Disclaimer: Do not own The Lost Boys

AN: Story takes place before the Emerson arrival.

And Then She Is the Darkness

Chapter and Now

The 1980's, a decade of bold colors, brash style, big hair, kick ass music and fun. Our story doesn't begin here though, instead let's go back a bit. Let's take a trip back to the 70's a time of platform shoes, disco,Vietnam, and every man trying to look like John Travolta in Saturday Night fever.

!974 – Santa Carla

It was a summer day day like any other on the beaches of Santa Carla as tourist and locals alike lined its shore. School had ended weeks before and the kids couldn't be any happier. Waves lapped the shoreline as people laughed, children played and one man chased his hat along the shore. The hat being kept just out of the mans reach by the breeze blowing in from the ocean.

Out in the water people were swimming, surfing and bobbing up and down like corks as they sat on their inner tubes. Up on the docks that lined the coast there were people fishing, an old man reading a paper and couples sitting on benches watching the tide roll in and out to the rhythmic sound of the ocean. That's not what we're here to see however. We're here to see one family in particular, a local family, the Walsh family. They are the cause of our stroll down memory lane. It is this one family who play a major role in this story in the future.

On the shore sitting under the shade of a large beach umbrella a woman reads a book as a small girl plays in the sand just a few feet in front of her while the radio on the blanket plays Band on the Run. The young girl, only six years old has been working hard the last hour to build a sand castle to no avail. Frustrated she pounds her small fists into the small mound of sand in front of her.

"Rhiannon, sweetie, why don't you go down to the water and get your father and brother dear. Maybe he can help while dad makes the food."

The little girl nodded. Standing she took off as fast as she could for the shore line. It was a sight to see. Her little arms flailed out at her sides like she was in a snowsuit because of the swimmies she wore. Her mother gave a small chuckle before returning to her book.

"Daddy, Xander!" Rhiannon called out from the edge of the water. Looking around she didn't spot them right away then she saw them. Carefully she walked into the water up to her knees and shouted again. "Daddy, Xander, mommy says it's time to come out of the water!"

Murphy turned to his son picked Alexander up and tossed him on his shoulders before they started heading in toward the shore. Once they made their way to Rhiannon her father had taken her hand and they all walked back to their little spot on the sand.

"Xander, will you help me build a sand castle? I tried but it wont come out right."

Xander looked at her for a minute and then down at the pile of sand that was her "castle". He laughed and grabbed one of the bright colored pails next to them. "Okay." He turned to his mom Isolde who was still reading her book. "Mom I'm gonna go get some water, I'll be right back." With that the eight year old boy was off and running. Minutes later he returned with a full pail in hand.

"You have to get the sand wet first dummy." putting down the pail of water he began to fill the other with sand. "Go get some sticks and shells."

"Mommy." Rhiannon poked her moms arm, when her mother didn't reply she poked her again. "Mommy. . ." Her mother finally looked up from her book. "What is it sweetheart?"

"Come look for sticks and shells for our sand castle with me. Please!" She tugged at her mothers arm.

"All right. Let's go."

Isolde followed her daughter, as they walked along the sand they passed an old man walking along the beach with a metal detector. He swept the instrument back and forth as he looked for treasure on the sunny little part of the California coast. The device began to emanate a low beeping sound as he passed it over a patch of sand it grew louder. He dropped the detector and began to dig, to his disappointment all he found was a bottle cap. He was about to toss it when he felt a tug on his trunks.

" 'Scuse me Mr. can I have that? It'll be perfect for my sand castle."

"Sure I was just gonna toss it anyways."

"What do you say to the nice man Rhiannon?" Her mother chided.

"Thank you Mr."

The man chuckled. "Your welcome dear."

Ten minutes later mother and daughter returned hands full of shells, twigs and nicknacks the found along the beach. They scattered the items on the towel before Isolde went back to her seat.

"What took you? I thought I was gonna be an old man by time you got back."

"Shush. Help me build the castle you meanie." Half an hour later The kids finally had a decent castle erected and decorated. They even dug a mote and found a small sand crab and put him in, in place of an alligator.

Xander tousled Rhiannon's hair. "What would you do without me?"

"Kids! Grubs on!" Murphy shouted. The two kids abandoned their castle and came bounding over to their dad who held out a plate for each of them. The sun was starting to set half an hour after they ate. It was time to go home. So up the entire Walsh family went packing their things and headed for the car. It was another happy day.

Present day Santa Carla 1986

"And take that useless piece of crap with you." Janette shouted from the bathroom as she applied more eyeshadow. Xander rolled his eyes at his stepmother's comment he hated the thought of having to bring her along again. He grabbed his surfboard and headed out of his room. As he walked past the next doorway he banged a fist on it.

"Come on pain in the ass get dressed. We're hitting the beach, if your not down in the car in 10 minutes your walking."

Rolling off the bed where she'd been reading Rhiannon gave a heavy sigh. She got up, walked to her closet and got changed. Nothing major just the usual. She dug out her fishnet stockings, a pair of shorts a Poison shirt and a pair of sneakers. She threw on her black fingerless gloves and grabbed the book and bag off her bed as she walked out her bedroom door.

She knew if she was going with her brother what it meant. It meant Janette had another one of her men coming over and that she wanted the house to herself. As far as Rhiannon was concerned she could have it. She would rather be tortured than want to be there to hear that anyway. To this day Rhiannon still couldn't see what her father had seen in that bitchy scank.

One short,cramped and annoying car ride later, Rhiannon and Xander reached the boardwalk with his friends. Not two minutes later Xander and his friends had took off with their surfboards and headed for the water. Rhiannon walked along the boardwalk watching the crowd go by, it was summertime school was out and the tourists were out in full force on the beach. Finding a little niche of her own she slipped her legs under the rail of the boardwalk and let her feet dangle before pulling out the book she had brought.

Hours later Rhiannon having tired of reading the book and stood to stretch. The sun was slowly beginning to dip below the horizon now, Rhiannon looked around and noticed the tourists and families begin to pack it in for the night. Soon the boardwalk would be alive with a different form of crowd, the teens, the wannabes the riff-raft and the gangs. Somehow this was Rhiannon's favorite time. Everything seemed more electric, more alive.

Digging through her bag she pulled out her headphones putting them around her neck before hitting play, she adjusted the headphones and walked along the boardwalk. She was about to make a very familiar trek.

Blocks away sat Frog's comics. Mother and father Frog were sleeping in a corner up against the television. Behind one of the counters thumbing through one of the latest comics sat Edgar. Just then a young woman entered the store with a stack of fliers in hand. From the other side of the room where he had been stacking the comics on the shelf Alan looked up. Making her way over toward Edgar the girl spoke as she handed him a flier. "Would it be okay for me to put this in your window?"

Looking down Edgar looked it over.

Missing: Jenna Holden

Height: 5'3

Weight: 100 lbs.

Hair color: Brown

Eye color: Green

Any information please contact 596-854-4453

There were several that filled the city. Now here was another to add to the bunch. "Yeah sure."

Hanging up the flier the girl quickly left. Just then Rhiannon walked in. She made her way to one of the shelves of comics and started flipping through them. She still had her headphones on now Def Leppard's Fooling was playing. She began singing along as she looked through the comics. Behind the counter Edgar shook his head, he would never understand why she like music so much. He wadded up a piece of paper he had behind the counter and threw it at Alan.

Alan turned shooting his brother a look till he noticed him motioning with his eyes to the corner where Rhiannon stood. Alan looked over at her watching as she bopped back and forth to the music. Edgar wadded up another piece of paper chucking it at Alan breaking him from his stupor. Alan was about to return the favor when Edgar motioned for him to open it. Alan opened the wrinkled paper and read it. On the paper in his lap Edgar had written some words of advice. GO TALK TO HER DIPWAD!

Alan hopped up and made his way over to her. Reaching out he tapped her on the shoulder. Rhiannon jumped. "Alan don't do that! You almost gave me a heart attack."

"Sorry." He said rubbing the back of his neck nervously. They stood there looking at each other for a minute before Edgar decided to move things along. "Hey Rhiannon. We got the new X-Men comic in. Why don't you go get it for her Alan."

"Uh, yeah sure. I'll just go get it." He said making a quick exit.

"So, you two still obsessed with things that go bump in the night?" Rhiannon said hopping up on the counter near Edgar.

"You bet." He leaned closer as if he was going to tell her a secrete. "We think that Ghouls and werewolves hold high positions in city hall."

"You don't say, and me without my silver bullets!"

"Mock me if you will."

"Come on, I'm not as bad as everyone else. Besides you know I love teasing you guys." Just then Alan returned comic in hand.

"Geez where did ya go for the comic sweetie, China?" Rhiannon began flipping through the book.

"Gambit is in this one." Alan said. Rhiannon looked up and smiled.

"What's so great about Gambit?" Rhiannon and Alan with wide eyes looked at Edgar.

"You shouldn't have said that bro."

"What do you mean what's so great about Gambit!"

"You really shouldn't have said that."Alan added. "She loves Gambit."

Rhiannon hopped off the counter. "You may have to hold me back Alan. You may not have a brother in a second."

"You wouldn't."

"I could but I won't. How much for the book?"

"Buck fifty."

Rhiannon went to reach in her bag to give Edgar the cash when Alan put a hand on her shoulder. "Here. It's on me." He said handing his brother the money.

"Not the only thing you want on you." Edgar mumbled under his breath.

"What was that Rambo?"

"Nothing. Here take this too." Edgar pulled down a comic that was hanging behind him.

"Vampires Everywhere?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head. She loved the Frog brothers, they were two of the few friends she still had since her mom died but she thought their obsession with the supernatural was a little out there.

"Well it's been fun boys, but I should be going" Rhiannon took her comic put it in her bag and headed out the door. Edgar reached over the counter and smacked Alan in the back of the head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Go after her fool. Here she forgot the vampire comic I gave her."

Alan made his way out the door. "And this time say something to her!" he shouted as Alan disappeared out the door.

Out on the boardwalk the second Rhiannon stepped out of the comic store she was swept up in the crowd. It wasn't till a few minutes later she managed to find an opening and make her way to a space with a little more breathing room. Alan looked around as he walked along trying to spot Rhiannon. He finally noticed her sitting on the railing reading her comic.

"Hey you forgot this."

"Huh, oh yeah. Thanks." She reached out and took it from Alan before putting it in her bag.

"Hey uh, if your not doing anything you want to go do something?"

"Sure, Let's go." She hopped down off the railing and stood next to him. "So, where to?"

Alan was actually surprised she said yes. It took a minute to register. He grabbed her by the hand and walked with her to the Captains Galley. "Hey why don't I grab a table."

"Sure what do you want?"

"I'm not picky anything is fine."

A few minutes later Alan came back arms full of food. Rhiannon jumped up to help him. Once the two were settled the conversation began to flow a bit more.

"You weren't really going to hurt Edgar were you?"

Rhiannon popped a fry in her mouth. "Nah you know me. If I haven't killed him yet I doubt I will." They both began to laugh. "Yeah, guess you have a point."

"Hey thanks for the food Alan. Not like I've been getting any lately."

"Why not?"

"You know how things are now. Ever since mom died and Janette moved in things got worse. Now we're lucky if there's anything in the house at all. Tell you the truth I think the kids that dumpster dive do better than us."

"Us?"

"Yeah did you forget Xander?"

"Yeah. I kinda did."

"Wish I could sometimes. He changed so much."

"Yeah I remember when we were kids you were always close."

"Can we talk about something else?" She poked another fry around in the little paper tray.

"I got a better idea. Come on." He reached out and grabbed her wrist pulling her up from the bench.

"What? Where are we going?"

"Just come on."

They made their way along the boardwalk pushing through the throng of people. "Will you please tell me where we're going?"

"It's a surprise. Just come on." They made there way past the carousel, past the Ferris wheel, past the cluster of kiddy rides till they finally came to where Alan wanted to go. The roller coaster. Rhiannon looked up at the imposing wooden structure before them and let out a small sigh.

"You've got to be kidding."

"Come on. You've been on this before it's not so bad. Don't you remember the first time we went on it?"

"Yeah, I was 11, and I lost an ill conceived bet to your brother about a comic storyline. We were all supposed to go on it but Edgar turned chickenshit and wussed out so it was you and me. I was terrified of all roller coasters."

"Yeah but that wasn't the funny part."

"Don't. . .Alan don't you dare mention it."

"You got off the ride and ralphed all over the place." He started laughing.

Rhiannon crossed her arms ."That wasn't funny Alan. Is that why we're here? You trying to see a repeat? Cuz that ain't gonna happen bud!"

As the two finished their pseudo argument the car pulled up and the two climbed in. It was a bit tight as the bar came down holding them in their seat. The car began to slowly make its way up the hill with the familiar clink, clink, clink of the chain.

"I swear, I hurl and I'm hurling in your direction." She warned him just as the car took that paused at the top of the hill just before they plummeted down.

One short, vomit free ride later Alan and Rhiannon once again found themselves walking the boardwalk. Rhiannon spotted a booth where some girls were getting their ears pierced by a rather burly looking, bald biker type guy. Rhiannon grabbed Alan's hand causing him to turn red for a second before she dragged him behind her towards the booth.

"No."

"No what?"

"You are not getting my ear pierced."

"Who said anything about you getting pierced you big chicken. I'm getting it done. Just try not to pass out on me cuz I am not dragging you back to the comic shop." She said hopping up on the stool. After a few minutes Rhiannon had a nice, shiny new piercing.

"Let's go on the carousel!"

"The carousel? What are you two?"

"Says the guy surrounded by superheros, villains and nerds all day, everyday. Now let's go."

Alan rolled his eyes as they made their way to the carousel. Soon the sound of cheesy carnival music faded out and the sound of raucous rock music took its place as they neared the stage where this weeks band was playing. Alan put his hands on Rhiannon's shoulders moving closer as they tried to squeeze through the crowd. Once through the throng they heard the sound of motorcycles. Rhiannon turned to look behind them. She watched as four bikes came whizzing past at breakneck speed.

"You don't want to get involved with them. Trust me."

"Well look if it's not dorks on parade." one of Xander's friends said as they neared.

Rhiannon palmed her head. "Oh god. Really."

"What's up dork, you got my lil sister hunting the undead with you?"

"Yeah man their gonna find some zombies that'll eat our brains." another one of Xander's friends added before laughing manically.

Alan wrapped an arm around Rhiannon and pulled her closer. "If we were looking for zombies they wouldn't eat your brains. You actually have to have brains for them to eat."

"Alan. . ." Rhiannon whispered.

"Oh so tough." Xander said before shoving Alan.

"Leave him alone."

"Or what?" He said shoving him again.

"Xander I said leave him alone." Xander rolled his eyes and walked away.

"Come on guys. Annoying the dorks is getting boring. It's time to go anyway." They all turned to join him. He turned facing Rhiannon and Alan. "You deaf? I said it's time to go. Get your ass over here."

Rhiannon turned to Alan. "Sorry about him." She said before hugging him and reluctantly joining the group. As she disappeared down the boardwalk with her brother and his friends Alan turned and started making his way back to the shop.