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Authors: Stephen Fox

Tags: #Horror | Vampires

Blood (22 page)

BOOK: Blood
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He looked around.  All eyes were on him, listening.  He continued.  “The Chosen will move to Central America, or other countries where identification is not such a big concern.  Many of them will work with the criminal elements to create the backgrounds and identities they need.  A new Foundation will grow out of the ashes and the Chosen will put their organization back together again.  “Until and unless we find a way to isolate and annihilate these creatures, they will continue to prey on humanity.”

              Underwood shook his head.  “But it will take time for the Chosen to rebuild their network.  And we can use that time to create blood tests, or systems of tests, where a team of doctors will check whether the blood is normal.  But the hardest part is going to get people to believe that the threat is real.  Because, after all, vampires are just a myth, a fairy tale.  People who haven’t witnessed the threat first hand will assume the Chosen are merely a nightmare.  And remember, the tapes, the blood samples, the bodies, all of the proof of their existence has been destroyed.”

 

              As the men are talking, in another part of town, a man, frail and stooped with age, sits in an easy chair in front of a small TV.  With tired eyes he looks down at the items in his arthritic hands.  In one hand, he holds the doctor’s diagnosis that confirms what he has suspected for weeks - the pain that wracked his body wouldn’t be a problem for much longer.  In the other hand is a small vial containing a small amount of dark reddish liquid.  The label on the vial reads, “Patrick, James - Case # 5461227SAV.”  The vial had been stolen from the lab where he worked, during the chaos following Dr. Bell’s gruesome demise.  Somehow the intruders had overlooked one container of blood.

              The man continues to look down at the items.  He is afraid to do what needs to be done, but he is also afraid of the continually increasing pain.  After a lifetime devoted to detecting and preventing crimes, he knows the unspeakable deeds he will be forced to perform.  But is that too high a price to pay for immortality?  Not only recovering his lost strength, but actually increasing it to superhuman levels.  To walk up stairs without wheezing and straining.  Why, he could even leap and run up stairs.

              Such tremendous power in such a small package.  He could open the vial, nick his finger and pour the blood over the small wound.  That’s all it would take.  Or he could empty the vial down the sink and smash the container.  Either act would be final, with no going back.

              He could be young and vibrant again.  Women would look at him with interest once more, instead of revulsion or pity.  He could do anything - be anybody.  And all it would cost him was his humanity.

              A spasm of pain as a wheezing cough wracks his body. Suddenly in his heart he made his decision.  He raised the vial.

 

 

 

Thanks to the Red Room Writers, who helped me grow as a writer.  Karin Gillespie, Kyle Steele, Renee McKenzie, Rhonda Jones.  I love youse guys.

              Also a special thanks to Connie Barrow who became my muse and made me realize that not all criticism is bad.

              Posthumous thanks to Elizabeth Estes and Bill Bass.  You both helped me along the path.

BOOK: Blood
13.68Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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