Joyce McWilliams glanced over to her colleague who began vigorously putting away the day’s utensils and collecting his personal possessions. Watching the action silently, she wondered how it was that some people eagerly awaited the end of the working day so that they could be in another place. She often wondered if once they got there, they would begin the ritual again of passing the time until they could move onto the next place.

She wasn’t one of those people, she mused as she watched her co-worker pack up.

Nope. She lived for her work. Yes, it was a tired cliché but absolutely true in her case. She got up each morning, looked out of her apartment balcony window to check on the weather. Then compared it to the forecaster’s prediction she’d written down the previous evening to see if they were right or wrong. Some might say she a bit obsessive. Why would anyone care about such a thing? She did, not because the weather was of great concern of hers, it wasn’t. Where she worked, it didn’t matter if it was rain or shine since she never saw much of it. But it was important to her to see if what they said was true. Then, once her meagre breakfast of muesli and orange juice was consumed, she’d shower, change into her working attire and leave her small apartment for the routine of the working day.

Even the weekends had a habitual method to them. She allowed an extra hour in bed as she listened to the classical channel on her radio. Her breakfast didn’t change from the workweek and after her shower; she would put on comfortable slacks and top. Instead of going to work, she’d either go to the local library or to the science museum to concentrate on her personal research into a cure for blindness. A major reason she’d taken the job at the lab in town was because of its reputation for the public services in the area of her private studies. Also, she was interested in the remarkable research she was working on. It was just a bonus that this fascinating job paid the bills.

Once, when passing by the mailbox, she hesitated for a moment when she saw the envelope with the familiar scribble of her sister’s handwriting peeping out of the box. But she turned away and proceeded with the structure of her day. Mail was always read in the evening!

“You’re in a hurry, Danny. Where’s the fire?” She remarked with a tight smile.

Danny was a brilliant biologist but she felt that his heart wasn’t in the work. It seemed he’d rather gallivant off to the next romantic conquest rather than explore and discover the wonders of his field.

The man shot her a sharp glance. Normally when she spoke, it was about work. No one ever exchanged small talk with the woman. She just wasn’t interested in it. And, he’d tried. Oh, had he tried! She was one of those women that raised his challenge meter that extra notch. However, three years later, he knew no more about her than the rest of the team in the lab. It really didn’t matter to him, though. When he cast his net out there in the real world, there were plenty of other fish to catch in the sea. Something he doubted she had any experience of at all.

“No fire, anyone who’s anybody wants out on time tonight. Don’t tell me you didn’t realise it’s Halloween? Parties a plenty this evening and I’m definitely going to at least three.” Picking up his valise, he saluted her and left the room with a smiling goodnight.

Guess she wasn’t anybody. She hadn’t a party to go to and never had wanted to, not even as a child. She preferred to be immersed in her books. That was one of the reasons she was always first in her class academically. Socially? Her family felt she was a misfit, particularly, her elder sister did. She had once forced her to a friend’s house warming party. It had been the most torturous three hours of her life. Never again, she vowed, and true to her word, she never went to another party. Fortunately, her sister had gone on to college and was now settled down in suburbia with a loving husband and two adorable children. Cathy was a great sister. They just didn’t have the same lifestyle requirements of living a full life. Anyhow, she believed hers to be just as full in her own way.

An hour later, the rest of the team had departed leaving her alone in the spacious and technically, up-to-the minute laboratory. At times like these, she was in heaven! It felt like she was solely in charge of the project and her findings could change humanities options for eternity.

It was a six-person team with the project director/coordinator making the sixth member. They never saw much of Professor Quigley as she usually was tied up fund raising or keeping the corporate board happy with the findings. It was nevertheless Quigley’s baby; her contribution to science several years ago earned her the director’s role when the previous director died. It was rumoured they’d been close friends and knew each other’s work very well. So, it didn’t take much for the woman to step into her friend’s shoes propelling the project forward with her own theories.

Joyce felt that the Professor wasn’t exactly quite right for the role even though she had been one of her role models back in college. Instead of the studious person she had been portrayed as, a person Joyce much admired and worked hard to be like, Professor Quigley was, in fact, quite the opposite. ‘Frivolous’ was about the most apt description she could think of. Never spending extensive hours watching the experiments under the microscope or developing new thesis after an experiment failed or broke through the current barriers of science. No, the Professor was more than happy to let her and other researchers continue the explorations in earnest and only occasionally drop by to see how they were progressing.

In fact, the Professor had been there that morning in an effervescent frame of mind. This was another peculiar thing that was quite at odds with the previous descriptions of the professor’s personality. It had been rather embarrassing for her today, as the professor made a beeline for her workstation and spent much of the time going over her findings. Adding the odd observation along the way, she might add. At lunch, the others on the team had grumbled incessantly, calling her the professor’s pet. She tried to ignore them, leaving them to their petty jealousies and went back to work. She’d have lunch later.

Now was as good time as any as her stomach rumbled in response to the thought patterns. She would go eat now.

Charlie was on duty this evening. He was about the only security guard she had any time for. He was civil to everyone. And if you had the time to listen, would share one of his current anecdotes about his six children. She didn’t do that often, but tonight maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. It would be better than going home early to her apartment on an evening when most everyone else was in the party mood. Yes, later, after eating, she’d pass a pleasant few minutes with him before going home. It would be her concession to herself that she could interact with others.

Walking down the now deserted corridors of the building annex where the lab was situated, she could hear the humming of various pieces of equipment. Still continuing their work long after the human team members had vacated for the evening. At times like these, Joyce felt at one with the machines. Comparing her life to theirs in many ways, although, she had to go home to sleep for a few hours everyday and they didn’t.

As she walked into each section, on her way towards the cafeteria, the lights switched off behind her and the glow of the forward section greeting her instead. It was one of the energy saving features of the building and normally she didn’t notice. However, tonight for some reason, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as the virtually silent mechanism closed off each passing section into darkness.
Shaking away the irrational thought that someone was watching her, she reached the café area and swiftly opened the door to find the room dowsed in bright fluorescent light.

As she entered she admonished herself, ‘Joyce, you’re being as fanciful as the people who dress up in costumes tonight and pose as fictitious creatures and beings of the night. Who in the hell believed in witches, demons and vampires, anyway? There is no room for such things in the scientific world, anyway.’

The self-service area was the only part of the café open after the normal work day shift ended, catering mainly to the janitorial staff and the odd maintenance technician. Well, she would find something edible in the machines even if it were a packet of chip and a cup of coffee.

Ten minutes later as she contemplated the tepid liquid in the styrene container in front of her, she wondered if they would ever find the answer to the research they were working on. It took some tremendous leaps of faith from the Powers To Be to have even allowed the research. The previous scientists who had worked on the project had all been totally committed…or had they? She wondered. When she’d been recruited to the team, there had been the usual, glorified history of the project and if she recalled, the first experiments they were way back in… Hmm, just how far back was it now?

Oh well, while she waited for the cultures to grow, she might as well read over the old notes she’d been handed when she started on the project. She had occasionally leafed through them from time to time. Quickly making her way back to the lab, she disregarded the illogical feeling that someone was watching her once again.

Ten minutes later, seated comfortably in the reclining chair that belonged to the professor, she read over the notes again and again. There weren’t many, but what they were, if you looked beyond the superficial, were quite interesting….

Interesting footnote, she thought, it has been an all woman research programme, with the exception of Doctor Craig Junote. The Canadian scientist who was the main facilitator in securing the new governmental funding after it had been revoked in ‘45. His wife Carly was, however, the biology genius of her time that actually drove the project into the new age of awareness.

Joyce stroked her chin as she rested her head at the back of the chair as she read through the names. Flicking to the back page she read the brief bios of some of the more prominent directors…in particular, the person who began the theory, Doctor Daniels.

The same pattern emerged as she read through the directors of the project in the current time frame, finally ending with Professor Quigley.

As Joyce read over the biographies, one fact stood out significantly to her. Each person in charge of the project had something in common. No, make it, two things. They all were born and had died on the same day. October 31st. Now, how peculiar was that? What were the odds of that even happening? Surely, millions-to-one.

So engrossed was she in the notes, she was nearly had a heart attack when she was spoken to.

“I see you have taken to the research with gusto, Joyce. How wonderful.” The slow yet, melodic drawl of Professor Quigley had her falling from the swivel chair like a rag doll.

Her legs went flying in the air, the sheets of paper fluttering through the air to be caught nonchalantly by the older woman. Who stood watching as a totally flustered young scientist picked herself up of the floor. Not only was her rear end stinging at being dumped on the floor, but also, she had a pretty red tinge to her glowing face.

“I’m sorry, Professor. I didn’t realise you were still in the building,” she stammered as she wondered if she would be in trouble for sitting in the Professor’s chair.

“Why would you, Joyce? I’m rarely here during the normal working day and on such an evening, too. Quite ridiculous to even think for a moment I would turn up and surprise you.” The older woman smiled, her eyes taking in every reaction of the younger woman’s expressions and body language.

“Was there something I could help you with, Professor?” Joyce finally asked as she had a compelling feeling to maintain the gaze into the hypnotic eyes of her boss. Tonight, the normally friendly, but casual, ambiance the Professor engaged in with her staff had been replaced by something more persuasive. The question was what exactly did it mean and why would the professor be here now?

A low, sexy laugh escaped the professor as she glanced down at the small booklet reviewing the project. “You may call me, Denise. I think, under the circumstances, it would be more…shall we say, ‘appropriate’ for the evening.”

Joyce didn’t exactly know what that meant, but went along with the Professor.
Although, she was finding it rather hard to concentrate on anything except the woman who was watching her with a tiny smile playing around her lips. Maybe tonight the Professor was not busy, too…then almost slapping herself in front of the woman as she realised how ridiculous that thought was. The society columns often showed the Professor as a party person, or animal, as some tabloids put it. She was never without an escort or missed a social gathering.

Tonight, all things would change again, as it did before, so shall it be again. Her time on this quest had been …interesting. Although, she felt, it was somewhat short-lived. But one could not say when the next one would follow. The only certainty was that eventually they would.

“Did you find out anything interesting in the review?” flicking the papers between her palms as she spoke, her eyes were capturing the timid ones of the young researcher.

Taken aback for a second, Joyce thought carefully before she answered, “It’s out of date of course, the research part of it, at least. With what we have achieved in the past month, the whole document will need re-writing. Don’t you think so, Professor?”

That sexy laugh sounded again, echoing off the silent walls. As Joyce glanced around, she felt as if everything in the room was laughing at her too. It was like being in a trance with the images and sounds being distorted and intensified.

“A re-write is in order. Perhaps you should under take that part in the near future.”

“I think that’s more your expertise, Professor, I’m merely a member of the team. It’s due to all your additional theories that we have jumped so far forward.”

They had, too. The government office that funded them was going to be doing cartwheels if this newest experiment passed muster. In their line of work, it was never prudent to say it was going to be successful since a simple problem could blow the whole experiment out the window. However, she had a feeling deep inside that said this time around, the trial would prove successful.

Denise Quigley smiled and nodded her head in acknowledgement of the praise she was being given. All true, of course. Until, that is, she’d been informed of this woman’s additional work. The young scientist’s insight had broken barriers that…well it didn’t matter at this time.

“Did you ever see the original notes Angela Daniels wrote when she began the project?”

How on earth would she have done that? They weren’t available as far as she knew. Either locked away in some government back room or destroyed or…

“Would you care to see them?” Denise grinned. This was amusing and it reminded her of the expression she must have had on her face when Cate Raleigh, a long time friend, had said very much the same to her one evening back in ’98.

Ah, the delectable Cate. If only things hadn’t had to go the way they had.

“I don’t understand how, or why, but, my God, of course I would!” Joyce scrambled past the chair and around the desk to stand close to her boss. This would be like finding the Holy Grail for her.

Holding out her hand, the Professor waited with a feral smile for Joyce to take it. At first she was reluctant to do so, but then her slim tapering fingers clasped those of the Professor. Denise felt the rush of the blood that cascaded in Joyce’s veins. She was the one. There was no doubt about it. This simple contact had confirmed the truth.

As they left the laboratory, hand in hand, striding down the corridors as the lights blinked on and then off as they crossed each section, Joyce wasn’t so sure that it was such a good idea. Within minutes, Joyce was certain they were no longer in her familiar territory, but in a whole new part of the building she’d never been in before.

At last, they stopped and as Joyce glanced back, it still looked familiar. The corridors were like the ones she had worked in and yet …

“Don’t be afraid, Joyce, I assure you there isn’t a security breach if you see my…the etchings.” Chuckling deeply as she unlocked one of the plain, unremarkable doors and slowly opened it.

As she looked over the Professor’s shoulders, trepidation beginning to set in. Joyce tried to see what was beyond the doorway and couldn’t. With bravado she didn’t realise she had in herself, she followed Denise Quigley inside.

What she saw amazed and transfixed her to the spot. There in front of her, sat Angela Daniels, or at least an image of her, scribbling notes in her exercise book. The scene looked like a complete replica of the lab she would have worked in the 1800’s, except for a few noticeable, modern additions.

“Wow, this is awesome! Why haven’t we seen all this before? It’s right out of Madame Tussard’s.”

Stifling her laughter, Denise glanced across at the studiously working scientist who chose that moment to glance up and stare at them inquisitively.

“My God, she’s so lifelike.” Joyce rushed forward but was prevented from touching her as Denise grabbed her arm.

“Joyce, it isn’t polite to touch Doctor Daniels, unless she asks you to, of course.” A twinkle in the eye followed the comment baffling Joyce a bit.

A voice rich in resonance quickly replied to the mocking comment, “Ignore her, Miss McWilliams. Professor Quigley has an interesting sense of humour at times.”

In all her life, Joyce had never felt so out of her depth. This woman was talking and actually speaking to her.

Yeah, This is a computer simulation. It’s the only reason she could answer back.

“Angela is always on my case.” Denise moved forward and kissed the older woman’s cheek as she was hugged in a tender embrace. The woman’s frail body looked terribly ancient.

All eyes turned to Joyce. She knew she must look stupefied. Her jaw had to be hitting the deck.

This isn’t real. I must have fallen asleep while reading the stuff on the project. Yeah, that’s it. I’ll wake up soon enough.

Finally Joyce managed to choke out, “I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but what’s going on? Time for what?”

Denise stroked a finger down her cheek, contemplating how to tell someone they might not live a long life and yet, live forever. Tough one and it was her turn. Her guardianship was over. It was Joyce’s moment now. She moved closer to the younger woman, who was cringing slightly in fear while stepping backwards towards the shut metal door.

“Joyce, I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. However, I was hoping with your objective and disciplined mind, you might hear us out.”

The tone in Denise Quigley’s voice had, for some strange reason, a dulling effect on her torrid thoughts. Strange thoughts were creating a myriad of emotional reactions within her. Where was her scientific logic now?

This has to be a dream.

“All right. I’m listening.”

Joyce held tightly onto the cold metal door handle wondering how she could escape from this nightmare.

“I’d like to ask you one thing, Joyce. What’s the project about? To you, that is.”

Her eyes flared upward meeting the powerful gaze of the woman who had asked the question.

“The project is to find a viable DNA strand that prevents aging and ultimately death. Or one that at least slows it down considerably.”

“And what does the project mean to you, Joyce?” the soft, silky words surrounded her thoughts as she scrambled to find the right words that would explain why she had joined the team.

“Everything. The project is my life! I want to be part of the team that can declare ‘We helped the world live forever!’” As she spoke, her words sounded to her like they came from someone else, appearing whimsical and far-fetched. It wasn’t that far away from the truth, she suddenly realized.

She quickly moved her gaze to the woman purporting to be Angela Daniels. Did this mean what she thought it meant? Her left hand slowing went to her mouth to prevent her from speaking her irrational thoughts. Her eyes clearly conveyed not only her confusion, but also awareness of what might be the truth.

“I think our young colleague has put two and two together, Denise.” Angela Daniels spoke softly as she too came forward, standing inches from the young woman. Holding out her hand, she placed the aged limb on the younger skin.

A part of Joyce wanted to say to ‘this is all a joke’ to these women. After all, it was Halloween night! Another part, her scientific mind and her dominant part, swallowed hard and replied, “Doctor Daniels knew the secret and disappeared faking her death!”

“An imagination to go with the beauty. What an intriguing package you are turning out to be, Joyce.”

Denise chuckled again and placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder. Joyce felt a searing heat on the spot as she did.

Angela Daniels shook her head ruefully, “A slightly flawed theory, my dear. I did actually die in a coach accident, at least my body did. My consciousness or spirit, whatever you want to call it, remained to carry on the work in a parallel way. Your work project must never come to fruition. There is no place in the Universe for a being that can never die. That’s why we do what we do.”

Struggling to understand, Joyce shook her head and blurted out, “But you started the project. It was your original research that sparked this. It’s human nature to defy the odds, especially concerning aging and death! It’s what people like us do. We break the barriers of known science and move forward! How can you say it cannot be completed?”

Denise Quigley turned away for a moment, the words echoing her memories of the moment when she was in Joyce’s shoes. Bittersweet memories at that, her dear, sweet Cate had to be sacrificed. Just like all the others that had travelled this path and succumbed to the destiny that awaited them when a new guardian entered the arena. She turned back to the young scientist and listened to the answer.

“Do you want to live forever, Joyce? Do you want to spend an eternity living and working as you do now? Knowing that there would never be an end to it? Except for a fate that you ultimately chose because you no longer want to live a life that holds little or no challenges for you as a human being?”

The words, this time, seemed bleak as spoken from someone who apparently was doing just that.

Joyce pondered the reply for a moment. “Doctor Daniels, it isn’t our intention to provide a way to live forever, merely to improve longevity. Is that so wrong?”

“An idealist. Joyce, you truly are a chip of the old block, my dear. Soon you will realise that there is more to living than spending your life behind a microscope trying to find the link for a longer life. What kind of life is that for you, I wonder? Have you ever simply sat in the park and smelled the roses, or felt the sun shining on your face and marvel at nature’s wonders?”

She paused and raised a thin hand. “I know your answer already. It’s the same as everyone else who has embraced the research. But, we, who want to find the answers, have never really lived! I give you the opportunity now, to live in a way you never have before, Joyce. Will you consider listening to our proposal?”

Joyce felt that even if she declined, she’d still have to hear what these two women had to say.

Well, tomorrow, even if this isn’t a Halloween prank, I think I’m going to resign and join one of the competitors out there. What would they think about that?

If this company didn’t find the answer, the odds were that someone else would. It was like a sport. Research. There would always be someone snapping at your heels to win the ultimate prize or wrestle it out of your hands if you were on the brink of a discovery.

“Of course, my dear, if you want to go now, please feel free.” Angela Daniels moved back to the desk where Joyce originally saw her working. Denise Quigley didn’t move except to fold her arms across her chest, watching her closely with a guarded expression.

Joyce gripped the handle of the door and turned it, hearing the click of the mechanism release thus springing the door open slightly.

“Well, I think you owe me an explanation. And none of the bullshit you’ve been trying to feed me. This isn’t April Fool’s Day, you know!” she exclaimed as she released the handle allowing the door to shut again.

Denise relaxed and smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. They were all the same. Their inquisitive minds would never allow a kernel of knowledge slip them by.

“Joyce, when Angela began the project, she had only basic theories, of course. The DNA stranding that we know now wasn’t even a twinkle in anyone’s eyes. Her research simply was too ridiculous to be taken seriously. Except, as you rightly said, over the centuries, human nature has had a fascination of beating death. There are all sorts of strange tales relating to eternal life. Mummies, zombies, the un-dead. Many involve this very day. The list is endless when you put all the beliefs of the world’s cultures together. I guess in some ways, Angela fits the description quite well, except she’s here because of a higher power. The Universe itself!”

“The Universe? Don’t you mean, ‘God’?” Joyce asked quickly, her eyes travelling between the two women. Their eyes and body language indicated they thought they were speaking the truth, however unbelievable it sounded.

“God, perhaps. It all depends on your definition of God. We prefer to call it the ‘forces of the Universe’.”

“Are you telling me that you’re aliens? Now, this is getting too damn weird. I thought you, at least, Professor, had more common sense. What is it next, you’ve been taken over and now you’re a zombie? Forget it, I’m leaving!” Joyce shook her head. She felt she was being taken for a fool, and a fool was one thing she wasn’t!

Denise Quigley had to chuckle at the alien definition. At least, the younger woman was still thinking although, quite absurdly. “Please Joyce, give me a few more minutes and I promise that you can leave this room and nothing more will be said about it…by me, anyway. Deal?”

Sincerity rang out in every syllable she heard, ultimately compelling her past her own common sense. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

“Angela stumbled across the secret of our aging. And she, the studious doctor that she was, recorded it in notes. At least her initial experiments, that is. As she became further and further engrossed into her research to be the first human to achieve the goal of escaping death, she tried the formulas on herself. She succeeded, but with that success, was the reality check.

What happens to the planet if everyone was able to live many centuries or even forever? Where would we all live? How could we survive? Would there be enough food? Which countries would suffer, who would be able to afford feeding its people? Wars have been fought for lesser things.

Those questions plagued Angela until she realised that her research could be no more than that. Just research! Yes, every few years, a breakthrough allowing the human race to live a little longer is found. But never the ultimate goal, the Holy Grail of science, the ability to live forever!

Angela and I want to know that when we left this earth, people will be able to bring their children into the world knowing that they will see blue skies, feel the seasons on their faces, and enjoy the freedom of breathing fresh air that nature provides for us.

I’m not a martyr, Joyce. Nor were the women who have gone before me. We, on each of our turns of guardianship, have produced other benefits to help mankind. Mine was the enzyme that helps to stabilise the compatibility rate of cyber alternatives for real organs and limbs. Others have had their own pet fields benefiting the quality of life. If you look in depth at each of the other women who have controlled the project, you can see that clearly. Joyce, isn’t that, in its own way, living forever? How can we ever be forgotten? We can give to the world something that is helping others, and will continue to do so long after our bodies have succumbed to the throes of death. If we offer you the same benefit, will you be willing to keep the research progressing slowly, but never quite reaching the goal?”

The two older women in the room calmly waited for a response, as they allowed the story to sink in. Then Joyce lifted her head, tears shimmering, threatening to fall.

“I…I never thought that what we might achieve could actually be wrong! All I wanted was for people to live longer, to make the world a better place to live. What you’re telling me is that if we finally succeed, it could be a worldwide disaster. Perhaps, even the end of humanity! Why didn’t I think of that before?”

The words tumbled out of Joyce. Inwardly, she was taking in the sight of what the possibilities of living forever could be like. Those with mental or physical diseases living longer without the mercy of death. Lovers who losing their mates in accidents and then having to spend eternity without them unless they took their own lives so they could join their soul mates. What things in cultures would be lost if people never died? Some of the greatest music, writing and art would disappear. No longer would the pain of separation of lovers, friends or family be penned in a song, poem, and book or in a painting. Life would never end unless you allowed it and human nature and religious beliefs made it impossible for the many to take that step.

Denise understood the turmoil the young girl was going through. She had experienced the same revelations.

“Why would you think about only the downside, Joyce? People are always much better coping with the good than the bad, turning a blind eye to the realities of life and its surroundings. As scientists, we are even more apt to because our lives are often no more broader than a glass laboratory and our microscope.”

“Now that you see the potential, are you willing to join us in guardianship of the project?”

Joyce blinked several times and the water from her un-shed tears splashed on her cheeks. She never cried and yet right now, it was the most natural thing for her to do. “I want to do the right thing.” She hesitated, “But I have one question.”

“What about the competition who are doing similar research? How do we convince them that they can’t let it happen?”

“A perfectly valid point, Joyce. We have other ways of producing the same effect in their work. When you have taken over my role…”

A wry smile crossed Denise’s face, “Of course, my role is what must be. My time is over now. It’s yours, Joyce, for however long it takes for someone else to come along who thinks outside the box, creates possible scientific breakthroughs and can reason as you just did.

“I guess, in a way. Yes, I am,” Denise smiled. Yes, she was going to that place called afterlife. Cate would be waiting for her and they would begin another journey together to wherever it might take them.

“Okay. But since I’m only a team member involved in just one aspect of the research, how could I possibly be placed in charge of the whole project?”

A tinkling sound of laughter came from the older woman who was restacking a pile of notebooks on her desk. “My dear, I haven’t been entirely without something to do over the years. I’ve put my brain and the essence of brilliance from the others into numerous research topics. Please take a look.”

Joyce walked gingerly over to the desk and scanned several papers. As she saw the subject matter, the shock resounded through her.

“Well, not exactly. Although, my notes may generously prove useful to aid in the breakthrough.”

The old woman’s face creased into a warm smile as Joyce numbly took the offered papers with the topic notes.

“Believe me, Joyce, the senior hierarchy will be clambering for you to take over when they see a brief synopsis. In fact, I’ve already set the wheels in motion. They will have it in their mailboxes tomorrow morning.

But then they would have used the other method of persuasion and she hated to do that to one of their own staff. The opposition, however, was another thing. Playing the ‘role’ at a party as a vampire had been one of the exhilarating parts of the job. The thrill of defeating the opposition was invigorating. Once they were fed upon, they became puppets easily manipulated to do her whim. However, this young girl didn’t need to know about the other skills that would be bestowed on her. No, that came after the initiation.

“I agree to help, if you’ll have me.” Joyce beamed as the excitement of the situation began to pump up the adrenalin.

Angela Daniels smiled, her skin smoothing out over the bones, giving her an almost translucent look.

Denise Quigley moved closer to her, “Joyce, we must seal the agreement. One guardian must hand it over to the other.”

“Absolutely, where shall I sign?” An uncomfortable feeling flooded Joyce as Denise moved well within her personal space.

“Oh, we don’t sign. It’s all in a kiss!” Red, full lips captured hers and she struggled for a fleeting moment. Joyce felt her blood racing in her veins, pooling in unfamiliar places, when a sharp pain pierced the inside of her mouth and she found herself spiralling uncontrollable and falling into a dark abyss….

“Now, my dear, it’s time for you to meet your destiny. And I must say, Denise, you captured the essence of what life and death was all about. I find it difficult to let you go. But alas, it must be so.”

Denise placed the apparently lifeless body of Joyce McWilliams on the floor. The scientist would wake to her new life soon enough. Now, she wanted nothing more than to meet up with Cate. It had seemed like forever since they were last together.

While walking over to the sad-faced old woman, her heart started to beat rapidly as she felt fear for the first time. Her mind was willing but it seemed her body was not. Nevertheless, this was what she wanted, wasn’t it? Angela’s old, knurled hands touched her cheeks as she caressed Denise’s face.

She gave a toothless, feral grin. “I wish you an eternity of wonderful dreams…”

Instead of feeling the pain of teeth biting in her mouth as the older woman’s lips touched hers, she felt the heat of fire and soon was consumed by wave after wave of flickering flames. The two bodies were engulfed as energy from one person transferred into the others. Denise Quigley’s last coherent moment was the sight of Cate beseeching her to escape while she still could. The expression on her lover’s face was of intolerable pain and agony and she could sense numerous other voices echoing excruciating anguish. It was too late to act upon the warning, as her senses were snatched away from her, forever lost in a whirling, fiery abyss.

As the heat extinguished as fast as it had appeared and looking hardly older than the day her own body was liberated at fifty-five, Angela Daniels emerged from the embrace that had renewed her energy.

Human beings were so gullible…and such easy prey!

They never gave up searching for that something they thought was unattainable. It was that endless drive that made her what she was today. An abomination to everyone. Feasting on the living, which allowed her to live…forever!

Denise Quigley’s body stood silently after the kiss. No marks on her body at all. The only indication she wasn’t really the same person was the complete lack of recognition in the vacant eyes.

But I say that to all the girls.

She whispered a few words in her ear. Briskly, Denise walked out of the room, focused, but oblivious to any thing around her.

As she left, a low moaning sound came from the floor as Joyce pulled herself up on one elbow and looked around the room slightly disorientated.

“Ah, my dear, at last you’ve woken up. I was quite worried about you for a while. How do you feel?”

Joyce pushed back her hair that had covered her face and smiled up at the older woman, “Great, never better. I must have fainted for some reason.”

Glancing around for her mentor, she found her missing. The kiss they exchanged had been…awesome. “Did Denise leave already? I never got to say good night.”

Angela grinned at the disappointed sounding woman. It happened every time. “Yes, she did, sorry to say. Perhaps if I explain your role in detail and let you into all our little secrets, you can become better acquainted with everything, including Denise’s departure. It will make perfect sense, I promise.”

Joyce felt a warming attraction towards the woman as she agreed. They sat together on the floor as Angela began explaining some of her secrets…

Joyce breezed into the lab and flung her coat onto the hook. Amazingly, it hit the spot, much to the astonishment of Danny, who, in turn, gave her an appraising glance.

“You look like you had a good weekend. Did you celebrate Halloween after all?” the young man asked as he turned back to the experiment he’d set up.

Joyce grinned slyly, “I enjoyed Halloween in all its wonders. After all, I had good reason. What about you?”

“Mine was a bummer. The parties flopped early. I was invited to our opposition’s corporate party by a friend, but some idiot began clowning around like a vampire, and biting all the researchers necks. I got out of there real fast. I’m not into wackos. What was the good reason for you? It looked to me like you were set to spend the weekend here again.”

Before he could reply, the door to the lab opened and one of the senior administration managers, his face pale and drawn, walked in. “Everyone, listen up. I’ve got some bad news.”

Joyce sat at the edge of her desk, a thoughtful expression on her face as the man, in a monotone voice, read a simple statement.

‘Professor Quigley was involved in a tragic accident last evening on her way home. Her car went out of control and plunged off the main highway into a derelict waste area. She was killed instantly. Police informed us there were no suspicious circumstances.’

He paused and looked at the shocked people. “We will, in the near future, appoint a new head of the research project. But in the mean time, if you could carry on as you always do. I’ll give you more news as we receive it. Thank you.”

There was a shocked silence and then the chatter of gossip, many wondering if this would be their big opportunity to take over the project.

Joyce remained sitting on the edge of the desk, silently watching and listening to the conversations as they filtered over to her. Then she heard her name called by the administrator. “Ms. McWilliams, have you a moment, please?”

Smiling, Joyce turned to the man and nodded her head, “Of course.” As she left the room with the man, all eyes followed her. Speculation not far behind when the door shut behind them.

As Joyce walked silently down the hall with the man her stomach churning nervously in anticipation of what would happen next, Angela Daniels voice spoke softly to her in her subconscious.

The moral to this story…never believe all the bullshit you’re given everything has a price