Halloween Challenge: Once Bitten, Twice Shy. (Fan Fic)
Title: Halloween Challenge - Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Author: Metriosity
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG
Summary: Arizona’s outside-of-the-hospital friends invite the newlyweds to their annual Halloween bash
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, though I wish I did. Shonda and ABC are the lucky ones with all the rights, claims and ownership.
"You don't think Mark was serious about bringing over a Sexy Vampire, for some Trick or Treating, while he watches Sofia tonight do you?" Callie looked behind her at Mark's apartment door as they walked down the hallway of their apartment building.
"If Mark stays true to his recent form the only woman who will be treating him tonight will be Rachel Rae showing him how to make a tasty salad." Arizona adjusted her corset again and winced. "Not totally sure this was a great idea." Callie raised an eyebrow in response. "The costume. It's a bit revealing, even for me."
"I think it shows just enough. You make an awesome Pirate Wench. You can shiver my timbers any time."
"That was lame. And if you ever use it again you'll be exploring Davy Jones locker for yourself." Arizona shifted the buckle around her waist and hit the elevator button. "Stop looking back, they'll be fine. We'll go for a couple of hours and then we can come back and you can hold me while we watch scary movies. Deal?"
"Deal."
"You look incredible by the way. Just hope Owen doesn't see you and ask for a dress code change at work. It would be very distracting seeing you like that every day." Arizona's eyes drifted over the white PVC nurses outfit Callie had donned for the evening. It hugged in all the right places. And the fangs were a nice little touch that sent shivers down her spine.
The cab driver seemed to approve of both costumes during the drive out to the suburbs. Spending more time looking in the rear view than at the road ahead. Arizona had never been to the house before, but when she received an invite from an old college friend to their house warming/ Halloween bash, she couldn't say no. Well, Callie couldn't. Arizona had done everything she could to find an excuse not to go.
Elizabeth had been a good friend in College. One who was a good laugh. For an hour or so. Then Advil were needed as her mouth tended to run into overdrive and didn't have an off switch. Callie had begged to go, citing the need for fresh scenery once in a while and that as it was a party, Arizona would be unlikely to be collared for too long. "Suck it up and lets have some fun." being the final statement before Callie sent "We'll be there. Arizona." in a reply email.
The cab sped silently along through wooded lanes, the houses becoming larger and more ornate the further up into the hills they traveled. "Your buddy did well for herself." Callie murmured as she peered out of the window. A sharp turn turned both their heads to look through the front window and into the eerily lit driveway ahead. Spiderwebs hung from the tree's lining the drive along with ghostly figures swaying in the night air. "They went all out. Awesome!" Callie almost squealed in excitement, her eyes wide as more haunting props came into view. Headstones huddled under tree's, spiders as big as their heads hung from bushes. Arizona sat silently amazed at the amount of preparation that must have gone into the evening.
The house came into view, lit by pumpkins with grotesque faces. It was a large house, in an old Victorian style. Turrets and bay windows, all decorated with ragged drapes, candles and silhouettes of gruesome figures. People milled in the doorway and haunting music began to fill their ears as the cab pulled closer. With the driver paid and their costumes adjusted from the ride, Callie and Arizona made their way into the throng of people. Ghosts, zombies, vampires, mummies and bunnies filled the entrance hall, which if anything was even more elaborately decorated than the exterior. Neither of them recognized anyone they knew and so it made passing through to the bar a relatively easy experience. With drinks in hand they took in the scene. All manner of ghoulish costumes were there, dancing and merrymaking in the dimly lit room. Callie had a large grin on her face as she nudged Arizona in the ribs "Check it out. Jersey Shore Douchebags." Sure enough some bright orange fools stood laughing raucously around another who was bobbing for apples. His orange tint running into the water.
They were both content to just watch the craziness happen around them until a high, shrill "Zonie!!!" pierced Arizona's ears. She winced and forced a smile through gritted teeth. Despising that nickname more than any other. "So glad you could make it!" Elizabeth hadn't aged well. For only mid 30's, she looked old. It shocked Arizona to see the dark circles under the layers of make up that tried to conceal it. Her eyes were bloodshot too and Arizona was pretty sure that had nothing to do with the alcohol in her system. After an awkward hug followed the awkward catch up talk. The "How've you been?" "What are you doing?" garbage that is filler for "I have no idea what I am doing here." Callie stood shifting from one foot to the other as the exchange occurred, not really knowing what she was meant to do other than provide moral support. It seemed to go on forever and Arizonas smile was hanging on by a thread, until the glorious moment when their hostess was called away.
"Quick, the bar is too obvious a spot. Lets go find somewhere else to loiter." Arizona dragged Callie by the hand into the hallway. Every room seemed to be crammed with guests and Callie seemed content to watch them fly by as Arizona ducked and weaved her way through towards the kitchen. Arizona's mind was concerned though, by how gaunt Elizabeth's face had become. Even her eyes had lost that devious sparkle they once had. Arizona hadn't had time to ask much about what she had been up to, it had all be hurried questions aimed at herself. Pondering whether drugs were to blame, Arizona felt her stomach knot. While they weren't best friends, or even close friends, it bothered her to see someone throw their life away to something so meaningless.
An hour passed pleasantly enough when they found a spot to people watch and sway together to the music. Arizona languished in the feeling of Callie's arms wrapped around her waist and the gentle giggles and whispers in her ear when someone new would walk past. The guy dressed as a beer pong table kept them amused for longer than anyone else. Especially when Jessica Rabbit missed one of the cups completely and nailed him in the face. It was pleasant and they were both loving the freedom of being able to have a drink and not worry. Arizona's concerns about Elizabeth returned when she saw her shifting silently through the crowd towards the basement door, checking she was not being followed before shutting it behind her.
"I'll be back in a minute. Restroom." Arizona excused herself and headed in pursuit of Elizabeth. Callie's attention focused on the Baby New Year dancing, or rather attempting to dance, with a Pokemon. She knew she had no right to stick her nose into Elizabeth's business, but something seemed wrong. And the care giver in her wanted to see if she could make things right. The noise from the partygoers concealed the sound of her opening the door and slipping inside. It was pitch black once the door closed behind her. She couldn't see the steps below her feet. How had Elizabeth made the trip without breaking her neck?
Carefully she inched her feet down. Feeling the cold stone walls beneath her fingertips. The air was stagnant down her, like there was no movement at all. But with each step she felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck, like soldiers ready for battle. Her breath felt tight in her chest and her brain screamed at her to turn around and forget it, but as always she had to be the do gooder and she brushed off her fears as the result of too many B-Movie-Athon's. The wall disappeared from beneath her hand and the ground became firmer, telling her that she had reached the bottom of her descent. It smelt familiar down her, but she couldn't place it. It was a scent so familiar that she perhaps didn't notice it as much as anyone else had. The only thing that broke up the pitch black was a tiny light running parallel to the floor, as though it were creeping out from beneath a door in the distance. The sound of the party upstairs was nothing but a soft hum down here and every breath sounded like a storm.
Her arms outstretched ahead of her, she felt her way across the room. Trying not to bump into anything as she went. She couldn't understand why she was being so quiet, she wasn't doing anything wrong, just looking for her friend. Then why did it feel so unnervingly terrible? The door was inches away from her now and she could hear noises coming from beyond it. It was open just enough for her to press her eye to the crack and see into the space beyond. Suddenly the smell and its familiarity had a name. A name that never chilled her until this moment. Blood.
The room beyond the door was stone, huge stones that rose from floor to ceiling. The floor was made of the same material but with a deep groove cut in a channel down the center, running to a drain in the far corner. There was a single light giving dim illumination but enough to throw everything within into stark relief. A man was cuffed to chains that hung from the ceiling in the middle of the room. His head hung down to his chest. His breathing was so shallow his chest barely moved. There was something about him that Arizona recognized but it took her a moment to place it. The light didn't help. But as her eyes grew accustomed to the glow, she realized his neck and arms were orange. She threw her hand over her mouth to stifle the gasp that followed as she realized he was the Jersey Douchebag bobbing for apples. A deep gash ran down the side of his face and the blood ran down his neck and chest, dripping onto the floor. A shadow passed by the door and Arizona held her breath, daring not even to blink. The shadow moved away and towards the man hanging from the chains. The voice that spoke was cold, drawling, lifeless. "I do love Halloween. So many treats."
"Just get on with it. He isn't my taste. I have my eye on something else." Elizabeth's voice was frustrated as she came into view, circling behind the hanging man. She ran her nails across his back lightly and looked bored as she walked to lean against the wall. Running her tongue across her teeth she sucked at them, making a high pitched sound. Arizona's head was racing. She couldn't believe that she was seeing any of this. Maybe it was a dream, she had fallen asleep in the cab. This couldn't be real. From her viewpoint she could see a weathered hand reach out and place itself over the apple bobber's mouth. In a flash a dark figure had enveloped him. A sucking, groaning sound filled the silence and Arizona felt her stomach lurch. Bile was coming up her throat but her feet refused to move. Her brain had disconnected from her limbs and she felt her blood turn to ice.
Moments passed and the shadow continued its feeding frenzy. It was nothing like in the movies. Not gentle or seductive. This was an animal, feeding hungrily. It was brutal. Blood spilled and splashed everywhere. Coating the walls in a crimson haze. Arizona felt her foot twitch and tried to move it. It felt like lead. But slowly she managed to inch it backwards. Now if only he could get the other one to respond. It seemed like an eternity but function had begun to return to her extremities. She had never known terror or disgust like this. Was Elizabeth in some sick cult that got off on the whole vampire mythology. That's all they were, myth. Twilight had a lot to answer for. Silently she crept backwards, intending to grab Callie and run. Her eyes never left the door. If that light grew, she would have to turn and run.
She never got that chance.
Her foot brushed against the corner or an object, just enough that it sent a stack of things falling to the ground with a heavy bang. Her heart stopped in her chest and her eyes widened in panic. The door to the room of horror slammed open and Elizabeth stood in the light. Arizona was transfixed on her face. Even though her body was in shadow, it was as though her eyes were on fire, glaring into the darkness with a fury that seemed to set Arizona's soul on fire. "Zonie. What are you doing down here?" Arizona realized that from her position she could have appeared to be coming down the stairs. Maybe she still had a chance.
"I uh. Well I was looking for the bathroom, but the one upstairs was in use. Someone said there might be one down here." She tried a weak smile but the fiery eyes narrowed in response.
"Oh. Well sure! There's one right in here." Elizabeth motioned behind her and Arizona gulped.
"Nah, its ok. I can hold it. I'm just going to find Callie and grab a snack." She turned and made for the stairs, the light from the room throwing just enough across the floor to light them up for her.
"I insist." Elizabeth's voice was no longer shrill. It was deep, penetrating and harsh. A command that Arizona felt powerless to disobey. Her body was moving, despite her brain screaming for it to be going in the other direction. She was within the room in moments. A tall, pale man who looked as though his skin was made of wax paper was releasing the lifeless corpse of the Bobbing douchebag from the restraints. Arizona watched in horror as he was flung into a corner like trash. Elizabeth and her partner bore down on her. Taking her arms and raising them into the cuffs. They still felt warm from their previous tenant. She wanted to scream but her lungs felt dry, her throat like it had been glued together. Finally terror ticked into overdrive and she began to struggle. Pulling until her wrists bled, kicking at anything within reach. It was useless. She was trapped.
"I was going to bring your beautiful partner down here for dinner and you would be dessert. Always so sweet. But I guess I could have dessert first." Elizabeth chewed on her lip, eying Arizona with a hunger that made her stomach churn with hatred and fear. "I had a crush on you at college you know. But you never had time for me. Now, I can really take my time. Savor every last drop. The man chuckled, to Arizona it sounded like a dog with smokers lung.
She froze and glared down at Elizabeth, mustering every ounce of defiance she could manage. "You annoyed the hell out of me back then, and you still do now. Do me a favor, don't draw it out with some big exposition. Evil laugh, all that movie theatrics. I couldn't stand to hear you talk for so long." She knew it was foolish to talk like that. Egg on the woman who wanted to eat her alive. But she couldn't see any other way out. She wanted to live, for Callie and Sofia and she felt tears sting at her eyes at the thought of never seeing her baby girl grow up, or being in Callie's arms again. If only she had stayed out of it and not let curiosity get the better of her. Now it would be the end of her.
Elizabeth looked furious. Her eyes were bulging from her skull, she looked like the demon she was. Arizona stared numbly at her would be murderer. She had once joked that Callie would be the death of her. And now she would give anything for Callie to be in Elizabeth's place. At least she would go out with a smile. "Fine. Lets get this over with and I'll take my time with that caramel skinned beauty you left upstairs. I'm sure she will be much more fun to play with."
Arizona closed her eyes tight. Not wanting to see the pallid face draw closer. She could feel the hot breath on her neck, it was rancid. It was taking forever, Elizabeth was teasing her. Instinctively she kicked on, bringing her knee squarely into the groin of her attacker. It was satisfying and seemed to fill her with fire again. A hard blow across her face doused it immediately and sent her world spinning into blackness. She had no idea how long she was out but it couldn't have been long as when she came to, the salty taste of blood in her mouth was still fresh, not the rusted taste of old. Elizabeth glared at her from across the room. "You needed to be awake when I end you. And after that stunt I will be ending you slowly." Arizona's head was still ringing like a bell, the words sounded hollow and distant to her. Elizabeth was moving now, stepping menacingly towards her.
She was a foot away when the door to the room slammed open and Arizona, through blood stained eyes, saw the most wonderful and yet terrifying sight she had ever beheld. Her face set in fury, and what looked like an unscrewed curtain rail in her hand like a pike, was Callie. She seemed less bewildered by the scene in front of her than Arizona would have expected, and more like a born warrior. Callie lunged at Elizabeth, who was staring in shock that a nurse in PVC, wielding a curtain rod was charging at her like a knight with a lance. Arizona would have found it a funny scene had she seen it on TV and it had not been their lives on the line. Elizabeth was just starting to move as Callie thrust the pole squarely through Elizabeth's chest. From the corner of her eye, Arizona could see the figure of the male, lunging from the shadows. She swung on the chains, the metal gouging into her wrists painfully. Her foot just managed to connect with his thigh, knocking him from his momentum. He staggered against the wall briefly before regaining his balance. It was enough for Callie to drag the impaled Elizabeth around for his momentum to drive him directly onto the other end of the spear. It was perfect. Arizona blinked at how agile Callie had been, how brave and kinda Buffy like she had performed.
"Baby, I know you like to try new things but this look isn't really for you." Callie reached to pull the pins from the cuffs and Arizona fell limply against her. "Let's get you out of here and get those wrists looked at." Arizona nodded weakly and draped her arm across Callie's shoulder for support.
"How did you? How did you do that? How did you know where I was?" Arizona had a million questions, each seemed more important than the last.
"Even you don't take that long to pee. And I watch a lot of SyFy shows when you aren't around. That was totally insane though huh." Callie was grinning. Adrenalin pumping through her veins like gasoline. Arizona was less enthusiastic about the whole ordeal.
"Next year we stay in." Arizona groaned.
"Deal."