The Boardwalk was a bust for Samara. She didn't want to be there. To be around too many people. She walked back towards the parking lot to wait for her mom so they could go home. Sam made it to the parking lot at the same time as Lucy. Sam noticed Lucy had a brown paper bag, a clear sign she had bought a cheap bottle of alcohol. "Well, I got a job at the video store. Did you find anything?" Her mother asked. Samara shook her head, "No." She didn't even get to explain before Lucy cut her off, "Typical. So lazy."
The rest of the drive was silent, thankfully. Lucy had barely put her truck in park when Sam jumped out. She ran upstairs to her room and shut the door, and turned on her record player. Lucy yelled at her to get a job soon or she was out of the house. "Lucy, that is enough. This is my house. You are living with me. You need to remember that, or you can go stay at the Santa Carla Inn." Grandpa Ethan scolded his daughter. She was going to argue with her dad until she remembered she had a bottle of liquor in her hand. Lucy scoffed, went to her room, and consumed the bottle. None of the Emersons' noticed four pairs of vampiric eyes watching them from a tree next to the house.
David and his boys were known as The Lost Boys. Nobody really knows how they got the moniker, but it stuck. They were respected by a select few, feared by many, and a nuisance to most. They would roam the Boardwalk and taunt the rival gangs, merchants, tourists, and security guards. After watching the girl walk away from them, they went to bother the local video store owner, Max. They saw he was speaking to a woman who had a familiar scent as the girl. Max had taken pity on the woman and had hired her to work dayshifts in his store. David heard Max hire the woman, so at least they knew the girl was a resident and not a tourist.
Dwayne had pointed out the girl to his brothers. They watched the girl leave with the woman Max hired. Mounting their bikes, they followed Lucy and Samara to the Emerson home. Climbing a tree close to the house they were able to hear what was said. They now know the girl's name, "Samara." Her name rolled natural off each of their tongues like her name was always in their vocabulary. They watched as Lucy yelled at her daughter, threatening to throw her out, as well as the verbal lashing old man Emerson gave Lucy. The four of them could see Samara in her room laying on her bed after turning on a vinyl album. They hung out a little bit longer before heading back to the boardwalk to cause more trouble.
Samara woke before anyone in the house. She took a shower, put on a two-piece swimsuit, with a pair of shorts, a loose t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers. Sam planned to make breakfast for everyone then head to the beach for the day. She would job hunt tomorrow, but today she wanted to relax and work on her tan. Sam cooked eggs, bacon, and made toast and a pot of coffee for everyone. Grandpa came downstairs when he smelt the bacon, "Morning, Sam. What do you have planned for today?" She was serving him a plate, "I plan on going to the beach for a while then explore the boardwalk." Sam sat down with her own plate of food, and a coffee. Lucy came into the kitchen and took Sam's plate, "That's enough. Do you want to get fat?"
Samara slumped in her chair before getting up, putting her coffee mug in the sink, and leaving for the beach. She grabbed her backpack with a towel, sunblock, a sketchbook, and some pencils. Sam walked out the door and rode her bike to the beach. She settled on the sand with her towel spread under her and got her sketchbook out. She spent some time sunbathing before she picked up her sketchbook. At first, she didn't know what she wanted to sketch. Sam just closed her eyes and started moving the pencil across the paper. When she opened her eyes, she could see an outline of a face. Sam was thinking about her brother. She roughly sketched his image but had to stop when tears threatened to fall. Putting away her sketchbook, Sam dusted the sand off herself and her towel. She decided she wanted to explore the shops on the boardwalk before going home.
With what little cash she had, Samara bought herself something small to eat and a pretty silver bracelet. She continued to walk around the Boardwalk. There were so many shops opened during the day that were closed at night. Sam found a book shop that had a lot of fascinating, older books. She was skimming through a book on creature lore when she felt eyes on her. Sam looked up to see an older gentleman at the counter. His stare didn't make her feel comfortable or uncomfortable. Maybe he was watching to make sure she wouldn't steal anything. Sam put the book back on the shelf, squared her shoulders, and walked to the door to leave. It was then she saw the help wanted sign.
Meet the Frogs
Sam closed the door and approached the counter, "Excuse me? I couldn't help but notice the Help Wanted sign in your window. Are you still hiring?" The man smiled at Sam, "We are, young lady. I'm the owner of this shop, and I was looking for someone to handle the afternoon shift. It will be from one to six in the evening five nights a week, Sunday through Thursday. I'm closed Friday and Saturday. Are you interested?" Samara had a big smile on her face, "I am very interested." "Great. Since it is Thursday, and I'm about to close, why don't you come back Sunday at one? We can start your training." "I look forward to it. Thank you," Samara shook the man's hand and left.
She was walking with a happy, dazed look on her face as she passed by a comic book shop. She slowed enough to glance inside, but saw nothing of interest. Sam turned to continue walking but was stopped by a hand on her arm. She followed the hand to a guy about her age, a little taller than her, tan skin, dark hair, brown eyes wearing dark green camouflage. Samara shook his hand off, "May I help you?" He didn't answer her question, just asked one of his own, "You're new around here?" She could see another guy around the same age leaning against one of the racks of comics. He was wearing a red bandana around his head, lighter brown hair, brown eyes, maybe her height, also wearing army green camouflage.
Samara took a step back for the two guys. They gave her a once-over and it sent shivers down her spine. Their attention felt wrong, creepy. She made to take another step away when the one who stopped her thrust a comic book at her. "Take this. It could save your life," He held the comic out for her to take. Once in her hands, she looked at the cover, 'Destroy All Vampires.' Sam tried to hand it back, "No thanks. I prefer books." He wouldn't take it. He just stood there, "The name's Alan, and that's my brother Edgar. You really should read it. Our number is on the back, in case you need us." Even more creeped out, Samara turned and walked away with the comic still in her hands.
The Frog brothers stood in the alleyway behind their store watching the girl they just met. She was beautiful. And smart if she loved books. They wanted to talk to her some more, learn her name, and such. They will have to speak with her again and ask her name, but for now, they will just watch her. Edgar went back inside the comic shop to put away some new shipments. Alan continued to follow the girl's actions from his spot in the darkened alley. Alan wanted to follow her for the rest of the night, but his brother's yelling stopped him. Some Surf Nazis had stolen some of their comics from the racks outside the shop and ran. The Frog brothers chased the Surf Nazis, picking up comics as they were thrown down.
They returned to their comic shop minus about fifteen comics. Their parents still passed out, not caring about anything but the high. So it was up to the brothers to run the comic shop Edgar and Alan also had an unhealthy interest in the supernatural. They believed Santa Carla was invested with vampires, werewolves, and ghouls. Which is why they hand out the comics depicting how to recognize and arm yourself against vampires. They believed that Santa Carla has a problem with vampires, and that's how Santa Carla got the moniker, 'Murder Capital of the World.' The Frog brothers have vowed to rid Santa Carla of all supernatural creatures, starting with vampires.
Samara had walked through most of the Boardwalk when she decided she was ready to go home. She was almost back to her bike when she passed by the video shop where her mother got a job. Her mother's shift was already over, so Sam wouldn't have to see her. She went into the store and browsed the movies. Sam was looking through the newly released comedies, and found a few she wanted to see but remembered Grandpa didn't have a tv. Maybe she'll get one when she got paid. She'll have to ask Grandpa first. Sam left the store, headed to her bike, and peddled home.
Samara had made it home safely, put her bike away, and went inside. Lucy was holding a glass in her hand, and slushed in Sam's direction, "You're late. Dinner should have been made an hour ago." Sam let out a sigh and went into the kitchen to cook dinner for everyone. She made Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, and Canned Corn. Sam plated three plates and set two of them on the table. The third she took to her Grandpa's taxidermy room and knocked on the door. "Oh, thank you, Samara." Grandpa took his plate and closed the door. He knew Sam didn't like that room. The idea of stuffing dead animals didn't appeal to her.
Sam went back to the kitchen table and found Lucy eating the plate made for her, but Samara's food had been dumped in the trash, plate and all. Lucy didn't acknowledge her daughter, she just kept eating. Sam quietly made herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and took it to her room so her mother couldn't toss it. Sam ate her sandwich with tears in her eyes. She didn't understand why her parents hated her so much. Why her mother would go out of her way to make Sam's life a living hell. Sam didn't even get to tell her mother she got a job, it would have been pointless anyway. Lucy wouldn't care. She never does. Samara wonders if her parents ever cared for her at all, or did they tolerate her because of her brother, Michael. And now that he is gone, they treat her even worse. Grandpa Ethan is the only person who seems to care about Samara. She wishes she had others that cared about her, that love her, make her feel wanted, and not like a waste of space.
Samara fell asleep shortly after finishing her sandwich. Crying always made her tired, and she felt exhausted. Not once did she lift her head to look out the window. Sam would have seen four dark silhouettes hovering outside wanting nothing more than to comfort her. They shared a look, 'If she's at the boardwalk tomorrow night, we'll approach her.' The four vampires silently disappeared from outside Samara's window. 'Until tomorrow night, love.'