Sam let go of Edgar and hopped off the back of the trail bike.

"Why can't I have my own bike?" Sam asked as he fussed with his hand-me-down army outfit.

"Seriously, you bitch like a little girl," Edgar sighed. He chained up the bike then checked his weapons for the tenth time.

Sam glanced around, conscious of the strange looks being cast in their direction. "What now?"

"Standard patrol of the Boardwalk. We stick together. Our goal tonight is to find Alan. If we come across any vamps, it's a bonus."

Sam gulped. "A bonus? Seems more like a punishment."

"Using Star to take them all down is a slow, insidious plan. We need to make sure that Alan doesn't make his first kill before we kill David. Our work is never done," Edgar grunted and beckoned Sam to move out. "Stay close to me. Stay alert. It's a jungle out there."

Entering the Boardwalk was an assault on the senses. Sam didn't know where to look first, lights and noises grabbed his attention at every turn. He felt unprepared and vulnerable as they pushed through the throngs of party-goers. Once upon a time he was one of them, laughing and hanging out with his brother on the Boardwalk. Now he was scanning for vampires.

"You were kidding about the zombies though Edgar?" Sam shouted as he jostled to keep up.

"There are dark forces at play here Sam. Just keep your wits about you."

~{*}~

"I don't see anyone Eddie," commented Sam after half an hour of patrolling. "No supernatural anything."

Edgar's attention remained on the people milling around them. "Don't worry Sam, something will turn up soon enough. It always does."

"Great," replied Sam sarcastically.

They didn't have to wait long. "I think I saw something," Sam yelped. He squinted at a figure darting behind a shop. "There!"

Edgar stared in the direction Sam was frantically pointing. "That leads towards the comic store. What did you see exactly?"

"Something caught my eye. I... I think it was Alan."

The boys watched. "Oh shit," breathed Sam as two familiar vampires followed in the same direction Alan had.

"Marko and Dwayne," Edgar snarled. "Let's go!"

Sam dashed after Edgar, colliding into the back of him when the Frog stopped suddenly.

"Watch it!" Edgar complained, elbowing Sam. "Stealth. Surveillance," he explained, pushing himself against the wall and peeking around the corner.

The comic store looked lonely, dark and deserted. He inhaled sharply as Marko and Dwayne came out from behind the store. His eyes flicked to a flash of movement in the upstairs window.

"I think Alan is inside the store. The two bloodsuckers are outside," Edgar relayed to Sam.

Sam loaded his crossbow ready for action. He took a deep breath.

"No, no wait," Edgar hissed, pressing Sam against the wall.

Marko stalked past and disappeared into the masses.

Both boys peered around the corner. "One vampire. I k-killed Dwayne before, I can do it again," Sam stuttered with fear.

They slunk around the side, keeping close to the wall. The sounds of the Boardwalk seemed to disappear. The alcove was as quiet as death. Edgar pumped his holy-water gun and aimed.

The impatient dark haired vampire chose that moment to kick in the door to the comic store.

"Fuck!" Edgar shouted, sprinting after Dwayne.

Sam had no choice but to follow his friend into the store. He took a last glance over his shoulder and prayed the vampire back-up didn't arrive.

"Edgar?" Sam whispered into the muted darkness.

A hand slapped onto his shoulder. Sam yelled in fright.

"It's me," shushed Edgar.

Sam sighed with relief and huddled with Edgar as they tried to assess the store. "I can't see! Where did he go?" Sam murmured.

He was answered by the loud crashing coming from upstairs. Someone roared with pain, while another seemed to laugh.

"Alan," Edgar exclaimed, bumping his way to the stairs.

As the pair crept up the stairs the noises became louder and more violent. Mayhem greeted them at the top of the stairs. The room was totalled; broken furniture, a hole in one wall, glass... And Dwayne and Alan covered in blood, hands at each other's throat.

Alan saw the mortals first. "Sam?"

Dwayne used the distraction to his advantage, throwing Alan viciously across the room. "YOU!" Dwayne roared, recognising Sam too.

The boys remained frozen, weapons raised. "Us," Edgar replied.

Sam fired his crossbow. The wooden arrow pieced Dwayne's shoulder. "Missed sucker. Déjà view," the vampire smiled. "This time you're going to lose," he sneered.

"Wrong," Edgar declared as he moved forward, showering Dwayne with holy water.

The vampire howled and retreated, stumbling over debris from his fight with Alan. Sam shoved another arrow into his crossbow, fear making his hands unsteady. Another arrow launched at Dwayne, striking his throat and pinning him to the wall.

Dwayne gurgled, clutching at the arrow. Sam watched in horror as blood bubbled from under Dwayne's hands and sprayed down his chest. The holy water was still sizzling his flesh.

Meanwhile Edgar had run to his brother's side. Alan was battered, complete with gaping cuts and what appeared to be his arm bone poking through his skin. He rested against the wall in a crumpled heap.

"What... you... doing here?" Alan panted, pulling a piece of wall out of his leg.

"Here to save you, like always bro," Edgar grumbled. Alan slapped his brother's helping hand away.

"Setting a... trap for vampires," Alan wheezed, pointing a bloody finger to a small fire that was licking the curtains.

Edgar sniffed deeply. "Gasoline," he exclaimed with panic.

Under the blood and dirt that coated his face Alan grinned. "Join me," he uttered, pulling himself to his feet.

Edgar took a step back from his brother, taking a quick glance at the spreading fire. "Don't start that again. It's getting old. We're going to cure you."

His brother laughed. "Not tonight you're not. Better get out of here bro. Things are going to get very crispy."

"Fire!" Sam yelled, grabbing Edgar's arm. Flames had engulfed the staircase, almost encasing them.

"No shit," Edgar shouted back.

They watched as Alan threw himself out the window, a shower of glass left in his wake. The two boys looked at each other, then followed suit, letting out loud and long battle cries as they crashed to the ground.

They lay in a dazed heap, fingers of fire reaching out from the windows above.

Edgar coughed. "Alan's gone."

"But we're here," came Paul's menacing reply.

The boys, groaning with aches and pains, turned to see Marko and Paul looking down at them.

Sam spluttered, his chest hurting with every breath. "Ouch," he managed, the threat of the vampires second to the pain throbbing through his body.

"I'll give you pain," Paul yelled as he hoisted Sam off the ground.

"Dwayne's still inside," Edgar offered, slowly climbing to his feet.

At that moment a loud explosion shook the ground, smoke and fire billowing out from the store. The group were propelled off their feet.

Suddenly the scene was alive with people. Hands pulled them to safety, checking over the stunned boys for injury. Screams and shocked gasps rang out around them. Sirens echoed in the distance.

"D-man," Paul said as he sprung to his feet, shaking off the concerned onlookers.

Marko stood at his side, a gash bleeding on his cheek. "He would've got out in time."

Edgar was also struggling with the crowd gathered around him. He reached for Sam and rammed his way through the gathering, dragging a sluggish Sam behind him. Neither of them was in any state to deal with the vampires, or the authorities.

"Sammy, you OK?"

Sam blinked and rubbed the soot from his eyes. "I think so. I hurt everywhere though."

"I have a standing appointment at the emergency room," said Edgar.

Sam was surprised to see they were back at the trail bike. "Can you drive?"

Edgar grunted in response, unlocking the bike and climbing on. "We should leave before Twisted Sister and his girl friend realise we're gone."

Sam hurried onto the back of the bike. "I think we killed Dwayne... again."

"Let's hope so Sam. Let's hope so."

"And Alan?"

Edgar revved the bike. "He'll live to fight another day. And I don't think he'll be hurting anyone tonight."

"What about the store?"

"Certainly solves the issue of what to do with it. Plus, there's the insurance money," considered Edgar.

"So... all and all a good nights work then," Sam added weakly.

The bike buzzed down the road just as the first fire truck pulled into the parking lot.