Final Destination Meets The Lost Boys
The Cici Academy Would Like To Thank:Eternal reviewer, Dharke, as always…hmm, you seem to be the only one who's reviewing. Damn, do people even READ the FD section… (baffled look) Anywayz…love the slogan you came up with…'Cici, Cici your story is spiffi spiffi, continue to get bizzi bizzi!' Carter's cheerleader's will be chanting that mantra soon…Selene in FD/LB…what the hell…(looks at the Selene reference in this chapter) ok, I'm one to talk…I think Alex is amusing you, you referred to him as a "plank" no less than three times…will we reach the world record? Ok this is going on two long…a few more responses then I'm done…
1) Carter Airways; the only way to travel
2) Alex's robe; this fic's version of the hooded top you 'loved' so much in the movie
3) Irritation; they key to one fic's heart
4) Cici and romance? Pfft. Not very likely (!)
5) Whenever, Wherever – Shakira shoulda named that song after shagging
Ok, I am done now…honest…oh wait, no I'm not, here's the next chapter!
Chapter Six
The sound of incongruous, cackling laughter alerted Carter to consciousness. Sitting up straight, he realised he was still in the master lair David resided in. Heat emitting against his stomach caused him to look down and see the most wonderful sight. A half smile appeared on his face, as he watched Terry slumber beside him.
Subconsciously, he ran his bandaged hand over her bare shoulder, getting a real feel for her skin. His other hand hesitantly hovered over the cloth as if he was debating to remove it and reveal the true extent of Nanook's bite. If it's not in the least bit healed, I'm having that canine put down…. There were no bloodstains through the cloth. Had it healed?
Slowly peeling the material back, he saw that his hand was perfectly normal. There was no blood, no scarring, not a single sign that the dog had even bitten him.
What the hell…?
Carter felt as if he had left Terry too hastily. She hadn't even woken up when he decided he'd better leave before David showed up. He wasn't scared of the punk; but strangely felt a pang of trepidation at the thought of standing up to him. Carter was afraid of no one but David was a lot stronger than him in regards to vampirism. There you go again, Carter he scolded himself mentally. Thinking about fucking vampires…
Trudging up the path towards Grandpa Horton's home, Carter adjusted the sunglasses on his face. The sun was blinding him…he was becoming intimidated by the light. His senses were working over time…he was deep in the throes of bloodlust. He shimmied slightly upon seeing his mother on the porch swing, sitting reading a novel in her robe.
"Hi." She said, looking up to see her son, still clad in the clothes he wore the previous day.
Carter stood silently, fingering his head as a migraine started to pierce through his skull. He couldn't manage a response.
"Hey, aren't we friends any more?"
"Sure." Came his gruff reply.
"Does that mean we are…or…?"
"We are." He clarified, a little too harshly.
"We are." Lucy repeated. "Okay, then let's act like friends. Let's talk. Carter, take off your sunglasses."
Sighing, he reluctantly pulled off the Ray Bans only to cast his glance away from that concerned one his mother's now bore.
"Carter, look at me…if there's a girl…"
I don't wanna talk about Terry. "I'm tired, mom." He lied.
"We could talk about…" She persisted. Carter knew she wasn't trying to pry. All she wanted to do was help him. You can't help me. Not you. Not Alex. Not anyone.
"I'm tired."
"We could talk about anything you wanted to talk about…"
Carter exploded. "I have more important things on my mind besides girls and school!" seeing his mother flinch at the tone of his voice made him speak his next response more softly. "Things I'm dealing with…"
"Things I wouldn't understand." She finished for him, somewhat dejectedly. Carter groaned inwardly. The last thing he wanted to do was make an enemy of his mother. The same mother who had given up everything in order to raise him to the best possible standards. And here he was, rejecting help he knew he needed. But couldn't possibly accept.
He gave her one last glance before stepping into the house. He walked in to find Alex sitting at the breakfast table with his grandfather hovering around the room as if he had nothing to do. Carter had hoped to sneak away to his room quickly, but the old man spotted him…
"Hey! Looks like I wasn't the only one who got lucky last night."
Unlike Alex, who was dressed in a faded t-shirt and his boxers, Grandpa Horton had on the same clothes he had on last night. Just like Carter. The older Horton winked at his grandson, knowing all too well the tiredness Carter was displaying.
"Did you take care of everything, Carter?" Alex asked, twirling his spoon amongst his cereal. Carter didn't even look at his cousin. He headed straight for his bedroom causing Alex to further drum into his cereal bowl.
---
"Where are we?" Alex asked, finally taking his eyes away from the apparently engrossing comic book he had been reading from the moment he stepped into his aunt's truck. Alex noticed they were parked on a gravely driveway opposite a large house. He also noticed a bottle of wine in her hand. Private party?
"Max's. I told you we were coming here. This is my apology to Max for running out on him," she replied gesturing to the bottle of chardonnay. Opening the door she got out and started to walk up to the gate. "Which, young man, you should be making."
She knelt down at the front gate and started to place the bottle down. "Honey, I better bring this up to the house or else someone's gonna take it."
Like who? Alex mused. This place looks like Fort fuckin' Knox.
"Alright. I'll be here."
Lucy picked up the Chardonnay and undid the latch from behind the gate. The gate swung open, making a creaking noise, which alerted Thorn to get up from his sleeping patch at the front porch. His ears pricked up and his hackles raised – ready to attack anything that got in his way. Lucy noticed the snow-white dog bound up to her.
"Hi Thorn!"
The dog picked up increasing speed and was soon sprinting its way across to Lucy. But this was no overenthusiastic dog excited about greeting strangers. She saw that his face bore an expression of anger and aggressiveness and he was charging straight for her! His teeth were bared and he was barking uncontrollably. Lucy dropped the bottle of wine and she took off in the direction of the front gate just as the bottle hit the ground, shattering into hundreds of pieces.
Thorn managed to catch up to Lucy.
"Alex! ALEX!!"
Upon hearing the terrified cry, he looked up, eyes widened as he saw the dog attempting to maul his aunt. He removed his sunglasses and threw the door open, running up to the gate to meet her. He grabbed her arms and started to pull her over the gate. However, Thorn's razor sharp teeth latched onto the bottom of her summery dress. The dog was no match against the power of Alex pulling his aunt across the gate. She landed hard on her nephew.
Thorn snarled at the gate, trying to bite through the wood but to no avail.
"Get in the car!" Lucy screamed at Alex. She picked herself up and ran to the driver's seat as Alex scrambled onto his own two feet and charged towards the truck. Jumping in, Lucy started the engine, completed a skidding U-turn and floored the vehicle into rapid escape.
"What the hell was that?!" Alex insisted, looking back out the rear window as the dog still dragged its paws down the frame of the gate.
"I don't know," Lucy sighed, trying to gather her thoughts. "He's usually such a nice dog. I don't know what's gotten into him."
But I do. Alex mused. He truly believed that Carter was turning into a vampire…could Max have something to do with it? He didn't want to rouse any suspicions but the dog was Max's and the way he reacted to them intruding on their doorstep…it was very vampire like. As if the dog was protecting its master from something…
"Could you drop me off at the Boardwalk? There's something I've gotta do."
---
"…and then the dog chased my aunt, just like the Hounds of Hell from Vampires Are Everywhere!" Alex ranted, waving the comic book in front of Billy Hitchcock's tired eyes. Alex noticed that he was still wearing that stupid backwards baseball cap.
"We've been aware of some very serious vampire activity in town for some time." Tod stated, trying to unload a box full of fresh comics onto the shelf.
"Santa Carla has become a haven for the undead." Added Billy.
"As a matter of fact," Tod stated dryly, "We're almost certain that ghouls and werewolves occupy high positions at City Hall."
"Great, now fucking werewolves!" Alex exclaimed, "what fucking next? Aliens?"
"Kill your brother," Tod said rather carelessly. "You'll feel better."
Billy nudged him in the arm, looking uncomfortable.
"His cousin, you fucking zombie!"
Tod slapped Billy on the back on the head, almost causing his baseball cap to fall off. Instead, it now sat awkwardly on his head. Alex watched the exchange with frustration; he needed to get them focused.
"Listen! My cousin is not a blood sucker!" Alex defended, opening up Vampires Are Everywhere to the centre pages. "Look, it says here if you kill the head vampire, all half-vampires will return to normal. Guys, if Carter's a vampire – believe me – he's only half."
Billy sighed, rubbing his chin in concentration. "Does he know who the head vampire is?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Then you'll have to kill him," said Tod, still obsessed with slaying Carter. "And if you don't, we will."
Billy was incredulous. "We will? Fuck that bro, you're on your own!"
"Don't be such a wanker, Billy. Are you afraid?"
Billy shifted position, broadening his shoulders, taking on a serious stance. "No."
Alex rolled his eyes. "It all started when my aunt went to work at Max's video store. Max never comes in until it's after dark. The dog that chased Lucy this morning was his."
Remembering how Thorn reacted to Lucy's presence, he flicked open the comic to the pages detailing the Hounds of Hell. "And look: vampires need a daylight protector, a guardian to watch over them as they sleep. Fierce dogs; 'The Hounds of Hell' are often employed for this purpose."
"Just like in Underworld," Billy revelled, then realised that that was before they started battling against the vampires. "Or maybe not."
"Huh?" Tod argued, awash in mass confusion.
"You remember that movie, with all the werewolves battling the vampires? The head werewolf, Lucian, or whatever said that they used to be day light protectors for the vampires. And Woah, if all vampires looked like that hot raven haired British chick then I say we don't got a problem…"
"Oh will you get your head out of the fucking movies!" Alex exclaimed. "This is not a movie! This is real life! And in this life the vamps are pissed! And they're trying to take my cousin!"
"Jeez, sorry!" Billy said, mocking his defence, holding his hands up. "Stay like that or we ain't helping you."
"Look, I'm sorry," Alex apologised, calming down. "But what if my aunt starts dating the head vampire? You guys could nail him, save Santa Carla. Truth, justice and the American way triumphs. Thanks to you two."
Tod liked the sound of that. All that recognition! He gleefully rubbed his hands together and exchanged a glance with Billy.
"We'll check out Max," they said in unison.
Alex smiled. Now they had a plan. He started backing up to the entrance, turning to face the brothers. "Ok guys, I'll come by later tonight. Aunt Lucy's having this dinner and Max is coming. We'll crash it. Be ready. We're gonna nail this assh-"
Alex stopped midsentence as he stumbled backwards into someone. That's what you get for walking backwards….
He turned around, ready to apologise when he saw that the person he had almost knocked over was Clear. How many times was he going to keep running into her…?
"Oh, I'm sorry." He replied.
"You dick!" Billy shouted out from behind the counter, barely able to contain his laughter.
"Do you know those guys?" she asked, peeking over Alex's shoulder to see the capped boy staring at them.
"Yeah, they're my friends. Well…not exactly my friends but we…Look, you haven't told anyone what I told you the other night, right?"
"About…?"
Alex lowered his voice. "About Carter. You know; turning into a vampire…?"
"Oh right, no. Of course not."
"Good. So…uh, what are you doing tonight? No, wait. Don't answer that. Lemme propose something to you. My aunt is having this dinner tonight and I was wondering if you wanna come and…no. Wait."
Clear raised a smile, watching Alex struggle with what he was attempting to ask her. He's so cute when he acts like this…But she had to decline.
"I'm sorry, Alex." she said, "But I'm meeting Terry tonight."
Alex's expression turned from one of goofy admiration to one of feigned understanding.
"Oh, well that's alright. It wouldn't be that interesting anyway. Forget I said anything."
"We could meet later if you wanted," Clear offered, "though I can't say for sure I would be there. I mean, I don't know what Terry has planned."
"Well, you know where I stay anyway, if you change your mind…"
"I do owe you a date, remember. I still want to do that. I like you Alex…I think last night proved that."
Alex remembered that kiss she had given him. Albeit, it was to get him to admit what was really bugging him about Carter…but still, it was a kiss nonetheless. He definitely wanted to have another one of those.
"Yeah." Was all he could manage in response. He was too busy thinking what it would be like to kiss her properly. A real kiss…
"Ok, so I really have to go." Clear said, startling him out his reverie. "But if I can make it tonight, I will."
She started to walk away from him when he called out her name. "Clear?"
Clear turned around to see Alex coming towards her quickly and the next thing she knew she was sharing an intense kiss with him. Alex hadn't realised where the impulse had come from, but he knew that if he was never going to get another kiss with her, this might be his only chance. He wanted the kiss to last a lifetime; it was just about perfect. But he remembered she had to go and meet Terry. He reluctantly pulled away and watched as her eyes opened again.
"I've been thinking about doing that since last night." He said, catching his breath. "But you kinda caught me off guard."
"Likewise." Clear replied, raising her fingers to her lips, tracing over her bottom lip in dreamlike wonder.
"You should go." Alex prompted, although he didn't want her to.
"I should. Terry will be wondering where I am. See you around." With that she turned, preparing to go and meet her friend. Terry, do I have some news for you…
---
The smell of freshly prepared spaghetti greeted Grandpa Horton's nostrils as he entered the kitchen. Never had he smelled such good food now that his daughter was staying with him. He noticed Lucy standing over the boiling pot of pasta, stirring with concentration.
"Smells good! When do we eat?"
"I told Max eight o'clock."
"Max?" Grandpa whined. "Are we gonna have company again?"
"Again? You haven't had company in this house since mom died eight years ago."
"Right. Now we're gonna have company again!" came the witty response. He silently left the kitchen, passing his grandson on the way. Carter looked like the living dead. He had his leather jacket zipped up all the way to his neck, his face was clammy and eyes tired. Lucy clocked him.
"Carter! Max is coming to dinner tonight and I'd like you to meet him."
"I can't." he replied, with no tone at all in his voice. His chiselled features displayed tiredness and he didn't look up to meeting anyone. "I have plans."
Carter exited the kitchen.
"You know," Lucy called. "Things are gonna change around her one school starts!"
Muttering as he struggled to fix the zipper on his jacket, Carter swung open the front door to reveal a rather geeky looking man. He appeared to be in his early 40s, clad in tweed and brandishing a bouquet of flowers. Carter raised an eyebrow to him.
"Hey! How you doing!" the man exclaimed. "You're Carter…right?"
Carter's bored expression turned into one of complete scorn. "And you must be Max."
"Right. How are you?"
Max thrust out a hand, waiting for Carter to shake it. The teenager didn't even flinch.
"Well…you are the man of the house and I'm not coming in until you invite me."
Get out of my way you fucking square. "You're invited." Carter said with levelled impatience.
"Thanks very much."
The man breezed his way into the house as Carter exited in the opposite direction. The smell of food caught Max's attention and he made his way to the kitchen. Just as he was about to enter, he saw Lucy setting the table in the dining room.
"Oh! I didn't hear you come in." Lucy commented, looking up.
"Is it okay for the guests to see the food before the dinner?"
"Oh, you're thinking of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding."
"Right. I always get those two mixed up…" Max replied, somewhat sheepishly. He suddenly thrust the bouquet of flowers into Lucy's hands, trying to think of something to make up for his previous mistake. "Thorn sends his apologies."
"Oh well, tell him I'm walking again." She joked, trying to ease her date's nervousness. For a man who dealt with customers at the video shop week in and week out, he did seem to suffer a little 'stage fright' when dealing with romantic interludes.
"He promises to behave if you come back."
"Oh well…"
Feeling a tad impulsive, Max deposited a light kiss onto Lucy's lips. Perhaps the rashness of his actions would either lead them to a nice, pleasant evening or one with atmosphere and awkward dialogue.
"Aunt Lucy?"
Max perked up and removed his lips from Lucy's, to spare her nephew a sight, which might make him uneasy. Max's uneasiness was roused once again. And not only was her nephew present…he had company as well.
"These are my dinner guests, Billy and Tod Hitchcock. "
"Oh, I didn't know you were having guests," Lucy replied, suddenly her evening had been sabotaged. She glanced at the two boys, knowing they'd never met before. "I thought you would have invited Clear. She's a nice girl."
"Oh I did, but she's got plans. Anyway, if we're gonna be in your way we can always eat some peanut butter out of a jar in the kitchen…"
"Oh don't be ridiculous." Max chipped in, uncertain if that was the correct response.
"Yes, well…there's enough to go around." Lucy added. Not quite what I had hoped for…
She turned to face Max. "This is my nephew Alex…eh, Billy and Tod…Hitchcock?"
Tod gave a gruff nod.
"Yeah, like Alfred." Billy enthused not quite aware of the curious glances surrounding him. He grinned broadly. Totally oblivious…
---
Terry's vision squinted. Manoeuvring her head downward slightly she just about figured out what she had to do. One false move and it was over. She felt apprehension filling her veins as she flexed her hand tentatively towards the pieces…the image of her night of passion with Carter flashed before her eyes. A giggle escaped her mouth as her fingers pulled out the next piece from the puzzle…
"Jenga!" came Laddie's cry of triumph as the building of wooden pieces crumbled to the ground in a dilapidated heap. "Yes! I win!"
Terry didn't realise she had lost the game she had been playing for hours on end with her little brother. "Congratulations." The smile of her face refused to weaken. I'll have a sore jaw if I keep this up. She couldn't wait until the next time she saw Carter. Finally, for the first time in her life – things were good. And this was all because of her handsome stranger. A stranger with chiselled features, muscles and…
The creaking of the rickety stairs startled her out of her blissful daydream. Perhaps it was Carter, coming back, like he had promised the other night. She gave Laddie a fleeting glance, a newfound glint in her eyes. Laddie hadn't seen his sister this happy since…well, since she met David. Terry got to her feet and rushed to the bottom of the stairs to greet her beau. To her considerable dismay it was her best friend and not the man she sought.
"Don't look too pleased to see me," rebuffed Clear, anxiety apparent in her voice.
"I'm sorry, it's just…well, I thought you were someone else."
"Like who? That asshole you refer to as David?" Clear dismissed the notion. "Honey, forget him. You're too good for him."
Terry mumbled a response, her blissful state of mind creeped back into her psyche. Keeping her thoughts of Carter just for herself she asked:
"You sound tense. What's up?"
Clear pulled her eyes away from Terry's glance, thinking about Alex and the problem that he had given them. She let out a sigh, taking a seat on Terry's bed, collecting her thoughts. Terry sensed something was wrong. More serious that usual. She walked over to the bed and sat down next to her fellow blonde.
"What's wrong? Is it that guy…Alex's his name…?"
Her questions were greeted with silence as Clear weighed up the possible answers in her head. How do I say this without it sending her into a panic…?
"Clear come on, you know I'm not too good with this twenty questions thing." She said, trying to evoke some humour. Damn, she sure knows how to pick 'em…
"He knows, Terry. Alex knows."