Author's Note: If you wish to comment on my story, either positively or negatively, don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation and DIC. So, please, don't sue me because I haven't any money. I do this strictly for entertainment purposes, not copyright infringement.
Blood on the Moon
by Jeffrey C. Branch
Part Three: Funeral For A Friend
Rating: PG-13
A light but steady rain fell on Tokyo on the afternoon of Molly's funeral. It was as if God Himself wept over the tragic death of the innocent young girl.
School was cancelled so the student body could pay their last respects to their murdered classmate. In double file, the students, all dressed in their school uniforms and wearing black arm bands filed silently into the church. The numbers seemed endless as Molly, a warm and cheerful girl in life left behind a great many friends.
Across the street from the church, two men sat in a nondescript sedan as they watched the students enter. The driver, oldest of the two wore a grim expression while his partner, a younger man looked very remorseful, almost pained.
"I know this is going to sound naive, Lieutenant, even stupid, but I don't care. Something like this just shouldn't happen," said a sad faced Detective Shiro Hiyata. "The Baker girl was only eighteen for God's sake. She had her entire life ahead of her."
Lieutenant Hideki Fukoda shook his head. "No, Shiro, you're not naive, or stupid, because I feel the exact same way. If we didn't, it's high time to get out of this business. My own daughter is Molly's age, so this hits me particularly hard. And we're no closer to finding the killer now than we were when we started. I don't mind telling you, I've never felt so damned powerless in all my life."
"What next?"
"I don't know, my friend. I just don't know."
Inside the church, haunting, mournful organ music played while students walked past Molly's open casket for the viewing while soft sobbing could be heard in various parts of the hall.
Melvin, his heart a jagged lump in his chest stared down at Molly, dressed in a white satin gown with a high buttoned collar, the familiar pale green bow in her hair. Melvin thought she looked to be at peace. For years, Melvin had been very fond of Molly, in his own, quirky way, he even loved her. But it was an unrequited love as Molly never thought of him as anything more than a classmate. When Maxfield Stanton, the much older man Molly was romantically involved with was killed---Melvin never learned how Stanton died as Molly steadfastly refused to talk about his death---Molly went into a shell she almost never emerged from.
Once she did, Melvin tried as hard as he could to be her friend, even her protector in a ridiculously laughable attempt to be like Tuxedo Mask, an attempt that nearly got him killed if it hadn't been for the real masked hero and Sailor Moon when creatures from the Negaverse came calling for Molly. That regrettable episode he thought left absolutely no doubt in Molly's mind that he was a hopeless geek with romantic delusions that would never be realized in his lifetime. Melvin reluctantly accepted his lot in life and settled on being just Molly's friend while he continued to love her from a distance. A distance that was now endless.
"Good-bye, darling," he whispered.
Amy, Lita and Mina, clinging to each other for emotional support, their tear streaked faces lined from sorrow were next. They were among Molly's classmates who, through Serena had become very friendly with her. They all loved how cheery and wonderfully filled with life Molly was. Her bright and sunny personality reminded the girls of how life had been like for them before their awakening as Sailor Scouts and the neverending cycle of death and violence that became part of their lives. The girls all felt tremendous guilt since they ultimately failed to protect one so near and dear to them.
"So long, Molly. We'll never forget you," said Lita, her voice choked from grief. She was the only one of the three with the strength to speak.
Next came Raye, escorted by Chad. Dressed in ceremonial black robes, the young Shinto Priestess, still physically weak from the nightmarish fire reading of six days ago ached terribly as she looked down at Molly. Because she went to a private school, Raye never got to know Molly really well, only that she grew up with Serena and was like a sister to her. Practically inseparable. What disturbed Raye most was the intense jealousy she had for Molly since she was closer to Serena than she was. Even though Raye loved Serena, she could never reveal her true feelings like Molly had. Raye hated herself for being so emotionally stunted.
Then came the tragic events of nearly four years ago with Nephlyte. The devilishly handsome second General in Queen Beryl's army arrived on Earth to steal energy for the Negaverse, but, for reasons unknown to anyone, even to himself, Nephlyte fell in love with Molly. Something he saw in Molly touched his soul, made the alien feel just as human as her, human to the point where he willingly sacrificed his own life to protect Molly from the treacherous Zoicite. Raye would never forget Molly's haunting wails of anguish as Nephlyte died in her arms. From that moment on, Raye's heart opened fully to Molly. The piercing hurt she felt at that moment was as deep as anyone else's in the church.
"Farewell, Molly. I only wish I had gotten the chance to know you better," she said ruefully, tears flowing from her eyes.
Lastly, came Serena and Darien. Ever since Molly's death, Serena had crawled into a deep shell of crushing guilt and remorse, and nothing her parents, Luna or the girls said could snap her out of it. In her mind, Serena let down her best friend, despite her powers, she failed to save Molly from the horror she and the others saw in the fire. At times, the guilt became so overwhelming, Serena even considered suicide to atone for her failure. Finally, at Raye's suggestion, Darien, the love of Serena's life attempted to reach his grief stricken soulmate who, out of shame didn't want to attend Molly's funeral, saying her incompetence had gotten Molly killed.
"That's nonsense!" Serena remembered Darien saying to her. "You couldn't have known this would happen. It was a horrible, but random act by a madman. Look, I know this is hard to swallow, but not even Sailor Moon can save everyone. You're just one woman and can only do so much. As Molly's best friend, you owe it to her memory to be at her funeral. The greater shame by far would be in not going."
Serena took Darien's words to heart and pulled herself together, drawing on deep reserves of inner strength borne of her maturity which had been forged in the fires of battle as a Sailor Scout. Unlike the students, Serena wore a simple black dress which fit her dark mood. As she stared down at Molly's face and saw the peacefulness in it, not the hideous vision of the smiling, blood drenched corpse that was permanently imprinted on her consciousness, Serena let out a wistful sigh.
"Doesn't Molly look beautiful, Darien? It's like she's just sleeping," she said in a broken voice.
Darien nodded and held Serena close. His throat tight, he couldn't respond at first. Like Raye, Darien never got to know Molly since he was a college student and rarely, if ever saw any of Serena's friends, save of course for the other Scouts whom he fought alongside of as Tuxedo Mask. His own sadness was for Serena who's pain and misery was so great, it radiated from her like heatwaves. And it killed him inside to see the light of his life so sad.
"Yeah, she does. It'll help a lot if you remember her the way she is now. Remember only the good times, and everything that made Molly so special to you."
"And she was special to me." Serena bent over and kissed Molly on her forehead.
Once the viewing was complete, several people, including Molly's mother spoke to the huge assembly about her lost daughter. The last person to speak, was Serena. Mrs. Baker had asked that, as Molly's best friend if she would talk about Molly from her own unique perspective. At first, Serena balked, saying she didn't think she was worthy of such a consideration, but Molly's mother convinced her that she was. Last night, Serena spent hours writing down what she would say, but those notes she composed stayed in her purse as she walked up to the podium.
"Hello. Mrs. Baker asked me to talk about Molly because I was her best friend. I consider that to be the greatest honor in my life because Molly meant so very much to me," said Serena, her words coming straight from her heart. "Molly and I grew up together, from the first day we met in kindergarten, we became fast friends, closer than sisters in some ways. We loved to have fun with our dolls, enjoyed afternoon teas with our teddy bears, played dress up in her mother's closet, and, yes, we even made mud pies. Though, clumsy as I was, she was much better at that than me." Mild laughter emanated throughout the hall.
"As we grew older, Molly and I discovered that we had a lot in common. We loved to shop, listen to the latest music, we ate junk food until it came out of our ears and, during sleepovers, we'd cuddle up in bed and talk all night about boys. Our relationship wasn't perfect, we had our disagreements from time to time, but we never stayed mad at each other for very long, our bond, our friendship was too strong for that to happen. In my darkest moments, Molly was always there for me, either with a kind word or just a sympathetic shoulder for me to cry on when the world got to be too much for me to handle alone."
Serena paused as her throat tightened and her vision blurred from a seemingly endless reservoir of tears pouring from her eyes. A dozen years of warm memories and good times spent with Molly flooded her mind while she spoke, and the agony from the realization that those times were now over was almost unbearable. After wiping her eyes, Serena noticed two men standing at the back of the hall near the door. She frowned because they looked familiar to her, invoking other memories, ones that haunted her sleep and took weeks to purge from her consciousness. Putting them temporarily out of her mind, Serena continued her speech.
"Molly was much more than just my best friend. She was a part of my life. I've laughed with her, cried with her, fought with her, we did everything together. Before today, I didn't think it was possible to hurt as badly as I am now without wanting to die, that's how much this loss has affected me. It would be easy to crawl in a hole and never come out, but, Molly wouldn't want me to do that. She would want me to go on living, and that's what I intend to do. Molly may be gone, but her essence, her spirit will continue to live in my heart, and, hopefully, in yours as well. Good-bye, Moll. I'm going to miss you forever."
Mild applause broke out as Serena stepped down from the podium. She stole a glance at the back of the hall and saw the two men leave. Serena's lips straightened into a grim line. She now remembered who the men were. She made a mental note to pay they a visit later.
Once the services ended, the proceedings moved to Tokyo Memorial Gardens on the outskirts of the city for the burial. At the gravesite, Molly's family and closest friends, each holding a long stemmed white rose, Molly's favorite flower gathered at the casket as the minister read a final invocation. As the casket was slowly lowered into the ground in front of a headstone that read: "Molly Baker, A Friend To All", the roses were dropped onto the casket, first by family, then friends.
Serena made sure she was the last one to drop her rose. As she did, she made a solemn vow, one she was determined to keep a secret from Luna, the other Scouts, even Darien.
Molly, I will avenge you. I've nothing else to live for now. The bastard who took you from me will pay for his crime with his life. Even if it costs my own. This I swear to you!
While everyone returned to the church for the wake, Serena, in no mood to deal with crowds retreated to the Temple with the girls for a private wake. Behind the closed door of Raye's bedroom, the girls sat in a circle on the floor and drank green tea while telling happy stories of their experiences with Molly. There was laughter, tears, but, most of all, fond memories of their lost friend. While Raye felt like she was on the outside, she enjoyed the tales the others told. It made her feel warm inside and all the closer to Molly and the person she was.
After a solid hour of chatting, Serena held up her cup for a toast.
"To Molly. Our absent friend."
"To Molly!" the others chimed in, clinking their cups.
"Guys, I want to thank you for coming to the service today. That meant a lot," Serena said. She then turned to Raye who sat to her right. "Especially you, Raye. I know you still haven't fully recovered from the reading. I really appreciate the effort you made."
Raye smiled and squeezed Serena's hand. "Believe me, it was no effort. All the monsters from the Negaverse wouldn't have kept me away, never mind a little fatigue. Serena, I know I'll never be able to fully replace Molly in your heart, but I just want you to know that no matter what happens, now, or in the future, I'll always be by your side."
Amy, sitting to Serena's left nodded. "So will I."
"And me," said a smiling Lita. "To the end."
"Make it four," added Mina with a wink.
Serena choked back a sob as fresh tears glistened in her eyes. The unfailing love and support she received from her friends made the unending pain of Molly's death all the easier to endure. "Thank you. Words can't describe how much I love you all for caring." Mustering her strength, Serena pushed her grief to the side and forced herself to focus on business. The business of revenge. "But right now, it's time to stop grieving and to go to work. Molly's killer is out there. I want him. I don't care if he's human, an alien or the bloody Devil himself, I want his head. Let's discuss how to get the job done."
"Well, perhaps an analysis of the situation might shed some clues," said Amy, startled at Serena's abrupt shift in temperament. "The Deep Throat killings have been front page news in the papers and headline stories on radio and television for several days prior to Molly's murder. She of course already knew about them since Roy was a previous victim. Serena, when you arrived at Molly's house that night, you said the front door was open, which meant Molly was in a hurry to meet whoever was waiting outside for her at the time. If that someone was the killer, she would never have done that."
Serena frowned. "Unless the killer was someone she knew. Guys, I was talking to Molly before she was interrupted by whoever was outside her window that night. She muttered that it might have been....Melvin."
The others gasped. "Melvin? No way!" cried Mina. "That guy couldn't hurt a fly, even if his life depended on it! Sure, Melvin's a major league geek, but he's no psychopath!"
"Are you sure, Mina? Can we be sure about anything, or anybody?" asked a concerned Lita. "Appearances can be deceiving. After all, no one knows we're the Sailor Scouts, or that we lived on the Moon over a thousand years ago. And incidents of supposedly mild mannered school kids turning into rage driven killers have become almost commonplace in the States. Who's to say that can't happen here, if it hasn't already?"
"That's a good point. In any event, we need to find out for sure," said Serena. "Here's what we'll do. Lita, you and Mina put a tail on Melvin, starting today. Follow him wherever he goes. Make a note of anything he does that looks even remotely suspicious. I seriously doubt he's the killer, but he could be doing a copycat number. I want proof, one way or the other before we eliminate him as a suspect."
"Right!" Lita and Mina said.
"Amy, your job will be to go online and do research on the killings. Find out when they started, learn if there's any pattern to them, no matter how insignificant it might be. Also, check to see if there have been similar crimes in other cities, even other countries. Maybe this nutcase came from abroad."
Amy nodded. "Understood."
"Raye, I know this is asking a lot after what you went through, but I need you to search your memory regarding the reading. I've got a feeling that the madman who's face we saw in the fire looked, I don't know....familiar."
Raye cocked a curious eyebrow. "You think he's someone we've fought before?"
"Could be. One thing's for certain, no human being could possess the sort of power you said this whacko does. That leaves the Negaverse," said Serena. "Perhaps one of our old enemies managed to come back from the grave, but with some loose wiring upstairs. Lord knows the five of us don't have the monopoly on resurrection. Can you do it, Raye?"
"Consider it done!" said Raye in a voice that left no doubt as to her determination. "What are you going to do?"
Serena thought back to the two men she saw at the church, their faces now as familiar as her own. "I'm going to jail."
Fukoda was tired. Not just in body, but in spirit. The Deep Throat case had worn him down unlike any other investigation he had ever been involved in during his twenty plus years on the force.
The pressures placed on him, and the department from the Mayor, the Commissioner, not to mention the public at large had taken its toll on everyone involved as the case grew more and more gruesome with each passing day. As Fukoda trudged towards his office to study the Coroner's report on the Baker girl, he wondered how many of his brethren, including himself will survive this horrific case with their sanity intact. Suddenly, the idea of retirement had become something he seriously considered, despite his lifelong devotion to police work. His wife had brought up the subject a year ago, said that he had put in enough time and that he should do something else with his life. Fukoda scoffed at the notion then. Now the idea sounded good, almost tantalizing to him.
Upon reaching his office and opening the door, Fukoda gasped from shock at the sight before him. Sitting on the edge of his desk, her long legs crossed was Sailor Moon.
"Well, this is a surprise," said the cop, quickly recovering from the initial surprise. This was the first time he had seen the Sailor Scout leader face to face since the incident with the Mitsumos almost four years ago. He quickly closed the door before anyone outside saw he had unexpected company. "How did you get in here? We're on the second floor."
Moon glanced at the open window behind her. "I leaped."
Fukoda nodded. After all, Moon, like the other Scouts possessed superhuman powers. For all he knew, she could probably fly. Almost immediately, Fukoda noticed that Moon wore a deep scowl on her face and had a cold look in her huge blue eyes. "You look....different."
"I grew up," Moon said, hopping off the desk. "We need to talk, Fukoda. About the Deep Throat killings."
"Why?" Suddenly, Fukoda felt uneasy in Moon's presence, and he didn't at all like the feeling. Right away the veteran cop could see that this wasn't the same frightened, heartsick teenager he remembered comforting during that fateful boat ride to the Mitsumos' island. Fukoda was now staring at a hardened young woman who looked like she had seen horrors he couldn't begin to imagine while carrying a decidedly adult air of----menace about her. Even a blind man could see that Moon was seething and was holding a great deal of anger in check, but just barely. He thought back that frozen moment in time on the loading dock at Tokyo General Hospital when Moon, in the grip of a berserker rage came perilously close to choking the life out of him.
That inhuman look in her eyes. It's the same as before, he thought. Only more controlled this time. Jesus.
"The latest victim, Molly Baker was a friend of mine. A very good friend," growled Moon, getting right to the heart of the matter. "I saw you and Hiyata at the church this afternoon, so I know you're on the case. I want in on this. What can you tell me about the murders?"
Fukoda grimaced. Now he knew why Moon was so angry. That worried him greatly. The situation was already a powder keg waiting to blow sky high as the killer was taking lives almost with impunity. And, thanks to the media with their "If it bleeds, it leads" mentality, the city had been stoked into a frenzy of fear for its safety and outrage over the maniac who was still on the loose. If Sailor Moon was to get involved, with revenge as her sole motivation, the cop realized this nightmare had the potential of going from merely explosive to flat out nuclear at the drop of a hat. Or, in the case of Moon, a tiara.
"Nothing you probably haven't already read in the papers or seen on TV," he replied, sounding more casual than he really was. "Beyond that, we're keeping what info we have on the case close to the vest from everyone. And I'm afraid that's going to have to include you."
Moon cocked an eyebrow. "Run that by me again?"
"You heard me. I'm not sure you have the proper objective in mind. Are you interested in justice....or revenge?"
"Does it matter?"
"Dammit! It matters to me! This mess is volatile enough already!" Fukoda shot back, angry that Moon would say such a thing which violated his rock solid belief in the law. But then, he wasn't surprised by her answer as he suddenly had a suspicion about who she really was. "The last thing I need right now is to have a superpowered vigilante on the rampage! Taking that into consideration, we can do just fine without you."
Moon, her fury skyrocketing clenched her fists and took a step towards Fukoda. "You arrogant son of a bitch! You don't know what you're up against! The Scouts and I suspect the killer's not human! He might even be one of the alien monsters we regularly fight! You're in over your head again! You can't afford to turn down help! Least of all from me!"
Fukoda stood his ground and returned Moon's glare. "Not if it means letting you play judge, jury and executioner! And I'm not going to just take you at your word that the killer's some bug eyed monster! My God! I can see it in your eyes! You want this guy in the ground, not in prison!"
"Damn right I do! I won't deny it! So what? As long as he's stopped! That's all I care about!" Moon shouted.
"That's not how the law works! And you know it! There isn't going to be any lynching party here! Not on my watch! Not in my town!" the cop roared back. "Get this through your head, Moon! This isn't Gotham City, and I won't be Commissioner Gordon to your Batman! I won't let you take the law into your own hands! No matter what! Clear?"
For a tense moment that seemed to last an eternity, Moon and Fukoda glared at each other. Finally, Moon spoke, her voice a sharp edged growl. "As glass. Is that your last word on the subject?"
"Yes," the cop replied without hesitation, his jaw set.
"If that's the way you want to play it, fine by me!" Moon snarled. "If I'm right though, you'd better pray I find this maniac before you do. Otherwise, the blood of any men you lose, including Hiyata's will be on your hands! Not mine!"
Fukoda's eyes narrowed to slits, his own anger mounting as he was highly protective of his fellow officers, especially his young partner. "Is that a threat?"
"No. A warning. For your sake, I hope you're smart enough to heed it."
Before Fukoda could respond, Moon lifted the window and leaped out. The cop ran to the window but it was too late, the Sailor Scout leader was on the ground and streaking up the block. At that moment, there was a knock at the door. "Come."
The door opened and a concerned Hiyata walked in. "Lieutenant? I thought I heard you arguing with someone. Is something wrong?"
The veteran cop, feeling more tired than ever sighed and plopped down in his chair, a queasy feeling in his gut. "Not something, Shiro. Quite possibly, everything."
"Good Lord! I can't believe you actually went to the police!" cried an angry Amy at Serena in her room a few hours later after darkness settled over Tokyo. Serena and Raye had gathered at the Anderson home to go over information Amy had dug up on the killings from the Internet. "And you practically gave away your identity by telling Fukoda you knew Molly! What in heaven's name were you thinking?"
"Ease off, Amy. I'm sure Serena only did what she thought was necessary," said Raye, amazed that she of all people was actually defending Serena while the normally mild mannered Amy was furious at her. Often it was the other way around. If the situation wasn't so grim, Raye would've laughed out loud at the irony of it all.
"Look, I saw Fukoda at the church this afternoon. I figured he might be able to help us out. I was wrong. So drop it," growled Serena. "What did you dig up from the Internet?"
"Plenty. From a local angle, the murders began little less than a month ago. The latest fatalities, the worker at the morgue, and Molly brings the total up to ten," said Amy, reading from sheets of paper she printed out. Adjusting her glasses, she continued. "Your suggestion to check for similar crimes in other cities and countries was a good one, Serena. For the last five years, there has been a grand total of sixty unsolved deaths, from Germany to Moscow to Hokkaido only six months ago. All bearing the exact same M.O. as the murders here."
"Interesting. I wonder if Fukoda thought of checking that angle?" Raye wondered.
Serena snorted. "I doubt it. Amy, you said there was no deviation in to the pattern of the crimes?"
Amy shook her head. "None. Each victim had their throat torn open and died from massive blood loss. On an equally ominous note, there have also been reports of homeless people having disappeared from the streets since the murders began here. Twenty five at last count. Under normal circumstances, this would've been news if not for the killings. But here's the kicker, an angle I don't think anyone's looked into or even considered. According to coroner's reports, all the murders, each and every one occurred between the hours of sundown and sunrise. None of the victims were killed during the day."
Raye frowned. "Sundown and sunrise. Hmm. Guys, you're gonna think I'm stark raving crazy for even thinking this, let alone actually saying it, but I'm seriously starting to believe these murders might well be the work of....a vampire."
Amy scowled at her. "You're right, Raye. You are crazy. Vampires? That's insane! They're myths, legends! Figments of over-imaginative novelists and Hollywood screenwriters! Vampires don't exist!"
"How do you know they don't? C'mon, Amy! We fight aliens and monsters from other dimensions for a living! The average man and woman on the street doesn't believe in them, but we know they exist!" Raye shot back. "So why not vampires? Whether you believe in them or not, there's been documented proof of their existence on this planet going as far back as the Middle Ages! The clues are all here! Slashed throats! Death from blood loss! Attacks only after dark! And I'll bet the missing homeless are victims too! It all points to Nosferatu! The Undead!"
"Nonsense! I refuse to believe it!" growled Amy.
"Why? Because it doesn't fit into your neat, tidy and ordered world of science, computers and technology? Wake up and smell the pollution, Amy! There's much more to life than can be found in textbooks or on the Internet! There are vast forces loose in this world that can't be examined or even explained! They can only be felt and experienced! And believe me, I've done both!" Raye argued.
"Remember the reading? How I said the mind I touched thirsted for blood, and how he was powerful enough to nearly kill me on the psychic plane? From the start, we've been too narrow in our thinking! At first we thought the killer was an ordinary human! The reading ended that argument real fast! Then we thought he might've been from the Negaverse! Well, I'm convinced he's not from there either! I've searched my memory and don't remember anyone like this....demon! Like it or not, we're dealing with the supernatural! I'd stake my life on it!"
Serena frowned as she mulled over what she had heard. "Say you're right, Raye, fantastic as it all sounds, that would explain what happened to Molly. According to myth, whoever dies at the hand of a vampire becomes one himself. If the Deep Throat Killer is one of the Undead, and he murdered Roy, then, he must've been who Molly saw outside her window on the night she died. And if Roy killed Molly....oh, my God."
Raye shivered, the implications in Serena's words staggered her. Staring out the window at the night sky, she could never remember being so frightened before. "It's been dark for over an hour now. I think we should go to the cemetery, right now, as the Scouts and see if Molly's grave has been....disturbed."
Amy, her arms folded refused to be swayed. "Disturbed? I've never heard anything more banal and ridiculous in my life! There has to be a logical, rational explanation for this!"
"If you think of one, Amy, please let us know. In the meantime, let's move!" ordered Serena.
It took only minutes for Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars and a highly reluctant Sailor Mercury to return to the cemetery where Molly was buried earlier in the day. Upon reaching Molly's grave, they saw that nothing was out of place.
"Just as I thought. Nothing," grumbled Mercury. "Your asinine talk of vampires was totally unfounded."
"Well, as long as we're here, let's do a thorough check. Mercury, scan the casket with your VR visor," ordered Moon.
Mercury gasped from shock at Moon's request which she found to be repulsive. "You can't be serious!"
Moon, fed up with Mercury's attitude shot her a withering glare. "I've never been more serious! Do it! NOW!"
With a sigh, Mercury touched the stud in her right earlobe and her VR visor materialized on her face. She set it for x-ray mode and stared down at Molly's grave. Exactly six feet below the surface was the casket. She then stared through the casket and her eyes suddenly widened. Letting out a cry of horror, Mercury fell to her knees.
"No! Oh, no! It's not possible!" she cried, teetering on the narrow edge of sanity. "It's not possible!"
Moon felt an icy fist clamp around her heart. But she refused to let that dread show on her face, even in light of what she feared. "Mars! Dig us a hole!"
Mars nodded and pointed at the ground. "Stand back, you two! Mars Fire....IGNITE!"
At her command, a huge fireball excavated the gravesite in an instant, exposing Molly's casket. Praying she was wrong, but certain she wasn't after seeing Mercury's reaction, Moon hopped into the freshly dug and smoking hole. Grabbing the lid of the casket, Moon, silently begging both to God and to Molly to forgive her pulled on it with all her strength and it snapped open. What she saw within it made her head spin while it took everything she had to hold back a scream of sheer terror.
The casket was empty.
Next: Eyes of the Vampire