Shiver (Night Roamers) Read Free Page B

pine cabinets, I had more than enough choices to help get my mind off of my own horrific realities. As I went down the various rows, I came across a nonfiction book about vampires.
    “See , Nathan,” I muttered. “There is a book written about vampires. It’s even a nonfictional book.”
    I brought the book upstairs into my bedroom and collapsed onto the bed. As I began reading about Dracula or Vlad Tepes, a.k.a. “Vlad the Impaler”, my lids grew heavy and soon, I drifted off to sleep.
     
    ***
     
    “Nikki,” said Jenny. “Hurry up.”
    “I’m trying,” I said, following her into the dark club. I was wearing sp iked heels and wobbled like a young doe. “Where’s Ashley?”
    Her eyes sparkled as she looked back at me. “She’s waiting for us.”
    “Where is everyone?” I called.
    “Hurry up, slow poke, they are waiting for us.”
    Everyone was waiting for us?
    I thought that was strange, but then so was the fact that I was wearing stilettos.
    “This way,” urged Jenny , still far ahead of me.
    We walked downstairs to a long hallway. At the end of it was a large door. Jenny pushed it open and I followed her inside.
    “What is this place?” I whispered.
    A group of p eople were gathered around something in the center of the room. 
    “Let’s go,” said Jenny, pushing through the crowd while I hesitated. Something was wrong; I felt it in my gut.
    “Come on, Nikki!” called Jenny , disappearing.
    I swa llowed my fear and pushed through the crowd. When I made it to the center, the blood rushed to my ears.
    “Hi,” said the girl lying naked on the bed. Her throat was cut and blood trickled down her neck.
    “Ashley?” I whispered in horror.
    She lifted her head, exposing more of her wound. “What do you think?” she asked.
    “What do you mean?”
    She smiled dreamily. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
    I shook my head, confused. “Who?”
    “Him,” she said, looking behind me.
    I turned around and gasped in surprise as my eyes locked with the vampire’s. “Ethan?”
     
    ***
     
    A warm breath whispered into my ear, “Nikki…”
    I gasped and sat up, pulling my blankets around my shoulders. When I realized I’d been dreaming, I let out a shaky sigh and looked at my alarm clock.
    It was after two a.m.
    I stretched my legs and yawned , then got up to use the bathroom. When I was finished, I flicked off my lights and got back into bed, prepared to sleep until late in the morning. Just as I was drifting off, I heard a soft thump. When I opened my eyes, a shadow moved across my balcony.
    Oh , my God!
    I leaped out of bed and raced out of my bedroom, hysterical with terror. As I rushed downstairs to grab a knife or something to defend myself, the front door opened and Nathan walked in with Celeste.
    “Nathan!” I choked. “Thank God you’re home!’
    “What’s wrong?” he asked, moving towards me, his eyes full of concern.
    “Someone was on my balcony!” I said, pointing upstairs.
    Before I could stop him, Nathan bounded up the stairs to investigate.
    “I’m sure it’ s nothing,” said Celeste, a small smile on her face.
    I glared at her. “It’s probably one of your bloodsucking friends. Why don’t you go and help him!”
    She looked at me with amusement. “My…my…my… I see someone’s a little paranoid.”
    I glared at her. “Paranoid? Everyone in town should be paranoid. Those girls murdered Friday night should have been paranoid.”
    She ran a hand through her long red hair and sighed. “I assure you, Nikki, I had nothing to do with that.”
    I snorted. “Oh, well, if you say so.”
    We stared at each other for a few seconds and then she frowned. “What is your problem anyway?”
    “You are my problem, you and your entire band of bloodthirsty monsters.”
    She threw her head back and laughed. “You’re so melodramatic.”
    “Nikki, there isn’t anyone up there,” interrupted Nathan, as he walked back down the steps. “It was probably a bat or even an owl. We