RESURRECTED by Morgan Rice Page A

levels. His voice echoed in the big empty chamber, and the few people standing on the periphery turned their way.
    Caitlin saw them looking, as did Caleb, and they both turned and looked away, embarrassed.

    “I wish I could believe that,” Caitlin said, softly. “I really do. She might be okay for now. But she’s not okay. She needs help. And I’m going to find it for her. No matter what you say, or what she says.”
    “Help for what?” Caleb retorted. “What exactly is it that you think she needs help from?”
    “You know what it is. You know what I said. You can choose not to believe it, but you know it’s true.”
    She saw hesitation in Caleb’s eyes size, but still, he pressed the question
    “ What is true?”
    Finally, Caitlin lost it.
    “OUR DAUGHTER IS A VAMPIRE!”
    Caitlin’s shout rose to the glass ceiling, echoed throughout the room—and every person turned and stared.
    Caleb turned and looked at them all, then lowered his head, embarrassed. Finally, he stepped up, and looked at Caitlin, right in the eyes. She stood there, shaking, rooted to the spot, not knowing what to do, how to feel.
    Slowly, disapprovingly, he shook his head.
    “The doctor was right,” he said. “You do need help.”
    *
    Caitlin, in a daze, drove slowly, Scarlet in the passenger seat, as she took her to school. Caleb had left for work, leaving Caitlin to drop her off, and she and Scarlet had been driving in silence for the last few minutes, as Caitlin watched the road, trying to process it all, while Scarlet sat in the front seat, glued to her phone, texting with several of her friends.
    “Major damage control, mom,” she said. “I so wish you hadn’t called all my friends,” she sighed.
    Caitlin didn’t know how to respond.

    Scarlet checked her phone again. “I can still make second period,” she said. “That’s perfect. I don’t have my first test until fourth. I’m staying late today, don’t forget—soccer,” she said in a rush, as Caitlin pulled up before the main doors of the school.
    Scarlet leaned over and kissed Caitlin on the cheek, as she opened the door. “Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Really. Whatever it was, it was no big deal. Love you,” she said in a rush, jumping out before Caitlin could respond and rushing up the steps to the front doors of the school.
    Caitlin watched her go with a sinking feeling in her chest. She felt so sad, so helpless, so terrified.
    There went Scarlet, her only daughter, the person she loved most in the world. She wanted to protect her. And to protect others.
    She watched her go, all alone, up the steps to the empty school, and she wanted more than anything to believe that things were normal. But deep down, she knew they were not. As Scarlet closed the doors behind her, entered that building filled with thousands of kids, Caitlin couldn’t help but wonder: were those other kids in there trapped with her? How long would it be until the plague of vampirism spread?

CHAPTER NINE
    Scarlet ran across the wide stone plaza and up the series of steps to the front doors of her school. As she did, she clutched her light, fall jacket to herself. She wish she’d worn something warmer; just a few days ago, it was like 70, but now, it felt more like 50. October was so unpredictable, she thought. Especially now, at the end, with just a few days before Halloween. She made a mental note in her head that when she got home, she would have to go down to the basement and switch out her late summer wardrobe for her fall one.
    Scarlet glanced over her shoulder as she grabbed the front doors, hoping her mom had left. It was so embarrassing, her sitting there like that, watching her, as if she were still in second grade. She cringed as she saw her mom still watching. She hoped that no other kids were watching this, especially given that the school was empty, everyone already in class. She felt so conspicuous.
    She didn’t really blame her mom for watching her like that, and felt