May 15, 1996 (Lucia Newman / CNN) - Is it a mutant vampire? Is it an extra-terrestrial? Or is it simply a figment of someone's overactive imagination? The chupacabra defies definition, but several strange and unexplained incidents in Mexico are causing locals to believe the creature is more than just a myth.

A collection of poetry and prose submitted to VO in 2002.

A kind of stupefaction came over Henry Bannerworth, and he sat for about a quarter of an hour scarcely conscious of where he was, and almost incapable of anything in the shape of rational thought. It was his brother, George, who roused him by saying, as he laid his hand upon his shoulder, --

"Henry, are you asleep?"

Were anyone to walk by that section of wall, they might have noticed a small curled up figure sitting on the ground. If they were of preternatural learnings. Otherwise she hid rather well in plain view. Not that she exactly cared if anyone saw her, Koreena was rather wrapped up in her own thoughts again.

The vampire has held its place in superstition as long as any other creature. The vampire of today is, for the most part, quite different from the one of ancient times. In researching the vampire lore, I attempted to find out just how different they are. I wondered what people thought of them now compared to yesteryear.