OV: The Original Vampire (Book #1) by Erik Christian Page B

the smoke and walked back behind Vinnie and held onto him. She was close to passing out.
    Her dad found a piece of cardboard from an old beer box and tried to write. There was an explosion from an adjacent trailer. A man ran out with blood pouring from a severed arm. He laughed as the blood drained his complexion to a deathly white.
    Josie’s dad handed it to Vinnie who passed it to Josie. She was done talking and grabbed Vinnie’s hand and pulled him towards the trail.
    The note read:
           I know I hurt you immensely. Love is the biggest prize of the World. Too much regret. Help me to help you. I want you to have my cabin. 50 paces east of mile marker 28, near Joyce. I love you so much Josie.
     
    Vinnie walked with Josie down the trail. She is lethargic, as he picks her up onto his shoulders and she falls asleep.
    She awakes on the mossy bed at Storm king. They now have a new destination to reach. The Northwest Peninsula is one of the most serene places in the world, yet Josie is tormented. All the destructive actions she took in the past now made sense. She was acting out her pain, but at the time she thought she was being rebellious and cool. The only thing rebellious did was take her further away from the truth.
    The sun started to rise on the horizon, as they climbed under a giant root ball of a tree to sleep. When they awoke the sun was down, as bats and mosquitos played in the air. They had to get off the mountain and make it twenty miles to Joyce without being seen by the police.
    It had been several weeks since Josie had taken the flat and safe tourist trail, which led back to the ranger station at Storm king. She felt and stunk like an animal. There were only two cars in the parking lot. It was dark. Giant moths hit the orange street light above their heads.
    They walked to Hwy 101 and watched the headlights come at them. Vinnie watched to see if there were any police lights on top of cars. If the car was not a cop, Vinnie stuck out his thumb. Josie’s hair was becoming dreadlocks, as they looked disheveled and nobody stopped.
     
    An old man stopped and picked them up. He was driving a Volkswagen Beetle. Vinnie sat in back with an old blue healer. The dog wore a smile and was panting with a giant tongue. There was drool dropping from his tongue onto the seat. Can’t Buy Me love played on the radio. Vinnie commented: “Ah, the Beatles in a Beetle.” Everybody laughed, as the overall feeling was of the carefree Sixties.
    The man drove 45 mph while telling sweet stories of the past. Josie had wished her past was as happy. Newer cars passed the VW, as it symbolized how fast and impatient modern times were. The man was heading to his cabin on East Beach. Little bungalows and cabins had been down there since the 20’s. Lake Cresent had a magnetic quality that attracted artists and writers. The old man had an inner-peace that symbolized his tranquil surroundings. Vinnie and Josie were secretly jealous of his contentment.
    He dropped them off, still on Hwy 101, but closer to their destination. They patted Henry, the dog, and got out. The old man tried handing them five dollars, but Vinnie shook his head. The VW putted away, as they were left in the middle of nowhere under the stars.
    They stuck out their thumbs and waited. It was late, the only traffic would be drunks and psychopaths.
    “Well, this is lame.” Josie remarked.
    From the darkness came a voice: “Is that you Vinnie?” the voice from the other side of the street asked. Josie jumped back. Vinnie looked over and spotted a black figure sitting on the guard rail.
    “Who’s that?” Vinnie puffed up.
    “Blake. Blake Foster.”
    “Blake?”
    “Yeah, the Gateway, Fifth dimension, you taught me. Well, not in person, but you know. . .” He said.
    “Right. Okay. Where you going?” asked Vinnie.
    “Forks. We’re all going there. Loggers been cuttin’ enough.”
    “Wait here.” Vinnie whispered to Josie. Vinnie walked over to Blake, so he