Jen’s cell phone cast a purple glow on her bedspread. She had fallen to sleep with it in her hand in case 666 IM’d her. At about 3:00 am…he did. What the. What time is it Jen thinks as she focuses on the clock and then her cell phone vibrating in her hand.

IM from 666

Jen hits “accept IM”.

666

“Sor-ry. But just ha-d to IM ya.”

Jen

“K.”

Jen hits “send IM”

666

“Been busy. Do some of my best work at night.”

Jen

“Meet 2 but I do homework more like up ‘til 12 or so.”

666

“Wanted to meet u in school 2 day. But would rather our first b some place more romantic. U o.k. with romance or is it goofy?”

Jen

“No. U, like totally read my mine.”

666

“What about meeting me at Cape May Light. At the very top. We’ll look down at the boats and up at the stars.”

Jen hugs her cell phone to her chest. Catches her breath. Then IM’s:

Jen

“What? Like now?”

666

“Naw. I wouldn’t want u to go out alone this time of night. Tomorrow at 9. That’s early right?”

Jen

“Yeah. But is it open then? They’re still on Spring hours.”

666

“It’ll b open. I have my ways. I’ll b waiting 4 you at top.”

Jen

“Can’t wait to see u. Wonder what u look like.”

666

U in 2 Sci Fi? I look like that Keanu guy. Well, some peeps told me that.”

Jen thinks O.M.G.

Jen

“9. I’ll b there hon.”

666

“kewl. *hugs* night.”

Jen

“*hugs* night.”

Jen hits “off”, her cell phone goes out. She’s in the dark. But then, you knew that.

“What?” John thinks as he jerks awake. He looks around and realizes he’s lying in his silver, metal row boat. “I can’t believe I fell asleep in a row boat in Delaware Bay. Actually I can believe it. Busy Saturday. Crabbing at dawn. Fishing. Then of course there was the pouting cause they didn’t want me to lead the tourists in the Nature Walk to view the Butterfly migration.” Waking up more he thinks… “Oh, no wonder I’m anchored off Cape May Point. No good to pout if no one sees ya.” John thinks and laughs to himself. “Oh, that’s what woke me.” John sees an all-black speed boat growling around the point. It’s twilight, and the black boat seems to be pulling the night overhead in its wake. “Shoot. The idiot doesn’t see me.” John thinks as the speed boat comes almost right for him.

John

“Hey”

John stands up in his boat and waves wildly as speed boat bolts directly at him. John sits down and pulls the engine’s lawn-mower like starter. Pulls it again. Glances at the speeding boat that is much closer now. Pulls it again and the engine kicks in just enough for him to scrap the side of the black boat instead of being cut in two.

John

“God.”

John’s relieved. Then the boat skids to a stop, spinning half circle almost the same way John does when he stops his bike short. Only instead of kicking up a spray of gravel, the boat kicks up a sea spray. He can hear a sizzling sound. The boat is creating a fog. “No it’s steaming,” John realizes. “The boat is so hot it’s steaming in the cold Atlantic.” He can just make out the outline of it in the haze. Of course it’s hot, he almost says to himself.

John

“A black boat and a beating sun all day is gonna make the boat hot.” Hello? Is anybody there? Can’t see the inside with the fog.”

John sits back down, turns his engine up and heads towards the steaming black boat. He turns the engine off.

John

“Hello?”

The black boat sits silent in the mist.

“Should I go over to it or leave?” John ponders almost out loud to himself.

John

“I’ve got a gun.”

“Was that a growl? John could swear he heard the black boat’s engine. It’s almost dark now and he doesn’t see any wake. John sits down and decides to use the oars to row slowly towards the black boat. Into the water, out of the water, into the water, out of the water, slowly he approaches the boat.

John

“Hello?”

The black boat waits in the fog.

Into the water, out of the water…in…”wait, John thinks and stops rowing…but his boat keeps moving into the black boat’s fog. The hairs on his arm and the back of his neck stick up frozen. He squints. There’s no one driving the boat. “Is he hiding…ready to jump me when I approach? John’s mind races.

John

“Get out of here.”

John says to himself. He yanks at the lawnmower-like engine cord. Pulls it to kick over. Pulls it to kick over. Pulls it to kick over. Hears a growl behind him. Pulls it to kick over. Kick over. Engine starts. John heads further into the Bay. The black speed boat races in front of him, spins half circle, kicks up an ocean spray, makes a dead stop, right in his way. John stares wide-eyed in front of him. Glances behind him past Cape May Point and Cape May lighthouse…beyond, the much rougher ocean. Jerks around, his eyes bolt back to black boat. Caught, between the devil and the deep blue sea.

“What if he doesn’t look like Keanu?” Jess says to herself as she fixes her hair one more time in the mirror. What do I care, she thinks. He’s definitely a romantic…meeting at the top of Cape May light. We’ll look down at the boats and up at the stars.

Jess

“Best IM you’ll ever get.”

Jess says to herself as she looks one more time in the mirror. So glad I went for the henna tattoo. She thinks as she notices how the little Tahitian band shows just below her black jacket. She turns around and looks at her low rise jeans.

Jess

“Low to show.”

Jess’s Mother

“You’re call when you’re at Jen’s right?”

Jess

“It’s five blocks away. Yes. I will call you.”

Jess’s Mother

“K. Isn’t that what you kids say? K?”

Jess

“Don’t know any kids.”

Jess’s Mother rolls her eyes. Waves a dismissal at Jess and walks down the hall.

My luck a car will go by when I’m calling you. And you’ll know I’m not at Jen’s. Jen thinks as she grabs her purse and heads down the hall, down the stairs, onto the porch, and into the night.

As she walks first past the Victorians in her neighborhood, she has that cozy feeling inside when you’re looking through the lace curtains at the homey table lamps. Maybe because the ocean breeze was a little nippy and the homes look so warm. Or maybe she is thinking about how it will feel in 666’s arms. But, even the downtown’s antique shops seem new to her as the sea breeze flutters the window awnings. Soon, she is in another neighborhood of homes…the last one before Cape May Point state park. Up ahead, she can see the sea oats and other grasses rustling in the wind. They seem tall. But she is feeling so warm inside, any thought that anyone could be hiding behind them…never enters her head, even as she brushes by them. If it was light, she could have seen John in his row boat and called to him. Or she would have seen the knife-shaped black boat without the driver. As it is, she is focused on the Cape May Light up ahead, that looks like a romantic, white candle set out for a meal. Actually, it is set out for a meal this night.

*ring* It's her cell phone. Worst, it's her mother. She's so mad she doesn't notice the reflection in the phone of something behind her.

Jess

“Mom. I told you I’m gonna be over at…”

Jess screams with all her might as she’s pulled from behind into the bushes. A hand comes over her mouth.

Jess’s mother on cell

“Jess, Jess. Are you alright? Answer me. I’m gonna call the police. Jess”

John grabs the phone with his left hand as he keeps his right hand over Jess’s mouth.

John

“Oh she’s fine. Would you like to talk to Jen?”

Jess is frantically shaking her head no….since Jen is back in her house and she and John seemed to be alone in Cape May Point park.

Jess’ Mom

“No. Well you guyz have fun. I wasn’t checking up…I was checking in.”

John

“You s-u-r-e you don’t wanna say a little something to Jen?”

Dial tone. Jess’s mom has already hung up. John rolls off of Jess laughing.

John

I crack myself up. I really do.”

Jess

“What are you doing here?”

John

“I’m being chased by a driverless boat. And Y-O-U?”

Jess

“Meeting someone who actually wants me.”

John

“Do you smell dog stuff? Just asking.”

Jess jumps up. Checks herself really fast. Hits John’s chest.

John

“K. I sooo am not going to ruin your slutty little renday whatever.”

Jess

“I think it’s very romantic. 666 chose the light house.”

John

“Oh really. And how did he look. I ask that cause I know someone as intelligent as my friend wouldn’t be meeting a guy she has only met over the Internet, in a closed park I might add at night.”

Jess looks at grass.

Jess

“You had a boat with no driver chase you?”

John

“Nice try. My little sister is better at distracting than you. Sooo?”

Jess

“Oh. I don’t care.”

John

“I do. Where?”

Jess

“Right over there.”

Jess points at the lighthouse.

John

“It’s closed. That means to you and 6er dude too.”

Jess

“He said we’ll look down at the boats and up at the stars.”

Jess smiles.

John goes behind her, jerks Jess’s head up and then points her head down, chin into chest.

John

“Like that? Before he throws you off the lighthouse?”

A shadow moves back and forth in the top of the lighthouse.

Jess’s phone rings.

IM from 666.

“Where r u. I’m in jeans but I put on a black Victorian coat and ruffled shirt. Romantic no.”

John reads it.

John

“No.”

Jess

“Come on John. Be a friend.”

John

“Come on Jess. Be smart.”

The shadow seems to pace at the top of the lighthouse.

Jess

“I’m leaving without seeing him. I can’t.”

John

“Fine. We’ll both go.”

Jess

“Did I ever ask you to be my big brother?”

John and Jess walk towards the deserted lighthouse, through the rustling sea grasses.

John

“Wonder what you get for breaking and entering a historic landmark?”

Jess

"Love."

John

"We talk'n prison love Jess? Cause I'm not feel'n it."

John and Jess make their way to the lighthouse’s heavy door. John makes a feeble attempt to pull on latch.

John

“See. All locked. Oh look at sign. See. So Sorry. We’re closed.”

Jess yanks the door. The wind howls down the steel circular staircase and blows back her hair in a howl.

Jess

“My hero. Well, here’s to entering…no breaking needed. You know if you get caught…you can kiss Princeton goodbye.”

John

“Princeton can kiss my ass. Did you ever see the way those Princeton guys from the MidWest surf? The run into the ocean….”

Jess

“Shhh.”

They begin to walk up the steel staircase. Their footsteps echo into the darkness. A light is way at the top.

John

“….they run into the ocean like this…”

John puts board directly in front of his face. Acts like it gets hit into his face.

John

“They put the surfboard in front of them man. The ocean hits it back in their face.”

Jess

“Maybe Princeton didn’t know they couldn’t surf before they let them in.”

John

“What’s that?”

Jess stops, turns fast to John.

Jess

“What?”

John

“Your ass. Never saw it from this angle.”

Jess

“If you blow this I’ll kill you.”

John

“Nice.

John sees an odd shadow in the light at the top.

John

“Wow. Really what was that?”

Jess turns around to look up.

Jess

“I wouldn’t know. I was busy looking at the ass who was looking at my ass.”

John grabs her arm to stop her from going up the stairs. He looks up the black, spiraling staircase…that looks like it would take them down. He sees a shadow seem to move behind the light.

John

“I don’t like this. We’re getting out of here.”

Jen

"Thank God you're here."

Jess

"Oh great. Anyone else like to come on my date?"

Jen

"I've got something to tell you."

Jess

"I've got something to tell you. I didn't tell you about where I was meeting 666 so you could spy on us."

Jen

"I know. I looked it up. 666 is the sign of the devil."

The shadow moves from behind the light. They hear a footfall…or is it a hoof… on the metal spiral stairs leading down to them. Jen, Jess and John race out of the lighthouse, the grasses are awash with a red light flashing across their tips. The Coast Guard is at the beach.

John

“Ooo. Dead body.”

Jen

“Or they might have saved someone.”

John, Jess and Jen walk towards the beach.

John

“Not that I wanna see one of those weekend sailors dead. But if he already is…might as well have a look-see.”

Jen

“So comforting…”

John interrupts, starts to run.

John

“I’m the one who’s gonna be dead. That’s where I pushed my boat onshore.”

Jess and Jen start to run with him.

John

“I’ve gotta think of an excuse….got it.”

John, Jess and Jen make it to the beach. Two Coast Guard Volunteers are at John’s row boat.”

Gerry

“Told ya. It’s his boat.”

Jess

“He was being chased by a black boat with NO driver.”

John looks annoyed at Jess.

John

“Or not at all. My engine wasn’t working right. So I didn’t want to endanger my life or the Coast Guard who would try to save me…so I pulled it up here.”

Gerry bends over and pulls the engine’s lawn-mower like rope/starter. The engine starts in one pull.

John

“And of course it would work.”

Screaming over the sound of the motor.

Older Coast Guarder

“HEY, I KNOW YOU. AREN’T YOU JOHN’S BOY? HEY, JOHN BOY, ANYONE EVER CALL YOU THAT?

John

“NO.”

Older Coast Guarder

“YOU WRITE. JOHN BOY WALTON WAS A WRITER ON THAT SHOW.”

John looks at Jess and Jen. Gerry shuts off boat motor.

John

“NEVER.”

Never echoes across the park in the silence.

Jess’s phone rings

Jess

“Hello?”

Older Coast Guarder

“Well, I know your dad. So I’ll tell you what. We’ll gonna toe this to the Marina. You can pick it up tomorrow.”

John “Oh. That would be great.”

Older Coast Guarder to Gerry.

“That kid does look like John Boy. Funny thing is…. John Boy never had sex in 5 years on that show. ”

John, Jess and Jen walk across the park towards town.

John, Jess and Jen walk through the neighborhood bordering the park. If they glanced behind them, they would have seen a shadow move in front of the Lighthouse’s light.

Jen kinda jumps up and down happy. Puts her hands in the air and sings.

Jen

“Like Christina says: Spread your legs and s-o-a-r!”

John makes a naughty, naughty sign with his fingers.

John

“Not spread your legs and soar. Spread your w-i-n-g-s and soar.”

Jen

“No it’s spread your legs and sooooar!”

Jess

“He’s right. It’s spread your wings and soar.”

John

“Spreading legs. Bad. Spreading wings. Good.”

Jen

“Oh, who cares what the right word is. I’m so relieved I found you guys.”

Jess

“So what if he’s calls himself some devil term. Maybe he’s a Goth or something. Keanu looks Goth.”

John

“So are you gonna tell us what he said when he called?”

Jess

“Who?”

John

“Keanu. You know who.”

Jess

“He got busted at school. And apologized that he wasn’t going to be able to make it. See, that wasn’t even him in the lighthouse.”

Jen

“Cause he said so.”

Jess

“Exactly. And he’s a friend.”

John

“That you’ve never met.”

Jess

“Look. I have more Internet and Cell group phone friends then friends in school.”

John

“I have friends on t.v.”

Jen holds up one finger.

Jen

“Ah, just for another season.”

John

“Got them on DVD. They’re friends for life.”

Jen

“Why do all the good shows have to go off. Like Buffy. Just because Buffy has to stretch herself as an artist.”

John

“I know. She’ll be shooting Scoobie Doo 2 soon”

Jess

“This is why I have Internet friends.”

Jen

“Oh. You’re welcome for saving your life.”

They walk into town. The bakery is baking bread for the Sunday morning crowd.

Jess

“I appreciate it Guyz. But you can’t stop true love.”

John

“That’s not what Father Italian says. He says “a boys-a…when you a feel-a the need-a down there…don you reach down…reach-a up to God.”

Jen

“The Priest wants you to reach up to God and cop a feel.”

Jess

“So I’ve agreed to meet him at his house tomorrow. His mom will let me in.”

John

“Where?”

Jess

“You know the house on Sunset, overlooking the beach with the red awnings? That’s his.”

John

“Mon-ney”

Jen

“Well Satan has been around for a long time. Don’t you think he’d accumulate things…wealth?”

John

“Souls?”

They are now back in their neighborhood.

Jess

“Please. I’m sooo plugged into everything. Don’t you think I would have heard of a local perv who was IMing girls by now? Besides, his mother will be there.”

Jen

“There’s always a mother there when the Devil flies out. Talk about spread your legs and soar.”

Jess climbs the stairs to 666’s beautiful Victorian Mansion. The sun is shinning so bright, she could use sunglasses just to look at the crisp white paint, and flowing white curtains in the Spring sea breeze. She goes to grab the door knob…but it opens. An unseen woman’s voice calls.

Unseen woman’s voice.

“Jess. Is that Andrew’s little friend?”

Jess

“Yes Mrs….”

Jess thinks devil to herself. Tries not to laugh. She looks around the foyer. The house is amazing. Beautiful paintings of people partying around a table strewn with food. Another with people draped in Jewelry.

Jess

“Your house is awesome.”

Jess calls out.

Unseen woman’s voice.

“Thanks hun. We try. Andrew is waiting for you upstairs. Go straight up and you’ll see him. He has to keep the door open when lady-friends visit.”

The skylight is so beautifully detailed in stain glass. Angels are shown fighting with swords. And there’s a silver cross that the sun is shinning on. It’s slipped Jess thinks. It’s swung around to be hanging upside down. As she reaches the top of the stairs. She peaks into a bed room with double French Doors leading to a balcony. That must be Andrew she thinks…breathless at his beauty as the sunlight catches the right side of his back and arms…highlighting his muscles in gold down to his border shorts.

Jess timidly enters the room. She’s never interacted with anyone who looked like him. If anything could outshine the sun pouring in the window, it is the vision of Andrew, smiling, coming towards her…looking like a movie star surfer. Black hair. Blue eyes. To her, he appears to be a young Keanu. She reaches out her hand to greet him, he pushes it to the side and hugs her. She feels his warm flesh hold her tight. He is the first guy to hug me in over a year, Jess thinks. She breaths in deeply. He smells like the salty air, streaming in through the open French Doors.

Andrew pulls away. He takes her hand. Leads her to the balcony overlooking the white beach and blue ocean. They sit in overstuffed chairs.

Andrew

“So. Jess. In the flesh.”

Jess is overwhelmed with emotion. She just met him and she’s given herself over to him.

Jess

“Yes finally.”

Andrew

“Oh yeah, finally. I’m so sorry about last night. I got into a bit of trouble. I’m always getting into trouble…or starting it.”

Jess

“Doesn’t matter. This is really nice.”

Jess thinks. So he’s like 15. But what a hot bod!

Andrew

“It does matter. You’re important to me.”

Jess thinks I’m yours as her will slips away into his perfect white smile and those eyes the color of the sea today.

Jess

“You always made me feel that way. Even through the Internet.”

Andrew

“Don’t knock technology. I’m plugged into everything. Even I couldn’t reach so many people so easily before.”

Jess

“Well, duh. No one could before our time.”

Andrew

“Our time.”

Andrew smiles. Looking like she’s the only person in the world.

Jess

“I really want to get to know you.”

Andrew

“Really. You’re saying that’s what you want?”

Jess

“Yes.”

Andrew

“Come on over to my PC. It’s soooo me.”

Jess follows Andrew off the balcony. She sits in front of the PC. He kneels behind her. And hugs her, resting his head on her shoulder. She’s never felt so peaceful and loved. He whispers in her ear.

Andrew

“When YOU want to. Press any button to start.”

Jess presses a button. She smiles as she sees the cutest Iraqi school girls. They fade to the face of Saddam’s sons, then rape scenes, Andrew is rubbing her shoulders and arms in a loving, comforting fashion as all of the world’s worst scenes…of how horrible people can be people strobe into her eyes. People jumping on fire from the World Trade Center. Shi’ite children and parents gassed to death. Palestinian and Israeli children blown apart bodies. Serial killers. Hitler. Other hateful people from history. Ending in a nuclear bomb. Jess’s flesh is excited as Andrew smoothly strokes her shoulders and arms in smooth movements…giving her body pleasure as her mind reels in horrible sights she’s never seen or known about. A porno film comes on where the star is actually murdered.

Jess

“I want to leave.”

Andrew kisses the back of her neck and whispers.

Andrew

“You can leave whenever you want. But from this day on, I’ll never leave you.”

Jess gets up and stops. There is the oldest woman she has ever seen standing almost behind her.

Andrew

“Jess. Meet mom. Mom. Meet Jess.”

The ancient lady smiles broadly, revealing rotten yellow, black and dark, pond-moss green teeth. Jess bolts down the stairs. My God he’s coming after me. She hits the foyer. Tries to open the door. OMG it’s locked. She keeps pulling it up open, pulling it open, pulling it open. She looks down, realizes she’s stopping it with her own foot. He’s right behind me she thinks and swings open the door. She runs down the porch, across the street. Look out she thinks as a car almost hits her. She runs to the beach, turns around and looks up at the perfect Victorian mansion with the red and white striped awnings floating in the clean sea breeze.

Jess breaths a sigh of relief. He’s not behind me. And then gasps in horror…. He’s in me…forever.