At first Michael had no idea where he was, just that he was laying on a bed. Groggy eyes fluttered open, expecting to see the decor of his apartment. However, he was perplexed to discover that he couldn't see anything. In fact, there was no source of light, except for a very dim light in the distance but even that was fading. Even more so he attempted to shift in said bed only to find it more difficult when he couldn't move his hands from behind him. Judging from the texture, his hands felt like they were tied together by some kind of hefty rope. Although, it was hard to tell since he couldn't see whatever it was.

Panic began to arise as he began to recollect memories before waking up here. The last thing he remembered was trying to run from David and the boys, and then getting caught before everything faded to black. Desperation set in, causing him to frantically rub the rope in an attempt to loosen it to a breaking point. He could feel his heart beating like a rabbit, worried that any one of the Lost Boys could come any minute, especially with the sun going down..

"I wouldn't bother if I were you." The suddenness of David's statement caused Michael to halt his efforts and freezing on the spot. A match was lit to light a cigarette, illuminating the room slightly.

Michael shifted his feet so that he was hanging on the end of the bed opposite of David. Once he was to his feet he took a step back to create more distance. The bastard looked so fucking smug. Feeling the opposite, Michael shot the blond a glare.

"Where the hell am I?" In the back of his mind he knew where he was, maybe he just didn't want to face the reality. "Take me back now."

"I brought you home, Michael," David let out a puff of smoke, not at all intimidated by the brunette. "Yeah, that's not gonna happen. You're not going anywhere. Oh, and before you start thinking helps coming your way, 'you' left a note to little Sammy. Told him you were gonna take his warning, decided to ditch town."

As quietly as he could, Michael resumed rubbing the rope. If what he said was true, that Sammy wasn't coming, he had to help himself. However, he wasn't doing it near as fast to remain inconspicuous. Though, the more frequently he did it, the more of a rope burn he began to feel. Still, that didn't stop him. He just hoped David couldn't tell what he was doing.

"This isn't my home and you can't keep me here," Michael spat coldly. "I'm not planning on sticking around and you can count on that."

Of course David could see exactly what he was doing, just didn't do anything about it. After all, in the end Michael's efforts would be fruitless. However, he was going to make sure Michael knew exactly what was going to happen. Sooner, rather than later, his chosen would know his place.

"You don't get it, do you? "Your home is with the pack, with me." David got right up to him, blocking his view altogether. "Hate to burst your bubble but there is no running away this time. Not that you'll want to when I'm finished with you."

"So what? You think I'm gonna join up because you want me to? Not gonna happen." On the outside Michael appeared calm but not so much internally. His heart was still racing, even more so now. "I thought you would've learned from last time."

The smugness immediately faded away and in its place was a stone cold glare. When David told the boys Michael wasn't going to have any choice in the matter he wasn't saying it for shits and giggles. Whether the human didn't want it or not didn't matter. Eventually he would appreciate the opportunity he was about to be re-given.

"Oh but I did and my mistake was letting you have a choice in the first place." David's features shifted as gold eyes pierced blue before he bit into his wrist and forced it against Michael's lips.

Michael should have seen it coming, should've been prepared. Nonetheless, even if he had been prepared, the vampire was much faster than he was. In fact, he didn't even have any time to press his lips together. At the very least he did his best to avoid swallowing.

"Come on, Michael, you're gonna have to swallow sometime."

The vampire pressed wrist harder, urging him to swallow. Unfortunately Michael could only hold it back so long before the decision was made for him. The moment he gulped he knew he was screwed. It wasn't much, but it just enough to make him want more and he couldn't help but drink more. That was until he realized what he was doing and forced the urges back. His stubbornness kicked in full gear and promptly kneeing David in the groin. He spat out any loose blood that hadn't been swallowed in disgust, despite the fact that it tasted much better than the last time…

"You could have just let me go," Michael said in horror as he found himself backed against a wall. Yet he couldn't get the metallic taste out of his throat, or mind. Unlike the last time, this blood was more rich. "I didn't want any of this."

David stood up slowly, still recovering from the low blow. One things for sure, Michael sure knew how to hit where it hurts. None of that mattered, though, because he got exactly what he wanted. The connection was established the moment his blood entered the new halfling's bloodstream.

"I couldn't let humanity hold you back, especially once I decided that you're mine." David watched him intently as a hand wiped off the stray blood from the now healed wrist. "You think that now, but you'll change your tune."

"You know, just because you managed to get your blood in me, that doesn't mean I'm going to feed." Michael wasn't sure if he believed the words coming out of his mouth but he tried his damndest to make them believable to David.

The leader couldn't help but laugh at how wrong his fledgling was. In fact, his tune would change very soon. The process wasn't going to be pleasant, which is usually why he preferred to wait, but this needed to be done quickly. Tomorrow night would be the perfect night. No running to his baby brother for help this time.

"Sure, keep telling yourself that. In the meantime, don't go anywhere, got it?"


Something had to be wrong. Sam's gut instinct was telling him that he needed to go Michael's apartment and check up on him. So that's exactly what he did that next morning.

"Michael, c'mon, answer the door!" By now Sam had stood outside the door for several minutes, but didn't try to knock on the door until now. He was surprised when the door just sort of ...opened. "Mike? Hello?'

When he flicked the lights on nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary, except for the bottle of beer of the carpet. The contents were spilled on the carpet, and Sam knew for a fact that Michael wouldn't just waste beer like that.

From the looks of it, everything else had been cleared out. The fridge was empty and when he went into Michael's room the closet was clear. Nothing was left. All except for a note that was laying on a nicely made bed. It read:

Sammy,

I've been thinking a lot about what you said and you're right. I shouldn't have come back to Santa Carla. I figured you come looking for me, so I left you this note. I've always been bad at goodbyes, so here it is.

Sincerely,

Mike.

P.S. Sorry I was such an asshole

He folded up the note and stuck it in his pocket, giving the apartment on last look before leaving.

Despite the note, it didn't feel right. Michael didn't even bother to stop by the house and say goodbye to their mom. He did the last time so why wouldn't he now? Plus, since when did Michael apologize for something as minor as being an asshole? Never. Just like the frog brother's something just didn't add up.

The first place he knew he had to look was that damn hotel but it was too late in the day now. The sun had already gone down. Going down there when the sun was down, as hunter, would be the most stupid decision he could make. He wasn't that stupid. Sam just had to cling on to the hope that Michael would be okay by morning.


"Full house, ha! Bet you can't beat that hand, can ya?" Paul smirked Dwayne's direction as he slammed his hand down enthusiastically. "I've got this one in the bag and you're gonna have clean up duty for a week."

Dwayne, on the other hand, was not impressed in the slightest as he glanced down at his hand. He sighed and shook his head before setting down his cards. "Straight flush beats a full house. In case that's not clicking, that means you lose."

"Talk about a rack…" Marko was too busy checking out chicks in a magazine to give a shit what they were doing. "Bet she has a pretty nice ass too. You guys wanna see?"

"Wait, there is no way you could have gotten that hand without cheating! You were hiding those cards up your fucking sleeve." Paul muttered, very much like a sore loser. "I want a rematch! First I need to see some eye candy!"

"You say that everytime, but not gonna happen. Have fun cleaning up Marko's pigsty, that shit's gotta be a mess." Dwayne directed his attention to David, who was coming back from seeing Michael. "You're back sooner than I thought you'd be."

"Things must not have gone too well with Mikey, eh?" Marko looked up from his magazine, looking as smug as ever, "Told ya he wouldn't just join up. Mikey's stubborn like that."

The growing smirk on the Head Vampire's face said it all as he plopped down in his wheelchair. "Yeah well, maybe I like him stubborn, wouldn't be nearly as fun without a little defiance here and there. Didn't stop from getting a good dose in him first."

"Does that mean we can kill his kid brother now?" Paul chimed, looking eagerly at David. "It'll be a good way to punish Mikey, could even make him watch."

As much as David wanted the little shit dead, doing it before Michael fully turned wouldn't do any good. Unless they used little Sammy as a way of getting to the halfling. If Michael was going to be hassle it would be perfect. So many options for them but only one for Michael…

"Let's leave the little shit alone for now. Depending on how on stubborn Michael is gonna be this time around, little sammy could come in use." David stood back up, "Gonna bring Michael something juicy tomorrow. C'mon boys, let's grab a bite to eat."