Chapter 27: Crystal Lake GO GO GO
There was still a week until summer camp, and the days flew by in a blur of activity.
For instance, Jennifer showed up at Edward's door one sunny afternoon, wearing Daisy Dukes and a tight tank top.
"Hey, Edward," she leaned against the doorframe, running a hand through her curly hair in a deliberately sultry way, "heard you've got a sweet vintage muscle car sitting in your garage?"
Edward glanced at the brand-new red convertible parked behind her and raised an eyebrow. "Your ride looks way nicer than mine."
"New cars are all automatic—boring as hell," Jennifer winked at him, dropping her voice a few notches, adding a sticky sweetness to her tone. "I want to learn... something more challenging. Yours is a stick shift, right? I'm worried I won't be able to handle the clutch. Think you could teach me... hands-on?"
Edward could practically hear the subtext dripping from words like "clutch," "shifting," and "torque." He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and smirked lazily. "Sure. But I'm a tough instructor. If you can't keep up, there'll be... consequences."
Jennifer's eyes lit up, and she licked her lips. "I love consequences."
That afternoon, the rumble of an engine and occasional squeals echoed from the garage. As for what driving techniques they actually practiced, only the two of them knew for sure.
Meanwhile, Edward's bathroom had completely become Alan's personal stage.
Almost every night when Edward stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower, as soon as steam started condensing on the mirror, that familiar figure would appear right on cue. Sometimes she wore an elaborate Victorian gown, complaining in the mirror about her corset being too tight; other times she'd switch to sleek modern leather, commenting on whether Edward's abs looked more defined than yesterday.
Their conversations evolved from cautious testing to comfortable banter.
"Look, can't you appear somewhere else? Like the living room TV, or the reflection in my coffee mug?" Edward said to Alan in the mirror, head covered in shampoo foam.
"That would be so boring," Alan gracefully twirled in the mirror like she was attending some private ball. "Don't you think our current dynamic is thrilling? A Platonic forbidden romance—you can see me but never touch me, only tease with words."
Edward nearly choked on soap suds. "Jesus, have you been binge-reading romance novels or something?"
"Don't call me 'Jesus,'" Alan leaned closer to the mirror, her face—identical to Maria's—almost pressed against the glass, her breath like perfume. "Call me Alan."
She was no longer content to stay confined to that bathroom mirror.
"Wanna go somewhere fun?" Alan suggested one night out of nowhere.
"Like where?"
"Close your eyes."
Edward did as told. The next second, he felt a gentle force pull him out of his body, and suddenly his vision expanded. They were "standing" on the pristine display glass at the Louvre in Paris, gazing at the famous "Mona Lisa."
"Look how fake her smile is," Alan's voice sounded in his ear with a hint of criticism. "Not nearly as beautiful as Maria's real smile."
Before Edward could respond, the scene shifted again. They appeared in the reflection of a massive billboard in Times Square, with a surging ocean of traffic and people below, dazzling neon lights flowing beneath their "feet."
"Humans are such fascinating creatures," Alan mused. "So tiny, yet they always want to build these towers reaching toward heaven."
This peculiar "mirror traveling" became their unspoken secret. Alan showed him wonders around the world, while Edward—with his knowledge from another life—painted pictures of things she'd never imagined.
Gradually, a change occurred in Maria too.
She no longer kept her head down all the time. Though still shy, there was a new spark in her eyes. Once in the cafeteria, a hulking linebacker bumped into her, knocking her tray to the floor, and carelessly muttered, "Watch it."
When everyone expected Maria to silently take it and scurry away like always, she straightened up, looked him dead in the eye, and said in a soft but crystal-clear voice: "Apologize."
The jock froze. So did everyone around them.
Maria just stared at him quietly, no fear in her gaze—only icy calm. That look was exactly like Alan's in the mirror. In the end, the linebacker—a full head taller than her—actually mumbled "Sorry" awkwardly under the pressure of that stare, then hustled away.
The entire cafeteria fell silent.
Edward sat nearby watching it all, a slight smile playing on his lips. Seemed like the "time-share" arrangement between the twin sisters was working out pretty well.
Finally, the day came for his parents to leave for New York.
Sarah checked Edward's suitcase over and over that morning, from spare clothes to bug spray, terrified of forgetting something. John pretended to casually read the paper, though his eyes kept drifting toward the door.
"Alright, Sarah, he's eighteen, not eight," John cleared his throat. "If we don't leave now, we'll miss our flight."
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Sarah wiped her hands and rushed to answer it. Standing there was a woman around twenty-five or twenty-six, tall and wearing a perfectly tailored dress that showed off her curves. She had long raven-black hair and an impeccably friendly smile on her face.
"Hello, I'm Bee, the temp nanny you contacted." Her voice was smooth as honey.
This was Bee. Edward sized her up—she was definitely attractive, but deep in those pretty eyes lurked something a bit too sharp, too calculating. Her smile carried that professional, perfectly-calibrated warmth—so flawless it felt almost artificial.
"Hello, Bee, please come in!" Sarah warmly ushered her inside.
Lily, who'd been rolling around on the living room carpet hugging her teddy bear, looked up at the commotion. Her gaze passed over Mom and Dad and landed directly on Bee.
Bee noticed the little girl too. She crouched down, her smile growing even softer. "You must be Lily, right? So adorable. I'm Bee, and I'll be taking care of you this week, okay?"
Lily didn't rush over to act cute like usual. She just tilted her head, watching Bee with those wide innocent eyes, unblinking, for a full five seconds.
Then she flashed an angelic smile and said in her sweet little voice: "Miss Bee, you smell... really nice."
"Oh, really?" Bee's smile didn't waver. "Must be my perfume."
"Not perfume," Lily shook her head, her smile getting even sweeter. "It's a... really familiar smell. A comforting smell. Like... home."
Bee's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly. She reached out and gently stroked Lily's head, her tone as soft as if comforting a kitten. "Is that so? Then I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time together."
One genuine demon, one cultist.
Edward stood there watching this almost historic meeting, silently worrying about his family's future safety. He had a feeling his parents' so-called "second honeymoon" was really just giving these two non-human entities a venue and opportunity for a showdown.
"Alright, we should go!" John grabbed his suitcase and pulled Edward into a hug. "Take care of yourself, and keep an eye on your sister."
"Don't worry, Dad," Edward patted his back, adding silently: I'll try my best to make sure the house is still standing.
After seeing off his reluctant parents, only three remained at home.
Bee quickly settled into her role. She efficiently started tidying the living room, every movement radiating professionalism. Lily followed her like a little shadow, constantly asking imaginative questions, and Bee patiently answered each one. The atmosphere seemed unusually peaceful.
Edward had zero interest in observing this "human-demon" drama unfold. He grabbed his backpack and waved goodbye.
"I'm out."
"Bye, big brother!" Lily spun around and waved enthusiastically.
Bee also straightened up and gave him a perfect smile. "Be safe, Edward. Have fun."
Edward couldn't shake the feeling there was deeper meaning to her "Have fun."
He walked out into the morning sunshine, the warmth hitting his face. Around the street corner, a familiar figure waited quietly.
It was Carrie.
She'd changed into comfortable athletic wear, carrying a worn backpack, her long hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. Seeing Edward, she nervously gripped her backpack straps, but still walked toward him on her own.
"Morning," her voice was soft but clear.
"Morning," Edward smiled. "Been waiting long?"
"No, just got here."
The two walked side by side toward school. Carrie no longer trailed half a step behind like before, but walked right beside him. Much of her anxiety and self-doubt had faded, replaced by a vitality like something sprouting from the earth.
At the school gates, a beat-up yellow school bus was already parked there, and a bunch of rowdy teenagers were excitedly piling on, chattering away with youthful energy.
Edward and Carrie stood at the end of the line.
"Nervous?" Edward asked.
Carrie looked at the school bus that would soon take them to "Blood Camp," then looked at the boy beside her who always brought surprises and made her feel safe. She shook her head, then nodded firmly.
Then she smiled—clean and bright in the morning light.
"A little nervous, but more than that... excited."
Edward looked at her smile and grinned too.
Yeah, excited.
He was really looking forward to seeing what "interesting surprises" the legendary hockey-mask-loving maniac would bring to this summer.
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