli pulled him closer, Oskar grabbed him and held him tight.
Yet another picture of Oskar appeared. And a voice said:
“Back then people had no idea. The dead victim’s heads were torn off, people said It was a mad man who thought he was a vampire. But now we know better. So what happen to Oskar? How did he live, where did he go?”
A man in his sixties appeared on the screen, but Oskar recognized him. Johan! Oskar began to smile, so this is what he looks like now a days.

“Yeah me and Oskar were friends, but something happen in those last years before he disappeared. He wasn’t exactly the most popular kid.” Then yet another known face appeared.
“We bullied him, we sure did. I have always regretted it, especially since it all ended so badly. But we did, he used his days trying to stay away from us. Me and Martin and Jonny. “ It was Micke. They showed footage of the Blackeberg school, the doors he used to go though and the classroom he used to sit in. Oskar smiled again, looked over at Eli for a second.
“That’s Micke, and that man before was Johan!” Eli smiled back.
“Really?” Oskar nodded they continued watching. Then an old face appeared that Oskar knew Eli would recognize too.
“That’s Tommy!” Eli yelled, Oskar started laughing.

“We had some type of friendship, it was pretty easy. He felt important talking to a bigger kid, I felt important when being the big kid, giving advice to the smaller one. That was how we rolled. We used to sit in the apartment basement and talk about things.” Tommy said wish a weak grin. He started laughing.

“I borrowed him my radio car, with remote, you know.. And Also after the Vallingby killer started I was the one who informed him since nobody else did, I suppose.” They showed clips of a teenager and a little boy playing with that kind of car Oskar and Tommy played with. They actually made some kind of a movie of this.

“I really didn’t think he had any friends, I knew he was bullied since he sometimes had bruises.” The little boy who was supposed to play Oskar, he actually also had blond hair. But short. He had a band aid on his cheek, someone had been paying attention. The boy looked sad. Eli leaned his head on Oskar’s shoulder.

“But once when I walked outside I saw him with a little girl by the kiosk, they were laughing and having a blast. It was really nice to see that. I had no idea who she was.” He looked over at Eli, he was surprised. Even he was there, Oskar giggled a bit.
“He saw us laughing about bananas.” Eli giggled too. Tommy bent forward, raised his gray eyebrows.

“You see, police back then thought he was kidnapped by a man who thought he was a vampire. I never thought it was that. Once she came to the basement where I and my pals used to hang out in, in a bright yellow dress. And she offered me money to drink blood from my arm. And I actually did it. She wasn’t the usual.” They showed footage of this little dark-haired girl in a different dress, still in yellow coming in in a different looking basement. Sitting down and having razorblades in her hand. The next she would have her lips against his arm, but not under it as Eli said he had done. But not too far from the wrist. Both Oskar and Eli really paid attention now.

“I always thought that it was no mad man, but it was her. And he wasn’t kidnapped, but he ran away.”
Micke appeared again, and he was being very calm. He said with a sad facial expression:
“I stood there by the pool window, as Jonny’s big brother had pulled Oskar up from the water. You see, Oskar had put fire on Jonny’s school desk, and earlier he had hit him in the ear with a big stick, because they bullied him. I understood Oskar very well, but didn’t like his new strength. Then as I stood there, a nocking sound came from behind me.”
Now it was a movie again, and a little boy stood by the window. It nocked behind him and he turned around. There was that dark-haired girl again. Looked nothing like Eli, wavy long dark hair. She spoke to him in a thin voice.
“Say: Come in.” She said. The old Micke appeared again.

“At first I tried to ignore her, but she nocked again and seemed pretty angry. I even saw her sharp teeth. She demanded me to invite her in. And so I did.” Johan came, he lifted his arms as if they were wings.
“Glass broke, and she flew in like the angel of death. Went straight to Jimmy, then Jonny. Ripped their heads of like nothing.”
Martin appeared, Oskar sure was very fascinated by what they looked like today, tried to imagine himself like that- what life would he have? Would he have a wife then? He looked over at Eli, stroked his cheek with his hand.

“DO you want to watch more of it?” Oskar could tell right away that Eli didn’t know, he looked at the screen again.
“We had no idea what we saw.” Martin said. “She helped him off the pool, hugged him, took his hand. After all that happened it kind of made sense though. She liked him, saved him.”
The speaker voice came again, now with the picture of Eli’s blood spilled pink shirt. Eli covered his face.
“Who was she, where did Oskar go? Where is he now?” Oskar put the film on pause, leaned over to Eli.
“I don’t regret it Eli, you know that.” Oskar said as he stroked over Eli’s back. Eli lifted his head, with a worried gaze. Then he put his arms around Oskar as he said:
“I see these men, you should have been like them. I don’t regret it either. But when I see this it feels like I helped you steel your life away.” Eli moved over on Oskar’s lap again.
“It wasn’t like that.” Oskar said.
“I know, but this is trigging everything.” Oskar sighed, he couldn’t argue with that.
“I know, but I still say the same thing, and so do you.” Eli leaned back, looked Oskar in the eye. After a little while he said:
“Together forever.” Oskar nodded.
“Yes, and no regrets.” They hugged tightly again, and started kissing.

*

Kevin looked at himself in the mirror, he was in his bedroom. He wore a big black cape and a black shorthaired wig. Underneath it the wig hid dark blond hair, which also was slightly curly. He figured his gray eyes fitted perfectly with the character. He put the plastic fangs in his mouth; The vampire! He made a scary face to himself, made his fingers into claws. Grr. He wondered what Oskar and Eli would dress up as. They had said they were kind of poor, Oskar said his dad works a lot but didn’t earn much. Eli had never spoken of her parents.

The doorbell rang, Kevin jumped a bit, he had to fix his cape again as it curled up. Then he opened the door and went out of his bedroom. His mom was it the kitchen putting lots of candy in a big bowl in a hurry. She mumbled something about the trick or theaters being here already. Kevin felt like grabbing some, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be strangers at the door.
He opened it, and both Oskar and Ely said at the same time:
“Trick or treat!” Kevin began to laugh, and then took a look at their costumes. Both of them wore dark gray hoodies and black pants. Over their necks two pieces of a heart as a bracelet were, he hadn’t seen them before. Some girls in his class who were best friends wore bracelets like that. Kind of weird, he thought.

Also both of them wore black masks, like thieves or superheroes wore. Oskar had as always almost white short hair that stood out here and there. While Eli’s hair was black and straight. Just barely touching against his shoulders. Well, he thought. That was inventive. Kevin rolled his eyes and invited them inside. They hadn’t been in here before, they looked exited.
Mom ran from the kitchen with a big smile, she yelled with joy:
“OH! You’ve made friends!?” Kevin was embarrassed already. She ran over to them, shook their hands and told them her name and asked them if they wanted any candy. Or anything, just ask!
“Oh my god.” Kevin whispered to himself, both Oskar and Eli heard it. Strangely enough, and gave him two vague smiles.
“No thanks, we feel like earning our own candy.” They answered mom. She looked at them as if they were stupid, then she accepted it and walked over to Kevin. She brushed off his shoulders with her hands.

“Come home by the stroke of twelve, don’t talk to strangers, don’t go into their cars.” He knew all this, rolled his eyes again.
“Mom.” She stroked his cheeks with both of her hands. Oskar and Eli observed from behind, still smiling a little.
“And if you see someone looking all.. Vampire, don’t you dare to even be close.” Eli and Oskar’s smiles faded, they looked at each other now. Maybe they hadn’t thought about it? Real vampires out on Halloween. Kevin actually hadn’t either. This was only pretend. Mom gave him a small plastic bag with a pumpkin on it and hugged him. Kevin pushed her away, whispered:
“Do you want me to lose my friends now?” Mom giggled.
“Sorry dear.” She turned around to Oskar and Eli again.
“And you two, please be careful too. You never know, you know?” They nodded and giggled as Eli said:
“We’ll take good care of him.” Kevin looked over at mom who laughed along with them. She stopped when she saw his mad face and walked into the kitchen again while she said:
“Okay okay, I’ll let you be. See ya!” Kevin opened the door and they all slipped out of it, down the stairs as the echo mimicked their every move. He was happy they didn’t made fun of his him about his mom, what friends would do that?
“So, are you super heroes or thieves?” Kevin asked them when they were outside the apartment building.
“We’re thieves.” Eli responded. Oskar laughed.
“I don’t think I would look good in tights anyway.” He said. They all began to laugh and started running over the courtyard, by the swings and the jungle-gym.
“And we don’t even have to ask you what you are.” Eli yelled as they ran. Kevin raised his cape, pretended to fly.
“I wonder what real vampires looked like.” He asked.
“I bet they don’t wear capes. Or fangs.” They stopped, Kevin frowned.
“Well of course they would have fangs.” He commented. Eli pointed at her teeth.
“ Yes, but do you think they would have them out all night? For everyone to see?” Good point, he thought.
“Yeah.. Have you ever seen one then?” They shook their heads.
“But I am sure they would rather blend in.” Oskar said.
“Me too.” Kevin responded as he opened his little plastic bag, it was all flat.
“So how many hours have we got?” Kevin looked up at Eli. Couldn’t he just check with his phone? Kevin got his from the pocket in his black pants.

“We have five hours, of candy and houses and lots of walking!”
“We can do that.” Oskar crossed his arms with a small grin. Kevin knew he would be tired after this, he had noticed that both of them never got tired, it would be hard to keep up. And he didn’t want to ask them to slow down either. But this night would be a blast anyway. They began running again, Kevin felt like flying.

He noticed very fast that both Oskar and Eli had no bags or anything to have their candy in. They were soon by the first house, didn’t want to start around at home. When Oskar asked why Kevin didn’t tell. They wouldn’t like him then. To change the topic he asked:
“You want us to share our candy then? Since you have nothing to have your candy in?” Both of them looked at their hands, Eli snapped her fingers.
“I knew we had forgotten something.” Kevin looked at his bag again, it was big enough for all three of them, probably.
“Well we can share if you want.”
“Ok.” Oskar said with a relived smile, he sure would too if he had forgotten his bag.
They rang on the first house, and not an apartment like most around where he lived did by now. It was a small red house, with a nice black car outside on the small parking lot.

A man opened the door, he had long blue hair that stood out everywhere. He also had a snake bite piercing and was dressed in rags. Or something like it, all in black. Their eyes got wide, what a strange man.
Kevin lifted his bag, opened it.

“Trick or treat.” He said just laud enough for the man to hear it. He smiled.
“Nice costume kid.” He said, looked over at Eli and Oskar. “Vampires are way cooler than superheroes.” Eli giggled.
“We’re thieves.” The man nodded.
“Right. Okay wait a second.” Then he ran off with the door wide open. They stood there in silence, Kevin looked over at them.
“You think he was scary?” He asked. They shook their heads. He knew they weren’t scared of the dark like he sometimes was. Maybe they were fearless?

“NO, not scary. Kind of weird.” Eli answered, Oskar added:
“Actually kind of cool.” Eli started to giggle:
“You’re saying you would want to look like that?” Kevin started laughing with her, they had such great humor.
“NO!” Oskar yelled, and then he laughed too. It was strange actually, how much they laughed about themselves. Most kids at his school would never do that, they only joked about each other.
The blue haired man appeared again with a handful of candy. He looked them over, Kevin said fast:
“We’re sharing.”
“Oh.” He gave Kevin the candy and smiled.
“You have a nice evening all right? And watch out for the scary vampires.” He laughed a bit and closed the door gently. As they walked from the door to the road Eli seemed a bit angry.

“What’s the big deal about vampires anyway? What’s the chance of anyone meeting one?” She waved with both of her arms.
“They should know better after ten years!” Oskar grabbed her shoulder.
“Eli calm down, that’s just how people react to this.” She sighed, lowered her head. Kevin slowly walked closer to them again.
“And besides, people are kind of scared. It’s one in town you know? It’s on the news.” Flaming lights came from behind them, it made everything darker. Oskar and Eli turned around.
“You see?” Kevin said as he was proven right. Oskar grabbed Eli’s hand, something they never have done before.
“What is that?” Oskar asked. Didn’t they know? Everybody knew.
“Those who hunt vampires down, duh.” Eli frowned.
“Shouldn’t they hide at least, everybody can see them with those lights, and in that big group.”
“They split up, silly.” Kevin responded. “Now come on, you want more candy right? Let’s go!” They started walking again and Oskar had let go of Eli. They were silent.
“Is something wrong?” Kevin asked. They shook their heads, looked back at the dim flames from far behind. They walked into someone’s courtyard and rang the doorbell.

A fat woman already with a bowl of candy ready opened the door. She smiled weakly, gave all of it to Kevin without asking and then closed the door fast. By the time they turned around to the street again all of the people with their flaming lights where in front of them. Kevin looked back at Oskar and Eli, they held hands again, looked at those other people. Seemed a bit scared. They’re scared?
“You think they are scary?” They nodded weakly. “Why? They’re here to protect us, right?” They nodded again, seemed to not catch what he just had said. As they walked out of the courtyard, Kevin noticed those people were all men, and wore military uniforms. Maybe Noah’s brother was here? He used to be Kevin’s friend before his brother went off, but things had changed since them. But maybe he was here? Kevin got exited, looked at the troop as they slowly walked by, giving him express less glares.
Kevin walked up to them while Oskar and Eli kept a distance, standing close to each other.

“Hello? Is Markis there?” He yelled, they sopped walking. A dark and maybe a bit annoyed voice responded:
“Markis who?”
“Markis Elliot?” A body popped out of the gang, he wore the same clothes, the same hat. He opened his arms, spoke with a familiar voice.
“Is that you Kevin!?” He ran up to him and lifted him up as they hugged. Kevin had no big brother, Markis was the closest to one he had. And it sure felt like it too.
“How are you? Out trick or treating I see?” He asked.
“I didn’t know you’re in the hunting army!”
“Well yes, I haven’t seen anything yet though. But there are many people vanishing around here, so many troops were sent.”
“I know.” Kevin turned around, Oskar and Eli were still standing there quietly. He waved to them.
“Come here! I want you to meet someone!” They looked at each other for a second and then they slowly started moving.
“What’s up with them? They’re scared?” Kevin nodded.
“Maybe they’re scared of crowds.. Or Military people, I don’t know.”
“Well we’re only twelve men here.” Markis responded, Kevin turned around. Oskar and Eli were there now, and looked up at Markis.

“Hi.” Said Oskar, Eli said nothing. Oskar pointed at Markis’ shoulder.
“What’s that?” He asked. Markis turned around, took it off his back. It was black and slim.
“This? It’s a gun. You know, to shoot at vampires.” Kevin saw that Oskar and Eli were tense, so he tried to make a joke.
“What’s in it? Silver bullets?” He had read that silver didn’t hurt vampires like in old movies. But nobody laughed, not even Makris.
“No, but small pins, to make them fall asleep. So that we can catch them and then kill them. If we have to.” Markis put it on his back again, looked back at the others who just stood there and stared at them.

“Well it was nice to see you again Kevin, and nice to meet you two too.” They nodded and walked off in a hurry, Kevin still stood beside Markis for a few more seconds.
“Why aren’t you with Noah, instead of those two? They don’t seem like much fun.” Kevin smiled, oh but they are really funny. His smile faded, Noah .. Right.
“He.. I, we just didn’t this year, that’s all.” Markis gave him a very serious look.
“So nothing has happened then? Everything’s all right?” Kevin nodded with a dishonest little smile that Markis didn’t notice.
“Good, well, say hi to him from me. He hasn’t called in a while.” Kevin waved back to him.
“Will do! Bye!” He fan after Oskar and Eli, they walked into a road on the left, where more houses were.
“Hey wait up!” He yelled. They stopped, looked back at him.

“Sorry, we have some bad experience with military people.. Maybe not hunting troops.” Eli explained.
“I see.” Kevin responded, didn’t quite understand it still. In silence they walked up to the next house and rang the doorbell.

*

The rest of the evening had gone as expected. No more troops, or uncomfortable questions. Oskar was pleased with that. Kevin had gotten a lot of candy by now, they will forget that they shared and Kevin would get everything. And if not they’ll say they don’t want it. Even though it will sound weird , for sure. In just a few minutes ago Kevin had pulled up his cellphone once again and looked at the watch. Soon it was actually midnight, how the time had flown by. He had to get home, no more houses.
They passed a big garage, with lots of big doors, for some apartment close by. Not theirs though. They laughed about how an old man actually got a bit scared of the way Kevin looked. When he opened the door and they were about to say: Trick or treat. He jumped. Oskar tried to imitate the man, they all laughed.

Then a silence moved along the shadows, behind the garage. Both he and Eli moved their heads after the feeling. It stopped, listened to them. Eli gave Oskar a worried gaze, this wouldn’t have been a problem if Kevin wasn’t here. The silence moved again, glared at them from the garage roof. It smiled.

I’ll just say I have to pee or something, you watch over Kevin. Oskar didn’t like this.
But what if it tried to get you, then you would be all alone. He could feel Eli’s strong longing, how he wanted to grab his hand again and get closer.
You’ll be at the end of the garage okay? He moved his head to the left, his nose pointed at the corner of the garage.
I’ll call for you if I need you, then we know that Kevin is safe. It’s the only way right now. Oskar sighed slightly.
Okay, but please. Don’t do anything until I get there.
I won’t. I promise. He longed for Eli’s embrace, didn’t know how Kevin would handle it.
“Look, I just have to pee, right now.” Eli said, seemed embarrassed. Kevin gave him a weird look. Eli continued. Next time it’s your turn to pee. Oskar started to laugh a bit. Fine, Eli.
“So just wait for me over there, on the other side.” He looked at Oskar.
See you soon. Oskar nodded.
Yes, very soon. Just pass though, slowly. I love you.
Love you too. Eli smiled, then he turned around and ran behind the garage. Oskar and Kevin slowly started walking.

“What was that?” Kevin asked. Oskar lifted his shoulders.
“Maybe she’s got her period?” Eli would kill him for that, Oskar smiled to himself. Kevin grew silent, and they just walked to the corner on the other side of the building. Oskar put his hands in his pockets.
“So how much candy have we got?” Kevin looked in his bag, it was half full.
“A lot.” He opened the bag a bit wider for Oskar to see.
“Nice.” Kevin nodded.
“Yeah, mom won’t be too happy.” They giggled a bit, then they were silent again. Oskar was really nervous, what happen back there? He couldn’t hear much, just a few steps. Just Eli, probably. Both of them had knives inside their belts, just in case. But what if he was too slow? Then Eli would be dead, maybe. Oskar felt like crying.

“So.” Kevin said. ”Is Eli your girlfriend?” If only he had asked that a day before, then he and Eli could have hugged just now. Maybe because they held hands in front of him?
“Yes.” Oskar sighed, looked into the back of the building. Come now.
“Yeah? What’s it like?” Oskar looked over at Kevin again.
“Having a girlfriend?” Kevin nodded. Gees, how would he explain that?
“Have you ever liked someone? Really liked them?” Kevin looked down at his feet.
“Yes.” He answered. Oskar continued.
“Well, you know the feeling just by watching them?” Kevin nodded again.
“Now, just imagine what it feels like to have that person close to you, looking at you the same way. Thinking the same things as you think of them.” Oskar sighed again. “That’s what it’s like.”
“How did you make her see you? Like.. Know you liked her.” Oskar began to smile, after the lovers kiosk, the hug. How he closed his eyes and thought it was the happiest moment in his life. How he could die happy if he died right then and there.
“Well.. By the time I met her,, She was much poorer, didn’t have much food to eat. So she looked very small and thin and.. Weak. And sad.” Better not tell too much.
“When did you meet?” This they had thought out together, he and Eli. When they were ten.
“Two years ago.” Oskar answered quickly, and then he continued.
“And.. Well I remember standing in front of her, feeling so sorry for her. She held her arms around herself, looking down. Being sad and small and.. I don't even know how I dared, but I walked up to her and hugged her. Just like that.”
“Wow, yeah I would never do that.” Oskar laughed weakly.
“No it isn’t something you can do to just anybody. Eli could have pulled me away, stepped away from me, rejected me. But she didn’t. I was lucky.” Oskar knew that when Eli appeared around the corner he would run to him and hug him. No matter how it looked, Kevin knew now.

I miss you, everything okay? Nobody answered, that worried him.
“So what can I do to make someone like me?” Kevin asked. So he was interested in someone then? Oskar smiled.
“Well, make them like you is kind of wrong to say. But you can try to write her, or him.” Kevin made a funny face. Oskar laughed. “Yeah, write her a love letter, or something. Not just a text on a cellphone, but write on paper. Maybe with hearts on it. Everybody loves to get that, no matter if it’s a boy or a girl.”
“You really think so?”
“Yes, Eli gave me lots of those. If you’re scared of being there, it’s easier to write it down and give it away.”
Kevin looked straight at him, he seemed amazed. Maybe Oskar was a bit too mature? He hoped not.

No it’s not okay, come now, from the other end. And have your knife ready! Oskar jumped, Eli’s voice. Oh no! Oskar got tense.
“Um, I am just going to see why Eli is taking so long. You stay right here, don’t fallow me okay?”
Kevin nodded, was about to ask about something, but Oskar interrupted him.
“Ok, stay here then.” Then as soon as he was around the corner he ran as fast as he could, made sure to float just above the ground so that it didn’t make any sound. That only worked with high speed. Soon he saw Eli, and in front of him he saw a tall man. With his back against Oskar. He pulled his knife from his pants without a sound, ready to attack. Eli’s voice yelled inside of his head:
Now!

*

Eli gave Oskar one last look, then he walked around the corner and on the line behind the garage house. Right away he saw the shadow, with feet dangling, leaning over the edge of the flat roof. It saw him, and jumped down like it floated in the air. Landed without a sounds. With loose dark clothes and a hood over its head. Eli could feel it right away, bad. Really bad. Evil. He could hear Oskar and Kevin talking about something, the vampire turned its head. Eli walked closer to it.
He tried to sound like a scared little kid, he whispered:
“Hello?” He could see it smiling, and then it jumped still with no sound. It disappeared in the air for a few moments, Then it jumped right in front of Eli, now meaning to make a lot of sound. Eli pretended to jump, and seemed scared.
“Where did you come from?” It smiled, and pulled down the hood. Short brown hair, big green eyes. He smiled wider and opened his mouth, it was filled with many sharp teeth, like a lion.
“Well hello there little girl.” Eli took one step back. The man fallowed with one step closer to him.
“What are you supposed to be? A super hero?” Eli shook his head.
“I am a thief.” Eli reached down on his back, found the knife. Hold on to it.
“How sad it is for someone like you to be all alone on Halloween?” The man had a voice that sounded like the dark tone of a cat and a snake, maybe a little queer. He sure sang as he spoke.

“More candy for me.” Eli responded, the man reached out and touched Eli’s hair with his index finger.
“Why so lonely?” Eli smelled the amount of endorphins from the man’s body. He was like Håkan, how gross. Eli frowned, pushed the man’s hand away. Every move he made was really slow; he could see how his cheek bones stood out. He was hungry and weak.
“What kind of a vampire feed on children?” Eli asked, The man humbled.
“The ones who are already dead.” He answered, how sad. Eli felt kind of sorry for him, but still. His scent was disgusting and his aura was bad. Very bad, like the man with the wig, from Eli’s past. But this was not him. He stepped back a few steps, looked at Eli again. He smiled weakly.

“You know you haven’t got a chance. I am way stronger than you. So why don’t make it easier for you? No sounds okay?”
I miss you, everything okay? Oskar’s voice.
Eli looked at the man without saying anything, for a long while they just stood there. The man tried to figure Eli out. They could hear Oskar laughing from the other side of the building. The man looked up again, sniffed. Then he said:
“No sounds.”
No it’s not okay, come now, from the other end. And have your knife ready!

Eli pulled out his long and slim knife. Oskar talked back there, and Eli got kind of nervous. He could have waited until Oskar was here before pulling the knife out. The man was surprised, looked at it.
“And do you really think you would do that?” Eli nodded. “Who do you think you are? Buffy?” Eli nodded again, smiled a bit. Buffy.
“My mom told me to wear a knife, just in case.” His eyebrows raised.
“You don’t say? I bet she knew about your wimpy little fighting skills too?” Eli could tell he was actually nervous, maybe he’s been in a long sleep or something. Eli was happy he hadn’t done that in fifty years. The worst thing he knew of was awaking all weak and small, needing the help of creepy men. Eli smiled, Oskar had saved him in so many ways.

Eli could see the shimmer from Oskar’s knife from behind the man. Without taking his eyes away from the vampire man, he made himself ready. His legs more apart for good balance. Held harder around the knife handle. The man half smiled half sighed at Eli.
Now!

Oskar jumped on him from behind, one hand with claws sticking out berried in his chest. The other raised with a knife in his hand. Oskar was ready to stab him while Eli began to get ready for the same thing, he looked at the man’s chest.
Then the man grabbed Oskar’s sweater and threw him off. Oskar landed in the bushes and screamed.
Oskar!!
I’m okay, go get him!

Eli knew Oskar could feel it too, the bad aura, that man being evil. Eli got angrier, he jumped on the man and stabbed him by the vampire heart. The man screamed and Eli got a better hold on him. He made his teeth sharp and bit down his neck. Soon Oskar was there too, he joined and bit down on the other side of the man’s neck. He lost balance and they fell to the ground along with him. He screamed as Oskar stabbed him with his knife, right beside Eli’s knife. He could feel the infection moving inside of there, struggling to survive. But it was no use, the man lost conscience and then he stopped breathing.

Vampire blood was the best thing they could drink. It was sweeter, fresher. It lasted for two weeks, twice as long as normal blood would. They have only killed one vampire before, one who was out hunting on young people. It was a woman, who destroyed many innocent lives just for fun, and terrorized their territory. They had to end her when they found her, and were far more hurt than now. Ever since they wore knives whenever they went out, they had learned the hard way how useful it could be. This vampire man was really weak. Eli enjoyed the sweet taste for as long as it lasted.

Eli lifted his head, Oskar did too. He looked over at Oskar, his face smeared with blood. Eli’s temperature went up, he was okay. Oskar looked down at their mess, two knives in his chest and two large bites in his neck. Lots of blood, at least his teeth were still out so that people knew he was something they wouldn’t miss.

Oskar bent over him and grabbed his neck, then he twisted it quickly around. The strong sound of bones shaking and breaking filled the air. Then they looked straight forward. Eli heard footsteps, and he saw something that he really didn’t want to see. Kevin, he stood right there. Pale faced and calm.

He just stood there, looked at them. Eli knew he understood, but what could they say? I am sorry? No, they had probably saved him. Try to explain that they were good? That wouldn’t work, no way. Oskar stood up, lifted one of his arms, with hands full of blood.

“Kevin please.” But Oskar didn’t get to say much more than that before Kevin turned around fast, and ran off. Oskar sighed, Eli got a look at his back. His sweater had long stripes as cuts, read skin appeared inside of them. He was more hurt than Eli had thought, he stood up. Touched his back gently. Oskar turned around fast, his eyes were wet. Eli lifted his hand and stroked his cheek.
“I’m sorry.” He said.
“It’s nothing to be sorry for, just.. Wrong place and wrong time. That’s all.” Oskar responded.
“But still. I’m sorry.” Oskar pulled Eli to him and embraced him. Eli hugged him back, but tried not to touch against the wounds on his back.
“We just got to know him.” Eli stroked the hair on the back of his head.
“I know.” Eli pulled him from himself, looked him in the eye.
“And you did great, we’re some team.” Oskar smiled a bit.
“I know right?” Then he leaned over and hugged Eli tightly.