David whispered in Marco's ear, Marco nodding in enthusiasm. He left the main cave area and went into a small opening in the cave wall. When he returned, he had Chinese food in hand. I knew he hadn't gotten in from the small fridge we had down there, which meant they either paid for it, stole it, or killed a delivery boy; most likely the last option knowing them.

Marco handed food to everyone, including Star, Laddie, and me. David offered his rice to Michael, but he refused. That's when David offered once more.

"Come on, Michael, it's just rice," David said, leaning forward in his torn-up office chair. "How could a billion Chinese people be wrong?"

The other boys began to laugh as Michael took the carton from David. Marco handed David another carton filled with noodles, a fork sticking out of it. As Michael took a bite, David looked at him with amusement.

"How are those maggots, Michael?" David asked.

Michael looked at him with confusion. "Mhm?"

"You're eating maggots, Michael. How do they taste?"

Michael looked at David like he was crazy but when he looked down at his rice, his eyes went wide. He quickly dropped the carton to the ground, spitting out the rice he had in his mouth. I knew vampires had the ability to mess with human minds, but I hadn't learned how to control that power just yet.

Star didn't like what they were doing and rose to her feet. "Leave him alone."

David looked at her intensely, Star reluctantly sitting back down. He offered Michael noodles but made the poor boy think they were worms. David took a bite before Michael grabbed the carton to reveal they were only noodles.

Once he had had his fun, he whispered to Marco once more. He vanished from the main cave and returned with a jeweled bottle. David opened it and took a whiff, taking a long drink as he did. The second he opened the bottle I knew what was inside; blood.

After taking a sip, he offered the bottle to Michael. "Come on, Michael. Be one of us."

Star and I got to our feet at the same time. She met my gaze and told me to stay with Laddie. I silently agreed and sat back down beside him, pulling Laddie in close. Star came to stand between Michael and David.

David offered the bottle to Michael once more, Michael taking it in his hand. He looked from the bottle to David and back again. It was clear he didn't fully understand what David was saying but he didn't want to look like he wasn't cool.

The other boys, aside from Laddie, began chanting Michael's name over and over again. It was obvious the peer pressure was getting to him.

Star leaned down and whispered in his ear. "Don't do it, Michael. Its blood."

"Yeah, right."

Michael brought the bottle to his lips and took a swig, Star stepping back as he did. The others cheered him on as he took another sip and then another. Star made her way back over to us and got Laddie into the bed; I followed after her to help.

The others partied for another half hour or so and then led Michael from the cave to do god knows what. Once they were gone and Laddie was asleep, Star and I sat in my makeshift bedroom.

"Why was he down here?" I asked, looking over at Star who had been silent since Michael drank from the bottle.

"It's all my fault," Star muttered, putting her face in her hands. "I showed interest in him and David found out. They raced to the bluffs and then they brought him down here. I never wanted this to happen."

"So, they're going to turn him just because you like him?" I asked.

Star shook her head. "No, they want him to be my first meal. They want me to kill him."

My stomach dropped to the floor as I shook my head frantically, talking a little too loudly. "You can't!"

"I won't, but if I don't, David said he'd make Michael one of us and force him to feed, destroying everything I like about him," Star muttered.

"I'm going to kill him," I whispered, clenching my firsts.

Star noticed my anger with confusion. "I understand being worried, but you seem a little more animated than you should be. Do you know Michael?"

"No … I," I began with a sigh. "I know his brother Sam. He's the blonde guy I was hanging out with the other night. Michael's his older brother."

"Do you like this, Sam?" Star asked.

I went silent and the silence said it all. I had tried not to but I did. His voice, his smile, his boyish charm. I liked all of it and knew how dangerous that could be.

"You have to let him go," Star said as I met her gaze. "If David finds out, he may do what he's doing to Michael or worse, especially if he learns the two are brothers. If you want to keep Sam safe, you have to let him go."

"I know."

Star squeezed my shoulder before heading off to bed. I laid there for quite some time, tossing and turning. I heard the others return as I got up and walked into the main cave. David noticed and told the other three to head to bed. They sauntered into their dark hidey hole as David met me in the middle.

"Where's Michael?" I asked with crossed arms.

"He's home … for now," David said, looking at me with intrigue. "Why do you care?"

"Because Star told me what you plan to use him for and it's horrid. Using an innocent boy as her first meal is diabolical," I snapped.

"Is it?" David asked, leaning in close. "I can see the pain you three are in. The sooner you feed, the sooner the pain goes away. Star is losing her grip and it's clear to see, so I decided it was time to expedite the process."

"She won't kill him, David," I sneered.

"If she's desperate enough, she will, and if she doesn't, I have a new friend to join our little family," David said.

"You're sick,"

"Maybe so, but I'm not the one in love with a human," David said, my eyes went wide as he smiled. "Don't think I didn't see you two eating ice cream together tonight. You're smitten, Dawn."

"You leave him alone or so help me god…"

"What is God going to do? Mhm? He hasn't tried to stop us and he isn't going to start now. Stop seeing Sam and I'll let him live. If not, he'll end up like Michael. Is that understood?" David said.

I glared holes into his face with a forced nod. "Yes."

"Good," David said, his smile returning. "Now get some rest. You have a big night ahead of you."

David patted me on the shoulder before following the others. I stood there for a long moment, flipping him off behind his back before heading to bed. I lay down and stared up at my blanket ceiling with a sigh. Why did my life have to be so complicated?

I didn't want to cut things off with Sam but after I almost bit him and the deadly threat from David, I knew I had to. It was the only way to keep him safe and I wasn't going to get him killed, I just couldn't.

So that night when the crew headed to the boardwalk, I left to find Sam; he was nowhere to be found. I searched the entirety of the boardwalk almost five times before giving up. I did this for a whole week as Michael and the others grew close.

Sam not showing up was a good thing; it kept him safe. Yet if I didn't tell him in person to stay away, he could reappear, and David would hurt him. I wouldn't let what was happening to Michael happen to him. So, I tried again to find him tonight, Star wished me silent luck and David smiled knowing if I failed, Sam wouldn't make it another day. He had been patient but that patience was waning. I sighed beneath my breath and headed to the comic book store, praying he was inside.

I walked in and peered over every shelf. When I realized he wasn't there, I headed for the door, but when I arrived, the two boys, Edgar and Allan, blocked my path.

"Excuse me," I muttered.

I tried to step between them, but if I moved in one direction, they moved the same way and vice versa. The two met each other's gaze, crossing their arms. Edgar looked me up and down with determination.

"You're not going anywhere," he snapped.

"And why not?" I asked.

"You've been spending time with our bud, Sam. We tried to warn him with the comics, but he didn't listen. When we found you two on your date … we followed," Edgar explained.

"And we saw you. We saw the look in your eyes when he cut his hand and how much you wanted to sink your fangs into his flesh," Allan finished.

My face turned white. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You know exactly what we're talking about," Edgar said, pulling a stake from his jean loop. "Vampire."

"I don't know what you saw, but vampires do not exist," I insisted, raising my hands and taking a step back.

"Don't play dumb. We know the truth and we're going to show Sam what he decided to fall in love with," Allan said, a sadistic smile appearing on his lips.

I knew I had the strength to win, but if I did, their thoughts of me being evil would intensify. So I stumbled back another step and ran to the other side of the store, the boys following close behind me. I ran around a comic stand and tipped it over to block their path.

Edgar jumped over it and continued following me. I swerved around and knocked another shelf onto the floor. I made it to the door when Edgar appeared and stabbed me with the stake in his hand. I looked down and found it jabbed into my side, sticking out my back.

I collapsed onto my knees, before falling to my side. Edgar crouched down, moving his head into my line of vision. "You can't get away that easily."

"You missed my heart," I muttered, my vision blurring.

"I know. You need to be alive for what comes next."

His voice was muffled as ringing replaced it. I tried to keep my eyes open but they were so heavy I just couldn't. Once they closed, everything went dark and faded into nothing.