From Darkness Comes: The Horror Box Set by Scott Nicholson, J. Thorn, Tw Brown, Kealan Patrick Burke, Michaelbrent Collings, Mainak Dhar, Brian James Freeman, Glynn James

the dog out to shoot him.
    “Does ‘a little while’ have a date?”
    “I’ll be back when this thing with Adrianna is over.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I won’t let something happen that ends up with you having to kill me.”
    “So stay home!” I exclaimed. She didn’t have to come, I would be totally fine with her staying home. That was way better than her up and leaving.
    “And what about next time?” Lisa asked. “These things aren’t going to get any easier.”
    “So what are you doing?” A tiny alarm bell rang in the back of my mind.
    “I am going to listen to Morgan’s advice,” Lisa said as she headed for the door.
    “What advice is t hat?” I tried to follow, but when she opened the door, the slightest glow in the sky was like a brick wall. I had no idea if it would kill me, but I already knew for a fact that it burned really bad. I stood just in the shadow of the door…helpless to do anything else.
    That is when I discovered something new. Given certain conditions…as rare as they might be…ghouls can cry.
     

 
    8
    Don’t Know What You Got ( ‘Til It’s Gone )
     
    The rest of the day seemed to be endless. On more than one occasion, I found myself calling out to ask a question, only to have my voice echo around an empty home. What was most upsetting was the fact that I had always seen myself as an independent woman who needed nobody.
    I went down to my basement for my evening meal, closing the door out of habit. I always shut it when I ate because I didn’t think that Lisa would appreciate walking in to discover me chomping on a fresh corpse. I had even considered going so far as to have one of those lights installed like they had for dar krooms. If I was ‘indisposed’ then I could flip the switch. Lisa had been the one to veto that idea.
    “I know what you do down there, but I’d just as soon not have a light acting as a reminder that you are eating a human.”
    “A dead human,” I’d corrected.
    “Not really comforting,” she had said.
    Perhaps that should have been my clue. We were very different. And maybe there was something to be said about not having a human around to worry about. Now I could concentrate on just being me; That Ghoul Ava.
    I still wasn’t all that well— versed on what being a ghoul was all about. With no Lisa to worry over or try and make time for, I could start seeking out more of my own kind. The biggest problem being that Morgan had said in one of our first meetings that ghouls were scarce; and she hadn’t seen one in these parts before.
    By the time night was fully on, I had managed to stuff all my real feelings in a nice little space and close the door. I was going to head back to Estacada tonight and deal with Adrianna. Or maybe I would see what she had to offer. I was basically a free agent. Hell, Morgan had the ability to bind all the supernaturals in her district and made the choice not to bind me.
    That little sidetrack brought on a whole new batch of fee lings—like being in gym class and being the last one picked. I know that not everybody can relate, but I’ve seen the people that go to those horror conventions or wait in line at the theater for the newest Twilight movie. Seriously, I am pretty sure that a lot of you know exactly what that whole ‘being picked last’ thing feels like.
    So here I am, the newest supernatural in Morgan’s district , and she doesn’t even want to pick me for her team. I’m good enough to do her dirty work, but that’s it? I don’t think so. I wasn’t that flat-chested, awkward little girl anymore.
    I am Ava Birch and I am an ass-kicking ghoul…a force to be reckoned with. Maybe I would go to Estacada and bitch-slap Adrianna. I seem to recall that she smelled very yummy. Actually, I don’t recall, I have to keep being told, but that doesn’t mean anything. If she smells that good, then I am pretty sure she won’t come with all the nasty drawbacks of a vampire. Which also made me wonder…what