Chapter 2

Thursday, October 16th, 1986

Hill Valley

10: 52 P. M.

Marty was still wide awake. Doc couldn't blame him -- who could sleep normally when they were wondering about Biff's next move? Certainly not the vampires. Louis and Matt had gone out looking for information earlier, but hadn't come back with anything new. His shop was closed up, but that was common knowledge. Biff had simply disappeared again. So, unfortunately, they had to wait for Biff to make the first move.

He flipped his mind around Marty's. The teen was worrying about what was going to happen. Scenes from his own brushes with soulless vampires played in a continuous loop inside his head. Hoping to ease some Marty's fear, Doc sent him a few pictures of their victories.

Marty responded with a picture of his last report card, making Doc chuckle. I was under the impression that you liked your life better than your grades.

Yeah, but -- look at them, Doc! The only subjects I did okay in were science and history. I got a D- in math! That's the worst I've done on an exam ever!

Marty, you got a B in the actual subject. It's not your fault you had to rescue that couple from an attack the day you had to study for the math final.

Yeah, too bad I couldn't tell that to my teacher.There was a pause. Doc, I'm feeling really nervous. Is it okay if I come down there with you?

Of course. Come on down.

A moment later, Doc heard footsteps. He didn't recognize them as Marty's, however. "Can't sleep, Lorraine?" he inquired.

Lorraine shook her head. "Too worried. And George sounding like a truck downshifting isn't helping any. I'm tempted to take a page out of Mystie's book and smother him." She padded into the kitchen. "Would you like some water?"

"Sure, thank you." He adjusted his position on the couch as she fetched a glass. "How have you been adjusting?"

Lorraine sighed. "I feel guilty about Marty still," she admitted.

"It's okay, Ma," Marty said, appearing on the scene. He promptly settled himself beside Doc. "I've gotten over it."

"It is not okay. What kind of woman--"

"Lorraine, you didn't know Marty was your son at the time," Doc pointed out. "It all worked out for the best."

"I guess so. If you're not worried about it, I suppose I shouldn't be either." She opened the refrigerator door. "Want something to eat, Marty?"

"No thanks. My stomach's doing so many flips I doubt I could keep anything down." He leaned against his best friend. "How do you think Jennifer's doing?"

"So far, so good. Mystie's been sending me mental reports regularly."

Lorraine looked over her shoulder. "I thought you and Marty had the blood-link."

"Yes, but Mystie and I can read each other's minds. Granted, it has a bit more interference, but it works."

Lorraine nodded, grabbed something from the fridge and joined them on the couch. She handed Doc his water while setting down a wedge of cheese. "I wonder why Biff even bothered to ask George to go along with him. They hate each other."

"I suspect it was a secret plan to remove George from the competition while making him useful," Doc hypothesized. "He wasn't too fond of Sherman Peabody either, but he saw in him an excellent fighter."

Marty chewed on his fingernails. "What do you think his plan is this time? He's gotta know we'll do anything to stop him."

"He does. Which is why I get the feeling this is 'the big one.' He's getting desperate to achieve his goals. In fact, part of me is certain he's had himself changed into a soulless vampire. His gang too."

Lorraine shivered as she ate some of the cheese. "What'll happen if he wins?" she mused morbidly.

"Hell on earth," Marty promptly replied. "The time he went for the movie festival, he nearly did win."

"In temporal terms," Doc said. "We saw a future based on the probability of Biff gaining the advantage in our war." The scientist closed his eyes as he remembered the awful sights -- and smells. "It was hell on earth. Humans and souled vampires were being slowly exterminated."

"Sounds horrible," Lorraine whispered, feeling a chill. "I'd rather be dead than live in a world like that."

"Why do you think we're trying to stop him, Mom?" Marty managed a weak, wavering smile. "Don't worry. We're not gonna let that happen to Hill Valley."

Thursday, October 16th

11: 02 P. M

Biff awoke to total darkness and a pounding headache. Ouch, he thought, screwing up his eyes in pain. Either I got really hung over, or I'm dead.

For a moment, the bully occupied himself by wondering where he was. Then he remembered what had happened to him three nights ago. $$holes didn't bury me, did they? He felt around, getting annoyed. Son of a -- Guess I'll have to break out and teach them a lesson.

With that, Biff started banging away at the top of his coffin. In a matter of minutes, he had broken through and was clawing through the dirt. He could now hear the other vampires atop the grave, giggling at his struggles. He found the surface when somebody stepped on his fingers. He grabbed the foot, dug in with his new claws, and used it for support as he hoisted himself out. "Okay, which of you butt-heads--"

"Standard procedure," one said, leaning against a tree. "Gotta bury the newbies. Did the same to that 3-D character."

Biff strode over and whacked him one, carving deep gashes into the vampire's flesh. He licked the blood off his claws before saying, "Not with me, butt-head." He pulled out the Zippo and the pack of cigarettes he'd been buried with and lit up. He crushed the ashes onto the offender's nose, getting a thrill up his spine as he screamed. "So where's 3-D?" he asked conversationally.

"He left, Biff." Biff turned to see Match holding his arm. The odd angle confirmed it had been broken. "Clawed his way up, snapped my arm, cut up Claws, then flew out the window."

"Good screamer, though," Claws said, scratching an itch with the six-inch fingernails that had given him his name. "Kept going on about that damn girl."

"His sister?" Biff shrugged and took a drag on a fresh cigarette. "Forget him. I've got enough 'pals' already."

"What's the plan now, Biff?" Skinhead asked, carving his initials into the wall.

"Hijack a radio station. We'll let all of Hill Valley know what's coming up. It'll demoralize the freaks." Biff inhaled his smoke deeply. "Besides, what's the risk? They're humans. What can they do?" He licked his lips, his eyes beginning to glow. "On that note, it's feeding time!" Everyone agreed with a loud cheer.

Thursday, October 16th

11: 14 P. M.

As Biff rallied his troops, 3-D sat in a tree a few miles away, staring at the ground. He had served those $$holes faithfully, and they had repaid him by murdering his sister. His Abby. 3-D's hands clenched into fists. He wanted to kill the whole lot of them. Make them pay for the pain they had forced on him.

His thoughts turned to the souled vampires. He could never join them, unfortunately. Especially not after he had tried to kidnap Marty during that vacation. But now his goal was the same as that of the Time Trippers. He'd have to be a rogue vampire, one with his own goals and no group to slow him down. But he saw no reason not to help those who were trying to stop Biff. It was the least he could do. And when it was over, he'd let them kill him. He didn't care about death anymore. He had nothing without Abigail.

He sat in the tree for a little while longer, then took off for home. It's time for revenge.