Disclaimer: I do not own The Lost Boys. OCs, however, do belong to me.
Hope everyone has had a great summer. :) Here's the final story for Santa Carla Undead. Really hope you enjoy it! As usual, updates will be every Saturday unless I've pre-warned everyone it's changed.
South Philadelphia, 1970
Marko had passed many buildings around South Philadelphia that should have triggered those lost human memories. But he had wandered past South Philadelphia High School without even a glance, unable to remember the school he had once attended, or rather, quite poorly attended. He had frowned a little bit when touring 9th Street and viewing the wonders of the Italian Market. He had stopped opposite one stall that sold Italian wine but it had been a mere fleeting glance before he followed his pack through the rest of the market. It was only when they stopped at the corner of a street that Marko began to get flashing images of the city around him. He had been hanging near a shop, stopping for a cigarette as he observed the humans, relishing the differing and lingering scents of each one. His mind wandered back to the Italian Market they had come out of and he suddenly swore out loud.
"Hey, that was the Italian Market," Marko said. He glanced back at Paul, David, and Dwayne. "And we're in South Philly."
David took a long drag of his cigarette as he raised an eyebrow at Marko. "You've only just noticed? We've been here for two days, Marko."
"No," Marko said but he smirked at David and held a finger up at his friend's snarky remark. "I meant I know South Philadelphia. I came from here."
He remembered that particular stall he had stopped by. At the time he was unsure of why he had stopped. The table was filled with wine that didn't interest him. But now he could see the stall differently. The wine was replaced by food. Biscotti, anginetti, cannoli… all homemade and baked to perfection by a woman who Marko remembered to have grey hair and a cheery, round face. He couldn't quite pinpoint who she was though…
"You never told us you were from South Philly," Paul said, slapping his buddy on the back.
"I never tell people anything," he said. "And I'd forgotten."
"Then we need to go somewhere else," David said.
"C'mon, David. Just a look around," Marko said and Dwayne shook his head at the curious vampire, who was still considered to be relatively new to eternal life.
"Not a wise move," Dwayne said. "It's not been long since you turned. Or since we found you running away from home. Your family will still be alive and if they recognise you, there'll be trouble."
"We'll let Max know before he settles on a house," David said and led the way down the market again. They passed the same stall, another image flashing through Marko's head as he took one last look at it. That same woman appeared, this time smiling as a boy next to her took money from a customer. A curly haired boy, short for his age, looking like butter wouldn't melt. When the woman wasn't looking, he sneakily took a biscotti, only to be slapped on the hand and she sternly held out her hand for him to pay her.
Nonnina, he thought. Now he remembered her. Sort of. The memories were still hazy and there were still things he could not quite recall. But he knew this small, old woman was related him. He knew he called her 'nonnina'.
"Bud, why d'ya keep saying nonnina in your head?" Paul asked, turning back to him. David and Dwayne stopped ahead, both glancing back. David remained blank faced but Dwayne couldn't help frown. He kept glancing to the end of the market and back to Marko.
"My grandmother," Marko said. "That's what I used to call her. She had a stall here. I think I used to help out."
"Sometimes you'll get memories. Quick flashes of one. I told you, it's easy to forget things when you're a vampire," David said.
"I don't feel like I care though," Marko said.
"Being a vampire is being detached to humans. Even if you're related to them," the eldest vampire explained. "We just… stop caring."
"Humans become food," Dwayne added. "Nothing else."
"You turned me though," Marko pointed out to David as they continued walking. He gestured to Paul and Dwayne. "You turned all of us. We were all given Max's blood."
"Humans are food," David said, repeating Dwayne's words. "But sometimes there are humans who are too interesting to become a night's meal. And if they're running from something they're even more interesting." He grinned at Marko. "I like to think I have the power to offer a new life and fresh start for a lost soul." Then he slapped his newest recruit on the back, turning to Paul who was just as young as Marko in vampire terms. Paul chuckled and lit two cigarettes, passing one to Dwayne and the two eldest vampires shared a grin.
"I think I chose well. This is a good pack," David said.
Marko welcomed a cigarette off Paul, taking in a long drag. He got another pat off Paul, laughing with him as they strolled through South Philadelphia. The night sky was clear tonight but human eyes wouldn't have been able to pick out the stars in the sky. But Marko could. He could see them clearly, all white and flickering. It was the middle of summer and the streets were packed with residents and tourists, practically an all-you-could-eat buffet for him and his pack. He kept scanning the crowds, catching sight of the people with the most appealing blood and wondering which delicious smelling human he was going to have for a snack tonight. If he was lucky, somebody would have pissed him off by now. Taken advantage of his looks and height and tried to have a go at him. There was nothing more satisfying than going after a human who had insulted him, assumed that he would be a meek thing just because he was the shortest in the pack and looked like a skinny, choir boy. A human had actually said to his face before.
I wonder if all his body parts were ever found, Marko thought, reflecting back on the kill with a smirk on his face.
"Can we at least eat first?" Marko asked, suddenly feeling fire in his throat. "Might as well enjoy the local food before leaving."
Despite the shooting spasms in his stomach, a painful reminder that it was time to feed, he straightened up and started walking down the street, turning quickly into an alley between two shops. It was deserted, long enough to be away from prying eyes and after a quick glance around the boys took off into the sky, disappearing quickly into the clouds. Marko led the way to Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, an area that had become a quick favourite to hunt. They landed near Meadow Lake, a spot that was surprisingly deserted. With the cool night and the dark sky reflecting and glistening in the water, the boys would have thought more couples would be out here. But it was quiet. The first night in two days where they would have to wait around and see if anyone appeared.
Luckily, victims soon appeared. Unluckily, there were only two.
A couple in their late twenties were hurrying through the park. They talked loudly to one another, the woman waving her hands about wildly as she spoke. Her voice was high, urgent.
"Just two," David said.
"Bag it," Marko said quickly and David followed him. They both grinned at Paul and Dwayne, the former groaning loudly but Dwayne merely rolled his eyes.
"Fine, we'll try elsewhere," Dwayne said and nudged Paul to follow him back up into the sky. Marko laughed as he watched his two pack members fly away to search for another spot. He tugged on his jacket and smirked at David before nodding to the humans coming closer. David allowed the young vampire to led them, casually strolling behind Marko with his hands clasped behind him. He walked straight and proud while Marko strutted in front. They made their way straight over to the human couple who quickened their pace as soon as they saw the two vampires.
It was as the human couple came closer Marko began to slow down, soon ending up behind David. He frowned, staring at the man and woman as they came closer. The woman he ignored but the man disturbed him. He had the same curly blonde hair, a shade or two darker than Marko's. The face was familiar too. He wasn't quite sure where he had seen the human before but he knew that face. Those sleepy eyes and small mouth. The long, hooked nose.
"Like looking in a mirror," David muttered, raising an eyebrow as his glance switched between Marko and this human boy.
"Mirror?" Marko asked.
The man stepped forward. "Marko?"
The vampire stepped back, leaning away from the man who had begun to lean in closer, narrowing his eyes as he observed Marko.
"You know me?" Marko asked.
"Marko, it's me… Leo."
"Who?"
"Leo." His tone was clipped this time. He took another sudden step towards Marko, close enough to start glaring down at him. Marko scowled back, feeling a growl rumble in his throat. Being towered over was almost threatening, even if he was a vampire. It was a move he didn't take kindly to.
"What the fuck are you playing at?" Leo asked and the woman grabbed his shoulder.
"Babe, our son," she said.
"Who the fuck are you?" Marko asked.
"Are you serious? What kind of joke are you pulling? You just take off like that, putting Mom and Dad through hell –."
"Mom and Dad?"
"What is wrong with you?" Leo growled. "Quit acting like you don't know me."
Marko was about to say he didn't. But it quickly clicked in his head what was happening and as soon as it did, the memories came. Mostly ones that involved a lot of shouting. By Marko and a much older man and woman.
"Leo…" Marko repeated and he nodded. "I get it. You're my brother."
His older brother bared his teeth. "Did you forget?"
"Yeah, I actually did." Marko chuckled, casually waving his loss of memories away. "I've forgotten a lot of things."
"You dick," Leo snapped. While he spat his words out, speaking through his teeth, there were tears in his eyes. "When you ran away, Mom and Dad were distraught."
There was a flash of another argument in Marko's mind. One where an older man, also blonde and curly haired, gestured to paintings around the room. A younger Marko stood near the doorway, his face twisted in a scowl as he listened to this man's rants on how art was a waste of time.
"From what I remember, my old man was controlling and pushy," Marko said. He shrugged casually. "Got in my way."
"Still no reason to put them through that torment. They thought you were dead."
Marko smirked. "Not quite."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Leo!" The woman next to Marko's brother grabbed his arm again. She turned to Marko and David. "We can't discuss this now. Something's happened. Can you help us?" She frowned in Leo's direction before she was crying again and she started looking around the park again.
"And what do you need help with?" David asked.
"Our son. He's gone missing."
"Oh dear," David said, his tone flat.
"We were just walking near the park. We were getting ready to cross the road but he disappeared." The woman looked around again. "He loves the park. He wanted to come in but we told him no. We had to go home."
Marko looked at Leo who had been snapped back into reality. His anger had faded, replaced with nervous lip biting and rubbing at the back of his neck. His watery eyes glimmered.
"It's dangerous for a kid to be out in the park at night," Marko said. "You never know who's lurking around."
"God, you don't even sound like you care!" Leo shouted. "That is your nephew, you know. But then again, you're the little brother who did a disappearing act. Eight years, Marko. You've been gone for eight years." He suddenly frowned again, eyes moving up and down as he took in his long lost brother's appearance. "You still look so young."
Marko raised his hand to his lips, smirking behind his fingers. "I age well."
"Please," the woman said, turning back to Marko and David. "Can you help us find our son?"
"Actually, it's probably best your son stays missing," David spoke up. He now stepped forward, the corners of his eyes creasing as he smirked at the woman. He turned to Marko. "I'm afraid we're going to have to sort this mess out."
Marko nodded. He had been staring at a blue vein on his brother's throat and he shrugged, dropping his hand from his mouth.
"Well, can't be discovered and have this fun taken away, can I?"
Leo took hold of his girlfriend's hand, suddenly feeling a chill down his spine as he watched his brother and his strange friend closely. Both boys had their eyes on them, focused and locked… on their throats. Leo raised his hand to the skin on his neck, gulping when Marko and David took a step closer.
"Marko –."
"Sorry, Leo. We probably had a good relationship. I can't exactly remember all the reasons I ran away but you're not part of those little memories I have left. I think it was mainly Dad. But things have kinda changed. Whatever relationship we had doesn't matter anymore."
Leo was moving his girlfriend behind him, stepping back every time the two vampires walked closer. It was almost becoming a game. Marko, at one point, had taken two steps forward, chuckling when Leo and his chick did the same. But now David was moving swiftly, quick to circle around the humans. They were in the middle of the vampires, almost back to back.
"What are you doing?" Leo's girlfriend asked. She squeezed her boyfriend's hand.
Marko allowed his eyes to glow, turning from blue to amber. He laughed as his brother's eyes widened and he backed into his girlfriend. Fear smelt and tasted so much better when it developed slowly and Marko made sure of that. There was horror in his brother when his eyes changed. But it grew stronger as he slowly changed his features. After his eyes had changed colour his smirk widened, his gums aching as his teeth lengthened into sharp points. That's when the screaming began from the humans. David had hurried his transformation, leering at Leo's girlfriend with his facial features completely altered. Showing his demonic appearance all at once.
"Marko, we need to feed now."
The young vampire gave a sigh but obeyed David's request. His skin prickled as bones shifted, cheekbones sharpened and defined. Forehead drooped, lumpy over his hooded eyes. His brother was barely able to take in Marko's appearance. He was right in front of Leo now, clawed hand wrapping around the back of his neck. Leo's scream was caught in his throat as Marko stretched his mouth open and dug his fangs into the skin, breaking through and rupturing a vein straight away. Leo's girlfriend was already limp in David's arms, hands and legs dangling lifelessly as the eldest vampire drank greedily from her throat.
"We'll need to leave tonight," David said, dropping the dead woman to the ground. She lay like a crumpled doll, still and silent with no life whatsoever. Leo was next to her, eyes shut with an almost peaceful expression. As if his death had been completely merciful. Marko studied his dead brother, now taking in how much he had aged. From those brief, dream-like memories, he could remember a baby faced young man in his early twenties. Always trying to be the reasonable middle man between two tempered males. A sixteen year old Marko and their forty-something father. Now Leo looked quite rugged, especially around the chin that was covered in short, blonde whiskers. There were already flashes of grey through his hair.
"I wonder where his son is," Marko said. He closed his eyes, trying to sense the tiniest of heartbeats, an indicator that another human might be nearby. But the park was silent. The only humans around were the dead ones lying on the grass.
"Unless you want to wait around and reunite the family, we need to dispose of these bodies." He bent down, scooping the woman up in his arms and he frowned at Marko. "I'm afraid it had to be done. He wouldn't have let you disappear again. Not with how angry he seemed."
"Oh, I get it," Marko said, shrugging lightly. "Shit will happen if vampires are exposed to the world. And I guess it was easier to get rid of these two than deal with a whole family."
"That's good you understand," David said. "Family can get in the way sometimes. Especially if the vampire still feels that attachment."
"Honestly, I think I detached myself the day I ran away. And that was when I was human." He picked up his brother, tossing him over his shoulder. "Whatever relationship I had with my parents wasn't a good one… at least, as soon I had my own ideas on what I wanted to do with my life."
Meadow Lake looked stunning at night. If Marko had been human he would have been visiting this very spot with his sketchbook and paints. And maybe he had done that in his old human life. Now it was perfect for a different thing. To dispose of dead bodies. David and Marko found large rocks that they stuffed in the couple's bloody coats and watched the corpses sink down when the boys tossed them in. They weren't too fussed if any of these victims bobbed back up or were discovered after a while. Rather than two noticeable puncture marks in the necks, all these victims throats had been torn apart in the boys' thirst. More like the work of a serial killer slashing throats open rather than the tidy holes of a vampire's bite.
"We need to go," David said and took off into the sky with Marko following behind him.
Thank you for reading. If you wish to leave a comment or follow/favourite, please feel free to. That would be very much appreciated. I'll post Chapter One up on Saturday. :) See you then!