But Loki also thought that the idea was plain silly. He always had contradicting thoughts. There was no way she was a vampire, besides Snow White wasn’t supposed to be real in the first place, just a character in a book.
A couple of steps farther, Loki noticed there were numerous other pictures, drawings, photo-shopped and fabricated portraits of the vampire princess and her castle. There were ads about forums on the internet that required memberships to discuss the Snow White vampire—a notable forum called ‘Harum Scarum’ seemed to be the students’ favorite. There were phone numbers of bogus vampire hunters who claimed they knew how to kill her. There were kids selling magic garlic, silver crosses, and charms to keep the vampire princess away. There were handwritten maps on the bulletin board of people who claimed they had been to the castle. It seemed that the Black Forest was some kind of a cerebral maze, where people got lost and never returned. There were people selling glass coffins and magic mirrors as expensive souvenirs, claiming they had gotten them from the castle. Someone was also selling tickets for a masquerade party next week where girls had to come dressed like a Snow White vampire and boys as Prince Charming with fangs. The town of Sorrow was obviously obsessed with the vampire princess. That must have been why the students were looking at Loki.
“Those she lays her eyes upon,” a voice said from behind Loki. “Don’t live long enough to tell about it.”
Loki turned around. He saw a boy hiding his face in a purple hood. He was munching on a sandwich and staring at the bulletin board.
“Excuse me?” Loki said.
“It’s a famous saying in Sorrow,” the boy said. “That whomever the princess lays her eyes upon is cursed instantly, and no matter what they do, they won’t be able to escape death.”
“Oh,” Loki shrugged.
“No wonder every other vampire hunter has failed to kill her. The only way to do it is without her laying her eyes upon them. They must’ve not known that little tidbit.”
“How do you know that, if you don’t mind me asking?” Loki said.
“I have my secret sources,” the boy said while Loki thought about looking under his hood to see his face. Even though the boy talked like he was something, Loki sensed he was faking it from the quality of his voice. “Did you hear what I said, Loki Blackstar?” the boy said, still hiding under his hood, and looking at the bulletin board.
“How do you know my name?” Loki said.
“We know everything, and we know you’re here to kill her,” the boy said with a mouthful. “We wish you luck,” the boy moaned to the taste of his sandwich. It was as if he couldn’t stop eating. He pulled on Loki’s hand and stuck the rest of the sandwich in it. “Donkeyskin Burger, the best in town.”
The boy left, leaving Loki speechless with a greasy sandwich in his hand. It smelled good. Loki couldn’t resist bringing it closer to his nose.
“Donkeyskin Burger?” Loki mumbled. “What a freak,” he dropped the sandwich in the garbage can next to him.
When he turned around, he saw that the corridor was empty. Either everyone had gone to class or this school was haunted. Loki decided he had seen enough of the people in the school, and walked out. His plan was to rent the best room he could get with the biggest and most comfortable bed just like he’d always dreamed of, get some sleep, and then ask around to learn the way to the Black Forest.
Loki walked out to his Cadillac, unable to push the image of a comfy bed in a five-star hotel away—he even imagined eating delicious food and taking a hot shower. He wondered if Sorrow had five-star hotels, if any—and if the creepy singing girls would follow him there.
As Loki neared his Cadillac he heard a squeaky voice calling his name from the parking lot. Had he become famous already? Maybe the whole town knew about him because he was here to save them from the vampire princess.
Loki turned around, looking for the caller. He saw a couple of huge boys bullying a student in the middle of the parking lot. No one did anything about it. In fact, most of the students were watching and laughing at the undersized freak from the hallway squirming between two whopping boys. The scene reminded Loki of Donnie Cricketkiller, Beebully, and Beetlebuster back in the Ordinary World.
Stay away Loki. You’re not here to save anyone, even if some stranger is calling your name. Save yourself first.
But Babushka’s words crept into his ears again. He remembered his conversation with her on his way to Sorrow when she told him that she couldn’t imagine him walking away from someone in need.
I only save squirrels and other animals, mom. I don’t like those Minikins. Why should I even bother?