The Darkness Within
Chapter 7
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Disclaimer: The Lost Boys, sadly, do not belong to me. All rights go to their respective owners.
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When Paul opened his eyes, Marko was looming over him. They were back in the cave.
"He's awake!" Marko called, and a heartbeat later, David appeared beside him.
"How are you feeling?" David asked.
Paul pondered the question for a moment. "Tired," he then replied. "But otherwise okay, I guess." He sat up on the couch. "What happened?"
"You've entered the last stage of the change. It's a little different for everyone. For some, it takes two or three days, for others weeks until they reach it. Your body's craving for blood now. The only thing left to do to complete the process is to make your first kill."
Paul swallowed. "What happens if I don't?" he asked timidly.
"I told you. We kill you." There was such absolute certainty in David's voice that Paul half wanted to recoil from him.
"It's still a choice," David said, "if a dire one. We won't force you to become one of us, but if you deny, it ends here and now."
"Now?" Paul croaked with an effort.
"Now," David affirmed. "So make your choice, and make it quickly, for Dwayne's already on his way with your first human."
'Does he have to remind me that it's a human I'm supposed to kill …?'
"With you, I play with open cards, Paul. We'd all love you to become part of our family, but in the end, it's your choice."
Paul cleared his throat with an effort. "Has anyone ever denied?"
"Yes," David replied steadily.
"And you've …?"
"Yes." Just as steady as before.
There was silence.
"If you don't want to …" David began. "We already sort of like you, so we'd make it as painless as possible … even pleasurable …" There was a red gleam in his eyes, and his crucial teeth seemed to elongate a little as he spoke.
"No, no, no!" Paul hastened to reply. "I just wanted to be sure … You know? Of the alternatives?"
"Yes. Sure," David answered. There was still a tinge of red in his irises, and his voice was two octaves deeper than usual.
Again, there was silence.
"So … Are you sure then?" David asked after at least a minute had passed.
Paul took a deep breath. He really wasn't sure of anything, not anymore, but he certainly didn't want to die. He wasn't exactly looking forward to killing "humans", but he supposed he would somehow get over it once he was a vampire. Even if David and the others still scared him, he also had started to "sort of like" them. And being a vampire definitely had its perks – a lot of them, actually. Flying, super-senses, almost complete invulnerability … not to forget the "never grow old" stuff. Paul guessed that he was up for a change … or rather, the change.
"Yes," he said, fully aware that both David and Marko had followed each of his thoughts. "If you still wanna have me, I'm gonna go through with it."
A broad grin appeared on Marko's face. "Excellent!" he exclaimed, and then he practically fell on top of Paul and hugged him. David smirked, extending his hand. Paul disentangled one of his arms from Marko and shook it.
"Welcome to the family, Paul," David said, his smirk turning into a cordial smile. "You won't regret it. I promise."
'These guys make an awful lot of promises …' Paul thought. He hoped that they would, and could, keep them.
As if on cue ('And maybe that's the case,' Paul mused.), Dwayne appeared in the entrance to the cave. He had a young man with him, a boy really, who couldn't have been older than eighteen. He looked like a nerd, with a checkered shirt and huge, thick glasses. He seemed very nervous, too.
"Hi guys," Dwayne greeted them. "This is Matthew. I met him on the Boardwalk and told him about our place. He was practically dying to see it. So I thought I'd take him …"
"Hello Matthew," David said jovially, while Marko gave a little welcoming wave. Paul managed only a strained nod. "Come on in. You're invited."
Awkwardly, Matthew slithered down the steep slope at the entrance. He had to use his hands to keep himself from falling.
Meanwhile, David leaned down towards Paul and whispered: "Look at him. Look real sharp. What do you see?"
At first, Paul saw nothing but a nerdy, insecure teenager who stared in awe at both the cave and the older, way cooler guys that inhabited it, and who looked very much out of place while doing so. But then, it was as if a veil had been drawn away, and something from out of the boy spoke to Paul.
"He's eighteen," he whispered back. "His name's not really Matthew, but Rudolf, but since all the kids at school kept teasing him about it, he's chosen Matthew now. 'Now' is since he ran away from home on his eighteenth birthday. He's gay, and he hasn't told anyone. He left because he thought his parents would never understand. He's probably right."
"Very good!" David clapped him on the shoulder and nodded appraisingly. "Do you see more? Do you see his future? It will not be as clear as his past, but you may perceive the direction in which it will likely be going."
"No … I see nothing … only a dark fog …"
"That's the likeliest path, Paul. You only see darkness because he's going to die tonight. But there are other, if unlikelier, possibilities. Look out for some colors …"
"But … but there are none. There are some places where there's a lighter gray, but if I try to focus on them, they always cloud over again."
Once more, David clapped him on the shoulder, but this time, his hand stayed there and squeezed. "And that's why Dwayne chose him, Paul," he explained quietly. "This boy has no future. Everywhere I turn to look, his life goes out in darkness. Maybe he kills himself, or he dies in a hate crime … It doesn't matter. It's not necessarily because he's gay, but he's marked. We know when we see one. That's how we choose them. – Come on now." He gave Paul's shoulder an encouraging pat. "Let's give Matthew a good time for the first time, so that both of you will be at peace in the end."
While they had been talking, Marko had sauntered over to the kid. "Do you like birds, Matthew?" he asked and stretched out his arm. He made a sort of cooing noise. Several pigeons came down from the rafters, flying about him. Then two landed on his arm, another on his head.
Matthew made a surprised sound, then laughed, clearly impressed.
"You gonna like it here, Matty," Marko assured the boy, smiling. "I'm Marko, by the way." He offered his gloved hand, and Matthew shook it. He was smiling as well, but it appeared to be a little disbelieving.
"Just look at him," David spoke under his breath. "He's already fallen for our lost little angel."
Marko glanced at David as if he had heard and leered at them. He surely didn't look like an angel now – more like a cankered demon. But from where he stood, poor Matthew couldn't see the expression on his face.
'He must have heard. They all probably hear it from a hundred feet away if someone so much as scratches his head.'
"That's an almost accurate guess, Paul," David chuckled. "Come now … Let's join the party."
They both stepped up to Marko and the boy. Dwayne was busy in the background, filling some glasses with orange juice and what looked like, but probably wasn't, water.
*It's vodka,* David informed him, and with a jolt, Paul realized that he had spoken in his head. Unsure, he glanced at their leader, who just nodded at him.
David extended his arms in a welcoming gesture. "Matthew," he said. "I daresay you came a long way to find us. So be our guest. Enjoy your stay. It might be the experience of your life."
Dwayne came over with two glasses and handed one to David, the other to the boy. David raised his drink and spoke again: "My name's David. I'm the leader of the pack. You've met Dwayne and Marko already, and this is our beloved brother Paul."
"Hi," Matthew muttered rather coyly.
"Drink. Have fun," David prompted him and took a deep draft himself. A little awkwardly, Matthew copied him.
*He has never drunk hard alcohol before,* Paul thought, trying to reach out to David mentally.
*I know,* David replied. *Vodka's almost tasteless. He'll hardly notice, and he won't need much of it.*
Marko fetched the boom box and placed it on the ledge of the fountain. When he pushed the button, The Doors started to sound through the cave. It was Riders On The Storm, which Paul thought somewhat fitting.
Matthew really didn't need much to loosen up. Two glasses of vodka with orange juice and one single joint did the job nicely. He soon tried to flirt with Marko in a very clumsy, yet strangely endearing way, and even danced through the cave with both him and Dwayne to the chords of Break On Through. There was a kind of feverish desperation in everything he said or did.
A bit more than an hour into this sorry little party, David nodded to Marko, who instantly switched on his charm like a light-bulb. He waved Matthew over and invited him to sit on the couch with him, then proceeded to fuddle him with vodka. Matthew was positively glowing from being so close to Marko, and he completely derailed once the vampire put a hand on his knee. His insecurity and despair were almost painful to watch.
Marko released the poor kid from his doubts about whether or not these guys would kill him if he revealed himself to be gay and actually into one of them ('If he only knew,' Paul thought dolefully.) by taking him by the shoulders and kissing him. He was surprisingly gentle, and Paul somehow got the feeling that being around Matthew made Marko almost as sad as discovering a poisoned rat. Marko and Matthew made out to the sounds of When The Music's Over, and Matthew was positively crying while they were kissing.
Paul watched them, not knowing what to think about all of this. Then there was a pat on his shoulder, and David gestured him over to join the two. So this was it, then. Hesitantly, he stood. Marko looked at him from over Matthew's head, who was currently sobbing his heart out against the vampire's chest, and smiled at Paul. It seemed rather subdued. Paul walked over to them and sat down on the armrest of the couch. The boy's head flew up and he looked at Paul, both vexed and scared.
"Don't fret," Marko soothed him. "Paul's a very nice guy. If he does something to you, he has only your best interest in mind … So I'll just go a little further south" – with this, he gently untangled himself from Matthew and went down on his knees in front of him – "and busy myself here," – he zipped the boy's jeans open and started to pull them down – "while my good friend Paul will take care of all of the rest of you."
Marko then took a hold of Matthew's penis, and with that, all doubts and fears appeared to have left the boy. He moaned deeply and laid back against Paul, who, after a moment of indecision, took him into his arms and held him tight.
'What now?' he thought and looked beseechingly at David.
*Let your instinct take over* was all he got though. So he leaned into the boy, nuzzling his neck with his lips, while poor Matthew received the first and last blow-job of his life. When the boy climaxed, crying out and rearing up in Paul's arms, Paul gripped him firmly … and then it just happened. He felt something strange overcoming him, as if it were rippling through his body and subtly changing it on its way. It didn't take longer than two or three seconds, and then, for the very first time, he could feel his predator's teeth. The infrared vision was back, as well as his extraordinary hearing.
While Matthew was still trembling with the last ripples of orgasm, Paul took him by the neck and bit down into the pulsating vein he saw there. Matthew cried out again, but this time, it was with pain, not pleasure. Paul was completely inexperienced, and although he really didn't want to hurt the boy more than he absolutely had to, he probably did exactly that.
But before these thoughts could stop him from what he was doing, the blood flooded his mouth and he forgot about everything else. It was absolutely delicious, pure bliss, and it was not separable from the emotions the boy was feeling right now. Every single one of them added a different spice to the heavenly liquor, and all together made the most opulent meal Paul had ever had.
Dimly, he was aware that Marko was still busying himself with the boy, trying to soothe him, even though no one any longer pretended that everything was alright and that this was just about fun, partying and sex. Paul could taste that Matthew knew he was going to die, and the kid was so disappointed about it that it nearly turned his blood sour. Once again, Matthew had been betrayed, and just as things were going well for the first time in a long time, just as he had dared to hope … Paul knew that feeling all too well, but he simply wasn't capable now of doing anything to comfort the boy.
But exactly that was apparently the job Marko had taken upon himself, who allowed Matthew to cling to him through the pain and fear, stroking his sides and telling him that, no, he was not a loser, not at all, and that it wasn't his fault, and that it had nothing to do with him being gay, that, no, they didn't hate gays and they certainly didn't hate him, and that this really was the only gift they had to give to humans, and that he was actually lucky to have been chosen, for this was about to save him from things a lot worse. Paul didn't find all of this exactly consoling, but maybe it didn't really matter what Marko said, only that he talked to the kid at all, petting and comforting him through the whole ordeal until he fell unconscious from the loss of blood. And even then, Marko still stayed by his side, one hand resting on the boy's stomach, drawing soothing circles there. Paul knew exactly why he did it, for he too could sense that, in a way, Matthew was still aware of what happened to him – even after his heart stuttered and gave out.
*He's still here,* Paul told the others in wonder.
*Yeah,* Dwayne answered him. *They often linger for a while. Don't let it bother you. He'll pass on soon.*
After this information, Paul parted from Matthew's body with some care, and even arranged the boy's limbs in a less haphazard manner, although it felt strange to do so.
Marko was kneeling on the ground again, watching Paul intently. He seemed worried, yet Paul didn't know why. He opened his mouth to tell Marko that he was quite alright, in fact, much better than he had expected to be.
That was when he was hit by a wave of pain that was worse than anything he could ever have imagined.
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"Okay, I got him …"
"Hold him tight now …"
"Could you hurry up?!"
"Damn it, I said, hold him tight!"
"Shush, Paul, it'll be alright …"
"Finally!"
"Now shhh … shhh … calm down … calm down …"
Paul couldn't sort their voices out, but he could feel their hands all over him. Every touch hurt like fire searing his skin. He couldn't see, even though he was quite sure that his eyes were open. It was fucking scary, and the only thing that comforted him a little were their voices. He was dimly aware though that he was already better and had been much worse, so bad that he had been unable to do anything but scream and flail around. Now, a dull heaviness was spreading through his body. The feeling was slightly disquieting, but he couldn't bring himself to bother. This was so much better than the pain …
*It's the morphine. It makes you dazed and sleepy. Don't worry about it.*
*David?*
*Yes, it's me. You're currently very sensitive to sound, so I thought I'd rather talk to you this way.*
*The others …?*
*… are here as well. There's really nothing to worry about, Paul. This may be fairly unpleasant, but it's the usual process. You'll be fine.*
*Dwayne …?*
*I'm here, Paul – as is Marko.*
*Yeah, Paulie-boy. I wouldn't leave you now …*
*Skin hurts … hot … all over …*
*I know. We're going to undress you. Maybe you'll feel better then.*
There were hands on his body, stripping him down, and for a moment, the ache intensified. The fabric of his shirt felt like a grater as it chafed over his skin. Someone was moaning in pain. Maybe it was Paul himself. He couldn't be sure.
Then all his clothing was off, and most of his skin was touched by nothing but air. In a way, it was better. But now he felt entirely exposed and vulnerable.
*Scared …*
He projected a picture of himself into their minds, all naked and alone in a sea of black, the darkness closing in on him and threatening to swallow him whole.
*You're not alone.*
Someone was hugging him, drawing him close. It made his skin burn again. He uttered a pained whimper.
*Marko …?*
*No, it's David, but it doesn't really matter.*
*Hurts …*
*You gotta strip, David. He can't stand the feeling of fabric on his skin.*
*How about we all strip? Then we can take him in the middle. He's scared of feeling alone …*
*Well, strip then. I'll follow right away …*
There was some rustling of fabric, and people were shifting around him, rubbing their uncomfortably rough skin over his. When everything settled, he felt better though. He could make out three different bodies, all snuggled tightly against him. There were also three individual and very distinct scents that he hadn't consciously noted until now, but which calmed him down nevertheless. If he became uneasy, soothing voices spoke to him in his head. They had different inflections from when they were speaking aloud, so he had some trouble to keep them apart, but as David had said, it didn't really matter. His brothers were all around him, and even if he hurt, he was safe with them.
They stayed like this for a long time. Paul could feel things inside his body shifting around, and other things in his body dissolving, and he was frightened by it, but at the same time, he was way too tired to really care. Besides, he still was with all of his brothers, and they were with him, and as long as this was the case, nothing else really mattered.
Paul didn't know it, but it took more than a night and a day until the process was completed. During this time, the only one who moved was David, who injected Paul every two hours with large doses of morphine.
After twenty-eight hours, Paul opened his eyes. He was looking at a whole new world, and it stretched its arms out to welcome him.
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The end.
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Author's notes: And that's it, folks – the end. If you've come thus far, it would be nice if you left me a review, but that's, of course, entirely up to you …
