[_____V_____]

Hammerfan covers her ears, and is about to yell out when ___V___ covers her mouth shut and whispers "Shhh...!" into her ears softly. Hammerfan shivers uncontrollably in ___V___'s arms for a few moments, then nods in tired approval. ___V___ lets go and walks back to the crack at the door, and peeks in. The scene in front of him makes him start slightly, in surprise.


___V___ (softly, to himself): Not HIM...of all people!


VampiricClown is lying down on the table, his skull opened up and plenty of wires hooked into his brain. A gloved hand injects a greenish fluid into his cerebellum, and that makes VampiricClown go into spasms, his eyes open wide and his mouth taped. His body is held in place by big cuffs to his hands and legs, and after a few seconds of violent spasmodic activity, VampiricClown's body stops and goes silent. ___V___ leans a bit closer to have a better look at the surgeon, and stares. For he is looking at Austin316426808, looking down with an evil, satisfied grin on his face.


Austin316426808 (chuckling): Just a few minutes more, my dear VC...and I will grant you the gift of eternal life. You will be dominant upon others, and totally controlled by me. Just like the rest of my puppets...


___V___ looks on for a second, then realises Hammerfan is standing beside him...peeking into the room too. She has a horrified look on her face, and it contracts up into a blood-curdling scream.


Hammerfan: AAAIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!


___V___ tries in vain to stop her, but by then Austin has heard her...and has swiftly turned towards that door. ___V___ closes it in a hurry, and grabs Hammerfan and backs away from it. He shakes Hammerfan who has gone into hysterics, crying out loudly in sheer terror at the scene she has just seen.


___V___ (firmly): Hammerfan, get a grip on yourself! Even the ghosts would have risen by now because of your screaming!

Hammerfan (in-between sobs): Th-that was Alk-k-ky!! And Vam-mpir-ric Cl-lown-n-n!! WHAT WAS HE DOING TO THEM?!

___V___ (strongly): I will tell you what's going on, but right now we have to scram, or we will be Beef Jerky in a minute!


He grabs Hammerfan and opens the other door through which they had originally come in, but in the darkness in front of them, several pairs of green eyes stare back at them, with slow hisses and deep, angry growls.


___V___ (narrowing his eyes): Close the door behind me. I'll be back!

Hammerfan (disbelievingly): Wha-what the...WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?!

___V___ (turning around with a gleam in his eyes): Trust me.


Hammerfan has a last glimpse of the creatures in front of him, whose growls have intensified into big, vicious snarls...and a huge, red shape breaks the darkness and pounces forward, followed by several similar streaks...and the door slams shut.