Marc was outside his house in the driveway, washing his baby, the green 99 Grand Am GT, when his cell phone rang. He flipped the hose to his left hand, unclipped it from his pants and pressed the talk button.
"O-hi-o!" he answered.
"Hi Marc. It's Crystal. How you doin?"
"I'm chillin. Just woke up a lil while ago, I'm…umm…" his train of thought trailed off as he remembered that Danielle was supposed to be with her today and asked, "Where's my baby?"
"She's here with me. We decided to come down to Seaside: myself, Danielle, and Megan."
"What are you guys all the way down there for?"
"We wanted to come to the beach, take a break from the usual."
"Oh, I see. What time is it now?"
"About 9 pm, we'll be leaving in roughly an hour. Why are you washing your car at 9pm??"
"How'd you know….?" He wondered but went on, "washing your car in the sunlight is bad for it supposedly. Anyway, ok, I guess I'll see you later at the diner…" he was cut off abruptly.
"Marc! Marc! Answer me! What happened?!" Crystal cried, but all she could hear were Marc's fading screams and something that sounded like a wolf attacking.
"Oh my god…." She whispered, horrified, staring, and very distant. Megan looked very worried. "Danielle, I think Crystal is in shock." she said.
Danielle grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "What's wrong?!" she screamed, "Why did you yell 'What happened?' Where's Marc? Answer me!" Crystal could only shake her head as she stared at the ground. "I don't know…" she whispered, "He was attacked I think…" My mind must be playing tricks on me, but I swear I heard a voice through the phone, a voice that wasn't there…it said, "You are coming with us now."
Danielle started to cry, "No no no, I can't lose Marc…I already lost Merrick. I will not lose him too!" A flood of crimson tears began to stream down her cheeks. Flocks of seagulls flew down and sat there staring as if they heard Danielle's anguished cries. Crystal hugged her close so Megan wouldn't see the blood on Danielle's face.
Gareth! Crystal's mind cried out to him.
Garan was at his shop doing paperwork. He wanted to keep Jae's death as quiet as possible, though he was sure that everyone would know soon. Suddenly he dropped to his knees on the floor. Crystal, I feel her. Something is gravely wrong. He quickly gathered his things and ran out of the shop, stopping only to lock it up. Hang on Crystal; I'm on my way. He started the truck's engine and sped out of the lot. The rubber tires squealed as they tried to grip the pavement on the fast turns.
He flew down Rte 1 then 9 to Hwy 35 going between 75-80 mph, luckily not catching any police on the way. He veered off to Hwy 36 and turned right by Airport Plaza onto Middle Rd. Finally he arrived at Marc's house. The green Grand Am was parked in the driveway, nice and clean. Garan got out of his car and walked around the yard. The smell of death is still here. What would they want with Marc? He walked up to the door and knocked. A petite woman answered the door. "Hello, is Marc home?" Garan inquired.
The woman shook her head and replied, "Marc left before I got home so I figured he was out with Danielle."
"Oh, thanks anyway." Garan said goodbye and got back in his truck.
What is going on here? I need answers. Garan headed for the Parkway and shot down to the exit for Seaside.
Meanwhile Danielle, Megan, and Crystal were wandering along the boardwalk. Danielle had calmed down substantially. Megan was worried about both of them. They stopped by a stand and Megan got something to eat, then sat down on a bench near the beach.
Crystal had another vision. Marc being jumped on by a wolf, the wolf morphed into a human form. He was dressed in a leather jacket and blue jeans. He had long black hair and appeared to be Asian. Marc tried to fight him off but he was no match for the vampire. He bore down on Marc's neck until the little Puerto Rican passed out, then he tossed him in the trunk of a car that pulled up, a black Mercedes-Benz, of which all the windows were tinted pitch black so that you couldn't see inside. The vampire got in the passenger side and they took off.
What was that? Is that what happened to Marc? She wondered. Danielle was calling her name as she came out of her trance. "Crystal? Earth to Crystal, wake up." Crystal shook her head.
Megan sighed, "Thank god you are alright."
"Yes, I'm fine. Garan's on his way." Crystal announced.
"Really?" Meg squealed, "I haven't seen him in so long! I miss him."
"Hehe, you don't know the half of it." Crystal told her with a sly grin.
Danielle looked off into the sand, watching the water ebb in pools along the beach like the warm sweet blood of her victims. "Marc…" she whispered remorsefully.
Garan arrived in Seaside finally. He parked the car and tossed a few quarters in the meter then headed straight for the boardwalk. The scent of the ocean…I love it so much. As he got to the top of the stairs it opened up to a vast boardwalk, a wonderment of arcades with bright flashing lights, people laughing and yelling, the scents of delicious food wafting everywhere. He stood there for a second and just looked around, taking it all in. Crystal sensed his presence. We're to your right.she told him. He started to walk down the boardwalk and spotted the girls next to the fence. He called out to them with a cheesy accent, "Hey sexy women!" The girls turned around and laughed. Crystal ran up to him and put him in a death grip hug. "I missed you honey." she said. "I missed you too love." he replied.
An Asian looking vampire who had the ability to transform into a wolf kidnapped Marc. He wore a black leather biker jacket and blue jeans. They threw Marc in the trunk of a black Mercedes and took off. Any idea what's going on?
"I went to Marc's house and he was gone, his mother thought he went out with Danielle."
Danielle looked like someone had just torn her heart out. Megan stood there staring at the three of them. "Something is up that you three aren't telling me. I'm not stupid. You all look like your best friend just died." she said. Crystal laughed.
"No Megan, nothing wrong at all." Garan told her.
Megan didn't quite believe him but she shut up. The four of them sat there for a little while chatting, then headed off to meet at the Town & Country Inn, their favorite diner.
They arrived at the diner and sat at their usual corner booth. Their friend Henry pulled up not 5 minutes after they arrived. He walked in and looked at Danielle wide eyed, "Oh my god! Danielle's here?! Wait, where's your other half?" Danielle again fought back tears and Megan hugged her. Crystal answered for her; "They had a big fight so Marc's in NYC."
"Oh." Henry shook Garan's hand, "What's goin on man?" He gave the three girls hugs, and sat down. Carol the waitress wandered over and greeted him. "Hello hon, haven't seen you in a long time. Coke and a pizza bagel?" "Yes please. And a pizza bagel to go too." he replied. They sat and chatted for a while.
A black Mercedes pulled in next to Garan's Pathfinder. The windows were tinted black as pitch. As Crystal stared at it, everything slowly fell into place. That's the car that I saw in my vision. Danielle stared at the car, also recognizing it. The driver swung open the door and stepped out. It was Alex, the handsome young man they had met at the Menlo Diner. Danielle leapt over the table and in one swift movement was out the door. Henry's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. "Whoa, what the hell was that about?" he sputtered. Crystal turned to the window to see Danielle outside screaming in Alex's face.
"What did you do with Marc you asshole?!" she cried.
Alex smiled coyly. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You're a liar!" Enraged, she focused for a minute, and a black Great Dane came running up next to her. It bared its teeth and snarled at Alex.
Alex started laughing. "So you're the bitch who can call upon creatures…such a useless ability!"
Garan and Crystal walked up behind them. Garan looked at them. "What's going on here?"
Just then, Trinity cruised up on Jae's rice burner bike with his helmet strapped to the back. Henry emerged from the diner, hopped in his Cougar and drove home.
"Trin! You okay?" Crystal said as she walked over to her.
Trinity's make-up was streaked down her face; she tried to wipe off the mascara. She attempted to fix this and her hair as she answered Crystal.
"You haven't heard yet?! Jae's…" she said as she sniffled. "He's dead. Some fucking dirt bag stabbed him on deck two. I can't believe I've lost my best friend. I…I…" Trinity said as she began to sob again. She buried her head in her hands hugging Jae's helmet, her tears glittered like tiny stars as they slid down its round dark blue surface, making it appear slick and polished.
"Oh my God! Are you going to be okay?" Crystal asked, trying to look surprised, as she called to Garan.
Get over here now! She's losing it!
Garan and Danielle came bounding over.
"Trinity! Are you alright?!" Garan asked.
Trinity picked her head up. "Jae's dead."
"WHAT?!" Danielle cried.
A feral scream escaped Danielle's throat. The dog cringed and started whimpering. Her eyes turned from gold to a bright chartreuse yellow, and she bared a glistening set of pearly white fangs. She grabbed Alex by the lapels of his jacket and pulled him close. She leaned in and whispered in his ear, "If I find out you harmed Marc in any way, or had anything to do with his kidnapping, I assure you….you will die."
A great white owl screeched above them. It circled the air and landed on Alex's shoulder. "Ah, Nolan…there you are." He said to the bird. Trinity scoffed, "Who the hell is that supposed to be? Jareth??"
Everyone shook their heads at her bad joke. Even the owl seemed to be laughing at her. Trin started bawling again and passed out on the bike in her exhaustion. Alex nodded and the owl hopped off his shoulder and landed on the pavement. He began to morph and grow larger, forming a man. The talons became feet, and the wings became his arms and hands. He had long straight jet-black hair. His eyes stayed the same eerie yellow they were in his owl form.
There before them stood a strange vampire, he was somehow different from themselves, even from Alex. He was of some Asian origin; that much was clear. Crystal remembered him from her vision. "You, you're the one…you kidnapped Marc!" she cried and pointed at him. Garan held her to him. Not here Crystal. She held back the rage boiling inside of her, telling her to rip his throat out right there.
Nolan, as he was called, was silent. He just stood there. A smug smile spread across his face. Alex stepped in. "Time we go Nolan, we'll finish this business later." He said. They both got into the Mercedes and peeled out of the lot.
Danielle yelled after them. "Come back here you cowards!" The tears began to well up in her eyes and she slumped to the ground. "Come back…come….back…."
Crystal stepped up behind her and hugged her tightly. "Don't worry hon, we'll get him back. He'll be fine." she said trying to console her friend.
Chapter 10 >>>