Chapter two

"Him again,"

"Maybe he'll actually buy something this time."

The two sisters watched their fashion-challenged customer wander through the aisles of comics. They followed him out of boredom. Ally decided to have a little fun.

"Notice anything unusual about Santa Carla yet?"

The boy looked up "Nah, it's a pretty cool place," He paused "if you're a martian."

"Or, a vampire." Emily added, for a moment, Ally wanted to roll her eyes, then she realized, this kid had just moved here. He might have a new perspective.

He just grinned, he thought Emily was joking "You two sniffing on newsprint or something?"

"You really think you know what's going on here, don't you?" Ally asked

"Let me tell you something, pal, you don't know shit." Emily added

They had reached the end of the aisle, and they were face to face. "You think we just work here for our folks."

"But it's more than that." Ally said

"We're fighters for truth-"

"Justice-"

"And the American way."

The boy nodded slowly "Sure."

"Hey, take this." Emily handed him another of the girl's ever-present vampire comics.

He glanced at it "I told you, I don't read horror comics."

"Consider it more of a survival manual." Ally said, frowning "That's our number on the back. And pray, you never have to call us."

Again, he nodded, smiling with his mouth hanging open "I'll pray, I never need to call ya, sure." But then something clicked in his expression, and Ally had to try not to roll her eyes. Because he was now thinking he'd just gained a girl's number. Which would make him think he was cool. As he left, Emily turned to her sister.

"Did you see his face?" Ally asked

"He thought-"

"Right!"

For a moment they were engulfed in laughter. It was stopped when some actual, paying customers walked in. Emily stepped over her parents and behind the counter. While Ally walked off to help the customers find what they wanted. The night continued almost normally. Almost.

Around eight, a little kid walked in. Well, not really little. Maybe ten. Not really old enough to be wandering around on his own. He also looked like he'd been doing so for a while from how he was covered in dirt.

"You lost kid?" Ally asked him. He jumped slightly, then shook his head.

"No,"

Something about him looked familiar. Maybe he'd just wandered in before, but she hadn't noticed...

"Going to look around?"

"I'm waiting for someone." He said quietly.

Ally raised her eyebrows "got a name? We don't usually just let people hang around in here waiting."

"Laddie." The boy said, still in the same, barely whispering voice.

He didn't say anything else, he just stood by the door, looking outside every few minutes.

"Al, come here a sec."

Ally walked back the register, not looking away from the kid.

"What?"

"You know who he is right?"

Ally shook her head.

"He's one of the missing kids. Off the milk carton."

Ally's eyes widened, she turned to ask the boy about this, but he was already headed out the door. Apparently he had seen whoever he was waiting for.

…...

The next night, Ally is laying in bed, she hears the phone ring, and thinks nothing of it until Emily calls her downstairs.

"It's our fashion-challenged buddy."

Ally laughs, but in the back of her mind, she wonders why he's calling.

"So can you help me?" His voice is rushed, and she can almost hear the jumpiness.

"Does your brother sleep a lot?" Emily asks

"Yeah, all day-"

"Does the sunlight freak him out?" Ally asks, catching on to the reason he called

"Uh, he wears sunglasses in the house-"

"Bad breath, long fingernails?"

"Yeah, his fingernails are a little bit longer, he's always had bad breath though."

"He's a vampire alright."

"Here's what you do, get yourself a good sharp stake,"

"And drive it, right through his heart."

He protested at this, insisting it was his brother, and he couldn't do that to him.

"Fine, we'll come do it for you."

"No!"

Emily's glare could probably be heard in her voice "You better get yourself a garlic t-shirt buddy. Or it's your funeral." And she hung up.

Ally decided it was best to let her calm down a bit before discussing what they had just been told.

"So, do we believe this kid?"

Emily nodded "He's an idiot, but the signs are there."

"Plan of action?"

"We'll have to wait on it. He doesn't want us anywhere near his brother I'd guess. But if he survives, and he calls again, we'll help."