Venus slammed her bedroom door shut, heart pounding like a war drum. She pressed her back flat against the wood just as her father's voice boomed down the hall.
"Venus! Don't think you can slip out without telling me, young lady!"
The knob rattled. "Looks like I didn't give you a good enough beating last time," he snarled. His belt buckle glinted under the hallway light as his fist whipped toward the door.
Venus's eyes flared red. "Enough, Tom. I'm done with you! I'm leaving and you can't stop me!" She thrust a hand forward, unleashing a wave of crimson mana that filled the room like a fog.
Her staggered into the room where she'd been packing. "The fuck you just say?" he growled, ripping his belt free.
"I'm leaving," Venus spat, dragging a duffel to the center of the floor. "I can't—I won't live under your thumb any longer."
Tom face twisted with fury. "I shelter you, fed you—"
"Don't you fucking dare!" Venus screamed. "You haven't held down a job in four years. I had to quit eleventh grade to pay the bills—and you secretly stole and blew my savings at the casino!" Tears of rage blazed in her eyes. "And when you couldn't pay you debts at time you... You fucking used me as payment!"
Tom scoffed. "oh, Grow a pair!"
"Grow a..." she seethed, voice trembling with anger, "I'm done." Her hair snapped silver, and her form radiated with scarlet energy.
With a roar, Venus hurled a crimson orb of pure mana. It smashed into him like a battering ram, flinging him through the opposite wall. He hit the couch in the living room and slid to the floor.
Venus slowly approached her father grabbing his head and drained his lifeforce. He quickly became a hollow shell: flesh faded, bones brittle—an empty mummy lying amid shattered plaster.
Her chest heaved, rage drained by victory—until a soft knock-knock rattled the battered door frame.
"Chhh… you're lucky this time," she muttered, turning into a scarlet mist that vanished into the apartment's plumbing.
Back aboard the rust bucket, dusk painted the dashboard in fiery orange. Ben stretched as Max shifted onto the highway out of Salem. "That tour was a blast." he remarked, grinning at Gwen.
"And we didn't run into any crime. Two days of peace," Gwen replied, leaning back. "And now back to the road."
The next morning, the rust bucket's cabin glowed with dawn as Gwen flipped on the overhead TV. A news anchor's voice crackled:
"Last night at 47 Witchwood Lane, Salem Arms Building, police discovered the body of Thomas Greene, his fluids mysteriously drained—but miraculously alive. He's now in stable condition at Salem Central Hospital with severe brain trauma. Investigators report no leads. His daughter, Venus Greene, remains missing. Our lone eyewitness, Mr. Harold Bennett, told reporters: 'I heard sounds—like someone thrashing furniture. Thought it was just good old Tom beating something, but it was late—too loud for the night. I ran over, found his door ajar, and saw…a vampire. A beautiful one, with glowing eyes. It…sucked the life out of him. Honestly, I wished it'd suck mine next.' That was Mr. Bennett, first on the scene. City officials ask anyone with information to come forward."
Ben frowned. "Vampires now? When did that even happen"
Gwen's expression turned cautious. "Grandpa—have you ever dealt with anything like a vampire alien?"
Max scratched his chin. "Not that I recall. But the universe's big place—there might be such a species."
Fred's gaze drifted out the window, watching the plain desert scenery flowing by. He felt a flicker of unease, "That apartment…similar to where Charmcaster's currently staying. I better check on her later, see if she knows anything." he resolved.
Ben loomed beside Fred's seat. "Hey—I win," he crowed, tapping the reset on their handheld game.
Fred dropped his head. "I wasn't even paying attention!"
Ben shrugged, eyes alight. "Too bad. I'm the champ."
Fred scowled. "You cheated, this doesn't count."
Ben smirked. "I let you win the last rounds."
Gwen shook her head, book in hand. "You guys—playing that same game for hours…!"
Ben pointed at Gwen. "And you've been reading books since dawn."
Gwen's eyes flashed. "This is different."
Suddenly, Gwen's gaze snapped outside the windshield. "Grandpa—stop the rust bucket!"
Max yanked the wheel, tires squealing. "What is it?"
Gwen walked up to Max. "I think I saw doors just now"
Ben's jaw dropped. "Come on Gwen we're in the middle of nowhere, there's no way there's something interesting out here."
They stared ahead: two enormous doors—monolithic slabs carved of oak and iron—stood alone between two hills, no building in sight. The evening light slanted across their filigree hinges.
Ben's jaw dropped. "I stand corrected."
Gwen pressed a fingertip to her lips. "Can we…check it out?"
Max nodded, eyes alight with curiosity. "Sure—let's see where this door leads."
As the rust bucket rolled forward into twilight's hush, the four friends braced for whatever mystery lay beyond those silent, ancient gates—united, determined, and ready for another unexpected adventure.
Also, if you enjoy my writing and want to support me, consider subscribing to my Patreon: [patreon.com/Writing_when_bored].