Vampire Squad

Crunch . . . Crunch . . . Crunch  . . .The noise echoed back to her from the alley walls on either side. She shivered as another gust of wind seemed to blow through the short uniform skirt she wore. The cold air carried the promise of more snow to come before the night was over. She shuddered again.Behind her there was a slithering sound, a muffled curse and then a thump, followed after a second by a low deep voice."Damn it!""Zac! Can't you keep it quiet?""Sorry, Pen, it's this bloody ice. I can't keep my feet.""Try harder!""You're a fine one to talk, the noise those heels of yours are making."Pen looked back over her shoulder. In the dim light she could clearly see the staggered series of small round holes stretching back toward the mouth of the alley."I can't help the heels going through the ice crust. But at least I don't get to cool my tush on the ice."Turning round she began to stride forward once more. Each time she brought her weight down onto her heel, the stiletto punched through the thin crust of ice, into the softer snow below. She couldn't help thinking about what lay ahead. The loud noise made a stealthy approach difficult, if not impossible but at least the additional traction stopped her falling. Her partner in tonight's excursion was having far more difficulty in his trainers. Crunch . . . Crunch . . .As they moved further away from the street entrance the alley became progressively darker. Pen felt as if it was getting colder too. Once more she shivered. Catching his eye, she jerked her head to the side, and Zac, quiet now when it mattered, faded back into the shadows as they neared the rendezvous, luckily keeping his feet and moving silently into the cover offered by the refuse cans."Pen? Is that you?"