Say Hello to the Night

One Big Happy Family

All you could hear for miles was screaming. The screams filled the night carried on the warm summer breeze. Michael found it overwhelming. The way they came from every single direction to fold his ears. It didn't matter if it was from fear or joy it was hard to tell the difference in Santa Carla. He decided to try and take in the boardwalk, get a real feel for the Santa Carla crowd and what they had to offer. So far only a few shops stood out as places he would acting think of shopping. Then of course was the fruit stand his mother had told him about and the " nice new neighbor" who was sure to be a real hippie from the looks of her garden, she wasn't even growing anything worth smoking like Grandpa. 

Sam on the other hand was slowly falling in love with the different shops and the different people he normally wouldn't get the chance to see just anywhere. Tons of record shops and all kinds of clothing stores lined the ride filled strip that was lit up in the most vibrant colors. Some kind of Saxaphone music could be heard loudly in the distance as Sam and Michael marched forward. Slowly it began to grow crowded, a giant mass, moving and full of life all leading to the source of the music.

"Mike come on dude, we arn't done walking yet!" Sam was practically screaming over the crowd as they all began to head bang loudly to the very large rather oily man who the music seemed to pour out of. That was when Michael lost the crowd, he lost his brother, and he lost the music. All he could see was her. Dancing smoothly to the beat almost calling him to her. Star had her eyes locked on him. Her first. It was just such a shame he was so cute, exactly her type. Just sporty enough to stand out from the punks and hippies but nowhere near preppy.  

If only Michael and Sam had been playing closer attention, they would have seen Marko and Paul lurking throw the crowds, one evil hunting another. The twins looking, hoping to find any sign of disturbance, any sign of life they could take for themselves to replenish the humanity which was slowly fading from their eyes.  Dwyane lurking along the shoreline, his hunting grounds branching out more so than his brothers. The music that tied them all together even floated down under the boardwalk where Dawn and David lay enjoying the music and each other blissfully unaware of the chaos bubbling to the surface. 

Fate seemed to be laughing at the group scattered along the boardwalk. All so blissfully unaware of how intertwined their lives were about to become. 

The bell to the door rang out along the Santa Carla Coast. 

Lucy walking into Max's Movies. The finest selection of tapes in Santa Carla.  Her lightly polished fingernail gripped tightly to the small child almost as if she was scared, he would get lost in the mass that swarmed pulsating like an open vein, throbbing endlessly to the music of the night. Waking up to the counter Max was completely stunned as the ideal mother approached him.  Covered in soft shades of pink, a warm, worried smile worn on her face.  

"I'm sorry, I was wondering if anyone has come in here looking for their child?" Lucy smiled meekly as Max's eyes bore into Her's never once looking at the child. 

"Oh, my goodness, you poor young man." Max finally ripped his eyes away from the worried mother, leaving the counter in order to help her search. 

Before he could even fully bound his way over to Lucy a young mother rushed through the door the panicked look leaving her face seeing the young boy. Grabbing his tear-stained face she couldn't help but look at Max and Lucy.

"Oh my Gosh, I'm never letting you out of my sight again! Thank you both so much." Lucy simply nodded smiling at the reunited pair.  

"Youd do best to stay by your mother young man" He was the best predator wearing his most enchanting smile, reaching down to the boy giving him a lollipop before waving them goodbye. Honestly Max couldn't stop the thought of taking her son off her hands out of his head. What kind of mother could loss her own child? The women in front of him certainly would never be able to do such a thing. 

Turning to Lucy with the same predatory gaze he held before, holding out his bait. A simple red lollipop twirled between his fingers as he flashed her a toothy grin. 

"Oh no thank you." It had been so long since a man had shown her kindness much less a man of Maxs nature. He looked kind, clean, and most importantly reliable. He seemed so normal. Nothing about the tall man stood out, from his cookie cutter pastel suit right from the catalog to his handsome but plain face that made Lucy smile. 

"Well then I'm Max its lovely to meet you." He reached out grabbing her hand not giving her the chance to refuse his handshake. 

"Lucy pleasure to meet you."

"So, what can I help you find tonight? Weve got it all. The best selection of tapes in Santa Carla."

"Oh well I'm not looking for a tape what I'm really looking for is..."

Max raised an eyebrow smiling as the plan came together in his head. 

"A job?" Max completed her sentence with a smile. 

"Yeah, a job..." She let out a halfhearted laugh looking down "I look that needy huh?"

"No no, not at all, I'm actually hiring for a day shift lead. If you'd be interested."

"Oh, thank you so much Max." Lucy began to shake his head hurriedly

"Really it's no problem, I'm sure in no time well learn to be one big family."

Max looked past the perfect lump of clay in front of him, his eyes narrowing to HIS boys in the crowd. He would finally be able to give them what her always wanted, the perfect mother. A woman so kind and plain her could shape her to his own will. He could finally make everything perfect. Seeing Star hunting, watching the twins lurk a man who was way too aggressive among the crowd of cattle, looking over to Dwayne walking along the shore. All Max could think about was how close and how happy his family would finally be. 

All that was missing was his first born, David. His favorite child.