They say times are changing... ...they'll never change more
for anybody than a Vampire.

   Today's world belongs to the mortals, and they're killing it.
 People are wrapped up in TV, the internet, pollution, guns,
murder.  From technology comes devolution. People have become
unable to think  properly for themselves. Vision has becomes
clouded...



   I am me. Peri. This is my .. no not my .. her story. Lauren's
story.  It belongs to her. I merely took her life. I owe her
this much. 



   Her name is Lauren Harper. She doesn't believe in God. Not
since  the fire. She is 13. The year is 1807 and she is tired.



   I am Peri. I was 23 when I died. It's 1997 and I'm alone.
Where  have you gone, Carlos? I'm still here, in our house,
waiting... it's  a much bigger house without you here. Diab is
gone. Mark is gone.  Simon is gone. Everyone goes away in the
end.

 

   This place. She has been here since she was 7. Her parents
are dead.  That's why she's here. It's where children go when
no-one can look  after them. Jemmy is her best friend. He's only
11 and he's small just  like her. The orphanage people push them
up chimneys so that they can  clean them. The chimneys I mean.
Lauren got stuck in one 5 days ago.  They haven't fed her since.
They said they didn't want her getting  stuck again. Jemmy can't
talk. They cut out his tongue. She doesn't  know why. That was
before he came here. She is hungry. Tomorrow they  are running
away...

 

  ...They did it! They're out of there. Just her and Jemmy,
together.  With no money. Last night they ate some fruit and
slept in a field. No  one wants to help them. And who would?
There's no charity extended  towards a dumb boy and a puny girl. 



   The weather is cold and there are no blankets. They're
sitting in  the streets of London with nowhere to go. She
doesn't know what to do.  A boy from the Orphanage across the
streets sees her. She could run  but she knows she won't get
far. 



   Everyone, everything, runs in vicious circles, Lauren.
Everyone leaves you in the end. Yet, you can run away from
nothing... 



   Help me.



   I can't help you Lauren. It's already happened.



   He looks frightened, as if he doesn't know what she'll do. He
looks  nervously around and she knows they are here too.
Watching. They sent  him. She can't make it tough on him. He
utters her name. Please come  back, he says. The others miss
you. They have become her younger  brothers and sisters. She has
to go. Jemmy nods. He knows they have to  go back. She stands to
leave. She's extending her hand to help  Jemmy up. At the same
time, she's forced to stand up. Someone is  dragging her by the
hair. Back to that place. She calls to Jemmy but  hears nothing.

 

  It hurts to remember. I must remember. Where did I meet her?
Was I  at the orphanage with her?

 

  Her name is Lauren. They won't let her see Jemmy any more.
It's been  6 months. She watches him leave with them to clean
chimneys. She works  in the mines now. She's grown too much to
get sooty. Now it's coal dust  for company.



   Now she's 16. She's getting too old to be looked after, they
say.  Someone has come for her. Money changes hands. She is
crying. She will  never see Jemmy again. Not even through the
barred window of the  children's room. 



   She's working as a shiphand on a merchant trading boat. She's
 climbing the mast. The sail needs mending. There's been a storm
but  now its over. She's travelling the seas of europe. 

   A few days later, the boat docks in Dieppe, France. Her
chance comes. It's almost a day later before they notice she's
vanished. It's too  late. The boat has left port. She knows they
won't come back for her.



   Did I meet you on the boat, Lauren? In France? Where do I
know you  from? Help me...

   She can't help me. She doesn't know who I am.

   She doesn't hear me.



   Lauren can't speak french. She can't find anyone who
understands  her. She finally understands how Jemmy really felt.
She's alone. On the  streets. In a strange country.



   Lauren, I understand. Please hear me. I'm alone too but we
can't be  together. Your time is 1810. I am in 1997 now.



   She's hungry. Her clothes are falling apart. She's been
scavenging  from bins for weeks. She doesn't know how long.
What's that smell?  Freshly baked bread? Real food. The man
behind the stall isn't looking.  She swipes some but the man has
turned round. He shouts thief. She has  to run but she can't.
She's too tired. Her feet don't want to run. Her  will is gone.
A foot trips her up. The ground rises and meets her  falling
body. 



   Did it go as dark as it is now, Lauren? It's always dark now.
Did  the light come back? There always comes a shining light,
even though  it's only ever for a little while.



   She opens her eyes. Was she dreaming? She is resting in soft
sheets.  It's dark outside and the room is lit with a single
lamp. 



   The light. It came.



   His name is Samael. He rescued her. She is the prettiest girl
he has  ever met. Her dark curls frame a bruised but clean face,
her eyes  reflect the light of the lamp. She doesn't look older
than about 12 but  he knows her age. She's 16. 



   Her senses begin to return, along with the pain. It's real.
No dream. She turns away from him and closes her eyes because of
the pain. It was  real. What work will this man make her do this
time? She doesn't move.  Not even when he brings her food. 



   Samael. I remember you telling me about him Lauren. I
remember this  house. You have to eat or you'll die. Listen to
me, Lauren!! You'll  die, damnit! You can't want that. This man
is giving you a chance.  Take it. Please, hear me. I'm trying to
help. Lauren, I'm here. Why  can't you hear me?



   She still doesn't move. Every night he comes in. He strokes
her hair  and cleans her face. She's always clean, hair included
yet she believes  she's never been moved from the bed. He sits
and watches her. She  doesn't notice.



   Lauren, please! You're going to die. You can't do that. I
haven't  met you yet! Listen to me, girl. Things can only get
better. 



   For 3 weeks he watches over her. He feels her pain. He knows
all  about her. What happened to her. He can read it deep in her
mind. She  isn't resisting. 



   Talk to her, Samael. Please. Don't just sit there watching
her. Say  something. Tell her it will be ok. 



   He doesn't know what to say. 



   Tell her it will be ok, damnit. She'll die if you don't!



   'Lauren'... He's said the word. Her name. She doesn't seem to
hear  him. He moves to touch her, to lift her so he can hold
her. She feels.  His voice. That beautiful, yet painfully french
voice. She moves. She  curls up into a ball. 'Lauren.. I'm..
going to look after you, not like  the others'. She's shaking. 



   No. No more. Please. I don't want to remember this. Why did
you tell  me these things? Why aren't you here now? Lauren!!
What have I done to  you? Tell me none of this is true!



   But I know it is. Every bit of it.