Author's Note: I've changed chapter 3 by cutting and adding stuff and moving bits around. I feel happier with it now; and kindly ask for you all to reread it and let me know what you think. Chapter 4 will be coming soon.
Michael was on the hunt for a job, one that would provide him with a decent wage and reassure his mother that he wasn't wasting his life by not going to college. He'd been wondering around Santa Carla for several hours. He knew it wasn't a big town and thus jobs would be harder to find, however, he found himself disappointed and unpleasantly surprised by just how well staffed everywhere he went seemed to be. He had tried the new mall in town, the bookstore, the grocery store, the various fast food joints dotted around the place and every other store that was open evenings; every time he was met with the response or some variation of "currently, we're not recruiting any more staff, but if you'd like to leave your details, we'll try and contact you should a position become available". The boardwalk was his last stop of the night. As usual, it was swarming with people out for a good time, oblivious and ignorant to the danger that roamed amongst them each evening. Michael envied them, their lives untouched by Santa Carla's dark nature.
The familiar sound of motorbikes met his ears. Michael looked up in time to see David and the others racing off, four pretty girls riding pillion on the back of their motorbikes. Michael felt his insides burn with anger; he couldn't let the vampires destroy another family. Without thinking, he restarted his motorcycle and began tailing the four vampires, who were already far out in front. The boardwalk soon became a distant sound and, as the sea mist blew in, Michael temporarily lost sight of his targets. An eerie calm, permeated only by the crashing of waves, surrounded him.
Piercing screams directed Michael to a deserted beach. He could see them now, the four vampires feeding off the group of young women. As he made his way on to the sand, the smell of blood began filling his senses, he had to do something. "DAVID!" he yelled, causing everyone to look up from their respective meals.
"Come to join us, Michael?" David asked sardonically, just dropping the girl he had been feeding on. She fell to the floor like a discarded toy, her life ebbing away with each laboured breath she took.
Michael felt his face change and instantly regretted his course of action, the desire to taste the red liquid pouring from the girl's wounds was growing stronger by the minute. He was outnumbered four to one, he knew the boys wouldn't kill him, that would be foolishness on their part, but what they would do is prevent him from leaving, allow the thirst for blood to overcome his rationality, and how it called to him so. All it would take is one moment, one moment of weakness on his part and it would all be over for him, his humanity would disappear with every drop he drank.
"Stop fighting it, Michael, you can't win. You should feed now, whilst you can still control it". David's words were enticing, and Michael could see the logic within them, the thirst could drive a starving vampire to reckless actions, but to give in now would mean to admit defeat and willingly become a killer, something he could never do.
Without a word, Michael suddenly retreated back to his bike and rode home as fast as he could. He would be the first to admit that it was not his finest hour, but what could he do? The girls were dead or dying, there was nothing to be done, and his very soul was hanging in the balance, edging ever closer to the point of no return. Running away may have been the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean he was proud of doing it.
David watched with amusement as Michael left, it was always fun seeing him struggle with his vampire side. Disposing of their recent kill into the sea, the four vampires headed back to the boardwalk, time is all it would take for Michael to give in and they had all the time in the world.
The house was quiet when Michael returned. Sam was the only person downstairs and was mooching for food in the kitchen. "Hey, Mike, you got a job yet?" he greeted.
"No." Michael replied "where is everyone?"
"Upstairs. David showed up while you were out. He did his usual routine of turn up, treat mom like crap and leave again. Max got rid of him. Your girlfriend did nothing to help, by the way" Sam said offhandedly.
"Leave Star alone, Sam" Michael warned "it's not her fault. Shouldn't you be in bed by now?"
"I'm going. Just getting a bite to eat. Does this cranberry juice look like blood to you? I figure if I practice now, I won't find it so difficult to drink the real stuff. Pretty cool plan, huh?" Sam saw the look on Michael's face and concern took over "you okay, bud? You don't look so good".
"I'm fine, couldn't be better!" Michael lied. He hurried up the stairs and into his bedroom before his brother could ask any more questions. Star was lying on the bed, her brown curls splayed out against the pillow.
"Michael, what's wrong?" she asked, sitting up.
Michael joined her on the bed and put his head on her shoulder. "I don't know how much longer I can last, Star. Every day, I can feel the thirst getting stronger and stronger. Tonight, I followed David and the others. They had some girls, I tried to save them, but I was too late, and then I wanted to drink their blood, I wanted to feel it running down the back of my throat. I'm scared, Star. I don't want to kill anyone, but I fear the day will come when I won't be able to stop myself. I fear that Sammy and Mom won't be able to stop themselves either". Michael began to sob, the thought of what would become of his mother and little brother overwhelming him.
Star was taken aback. She'd never seen Michael like this before; he'd always seemed so strong, if he thought there was no hope for him and his family, what did that mean for her and Laddie? "This is all my fault. I should have stopped David taking you back to the cave that night, then you wouldn't be like me". Star tried to fight back the tears that were beginning to well up in her eyes, as the guilt she felt about Michael's predicament overtook every other emotion. "I should have stood up to him, I wanted to, but I couldn't. I'm so sorry, Michael".
Star and Michael cried in each other's arms, their unavoidable fate crushed down on them. They were trapped, with no hope and no way out, all they could do was wait for the inevitable to happen.
It was late, the boardwalk was shutting for the night and Max was locking up the store when Thorn started growling. Max didn't need to turn around to know who was standing behind him. "Hello boys" he acknowledged "I think we need to have a little talk". He turned around and sure enough in front of him stood David, Dwayne, Marko and Paul. They didn't look too pleased at being summoned.
"Max, to what do we owe the pleasure of this little meeting?" David said, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in his voice.
"You know full well. I want you all to show Lucy some respect, especially you, David. Your behaviour earlier was impolite. Must you be like this with every woman I meet?" Max loved all his boys, but at times they could be quite a handful.
"I don't know why you're so bothered. She'll be gone within the month, just like the rest of them". David put his hands in his coat pockets, he spoke for himself and the rest of the boys; they were fed up of having to deal with every "mother" that Max found for them.
"Lucy's different. She's special..." Max began.
David rolled his eyes "They were all "special", Max, what makes her so different?"
"She tolerates you for one thing and I'll thank you for not interrupting whilst I am speaking" Max scolded. "As I was saying..." he continued "Lucy means a lot to me, which is why I am going to ask her to marry me".
There was a stunned silence from the boys; none of them knew what to say.
Max decided to leave his boys to their own devices and head home to his beloved Lucy, they seemed to have taken the marriage news rather well, at least rather well for them.
The four boys watched Max drive away. The thought of having a permanent mother was not one that appealed to them. David broke the silence, "ten bucks each says they'll never make it down the aisle" he said as he lit up a cigarette. Marko and Dwayne agreed to the bet straight away, Paul reluctantly agreed, not wanting to be the odd one out. He liked Lucy, She was funny and kind and he didn't really want to see her get hurt. However, he could never go against his pack and he knew David never made a bet that he didn't fully intend on winning.
