Angel a.k.a Anthony Lombardi, was among the few the people who often interacted in Charlie and Vaggie's lives. An immature, impulsive, witty, slightly horny, individual with an extreme fascination for the genre known as horror. He loved all types of scary movies. B-horror films, slasher films, zombie films, gothic films, even the old fashioned ones in black and white. When he was a boy he and his siblings would spend their nights watching the late night horror movies that would come on and when the TV was being used by their father at night, they would substitute with comics and ghost stories.
He had grown up in Brooklyn but did some traveling after high school in order to "find himself" and eventually settled down in Chicago, where he moved in with his sister who was studying at one of their universities. He found work at a local shop that sold horror films, comics, books, and other novelties, and he would occasionally serve as a horror expert to the customers which made her very popular with the horror geeks.
Charlie befriended him when she came to the shop to buy a copy of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and as she searched for the novel, she asked him for his opinion on the story. He told her that he admired the material but he favored more modern themed genres. When she told him that she wanted to be a writer he told her that he'd given her all the information she needed if she wanted to write something horrific. She sensed that he was creative like her and that was why they were such good friends.
Vaggie on the other hand seemed to detest him at first glance. Which was especially strange because apart from the occasional teasing and crude jokes, he was very civil toward her. Charlie once even caught him trying to give Vaggie money after knowing her for three days. The blonde couldn't wrap her head around Vaggie's animosity toward him.
"Good afternoon Angel." Charlie greeted upon entering the shop.
"Hey!" He greeted in return. "And how are the two hottest babes in Chicago, Illinois?"
"Oh Angel!" Charlie blushed and laughed. "That's the thing about you people who work in stores. You're always giving comments, weather they're true or not."
"Hey I may bend the truth for business but never for you two babes. You're my favorite customers."
"I don't even shop here Angel." Vaggie said.
"But you still come by."
"Only to protect Charlie from you."
"Me? Oh come on toots, you know I wouldn't hurt Charlie for anything in the world. She's too cute."
"Uh-huh and so was that goth chick and punk rocker dude you seduced."
"You do know hurting someone and seducing someone are two very different things right? Also I don't do virgins. Too much emotional baggage."
"How do you know I'm a virgin?" Charlie asked.
"You blush every time you go past the porn section of the shop. If that's not a clear sign of virginity I don't know what is."
Charlie's face was like a giant cherry.
"Show some respect!" Vaggie snapped. "You don't talk about a woman like that out loud. What's wrong with you?"
"Relax there's no one else here and you two live together so it's not like you don't already know, am I right?"
"Shut up before I take that plastic cleaver over there and shove it up your ass!"
"Always so temperamental. You'd think that by now you'd learn control yourself."
"Pendejo desagradable!" Vaggie cursed in Spanish.
"Alright let's change the subject and cool off before someone does something they'll regret." Charlie said getting between them. "Listen Angel I was wondering if maybe you could help me."
"That depends, help you with what?"
"My book got rejected again and the publisher says it's because the subject doesn't appeal to our peers. You know what people our age like, you think you could give me some ideas?"
"Maybe. Isn't your book a romance?"
"Yes."
"I can't help you then. I only know today's horror."
"See? I told you he wouldn't be any help." Vaggie said.
"Well I don't know what else to do then." Charlie said. "I don't know how I can make my story more appealing to today's readers and I really don't want to start all over from scratch. But if I don't figure out something it's back to Dad and learning how to run a manufacturing business."
"You know I read about this rookie screen writer who had the same problem." Angel said. "He had this idea for a apocalyptic war in the future that's between humans, zombies, and robots, everyone thought the idea was too crazy even for a movie. So he emailed a famous screenwriter to get some advice on how he could make the script more interesting and his advice helped him make his first movie. Maybe you could do the same?"
"Huh...That's actually not a bad idea." Vaggie admitted.
"Yeah." Charlie agreed. "I could write to Rosie Parish and ask her for advice. Only thing is, she doesn't have a computer or a cellphone."
"She doesn't?"
"No. She doesn't use modern technology for some reason."
"Then just send her a letter." Angel said. "Do you know her address?"
"Not quite." Charlie said. "No one outside of Davenport knows where her house is."
"Then just mail it to the state post office or something. I'm sure they'll know who to deliver it to. She is famous after all."
"Thanks Angel."
"Any time. Now are either one of you going to buy something or what because I still have to make a living."
Vaggie didn't buy a thing but Charlie purchased a copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula and the two friends went back to their apartment. Vaggie took a shower and Charlie began writing her letter.
Dear Rosie Parish
My name is Charlotte Morningstar, I live in Chicago Illinois and I am a huge fan of your literary works. You're my favorite author and you've inspired me to become a writer myself though I haven't had much luck selling my manuscript. I was wondering if maybe you could give me some advice. I hope you'll write back, if not I understand and I wish you luck on your career.
She folded up the letter and placed it in an envelope along with a small photograph of herself and a copy of the first chapter in her manuscript. In the morning she mailed the letter just before she left for work at the library. By the end of the day she thought that sending the letter was a long shot. Rosie was well-known and well-famed author, hundreds of fans had no doubt had written to her. It would most likely be years before she saw Charlie's letter. She may not even read Charlie's letter.
But the very next day, to her surprise, she found a letter addressed to her from Davenport, Louisiana and even more surprising was what was written on the letter.
Dear Charlotte Morningstar,
I am most flattered and pleased that I was able to inspire you so, I am also greatly impressed with what I have read in your manuscript so far. I see great potential in your story and would like to help you share it with the world. Perhaps we could work on your book together? You allow me to read the whole manuscript and I'll see if it needs to be edited.
However due to important business that I cannot escape from, it is impossible for me to visit you in Chicago. So I cordially invite you to visit Davenport, Louisiana for a few days. It is particularly lovely this time of year and the atmosphere may inspire your work further. Money is no issue, I shall see to all expenses in regards to your trip. When you have made your decision, please write back and I shall see to the arrangements.
I do hope you will accept my invitation. I am most eager to meet you, as are my associates. We usually do not take visitors but judging from your photo and manuscript, we take it that you must be an interesting and delightful young lady.
Sincerely,
Rosie Parish.
"Can you believe it Vaggie?" Charlie said when she showed her the letter. "My favorite writer wants to meet me and help me with my story. Isn't that amazing?"
"Yes it is. Too amazing actually."
"What do you mean?"
"Well I'm positive you're not the only fan who's ever written to her so how come you're the one she wants to meet?"
"It's probably because she liked my manuscript."
"Still inviting you over for a few days is a little sketchy. Especially considering that she's going to pay for all the travel expenses. That's a lot for someone you don't really know."
"That is pretty weird. I wish I could call and talk to her about this more but I don't know her phone number."
"Maybe you shouldn't go. Why don't you invite her to come here when she's finished up with her business? That sounds more safe."
"But I don't how long it'll take her to finish. On the other hand it's not very smart to go visit a stranger in another state. At least not alone. Oh wait! How about you come with me?"
"Me? Go to Louisiana? One of the most conservative states in the country? Yeah not happening."
"Oh come on Vaggie. It'll be much safer if I go with friends I trust and this is very important to me. This could be my last chance to become a novelist."
"It's not that I don't want to help it's just that Louisiana is so old fashioned and traditonal. And the accents! I can't stand the accents."
"You have an accent."
"I know there are some accents. Like Canadian accents. Hello, eh. Goodbye, eh. What's with the eh thing anyway? What purpose does it serve?"
"I don't know. I can't help the accent part, but Vaggie what's your problem with old fashion and tradition?"
"Some traditions in that area are not pleasant."
"If you're worried about things like racism and sexism, then you're worried for nothing. This is the twenty-first century. People have evolved from that."
"Not all people."
"Most people."
"Now you're being silly. This could be really fun. We'll explore a new place, learn new things, meet new people, and we're both due for a vacation."
"I guess."
"So does that mean you'll come?"
"If it's really that important to you then yes. I'll come."
"Thank you." Charlie said hugging her. "You are the best friend in the whole world. I just hope Rosie can pay for three tickets."
"Three? It's just us isn't it?"
"Uh...Well..." She grinned and looked away nervously. "Traveling with one trusted friend is safe but traveling with two trusted friends is even safer right?"
"Get to the point."
"I was thinking of inviting Angel too."
"What?!"
"Well he gave me the idea to write to Rosie in the first place and he could use a vacation too."
"You are not seriously asking me to go to Louisiana with him?! You are asking me to live my worst nightmare."
"Worst than the one about the bull fighting and the tequila?"
"Okay second worst nightmare."
"You know I think this is exactly what you both need. You and Angel are my close friends but you're always fighting. A vacation is just what the two of you need to bond and put this constant adversary behind you."
"Oh God, I am so gonna need a drink for this trip."
After Angel agreed to go on the trip, Charlotte immediately wrote back to Rosie accepting her invite and requesting that she bring along two friends in order to make herself feel more secure. Little did she realize that by accepting this invitation she had just began to live her own horror story.