AMERICAN GOTHIC:  THE NEXT GENERATION
By Psylocke


PROLOGUE
 
 	Trinity S.C.  It's a quiet laidback town that time simply 
forgot.  Prices haven't changed since I don't know when and the 
Andy Griffith Show still comes on.  People nod you a greeting as 
you walk down the street and fishing is a pastime for life.

 	Yes, you could say that Trinity is a good place to move to, 
settle down, and retire.  To actually grow up here is something else 
entirely.  The town wears a mask and face underneath is very ugly.  
Most people don't know what is happening in the town.  It's either 
that, or they choose to acknowledge it.  I know what is happening.  
Why?  Because it's in my blood.  
 
 	I'm Caleb Temple and this is my story.  Like a fool, I felt that 
the terrors of Trinity had ended, but it had only stayed dormant.  And 
had risen once again in me....


CHAPTER 1

	"Aww..Ms. Holt," I groaned as she straightened my tie.  
Standing in front of me, she continued to fuss over my clothing.  I 
wore a light blue three-piece suit with the St. Mary's golden pin 
emblem on it.  I, Caleb Temple, was going to college; and a private 
one at that!

	Ms. Holt continued to not pay any attention to my groaning 
as she straightened my school pin for the sixth time.  I couldn't blame 
her though.  She just wanted my first day of school to go smoothly.  
Her eyes sparkled with happiness at the thought of me getting a higher 
education.

	Taking a step back, she gave my appearance one final 
inspection and her eyes filled with tears.  "I still can't believe it," she 
choked.  "My boy's going to college.  I'm so proud of you."

	"Well, I hope I can keep you that way," I answered with an 
impish smile. She put her hands on her hips in a mocking manner and 
I had to laugh.  The way she carried on made me feel as if I were 
leaving Trinity altogether, when St. Mary's was only a 20 minute 
drive.

	"No matter what," she whispered; giving me a hug. "You're 
still the 10-year-old boy that first stepped across the threshold of my 
home to me."  She held me with a viselike grip; as if she were giving 
away her most precious possession; which she was.

	The sound of a car horn broke the silence, reminding me that 
I had left Boone sitting in the car.  Ms. Holt released her hold on me 
and together we walked outside.  Matt stood outside waiting for us.  
I no longer called him "Dr. Matt" because each time I did, a small, 
sad frown cased his face and when he would try to hide it, he failed 
miserably.

	"Well, there isn't much to say that hasn't been said already," 
he remarked. Matt was dressed in a gray suit, so I figured that he was 
volunteering today at church.  Since losing his license, he didn't feel 
there was much left for him to do.  He gave his legendary pirate smile, 
but the light had gone out of his eyes.  Something at Juniper House 
changed Matt, but he never spoke about that dreaded place.    

	"Don't worry," I joked.  "I think Ms. Holt went over the 
whole lecture already."  Boone honked again to show his impatience.  
"Hurry up Caleb!" he yelled from the driver's seat.  "Or we're gonna 
be late for our first day!"  Matt shook my hand and I felt as if I had 
lost the last shred of childhood.  I was an adult now.

	"Check your pocket when you get into the car," Matt 
whispered in my ear.  I was a bit puzzled, but his raised eyebrows 
told me to keep quiet.  Boone honked again and while running out to 
the car, I hurriedly waved to Matt and Ms. Holt.

	Hopping into the car that Boone and I shared, he groaned, "It's 
about time."  I said nothing as we pulled out of the driveway and 
headed towards our future.

	"I thought that we were never gonna get out of there," 
chortled Boone with one hand scratching his head and keeping 
control of the car with the other.

	"Ms. Holt can get overly emotional at times," I answered 
and then a thought struck me.  My father had not come to see me 
off on one of the most important days of my life.  When I received 
scholarship to go to St. Mary's, he didn't give a hint of resentment.  
In fact, he congratulated me and bought me a new bow to use for 
the archery club at the college.  Now, he couldn't even take time off 
from his retired life to see me leave.  Just like my father.  First he sets
you up, then sits and watches you fall.  I couldn't fully be mad at him 
because he taught me things that with the exception of Matt, others 
feared to.  Lucas Buck may not have been Father of the Year, but 
he was still my father just the same.  I wasn't going to let my father 
get the best of me on a day reserved for joy.

	A siren roared to life behind us and Boone looked into the 
rearview mirror to see the red and blue flashing lights.  He slowly 
pulled over and became jittery as a doe during hunting season. Two 
officers got out and Boone melted into his seat, groaning in agony.  
"May I see your license, sir?" asked one of the officers and I looked 
up with a sigh of relief.  It was Ben Healy behind the dark shades and 
Trinity Badge.  Ben didn't change much, but in his hair and midsection 
now that he was sheriff of Fulton County.

	Floyd popped up on my side and I nearly jumped.  Floyd 
hadn't changed either.  He was still the loyal and non-complaining 
follower, but now it was towards Ben.  "Don't worry," he said in one 
of those chipper voices that made you just want to smack him back to 
reality.  "You boys weren't speedin'."

	"Just wanted to say good luck to you two," continued Ben, 
smiling.  "Make us proud."  Once Boone's heart rate had returned to 
normal, we were once again on our way with Ben and Floyd waving 
in the background.  I then remembered Matt's hint to check my coat 
pocket.  Inside, was a folded note that read:

	I know how you feel right now as I was once in your shoes. 
Don't stray from your path and you'll do fine. 
				Good Luck
               			Matt


	Stapled to the note was a hundred dollar bill.  Boone whistled 
at the sight of it and said, "Wow. If they give you that much each time 
you leave, maybe we should go back."

	St. Mary's Academy was a highly prominent school built on the 
edge of Trinity by rich tycoons who wanted a peaceful and quiet area 
for their children to learn.  It was by sure luck that Boone and I were 
admitted on an archery scholarship because it sure wasn't for our 
grades.

	The front gates to the academy swung open majestically and 
we entered slowly.  Students walked to and fro in similar uniforms 
laughing and talking to each other.  Turning into the parking lot, we 
flushed with embarrassment. The car we shared was nothing compared 
to the sparkling fast cars parked there.  We must have been the poorest 
students at the school.  Still, after traveling all of this way, we weren't 
turning back now.

	The clock tower a few feet away chimed to signify that classes 
were to start in ten minutes and we were swallowed in the gathering 
crowd to the front doors.

	"Hey, you two!" said a voice.  A tall lanky boy with a pale 
complexion and dark brown eyes ran up to us.  "You two look like 
you could use a guide." It was true that Boone and I were new to the 
campus, but we didn't know that it showed that much.  "My name's 
Joey."

	"Well, I'm Caleb," I answered.  "And this is Boone."  We 
hadn't even been on the campus for ten minutes and we already had 
a friend.  Joey first showed Boone to his first class, which was 
European Literature.  He then showed me to mine, which was 
Theology, promising to meet us again at lunch.

	Just when I thought that things were going well, fate once 
again smacked me in the face.  "Good morning Mr. Temple.  Glad 
you could join us," remarked the professor.  Standing at the head of 
the classroom, was my father.  Professor Lucas Buck.

END OF CHAPTER 1


CHAPTER 2

	Well, I thought that having my father being my teacher once 
again was going to be the most difficult challenge in my life but he 
wasn't even the tip of the iceberg.

I feel so honored.

Oh be quiet.

You were mentioning me right?

Yes, I was mentioning you.  Now can I get back to the story please?

Ok...

	The biggest challenge was when I ran into Raven Simone Mayfair.

Literally...

Shh!

	Before I had a chance to say sorry, she kicked me in the shins.  
	
	"Be glad I didn't take out your kneecaps," she said.  My father 
watched amused from the doorway and the only thing I could do was 
scowl and limp along to get away from the embarrassing situation.  

	Raven and I didn't meet again until my father decided to have 
a private conference with the students to get to know us better.  As 
if he didn't know me enough.  Closing the door, I stood before him 
and felt inferior to the power he had over me.  

	"Take a seat Mr. Temple."

	"I'd rather stand."

	"Suit yourself."

	"Just say what's on your mind so I can leave."

	"Jumping to conclusions aren't you son?"

	"And how many people know that?" 

	"Know what?"

	"That I'm your son."

	"No one.  Your name was in Ms. Holt's custody."  He laid 
back in his chair and sighed.  "I took this job so I wouldn't have to 
worry about anyone knowing me.  How many people do you know 
have a death certificate to put in "their" resume?"

	He was right.  As the sheriff of Trinity, everyone knew that 
he supposedly died.  Here, they never knew what happened.  In this 
school, Lucas Buck never died.  The death certificate was 
"misplaced" and things went on as before.

	"Is there anything else?" 

	"No." 

	"Then there's no need for you to stay and waste time my 
now is there?"

	Leaving his office with mixed emotions, I leaned against the 
wall.  Now sooner had I done that, I heard screaming from my 
father's office.  The same girl the I ran into stormed out in a rage.  
"My father is not moving me to another school!"  

	It was the perfect chance to say I was sorry without her 
beating me to a pulp.  She needed a friend to talk too and I didn't 
want to be by myself either.  I followed her to the edge of the 
grounds where she sat on the steps.  It was a bit chilly outside so 
I dropped my school jacket around her shoulders.

Aww wasn't that sweet.

Boone, don't start.

Caleb played Romeo....

Boone, I'm warning you.  How come I can't tell this story without 
interruptions?  Will you and Raven go climb a tree until I finish?

Sure.  I'll tell her what you said so we can find your face pasted on 
a milk carton tomorrow....

	"Thanks," she muttered.

	"Do you want to talk about it?"

	"You're majoring in psychology?"

	"Don't know yet."

	"So that means I can sue you for malpractice?"

	"Law major.  That figures."

	I don't know how long we sat there, but it was worthwhile.  
For two people who didn't know each other, we had a lot to talk 
about.  A figure came into our view and Raven groaned.  I couldn't 
make out any characteristics and didn't think anything else about it.

	"Something wrong?"

	"That's my father."

	"Then why doesn't he come over and say hello?"

	"He's not that kind of person.  I have a very deranged father."

	"I bet mine's the icing on the cake."

	"You'd lose."

	"I think not."

	"I better go.  My father is an impatient man sometimes."

	I watched her leave and knew that I had a friend for life.  
What I didn't know was that my father would intervene once again.  
The time came around for parent/teacher conferences and since 
Ms. Holt wasn't feeling well, I had a difficult time dragging Matt 
along with me.  

	"I still have a bad feeling about this."

	"It's not like you have to start a boxing match in there with 
him."

	"You owe me for this one."

	"I know."

	It turned out that I had a big price to pay.  Upon entering the 
classroom, I spotted Raven and my father just chatting like they knew 
each other for years.  They looked my way and she stopped in mid-
sentence.  There was silence for a moment and then Raven spoke.

	"Nice of you to show up, father."

	"Father?"

	"Didn't you know?  Mr. Crower here is my father."

END OF CHAPTER 2