The Dead Girl's Dance

She landed hard, on stone, in the dark, and suppressed a burning need to whimper. A hand closed on her arm and helped her up. She heard a thumping clatter behind her, and got out of the way just in time as Shaneshe thought it was Shane, anywaytumbled out of the chute after her.

And the lights came on.

Well, not lights exactlyone light, and it was a flashlight.

And Shanes dad was holding it.

He took one fast, cold look at his son, then one at Claire, and said, Wheres Des?

Shane looked shocked. Dadyou were supposed to go! That was the whole point!

Where the hell is Des?

Hes gone! Shane shouted. Dammit, Dad

Frank Collins looked blackly furious, face twisting, and he swung the flashlight away from them. Claire blinked spots away, and saw that he was aiming it at two of his guys standing in the dark.

Right, he said. Lets do this.

Do what? Shane demanded, getting to his feet. He winced as he put his weight on his wounded ankle. Dad, what the hell is going on? You said you were leaving!

Didnt kill enough vampires to leave, Frank Collins said. But Im about to even the score.

The two guys he had trained his light on were crouched next to a makeshift circuit board built out of what looked like old computer parts. It was hooked up to a car battery. One of the two guys held two wires by the insulated parts, but the tips were bare copper, freshly stripped.

Things fell together.

Shanes dad had used him, again. Used him as bait, letting him think he was being the hero, distracting the vampires to give his dad time to escape.

Used him to get a large number of vampires in one place. But they werent just vampires; there were people there, too. Cops, and wannabe vampires. And people who were just there because they owed Oliver.

It was cold-blooded murder.

Richard had said it. Demolition this week. The explosives were already in place.

Theyre going to blow the building! Claire screamed, and lunged. She couldnt fight the bikers, but she didnt need to.

All she had to do was yank at the wires under the circuit board.

They gave with a blue white pop, and she was lucky not to be fried. One of the bikers reached her then, grabbed her, and threw her back, looking at the mess and shaking his head. Got a problem! he yelled. She trashed the board! Gonna take time to rewire!

Franks face went scarlet with fury, and he ran toward her, fist in the air. You stupid little

Shane caught his fist in an open palm and held it there. Dont,he said. Enough, Dad. No more.

Frank tried to hit him. Shane ducked. He caught the second blow in an open palm again.

The third one, he blocked, and punched back. Just once.

Frank went down, flat on his ass, something like fear in his face.

Enough, Shane said. Claire had never seen him look taller, or more frightening. Youve still got time to run, Dad. Youd better do it while you can. Theyll figure out where we are soon, and you know what? Im not dying for you. Not anymore.

Franks mouth opened, then closed. He wiped blood from his mouth, staring at Shane, as he got to his feet.

I thought you understood, he said. I thought you wanted

You know what I want, Dad? Shane asked. I want my life back. I want my girlfriend. And I want you to leave and never come back.

Franks eyes went flat, like a sharks. Your mothers turning over in her grave, watching you betray your own kind. Your own father. Siding with the parasites that infest this sick town.

Shane didnt answer him. The two of them stared at each other in tense, angry silence for a few seconds, and then Claire heard metal clattering from up above. She tugged on Shanes arm urgently. I think they found the chute, she said. Shane

Shanes dad said, I should have left you in the damn cage to fry, you ungrateful little bastard. Youre no son of mine.

Hallelujah, Shane said softly. Free at last.

His dad turned off the flashlight, and Claire heard running footsteps in the dark.

Shane grabbed Claires sweating hand, and they ran the opposite direction, with Shane breathlessly counting steps, until there was a golden glow of light at the end of the tunnel.

Shane wanted to run, but escape was impossible. Unless they made it out of Morganville, and even then, Claire understoodfinallythat the vampires wouldnt let them leave. Not with what theyd done, or nearly done.

She needed to make it right.

Claire worked it out in her head before she said anything to him; Shane was talking in a breathless monologue, spinning a plan to steal a car, head out of town, maybe out of state.

Claire kept quiet until she saw the cherry red and blue flashers of a Morganville police cruiser coming down the darkened street, and then she let go of Shanes hand and said, Trust me.

What?

Just trust me.

She stepped out in front of the police car, which came to a fast, controlled stop. A floodlight blinded her, and she stood still for it. She sensed Shane retreating, and said, sharply, Shane, no! Stay where you are!

What the hell are you doing?

Surrendering, she said, and put her hands in the air. Come on. You, too.

She didnt think he would, for a long terrifying second, and then he stepped out into the street with her, put his hands up, and laced his fingers behind his head. The police cruisers doors popped open, and Shane dropped to his knees. Claire blinked at him, then followed suit.

She was on the ground in seconds, pinned by someones hot, hard hand, and she heard a male voice say, Heller here. Weve got Danvers and the Collins kid. Theyre alive.

She didnt hear the reply, but she was too busy wondering if shed made an awful mistake as cold steel handcuffs clicked shut around her wrists. The policeman hauled her upright by her elbow, and she winced at the pull on her sore muscles. Next to her, Shane was getting the same treatment. He wasnt resisting. He lookedtense.

Its okay, she told him. Trust me.

His eyes were wild, but he nodded.