ḾṎᕍ⁅ᖇṈ ℄Ṏv⁅ | The Lost Boys

ᏨᏲᾀᑬt⁅ᖇ tᏔ⁅Ṉtẙ-ᖴṎᙈᖇ

Both you and Michael tumble through Sammy's window. I'm not sure what to expect, but it's definitely not him screaming in my face. He'd just closed his closet door, muttering something to himself about Grandpa, when he turned and saw me. He jumped a foot into the air.

Now, to be fair, I did appear out of nowhere. That alone would've scared me if the situations were reversed. Considering the sorry state the two of us were in, I'm sure it only amplified his fear.

"It's okay." Michael quickly holds a hand up in surrender. "I know what I am now, Sam."

His eyes soften a smidgen. "Rowan." He mutters  in disbelief. And then he notices my clothes—my skin—all stained with blood.

He shields himself with the closet door. "Don't kill me, guys—I'm basically a good kid, so just don't kill me."

I grit my teeth. The scent of Sammy's blood brings back the painful burning in my throat. "We're not going to kill you, dipshit."

"You don't know that. Your baser instincts could kick in, and you slaughter me right now. But don't. I can help you," Sammy insists. He takes a tentative step forward, "Just tell me who the head vampire is."

"Vampire," I echo.

He knows. How does he know?

"I thought it was Max," he continues, "But I was wrong. Just work with me, and I can help you—you'll be okay."

Max. That geeky guy from the video store? All this new information sends me into a tizzy. If it weren't for Mikey holding me up, I'm sure I would've collapsed.

"Sammy, just calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down!" he squeaks. "You two might be a part of the legion of the undead here to Dracula my ass."

"Michael!" The voice comes from outside. "Michael!"

All three of us turned. I rush to the window, pushing it open. Down below, cloaked in darkness, is Star.

"It's that girl from the boardwalk," murmurs Sam. "Is she one of them?"

"What's she doing here, Michael?"

Star turns, checking behind her, then looks up at us all. "I have to talk to you. Can I come up?"

"No!" Michael grabs Sam. "You shut your window and lock your door."

He pushes away from the window, but a supernatural wind fills the space. I draw my arms up, protecting my face. When I lower them, Star is beside me.

Sam's eyes go wide. "She's one of them!" He jumps into his bed, throwing the covers over his body. "And don't tell me it doesn't make her a bad person, Mike!"

Michael steps in front of me, glaring daggers. Star's face falls. She obviously hadn't expected such a cold welcome.

When he speaks, his voice is full of venom. "You know where David took us tonight, don't you, Star?"

"Who's David?!"

She steps forward, voice firm. "Yes. It's my fault ... If you hadn't met me if I hadn't liked you..." Her voice cracks. "I tried to warn you."

An empty, angry smile crosses Michael's face. "It was that night in the cave, wasn't it? That wasn't wine they gave me to drink. It was blood. It was David's blood."

Star swallows hard, looking down at her feet.

"You drank someone's blood?!" shouts Sam. "Are you crazy?!"

Michael continues, ignoring him. "Well, I'm just like David now, Star."

"No, you're not!" She perks up. "You're like Laddie and me. We're not one of them un—"

"Until you make your first kill!" Sam finishes.

Michael's gaze softens, but it doesn't last. "I might've been able to forgive you if it wasn't for Rowan." He jams his thumb in my direction. "Why didn't you tell me she was with them?"

"I ... I didn't know how."

"So you knew?" She nods. "Why didn't you stop them?! You knew what they were going to do to her, and you just—let it happen?"

"I couldn't ... Michael, please, you have to believe me." Pleadingly, she looks to me. "There's nothing I could've done. They don't listen to me. Please, Michael, I'm sorry. You have to believe me."

"Well, I don't. Because of you, my sister almost killed someone tonight."

Sammy buries himself deeper in his blankets. "You what?!"

Tears well up in Star's eyes. "I'm sorry."

Michael looks like he's two seconds away from snapping her neck. I reach out, stopping him. "It's not her fault."

"She could've done something."

"No, she couldn't've." I glare. "I made that decision myself. I chose to drink the wine—blood—whatever. I did this to myself, not Star, not David."

A heavy silence falls over the room. I can tell that Michael wants to argue with me, but I give him a stern look.

Star clears her throat, "I just- I came here to tell you it's not too late for you. Either of you. But for me, it gets harder and harder to resist. I'm weak."

I step back, and Michael huffs. "Why did you come here tonight, Star?"

"I was hoping you could help Laddie and me," she admits.

Michael steps back and laughs humorlessly. He turns around but changes his mind on leaving and faces Star again, but she's gone. Both Michael and Sam rush the window.

"Star!"

"Don't kill anyone until we get back to you!"