Edgar glanced at his watch. After brunch with Star, he and Sam had spent a torturous hour with Edgar's parents. Sam had begged off early, claiming to have pressing issues to deal with back at his Grandpa's place. They had hours before hours before nightfall, but there never seemed to be enough time to prepare.

Now Star, with her stupid fixation on Marie and the chest, was going to make him late for his meet with Sam on the Boardwalk. He groaned in frustration and heaved the intricately carved chest higher in his arms.

As he walked past the alleyway between the neighbouring cafe and Gypsy Rose, an arm shot out of the shadows. It grabbed him and roughly tugged him off the sunny street and into the gloom.

Edgar only had time for an indignant grunt before a strong hand was clamped across his mouth. He was slammed against the alley wall. His eyes widened in shock and pain, all the aches from last night reawakening.

He had a brief moment of recognition then there was a sharp pain and Edgar blacked out.

~{*}~

Sam slunk guiltily onto the Boardwalk. He was late, and Edgar hated lateness – after all, everything was planned out. He checked his watch; half an hour behind Edgar's schedule. Sam winced, imagining the angry look on his friend's face. He'd have to make up a good excuse, because if he told Edgar the real reason...

Much to Sam's surprise the bench in front of the hotdog stand, their meeting place, was empty. Sam turned in a circle, looking out for Edgar's recognisable army fatigues.

Frowning, he approached the hotdog vendor. "I'll have one with everything... and have you seen Edgar Frog – you know, from the comic store?"

"I know who you mean. Not that there is a comic book store anyone. Shame. Could've been a tragedy if the fire had spread. Lucky no one died," replied the vendor as he put together Sam's hotdog.

"So, have you seen him?" Sam prompted.

"No. Not today," shrugged the vendor, taking Sam's money and handing over the food.

"Weird..." Sam commented to himself.

He took a seat on the bench and a large bite from his hotdog. Sam guessed there was a first for everything, including Edgar being late. At least he was off the hook for being late himself.

Sam dabbed mustard off his face and tossed his rubbish in the bin. While he waited he wondered whether had done the right thing by making the phone call that had held him up. By nightfall he was going to have a whole lot more explaining to do...

~{*}~

Star checked her watch yet again, bored out of her skull. Once she had finally opened Gypsy Rose, time seemed to stop. She leaned her elbows on the counter, her chin propped up by her hands. She glanced at her wrist and rolled her eyes. One minute had past.

She yawned loudly in the empty store, stretching her scrunched posture. A grimace lined her face as she last night's aches and pains protested. Her hand crept up her torso absent-mindedly, lightly touching the small cuts and bites hidden beneath her dress. She blushed in shame and cleared her throat, pushing David from her thoughts.

The door jangled open. Star turned to greet the customer with an automatic smile. It fell briefly then emerged genuine, as Sam walked in.

"Hi Sam. What's up?" Star asked, giving him a playful pat on the head.

"Hey, not the hair!" he grinned, dodging her hand. "Edgar didn't show at the Boardwalk and I know he was coming here to drop of the magic-stuff or whatever..."

Star gave a little frown. "Haven't seen him here yet. I was hoping to go through all that 'magic-stuff' as soon as possible."

Sam made a noise and shook his head. "It's not like him to be late. He probably got held up. Can I hang here and wait with you?"

Star smiled. "Please. I need some company before I go out of my mind."

"Aw Star, that happened years ago," Sam teased.

~{*}~

"It's dark now," Sam said, his voice tinged with panic. "We've been waiting for hours and hours! Should we check his trailer again, or call his parents one more time?"

Star peered out of the shop window. "No, I don't that's going to help. We've left messages for him everywhere. Don't worry Sam. Edgar can take care of himself. I am sure he's ok."

She chewed on her bottom lip with worry. No matter how confident she was trying to sound, she was starting to get a bad feeling about Edgar's disappearance.

Sam paced with attitude, more than just Edgar on his mind. When the phone trilled out, Sam dashed to answer it.

"Hello?" he demanded. Star moved to his side, holding her breath for good news.

"Sammy it's me. Grandpa said this is where you were," a familiar voice replied.

"Edgar's missing," Sam barked.

Star sighed, realising by Sam's reply that it wasn't Edgar on the phone, or news about him. Leaving Sam to his conversation, Star drifted into the store's small back room.

"I'll be there in a little while. Don't go anywhere," the person barked back down the line.

"Ok, just hurry will you?" Sam appealed.

"I would've come sooner if you had told the truth."

Star flipped on the light switch and glanced around, looking for something to keep herself occupied. Her eyes stopped on a small piece of card by the back door. Frowning, she picked up the square, and scanned the scribbled message.

"SAM!"

Sam held his hand over the receiver. "What?"

Star dashed back to Sam and thrust the card into his hand.

"So what? It's Edgar and Alan's bogus business card."

The white card simply stated 'Frog Brothers Inc. Truth, Justice, & the American Way. (Also, Comics)', followed by their phone number.

Star sighed in frustration and turned the card over in his hand."Ooohhhh. Right. 'Come to the Cave'", Sam read out loud. "Where was this?" he asked.

"It was by the back door. Someone must've slipped it under," she explained, taking the card back and examining it closer. "I think it's Edgar's writing... but it's hard to tell. It could be... Alan's" she breathed.

Sam gulped, his eyes darting from the card to Star. "Edgar wouldn't just leave a card. Surely. I mean, he's weird, but he had a meeting with me, and he was supposed to give you the chest... If he was here, why didn't he come in?"

Star nodded, reluctant to believe the alternative. But there was no choice. "Because it wasn't Edgar. It was Alan who left the card... I haven't been down the back of the store since the morning. The card could've been left at any time."

"What a cliché. A wannabe vampire leaving a calling card," Sam chastised, shaking his head.

Ignoring Sam's comment, Star jolted to life. "Edgar could be hurt... it's been hours." She shoved her arms into her leather jacket and rounded the counter. She pulled open a draw, grabbing some vials of holy water and a stake. "We've gotta go to the Cave." She thought about the time Edgar and Alan had rushed to her side at Gypsy Rose, ultimately leading to Alan's capture (and being Turned).

Suddenly remembering the phone in his hand, Sam returned to his call. "Did you hear all that? We're leaving for the Cave, like, now. Meet us there."

"Wait, Sammy-"

He didn't wait. Sam hung up the phone and started to check his own mini-arsenal.

Star marched to the door, keys in hand. "Who was that on the phone?"

Sam avoided eye-contact, fussing with his backpack. "Er-I-someone. They're coming to the Cave. To help."

She gave a nod, too distracted to ask more. "Let's just hope we don't run into any of the Boys on the way. That's the last thing we need."

Sam hurried out the door after Star, waiting while she locked up.

The pair set off down the street, furtively checking every shadow for signs of an attack.

"It'll be ok," Star soothed as they reached her car.

If only she could convince herself that was the truth...

~{*}~

"Where am I?" groaned Edgar. He sat up slowly, holding his throbbing head.

"Welcome to my parlour..." came the amused reply.

"... said the spider to the fly," Edgar added as he blinked away his double-vision. "The cave, you brought me to the cave?"

Alan laughed and gave a casual shrug. "It's convenient. Plus I thought it was kinda poetic to bring you here."

"How did I get here?"

"It wasn't easy, but where there's a will there is a way," Alan shrugged.

Edgar managed to pull himself to his feet. He glanced around the candle-lit cave, his attention stopping on the on a small fire burning in the centre – he could see his carefully whittled stakes and other weapons amongst the flames.

He took a step towards Alan, but tripped over. He grunted with pain and looked down at what he had fallen on top of.

"Oh Alan, what have you done?" he whispered in horror.