It has been almost a year since David gave me his blood. I grew close to Star and Laddie, the three of us becoming a small family of our own. I spoke with the other four, becoming almost friends, but never quite becoming comfortable.
They pestered me continuously to join them in the hunt and each time I refused just as Star and Laddie did. Yet, each time they asked, it was getting harder and harder to say no. Star was more tempted than I was and even Laddie's strength was waning, but we kept ourselves strong … together.
I'd also convinced the others to spruce up the cave a bit. We found some dressers on the curb, so we no longer had to leave our clothes in bags or on the dirty cave floor. I also found better blankets, pillows, and mattresses for Laddie, Star, and I, finding a bed frame or two as well. It wasn't perfect, as most of the furniture was either found on the curb or stolen by one of the others, but it worked and it was better than it used to be.
For the first few weeks, I stayed in the cave wasting time. Once the others thought it was safe, they began bringing me to the boardwalk with them. When we visited, I'd find the missing posters my parents put up, tearing them down whenever I could. Recently, however, the flyers stopped. I snuck out one night and found my house empty; my parents were gone. I didn't know if they still lived in the area or if they had moved out of the state entirely, but part of me was happy for them. They had moved on or at least tried to and that was better than nothing.
I honed my skills over the last twelve months and could fly like the others. Not as fast or as long as the full vampires, but I could keep up with Star, maybe even beat her. I had also grown to control my hunger. The first few times I came to the boardwalk I almost vamped out on a few bystanders, Star holding me back. I had practiced a breathing technique that allowed me to calm my nerves. It wasn't a cure-all but it worked for the time being.
Tonight, we were going to a concert on the beach, David and the boys sneaking a few members of the crowd out for a meal while Laddie, Star, and I enjoyed the music. Sadly, it was Tim Capello, the same artist who played the night everything changed. I tried to look on the bright side and enjoy myself, even if that thought was in the back of my mind.
I did so for about half of the concert before I just couldn't stand it anymore and made my way out of the crowd. Star wanted to stay, so she and Laddie moved closer to the front. I, on the other hand, weaved my way through the crowd and back onto the boardwalk, making my way to the comic book store on the far end.
I had always enjoyed comic books. Never obsessing over them as many others did, but every once in a while, I'd pick one up. Over the last year, I had gotten more into comics and books in general. I tried to get a TV down in the cave, but the antenna wouldn't pick up a signal, so the only entertainment I had before sundown were books and comics.
I stepped into the dimly lit store and looked around at the selection. Every time I came, the owner's sons, who were basically the owners due to their parent's constant drug use, eyed me down insistently. Never saying a word, but always watching, following my every move. Their movement was quick and fidgety whenever I checked out, trying to get me out of the store as fast as they possibly could.
I had a feeling they knew what I was or at least suspected. If I told David of my suspicions, he'd kill them both without a second thought. Yet, I wasn't completely sure, and I wasn't going to get two teenage boys killed due to my suspicion.
As I looked around, a pop of color filled the edge of my vision. I peered over at the door to see a boy enter. He had blonde hair gelled up, wearing the most fashion-magazine-style outfit I'd ever seen. It was colorful, over the top, and completely out of place in Santa Carla; he must be new. I watched from the other end of the stand as he stopped in front of some comics, the two sons walking over to him.
The new kid peered up at the two. "Got a problem, guys?"
His voice wasn't what I was expecting, but I liked the sound. As he maneuvered around to the other side of the stand, I did the same, trying to act like I was just looking at comics rather than spying on them.
The one named Edgar looked the new kid up and down. "Just surveying your civilian wardrobe."
"Pretty cool, huh?" The kid shrugged.
"Yeah, for a fashion victim," The other son, Allan, muttered.
The new kid stopped in front of the DC comics as Edgar sighed. "Listen, Buddy, if you're looking for the diet frozen yogurt bar, it went out of business last summer."
"Actually I'm looking for a Batman #14," The new kid said, meeting their gaze.
"That's a very serious book, Man," Edgar said.
"Only five in existence," Allan muttered almost directly after.
"Four actually. I'm always looking out for the other three," The new kid said, looking down at the comics in front of him, and moving them around. "Look you can't put the Superman 77s with the 200s they haven't even discovered red kryptonite yet, and you uh can't put the 98s with the 300s Lurry the Marius hasn't even been introduced."
"Where the hell are you from? Krypton?" Edgar asked with a raised brow.
"Phoenix actually. But … lucky me … we moved ... here," The new kid groaned.
Edgar walked past the new kid toward another shelf, coming back with a comic in hand. It had a teal cover with what looked like Dracula on the front. He moved beside the kid and handed it to him.
"Take this."
"I don't like horror comics," The new kid refused.
"You'll like this one, Mr. Phoenix," Edgar muttered, glaring back at me as he placed it in the kid's hand. "It could save your life."
I looked away quickly but that alone told me for certain he and his brother knew. I should've gone to David right then and there, but I wasn't a killer. If I told him, they would die and it'd be all my fault. They may know of my nature, but I wasn't going to prove them right by doing something monstrous.
Before the two brothers could say anything else, a group of drunk adults who had been at the front of the store for quite some time ran off with some comics. Edgar saw the snatching and ran after them, Allan following shortly after. The new kid watched the two run out of the store as he glanced down at the comic and placed it in the pocket of his oversized jacket.
I decided it was probably time for me to go, so I made my way toward the exit, trying my best to keep my gaze from the new kid as I did. Sadly, I hadn't noticed him exiting at the same time as me and we bumped into one another, falling to the ground. When I looked up through my bangs, I found him sprawled out across from me and guilt filled me instantly.
"I'm so sorry, I really need to watch where I'm going," I muttered, getting to my feet and quickly offering my hand to him.
He looked up and caught my gaze, a smile forming on his lips as he grabbed my hand in his. "It's no problem, I don't mind."
I pulled him up a little too forcefully and surprised him. I quickly pulled away as he shook his arm. Thankfully, I didn't pull hard enough to break anything.
"You're stronger than you look," he muttered.
"Yeah, I do a lot of … cardio."
The second the words left my mouth, I wanted to slap myself. Cardio? Cardio was running, that had nothing to do with how strong my arms were. What an idiot! Luckily, from the look on his face, he thought my mistake was funny and smiled wider, which made some of the anxiety vanish.
He reached out with the same hand as before, offering it to me this time around. "My name's Samuel, but most people call me Sam. Sam Emerson."
"It's nice to meet you, Sam," I said, grabbing his hand in mine. "I'm Dawn Shay."
As our hands met, I noticed Sam shiver. Since I was turned into a half-vampire, I didn't feel the heat or the cold as much as I used to, but from the humans I had interacted with, I knew my skin was cold to the touch. Yet, Sam let go of my hand and continued smiling, ignoring it entirely, which made me smile back.
We walked out of the comic book store and I headed back toward the other end of the boardwalk where I knew the others would be waiting. David and the boys liked to feed early and I knew I was running late. As I walked, I heard running footsteps behind me as Sam caught up to my stride.
"Do you live around here?" Sam asked, trying to catch his breath.
I looked down at my feet with another small smile. "Yes, do you?"
"Yeah, I just moved to town a few days ago," Sam explained, swallowing a breath of fresh air.
I pretended like I hadn't overheard the conversation he had and looked intrigued. "Ah, you're new to town then. Where are you from originally?"
"Phoenix, but my parents got divorced. My mother didn't want a huge legal battle, so she cut ties and brought me and my older brother Michael here to live with my grandfather until we get on our feet," Sam explained.
"Well, if you're going to stick around, you may want to get some new clothes," I said, motioning to his getup. "You keep wearing stuff like that and you'll stick out like a sore thumb."
"I thought this jacket was cool," Sam whined, looking down at his colorful attire.
"This is a town with a lot of parties, but we're quite laid back and like to blend in, well, most of us anyway," I explained.
We arrived at the end of the boardwalk and I noticed the others leaning against the railing. David looked over at me and spotted Sam, his brow raising in interest. I quickly turned my back to them, standing in front of Sam so he would stop walking.
"I have to go, but I hope you have a good rest of your night," I said.
Sam noticed my sudden weirdness and looked around my shoulder to see the others staring at us. "Do you live with them?"
"Yeah, they're … the only family I have," I sighed, forcing a smile back onto my face. "Goodbye, Sam."
I moved away from him and began toward the bikes when Sam grabbed my wrist. I turned back to see Sam, almost nervous. "Will I see you again?"
I hesitated. Sam intrigued me and I wanted to know more. I wanted to see him again, but doing so risked his life. The smart thing to do would be to say goodbye and never see him again, but I was never the smartest.
"Yeah, I come to the boardwalk almost every night. Come down and I'll find you. It was nice meeting you, Sam."
"You too, Dawn."
We smiled at one another as Sam let go of my wrist. I nodded once more in his direction before heading back to the others. They had gotten on their bikes, Laddie on Dwayne's and Star on Paul's. I slid on the back of David's and wrapped my arms around his chest as Sam made his way back toward the concert.
David watched Sam disappear into the crowd before peering back at me. "Who was that?"
"Nobody."
"It better stay that way."
David pushed his foot down as the bike roared to life, the others doing the same. I looked back toward the crowd as the crew drove down the boardwalk, the sounds of the people slowly fading into silence.