Twilight, but make it ✨CHONI✨

Chapter 9

Toni's room
Morning

There were about three things Toni was positive about.

One: Cheryl was a vampire.

She gets out of bed, goes to the mirror. She looks at herself, worry written on her face.

Two: there was a part of Cheryl that thirsted for her blood.

As she moves past her window, something catches her eye. Causing her to run into her desk. She looks back out..

Cheryl leans against her car, looking up at her with a small smile. Toni beams at the sight of her.

Three: Toni was falling unconditionally and irrevocably, in love with her.

Fox rainforest
Late morning

Cheryl helps Toni balance-walk across an enormous fallen pine tree in the moss covered forest.

"How long have you been like this?"

"Since nineteen-eighteen. That's when Clifford found me"

Toni takes that in, it's a lot. But it stokes her curiosity.

"Where'd he find you?"

"In a hospital, dying of Spanish influenza. My parents had already died"

"What was it like?"

"The word excruciating comes to mind. But what Clifford did was much harder...not many of us have the restraint to do that"

"Didn't he just..bite?"

"Not just. Our bite contains venom. And once we taste blood, a sort of..frenzy begins. It's almost impossible to stop"

"But Clifford did"

"First with me, then with his wife Penelope. He found her in a hospital as well. The others followed"

"Does someone have to be dying to become like you..?"

River's edge

"...No, that's just Clifford. He would never do...this, to someone who had another choice"

"So Clifford's the reason you hunt animals, instead of people"

"Not the only reason"

Cheryl stops, looks down at her, serious, with emotion.

"I don't want to be a monster"

Toni nods. Understands. Cheryl smiles.

"We call ourselves vegetarians, by the way...for our kind, hunting animals is like living on tofu. It keeps you calm but isn't very satisfying"

Then abruptly, she whips past Toni. Toni turns to see her standing on a large rock in the river.

"Show off"

"It's not that impressive, really. Anyone in my family can do this"

"Can they all read minds too?"

"No that's unique to me, but Josie can see the future"

"Really? Bet she saw me coming a mile away"

Toni notes Cheryl's change of mood as she slows, darkening.

"Her visions are very subjective. The future can change"

She cuts off Toni's questions by returning to shore, and continuing their walk.

Charlie's house

Water sprays from a hose as Toni and Cheryl wash her truck. A boom box playing in the background. Cheryl perches on top of the roof.

"Come to my house tomorrow"

"Your house? With your family?"

Cheryl wiped down the dented front fender, then reaches under it and, with her bare hands, easily pops the large dent out of the trucks body. Toni's too flustered to register it.

"But..what if they don't like me?"

Cheryl laughs heartily.

"You're worried, not because you'll be in a house full of vampires, but because you think they won't approve of you?"

"I'm glad I amuse you" Toni says sarcastically.

But then Cheryl's laughter dies down, once she hears something.

"What is it?"

"A complication"

A black car comes into view, and pulls up.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow"

Cheryl heads to her car, eyeing the passengers in the car.

Moose, with his father, Billy, who's expression is intense. Cheryl then locks eyes with Billy. Moose looking questionably at his father.

Toni watches Cheryl drive away, perturbed by the exchange, she forces a smile and goes to greet the visitors. Moose sets up Billy's wheelchair, and Billy climbs into it.

"Come to visit your truck?" Toni asks.

"Looks good. You got that dent out"

Billy buts in.

"Actually we came to visit your flat screen. First Mariners game of the season. Plus Moose here kept bugging me to see you again"

"Great dad, thanks" Moose says, mortified.

Moose shoots his father an irritated look, just as the police cruiser pulls up. Charlie gets out, holding two six-packs.

"Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry" Billy says, holding up a brown paper bag.

Charlie smiles, pleased. He clicks on the game once their all inside.

"Any luck with the Waylon case" Billy asks Charlie.

"Found a footprint at the crime scene today. A bare, human footprint"

Billy seems disturbed, but not surprised. Toni is horrified.

"A person did that?" She asked.

"A crazy person, walking around barefoot at this time of year" Moose says.

"Spread the word at the rez, will ya? Keep the kids out of the woods"

"Will do. Don't want no one else getting hurt" Billy says, almost as if directed towards Toni.

Toni looks away from Billy, unnerved.

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Heyy!
Next chapter will be up tomorrow ;)