Fourteen: Rewrite (Riraito)
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"Annie?" I asked. There was a pause on the other side of the phone.
"Steve? Is that you?"
"What are you doing over my house?"
"Your… mum's letting me stay over for a while. I've kinda become friends with her this passed year. I can't understand why you hated her so much – she's really nice! And she makes some nice chocolate chip cookies. Oh, and I hope you don't mind, but I'm using your bedroom."
I found myself grinning despite myself. I'd forgotten what Annie was like. Though her parents were dead, leaving her orphaned, she still managed to be cheerful. She was so much like Da – no. She wasn't like him.
"Listen, Annie, I… heard about your parents…"
There was silence on the other end.
"Annie? Are you still there?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
"Steve. I know what you're looking for now."
"Huh?"
"Darren. He's not dead. He's a vampire, isn't he?" She was talking softly, as if afraid that someone would hear. She must have heard my sharp intake of breath, because she ploughed on. "I'm right, aren't I? He became a vampire. He, he faked his death somehow, or that wasn't really his body, or, or something!"
"How did you… how did you find out?"
"I'm not stupid, Steve. Just because I'm a girl and younger than you doesn't mean I can't read. Ever since you went, I've been doing research. Your mum would let me into your room – all your books were about vampires and you had pieces of paper floating around the room about vampires. Then I went to the library and checked out every book you borrowed – and guess what? They were all about vampires. Let's not forget the scrawls on your bedroom wall – the ones that say 'Darren is a vampire!' If they don't prove it, what does?"
"Why are you telling me this, Annie?"
"Where are you right now, Steve?"
"Huh?"
"I asked where are you. You must be pretty close, if you heard about Dermot and Angela's deaths."
I told the name of the town I was in, and wondered at the use of her parent's first names. That was pretty odd. Okay, well, maybe it was like me and calling my mother 'she' all the time. Maybe Annie didn't get along well with her parents or something.
"Good. You're close to me. Tell me what hotel you're staying at and I'll be there tomorrow."
"Wait – what – why?!" I blurted. She gave an exasperated sigh.
"Don't you get it? Damn, you're pretty slow. I'm coming with you, Steve."
"No you're not."
"Yes I am!"
"No you're – Annie, it's too damned dangerous for a girl!"
"Hey!" Perri said from behind me. I jumped – I hadn't realised she was there, listening in. I pulled a face at her and went back to the phone.
"Steve, listen. I don't want to go to England, okay? I want to go with you. I… I want to find out the truth. I want to help you find Darren, and I want to find why he did this to our family. Why he ruined us."
Though I remained calm on the outside, on the inside I was battling with myself. She wanted to know the truth, like I did. She wanted Darren, like I did. But I couldn't let her. She was still too young. Plus, she was a girl. She wasn't strong enough to compete against vampaneze.
The world of the night was too strong for her.
"No, Annie. You can't come with me."
"But – Steve!"
"No, Annie. My change is about to run out, anyway. Got to go. Goodbye, Annie."
I could still hear her voice, thin and tinny, as I put the phone back in its bracket.
"You're very cruel, you know, Steve," Perri said. She had her arms crossed as she leaned on the side of the phone booth, a slight glare on her face. I glared back.
"You heard the whole thing?"
"Yep."
I scowled at her, stalking back to our table and grabbing my bag. She followed, shoving her hands into her pockets and looking up at the sky.
"You were right to say no, Steve – this life isn't for everyone," she said softly, then reached down to pick up her sports bag. She paused for a second, glancing up at me. "But then again, she sounded like she had determination. And in this world, that could be one of the most important things you need."
With that, Perri turned on her heel and wandered away, one hand stuck in her pocket, the other holding her large bag as she whistled and stared up at the sky once more. I stared at her back for several moments, feeling confused. Then I shook my head, and trotted after her.
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I left Perri at the hotel the next day, catching a bus back to my town. It didn't take long – within the hour, I was stepping off the bus and back into my past, into the place I had lived for the majority of my life. As soon as I set my foot on the ground, I realised just how much I had missed this place.
At first, I didn't know where to go. There were three places I knew I didn't want to go, though – those being my house, the Shan house, and the cemetery. All for obvious reasons.
And then suddenly, I was off. My feet decided where I was meant to go, and go I went. I visited all my childhood haunts; bought an ice cream at my favourite ice creamery; watched some kids kick a ball around in one of the parks; visited the football field, where I saw Tommy. Being the males we were, we kind of just grinned, waved, slapped each other's backs and asked 'How you been'. You know, the normal. He went back to his soccer practice soon after, so I was left to wander around again.
I went back to my old high school, just for old times sake. I swear I saw Mr Dalton's car at one stage, but it being a weekend, it probably wasn't.
I was almost in a daze when my feet decided to take me to one last place. I didn't notice where I was going. One minute, I was standing outside a bakery. The next, my feet were stepping over neat, clip green grass, with marble crosses and angels and tombstones all around me.
I stopped.
Damn my feet!
I glanced around briefly, my surroundings becoming familiar. Then I looked down, at the marker sitting directly in front of me.
Darren Shan
1988 – 2000
Beloved son, brother and friend
We love you
Despite the fact that his body was 'buried' six years ago, the grass covering his grave was old, dull and dry, not like any of the other rich grass around it. The area, too, was also a little sunken, as if it were missing something.
A body, perhaps?
"I knew you'd be here," an unfamiliar voice, now familiar, said from behind me. I whirled around.
There stood a girl. Though she was several inches shorter than me, she was pretty tall – well taller than Perri, in any case. Her dark hair was shoulder-length, worn out with several tiny plaits running throughout it, a fringe covering her big, bright blue-green eyes. She was wearing a loose black long-sleeved shirt and low dark jeans, a bag sitting near her feet. Despite the dark make-up she was wearing, her face was young and childish, betraying her true age.
I gaped at her.
"Annie?!" I asked, incredulous. She broke into a wide smile.
"Wow, you haven't changed a bit, Steve – except for the fact that you cut your hair and seem to have gained a bit more muscle," Annie Shan said, picking up her bag. As I continued to gape, she tucked her hands behind her back and waltzed towards me until she was standing directly in front. She didn't hide the fact that she was studying me – she even circled me, looking me up and down.
"You – I barely recognised you, Annie!" I exclaimed. "The only reason I knew it was you was your eyes. They're the same colour as Da-"
Once more I stopped, unable to say His name. I don't know why I couldn't say it. I just… couldn't stand it at the moment.
Annie paused, stepping back in front of me again. She was looking down, towards the side – I followed her gaze and found that she was staring at Darren's marker. Her hands were clenched so hard that they were shaking.
After several moments, she snorted, kicking the dull grass beneath our feet.
"This grass gave it away, you know?" She said, glancing up at me, then spread her arms and turned in a small circle, gesturing to the cemetery that surrounded us. "Look at the rest of the grass – it's all green, because the dead bodies fertilise it. Darren's, though? It's yellow. Dead. There's nothing there."
Now she was glaring up at me, and I almost felt uncomfortable under her gaze. It was too much like Darren's for my liking.
"You're taking me with you, Steve. I don't care what you say," she told me, crossing her arms and glaring up at me. I raised an eyebrow and crossed my own arms, glaring straight back down at her. Two could play at that game.
"I said no, Annie, and I mean it. You wouldn't survive a day out in the real world," I said, nastier than I had originally intended. She didn't wince, just continued to glare up at me. There was something in her eyes… something strong… something like determination…
This was going to be hard.
"I would too," she said, a little childishly. "I can train. I can get stronger. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it – I won't complain. You'll see."
Six years ago, on a dark night, another child had said something almost identical to what Annie had just said… and in fact, it was almost in the same spot, too.
"Annie!" I cried exasperatedly. "It's not as simple and training and getting stronger! Out there, the key is surviving – not being stronger! You have to kill people in my world – are you prepared to kill people, Annie? Are you?"
"How many people have you killed, Steve?" Annie asked quietly, still looking up at me. I looked away slightly, a shadow crossing my face.
"By myself, two. With my partner, four. All of them vampaneze."
"Vampaneze?"
"Long story."
She looked away as well, seemingly uncertain. Then, a second later, she looked up again, her determination back in her eyes.
"I'm prepared to kill," she said softly. I sighed, taking her by the shoulders.
"Annie – tell me. Just tell me. Why do you want to come with me?"
She stared straight back at me, her blue-green eyes like two faceted crystals drilling into me, not letting me go. I could see the strength there – not physical strength, but mental and emotional. She was strong. She was very strong.
Probably even stronger than me.
"I want the truth."
Truth. She wanted the truth. In a way, so did I. Why did Darren take my spot? That's what I wanted to know. But Annie's reason was different – she wanted to know why he ruined their family just to become a ruthless, blood-sucking monster.
Annie knew she was winning the fight. Joy lit her eyes, but only for a second – it was quickly hidden behind her barrier of determination. She grabbed my arm, her eyes never leaving mine.
"Steve? Can I? Please?"
At that moment, she looked so much like a cute puppy it wasn't funny. That won me over.
Numbly, I nodded so slightly that I hardly felt myself. But she saw it, and that was all that mattered. She squealed loudly, jumping on me and wrapping her arms around my neck, taking me by surprise. I stumbled back, one hand clutching Annie and the other held back to stop my fall. Luckily, I regained my balance in time – I would've fallen onto a cross on a very painful spot if I hadn't.
Annie untangled herself from me, and looked up at me, face and eyes shining with joy.
"Thankyou, Steve," she said softly. I snorted, standing up and rubbing my neck.
"Don't thank me yet," I growled. "You still have to meet Perri."
"Perri?" She asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I thought you told me you didn't have a girlfriend, Steve!"
I spluttered.
"Wait – no – she's not my girlfriend!"
"Sure sure," she said, grabbing my hand and dragging me down the rows of graves. "Come on, let's meet this girlfriend of yours!"
I groaned inwardly. Girls!
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Introducing Annie to Perri was easier than expected. At first, Perri was suspicious, looking the girl up and down with her arms crossed. Annie just looked straight back, the same expression on her face.
Then the questions started – very weird questions. Some on age. Others on favourite colours.
"How old are you?"
"Fourteen."
"How's your family life?"
"We're… estranged."
"Favourite colour?"
"Blue."
"Are you good at school?"
"Only in science, I suck at everything else."
"Favourite music?"
"Don't listen to much."
"Do you like lemurs?"
"Huh?"
"Ninjas?"
"Uh… they're cool?"
"Can you fight at all?"
"Er, I know a few street fighting moves…"
"Do you exercise regularly?"
"Yes."
"What social group do you belong to?"
"Um… the sporty-ones?"
"Last but not least, what's your favourite sport – and if you say netball, I will rip your head off here and now."
"Bleh, I hate netball! Football."
"You mean rugby?!"
"No. Soccer."
That seemed to decide it. Perri smiled smugly and slipped her arm over Annie's shoulder.
"She'll do juuuust fine, Steve," she said happily. Annie grinned up at me as I gaped.
"How come she didn't have to do any tests like me? Why didn't she get beaten up or – or have to kill a vamp – or –"
"She didn't have to do that, Steve, because she's a girl, therefore more intelligent and not as competitive as you are. And plus, she likes soccer. She's cool."
"But I like soccer!"
"Oh, stop complaining, Steve," Perri said with a wink. Annie grinned and poked her tongue out at me as the two girls turned away and began walking towards the lounge room of our hotel room, in order to get to know each other. I just stared at their backs.
"Is he always like that?" Annie giggled.
"Yeah, he's just a big grumpy-boots. Now, tell me, do you have a passport?"
"Nope."
"Oh well. I have a friend over in Dublin that can fix you up one cheap. Oh, by the way, are you the girlfriend Steve's always talking about?"
"Ha! He wishes. Are you the girl Steve reckons he's going out with?"
"Hell no! He's too young for me! Yeah, he's got a great accent, but still… So does Cillian Murphy, and he's my age!"
"Cillian Murphy? Naaah, Colin Farrel is soo much hotter!"
God. Girls. I can't believe I was now stuck with two of them.
Once again, life had taken an interesting turn.
Now, I was stuck with a depressed Aussie shrimp with a sharp tongue and an even sharper punch – as well as my ex best friend's little sister, who had bitten off more than she could chew.
I'm screwed.
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A.N Why the double dose, you ask?
…You're gonna kill me for this.
For the next twenty-odd days, I'm gonna be away on holidays, so I thought I might as well give you two chapters… though this one was a little on the sucky side…
I hope you don't mind Annie! XD
See you in a month's time! MWUAHAHAHAHA!
By the by, Cillian Murphy is the hot Irish actor out of 28 Days Later. He will also be starring as Dr. Scarecrow in the next Batman movie. YATTA!
Oh, ya, and this chapter is partly dedicated to S-A for being my first reviewer! XD
