It was about a month since Ophelia joined their little crew and here they were again. At the Boardwalk.  Ophelia rolled her eyes before she stood up from Paul's motorcycle and walked away from them.

"Where are you going?"  David asked

"To do something.  I don't get how you can just stand here all night".  She waved him off and looked around to do something.

"Ow!"  Marko whined when David hit his arm.  "What did you do that for?"  He asked, rubbing his arm.

"Go with her.  She's not under control".

Heard that

David rolled his eyes at Ophelia's comment in the distance before gesturing for Marko to go. Marko swatted at David before stepping away from the group and quickly following after Ophelia's form.

"Why do you listen to him? I'm fine". Ophelia spoke once she felt Marko's presence beside her.

"Well, I kinda do.  He's like in charge annnnnd he's right.  You're not in control".  Marko bit his tongue after his comment about her not being in control.

Ophelia didn't say anything back. She just kept her head held high as they walked. She didn't admit it but they were right. She wasn't in control. She was just so hungry all the time and sometimes it would feel like someone was stabbing her in the stomach. She didn't know what she wanted. She didn't want to kill anyone but she did want the pain to go away.

Ophelia easily walked by a food stand and grabbed a bag of kettle corn without them noticing. Marko took a double look as he looked at her in shock. He did not expect her to do that. Nor did he think she could get away with it.

"I steal once in a while. I did it a lot when I first turned eighteen and was on the streets". She defended herself before opening the bag, letting out a long sigh.

"Besides. I'm starving". She placed a mouthful of the kettle corn in her mouth as she chewed on it.

"Yeah. I know the feeling". Marko agreed as some appetizing people walked by.

"How do you do it?"  Ophelia questioned him.

"Do what?"  Marko asked.

"Kill".

"We only kill bad people-"

"Don't.  Please don't lie to me".  Ophelia cut him off as she stopped walking and gave him a look. "I've seen the missing persons report around here...there's a lot".

Marko sighed, scratching the back of his neck nervously.  "It's just what it is". 

Ophelia ate some more of the kettle corn before sitting on an empty bench.  "I don't think I'm cut out for this.  The whole vampire thing".  She chewed on the inside of her cheeks.

"I don't think any of us were until it became a-like-I don't know how to word it".  Marko waved his hands around before plopping down on the bench next to her, stealing some of the kettle corn from the bag.

"Even David doesn't think I'm cut out for it".

"David will warm up to you. It just takes time". Marko reassured her. Yeah. She heard that before but how much longer? It's been a month and he still can't stand the sight of her.

"I wish I could remember how this happened. Whenever I try to remember it's just blank. Like someone took it away".  Ophelia said softly as she looked ahead, getting lost in her own world.

Marko thought for a moment.  It could be possible, but then again he's never heard of it.  They could make others see things that weren't there, so maybe there's a vampire out there who could toy with others' minds.

"Does that ever happen to you?"  Ophelia asked.  Marko looked back over to her, not having a clue what she was asking. 

"Uh. What?"  He asked.

"Wishing that there was something for you in this world.  I just think God put me on this earth to watch me fail".  Ophelia explained to him in a soft voice.

Marko may have only known her for a month but he always felt calmer in her presence.  She walked with such grace and her voice was angelic.

"Well, if there is a God. He sure as hell damned us all". Marko shrugged, giving her a smile, but noticed she didn't smile back.

The two sat in silence for some time before Marko stood up abruptly, making Ophelia look at him with question. His hand was suddenly in front of her and she looked at him with confusion.

"What?"

"Have you been on the carousel here before?" He asked.

"No. I've been on one before and it's boring. All you do is go around in a circle". She told him honestly, not getting why he suddenly brought up a stupid ride.

"Well, your whole outlook on it will now change. This Boardwalk's carousel isn't like any others. It's one of a kind". He smiled wider, his fingers clenched to his palm a few times, gesturing for her to grab his hand.

Ophelia raised an eyebrow at him before she popped one last piece of kettle corn in her mouth before grabbing onto his hand. Marko then started to pull her through the crowd where the ride was at. Ophelia let out a laugh as he started to pick up his pace, the two practically running to get to the ride before the bell would go off again.

"Ophelia, you coming to movie night?"  A little girl asked while a nine-year-old Ophelia sat on the edge of her bed, before nodding her head.

Ophelia hoped down as the two made their way to the movie room. Ophelia loved movies. It was her way of escaping the horrible world she lived in. She plopped down on the ground and looked at the screen with her sparkling eyes.

'Mary, the child's growing up. It's high time she had a room of her own'

'Father!'

'George'

Ophelia wanted to go to Neverland. She wanted to fly away and be with Peter Pan and the rest of the Lost Boys. She thought, maybe if she kept a window open they would come along and whisk her away. Then she would truly have a family.

Summer of 1970

A year had passed and David still didn't like Ophelia.  It was obvious.  Everyone knew it.  He didn't talk to her, well, the only time he did talk to her was always direct or questions.

Where are you going?

Don't do that.

Quiet.

All she wanted was for him to like her.  She couldn't even get a smile out of him. 

Even though it's only been a year she felt that they were close friends to her.  Ophelia believed that it was the vampire bond.  She still didn't know much about them however and they still didn't know her.

They were all quite reserved with one another. Well, until it came with Marko. He basically was a close friend to her.  He knew how she didn't like to do anything at the Boardwalk so he always went with her and walked around, even went on some of the rides or played the carnival games.

Paul would join them once in awhile.  He mostly was there to ride the rides and steal food from Ophelia.

Dwayne usually stuck by David but sometimes he would walk around with her.  She would get one or two words out of him, but he was mostly quiet and just followed her around.

"Ready?  Ready?  Ready?  Watch this.  Let's go.  I got this".  Marko kept saying as he held a ball in his hand, getting ready to throw it at the pins on the other side.

"Hurry up before another decade goes by".  Paul stood a few feet away from him, his arms crossed over his chest as he stood next to Ophelia.

Marko gave Paul a look and then concentrated before he threw the ball, using his vampire strength. 

He missed.

The ball hit the wall and flew back, hitting Marko in the chest.  He groaned in pain, clutching his chest while bending over.  Paul and Ophelia burst out laughing while Marko continued to groan in pain.

"Not funny".  Marko looked over at them.

"You're right.  It's hilarious!"  Ophelia said, laughing once more along with Paul.

"Whatever. I quit". Marko waved them off and then started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Paul called to him.

"Away from you two".

"Fine.  Guess I'll just have to go on the carousel all alone". Ophelia sighed loudly, making Marko stop and look at her with sad eyes.

"But you said we would go on it together". He pointed out and she 'sighed' again.

"But you said-"

"Forget what I said."  Marko interrupted her before grabbing her hand and starting to pull her in the direction of the carousel.

"I think he's more excited than you". Paul said while following behind the two.

The three were waiting and looked at the carousel with anticipation.  The outside horses were always the first to go since those are the ones you grab the rings from. 

"I swear I will shove a child".  Paul told them as he watched more people get an end horse.

"You two are on your own".  Ophelia said as she gave her ticket to the lady and quickly ran over to find a horse, deserting the others.

Ophelia was the first to find a horse and quickly scrambled on it while the other two got on one as well.  The two boys cheered like...well children. 

The buzzer went off and the ride began.  Ophelia had her hand out ready to grab a ring and quickly grabbed one and threw it at the clown's mouth but failed as it hit the side.  She was still unsuccessful in getting one in the mouth and she was hoping tonight would be the breaker.

Paul was next and missed.  He had a little tantrum on the horse along with a swear.

Marko was after and succeeded.  Marko clapped his hands together, proud of himself.  The bell went off and some people on the carousel cheered.

That was the beauty of the carousel.  People of all ages on it cheered whenever someone successfully got the ring in the clown's mouth.  Even if you couldn't get the ring in, hearing the cheering and being part of it was all you needed.

The end result of the carousel was:

Ophelia 0

Paul 6

And Marko 4

Ophelia hopped down from the horse, the bottom of her feet stinging from the impact of the ground as she headed out.  Paul and Marko followed behind her as she groaned.

"Why do I suck at it?  I don't get how people get it in?"  She asked, her arms waving in the air.

"Aw. Cheer up Ophelia.  Once you'll make your first kill you'll get one in".  Paul said, swinging an arm around her shoulder.

Ophelia narrowed her eyes and turned slightly, giving Paul a punch in the side.  Paul immediately let go and whined.

"Ow."

And then Ophelia flicked Paul's forward, making him grab his head.  Marko was laughing from Paul's pain while Paul looked at Ophelia with annoyance.

"Why must you hurt me, little sister?"  Paul questioned.

"Stupid!"  Ophelia pointed at him.  "Humans were getting it in the clown's mouth.  Changing won't do anything". She then waved him off before continuing to walk.

Some people were fighting near a corn dog stand where the worker was yelling at a few people so Ophelia gracefully walked over. She reached over the counter when the man wasn't looking and grabbed three bags of chips. She then walked back towards where the boys were walking and threw them each a bag.

The three made their way on the beach, away from everyone as Ophelia ate some of her chips and then stuck her free hand towards Paul, opening and closing her palm.  Paul whined knowing what she wanted.

"Stop being a baby and give me the fucking weed before I rip your head off and shove it up your own ass while you're still conscious.  Then I would get a stake, drown it in holy water and drive that through your heart" Ophelia threatened.

Marko's mouth fell open, a chip falling out of it while Paul looked like he was about shit himself.  "God, alright.  Your threats are weird when you're cranky". Paul put the bag under his arm while he dug out a joint and a lighter, handing it over to her.

Ophelia was a very calm person that talked with grace and was just overall respected.  But lately, she has been getting waves of anger that would result in her lashing out and making the strangest threats.  The boys came to the conclusion that it was her body fighting with itself being a half-vampire. 

Or in Paul's dummy terms, "Ophelia not feel good.  Her angry"

Ophelia shoved her bag of chips towards him as she grabbed the items from his hands.  Ophelia stuck the joint in her hand, trying to light it, but it only flickered for a moment before going out.

"Paul, your lighter's shit".  Marko told him with a mouthful of chips.

Ophelia finally got it to light and inhaled the toxic substance, closing her eyes as she blew the smoke out.  "I feel like something is clawing inside of me".  She whined.

"Yeah, man.  I never met someone who went as long as you being half-vampire".  Paul looked at her a bit worriedly.

"Is that even good for you?"  Marko questioned.

"I don't know but it feels good".  Paul snickered.

"I'm talking about being half-vampire, dumbass".

Paul's lips pursed together, not saying anything as he only ate from Ophelia's chip bag since he finished his own.  Ophelia leaned against the wall before sliding down the wall as she felt everything spin in a euphoric way.  She blew more smoke out as she kept the joint between her lips while her hands dug into the sand. 

The pain finally went away.

For now.