Disclaimer: I do not own Fright Night. Don't you hate these disclaimers?
Author's Note: Review.. Poll… What else can I say?
Ch. 2: The Master of Dark Forces
I knocked on the wooden door. The only car in the driveway was Annie's. Annie's parents went away a lot. Her dad worked as a lawyer and her mother was an honorably discharged soldier. I remember the day when Annie got the call a few months ago. She was crying on the phone to her dad when I saw her. I later found out that her mother had a bad accident and they didn't know if she would make it. Her mom did end up making it, but lost an arm. Annie said her mother was very depressed a lot of the time. They took quick trips like this often to cheer her up.
"Evil," Annie squealed, jumping into my arms. I laughed.
"Missed me?" I said, smirking. We had barely seen each other this week.
"Of course I did," she replied kissing me. I put down my skateboard at the door. She grabbed my hand and led me into the house. She had a very nice house. The front room looked like a picture in a furniture catalogue. I dropped my bag by the stairs.
"Nice house," I commented. Annie smiled.
"What movie did you rent?" she asked.
"Signs," I said, smirking. She glared at me.
"You know I feel about aliens," she said.
"I brought The Exorcist," I said, laughing. She smiled.
"That's better." She ordered the pizza and we put in the movie. It was funny that Annie was terrified of aliens, but she wasn't afraid to watch the Exorcist. After the movie, we flipped to watch some cable.
"Welcome to Fright Night," a male voice announced. It was the commercial for a show on the strip. It starred a man named Peter Vincent.
"Oh, this is a vampire show," Annie said interestedly.
"Vampire show?" I asked her questioningly. The man on the screen wore a lot of leather and was very thin. He had dark hair that obviously had to be a wig. He looked like a cross between Chriss Angel and Russell Brand.
"Yeah my dad and mom went to it one night. He says it's really good," Annie said.
"Master of Dark Forces," I read squinting. I regretted wearing my contacts today. I didn't usually wear them.
"Yeah, he studies Vampire Methodology," she said, smirking. She looked like she was amused by the whole thing. She obviously didn't believe this man.
"He looks like a tool," I said. Annie laughed.
"Does he really believe in all that stuff?" I asked. She shrugged. Suddenly an idea came to me. I made a mental note to look up Peter Vincent later. Finally it was one in the morning. Annie yawned and walked up the stairs.
"Well, you coming?" she asked questioningly. I nodded and walked up the stairs with her, thoughts about vampires completely forgotten.
The sound of my alarm woke me. I looked at my phone and saw that I had missed calls from my dad. There was also a voicemail from him as well. I groaned; I was in deep shit. Reluctantly, I dialed my voicemail.
"Edward, where are you? Your mother and I are worried sick. Please call us as soon as you get this," My father's usually calm voice was riddled with panic. I slowly got up, careful not to wake Annie.
"Ed, where you going?" Annie said groggily.
"I have to go. My parents are looking for me," I said. She got up.
"You sure you can't stay," she asked, pulling me toward her.
"I'm sure," I said trying to display how much I really didn't want to go.
"Ok, I'll see you around. Call me later," she said.
"Oh, I will," I nodded. Annie and I usually talked into the wee hours of the morning. You learn a lot from a person talking so long. I was a little nervous telling her what happened last year, but she didn't judge me.
"I...um...will see you at school," she said. She kissed me and I walked toward the door.
"Hey, can you come to the football game Friday?" she asked. I looked at her.
"Why?" I asked her.
"Well, my squad is doing a new cheer and I'm running for homecoming queen," she said, shrugging.
"Sorry, honey, don't do football games," I said.
"Please, please please!" she said, pouting and begging. I sighed. She knew I couldn't say no.
"Alright, just because there will be cheerleaders there though. Nothing else," I said, smirking. Annie mock glared at me.
"Thanks, Ed," she said, hugging me again. I grabbed my skateboard and went home. I was not looking forward to the game. I, Edward Lee, went to Comic Con, not High School football games.
"Where were you?" my father asked as I walked through the door. My mom was sitting at the table. I could tell they had just been talking about me.
"I was at Adam's," I answered quickly.
"Why didn't you call?" he asked. I could sense a fight.
"I'm sorry. I forgot," I said truthfully. It might not have been true that stayed with Adam, but it was true I forgot to call.
"We have to know where you are," my father said. Here it was the lecture.
"I'm sorry, okay? I forgot," I said, walking up the stairs.
"Don't pull that with me. I know you're lying about where you were. Tell me where you were, now!" My dad never yelled, but I knew when he was serious.
"That's not any of your business," I said, turning back to the stairs.
"What you do is my business. Especially since…" my dad began. My mom gave him a look of warning.
"Alan, stop," she warned.
"What? Say it Dad! Since I tried to kill myself!" I said furiously. I hated how my parents were always walking on egg shells around me. If Charley were to talk to his mom like this he would be grounded for a month. I suddenly realized that I was complaining about not being punished. Damn, I was fucked up.
"Edward Mitchell," my Mom said.
"What? You guys treat me like a kid!" I snapped.
"Then stop acting like one!" my dad said. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down.
"I don't know what's going on with you, Edward. You stay out late; half the time we don't know where you are. What about Charley? You don't talk to him at all anymore," my dad said. I sighed. He had to mention Charley.
"Charley doesn't talk to me anymore," I said reluctantly. My mom looked at my dad.
"Why not?" my dad asked.
"I don't know," I said truthfully.
"I have half the mind to call his mother," my mom snapped. I groaned. It would only make things worse.
"Don't! I can handle it. Charley just has a new girlfriend," I told them.
"How can Charley do this? I mean he was the one that found you…" my dad began. I sensed a rant coming, so I decided to excuse myself. Fighting with your parents was exhausting.
Doomsday approached faster than expected. Before I knew it, I was paying admission. I had brought a book. I saw Annie on the sidelines. She sent me the signal. I smiled. She was happy I was here.
"What is up with you tonight, Annie?" I heard Amy giggle. Charley's girlfriend, I thought bitterly.
"Nothing, it's just that there is someone in the audience that I'm happy is here is all," she said simply. I smirked.
"Oh, a boy? Who?" Amy asked interestedly. Annie didn't answer, just shrugged. Halftime finally came. Annie was crowned queen. Who would have thought I would be dating the homecoming queen. She met me at her car. She ran up to me and jumped in my arms.
"Thanks for coming, Evil," she said gratefully.
"Not a problem. Do I have to address you as your Highness?" I said jokingly. She smacked me in the arm.
"Shut it, Lee," she said, giggling.
"I got to go meet Adam. I'll see you later. By the way, you owe me," I said, trying to look serious, but ultimately failing.
"And how should I repay your good deed?" she questioned, drawing closer to me.
"Well, I can think of one way," I said, kissing her.
"Wow, I should make you go to football games more often," she said dreamily. I smiled.
"See you tomorrow," I said. I walked to my car careful to avoid people. It took me only minutes to reach Adam's house.
"Dude, where have you been?" Adam asked.
"I was…gaming it up. Had to finish the new Halo game," I thought quickly. I didn't want to tell him I went to a football game. I would never live it down. I knew he would ask me why I went. That was an area I couldn't get into.
"Perfectly reasonable excuse," Adam chortled.
"So what is so important that you wanted to talk to me about?" Adam asked. I opened my bag and gave him the web page I printed out.
"Vampires?" Adam asked questioningly.
"You know Charlie's new neighbor?" I asked him. He nodded. A look of dawning came across his face.
"No fucking way," he said. I nodded.
"It all fits. I don't know why he's here, but I know that he's a vampire," I proclaimed confidently. It was that commercial with Peter Vincent that made me realized what he was.
"You're on drugs," Adam said in disbelief.
"Well, yeah, but I'm still being serious," I said, rolling my eyes. I was only being half serious.
"Evil, doesn't innocent until proven undead apply?" Adam asked.
"Fair enough. You need more convincing. Let's watch his house for a few days," I suggested. The look he gave me clearly told me that he thought I'd lost it.
"You're serious about this?" Adam realized.
"People have been disappearing left and right. It all started when he moved. He lives next to Charlie. If it is true, what do you think will happen to him and his mom?" I asked him. He bit his lip.
"Okay. We'll stake out his house. Oh, by the way, Ed..." he said, looking at me sternly. "...if we're caught I don't know you," he finished. I rolled my eyes, but was happy he was willing to at least see for himself.
"When I prove I'm right, I'm calling Peter Vincent," I said.
"Peter Vincent?" Adam asked.
"Long story," I told him. He nodded in understanding. We went back to my house and planned out how we were going to expose the alleged vampire.