I saw her there at the teller's desk and I thought, "This is the girl for me." She was beautiful, my knees went weak. Her name tag read Charlotte and when she asked, "How can I help you?" My mind went blank, so I said, "Charlotte, can I have your number please?" He walked to the counter like a deer in headlights and I could see there in his eyes something like fire, I can't quite explain. I fell in love at first sight and when he asked for my number I gave it though I don't know what I was thinking, my mind went blank. Well it's times like these that I find myself wishing that we could take snapshots of life and stay in a moment until we're ready to move on. God knows that it would be easier than trying to be business as usual after you're gone... Oh so take it or leave it I don't want to be alone anymore, I know that somewhere along the way you'll make up your mind and decide that you don't need someone like me around you at all... I'm so scared that we're wasting time... "Are you okay?" "I think so, I lost my head for a second..." "I know, you were screaming." "I swear there was someone..." "There's no one." "I know." "Dear, it's all in your head." "The medication makes me foggy," "Believe me I understand. There's nothing either of us can do about it, we're drowning but we'll pull each other out." "Oh, it's been so long, and I missed you and I'm sorry but I found someone and I have to stay out..." "I thought you were doing okay but you stood, you stared at the fireplace like an old friend..." "Do you want to be locked up again? "Though I know you could do so much better I'm not gonna go, I'd rather stay here with you not meeting your potential than be alone." And it's times like these that we just turn our heads and pretend we haven't seen a thing, cause' putting either of us away would tear us apart. God knows that it's so much easier just living out my life insane not breaking your heart... Oh so take it or leave it I don't want to be alone anymore, I know that somewhere along the way you'll make up your mind and decide that you don't need someone like me around you at all... I'm so scared that we're wasting time... Oh take it or leave it I don't want to be alone anymore, I know that somewhere along the way you'll make up your mind and decide that you don't need someone like me around you at all... I'm so scared that we're wasting time...

Just a dinner conversation; nothing more than some small talk. A movie coming out the Friday after next, we saw the preview before we left. "I don't think I'd like to see that one. It looks so violent and violence is so hard for me lately." And they passed a puzzled look that said, "Leave it there." But I pressed on; "What happened?" "Nothing." "What's wrong?" "It's just that... First National? A year ago? Well, I was there." "That was after we met... I don't recall you saying anything to that effect..." "You must have forgotten then." "But there were no news reports, there were no casualties, there were no headlines or obituaries... there wasn't anything. But I believe you, love. You wouldn't tell me a story like that just to tell me a story, so I believe you." Just a dinner conversation on the way home from the theater. (A tear jerker.) They were walking down Second Avenue and he paused to light up a cigarette. She swore she saw him talking to himself but god it was so windy that night. But, in the light of every inhaling breath, well, his face seemed to come alive. As they pressed on she seemed to sense something wrong; their conversation started slowly drifting toward that day. "What was that you said about a year ago? What was it... First National, I think? I've just been wondering cause' there were no news reports, there were no casualties, there were no headlines or obituaries... there wasn't anything. But I believe you, love. You wouldn't tell me a story like that just to tell me a story, so I believe you." Just a dinner conversation, "No, you don't understand sir. If she's not been taking her medication then she tends to get a little... well, I guess paranoid." She swore she saw him talking to himself before he told them, "That's quite alright. I know what I am getting into with her." And he took her by the arm to pull her aside. "I won't believe a word if you say that it's not true" and they pressed on, moving forward like there hadn't been a big to-do; excusing themselves and getting the hell away from there as fast as they could. But although they were gone they still couldn't shake that feeling that something was still wrong, though it was over and done."

"Alicia, I don't think I can do this anymore." He penned as calmly as he could, then tore the page out from the book cause' there were telltale signs of shaking in his font and he thought that even though she'd be devastated she could see he wasn't stalwart in his decision to leave, especially after the last week of getting just as close as he could and she would probably see he was in some kind of trouble and follow him down, and he couldn't have that right now. God it's so lonely... "Alicia, I don't think I can do this anymore." She crumpled the note and said, "Hell no, I'm not gonna' let you leave without an explanation face to face." And his place was only thirteen blocks away, she walked to clear her head before the conversation. She knew he was sane, but probably had just gotten far too drunk. Her heart sunk when she opened the door and saw him tied to a chair, and he yelled at her, "Just stay there..." But oh, the moon is full and you look so damn good in the light. His reflection shined there in her eyes. The changes were all subtle at first but slowly over time she saw what he'd become and began to cry... God it's so lonely... "Alicia, I don't think this is such a great idea..." They unlocked the car and got out. "No, that's nonsense. What could possibly go wrong? You're not gonna kill anyone..." They said their goodbyes; "I'll see you here tomorrow, good luck and goodnight." And oh, the moon was full as she looked back through the tail lights. She could just make out his shape on the roadside and then he was gone. She prayed to God that he'd be there at quarter of nine. (To be safe and wait for the sun to rise) "Alicia..." "Oh thank God." "Are you okay? I'm perfectly fine now. This could work, I think..."

"I can see the moon is turning and I know it won't be long before you'd better duck and run for cover honey. No it won't be long before you'd best get out of here. Turn around and follow the road down and trust that you'll see me tomorrow like you always have and you and I? We'll be okay. I promise you'll see me tomorrow dear. Honey I'm so sorry I know that it won't be easy but it's one we can't avoid and I know I won't recognize your face. Your eyes are beautiful, but won't save you from what I am. But I guess that I've said it all before and you won't listen anyway. I love your face so just do this for me. I don't want to see you harmed and you won't, won't see the way I said I don't, don't want to be in front of you. You know this way is better, don't even argue. I don't, don't want to hurt your lovely face. Face this and turn and walk away. Way down, and I will see you when the morning, it comes in." "I can see the moon is turning and I know it won't be long, but this time I'm not going anywhere and so you may as well sit down because we're both staying right here. We both know what happened last time and I can't go through it all again; not knowing if you made it. You can't do the guilt again and I know that I can't go through the fear. Not to mention that you killed someone and we both know it wasn't you but even so I can't imagine what the family's been through. And don't tell me it left you unscarred. When you didn't meet me the next morning and I found you passed out with a bullet wound... You're lucky I found you at all as I was searching, didn't know if you were harmed so don't, don't tell me I should get away, way down because I'm gonna stay right here and there isn't a thing you can do and I won't, no I'm not gonna touch a gun, you'll recognize me or I'll run way down and I will see you when the morning it comes in. Oh, I can see it in your eyes, somewhere tell me you recognize my face. You know it's me just give me a sign. I can't run. I don't know how to use a gun. This isn't you or anyone. I'm sorry but the morning ain't gonna come..." "Here take this gun and use it if I lose control and come after you. Don't hesitate a second, promise me you'll do what you have to do... I mean it, I'm losing control and I can't hold on. Well it's almost over... Darling I mean it, get out of here. Just go on and you'll find someone..." "Say it was silver and you didn't risk it." "I never thought it would have to end like this." "Honey I'm so sorry I didn't mean for everything to end today. I didn't think it'd go down this way. Tell me that you're gonna be okay... I'm not gonna let you go by yourself because this world without you is Hell and I won't be here all on my own. I can't do this all on my own..." "Say you love me. Tell me something beautiful I can take when I cross over..." "I can hear the howling in the distance and someway I think this might almost be better than what we've been going through month after month and then year after year. No more nights of staying up alone and worried that something might happen and I might not see you when the morning comes and this way at least there won't be anymore fear. Makes me wonder what they'll say when we are found. We really should've picked a plot of ground but I guess that it's over and it's done with now. I'm sorry, I really shouldn't make light of everything, it's just I never saw this happening. No, none of this at all. I wonder if it's true and if we'll go away like in a fairy tale, far away..." "Don't you tell me that I'd better stay without you here 'cause there's no way. You're gonna make this harder, don't even argue. I'm fine. I'm scared but I've made up my mind. Just realizing that it's time... I guess that this is where I'll see you on the other..." "Don't take your life for me. I mean it, honey, it's almost over... Darling I'm sorry it ended this way. I love you and I always will..."

"What do I do? This compulsion is driving me insane, but what do I say? 'Excuse me, I've got this lighter and I'd like to light you on fire now. Fire...' No. Ah, their screams would be resolute in their utter terror. But hey, maybe I'll pass." "Anyway..." "I'm sorry, what is it you were saying? I got lost again in my head." "That's fine, it didn't really matter anyway. Is some/hing wrong?" "Nothing at all, I'm just zoned out for the day. I'm okay. Or, maybe I need to eat something because I can't really think straight..." "Well you'd better sit down and give it a minute and everything will be fine." But he started to hyperventilate and wondered if he couldn't wait to just get home and start a fire. You've gotta calm down now... Breathe in... Breathe out and give it a minute and everything will be fine." The panic all started to fade. He rooked at her and said, "I'll be okay, I'm just not sure what came over me." "Oh blah dee, oh blah dah, ca see how macabre the night could become!" He said end she stared, wondering, "What in the hell are you talking about?" He took a deep breath, said, "i need a cigarette" and left. She gave him a minute and followed him out the door. He said, "I don't know what it is about smoke in the air that's so damn relaxing but it just seems to calm me down." They wondered how exactly to proceed. Eventually they gave it up and went inside, thinking, "Give it a minute and everything will be fine." But they wondered how long it would be till the next time and if they were losing their minds for even thinking such things. What do I do? just look at him, he's been sitting there for hours now just talking away to himself. "W/'t was that?" "Nothing. Why?" "Never mind... Really, I'm fine. I think I stayed up a bit too late.. better go lay down for a bit in a minute." Then he stared off into space and she couldn't get his attention again for a minute. "Hey!" "I'm sorry, I can't seem to focus on anything." Then the look on his face seemed to change from nothing to panic and slowly he got up and started toward the fireplace. "Darling I can't really think straight..." "Well you'd better sit down and give it a minute and everything will be fine." He started to hyperventilate, the room was turning shades of red and orange and blue and grey like fire. She heard him say out loud, "Okay, calm down and give it a minute and everything will be fine." The moment was over but she couldn't help but thinking that maybe he really wasn't gonna' be okay.

It was a night like this when I first got bit, and he said, "Bud, I just saved your life. Stop that incessant crying because I swear that ding never felt so good." And it hurt like Hell, and I don't quite remember the next little bit, but I woke up in late December in a coffin in the ground with the earth pouring down and I thought, "Oh shit, this is it." But I clawed my way to the surface and standing up top was the man who'd just put me underground. So I ripped off his scarf, dug into his throat till I hit the spine. (You could see the shock in his eyes until the second he died.) Then I dug my claws into his still warm and beating chest and I ripped the muscle out from under his black vest and I thought with a grin as he gave his final hiss, "Well... I could do this." I don't love anyone anymore despite what readers may think, and I'll rip out the throat of anybody who ever thought otherwise. I'm dead inside, and I don't think anyone knows quite what it's like. No, I don't think that they realize... but I'll rip out your throat if you even try. I'm dead inside. I've seen two world wars, the Spanish Inquisition, the Berlin Wall rise and fall and hell, I've even seen Zeppelin. Two Lenins (one music and one politics) and I can recall the day that each of them died and it made me sick. I fell in love once before I crossed over, her name was Lucille and when she discovered what I'd become she drove a stake between my ribs. (Missing my heart by inches.) But oh, the blood spurts from the beat of her pulse as I sunk my teeth into her tense and screaming throat! It was almost as relieving as being alive... I haven't felt that good since the day I died. If I had the chance I don't know that I'd do this again, I'd probably just accept my fate and meet the end cause' I'm so cold, so alone, so damn sick and tired. Don't look at me with those eyes. I don't love anyone anymore despite what readers may think, and I'll rip out the throat of anybody who ever thought otherwise. I'm dead inside, and I don't think anyone knows quite what it's like. No, I don't think that they realize... but I'll rip out your throat if you even try. I'm dead inside. You won't see me in the day; I don't sparkle in sunlight, I just disintegrate don't get me confused with twilight. I don't drive a Volvo, I roll in a Hearse. I won't eat deer or pork or steak, I want your blood and I'm thirsty. I'm not here to be your vampire lover. Bitch, you're seventeen and that's pedophilia. I don't take sloppy seconds from werewolves, and I swear you can love me but you're still gonna' die. I don't love anyone anymore despite what readers may think, and I'll rip out the throat of anybody who ever thought otherwise. I'm dead inside, and I don't think anyone knows quite what it's like. No, I don't think that they realize... but I'll rip out your throat if you even try. I'm dead inside.

He walked alone just like he always would, it was a cool clear night in the autumn. He looked for comfort from wherever he could in his little metropolis of the fallen. He'd been alone longer than he cared to admit, and it's a fitting way to live; in memory of some other time when she still held you through the night and you could stand to see the light... But that was years ago. Thirsty, he walked inside... She walked alone just like she always had, it was her eighth and final trip into the city. She saw him walking and smelled the blood on his hands and thought she recognized him. But no, it couldn't be. She'd spent eternities in Hell, long enough to forget his face. But somehow, seeing him tonight still struck a chord... She sat and watched him from afar from the corner booth of the bar. He grabbed the bartender and said to the horde, "Jack and The Captain wish you well! (Till the sunlight gives you Hell...) But tomorrow's a new day, and it's still so far away. Here's to love had and then lost, to life no matter what the cost! Here's another round on me, so let's tip our glass and drink." He knew that there wasn't much pride in hunting this way; lock the door and drink your fill after you've got everyone shit faced. But, it'd been hundreds of years and he had lost the thrill of the chase... He was tired, hungry, sad, alone, and wanted to see her face. He didn't like this modern world, he didn't like not having her, and it was Hell enough to live a thousand lives without the girl he knew he'd never see again when years ago she stabbed him dead, until he caught her scent there at the door... "I've seen you before. Yes, I know your face... You're as beautiful as ever, dear. It's funny I'd see you tonight of all nights, the last place I'd expect you is here. It's been such a long road since the last time we met, but I never quite fell out of love with the memory of us. We've got lots to catch up on! Hey, bartender, bring us two... oh what the..." "Jack and The Captain wish you well! (Till the sunlight gives you Hell...) But tomorrow's a new day, and it's still so far away. Here's to love had and then lost, to life no matter what the cost! Here's another round on me, so let's tip our glass and drink." It wasn't midnight yet when she said, "Hey, come outside. I'd love to feel the breeze and get some air and walk the night." It was the furthest thought from his mind that she had tried to kill him once before and wouldn't mind it twice. With her hand ready on a wooden stake she promised that she wouldn't make the same mistake and miss his heart... But seeing him this way was hard enough, as they were getting on quite famously. But, Hell was long behind her now, and she'd be damned if she went there once more. "Jack and The Captain wish you well! (Till the sunlight gives you Hell...) But tomorrow's a new day, and it's still so far away. Here's to love had and then lost, to life no matter what the cost! Here's another round on me, so let's tip our glass and drink and think back to another time before the souls inside us died!" As the splinter of wood hit his heart, he looked her in the eyes and told her, "Lucy, I'm so glad I got to see you one more time." "Oh, no..." she said, "the pleasure's been all mine."

"Well there was something about the way she told me it'd be alright. There was something that wasn't quite convincing in her eyes... I don't know why they call this the Devil's house, but I hear that name from time to time and I can't quite put my finger on it but I know it wasn't right..." "I could tell he could tell from looking in my eyes he knew I knew he wouldn't be alright in the end. It's the kind of disease makes you cough, makes you wheeze... leaves an ache in your bones till you wind up dead. He passed on a Wednesday evening (at last) and I shed a tear cause' he looked so peaceful; settling into the bed like a casket." "Please don't tell me I'm alive, I know. You'd think that I'd have noticed if I'd somewhere up and died, but it's so cold... Can you check the thermostat? Damn it all to Hell, it's broken. But what did you expect from houses this big and old? We've been here for such a long time..." "I remember falling asleep on a Tuesday. It felt like I was out for awhile, then suddenly I was okay. When I woke up, I woke with a smile. The sun was shining in through the window, and even the arthritis was gone. I rolled over and said, 'Love, what's going on?'" "Well I woke with my face in his hands and I thought, 'Damn it, I don't understand, cause I watched you die and I cried that night.' But that was last Wednesday... Do you have the time?" "I think that we cheated the system... I know we're dead and gone, but nobody called it in. The Devil, he wants our souls to drag us down below. But when it comes to low places? Hell, we've got friends." "Please don't tell me I'm alive, I know. You'd think that I'd have noticed if I'd somewhere up and died, but it's so cold... Can you check the thermostat? Damn it all to Hell, it's broken. But what did you expect from houses this big and old? We've been here for such a long time..." "Everybody knows this house is haunted. We heard it from our fathers who knew it all along because, you see that, well, long ago one of their friends spent the night there. Now? Everybody's too scared. But all of that was so far long ago that, to be honest, we just don't know. He swears that he saw a ghost... or, maybe it was two? I don't know. We get it confused. But he's been locked away for years now. We can't find out anyhow; he mumbles on and on in tears..." "Please don't tell me I'm alive, I know. You'd think that I'd have noticed if I'd somewhere up and died, but it's so cold... Can you check the thermostat? Damn it all to Hell, it's broken. But what did you expect from houses this big and old? We've been here for such a long time..."