Sierra PoV

I can see the happiness beam in Star's eyes, glimmering above all the sadness collected through the passing days and the misery ebbing away slightly. She has finally been awarded liberty, and to celebrate this, she flings her arms around me as Laddie cheers. I can't smile though, guilt is just overwhelming me. Whilst Laddie is too naive to comprehend exactly what is occurring and Star is consented a dash of respite she has well deserved, I know the price Michael will have to pay. I can't help him now; after all, me being rescued from death was a reason towards why he agreed to David's immoral deal.

Rising from the ground, erasing the beige grains of sand glued to the ivory dress, mainly along the scalloped edges now fraying slightly from the wild escapade as they entrapped themselves onto objects I can't recall, I gather Laddie into my arms, watching Star hastily hike over to the car where David informed us it was. She peers her head behind her shoulder though to take a final glance at Michael, but before she can open her mouth to say anything, David shoots her a beware look to stay away from him, and so, she scampers away. She wants to apologize, why isn't he letting her? Laddie rests his head onto my shoulder, a trust bond developed through these last few nights between us. I can only nod at David and thank him on Star's behalf and for saving my life so to speak.

I briefly smile at Michael, almost passing him when I decide to formally say goodbye to him. He has been more than generous these past few days, and I am a reason attached to his turning. The guilt is swallowing me, and I can feel this dark entity inside of me manically cackling at it. I know it's the monster who lusts to invade me completely, but the human has emotions and morals, meaning it will survive. With Laddie falling asleep on my shoulder, I seize the chance to say goodbye to Michael, walking over until I become equal to him.

"Michael, I -" I stop my words that quiver from battling away tears. This is my fault, completely my fault. I stare at the ground for a moment to collect myself, but a singular bead of water travelling from my tear gland until it makes contact with my skin, trickling down my wind beaten cheek. I raise my head again just as the tear falls to the ground, but another one is haste to replace is though and commences leisurely gliding down the same cheek. "Take care of yourself, okay?" My lips grant themselves to kiss his stubbly cheek, the kiss lingering for two seconds maximum before I straighten my back to look at him again, a third tear strolling down the opposite cheek to create two identical damp trails. "I'm sorry, Michael"

I was truly remorseful in my tone, the apology not only being sincere for tonight, but for the night previous where I unleashed my upset and enragement onto him before it soothed, for the night prior to last night where I revealed without the knowledge of Michael being present about Star's plan. Most of all, I am greatly sorry for burying him in deeper trouble.

With that final apology, the final display of my affection, I hastily brush his jaw line with my thumb, a wavering smile on my lips before rotating around, my back now facing him, my face never to even glance back at him again, and walk towards the car at a hurried pack with a stirred Laddie waving back at Michael. I place Laddie into the car next to me before climbing in myself. I can't help but to steal a last glimpse of Michael with my watery ocean blue eyes, smiling one last time at him before gunning the engine and driving off into the distance, within moments being away from Hudson's Bluff. Now, I don't care whether I am strong or not, because for once, all I want to do is weep. The tears intensify and pour rapidly down my cheeks, each droplet being of guilt and sadness. Star rests her head on my shoulder, stroking my hair to console me, but it can't. She, too, feels culpability.

"Sierra, what's wrong?" Laddie asks me, tugging on the giant bell sleeve belonging to my dress.

"Sometimes, Laddie, adults get very upset and they cry. No matter how strong they are, sometimes crying helps them be happier" I attempt not to sob, smiling at Laddie. Then, Michael's words, that annoyed question he asked me before I vanished in front of his eyes. "Laddie, never be afraid to let anyone in. There's nothing wrong in it" For some abnormal reason not even I can explain or analyse, I let Michael in. Why I have no idea, but I did to a degree, like I could sense he wasn't going to harm me like others have before him.

"It's going to be alright, Sierra. David wanted him all along, there wasn't anything we could do" Star attempts to compose me, but the guilt ailing me won't cease even for a moment in time. I don't think it will ever rid itself knowing what I could have done to prevent it.

Mike PoV

I can tell Sierra is hurt. I think she's hurting more than I am over this decision. I want to pull her in my arms and say it's alright, let her know it will all be alright. It won't. I am going to become one of them before the night ends, but I know it isn't for me. Sam will be most hurt from this choice, but if it's what I've got to do to save them, there is no choice. David's kept his word. Sierra and Star can get free of this. Sierra though, I don't know how long she'll hold out. Star and Laddie will be free, hopefully by sundown tomorrow.

I'm stunned and just can't get my thoughts straight as Sierra walks up the steep hill that has narrow stairway carved into it. I finally find strength to break from my stupor and run at the car, screaming. Calling her name: Sierra! But all I see is tail lights; I had taken too long to break from my daze. I don't want Sierra to leave thinking it is all her fault. I could see it written all over her face the guilt, the blame. Regardless what happened, she didn't know what would happen, besides I had my mom and Sam to think about too. She doesn't deserve the guilt she feels... she had only been trying to help.

"Ah, but the best problems are caused with the humblest of intentions. Time to go get you dinner, Michael. That's the first half of the deal, I'm not spilling the rest till you feed." David has placed his hand on my shoulder and is pulling me towards the bikes.

With what I'm feeling from just being half, fully changing into one of these monsters completely terrifies me. I don't want to become like them, a monster that will kill without a care. Why do they even want me? I dread that my demise will come at the hands of my own brother, because I'll be a monster and even more than now, not the same person that he has known all his young life. I remain silent as if I was a man awaiting his execution and in a way I am, as what is me will be ripped away very soon.

"It's not quite like that. You will still be you for the most part, why you went through the test." David chuckles."It isn't so bad, there are changes, but not in the way you think. Sure, you won't be human anymore, but it really isn't so bad. Just think of it as a new life style."

"Yeah, sure, new life style." I was being sarcastic. New alright, I haven't been acting myself of late and I'll be acting worse come being changed. I bring the bike to life as everyone else does. David takes off first without any warning, yet the other strangely are able to fall behind him without hesitation. I follow in behind, last one in the group as David takes us back towards The Boardwalk.

We stop along the beach, right before getting to The Boardwalk. It's closed now and late in the night, but I am made to wait with Paul and Marko whilst David and Dwayne hunted up a 'perfect' meal for me.

I observe the two, you wouldn't be able to tell they are killing monsters by the way they play around, pushing each other, which eventually has them slinging sand back and forth. I'd laugh if not for the ominous situation that's brought me to this point.

"Ouch shit, that was a rock! Watch what you're grabbing up, man!" Paul is rubbing his head, a scowl plastered over his face.

"Maybe you should duck better then!" Marko grabs up another handful of sand and slings it at Paul. This continued with them going back and forth with sand slinging and trying to get out of the way for about 30 minutes before David and Dwayne return with my... meal. It is some girl. She looks healthy, pretty and has good tan on her... I really don't want to do this and though I know I made a deal, I just can't do it, not consciously just kill someone, some innocent human being.

"Don't worry, Michael, you won't have to think on it long." David thrusts the quivering girl forwards and presses a knife against her throat. She appears as if she is completely in some kind of trance. "You're starving, you haven't eaten anything in how long? Or drank? Don't think. Just let your body do it all for you and it will be over before you know it."

I'm not sure if I can have faith in him, but when he slashes the woman's' throat, who seems to remain eerily silent and not struggle, I black out, nothing but darkness enshrouding me, when the scent collides with my nostrils. I am aware at what I am doing and at the same time, I am not. The thing inside me completely reaps control and I can feel the joy and pleasure it possesses at finally being able to sate its lust for crimson life. I feel a bit numb and even some amount of pain, not like when that hunger hit me the first time, but a dulled pain, like a part of me died inside along with my body as the vampire completely takes hold. I can hear them cheering at me, cheering for me killing some innocent being, but now I feel nothing for what I did and it aggravates me, only because I don't care about the life I have just stolen.

The body falls to my feet, a gaping sickening hole where her throat once was. I peer down at the corpse. No guilt, no pity. She is dead. No than more something to concern me than an empty soda bottle. I look at David and try wiping the evidence of the murder I have just committed from my face.

"The rest, David; what can be done to get rid of Max?" I am relieved to still feel the need to make sure David abides by his word and that I still sense some care for my family. At least not all of me is nothing.

"See, not quite what you had thought? Oh, you're changed, but you still have what basically makes you, you. As for the rest of the deal, little Sammy can't kill the Hell-Hound, not the way he's going at it. Oh, I'm sure he'll try again, but he'll die trying. The only way to get rid of it is if you kill Max. Then, the dog dies. Well, unless Max releases the dog from being bound to service to him. Fat chance of that." David calmly informs me.

"What?" I blurt out, seething with ferocity and shock. I had given myself over to him, just to find my mom and brother are no better off? All this and there's no way to remove Max? This is not happening.

"Don't think like that. I said it can't be killed. I didn't say you couldn't get around it to kill Max. The question is, Michael - how well can you trust your little brother? 'Cause to ensure he's home, I have to wait for him right before dawn, meaning I'll only have enough time to get back to the cave. You'll have to be." David holds up his hand when I start to ask a question, halting my inquiry. "Michael, we're linked eternally now. You'll hear my thoughts, I'll let you know and you can inform your little brother so they can strike, but that means you will have to be able to trust that your brother won't stake you in your sleep since you will have to shelter in your family's home."

"Sam won't do anything, not in the house anyway. He wouldn't." Well, I am confident Sam wouldn't try to kill me; but could I blame him if he did do it? No, he wouldn't. He wouldn't be able to anymore than I could do it to Sam if our places were switched. "So the dog?"

"Hellhound's are more intelligent than a dog, but still stupid and deceivable. Get someone to distract it, play the bait. They have to get the dog to come outside the gate as it will try to kill them with a mindless pursuit. All they have to do is get in something, a car works, it'll try it's best to rip through the car to kill them. While someone's distracting little ole Thorn, the rest can get inside the gate and find Max's resting place. They need make sure it's accurate, no missing, 'cause even weak in the day, Max is very capable of killing. He most likely won't be sleeping in his normal room that has big bay windows with a view of the beach since Sams' little escapades with Thorn. Don't go anywhere near your home till close to dawn, Max could pay a visit in a guise of being a caring boyfriend. He'll instantly know the plan if you're there and that will mean we are all totally fucked beyond belief that short of moving to another country won't help us." David puffs on his cigarette for a brief moment, exhaling the pillar of silver smoke in a form of a signal to notify me of his words to come. "Don't go back to the cave, stay out here." He glances at Paul and Marko in a sharp look."Have a dirt fight with them two. Do whatever you want, but until it's close to dawn, don't return to your family's house. Max is too arrogant and full of himself to the point he thinks he can't be killed in his own home, but doesn't mean he won't actually get a clue and make other sleeping arrangements."