A/N: Based on The Last Exorcism(2009)
"Angie? You alright, kiddo?" Daniel smirked at her from the driver's seat. "You look a little on edge."
The young woman, perhaps no older than eighteen, shrugged passively. Her posture was slack, her expression a touch wary as she admitted, "It's my first time away from home."
"Aw, that's adorable." The camera man cackled. His grin was wide on his plain features. Daniel had been getting his jollies poking fun at the newb for the past hour and a half. He knew she hated him for it, but didn't particularly give a damn. His lips twitched faintly as he reminded her, "You're the one who volunteered."
"Yeah, I volunteered to be the sound bitch for a documentary. You-" She pointed at chipped nail at him, "- the absentminded bastard that you are, apparently, forgot to mention that it was for a freakin' exorcism."
"I thought you were atheist?" He asked, numb to her insults. He nimbly flicked on the turn signal as they slowly approached the good reverend Cotton Markus' house. The speed limit was twenty, and frankly Dan was a tad ashamed to be going it. Being in suburbia was one thing, being co-operative with its laws and regulations, was another.
"Shut up!" Angela shrieked. Her indignity aside, there was genuine worry on her face. "My mom might hear you!"
Cackling, the crew member declared, "We're over three hundred miles from your house!"
Angie pursed her lips. "You have no idea how strong that woman's hearing is. And I am. But I don't believe in tempting fate, either."
The older man rolled his eyes at her naivety. "Whatever," He mumbled; pulling into Cotton's parking lot. "Just try and keep your head in check, okay? We don't need any frightened school girls on this trip."
Angela blushed faintly and moved to get out of the car. She knew this was a break for her. She still had two years left of film school, and that plenty of other candidates had applied. She also knew she wasn't the first choice. Two others had come first, and knowing this did nothing to ease Angie's already frayed nerves. Daniel's constant reminders of that weren't exactly helping her self-esteem either. With a grunt, she heaved her camera and recording equipment to the back for Daniel to survey.
A brunette woman waved at them from the preacher's front porch and Angie raised a hand to wave back.
"Don't be a suck up, Cassidy." Daniel muttered under his breathe. When the girl quickly dropped her hand, he snickered. The blonde shot him a glare but waited patiently for his approval on her gear. After a few seconds of making sure everything was there, he nodded, "Looks like you're all set. Glad you followed my checklist so thoroughly."
Angie smiled tightly at him and grabbed her bag from his trunk. The man didn't bother to help her with her things, but did shoot her a smile that was a touch warmer than it had been.
"Come on, I'll introduce you."
"Have you worked with Mr. Markus before?"
Daniel shook his head. "Nah. But he seems like an okay guy. Iris is pretty cool too." He smirked at her. "For a producer."
The girl mouthed the woman's name, and perhaps shallowly doubted her capabilities based of it. Iris. Like the song or like the flower? Either way, Angie thought the woman should have it changed. Absently she followed the man up the stairs to where said woman named Iris stood.
She was a tall, lithe pretty woman in her mid-thirties, with dark eyes and pale skin. She nodded to the man, "Hey Dan," When her gaze fell on the younger woman she cocked a brow. "Aren't you a little young to be-"
"Throwing away my college fund for a shot in the dark documentary?" Angela offered with a tight smirk on her tan features. "I know." She glared at the back of Dan's head. "He's been saying that for the past hour."
Iris chuckled and ushered her in. "Well, as long as you're qualified."
"She is." Daniel promised her. He held up his fingers; thumb an inch or so away from his index finger. "Just barely."
"I'm Iris."
"Angie." The women shook hands. The younger swallowed uncomfortably. "Uh, any place I could set up or…?"
"Of course, come on, I'll introduce you to the Markus'."
The producer smiled and led the pair into the dining room where a man, woman, and child sat playing cards. Upon the newest crew members' arrival, the adults promptly stood. The boy was content to wave (and while his parents were distracted, peek at their cards). Angie returned the gesture with a nod.
"Good to have you back, Daniel," The man greeted as he shook the camera man's hand. His features were handsome, if not a touch tired, and his build solid.
His wife, on the other hand, was friendlier toward the new comer. She took in the young woman's short, cropped hair and baggy jean shorts. Typical college kid. "You must be Angie."
"That's what they call me." The blonde shrugged. Again she shook the woman's hand. "Good to meet you, ma'am."
"Likewise. I'm Shannon, this is our son, Justin." The woman motioned for her son to come over, but the boy stayed put. Angela suppressed a smile at this. Shannon sighed and apologized on behalf of her son's rude behavior, but it was waved off easily enough.
"Angela? Cotton Markus, pleasure to meet you miss."
Yet again, the young blonde shook the preacher's hand. "Ditto, Mr. Markus."
"Please," The man smiled at her, "Call me Cotton." Clapping his hands together, his smile widened to a grin. "So! Shall we get this show on the road?"
Daniel nodded and slapped Angie on the back. "Come on, kiddo; time to learn how to set up a tripod!"
"I know how to set up a tripod!" The girl snapped at him. She trailed after him with a scowl on her face, "I'm not completely incompetent, ya know!"
Cotton and Iris shared a look. Shannon snickered at their anxious features. It was going to be a long trip.
A/N: Okay, first chapter to a fic I bet nobody reads. I would like to thank my beta thekkid. Once again, take a gander at the rating and please don't send me hate me over it. I am within guidelines.
