Neckbeard Vampire: Nightbeard Rising
Page 21
On the other side of town John pulled out of the drive-thru, extra-large Mountain Dew in one hand and a bag of burritos on the passenger seat. He looked down at his phone: 6 missed calls. All from Chad. He rolled his eyes. “Calm down, Chad. Vampires,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head.
When he arrived in front of Kara’s house, he flipped his phone open.
“Yo. You called. What’s up?”
“Are you serious? John! Where the hell were you?” Chad sounded irritated.
“Chill out man, it’s all good.”
“Chill out?! Do you think this is a game? It’s been 45 minutes since sunset! Are you in place yet?!”
“Yeah, I just went to get refreshing libations at Le Belle du Taqeau. Relax, I’m in front of Kara’s place now—no scary vampires are gonna get past me.” And Chad could hear the grin on his face when he said it.
“Fuck you—just watch.” Chad snapped his phone shut.
Sunset had long passed and Chad was getting bored, letting his thoughts wander as he waited; more than once he caught himself starting to doze.
He watched as nerd after nerd entered and exited the comic shop. He admired how quickly Mickey had fixed the shop up—he was always on his game.
As the hours ticked by in the silence of his car, Chad began feeling a just a little bit like an idiot. Twice already the lot attendant asked him if everything was all right. He made up some lame story about being on a road trip and needing a rest so the guy would finally leave him alone—but he began wondering all the same if he wasn’t all just in vain.
He started to replay the events in his head of the past couple weeks. Could it really have all just been coincidences? Johnathan was most likely right. It was most likely nonsense and he was overreacting. But so what if it was? Surely this was why they were staking the place out.
The sudden vibration of his phone followed by the ring tone of a text message made him jump. It sounded so shockingly loud compared with the silence he had been enjoying. He wondered if he’d gave himself away. Careless.
He checked the message: Randall.
They’re leaving. Paxton w Dasha. I follow.
Bingo. Randall was on it. He wrote back.
Good. Keep me updated. Keep safe distance—they can’t know you’re following them.
After about twenty or so minutes, Chad was distracted by the glaring headlights of an approaching car, turning the corner of the road to come down his direction. Some distance behind, another car followed, Chad readied himself.
His phone vibrated once again. Randall:
Going to comic shop—I’m following.
Afraid to look away for fear that they might suddenly disappear, he wrote back:
Confirm comic shop—then go back—I watch from here.
Much to Chad’s satisfaction, he watched the first car pull into the comic book parking lot—the headlights lit up the inside of his car for just a second as it stopped in a nearby parking space. Chad ducked down, peering out from behind the steering wheel.
He watched the second car pass by before making the turn to head back from where they came.
Another message from Randall:
It’s all you now. Good luck.
A tubby, pugly looking man-boy stepped out of the driver’s side and walked over to the passenger seat, opening the door and offering a hand while bowing in exaggeration. A girl of fair skin and deep black hair took the hand as she stepped out. Chad watched through binoculars.
He watched as again, all the nerd heads turned to see the dark beauty as she entered. He imagined the conversations—the comments of how Paxton was lucky, or how he was pathetic—or how he was naïve and deceiving himself.
They stayed in the store for a half an hour before they turned to head out again, Chad once again ducked behind his steering wheel.
The store door swung open and he could hear the light jingle of the bells as it closed behind. He watched as Paxton walked alone to his car, sat down in the driver’s seat and then drove away. Where was Dasha? Why would he just leave her behind?
He picked up his phone and dialed Randall again.
“What’s the news?” Randall yawned.
“Stay awake—Paxton just left the store.”
“Aren’t you gonna follow them?”
“No. It’s just Paxton. She’s not with him. I need you to watch for him—he might be going back home. I’ll wait here for Dasha. We need to know where she’s staying.”
“I’m on it.”
He picked up his phone and dialed Johnathan.
The phone rang once—twice—thrice—and four times.
“Yo.” Johnathan’s nonchalant tone of voice infuriated Chad.
“Why didn’t you answer?”
“What I can’t go to the bathroom now?! Relax man.”
“You need to answer your phone. You agreed to help.”
“Okay okay—what’s up?”
“You need to keep a look out, Paxton left the comic shop—something tells me he might be headed to Kara’s. Keep your eyes peeled.”
“Where’s the girl?”
“He left her behind at the shop. I don’t know why—but I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay—no prob, Bob.”
“Just keep watching—let me know if there’s anything suspicious. Got it?”
“Yeah. Fine.” And Chad heard the click in his phone speaker before he had the chance to respond.
Dick, it wasn’t the first time he described Johnathan in such a way. Nevertheless, he hadn’t seen Dasha leave the store, so he felt secure that Kara was safe for the present time.
After some time, he got another text from Randall confirming that Paxton had arrived home. The timing couldn’t have allowed for him to go to Kara’s and make it home so quickly…Chad sighed with relief. With Dasha’s and Paxton’s presence known, he could breathe easy about Kara—even if John was slacking off on his duties.
Minute by minute the hours crept by as the nerds sporadically filed out into the night. As closing time came and went, Chad grew perplexed, seeing no sign of Dasha among them. Still convinced that she might be lingering, he remained in his car.
There was still a chance. Mickey always left last, and maybe her charms convinced him to let her stay late? Manipulating him for something she could use to her benefit? He even let the thought of an affair enter his mind before quickly pushing it out, a little ashamed. Mickey would never cheat on his wife, Chad reassured as he recalled how Mickey was unaffected by her presence a few nights ago.