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The Thirsty. They described them as parched vampires longing for blood, but the Winterbournes did not look at all as demons with strange habits, they were just an egocentric family, extremely powerful.
Rich with no doubts: they owned vast properties and a large amount of local commercial activities, and not only in Hazycreek. They had properties all over England: in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Oxford, Cambridge and in Nottingham. It must be said that they did nothing to be loved, their presence in town was leading to fuss, everyone was looking at them with fear, most people didn't even stare at them, they went on straight avoiding any type of contact.
I had to admit that a mysterious aura seemed to lead them, but I thought this was a consequence to the narrow-minded mentality prevailing in Hazycreek.
A kind of mass hysteria led people to keep the Winterbournes away.
But the situation seemed not bothering them. After all, they lived at Black Raven Hill.
The endless mansion was a property of their family since ever. It was a bit far, like half an hour by car from the center and it was in the middle of the forest.
The Winterbournes stayed isolated from common people, it was clear, but how to blame them?
They were relevant, they needed nobody, they could afford it at the end of the day. But assuming that they were the cause of those two current disappearances, that sounded a bit excessive to me.
But this all story drawn a super idea in my mind, an idea that apparently Josh didn't like at all.
«I don't believe they have something to do with those disappearances, ok? However, they might have something to say», I explained to my friend.
Josh still shaked his head, more and more closed to his surrender.
«It is not wise, nor even necessary. Maybe they did it for real.»
«How can you believe those bullshits? What do you think? Persons drinking human blood? Dracula is a Bram Stoker's book, not reality!»
«I am not joking. You look like a fool. Nobody ever dared much», he addressed me once again trying to keep me from my intentions. But he couldn't succeed, I was stubborn and willful. I had already made my mind.
«They'll know for sure what people say. It may be interesting having also their opinion», I insisted, every second more convinced.
«Don't get involved with that family. Stay out of this, Reb.»
«Oh, come on, Josh! You are always the same old chicken», I laughed at him, raising my arms. I got up from the chair snorting and placing in front of him. I poked his chest with my forefinger and a little grin appeared on my face.
«I want to write the article of the year. The one that will lead me straight to London and the Winterbournes are going to be my golden goose. That's it», I said nailing my green eyes into his.
I noticed him tensely swallowing.
«Why can't you just do your job without digging too much? You are a journalist, not a detective», Josh's voice had become shrill and hysterical. He cared about me, but I wouldn't have run any risk.
I just curved one side of my mouth and, after having retrieved my purse, I passed by him, straight towards the office exit.
«Because I desire something else, Josh. I won't stay here forever. London is my goal», I concluded, opening the door and walking out of it.
«You damned ambitious!»
«I've heard you!» I scolded him from the hallway.
He followed me and once he reached me, he ruffled my red helmet hair.
«Let's have a drink at Hanna's, ok?» he asked me changing subject completely.
I agreed with no hesitation. I wanted to tell my intentions also to her.
In ten minutes, we arrived at the Moonlight, the most popular place across Hazycreek, the only opened at any time during day or night. We parked Josh's car in the side street and we went in no longer waiting.
We were immediately hit by the lounge music. Cheerful environment, slightly suffused and relaxing lights. The whole decor ranged from white to lilac, with abstract shades and decorations.
We approached the counter where our friend was serving drinks to a group of rowdy teens.
Hanna Ryder was my housemate and my best friend. It had always been the three of us, indivisible and joined until death.
«Hanna!» I called her wiggling on the chair I had been able to hoard, while Josh was standing on the counter, slouching on it.
Hanna ran to us wiping her hands in her wisteria-colored apron.
«What can I get you, guys?» asked offering us one of her sweet smiles, then struck Josh with the eyes, he was still slouched over the counter's marble.
«Stand up from there, if Mrs. Tanner sees you, she'll get mad at me!»
«Hanna, tell your friend he shouldn't sleep over here», Mrs. Tanner barked while coming out from the kitchen.
Josh immediately straightened up murmuring sorry.
That woman was incredible. Ginger was the owner of Moonlight, but first, she was the commissioner's wife. At her place she demanded respect and a behavioral ethics that Josh never observed. She wouldn't have kicked us out after all, so we got over it and started laughing.
«Usual?» Hanna asked.
We both answered yes.
Fast as the light she was back with our orders: two cold beers.
I grabbed mine and took a great sip.
«Reb has had another of her unhealthy ideas», Josh started absent-mindedly while checking his smartphone.
Hanna was listening carefully, fixing her blonde weaves and, raising an eyebrow, she looked at me.
«Meaning?»
I sighed, now they would have ganged up on me, I knew them so well.
«I want to go to the Black Raven Hill. I plan on writing an article about the Winterbournes», I answered all in one breath.
My best friend stood silent with her mouth opened for some seconds, no words were needed for Josh's expression, happy and satisfied not to be the only one against me.
«Have you lost your mind, Reb? Those people are... weird», she said in between shocked and terrified.
Let alone she would have taken my part!
I took another sip from my beer looking up at the ceiling.
«Come on guys! This is my opportunity to aim high. New horizons can open up for me», I explained staunched on my decision.
What could have ever happened to me?
The worst that could happen was being kicked out, by the way I wanted to observe the mansion first, without being seen.
«But the Winterbournes are dangerous and the Black Raven Hill makes me shiver. What if they kidnap you, doing you cruel things? You are aware too about all the rumors circulating, aren't you?» Hanna stirred, frantically gesticulating.
This made me laugh, she looked so goofy.
«I've tried reasoning with her the whole day, she really doesn't want to listen» Josh added.
I sighed playing with the drops of water running down my glass.
I had never hoped for their approval. I knew very well how crazy my idea was, I just wished my friends could understand my point of view.
I couldn't miss this opportunity.
«I have already made my mind», I cut it short finishing the cold beer. I showed Hanna that I wanted another glass pointing my thumb down.
She obeyed with no hesitation.
«If your parents knew they would be mad», she objected by serving me.
«My parents have been traveling around the world for two months, they won't know. At least if no one tells them», I said a bit annoyed.
«The Thirsty, Reb. Figure out who are the persons you would like to go speak with», she continued.
«Yes, exactly. They are not like any other, they are monsters», Josh agreed carrying out the blond's thesis.
Were they serious?
Did they really believe?
«That hassle! How old are you? Eleven? You can't believe all those bullshits. Vampires don't exist and not even those so called Thirsty. All those are fairytales for stupid kids», I blurted out dumbfounded.
It was about tales told through centuries by the ancients, but they were all crap. Nobody had any concrete evidence concerning those lies.
«Then again, the younger attended our same school. Sebastian Winterbourne was a kid like us. If they were all vampires, how could something like this be possible?» I asked firmly.
They both fell silent, they had nothing to reply to my consideration. They seemed like they hadn't thought about it and they found no answer to reply me back.
I grinned satisfied.
«See? All bullshits, that's why in the following days I am visiting the mansion. In the meanwhile, I am going to study it from the distance, secondly, I'll ring the bell. If you want to come, you'll be accepted, if not I'll be fine on my own», I concluded with all possible emphasis.
Nobody did express, they exchanged a glance and looked down resigned.
When I had something on my mind there was nothing that could have changed my decision. I had to discover the Winterbournes' secrets at any cost, my one-way ticket to London. I wouldn’t have lived in such a small town that I was feeling so narrow anymore. I was twenty-seven, I was still young but... I wouldn't have stayed young forever. I had to get involved immediately or Hazycreek would have suffocated me.
Sometimes I was told that I was taking my job too seriously, but that was what I liked to do and I couldn't find anything wrong in pursuing my dreams. Fame was my goal, I would have chased my ambitions until I climbed to the top, and if the Black Raven Hill could clear my way, I would have presented myself at its gate.
What would I have found behind?
Only time could have told, but surely, what I was about to discover would have changed my life completely, destroying all my certainties.
Chapter 2
Rebecca
It was late at night; I was driving with my heart madly beating in my chest. Sure, I was excited but, also unnerved by a sense of restlessness. I was following the old road that would have led me straight to the Black Raven Hill, that was the only possible passage and the asphalt, illuminated by my headlights seemed spotless, clearly almost none was passing there.
Apart from the Winterbournes.
«I still don't get how you have managed to drag me till there», Josh complained, all pale, while he couldn't stop biting his nails.
I took a glance at him, I felt a bit sorry, he was scared to death.
«I've just asked you to come along and you have accepted. You shouldn't have come», I replied clutching my lips.
His dark eyes posed on me, but he said nothing, he just kept looking at me with a sad expression, like a puppy in need of cuddles.
I was absolutely grateful for what he was doing, but maybe I shouldn't have involved him.
I pulled over on the left and I turned the car off.
«What are you doing?» he asked confused.
I unfastened my seatbelt and I was opening the door.
«We get out, we walk forward. I don’t want anyone to hear us coming.»
My best friend swallowed, but he did not oppose any resistance and he got out the car.
I looked at the sky, it was extremely dark and it was like the forest engulfed us completely. Not even street lamps were enlightening our way.
I found all this unreal.
Josh was gazing in every direction, paying attention to every single noise, he was breathing heavily and his hands were closed in fists.
I inhaled slowly and tried to look resolute to his eyes. I was, but that place was giving me goosebumps too. That gloomy atmosphere that was embracing everything was certainly to blame.
I took the smartphone from my jeans' pocket and turned on the torch mode. The camera flash appeared, I pointed it in front of me and I started walking the last meters that kept us from the mansion.
We walked silently and watchfully without saying any word, until the road made us turn to the left, where a dirt path was taking in front of the entrance gate.
It was huge, thick black metal bars soared upward culminating in pointed quills.
