Our theme for 2003 centered around one of the most classic characters in Horror as we presented a sequel to the classic vampire story in The Hunt for Dracula.

The dreaded Count Dracula.

Our story began in the grounds of a Scottish manor, one year after the events in Bram Stoker's novel. The family, The MacDougles, had begun dying off from a strange malady, recognized by their doctor as the mark of the vampire. He wrote to vampire expert Professor Abraham Van Helsing, who quickly traveled to the MacDougle estate, along with his assistant, a mysterious and silent Chinese woman named Xin.

The family explained that their mother had been slowly growing pale and lifeless. Then, on a recent night, their father had been murdered and their mother disappeared. The only witness to what had happened was the youngest MacDougle child, Jamie, whose hair turned white overnight and had not spoken a word since.

Van Helsing immediately began a hunt for his old enemy, Count Dracula. The hunting party consisted of himself; Xin; the eldest MacDougle, Gordan; and against his wishes, eldest daughter Irene MacDougle and little Jamie.

A screaming Scottish Banshee warned of danger, and when Gordon went to confront her, he was killed by a pair of hungry werewolves. Next, the group encountered Frankenstein's monster who warned them to stay out of the dangerous dark forest. His warning ignored, Mother MacDougle soon appeared from the shadows of the twisted trees. Though she had been transformed into a vampire, her youngest child Jamie, could not resist returning to mother's arms. Distraught, Irene ran after them.

Van Helsing would not be pulled from his goal, however, and led the group deeper into the forest after Dracula. They soon found a trio of Dracula's brides, who were quickly dispatched by Xin and the professor. Then the old Szgany gypsy appeared to ordered a mob of vampires to attack. However, when they saw the strength and power possessed by Xin, the mob fled in terror.

Van Helsing keeps one of the Brides of Dracula at bay.

Emerging from the forest, the hunting party found Irene mourning over the grave of her father. She had been unable to catch Mother and Jamie and now blamed Van Helsing for the loss and for Gordon's death. Irene asked to take over leadership of the hunt.

At this point, the group was able to vote on whose leadership to follow, Irene or Van Helsing. After the vote, Dracula emerged at last for the final confrontation.

From here, one of two endings would be acted out. If the group voted to follow Van Helsing, he would occupy Dracula's attention, allowing Xin to sneak up on the vampire from behind and stake him in the heart. If the group voted to follow Irene, she revealed that she had been transformed into a vampire and overpowered Xin while Dracula tore out Van Helsing's heart.

Click here for a Hunt for Dracula gallery.