It had been three weeks since Zach Mohansen had been reborn into the world of the undead, since he'd become a vampire. In that time his new family--his mother, Mira; his father, Rain; his brother, Wil; and his sister, Cassie--had taught him much about his new life and what it meant. Rain had been especially helpful, taking him under his wing and showing him how to use his new abilities. Mira, it seemed, was keen on hunting for blood and, out of all his family members, was present most when Zach went out at night to feed.

It was the feeding that was the most life-changing for Zach, for with each new victim came an onslaught of that person's memories, and with each flash of a life now gone, it triggered memories of his own before he became one of the undead.

Now, around four in the afternoon, and wandering the rows of Eagle Park Cemetery, Zach wondered if it would be appropriate to contact his old family. The dark overcast sky above reminded him of when he was a child and played a baseball game in similar weather. The game eventually had been rained out, but before it was, his team was leading 5-to-3. Though it was day, the light filtering through the clouds didn't bother him as much as it used to. His skin still tingled with heat, like dipping your hands in a sink of hot water, but it was manageable. True daylight, however, would set him on fire. When he asked Rain why this was so, his father didn't have an answer, but did say it was due to spiritual matters Zach wasn't yet mature enough to understand.

But solemn reflection wasn't the sole reason Zach was out amongst the gravestones. It was that girl, the one who called him by name three weeks ago during her mother's funeral. It was the same girl that was in the flashbacks after his first kill. He didn't know her name, but he knew he needed to find out.

If the past was any indicator, she would be here in the cemetery today, as she had been for the past three weeks around this time. Zach had seen her every time she appeared, but kept himself hidden amongst the tombs, his mother's warning to not mingle with the humans his main reason for doing so.

I hope she shows up today, he thought. She would come to pay respects at her mother's gravesite, then would walk the cemetery lines for a half hour or so before leaving. She seemed to know me, but more so, I seem to know her. Just wish I knew who she was. Memories that activated after feeding sometimes revealed her face: this girl laughing, crying, walking the halls at a school. I need to talk to her.

He positioned himself close to the columbarium that contained the girl's mother's ashes, hid behind a tree, and waited.