Back In 1987

Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen

Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide no escape from reality
Open your eyes look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go
A little high, little low
Anyway the wind blows
Doesn't really matter to me, to me

I woke to a throbbing pain on the side of my head, groaning as I tried to push myself up, I felt fragile and sick, and I think I threw up once, I could still taste the bile.

Trying to push myself up onto my arms, someone, however, gently guided me back down onto the bed. At least I think it was a bed, the springs were digging into my side, and it didn't really smell that great. Maybe it was a couch. Either way, I didn't have the strength to fight them, I don't even think I could really walk if I did manage to get up.

Someone was talking, but I couldn't make out the words, it was muffled, I think it was a male.

Feeling tired, I tried to focus on what they were saying, all I could make out was 'rest' before thing just faded back into a blanket of sleep.

I woke up again, but I didn't feel as sick, nor did I feel like I was going to throw up. Opening my eyes only to quickly close them at the blinding light, I quickly covered my eyes as I slowly sat up.

I didn't stand up, even though I left better I didn't want to get light-headed and fall over, again, I probably have bruising on my arm and leg from where I fell, my leg probably has bruising in the shape of my keys and such.

Gripping the edge of the couch as I leaned forward slightly, I heard a throat clear, and that caused me to snap my eyes open and look at the figure in front of me.

Edgar Frog, in the flesh.

"Your lucky you aren't a bloodsucker."

"I'm sorry, what?" I was kind of surprised he said that I know in the movies he was this big bad hunter, but he was a kid and standing in front of me with a wooden stake in his hand.
Edgar just kind of narrowed his eyes at me,

"You heard me, now what are you doing in Santa Carla, I haven't seen you before."

"I, uh, just moved here." I lied, not really sure why for all I know this is a fever dream. I kind of want to poke him to make sure he's real.

"Here," Edgar said after a moment. "Take this." He held a comic in his hand.

It was one of those horror books from the early fifties before they had a comics code. It wasn't an EC or some other major novel, either; I only know of the title because of the movie but even then that lurid red letters on a grey background, stood out: Vampires Everywhere.

This was the comic they gave Sam.

"Oh, I can't take this." trying to be polite and turn it down, seeing as I don't know if they have more, and if I have this what would Sam get.

I didn't take it from his hand, but Edgar didn't make any move to pull his hand away, his eyes were just burning into mine. With a reluctant sigh, I took the comic.

I began to flick through the comic, skimming the pages, yet making sure I looked at Edgar to see if he moved. I got about halfway through before he spoke again, still, hadn't moved or took his eyes off of me,

"What's your name, you passed out before you could tell Alan and me," Edgar asked.

"Oh! I'm sorry it's Nimue."

"Nimue," His nose scrunched up a bit as he tested out my foreign name. "So Nimue, what are you doing in Santa Carla," his voice was monotone, and dangerous, much like a cop.

"I told you I just moved here-" I began, but Edgar cut me off.

"Not what I meant, why did you move here, specifically,"

"My grandmother died, and I inherited her house, I'm selling it." Again I lied, but this was beginning to feel like an interrogation.

"Are you staying with anyone?"

"No? Should I?"

"Where are you staying?" Edgar seemed to lean in at every question, and with me still sitting, the wasn't intimidating, but overbearing in away.

"Probably a Motel?"

"How long do you think you'll be staying here?"

"I don't know, why all the questions?" at this point, I kind of snapped at the poor kid, but this was a rapid-fire question after question.

"It's dangerous here in Santa Carla, it's riddled with vampires."

"If it's so dangerous, then where should I stay, huh?"

"You shouldn't, you should leave Santa Carla, while you still can that is." Edgar crossed his arms and stared down at me.

"While, hate to break it to you, kiddo, I don't have anywhere else to go." I think as soon as I said that to Edgar, the possible reality of this whole situation came crashing down. Tears pooled in my eyes I could feel a lump in my throat starting to form,

"I probably don't even have money for a motel, let alone a cab to go anywhere." my voice cracked as I hid my face behind the comic.

I could practically feel Edgar become uncomfortable, I saw his shoes take a step back and disappear from my line of sight. I heard the door close and muffled talking through the door. I could assume that the brothers were talking to each other.

I placed the comic on the end table next to the couch I was on, I just curled up on the sofa once again and covered my eyes with the sleeves of my sweater and spent the next hour or so, crying.

I thought about everything I remembered that happened so far. Ending up in a movie, or possibly being in an overlong fever dream. I thought about my dog Mazi, and how she was fairing if anything she had food and water for a week, endless accuse to the backyard, my home would be a mess, but someone would hopefully notice that I wasn't home and call my mom's number on her dog collar.