An offshoot from The Play, of what if it happened my way.
John DuKane was attacked mercilessly by the towns people of Kennedy City, his beloved pups were murdered in cold blood, and the higher authority was powerless to stop them. They had come prepared to fight off the paranormal, namely vampires, ie John. His family watched helplessly as John was escorted out of the city and locked out via the forcefield. Jphn could do nothing but leave.
Well, now as a destitute, I, the once famous and loved John DuKane, now wander the streets, rejected by all. I traveled here on foot to this current city, which I reached via many many miles of open highway. Ok, so I'm underestimating. It took me about a week to get here.
I don't even look like myself, when I find a window or a puddle. The villiagers gave me a poor haircut. That was painful. Four people tugged at me and three lopped off large locks of my once beautiful calligrapher ink black hair. And me face…I cant even recognize myself… I have scars on my beak and face. And I haven't had a good meal in twice that long…
John sat down on a step to a building, his head in his hands. He remembered repeatedly how police officers of other cities had chased him off such stairs for the past 2 weeks… The only person that was at his feet now was…one who had shoes even more beat than his…
"Hi. You look troubled, friend,"
John looked up to see another homeless…a woman.
"Run out, I see. She must have been a real bitch to do that to you…"
"No, I was to her. It was the townspeople of my home city whom did this to me,"
"Sucks. Wanna come with me? There's safety in numbers. I live inna little community just a couple o' blocks away,"
"Thank you…"
Jphn got up and walked with her and her bag filled to capacity.
"My name's Jane."
"I'm John,"
"Nice ta meet ya! OOH!! It's SO hard o find these!!" She bent into the garbage and picked out a barely eaten hotdog.
John's hair fell in his face and in line of view. He must have looked like hell. The hair he sees now, used to be more then shoulder length…beautiful, flowing, silky, radiant. Now it is matted with wind and dirt, natural oils and sweat.
Jane gathered up some ascue newspaper off the ground, folded it and laid in in her bag. John thought it woukld surely explode if she put any more in it!
Jane led John to her community, buried deep within the back alleys of the city. Her home was a TV box. "Sorry, John. There's hardly enough room for me with all my stuff! And Box Day isn't for another good five days. I saw some awesome ones being picked up last week. But I had what I needed."
"I will survive."
"I know,"
Well, it turns out that John eventually did get to stay with Jane in a box once a nice sized one came their way. Now they had two. And John found some tarp for the rainey season; enough for both of them!
Sometimes they found enough money for hot pretzels ad they enjoyed themselves. But more luck for them came on box day the week after when and over sized long box was found. They could both fit in it at the same time to keep warm for the cooler seasons now!! And the tarp was added to by more that they found, thus adding to their comfort.
Enough newspaper was found for a nice cushioning bedding and even used for pillows! So there they were, in their body heated home wrapped in holey oversized beach towels on their newspaper cushioned bed in their box lined exteriorly in tarp. They found that all the stuff they found wouldn't fit in thee with them, so, with their three boxes, they did a little home remodeling. John was good at that. even though Jane was worried, John got them a stapler he found in the garbage, filled with staples, because it didn't want to staple. John fixed it within half an our, and then the adding began.
Cutting some sides to fit with others, they made themselves headroom in their home and an extra area for their stuff! Jane was thrilled and John was impressed with his handywork.
One night they laid awake listening to the weather outside when Jane spoke, "John? How could a young man like you get where you are so early in life?"
"I am older than I look, Jane."
"So, like what? Thirty?"
"Older?"
"No way."
"Yes. I stop now and I think…I had it all. I did it all. I had parents, a wife, children…a career… And now look where I am…"
"At least yer not alone…"
"True," he thought about his recently deceased daughter Mina…and his pups. He sighed and Jane knew something was troubleing him. He explained, "All but one of my children have died…" He started to tear up
"Had a lot?" Then she smelled something. "Do I smell blood? John are you bleeding?"
"No. It's nothing."He dired his eyes with the back of his hand. "My child that survived hates me."
"He couldn't possibly!"
"I'm a horrible husband and a worse father, Jane."
"I don't believe, I WONT believe! You're too nice a guy!!"
"Don't,"
"Yer too handsome a man…"
"Stop"
Jane edged closer to John, feeling some primal feelings. "Jane, if you do, it will most likey fail! I'm warning you!"
"I don't care. We had failed lives. What does it matter now?" She kissed him long and increasiongly deeper.
How could John do this?! He HAD a mate….had..no longer…but, he felt loyal to his mate and her alone. Jane was a woman of surcomstance! However he never stoped her or himself.
Later that night they lay awake. Jane says, "I'm hungry, John,"
"We haven';t eaten in nearly five days, Jane. No wonder… I'll get us something."
"So late?"
"There's always a way,"
John exited their home and as he walked to some known food source he thought about how long it was since he'd had both food AND blood. He deserved this life thoiugh. He kept reminding himself how this was his choice, or else he'd be back with his wife…and daughter….
John came back after not too long with pretzels for her and some for himself.
"Where'd you get these?! I thought all the places here closed!"
"Well…one was kinda broken into already. I merely made use of the opportunity,"
"Huh. Whatever." She was greatful for whatever food they ever had and they nibbled on their precious life sustainers.
One warm day Jane and John sat out on the open sidewalk and watched the world whiz by. Nearby Leon, Flint, Daemon, Chris and LaUra drove through the city streets of the same neighborhood John was in! LaUra looked, disheartenedly out the window, and across the buisy main street he saw John!!
"LEON!! THERE HE IS!!"
"WHAT??!! WHERE??!!"
"THERE!!!" she leaned foreward and pointed.
"CRAP!" As soon as the light turned, Leon drove into the other lane, cutting people off and the stopped right in front. The cops and vampriss filed out and scrambled to see John.
LaUra, say John was with a woman… She was not pleased. "John! What are you doing here?! And WHY do you smell so BAD??!!" Laura asked.
"John looked up at her from under the brim on his hat. "Must have been from rummaging through this morning's garbage…"
"Why…." Then it occurred to her. She examined Jane and then looked at John shocked.
Leon spoke up, "John…you're living a homeless life??!"
"And why not? I was evicted from my last one…" the ancient vampire answered truthfully. "And besides…I've never lived like this before…" Surrprisingly, he smiled, in spite of his living conditions.
Jane spoke up, "What do you want with him??!"
Leon answered, "We want him back. We got the city under control again, John. When you come back you wont have any more problems!"
"Don't you mean if?"
"Pardon?"
"Don't be such a moron Leon!! You put me in chains before! You think I'd forget?! I'd rather live destitute a free man than in some basement in chains!!"
Jane said rather airy, "They did that to you?"
Leon quickly spoke, "It's not what you think! John was out of control! He was being a menace!"
"Only to you Leon. But that's not the way it was from my perspective!!" John retorted.