Dying is a wild night and a new road – Emily Dickinson
Based between the two movies, gives a few answers: How did Sam and Alan become vampires, why did Edgar stay human, what happened to the comic book store? Involves OC moving to Santa Carla, meeting up with our fearless vampire hunters and making friends with some less savoury characters...
PROLOGUE
So, Santa Carla. Boardwalks, beaches and boredom. From the dizzying heights of a penthouse flat in London, to a large, renovated farmhouse on the outskirts of Santa Carla. Quite a shock to the system. Not exactly a bad thing though, as much as I loved London, I'd been on the verge of another trek abroad when my parents had announced the move. I was a restless spirit, travelling every six months; I couldn't stand staying in the same place for longer than that. I wasn't entirely happy we'd moved to such a small city, but it could have been worse. It was somewhere new, the beach was gorgeous, and there were new things to discover. I'm sure it'll keep me entertained for at least a month. After that? Well Europe was calling anyway, maybe it was finally time to visit Scandinavia...
CHAPTER 1
Damn sand! So maybe coming to the beach in trainers hadn't been the best idea in the world, but I hadn't exactly been planning on coming here. I'd decided to start exploring the local area by following the path that led from my house through the fields, never expecting to get very far. Turns out the road into town has to be at least twice as long as the paths through the fields and I'd emerged into civilisation much quicker than I'd ever have expected. After walking along the boardwalk for a few minutes, staring out at the sand, the temptation became too much and I'd jumped down onto the beach. It's been a while since I've been on a beach; I'd forgotten just how annoying sand could be. So I guess there's just one thing to do. Off with the shoes!!!
I bent down and removed my trainers and my socks, revelling in the feel of the warm sand beneath my feet. It felt so good! The last few years, my trips had consisted of cities and mountains; I'd forgotten the pure joy of sunshine on a lovely beach. I really could get used to this place.
I made my way slowly down the beach, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of Santa Carla. The atmosphere seemed so laid back, completely different from the hectic pace of London. I wanted to go for a swim but I didn't have a swimsuit with me and even with the strange attire of some of the folk on the beach, I wasn't quite ready to be swimming in my underwear. Well, there was always tomorrow. And the day after that, and the day after...
No, not yet. It was too soon for those type of thoughts. I was in a new place, I could at least enjoy the novelty for a couple of weeks before my wanderlust set in. It wasn't easy though, I knew what was coming. Two weeks here, maybe three, and it'd all set in the again. The feeling of futility, that I was wasting my life here, going nowhere. There was so much of this world yet to see, if I stayed in one place for too long a melancholy would set in that was impossible to exorcise. The only cure was to get out, start planning a new trip, save up the money, wallowing, feeling trapped, until I could set out and discover somewhere new, always searching for that one place that would satisfy me. Hell, who knows, maybe Santa Carla was it.
Somehow I doubt it though, I thought, watching two girls in bikinis walk by sniggering. Their anorexic bodies barely held their minuscule bikinis on and apparently my outfit of tank top and jeans did not make their grade. They did have a point though, as much as I was loathe to admit it, these jeans and trainers really weren't suited to a beach environment. I groaned in mock despair at the thought of having to shop for a new wardrobe. I was not a normal girl. I love new clothes, but the thought of walking around town, going into shop after shop, trying on endless outfits just did not interest me. Still it had to be done, and better now than putting it off until later and dreading it all the while.
Stepping off the beach I dusted off my feet and slipped my socks and trainers back on, grimacing as I did so at the instant, uncomfortable heat that encompassed my feet. Sandals, I needed sandals. I walked down the boardwalk a bit further in search of something other than arcades, tourist gift shops and bizarrely, a comic book store and soon found a road leading to a more commercial area. The rest of the morning and early afternoon was spent in a horror of trudging around shops, getting repeatedly assaulted by overeager salespeople desperate to sell me most of their stock. By the end of it I was laden down with packages and promising myself I would never, ever go clothes shopping again. From now on the Internet was my friend, as was mail order. On the plus side I'd switched my trainers for sandals, giving my feet some much needed air on the walk home. See, there's my silver lining to an otherwise horrific day of shopping.