4.13 Hope and Despair

Lincoln shut down the computer console he was using. Worry furrowed his brow line. Where was Peter? It had been a couple of hours since he had gone to find Emit. A vague uneasy feeling was making his stomach queasy. He took a step towards the door when it swooshed open. The time keeper stepped inside a smile upon his pasty face. Looking behind the blue haired man Lincoln asked "where's Peter?"

Ignoring the boys question Emit walked towards the window. Gazing out over the city he opened his arms wide "is it so wrong to want to do whatever takes to save all of this?"

Lincoln stared at the man unsure if he should reply or not. He had other concerns that seemed unrelated to the man's question. Taking a step forward he asked again "where's Peter?"

Emit turned smiling at him "what is he to you?"

"He's my friend," Lincoln told him "look I don't have time to answer stupid questions." He grabbed the older man's arm repeating "where is Peter?"

"He's neither here not there," Emit said almost in a sing song manner.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lincoln demanded.

"It means you'll do as I tell you or you'll never see your friend again," Emit snapped at him satisfied with the look of dismay and confusion that flashed across the boy's face rendering him silent.

***

In an area not seen by many, a man lay strapped inside a machine. Electrodes protruding from his skull preparing the subject for an information download. As the power built up whimpers could be head from the helpless man trapped inside. Low moans of pain soon replaced the whimpers.

Ten minutes later if someone had passed by the room they would have heard the excruciating screams from the man strapped within. A moment of reprieve left the man panting for breath. His brain on fire with the information dump flowing through is mind.

Unable to close his eyes he could see the spark as energy started to recharge inside the machine. He knew it wouldn't be long before another download was ready to shred his brain apart. Gulping in fear and rage he tried to relax to let the energy flow through him without resistance.

The moment he relaxed the energy pulse ripped through his mind. This time not to download new information but to rip the man's memories from him. Gritting his teeth the man felt anger well up inside him as hatred replaced all remnants of the friendship he once had with blue haired man responsible for his current suffering. He had a hard time reconciling how this person could be a descendant of his. What had gone wrong with him? He knew Emit had been raised by a lonely alien, an outcast from his own kind. Emit had watched his parents being killed. His own brother had betrayed him. It had to have affected him, making him what he was today.

Pain ripped through his brain as the machine tried to extract his memories. The harder he fought to hold onto to them the more energy and power the machine exerted to extract them. The door opened letting Emit and Lincoln into the room. "Why fight it?" the blue haired man asked "it's a gift I'm giving you."

"How can taking my memories be a gift?" Peter asked struggling against his restraints.

"Without your memories you won't know what you left behind. You'll be the time keeper, a man without a past." Emit explained checking the settings on the machine.

"You can't do that to him," Lincoln said trying to stop him.

Turning Emit punched the boy in the stomach. "I warned you not interfere," he hissed "next time listen."

Curling into a tight ball on the floor Lincoln moaned in pain "why are you doing this?"

"Why?" Emit scoffed "isn't it obvious?" He looked over at Peter sill struggling inside the machine, helpless tears flowing from his eyes "it's his own fault. If he would just do as he was told I wouldn't have to be so cruel. He could just have accepted his fate and become the time keeper in your dimension. But no his family is more important." He made a few more adjustments on the machine. He looked over at the man he once called friend. The light caught on a certain expression in his eyes that showed he knew what he was doing was wrong. A moment later he pulled the switch. "Sacrifices have to be made," Emit muttered his eyes going hard, cold and distant.

***

Adam staggered under the sweltering heat of the sun shining above his head. Everett grabbed him before he fell. "Any rescue attempt will have to wait until after dark," he told the almost unconscious man.

Everette flagged down a taxi. Once he got Adam inside half lying on the backseat and floor he gave the driver his address. "Is your friend alright?" the driver asked dubiously.

"Just had too much to drink," Everett told him "his girlfriend just dumped him." Smiling at the driver he added "as you can see he's not taking it well."

The man relaxed. Putting the car in gear he asked "you have enough money to cover the fare?"

Laughing off the man's intended insult Everett nodded "it won't be a problem." He scowled from the backseat as he watched the landscape whiz past his window. He had forgotten how judgmental the citizens of Lunar Lakes were. He had become numb to how people looked at him. Had forgotten how most people couldn't see past the scar upon his face.

He'd almost forgotten his role as outcast in the only place he called home. He had become soft living with the Van Winkles. His mind drifted to Kimberly. The way she felt in his arms, soft but strong at the same time. She had broken through his reserves. The walls he had built around his heart had crumbled down around him at her touch. How was he going to cope when he was here and she was in her dimension?

He should have pushed her away the first time he felt himself melting in her arms. The taxi came to a stop effectively ending his unsettled thoughts. He hauled Adam from the backseat, half carried him to the house he and his brother called home. He dragged him to the bedroom and let him fall onto the bed. Concern for Adam's listless state Everett bared his arm "you need to feed" he offered his arm to the vampire wincing at the thought of being fed upon. 

Adam's vampire nature took control as he reached for the offered arm. Sniffing his fangs extracted with a moan he pushed Everett away from  him. "No" he shouted curling in upon himself.

Picking himself up Everett approached him "you need to feed. Get your strength back." He held his arm out again "you need blood. Take what you need."

Trembling Adam ignored the outstretched arm, the smell of blood filled the room, his nasal passages making it difficult to keep control of his faculties. "My bag" he grunted with difficulty.

Confused Everett reached for the bag and handed it to him. Watching in concern as Adam dumped the contents all over the bed. Rummaging through the contents until he found what looked like a juice pack to Everett's eyes. He tore it open and greedily slurped the contents up in huge gulps. Grabbing another Adam drained it's contents slower as he felt his strength return. "Thank you" he murmured leaning his head back. Gathering the remaining packets and plasma fruit he handed them to Everett "can you put these in the fridge for me?"

Taking the items Everett nodded. Puzzled by what he had just witnessed he went to the kitchen his mind still trying the grasp the idea of a vampire refusing to drink blood especially from someone who was willing to provide it. Turning from the fridge he found Adam behind him "what are you?" he asked giving voice to his confusion.

"A not fully turned vampire," Adam explained "as long as I don't drink blood I'll be able to reverse my condition. Become human again. Once I drink blood that option will be gone forever."

"But you're the..."

"I know," he smiled at the young man "it's a day to day struggle not to give into the desire to feed. To take the final step."

"What's stopping you?" Everett asked abandoning caution. Adam was so different from any other vampire he had ever encountered before.

Shrugging Adam looked away "I hate being a vampire. It wasn't I choice I willingly made to become one. Allessandro had several of us trapped and imprisoned in the dungeon below the castle. He thought that I'd feed eventually on my fellow prisoners." He gulped trying to push past the memories 

"I almost did" he shuddered "on my little brother. I'd rather starve to death then feed upon someone."

"If you can reverse your vampirism. Why haven't you become human again?" Everett asked.

"My son," Adam said "he's too young to take my place. He was born a vampire. His condition is non reversible. I can't leave him to face the responsibility of ruling Moonlight Falls and Midnight Hollow on his own."

A pang of jealousy twisted his stomach into knots. Everett missed having his parents around. Having someone looking out for him like Adam did for his family. His parents would have been the same had they lived. They had sacrificed their lives so that he and his brother could live. 

It had been difficult raising Lincoln on his own without anyone to help support him. It was hard to imagine that it had been five years since he had lost his parents. Lincoln had been a thirteen year old kid looking to his older brother for everything. Everett had only been eighteen struggling with the betrayal of his girlfriend who had led him into a trap. His parents coming for him the recurring thoughts that if it weren't for him they may have lived. The scar on his a daily reminder of the things he had lost, the mistakes he had made and the guilt he'd never be free of.

"Tell me about this research facility" Adam requested breaking through Everett's thoughts.

Nodding relieved to direct his mind away from his past Everett moved towards the living room before he started to talk.

***

Don set Malachi down in front of the TV. Stretching he glanced out the window. His breath caught in his throat "that can't be who I think it is?" he murmured moving closer to the window. Peering down towards the sidewalk he thought he saw someone familiar.

Running from the room Don hurried down the stairs. "Adam" he shouted as he neared the force field. Picking up several rocks he hurled them at the force field. "We're in here," he cried throwing the rocks to no avail.

The two men stood discussing something until Adam swayed on his feet no doubt becoming disoriented from the heat of the sun. Helplessly Don watched as they got into a taxi and drove away. Falling to his knees he gave way to the sobs he had been holding back afraid that once he gave in he'd be lost. 

Some time later Don picked himself up, made his way back inside the house. Malachi turned to him curiously as he sat heavily onto the couch. "He was so close," Don mumbled leaning over with his head in his hands.

Malachi got up putting a hand on his knee "did they find us?"

Don looked up to find the boys green eyes staring up at him. For the first time in weeks there was a spark of hope in their depths. He didn't want to crush that hope anymore than he wanted to give the boy false hope. "I don't know. I hope so," he said "I thought I saw Adam just outside the force field."

Malachi nodded moving away back towards the lure of the television set and it's mind numbing cartoons. Don couldn't tell from the boys back whether the news had meant anything to him. Not until he noticed the boys shoulders shaking and a shrill keening sound filled the room drowning out the tinny laughter from the TV.

***

"Where am I?" Keenan demanded his eyes darting around him large and wide.

"Some place they'll never find you," Silver told him emitting a loud hyena type bark that may have been laughter.

"You can't keep me here," the boy said getting to his feet. He swayed disoriented from being teleported and hunger.

"I can do whatever I want," Silver shrugged at the boys discomfort. He reached out with his mind forcing his way past Keenan's defenses. "You're weak" he said "when I'm finished you'll be like me....strong."

"I'll never be like you," Keenan screamed as the man leaned over him. Moving faster than any human ever could Keenan ran for the open door. It slammed shut as soon as he reached it knocking him onto the floor. 

"You might have made it," Silver observed circling above the boy "if you had tapped into your latent powers. You're more like me than you know." He hoisted the boy from his feet "I'll teach you how to tap into that power...."

"No," Keenan hissed as he doubled over holding his stomach.

"You will succumb to my will once your thirsty enough," Silver's hyena like barking filled the room before he disappeared.

Keenan lay panting on the dirty floor. Silver must have done something to increase his hunger. He had eaten breakfast before he followed Heath that morning. He was still young enough to receive nutrients from real food. The hunger he was experiencing now was thirst...a thirst for blood.

He shouldn't be experiencing blood lust so soon not until he became a fully developed vampire. That shouldn't be for another three years at least. Groaning as the pains increased he momentarily lost control over his mind.

"You're weak" Silver shouted triumphantly in his head "I'll make you strong. I'll show you the way to become like me."

"No," Keenan screamed in agony his voice bouncing off the cold uncaring stone walls.

***

Heath stared at the spot where Silver had stood a few moments before. Turning to Kimberly he gently shook her until she turned terrified eyes upon him. "Can you reach him?" his voice urgent demanding.

Closing her eyes she nodded concentrating "I need your help," she murmured taking his hand in hers.

They were engulfed by a tidal wave of chaotic emotion, an overwhelming desire to feed. They both gasped under the onslaught. "Where is he?" Heath demanded shouting to be heard over the chaos.

"Everywhere," was Kimberly's response. "Grandpa taught him well" she explained "this is all set up to disorient anyone who enters his mind without invitation."

"Is this what I'd encounter if I connected with you without invitation?" Heath asked.

"No daddy your mind is always welcome" she reached out and caressed his mind with hers seeking to comfort, to calm him. "This is what I encountered when you were wearing that necklace Grandpa gave you."

"Is Keenan wearing his necklace?" Heath asked.

"I don't know. I doubt it" Kimberly fell silent as the noise around them tapered off and went silent.

An eerie unsettling silence enveloped them. "No," Kimberly whimpered.

"What?" Heath's voice fell silent as another more ominous voice filled all their minds. "You can't have him." Heath shouted at the man that had robbed him of so much time with his family.

"You can't stop me," Silver laughed at him momentarily diverting his attention from breaking his son's mind.

"Yes we can," Kimberly shouted hoping Keenan would be able to use the time they offered him to reinforce his defenses. 

Silver's laughter filled their minds causing them all to cry out in pain. "Be gone all of you," he demanded as a gale force wind started whipping around them.

"This is my mind" Keenan shouted through the wind "the only one not welcome here is you. Get out."