Mary: "And the staring matches? What the hell were those all about?"
James: "I didn't stare at anything."

Mary: "Tristan sure did- what happened?"
Tristan: "Panic attack."
Mary: "Uh huh. So have you guys ever seen anything like that before?"

James: "Yeah, at the circus. It was bound to happen sooner or later- working around all those animals, you're almost certain to pick up some horrible disease."
Mary: "James, why are you so insistent that it wasn't a vampire?"
James: "What is this, the Inquisition? Because there's no such thing."

Emily: "But there are- I've seen them."
Mary: "Em?"
Emily: "Well not one exactly like that thing we saw tonight, but... Remember how we used to go ghost hunting back when we were younger?"

Mary: "Ha! Yeah! I still wonder how we didn't freeze to death in the middle of January with just those pathetic jackets we used to wear."
Emily: "Pure force of will, I think. Looking the part of the fearless ghost hunter was more important than being warm."
Mary: "Fishnets and combat boots- the Ghost Hunter uniform, even in 3 feet of snow!"

Emily: "Anyway I don't know if you remember, but sometimes we'd get separated- you liked to go upstairs in some of the most rotted out buildings, but you know me and heights."
Mary: "I vaguely remember..."
Emily: "One time- it must have been some time in the summer because I don't remember being mind-numbingly cold- I was out in the back garden of the old Tolhurst place."

Emily paused, taking a deep breath. She looked across to James & Tristan, trying to read their expressions, searching for any hints of mockery or disbelief.

Emily: "I can't believe I'm telling you guys this."
Tristan: "Go on."

Emily: "There was this couple out by one of those ghastly statues- remember those, Mary? Big horrible maybe-human shaped things? This couple was standing near one, and at first I thought they were just making out. I was going to just turn and run away as fast as possible before they had a chance to see me, but something about them seemed off. A few seconds later the girl was sliding to the ground and the guy- he just stood there. I think I must have made a noise or something because he looked right at me, smiled, and winked."

James: "Nothing overly odd about that, punkin."
Emily: "He had really long teeth and blood around his mouth. That's a bit more than odd, James."

Mary: "Wait- I remember this now! You came running into the house and dragged me out into the garden to show me the body!"
Emily: "Only there was no body by the time we got out there."
Mary: "I thought you were just telling me stories."

James: "It was probably just your mind playing tricks on you- you're out in the middle of the night hunting for something supernatural, it's dark- you see what you want to see. We've all done it, Emikins."
Mary: "And that thing she staked tonight- was that also her mind playing tricks on her? She must have some serious mojo if she's bringing the rest of us along for the ride."
James: "Things aren't always what they seem, that's all I'm trying to say."
Mary: "Fine."

An awkward silence fell over the group.

Mary: "Is there even a circus in town?"