Fighting Back

-Omi-

I don�t understand this! Why should we sit back and wait to die? I don�t want to die yet. I have to find a way to best Namie at her own game.

However, I know I can�t do this alone.

The problem is I don�t know who the others like me are. There�s Phoenix, Ayame, Liberty, and Dan. I know Phoenix is looking for the other as I speak. It�s not enough however. I don�t know who they are or how to contact them. Some of them may not have phones or an email address. A few might be homeless. The worst part is I don�t even know where to look.

�What if there are the ones who want to die?� Phoenix asked me outside of the flower shop. She does have a point. Maybe there are those who happy to die in a year like this. Still, I just can�t quit. I refuse to die they way. There has to be some way to end this curse before next year�s Fire Festival.

Tonight, I began to do research on vampires. Namie must have some sort of weakness. I typed in �vampire�s weaknesses� and hit search. The results disappointed me at first. They were either myths or flat-out ridiculous.

Garlic?, I thought. Really? Like that�s going to help out in this case. I need something stronger. I didn�t care if I had to stay up until three in the morning to find the answer. I prepared myself for the long haul. Maybe I should narrow down the search a little bit.

Around eleven, I came upon a promising lead. The link title was called �Vampire Hunting.� Right away, I felt like singing. This could work or it could be a bust. I clicked the text to see.

A page of vampire-hunting popped up on the screen. I didn�t think the site would be so through. I took down notes. I read through the whole site carefully. Close to midnight, I found the answer I needed.

�The best way to kill a vampire is fire,� I read. That could work. I just need to isolate her for the kill. I could take her out with a flaming bow and arrow, but how do I get a clear shot of my target? I need more information on my guest. My own sources are not equipped to kill vampires.

This is where Phoenix comes back into play. Right now, she�s probably asleep in bed. Looks like I�ll have to wait until morning. Well, until the sun rises. I sat back and glanced at the clock on the screen. Huh? It�s already one in the morning? Damn, I�ve been up that long? Suddenly, an IM popped up on my screen. Curious, I clicked on the box. The message sent me into shock.

My number is eight. Tell me how to beat this curse.