Fear Not, Little One

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The window clouded an dusted by webs and debris hardly made the flickering light transparent enough to see. It's almost as if you had to have been intuitively warned and notioned to know it was even on. Tis A night to remember, when a new flame came in November. Sometimes, you just have to trust your gut.

The town was getting ready to be quiet, but this last event was a legacy in the little township of Cedar Springs. This year the anticipation was built up with such immense and warming energy for the Annual Campfire Vigil. This once a year event is held for the elementary school in the woods a few miles out from the school that surrounded the township. All the families coming off the halloween high knew that they needed to conserve energy for this all nighter spent with their kids and the families of the town. Check-ins begin at 10p, and then the fun begins! Around 45-55 people usually make their way to a course of campfires and tents set up with well covered safety protocols all around. There are usually 4-5 people around one fire that they're assigned to per team. Since the children are with their parents and a few siblings that are opted to come along, there is minimal school chapperones. The dean of the school gets everyone checked in, and there may only be 4-5 school counselors and teachers to help out the event. It's such a safe and trusted atmosphere that even some teachers leave early so they can actually sleep. The area is taped off and lit up with christmas type lights Theyre swinging softly from tree to tree in the warming yet newyl cool fall breeze setting in the air. You literally could not ask for a better night for this event. It's tradition in this town that dates back decades on decades. The school itself was start in 1796, which may be the oldest school on record. Cedar Springs makes national news with this event almost every year because of the nostalgia and tight knit community energy it inspires around the world.

All is moving well with one usual unusual exception. Elycia (E-Lee-See-Yah) Silverstone. She is accompanied by her parents Rikardo and Katalina Silverstone. The thing is, Elycia has always had stomach issues that they have seemed to get under control and mostly just related to nervousness. She told her parents that she really did not feel like going, but also really wanted to see her friends. Elycia is a beautiful young girl with the most personable and charming aura around her at almost all times. She is tough, yet very considerate and well-mannered. Like most children at that young elementary age, she enjoyed playing with dolls, doing creative artsy things like outdoor drawing, and just enjoying the beautiful essence of what youth offered. Unlike most days, this weird on and off stomach ache felt different then the rest. With perserverence and the Elycia attitude, she toughened it out and got ready to go have fun with her friends and townspeople. As for Rik and Kat (shortened names most people called them by) they were midly worried about her and definitely talked about keeping a close eye on her throughout the all nighter to make sure she is not trying to overcompensate her pain with youthful stubborness.

All families are now arriving at Camp Cedar Springs for the annual vigil. Everything is going smoothly. Check-ins are are a breeze and every family that said they would be there showed up. This definitely is never an event people forget or avoid. It's town legacy. It's like writing in its own bible or old scrolls for many years to come to enjoy the stories of previous years. The entire event is planned with a few games and participations that involve everyone. The first game usually gets it set off pretty well. Who can make the biggest S'mores sandwich without it falling apart before taking their first bite. Every kid loves this for obvious sugary reasons, and it sets the tone to be fun and lets all the families mingle with each other. It's honestly a great community vibe where everyone almost always gets along with each other. The second game, is the spooky story contest. Often times, the parents have to step in to save the kids stuttered story because they're usually not prepared but simply want to impress their friends. Kids just being kids! However, Elycia had planned a joke for a week or two: "Did you hear about the family who always moves in to the house down by the pond on the private lot? They always disappear after the first year of living there. The town always say they decide to move out, but I guess it was just a ghost town." The crowd kicking their chins because it was as dad joke as possible that a child could draw up haha. They disappeared because it as a ghost town and were never really there. Yup, thats the punchline. The children laughed in support even though Elycia didnt even think it was funny herself.

The third game is generally the most memorable. The most scary. The most thrilling. Hide and go seek. Remember Halloween just ended so there is still some fright memories left in the air to consume the soul of any given person at any time. This game has guidelines and nobody is allowed outside of the marked areas and safety protocols. All of the kids begin to take their families and find the best and most secretive spot so the elected families can come find them. The Silverstones were the first family chosen to go hide. Elycia starts having that upside down stomach turning feeling again. This time more intense and sending jolts through her body like her soul was just electrocuted into its destiny and divine purpose. Her parents warned her they couldnt go outside the lines, but like their daughter they were very adventurous and did not mind breaking rules themselves. Elycia was moving in a very eloquent stride almost as if she was possessed towards something drawing her in. She asks her parents if they see a light. They did not see anything as they were strolling through the woods. She swears and tells them they were going towards a glowing light. "I saw it mom and dad - just come with me I promise it's okay." At this point, Elycia begins running in full stride towards the light she swore she saw. Rik and Kat fall into a confusion as they were trying to radio in to the check in center they'd be right back to camp despite a little rule breaking. They lose sight of Elycia and begin to slightly panick, but still hold their composure. A few minutes later they hear Elycia's voice singing: "Don't be scared, im just right over here. Follow my heart, and have no fear." After a half mile trek through the outlands, the parents see a very dim light through a window in a rundown little cabin from a slight distance. "Rik you see that, maybe E wasn't kidding but how did she know it was there?" The Silverstones threw all types of verbiage out but couldnt figure it out. Little did Elycia know, her parent had kept a secret from her since the dawn of her little existence. They planned on telling her one day once she was old enough to conceive the idea rationally. This was the only thing they could both think of when they saw the light. They continued to approach and still heard the soft choir like vocals of Elycia. As soon as they arrived to the door, she sung " Come on in it'll be okay. I'm here now, it was meant to be this way." They opened the door , side by side, looking mysteriously into each others eyes as a desperate chill crawled up their spines. They locked hands together as they entered the creeky rustic door barely held on by hinges that must've had super powers to even still be there in place. Nothing but cobwebs, broken floor boards, and old household things that appear to oddly all be in place like they haven't moved in decades. They follow their daughters voice. Finally, they walk into the the living room where there daughter sits playing with a doll staring into an open fire in a very lively fireplace. Suddenly, they also notice a large figure sitting in the shadows of the corner in a rocking chair. You barely see him in the dark, but the presence is alarming enough. You can literally feel it without even staring directly into his position. "Rik and Kat, or should I say Mom and Dad. You finally made it. I wish you would have told me sooner. It could've saved you many doctor bills trying to figure out whats wrong with my stomach." Her parents both reply: "Elycia are you okay?! Whats wrong? What did he do to you?!" Come over here now please." Elycia begins to giggle a little bit, and then slowly turn around with extreme time control as if the universe just totally stopped. "Elycia look up at me." says her mother. Right before she does, the man in the shadows coughs and darkly says in a deep cynical tone: "Are you sure you're ready for the truth you've kept hidden from about your daughter? Well, or should i say your adopted daughter." Again, the world freezes over. Elycia looks up full of energy with blood dripping from mouth as she wipes it away with a smile. "You guys lied to me and that doesn't make me happy. This is my new friend Rekkir. Actually, he isn't just my friend - he is my real dad. The Silverstones literally had every thought possible of her childhood sweep through their minds coming up with every option available to make sense of the haunted reality before them. "Ya know, we really really like blood, and you guys never conditioned me as you were ordered. Maybe I can have a bite to get back what I deserve. What do you think Rik and Kat?" They begin backing up stuttering that it was never meant to happen this way. "We never meant to hurt you or keep you away from your truth Elycia we promise. We were just trying to let you be a little kid and enjoy your youth without the stress of knowing your true legacy and heritage." The man Rekkir stands up. He approaches the fire next to Elycia and also looks at the Silverstones. "You had one job and failed to do as ordered. Punishment is the only option now. Elycia knew she was different from the first time she had that unleveling sensation in her stomach and you were suppose to help explore that to get your night-walker powers back. You failed, miserably. What is it about you people who fall back in love with humanity when we gave you immortal power and everything you could ever ask for. Elycia is an original heritage powered super natural power of the night. That kind of power cannot be contained. Yet, you somehow figured out a way to manipulate her humanity into thinking her problems were just naturally nervousness. I applaud you on that, but it ends here and now. This is a new beginning. Out of the ashes rises a new flame. Our little one." The Silverstones begin pleasing their lives to do whatever they can to stay alive and remain in renewed good graces. Rekkir whispers to Elycia: "You feel that urge to drink. That time is now. Let your instincts take over and drain them now." Still, in pure panic they try to run away, but Rekkir uses his powers to lock them in and mind power to compel them back to Elycia. "You have one last chance. It's your lucky day as I'm feeling somewhat generous you remained alive this whole time without being eaten by your adopted daughter for 9 years. You see, this is how it is going to play out. Elycia is going to drain both of you to near death you feel that fear and pain in punishment and then she's going to turn both of you back to your new night walker ranks. Her little puppets. She will compel you to round up everyone at the campsite. You will follow orders as commanded. There will be two options. They become her new legacy, or be drained in a blood bath in a ever so sad story to hit the town of Cedar Springs. The National media will eat this up. Eat it up, ahhh am i what you call a comedian?" Before they can even reply to all that Elycia vamp speeds over to them and begins to feed without hesitation as her power grows infinite with each ounce of blood flowing down her throat dripping onto the floor of where her bloodline were first turned into vampires. She tosses them both back down and giggles. Rekkir places a centuries old stone around Elycia's neck as it burns into her skin almost as if it is branded in place for eternity. That's exactly what happened. Heritage Vampires are marked by their origins. A stone from where there bloodline began is given in a small fragment like piece to be placed in their soul until death. Normally it'll take a few hours for someone to turn, but if you were previously already turned your body activates on muscle memory within minutes. Rik and Kat begin to stand under the power of their former daughter. "Go. Go now. I'm hungry. You don't want to make your hungry daughter wait now do you? My stomach doesnt hurt any more, but if you make me wait I wont be happy." Elycia spouts off already purely in control of her power like she's had it for centuries. The Silverstones begin their primal path out of the door to retrieve their prey for the ceremony. The town has no idea whats about to happen to change the course of history forever like it use to be many centuries ago. The rise of a new flame has given birth to a new destiny. The only twist is they have evolved. They walk in the light. They blend with the neighbors. They walk and talk without any notion of being abnormal. Rekkir and Elycia start their short journey frolicking through the woods talking about past times and catching up on a few historical tid bits about their bloodline. In no rush whatsoever, they finally arrive to a complete horror scene visual. Rik and Kat did their job, however they took it upon themselves to feast a little early on all of the school employees, possibly turning them into the new heritage. Elycia drops her doll. Walks up to her fellow classmates and townspeople singing "inni-mini-miny-moe, What about you -friend or foe?" Friend proclaims the weak human. I'm your friend. "Okay then smiles Elycia." She bites her and turns her into her new puppet. "Anyone else? If you run you die. It's simple." About half of the people begin to run as fast as they can. *tongue clicks* "Now that's not very nice of you guys" - Elycia compels her former parents to track them and bring them back to massacre with her new bloodline. Then all the sudden silence. The night was complete with a breeze blowing through the campsite as they all sat back down to enjoy the leftover S'mores like they were totally human again.

It was at this time the man finished telling his story around the campfire and laughed to say: "I was the man in the corner shadows." Everyone else stops moving and stills in silence mumbling "wait what, who , what, huh's" I said." I am the man in the shadows. I am Rekkir." The story comes full circles as they're all sitting in that very circle. Rekkir just told the story of his daughter, and as mentioned before: blended in with society without any sheer obviousness of who he was. People did not know what to do. He stood up and said: " I don't recommend leaving if I were you. I'm going to count down from 5, and you're all going to be spilled. "5...4..3..2..1.." The Heritage bloodline all creep out of the woods including Elycia, now grown up, in her end of her teens. They being the slaughter. "Fear Not, little one. You're not so little any more I see"

The legacy begins.

Eric Fliger

7/5/22