Deleted scene from Next of Kin

Next of Kin started out as a supernatural thriller...

Rachel peered over the wall. The graveyard was dark except for the light of the moon reflecting off the snow-topped gravestones. Her imagination took over as the graveyard grinned at her like a creature with rows of crooked teeth. Rachel wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm as she waited for her lift home.

‘Sod this, I’m calling a taxi,’ she said to herself and set off holding her phone in the air struggling to pick up a signal. As she reached the graveyard gates, they opened, and someone pulled her in, shoving her down to the hard ground. Hands gripped her shoulders as she was pulled further into the graveyard. Grass and mud found its way into her clothes and broken glass cut into her lower back. They came to rest in a gloomy corner of the graveyard which stank of decay, damp rotting leaves, and urine.

She tried to scream as she felt sharp teeth bite into her neck, but if she did scream, nobody heard her. Her body went numb; she felt nothing. Nothing except her tears as they ran down her cheeks. Rachel blinked hard, clearing the dirt and mascara from her eyes and shuddered in fear when she looked at the face staring down at her.

‘You are not real – you’re just a myth,’ Rachel shouted.

But when the vampire smiled at her, she passed out and lay unconscious until the wetness of snow settling on her face woke her. She stood up, and almost in a trance limped out of the graveyard.

Her face was a mask of horror, blood and makeup smudged all over her face and neck. If anybody had seen her, they would have paid little attention. If anything, they would have congratulated her for wearing such a good Halloween costume.