Chapter Three Please excuse the boring-ness of this chapter! I promise that after this chapter the story WILL get better! Much better :)
"That'll be Twenty Pounds and Three pence, please." The cashier yawned, glancing at the clock. It was 8pm; nearly his clocking off time. Dermot pulled out his wallet, revealing a twenty pound note, which he handed to the cashier. "Three pence please, Sir."
"Sorry, I don't have any change." Dermot sighed, he had slightly overfilled is care-True, by only three pence, but they had needed gas, and it was only an accident. Surely he could be let off three pence. "Please, it's just three pence."
"Sir, you're holding up the line."
"Please. I am on my way to find my son, who, until recently, was thought to be dead. You can let me off three-" He paused, noticing the TV about the counter, which was flashing red with the news logo-and the four pictures he had seen on the television earlier. Only this time, the words "Sighted" shone in bright red over Darren's photo. "Can you turn that up?"
"Huh?" The man snorted.
"The television." Mr Shan grabbed the remote from behind the till, turning the volume up so the entire station could hear it.
"Breaking news." The reporter read "It appears that one of the group known as, "The Vampires," Has been sighted. Darren Horston, Or Darren Shan, has been seen attempting to purchase sun cream in a store in the town of-"
"Sir!" The cashier snatched the remote back out of his hands, growing annoyed with the other man "Three pence." But Dermot ignored him.
"Shhh." He hushed, as the news continued.
"And the police have been given permission to open fire at the group when they are found." Before he finished his sentence, Dermot had began to dash out of the door, and back to his car.
"They're gonna shoot him." He panted to his family, slamming the car door closed, and clumsily reaching to turn the keys in the ignition. "We have to go. The town, it'...it's not far from here. I've seen signs…" He paused, letting them process what he was saying.
"Kill him?" Angie squealed, fresh tears bubbling in her eyes. "They can't! He's our son...He's...our son…" Annie remained silent in shock, as her dad slammed his foot on the accelerator, pushing the car forwards at a highly unnecessary speed. They shot out of the garage and down the road, much faster than they needed to-Angie gripping tightly onto the side of the car, not used to travelling so fast. "Dermot! Slow down!" He obeyed, but only because of the traffic lights that were glowing red, showing they were now entering the next town. The town they had been meaning to find all along. The town in which Darren was said to be currently residing.
"We're...we're here." He whispered, pulling the car into the car park of the first hotel they saw. The three of them, and Darius, sat in silence; staying still, and making no sort of movement that involved them leaving the vehicle.
"So…" Annie broke the quiet, un-clipping Darius from his car seat, saving her a job to do when she got out. "We should..uh...Go?" Her parents nodded, stepping out into the cold air. It was dark now, the streetlights the only things making it possible for them to see.
"Right, we should go get a room for the night." Dermot decided, indicating to the building behind him. "We can search for Darren tomorrow."
"No, Dermot, Please…" Angie put her hands around her husband's waist, "We need to go find him. Before they find him...Before they hurt him…" Dermot sighed, knowing his life wouldn't be able to rest until they had at least tried.
"Okay." He nodded "You take Annie and Darius inside, get us a room I'll take a walk, see if i can spy him, okay?"
"No, let me come with you!" She pleaded "I'm not going to sleep until i have him back…"
"Angie, i'm not so sure if that's-"
"Shh." Annie hushed suddenly.
"Annie!" He father snapped back, "Don't be so rude!"
"No, Dad! Shhh!" She hushed, "Look!" she insisted, pointing into the shadows across the road. She heard her mum gasp, and knew they had seen them. Silhouettes of a couple-A man and a woman-Had appeared in the darkness, Sat next to the streetlight. The Shans stood, watching, as the man stood up, and flung the woman over his shoulder; she squirmed, but no noise other than a few un-register-able sounds flew from her mouth-She was obviously gagged. The man began to walk down the street, being careful to avoid the light as much as he could-But he didn't do so well, and once the street light hit his face he was instantly recognisable. Vancha March-One of Darrens associates. "Annie." Dermot whispered. "Take Darius and go inside. Now." Annie was about to object, but after a little thought, she grabbed her son and ran into the hotel-leaving her mother and father behind. "Ang, Listen to me." Angie nodded. "I'm going to follow him. He has to lead us to Darren-I want you to go Inside and-"
"No," She shook her head "I'm coming with you." Dermot didn't push the matter any further. He had two choices; take his wife with him, or lose his only lead to finding their son. He was going to take he with him, yes; she could always leave again if things got too dangerous. He simply nodded, his eyes still trained on the pair across the road, who had now stopped again. Vancha had his eyes glued to the manhole cover in the middle of the street, examining it, and then his surroundings, before placing his hostage on the ground beside him, and kneeling down in front of it. Sweat dripped from his green hair, and his face was bright red-he had obviously been running; but away from, or to something, who knew. Looking up at the cosmic black sky, stared at the stars that shone in the darkness, before looking back down at the cover. "Not until dark." he whispered to himself, pulling the huge lid out of the ground-to reveal the sewers beneath-and, with the woman back over his shoulder, jumping down into their depths. "Come on." Dermot whispered to the wife, before the pair of them followed the so-called 'vampire' and the woman into the pit that was the underground, determined to find the boy they had buried so many years ago.
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