After school Bex found herself sparing against Joan. She wore yoga pants and a muscle shirt. Her arm muscles bulging out. Like this, it was clear to see how much more toned she had gotten over the past couple of months.

Sweat dripped down her forehead and she feinted yet another one of Joan's attacks. She gave Joan two quick jabs to the stomach before grabbing the fake foam stake and going for the "kill". Joan grabbed her hand and flipped her to the ground. Then she grabbed the stake and acted like she was going to stab it into Bex's chest.

Bex used her legs to wrap around Joan's waist and flip the girl to the ground. Then she grabbed the stake again and once again went for the kill. Joan rolled out of the way and grabbed a rubber Knife. She came after Bex, Bex ducked out of the way and jabbed the stake into Joan's side.

"Wrong," Joan stopped the match.

"Damn it." Bex huffed as she tried to catch her breath.

"Getting closer, but still wrong. If it were real life that would have left you open for a counter-attack and you would be dead."

Bex grabbed her towel to wipe her face and screamed into it in frustration.

They had been going over the "final" test for weeks. If Bex could prove to Joan she had what it takes to kill a vampire they could move on to the next phase of training.

"Why won't you just do it. it's them or you, you have to do it." Joan chastised her.

"I'm trying okay!"

"Bex, look at me, a vampire won't hesitate to kill you if you are a threat to them. It's either you or them. Stop purposely missing and just kill me already."

"I can't! I can't just kill someone. It's not right."

Joan sighed and grabbed her water bottle to take a drink.

"Well?" Bex crossed her arms.

Just then the lights shut off to the training room.

"What was that?" Bex looked around the darkroom.

"I don't know, stay close." Joan walked over to her.

The sound of someone running by them at quick speeds made Bex whip her head around in panic.

'Lyssa, Lyssa something's happening.' Bex sent her a panicked mental message.

'What? What is it? I can't come to you, I'm busy. Are you in danger? Are you alone?'

'No, Joan is with me, what do you mean you can't come? Where are you?'

'Two towns over, long story. I'll try to make it back as fast as I can.'

Just then something rushed past them and knocked Joan to the floor.

"Joan!" Bex ran over to her in the dark.

"It's a vampire. Probably Barbie and Ken." Joan grunted as she got up.

"What do we do?" Bex panicked.

"I have real stakes over there, but we have to make a run for it. on my mark."

Bex nodded.

"Go!" Joan called.

They both ran for the corner. Only the red emergency light above lighting their way. Bex was knocked back and picked up by her throat. Red eyes stared at her.

"Joan!" she panicked.

"Bex! Hold on!" Joan called.

Bex kicked and squirmed but it was no use, the vampire slammed her into the ground knocking the wind out of her. She rolled out of the way just as they went in for a punch. Then she kicked them in the gut and jumped to her feet. She put up her fist and got ready to fight.

The vampire came at her with full speed. Bex ducked out of the way and jabbed them hard in the side. The vampire punched her hard in the stomach sending her flying.

"Here!" Joan rolled a stake over to her.

Bex grabbed it just in time. The vampire was on her in a flash. They reached for her throat. Bex grabbed them by the arm and flipped them to the ground before going for the kill. She jabbed the stake as hard as she could towards their chest, but a metal ding rang out and nothing happened.

The lights turned back on.

Bex got ready to try again as the masked vampire lay helpless under her, unwounded.

"Wait, wait, wait, it's me!" Lyssa said.

Lyssa quickly took off the ski mask.

"Lyssa? What the hell!?" Bex got off of her.

"You did it!" Joan cheered and ran over to Bex tackling her in a hug.

"What?" Bex said confused.

"We had to know if you would do it in a real-life situation. It was Joan's idea." Lyssa took off a metal plate that was strapped to her chest.

"Joan what the hell!?" Bex sat down on the floor, her heart still racing from fear and adrenaline.

"I'm sorry my love, come here." Lyssa embraced her.

"Assholes!" Bex clung to Lyssa tightly.

"You did it, Bex." Joan said, her excitement quickly dying off.

"Yeah, congratulations I just killed my girlfriend." Bex got up and stomped off.

Joan sighed.

"She's just scared and worked up, let her cool down. Nice work. I'll take it from here." Lyssa followed after Bex.

"I'll take it from here." Joan mocked Lyssa under her breath.

"I heard that!" Lyssa called back.

Joan rolled her eyes and picked up the stakes off the floor.

At least she knew all her training was paying off, no more defenseless Bex, this was Bex 2.0