Eclipse || CHONI

1

Rain comes down in sheets, slapping the cobblestone. Bright lights from the surrounding bars, reflected off the wet stones. The dull thud of rock music wafts out. A bar door opens, the music briefly blasts out as a young man exits - Riley. He's twenty two, genial, handsome, a university student full of promise. He pauses under the awning, preparing to face the rain. He slings a messenger bag over his shoulder, waving to his friends in the window before heading into the downpour.

Dark, deserted. Riley makes his way his way up to an alleyway. Suddenly, a shadow flies past him, moving in an unhumanly speed. Riley pauses for a moment, looking around confusingly before starting back up again, speeding up his walk, about to round a corner until suddenly, something leaps over him, knocking him backward to the ground. He starts to panic.

"Who's there?"

No response. Riley bolts in a different direction. He runs, beelining toward the end of the street at which stands an appointment building with a brightly lit lobby and a security guard. Safety.

Riley finds himself on the deserted boardwalk. Beyond the trail, black water. He's met with a dead end. Turning around, he searches the darkness for whatever's chasing him.

"Who's there? What do you want?!"

The shadow darts past him; Riley yanks his hand back, gripping it in pain. When he looks down at his hand he sees a crescent moon shape on his palm, blood seeping out. He's been bit. His confusion and terror quickly turn into agony as the venom from the bite crawls up his arm. Riley drops down to his knees, crying out in pain. Then falls, writhing as the venom spreads throughout his body, changing him, killing his humanity and his cries going unheard.

Meadow
Present day

Toni and Cheryl lay in the grass. Toni reads aloud from a book of Robert Frost poetry.

"I think I know enough of hate, to say that for destruction, ice, is also great and would suffice" she reads.

Cheryl teasingly pulls the book away and moves to kiss her, but Toni stops her.

"Cheryl you know I have an English final, I have to focus"

Cheryl grins, kissing her anyway. The sun briefly comes out from behind the clouds, causing Cheryl's skin to sparkle, making the kiss appear magical. Cheryl then pulls away smiling.

"Marry me"

Toni laughs. It's not the first - nor the fifteenth - time Cheryl's asked. This is clearly a game between them.

"No"

"Marry me"

"Change me" Toni smirks.

Cheryl begins to kiss Toni's neck.

"Okay. I will if you marry me, it's called a compromise" Cheryl says, moving he mouth down Toni's neck further.

"It's just called coercion. It's not fair. Marriage is just... Is a piece of paper" Toni explains.

"Well where I'm from, it's the way one says, 'I love you'." Cheryl argued.

Toni affectionately pushes her away, getting up from the ground.

"Where I come from, at my age, it's the way one says, 'I just got knocked up'." She says while gathering her coat and books.

Cheryl's suddenly right in front of her, playfully grabbing her stuff from her.

"So you're worried about what people will think" Cheryl says.

"You know, it's two out of three marriages end in divorce"

"Well, I think you'll find the... Vampire, human divorce rate is a little lower"

Their inches apart, the game laced with their attraction.

"Just marry me" Cheryl tries again.

"I can't. I have to be back at four. I'm supposed to come straight home from school"

Cheryl pulls her closer, kissing her lips once again.

"You'll be on time. I won't give your father another reason to hate me" she says as she easily slings her around onto her back.

Charlie's house

Chief Charlie Topaz, still in uniform from a day at the station. His brow is furrowed with concern as he reads newspaper at the kitchen table.

The article worry's him. He checks his watch just as the door opens. Toni enters, throwing her bag down, Charlie still looking at his watch.

"Four o'clock on the dot. Does she have a stopwatch or something?"

"She has a name. And now she's too punctual for you?" She says as she heads towards the stairs.

"Wait a sec, will you? Sit down" he says to his daughter.

She pauses for a second, then moves to the chair across from him.

"Okay. You understand why you're being punished, right?"

She sighs, "I know, I put you through hell"

"Yes, you did, but I have other reasons for grounding you. Like... I just want you to get some separation from her" he explained.

"Dad, there is nothing you can say. Cheryl is in my life now"

"Yeah, I'm gathering that. So, alright. How about this? I'll make you a deal. You're not grounded anymore, if.. you use your new found freedom to see some of your other friends too, like... Like Moose"

She looks at him confusingly before he continues.

"He's going through a really tough time right now, his dad is really worried about him"

This hurts Toni to hear.

"I remember when that was you, you needed a friend, Moose was there"

*********************************
Tbc...

Heyy!!
So this was short, but I just wanted to see how we feel about this so far :)