nothing's mine except people you don't recognize
GET ON THE BIKE
I woke up to sunlight hitting me dead center in the retina. I brought up my arm and hissed, shielding my eyes poorly from the evil ball of gas in the sky. I shoved the blanket off of me and the next one until there was nothing on me but my clothes. I sat up groggily and yawned, sliding on my blue and red sweatshirt. It was around one o' clock most likely and my stomach was growling like no other. My stomach was a Hell hound and I was a vessel…awesome. I looked up to the ceiling as and slipped on my shoes, the girls were huddled in the darkest corner of the warehouse, dead asleep to the world. I contemplated throwing a rock at Dana but I decided against it and instead retrieved my left over money from last night.
I. was. Starving. I rubbed my nose gingerly as I made my way down the stairs, sliding against the wall as I tried to wake up more. Last night seemed like a dream. David, Dwayne, Marko and Paul seemed like some dangerous, edgy fantasy. I stepped outside into the alleyway and hopped on Claire's bike…which actually used to be mine. I thought about Claire's words last night as I pulled into the street, trying to sniff out a breakfast burrito joint. We'd be staying put for about a year, maybe even more if Dana didn't kill anyone and the girls would be gone for a week or more at random. I smiled and pulled down to the Pier. I could get a job; hang out with the Frog's and party at the Boardwalk every night. Sleep half the day and party all night seemed to be the motto I was going for now, I smiled again and pulled up as I spotted a burrito van.
That pain in my chest was gone now I noticed; I didn't feel like someone was tugging on my stomach to go all sorts of different directions. I slowed next to the video store and stared for a few seconds before I headed off to park my bike. God, it felt like I was being pulled to them though, like they were calling me.
Or that could easily be the hunger talking.
I bought my food and sat down on the pier, my feet dangling over the edge as I watched people surf and boogie board in the sparkling sea. The sun warmed my skin nicely as I watched the clear sky slowly pop out clouds. The girls would be asleep for several more hours before they'd start patrolling again. I looked up from my half-finished burrito as a gull landed a few feet away from me. I never understood why they couldn't just eat animals, like birds. They were annoying and always woke me up in the morning, but, if they started chomping on dogs and horses I may have to kill them. I tossed my burrito wrapper in the trashcan and walked around the bird before I headed off to the Frog's comic shop.
Everything was so much different during the day, old couples and older people in general just milled around, shopping for trinkets.
I passed through the barn door look-alike of the shop before I stood looking at the stoned hippies behind the counter. They didn't look at all like Edgar and Allen. I shook my head, listening for any Frog brother; I could feel them here somewhere.
"Angela."
"Gah!" I jumped, whacking the hand on my shoulder away before looking into Edgar's surprised face. I glared for a second as he picked up a small box, "Jesus Edgar, don't sneak up on people like that."
"Sorry." He said, not sounding sorry at all, "It's a habit."
"Where's your brother?"
"Out getting ammunition." Edgar began re-shelving with some difficulty, the muscles under his camouflage t-shirt straining, "What are you doing here?"
"Figured I'd stop by and get that comic from last night and…uhm, do you need any help?" I watched as Edgar struggled to put a stack of comics in the tiny crevice. He grumbled in denial but I grabbed an arm full anyway and shoved some into their cubby hole. He huffed.
"Thanks."
"No problem. So, what do you and your brother do? You never told last night."
"You'd laugh at us."
I stared at Edgar; there was definitely some pain behind those words. I compared him silently to the other boys in all my schools; comic books, odd dress code…they would have gotten picked on a lot. They probably still do despite the muscles and matured faces, people still considered comics lame. I sighed and stuck a Batman in its slot. Then again, I always got picked on as well.
"Try me. I promise I won't think any different of you."
"…We hunt. Not deer or anything. Bigger stuff." He said softly, looking around carefully but we were the only ones in the store, "We hunt things that murder people here in Carla. Vampires and ghouls are our specialty."
"Ghouls?"
"Yep. As a matter of fact we're almost certain ghouls and werewolves occupy high positions in City hall." Edgar set down the empty box and picked up another, "You think we're freaks don't you…"
"No! Of course not, I'm still processing info here Ed. So, stakes and holy water for the vampire's right? Have you ever offed a vamp or…ghoul?"
"Don't forget garlic. When garlic doesn't work, use the Holy water. We haven't gotten any ghouls yet. Vampires, we tried a few years ago. They got away. We've been perfecting our arsenal though, practicing on pillows and road kill."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. A few years ago we tried to protect a family from a group of chick vamps that preyed on them. Our weapons were weak and they were strong. The family didn't make it and Allen and I almost didn't either."
"I'm sorry…how many vampire girls were there?"
"Three I think. They haven't come back but they've probably changed their looks since then. They wreaked havoc in Santa Carla for a year with another group of vamp guys. After our face-off with them the violence stopped on their side."
"There's another group in Santa Carla?" I felt my blood race…if Claire was the vampire Edgar was talking about then there was another group here as well.
"Not anymore. They ran outta town. But if I ever see those chicks again…" Edgar stared off into space for a moment before shaking his head and went back to shelving along with me.
"So…let's just say this. I've got a vampire problem but I've known these people for a while and just found out about their secret, what would you recommend?"
"Stake through the heart or chop off their heads…killing the Head vampire would come in handy though." Edgar looked up as his brother entered the shop on a bike with a full backpack.
Allen nodded to us and threw the bag over the counter before coming over. Great, so if I wanted to end my time with the girls I'd either have to chop off their heads and dodge their super punches or kill some Head vampire…no help there whatsoever.
"What're you doing back?" Allen asked, meeting us halfway through the store. I picked up the Vampires Everywhere! comic on the shelf.
"Came for this, told'ja I'd come back didn't I?" I pocketed the comic as best as I could into my sweatshirt pocket, "By the way. What do you guys do to pass the time in Santa Carla? Since I gotta watch my neck and all now."
"This is our fun." Edgar pulled something from his pocket, "Try getting a daytime job, and wear this during the night."
Edgar dropped a silver necklace into my open palm and I turned it over under the musty light. It was a small, hand-made crucifix in the shape of two stakes. I brought it closer to my face trying to read the writing.
"What's it say?"
"Frog Brother's." The Frogs both said. I looked at them skeptically.
"And this will…?"
"It's a stake crucifix. If a vampire touches the metal it'll burn him. Allen laced it with holy water in each chain."
I looked to the serious boy when I noticed the small chain moving slightly under the light like it was filled with liquid.
"You're…wow."
"I was going to go to the Army and specialize in bombs but I figured the vampires should be wiped first." Allen said proudly. I hooked the chain around my neck and let the 'stakifix' rest coolly under my shirt. I smiled at them.
"Thanks."
"No problem…we uh…." Edgar fumbled for words, "Everyone thinks we're freaks but you…."
"I get it. Really. Well, I think now's the time to start searching for a job so I'll see you guys later?" I started backing up as Edgar looked to Allen and nodded.
"If you can't find something safe, you can always stay here."
"Thanks Edgar. Bye Allen." I turned away, pulling the comic out of my pocket and clasped it in my hand again.
"Come by tonight!" I heard one of them yell through the door. I smiled and shook my head to myself. Boys.
It was around five o'clock before I ended up at Max's Video Store. I had been wandering around aimlessly for two hours after the Frog intermission. Teens were starting to filter into the Boardwalk for some fun until midnight, well it was a Friday night so they were probably going to stay until past midnight actually. I slid off my bike and walked into the building, brushing my bangs back into a bobby pin again. I stared at my reflection for a minute. I showered regularly so I wasn't disgusting or anything and I brushed my teeth and had good hygiene…I just looked…tired and exhausted. I felt empty too; I missed my dad a lot and my mom. Maybe I was just missing a mother's hug. I sighed and entered the store anyways, heading up to where a petite black girl was at. She smiled and leaned forward as I leaned in; the music in here was a bit to loud.
"Can I help you with anything?"
"Yeah, I saw you wanted some help? Job?" I motioned to the board in the front of the store. She nodded and motioned to the back of the store with manicured fingers where there was a red door.
"The manager's back there! His name's Max and he'll talk everything over with you!" She smiled and watched me walk away before the bell chimed for another customer.
I took in a deep breath as I came up to the door. If this didn't work out then the Frog bro's were my last resort. Which wasn't bad, we had a good friendship going with the three of us. I knocked on the door and nearly stumbled back as a man with wide rimmed glasses opened it with a smile. I gave a cautious smile back as he stared at me.
"Hi, can I help you?"
"I'm here for the job…thingy." I took in his appearance. He nodded and put a hand on my shoulder.
Tall, square face, bright smile and…shoulder pads, okay I think that era passed like two years ago. He ushered me into the quiet room which opened up to be his office. I took a seat in a leather chair as he sat back in his own.
"So, you said you're here for the job am I correct?" he smiled and folded his hands on his desk, leaning forward.
"Yeah…yeah."
"You're new here aren't you? Sorry, I've been around for a long time. I know a lot of people." He took out some papers and set them on his desk, "What's your name, birth date, age and relatives' names I can contact?"
"Yeah actually, we just moved here not to long ago. But, I'm Angela Collins. October first, I'm sixteen and I live with my sisters. Our parents died in a car crash." I fidgeted, the girls would rip this man to shreds too if he tried contacting them. He nodded, jotting the information down.
"And who are you're sisters?"
"Claire, Meg and Dana Collins." I fumbled, "They're going out of town soon though so…it might be kind of hard to track them down when they're getting everything ready." I added as a side note as Max completely stilled. He stared down at the paper; his face was an unreadable mask as he slowly took off his glasses and placed them on the table before looking at me again.
"I'm sorry, who were your sisters again?"
"…Claire, Meg and Dana…"
"Sorry. I just came in from San Francisco a few hours ago. I must be getting tired." Max snapped out of the phase he was in and slipped his glasses back on cheerfully, writing down the names. I laughed politely.
"What's up in San Fran?"
"Trying to expand my business, it's why I'm never here during the day." He shuffled the papers and put them back in his desk, "Well Angela Collins, you're hired. You can start tomorrow if you want, you know, talk everything out with your sisters. You'll begin at three to five until we get our last worker in and the times will change."
We stood up at once, me smiling with joy that I found a job and him with a smile of careful surveillance. I shook his rough hand as we walked back to his door.
"Thanks uh…"
"You can just call me Max. I have a feeling we'll be getting close during your new stay here in Santa Carla."
"Thanks Max." I stepped into the video store with the hanging triangles and circles in the ceiling. Max smiled as he began to shut the door again.
"See you around Angela."
The red door closed and I shook my head. That guy was so freaking weird, like, I'd run away if I saw him on the street. I mean, I get older people wore shoulder pads but like he had two more jackets hanging up that had elbow and shoulder pads. Guy was still stuck in the old fashion statement. Nobody wore those anymore. The girl at the front smiled as I walked by.
"Did you get it?"
"Yeah! I did." I smiled and leaned on the counter, "I'm Angela by the way."
"Charlotte. You start tomorrow right?" she shook my hand and pushed back her braid. I nodded.
"At three I think."
"What did you think of Max?" she whispered. I made a face and she did too, we both laughed, "He's a character isn't he?"
"Totally. Does he wear shoulder pads everywhere?"
"Oh girl, thank god I wasn't the only one who noticed that!" she laughed and slapped my arm playfully. I smiled and moved as a mother came up with her kid. Charlotte grinned widely and waved as I walked to the door, "Bye Angela, see ya tomorrow."
"See ya later Charlotte." I waved and stepped out into the clear night. I made my way to my bike and eyed the lit up Pier.
It was like I was normal again.
The Boardwalk never ends or falters for an intermission, it just loops around and around continuously like a forever-turning carousel. We were back in the night life of the neon Boardwalk. The girls and I were sitting outside an ice cream shop talking about different things, well they were I was trying to sift through the crowd for any familiar face. I was supposed to meet up with Edgar and Allen at the concert stage up above where the railings were at but I had a clear view of the stage and I didn't see them yet. Anyways, I had told Claire about my new job and she had had the same reaction as Max did. She went stoic and repeated the question twice before she snapped out of it and congratulated me. I shook it off though, Claire did have her moments. I shifted in my seat and bumped Meg's leg on accident, she stared at me.
"What's your problem?"
"What? Nothing, I don't have a problem."
"Ever since the other night you're all jumpy and open…" she sniffed the air around me and I pulled back, "I liked you better when you were a silent toad."
"Shut up Meg. It's nice Angela's finally opening up and acting herself around us." Claire lazily brushed a finger through her hair, "But she does have a point. Who's the lucky guy Angie?"
"Nobody! Why must you keep suspecting I'm having an affair? I just have two friends, that's it I swear." I tried to hide a smile at my unconscious memory of the Frog's. Dana snorted.
"You're totally hanging out with them on a date tonight aren't you? Angie and her boyfriends, she's gonna be like you Claire. Love 'em and leave 'em."
"I don't recall that." Claire's eyes flashed dangerously at Dana's comment, "And I would drop the next sentence out of your mouth if I were you."
"Someone didn't get a sweet one last night." Meg whispered, knowing we'd all hear it. Claire reached over and tried to slap her but ended up whacking the table instead. We laughed and the subject was dropped. Like I said, the girls were nice and fair to me. Sometimes I could imagine we were all human and real sisters and were just waiting for our parents to pick us up.
But that was only a fantasy.
Claire turned back to me, a grin still set on her beautiful lips as she sat back comfortably. Meg and Dana got up, stretching in their skimpy clothing as their eyes roamed over every body moving in the crowds.
"Why don't you go? Try to find those guys; we'll be turning in early as usual. I'll leave a bike here for you."
"Sure Claire. I'll see you later." I nodded, already getting up as I caught a glimpse of a red bandana ascending the steps. I gave her a hug and without another word I worked my way through the people and to the stairs.
By the time I reached the steps, recovering from the heat and the process of having my bubble invaded multiple times, the girls were gone from the table and I was free to the night once again. I pushed my way up the steps and slowed down through the high hallway, opting to sit on a thick rail and hug the pillar next to me as I watched the music below me and waited for the articulate Frog brothers.
I had ditched the scratchy sweatshirt earlier and the spandex shorts. I was donned tonight in a tighter (damn-more comfortable) sweatshirt and leggings with swirls going everywhere. I felt like a normal teenager again, fresh out of school for the summer. I fit in for the first time in Santa Carla. My legs swung back and forth freely as I moved my body to the new music. Capello was still in town I heard but he wasn't playing for a couple more nights. My heart beat to the sound of the deep bass drum and I closed my eyes, my senses exploding everywhere.
I could feel the ground shake beneath me, I could hear each pluck of the guitar's notes, I could feel the way the singer shifted each note in his voice, and I could hear the emotion in the song and the pounding of the yells and off key singing coming from the crowd. I opened my eyes and saw each light, each breath people took and looked to the moon where the deep grey crevices moved like dust in the wind. I could feel everything and it was wonderful. I could hear the bikers down in their 'parking' hall and the roar of engines coming in. I snapped my head around as the deep growls of bikes caught my ears…that tug in my chest tore again like a bad ache. My heart twisted like I had seen my boyfriend with another girl as I searched through the crowd in frenzy. They were here, I could feel them somewhere I just knew it. My grip on the pillar slipped and I flailed in fear.
"Angela!"
An arm wrapped around my waist and weighed me down heavily as I slammed my hands around the railing beneath me again. I stared down at the crowd below me, letting out a soft breath before I let my savior pull me back. I smiled weakly into Edgar's face as he helped me up on shaky legs.
"Hi…thanks." I shook out the nerves as Edgar stuck his hands in his flannel pockets and we began walking down the hall close to my side, "How are you?"
"I'm good. Allen's at the store closing it up. Friday's let in thieves and we've got some important stuff in the store."
"I don't blame you, teenagers. Can't trust the lot of them." I smiled as Edgar smiled to himself and scratched his arm.
"Are you wearing the necklace?" he asked suddenly as we turned onto the main part of the Boardwalk where the games were. I fished out the metal from under my shirt. He nodded in relief, "I saw the suckers again, all three of them. They're back for sure."
"And you let them go?" I asked in surprise, "If you're a Hunter aren't you supposed to like, kill on sight or something?"
"Santa Carla isn't ready to face what's going on in the night. Killing a vampire in their eyes would only make everyone laugh. Learn from our mistakes."
"When you tried to kill the girls a few years ago." I realized silently, Edgar just nodded quickly and kicked a patch of sand with the heel of his toe.
"Nobody believed us; no one does to this day still even though we had proof." Edgar dodged a spiky blonde-haired kid in weird clothing. I sidestepped an older guy with curly brown hair as I focused on Edgar.
"You had proof?"
"I said the family died, I never said how all right? The kid in the family was a good friend of mine, he got turned to try and save his brother. We had to kill them both." Edgar drew into himself as we slowed down next to the Pier railing, "He was alive for days even though we jammed a stake through him. Police thought it was a good horror show for us geeks to perform."
"Wow…well, you never really can trust older people. They think everything's a joke." I leaned over the rail and looked out to the dark sea.
Edgar nodded in agreement and we fell into a comfortable silence for twenty minutes, just staring out at the sea.
I grimaced suddenly, that ache in my chest starting up again, I passed it off with a cough as Edgar looked to me with light brown eyes. I smiled past the pain and waved off any question he had for me. I looked through the crowd as Edgar went off about something he and Allen had been discussing earlier about methods of killing…something, I couldn't really tell past the throbbing in my head. Edgar leaned against the rail with his back and I jumped.
"Hey, do you mind of I go to the bathroom real quick?" my chest jerked again and Edgar shook his head.
"No, I need to go find Allen anyways…I'll find you!" He called after me as I turned around and began walking away already. I nodded and waved back to him, going past the tempting smells of food. I really need to like, vomit or something. I pushed past a lovey-dovey couple and eyed the bathroom twenty feet in front of me.
Angela…
My stomach jerked to the left and I cried out, nearly tripping over a little kid. God! What the hell was that?! I opened my eyes and took a step forwards when I dimly felt a hand on my shoulder. The pain ebbed away as I stared into happy blue eyes.
"Paul."
"Angela! Thought I sniffed you out! Hey Marko! Guess what I caught!" Paul wrapped an arm around me, hugging me to him as Marko appeared, his eyes sweeping the crowd until they landed on us. Marko smiled happily as he saw me.
"Angela!" Marko smiled and wrapped me in his arms in an instant. I smiled, the pain completely leaving me as Marko's warm breath ghosted over my neck. I hugged him back and let go, stepping back to look at the both of them, "What're you doing here?"
"Hanging out. What about you two? Is David and Dwayne with you?" I folded my arms and smiled as Paul laughed and plucked a piece of candy from my hair.
"Hanging with who? You're all alone." Paul tossed it to the ground and I shrugged.
"Come hang with us. David and Dwayne left for something and we're bored." Marko suggested slyly, grinning from behind his nails, "I promise we won't kidnap you."
"Because that makes me want to hang out with you."
"Aw come on girl," Paul laughed, already tugging me through the crowd somewhere by the hand as Marko trailed after us. I laughed and went along, curious as to what these guys, who looked so edgy and dangerous from far away and kind of cuddly up close had in mind.
Dragging me around continuously in circles was what they had in mind. Especially Paul.
My head spun around as I keeled over the side of the pier, watching as nothing but blue and red spit spilled into the sea. I coughed and wiped my mouth with my jacket as Paul and Marko came around a corner, smiling wildly. So far they had made me run around with them in circles on the beach, taunting the Surf Nazi's from the night before. Eating candy with Marko until our tongues turned blue and then drinking this red slushie and spewing it out of my nose when I saw Paul get hit in the head with a purse by an old woman. Now that has led me here, feeling like I'm going to throw up but nothing is coming out and that heavy feeling of lead is now sitting in the bottom of my stomach. I straightened up as Marko slid up next to me closely, his arm going around my waist as he pulled me against him. I didn't mind them being so touchy after a while…it was nice. To be held by someone. Marko seemed more comfortable with it than Paul though, I didn't mind. I leaned into Marko's weight and ducked my head next to his neck and groaned in pain, he laughed.
"I think she had too much fun." Paul snickered behind us, I smelt smoke billow around us as Paul lit up, "Besides, it's getting early."
"Do…do you want to come with us? David and Dwayne pulled up not long ago." Marko grinned as he began pulling me across the pier by the hand. I stuttered in my step as we walked through throngs of people again, "I promise we don't have chainsaws."
"Very funny."
"Seriously, come back with us. You won't regret it." Paul egged, his eyes twinkling in the moonlit firelight as we made our way to where I first conversed with the Boys. I just nodded slowly and followed, feeling an odd dread creep through my body. As we got closer and closer I felt that odd dread turn into that painful tug in my chest.
"Look what the cats dragged in!" Paul shouted over the crowd, waving his arms wildly over his head happily to the two men seated on the bikes. My eyes met David's hesitantly before he gave a leering smile. Marko's fingers tightened around mine as he leaned on me haphazardly.
"Angela…having a nice night?"
"David, nice to see you again." I shifted as Marko smiled and bit his nails, "Well, if Paul is done trying to kill me, I think my night's been just peachy."
"Angela's gonna ride with us." Paul chimed in, suddenly appearing over my other shoulder. David frowned, his eyes flashing for a second, "Said we get to kidnap her for a bit."
"All right I never said that." I slapped Paul's hand away from me and stuck out my tongue. Paul just grinned goofily.
"So, Angela." David began, revving his monster to life as he stomped out his cigarette. Paul and Marko drifted away like the wind and I found myself standing alone facing the four boys, "You wanna come along then?"
"…I said I would…"
"Angela!"
I froze and spun around, the icy cold voice echoing in my head as I came face to face with glowing yellow eyes and silver hair. I stepped back, the backs of my knees hitting David's tires.
Angela, get away." I turned to find Claire on her motorcycle, Dana and Meg behind her glaring death at the boys behind me, "Angela, get on behind me."
I was scared, Claire was pissed. Her eyes flashing dangerous colors and I swore I saw some blood on her top, making her look sinister looking. Her perfect hair was slightly tangled, damn she was scary. Dana and Meg looked the same, snarls on their faces.
"My offer is open still Angela…come with us." David whispered as the boys behind me revved their engines in impatience and snarled at my girls too, he pulled up a little bit next to me so he was sideways in front of me, ready to go.
"Angie. Get. On. My. Bike. Now," Claire hissed, "get on you little shit."
"Get on Angela, we're gonna rip you to shreds if you don't." Dana growled, popping her knuckles for exaggeration. Meg actually growled like an animal, thank god it was so low noone could hear it. I watched as Claire slowly slid off her bike, I took in a deep breath when she landed on the ground and took a threatening step towards me, I turned to look at David who was smiling widely at me, then smirked wildly at Claire, as if he already knew who I was going to pick. I stepped towards Claire half an inch before turning and twirling back. David helped me onto his bike quickly while Claire stood there shocked as I sat myself behind David and wrapped my arms around his waist. David's muscles tensed as he twisted the…nozzle thing. I didn't know much about bikes.
Claire took an angry step forwards but before she could lay a hand on us Paul rode between David, me, Claire, Meg, and Dana, she jumped back in angry shock as everyone else rode between us, Marko was left and I saw David's right side of his face turn up into a smirk before revving his engine tauntingly, as if he wanted to…
"Get them!" Claire screamed, scrambling to get onto her bike. Marko hollered and took off, David pulled after him.
When people say as fast as a jet plane when they ride, they literally mean, as fast as a jet planemy head whipped back and I felt something crack in my neck as David pulled to the left, my heart was racing, another part of me was scared because I barely knew David, Marko, Dwayne and Paul. It was so scary, I'm usually a quiet person who hated creating problems but now, now I was creating a ton of them. I couldn't help but look over my shoulder, the girls finally getting their bikes to go at a fast speed, I yelled in surprise as we went flying over the stairs and into the sand below, creating waves and sprays of the tiny pebbles around us. I saw the rest of the boys slowing down a fraction so David could, I assume, lead. Marko raced besides us on the left with Dwayne and Paul flanking on the other. I could hear the girls screaming at us, I smiled and buried my face in David's shoulder he smelt…really nice actually. Water sprayed over my legs as we raced through the surf, turning it to a fine mist, hopefully to fly into the girls' faces if they were closing in on us.
The others hollered and hooted as we raced across the sand, weaving back and forth behind us a little ways. I wanted to scream with them surprisingly, it was like I was flying and free, even though I could sense that the girls were really close, I heard the very familiar sound of Claire's motorcycle. I saw her pull up beside us, where Marko was. Dana and Meg were weaving in and out of the other boys' way, trying to throw them off. They were just laughing and having a good time. I stared at Claire as she closed in on us, reaching out a hand to try and pull me off; she looked beyond pissed and angry. David laughed coldly before turning sharply and swerving around a trashcan on fire, I felt the heat, it was so strong. That was when I noticed the pier and the debris beneath it.
"David…!"
"Hold on tight!" he yelled back happily, enjoying that I was screaming inside. Besides us Claire caught on and looked in confusion at to where I was eyeing. The boys came up beside us, weaving in front of Claire and kicked up sand in her face with their bikes. I focused on how she either didn't care or didn't notice anymore, all I knew is that if she drove a little closer she'd have me in her grip. Dana and Meg pulled up and started reaching for me on the other side, I gripped David's waist tighter, squeezing my eyes shut.
David happily yelled in response to the hoots and laughter of the others as he threaded his way between the broke, shattered pieces of wood. The girls were forced to pull back and focus on weaving in and out without getting caught in the mess while we pushed ahead at breakneck speed. David handled his bike with power and strength, as if it was a challenge for him to drive the roaring monster. It was like the bike was a part of him. We broke out from under the pier in a haze, the girls not far behind, rocketing through an area of soft dunes. I let my grip on David's waist tighten, if that was even possible, as we headed towards the sandy end of the track we were on. David slowed down and swiveled the bike around, watching as the girls closed in on us. I began to shake my head and pull on David's coat.
"David…David c'mon, please let's go. David!"
David turned around again, letting up waves of sand as e raced down the rest of the beach until we hit the road where everyone else was waiting at, yelling and hollering like mad men. David turned around in a full 180 degrees angle again so we were facing them, I couldn't see them but their silhouettes were clear.
"Go home!" Paul yelled, getting whoops from Marko and Dwayne.
The girls turned and left, roaring away. There was a second of silence before everyone erupted once again in hollers, I smiled and high fived Marko as David bumped fists with Dwayne. Paul clapped me on the back before David turned around, racing against everyone this time as we took off down the street into the night.
After about twenty minutes of hollers and tires squealing on the pavement David veered off to the left, zipping past stores and shoppers and drunken people on the streets and then onto a dirt path, and zipped through the trees, winding effortlessly through bushes and tree trunks. We burst through the trees as a path appeared, train tracks snaked over the grassy space beneath us.
Guiding us effortlessly over the ties, David's bike roared menacingly as the trees began to thin and the trestle disappeared behind us, the ground became lighter and the air smelled more like salt than the musky scent of the forest. Eventually we skidded to a halt atop a large, grassy bluff; the ground fell off to a thousand million billion feet into the ocean as it crashed in front of us. I gasped for breath when I had looked down and turned my face the other way to not accidently heave everywhere.
"So…glad you came with us?" Marko laughed as he got off his bike, the second David turned off his own I let out a big gust of air. I nodded slowly as David slid off, "You're sisters were bitches, just sayin'."
"Tell me about it…I can't…" my eyes glued to the indentation of David's jacket on the seat…I could never go back to them now. The only people who I could call, or kind of call family. They'd want me dead.
"Let's get inside boys." David called out as Paul helped me off the bike, he tucked me under his arm as we followed the others up to where a staircase started. I pulled away from Paul and stood alone on the top of the stairs.
They were built on a hill…a freaking steep hill. I looked to my right as my shoulder scratched against a sign. CONDEMNED. I pursed my lips and tapped the wooden rail…great. I scuffed the toe of my shoe as Paul stopped a couple dozen stairs down below me.
"Come on Angela!"
"Coming…in death…"
When I managed to go down the rest of the steps with Paul patiently waiting every few seconds for me and cracking jokes to make me not trip and fall over, I found myself was walking across a rickety platform with water spilling over it. Paul grinned and ducked into a massive dark hole embedded into the side of the cliff. My hand enclosed over a rock as I stepped into the black hole. I couldn't see a thing.
"Let's go." Marko whispered in my ear. I jumped and suddenly found myself whooshing through the salty air before I was collapsing onto thin dirt and an old Victorian rug. I looked up.
This place was from the past, built from old Victorian furniture and old…everything. It was amazing. A mix of burgundy, yellow, blood red and black filled my vision as I slowly got to my feet. The boys milled around me with smiles on their faces as they made themselves at home. I was in some hotel…there was a broken down elevator in the far right part of the cave and a fountain in the middle of the place with a chandelier stuck in it. Paul was dancing around it with a cigarette dangling in between his lips. A poster of someone from The Who or The Doors was hanging limply on the far wall in front of me. There was a velvet looking deep purple four poster bed with sheets hanging down from it in the corner of the right cave area. It looked comfortable, pillows and blankets lined it…it looked like a cloud. There was a canopy with thin sheets trailing overhead on all four-six walls of the cave, giving it a homey ethereal feeling. I turned around in circles, smiling as I looked above me. Christmas lights. There were old statues dotting around, most of them were missing arms and heads but the effort was there. Tiny things hung from the ceiling halfway down, tinkering in the wind that came in from the cave entrance, a tiny sliver of moonlight leaked in through the walls and flew onto the side of my face.
"This was the hottest resort in Santa Carla back some years ago." David walked around em in a slow circle as he gestured around him, "It's a shame they built it on the San Andes Fault."
"It really is…"
"In 1906, when the big one hit San Fransico the ground opened up, this place took a header into the crack and," he slapped his hands together with a leering smile, "now it's ours."
"So check it out Angie." Paul smirked atop the fountain. I laughed and hopped up there with him as David collapsed into a regal throne next to the fountain, "Think this is the best place ever?"
"Yeah, I really do." I smiled as Paul hopped around me. Marko hopped up as well and leaned on me again, "You guys…do you live here? I mean, you said this used to be a resort."
"There's…places to sleep yeah, if you're asking." David eyed me carefully, "But I wouldn't trust going back there."
He motioned to another cave opening. I nodded to myself and jumped down softly, the strings on my jacket hit me in the face. David kicked out a rolling chair that had been next to him. I stopped it with my foot and spun it around.
"You guys really live here…where's your parents? Siblings?"
"Dead. Died a long time ago." David answered coldly, "and now I guess your 'sisters' want you the same way."
"God…I can't believe…I can't believe I actually did that." I collapsed in the chair and put my head on my hands, breathing heavily through my nose. I looked back up at David, "…how did you know that I was going to come with you guys?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You knew." I pressed, wheeling myself closer to the bleach blonde as much as I dared. David sighed and threw a leg over the arm of the chair before settling back.
"I knew because you were already walking to us…doesn't take a scientist to figure it out Angela." He lit up a cigarette, "But apparently to you it does."
"Oh shut up." I huffed, smiling to myself as I crossed my legs in the chair and watched Paul and Marko chase each other around the fountain. Dwayne was on several mattresses dozing off.
"So, you gonna stick around then? Not much out there besides…well, nothing." Paul laughed, running by me as he dodged the smaller blonde. I wrapped my arms around myself and looked around again.
"There's not much I can do…I guess."
"Marko!" David bellowed suddenly, I jumped in my chair then glared as he smirked, "I think food is in order."
"Right-o." Marko smiled and left instantly, disappearing in the darkness of the cave. The room was lit up by trashcans lit on fire but it was still kind of dark.
"All you have to do is ask here, Angela." David grinned before he offered me the burning cigarette, "Appetizer?"
My fingers softly closed over the paper as David smiled and turned his head to yell something at Dwayne. The smoke billowed in my chest and I coughed…not nicotine, nope, that was weed. David smirked as I handed the paper back.
"Good joke." I hacked again, "I hate weed."
"Glad to know." David chuckled again before putting out the smoke with his gloved palm before letting it crumble to the floor, "So Angela…tell us about yourself. Where's your parents?"
"…Dead, died a long time ago as well." I lowered my eyes to the floor, "Got in a car crash. It's…well it was just me and my sisters until tonight."
"And tonight?"
"I guess it's just me until I die then." I shrugged and sighed, "My parents were good people…they didn't deserve to die."
"Everyone's a good person until they make a choice that doesn't suit them…but they learn to live with it and make it something new." David offered with a shrug as he sat back up, "You know, come to think of it, you look nothing like your sisters."
"Adopted…we were a foster care family. They're my sisters as much as the others who left." I lied smoothly.
"Interesting." David mused, I just nodded and put my chin on my knees as Marko arrived. God, I missed them so much.
"Angela! Will you get down here? We're going to be late!" my dad called up to me as I ran in a flurry around my room. I muttered to myself as I grabbed the bag on my bed and shot down the stairs in a flash.
"I'm right here, jeez you'd think the world was ending in our living room." I snipped as I walked past him to the kitchen. His eyes softened as he ruffled my hair. I slapped his hand away and annoyingly ruffled his silvering hair. He laughed and just smiled.
"C'mon kid…we're cutting it short." He tucked me under his arm as we raced outside to the car. My mom waved from the upstairs window where she was cleaning. I waved back and blew her a kiss.
I hopped into the car as my dad turned up the music and shot off down the dusty road with a smile.
"So, what are your plans for today Angela?"
"Feeding time!"
"Wha-?" I jumped, snapping out of my memories as the boys sat down around me on the fountain. I smiled and flushed as Paul tried to trip Marko with his arms full of takeout boxes.
"Chinese, a good choice." David smirked as Marko tossed him a box with brown chopsticks, David looked at me under electric blue eyes.
"Over here bud." Paul called out as Marko tossed him some food. He caught it effortlessly but didn't see the chopsticks aiming for his head. He growled and threatened to kill the younger blonde. I laughed as Marko sat down himself, handing the rest of the containers to Dwayne. I watched as David opened the two containers carefully in his lap, sticking a plastic fork in one and a spoon in the other before he handed one to me with careful deliberation.
"Would you like some rice Angela?"
The way he said it gave me the chills. I stared back at him hesitantly as my stomach growled at me silently. He smirked and hsook the box.
"Come on. It's just rice, how could a billion Chinese people get it wrong? Trust me."
The boys laughed around him as I slowly took the box from him. It was nearly overflowing with rice. The starch white color assured me nothing bad was going to happen but I couldn't get rid of that voice in my head, telling me turn and walk away. I poked at it for a few seconds, shifting it around before I stuck the food in my mouth, David's eyes watching my every move. I went back to looking around the cave trying not to notice how he just kept staring…he may have a problem. I took another bite.
"So…how do those maggots taste Ange?" David voiced calmly, looking at his nails for a moment. I stopped mid-bite.
"Hm?"
"Maggots Angels." David leaned forward as the boys snickered, "you're eating maggots how do they taste?"
"Yeah right." I looked down at my food, cold sweat breaking over my neck. Tiny white wriggling maggots were squirming around the box like they were at home. The box fell to the ground, spilling out the bugs as I leaned over and hacked up everything in my mouth. Tiny white things were spat out of my mouth as wiped my tongue from…I shuddered and stayed leaning over as the boys erupted into laughter.
"Woops." Paul snickered as I opened my eyes and looked weakly back at David. My stomach churned.
"Yes…sorry about that." David chuckled smugly, his eyes flashed as he met mine, "My mistake."
"What the fuck…" I groaned, sitting up again and staring around me, "What the fuck are you playing at?!"
I looked back to where the maggots were spewed along the floor at…rice. I stared at the box and hopped out of the seat, crouching next to the box and jabbing the spoon in it. I spit out a piece of rice into my hand. I stared at the ruined food in a daze as I sat back down on the seat. I had felt them…I had seen them…
"No hard feelings?" David asked when I dropped the food to the ground again. He was staring at his noodles with a bored look.
"No…no." I muttered. The box lay at my feet, unmoving.
"Here, try these then." David held out another box and I leaned forward before I closed my eyes and leaned back, covering my mouth.
"They're worms…"
"Worms? What do you mean they're worms?" David retracted his arm…and picked up the slimey creatures and raised them to his lips.
"Don't eat that!" I jerked forward as they slid into his mouth. He closed his eyes and swallowed. I sat down next to the arm of his chair, staring at the incredulous man before me. He looked down to me, smirking as he handed me the box.
"They're only noodles Angela."
I grabbed the box out of his hand and got up. Noodles. Plain noodles. The boys guffawed and laughed joyfully in amusement around me as I set the box down and ran a hand threw my hair. David beckoned Marko over as I took to my seat again, angrily kicking the rice box away from me. I picked up a piece of rice and turned it over in the palms of my hands. Maggots…worms…I was dimly aware of Marko procuring a bottle from a wine cabinet and handing it to David as the rice fell to the floor. What was next, maggot juice with worm entrails? Slugs?
"Angela…" David turned the bottle in his hands before taking a sip himself and closing his eyes at the taste. When he looked back at me, his eyes were darker and the cave seemed to go into a red haze from the red rubies on the bottle. He licked his lips before walking to me, holding the wine, "Here, have some wine."
I stood up and held it to my nose…it smelt salty and rusty, metallic. Claire always said sniff before the bite, the only advice I'd probably always take from her. Blood. It smelt like human blood. The red liquid sloshed around in the container as David sat back down. all the boys were leaning forward to me, smiles leering on their faces.
"I don't drink…"
"Aww, Angie's afraid of a little wine…" Paul challenged, "Looks like Angie doesn't have a backbone."
"Shut up." I growled as anger flared in me, the bottle swished in my hand.
"C'mon Angie, don't be like that…it's just some cheap crap we got at a store." Marko voiced as my stomach churned uneasily.
I was overreacting from the rice and noodles, that's it. I took a deep breath and raised the bottle, the tip of the bottle was cold as my lips brushed against it.
The liquid was warm, surprisingly, and it slid down my throat thickly. I couldn't help but wince at the rusty taste. It felt like I was drinking pennies. It burnt and my stomach churned even more as I kept drinking, and drinking and drinking. It was like my entire body was being pricked by icy-hot needles. I shivered.
"BRAVO!" David hollered, clapping loudly as the boys whooped excitedly and danced around me. The room began to spin as I lowered the bottle from my lips, some of the liquid dripping down my face. I used the back of my hand to wipe it away as I closed my eyes for a second.
"Welcome to the club Angie." Paul laughed around me, giving my hair a ruffle as I opened my eyes and felt the bottle slip from my fingers.
I felt David's fingers close over mine as he slipped the bottle away. The room began to spin, faces and sheets of all colors filled my vision as I stood next to the fountain in a daze. David's face appeared in front of me, smirking.
"A backbone she has."
My knees crumpled and I fell to the floor, red filling my vision in a fog.
Done once again! onto the next one, cuz im on a roll that's why. hope you like it, read and review?