Blood Slayer (2 page)

Chapter 3

     She followed Adam down the stairs toward the training area. The others stopped and looked at her. Most of them, including Adam only looked a few years older than her. There were both boys and girls in the group.

     “Is this some kind of club?” She asked.

     “I guess you can say that,” Adam replied.

     “Oh cool! Can I join?”

     The others looked at Adam as if to say “what did you drag in here?”

     “We’ll see. There’s a lot to learn. I hope you are up for it. Let’s meet everyone.”

     “Awesome!”

     “Hey guys, gather round a minute. This is Jessica. She was attacked tonight by a vampire.”

     “And she lived?” A tall girl said from the group.

     “Yes, she did. She was immune to his trance. He had no effect on her,” Adam explained. “So I brought her here so we can maybe learn some things about why. This will help us in our fight.”

     “Is she going to fight along with us?” One of the guys asked.

     “I don’t know yet. I’m going to help her get settle
d. Anna, can you come along?” The tall girl walked over to them. She had long, black hair pulled back into a pony tail. “I’m going to set her up with a room, was hoping you could help her get situated.”

     Anna shrugged her shoulders.

    “Sure,” she said. “I guess so.”

     They walked through into another corridor and down another flight of stairs. There were some rooms along the lower corridor. The area was all concrete and dimly lit. It reminded Jessica of the basement at her grandma’s old house. She never went down there because it was cold and dark, like this place.

     “I have to stay here?” Jessica asked.

     “It’s the safest place there is. They have no idea we are here. The weird lights you saw when you came in, those are ultraviolet lights. The same kind of light the sun gives off. If a vampire tries to come through there, he’ll catch on fire.” Adam said.

     “Wow, really?”

     “Yes…
really. We have them down here too. They just aren’t as bright. Plus we have people keep watch 24/7. So trust me, you’re plenty safe.”

     “Do I get something cool? Like a crossbow or something?”

     “What is wrong with her?” Anna asked. “How old are you?”

     “I’m fifteen,” Jessica said, holding her chin up proudly.

     “Then why do you talk like you’re nine years old?” Anna asked. Adam shot her a glare as Jessica lowered her head slightly.

     “I have Asperger’s.” Jessica said.

     “What the heck is that?” Anna asked.

     “It’s a form of autism. I have a hard time paying attention to things, I talk weird and my mom says I’m too quick to trust people.”

     “You take medicine for it or something?” Anna asked.

     “No, not really. There isn’t really anything for me to take. During school I take stuff to help me pay attention. But that’s why people think I’m weird.”

     Anna looked questioningly at Adam.

     “You’re not weird at all Jessica. You might be th
e answer we’ve been looking for.”

     “Really?
I’m really good at video games.” Jessica said.

     “I’m sure you are. Here is your room.” Adam said. “Anna will get you your bedding and some clean clothes. Just talk to her if you have any questions.”

     “Ok, thank you Adam,” she said. She couldn’t help but smile as he walked away. Anna glared at her as she smiled.

     “What are you so happy about?” Anna asked.

     “I think he likes me.” Jessica said.

     “Who? Adam? He’s like twenty. Besides, every girl here has tried to go out with him. He doesn’t like anyone here. At least he hasn’t gone out with any girls here.”

     “Really? Well, maybe I’ll be the first.”

     Anna rolled her eyes. Let’s just get you settled. They stepped into the room, and Jessica was happy to see that it looked more comfortable on the inside than from the hallway. The walls were painted an off white. There was a small closet in the back, along with a small bathroom with a shower. There was a cot set up on the floor with a pillow on it.

     “I’ll go get you some bedding, I’ll be right back,” Anna said as she stepped out into the hallway. Jessica looked around the room. She wished there was at least a window instead of just four walls. She also wished she could have brought some of her things with her, like her iPhone, or her tablet. She mostly played games on them. Now she would go nuts without something to keep her mind occupied.

     Anna came back in with some sheets and a blanket and got the cot set up.

     “Ok, there you go,” Anna said.

     “Where did they come from?” Jessica asked.

     “What?”

     “The vampires…w
here did they come from?”

     “No one knows. They’ve been here for centuries. But have remained mostly underground until the past five or ten years. Most of us here, our families were killed by them, or were turned,” Anna said matter-of-factly.

     “Oh,” Jessica said. “So your family was killed?”

     “My mom died when I was a baby. My dad was turned two years ago. Adam took me in shortly after.”

     “Wow. My mom wasn’t killed. The vampire guy came after me. He was scary.”

     “Yeah,” Anna sighed. “They’re like that. They’ll kill you in seconds. Or turn you, just depends on what mood they’re in.”

     “Turn me? Like into one of them?”

     “Yeah
one of them,”

     “Well I don’t wanna be a vampire,” Jessica said.

     “Then I suggest don’t let them catch you and if they do, don’t let them get any of their blood into your system. Oh and it’s not like the movies. These vampires don’t just bite you all nice in the neck. They rip your limbs off and suck the blood from the stump.”

     “Ewww
gross!”

     “Yeah, gross. You should get some sleep. Adam will go over more with you tomorrow.” She patted Jessica’s leg and walked out of the room, leaving Jessica alone. She pulled the door shut, and locked the deadbolt. The door was heavy and made out of metal, and the deadbolt was thick steel that made a loud
clack
as it slid into place. She didn’t like being all alone in this strange place, but curled up on the cot. She stayed dressed and left the lights on. She tried to stay awake in case something tried to get her, but in less than an hour, she’d drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 4

     “Wake up buttercup!” A voice shouted from the doorway. Jessica shot up to see Anna standing in her doorway. “You slept in your clothes?”

     “I wanted to be dressed in case a vampire came after me,” Jessica said.

     “Like I said, you’re pretty safe here. But whatever…I’ll take you to breakfast then Adam wanted to show you some things.”

     “He did?” Jessica hopped to her feet at the mention of his name. “Wants to spend time with me?”

     Anna rolled her eyes.

     “Just come on.”

     Jessica slipped on her shoes and followed Anna down the hall. She noticed Anna was wearing a pink t-shirt and jeans instead of the armor suit from last night. She trailed behind Anna down the corridor, then up several flights of stairs, then down another corridor until they reached a cafeteria. The others were sitting around eating as the sound of light chatter filled the room. Several of them looked at her again as she walked in.

     Jessica followed Anna as she walked over to a large bin and took out two brown, rubbery packages and handed one to Jessica.

     “What is this?” She asked.

     “It’s breakfast,” Anna said.

     “Breakfast? I wanted Froot Loops.”

     “Sorry. This is
what’s called Meal Ready to Eat; it’s what they eat in the military when in the field. You open it up and there are different packets of food there. Adam has a connection at a nearby base, so they give us this stuff in bulk. It doesn’t go bad and it’s portable which we need sometimes, so eat up. You got a busy day ahead.”

     They found an empty table and got seated. Jessica struggled with the MRE package, tugging and tearing at it but having no luck.

     “Here,” Anna said taking it from her. She grabbed it, and showed Jessica the perforated corner, pulled on it as it ripped open. She handed it back as Jessica dumped the contents onto the table. There were more packages like the main one but smaller. The larger one felt soft and squishy. She looked at the printing on the side and read it out loud.

     “Beef ravioli in meat sauce? I love ravioli!” She ripped it open and grabbed the spoon that came in the package. She plunged the spoon into the pouch and hesitated.

     “What’s wrong?” Anna asked, already digging into her own meal.

     “It stinks! Ewww!”

     “Yeah, they taste better than they smell.”

     Jessica looked at her suspiciously then took a bite. Her face shriveled as she chewed the ravioli. It was dry and pasty. It did have some flavor to it, but was also quite salty.

     “You ok?” Anna asked.

     “No. This is gross. Can I get a different one?”

     “No. We can’t waste supplies. Besides, they all taste like that. You’ll get used to it, trust me. Eat as much as you can. You’ll need the energy.”

     Jessica took a few more bites but couldn’t handle much more. She did eat the cheese and crackers that came with it, and mixed the cocoa powder with some water, that tasted ok.

     “What’s wrong? Not the fine cuisine you are used to?” One of the guys said from another table. There were four of them at that table, all of which burst out laughing at his comment.

     “Shut up David,” Anna said. “Cut her some slack.”

     “Why? Because she’s retarded? That’s what will defeat the vampires! The retard army!”

     “I’m not retarded!” Jessica yelled. “I’m autistic, big difference!”

     David looked at his friends and made a face, mimicking a bad overbite.

     “Doh, I’m autithtic! Big differenth!” He said mockingly.

     “You are such a jerk!” Anna said. “She hasn’t done anything to you!”

     “Not yet, but she’ll get one of us killed.”

     “Or she might save your butts!” A voice said from the entrance. Everyone got quiet, looked and saw Adam standing in the doorway. He was suited up in his armor. “We’re all on the same team here. Jessica is one of us now. Anyone who has a problem with that, leave now.”

     He looked around the room;
Jessica could see everyone sitting motionless, their eyes fixed on Adam.

     “No one?” He said. No one made a sound. “Good. Then this is the last time I plan on ad
dressing this, in the meantime…Isaac?”

     A stocky kid, who looked to be seventeen or eighteen stood.

     “Yes, sir,” He said.

     “Get your team together. We have a lead on a nest. We’ll hit it in the day light.”

     “Roger that,” he said as he and four others gathered their trash and ran out of the hallway.

     “Anna, go down to supply with Jessica and get her some gear. I want her to come along.”

     “Are you sure?” Anna asked. “She just got here.”

     “No better way to learn. I’ll keep an eye on her,” he s
aid as he turned and headed out.

Chapter 5

     Jessica walked as quickly as she could to keep up with Anna. Being a few inches shorter, she had to take twice as many steps just to keep up.

     “Do you have to so fast?” Jessica asked.

     “We don’t have a lot of time. Run if you can’t walk fast enough. You’ll be fine.”

     The walk wasn’t too far when they reached a storage area. There were all sorts of clothes and gear lying around and hanging on racks. Anna grabbed a black jumpsuit and tossed it at Jessica.

     “Here, try this on.”

     “Here?” Jessica asked.

     “There’s no one around but you and me kid,” Anna said.

     Reluctantly, Jessica stripped off her t-shirt and jeans, and slid on the suit. It fit her snug, but not tight. She pulled up the zipper and ran her hand down the front. It was thick and rubbery, yet she didn’t feel smothered.

     “It’s a special polymer suit,” Anna explained.

     “A what?”

     “Polymer…
It’s a special kind of material. It’s thin and flexible, but can withstand heavy impact.”

     “Wow,” Jessica said. “I didn’t know they had stuff like this for real.”

     “Yeah, it’s not very common. Adam provides it somehow.”

     “Where does he get it?”

     “I have no idea. I don’t ask,” Anna turned and dug through some more boxes and came back with a vest, knee pads, socks and boots. Jessica tried on each item, they had to dig a little to find boots her size, but found a pair that fit nicely. “There,” Anna said. “Now you look like a killer.”

     “Cool! Do I get a gun or something?”

     “Um…no,”

     “No? Why? We’re gonna be hunting vampires!”

     “Yeah, sleeping vampires, so no need for a weapon; we only use guns on grubs since bullets don’t hurt vampires. Mostly use crossbows, UV lights and other things. But you gotta be trained first.”

     “What are grubs?” Jessica asked
.

     “You’ll see
. Talk to Adam, he decides when someone gets a weapon. Now let’s go.”

     “I’m not a baby! I’m fifteen!”

     Anna rolled her eyes and walked out of the room and briskly headed down the hall and to an elevator.

     “Where we going now?” Jessica asked.

     “To the garage, you’ll be riding with Adam.”

     “Really? Awesome!”

     Anna shook her head and was thankful Jessica had no more questions the rest of the way to the garage.

     “Well look at you,” Adam said. “You look ready to go.”

     “Thanks!” Jessica hopped as she spoke. Adam gave Anna a confused look, but she just shrugged.

     “Well ok then. Go ahead and get in. You’ll be riding in the black truck with me and Carlton. You’re going to be observing, so as we go in, just stick to me like glue,” Adam explained.

     “Yes sir!” Jessica said, saluting.

     “Oh God,” Anna said, putting her face in her hands.

     “Don’t be jealous,” Jessica said.

     “Just hop in the truck please, in back,” Adam ordered.

     She climbed in the back of the large SUV and strapped herself in. There were three others in the vehicle. There was a short, Hispanic guy behind the wheel who nodded to her as she climbed in.

     “Hey,” the driver said. “I’m Carlton.”

     “Hello,” Jessica said.

     Adam climbed in the passenger seat. Jessica looked at the other guys who were all staring at her. They had on the same kind of suit as her, but most of them were carrying large crossbows. One of them was a hulking black kid who had a sword slung across his back. They all had other gear hanging off them, like spotlights and canteens. They were also wearing ballistic vests like hers. She looked at the guy with the sword.

     “Why do you have a sword? Can you kill vampires with a sword?”

     “No,” he said. “But it’s funny to watch the things flop around after I cut their heads off.”

     “Ok kids, play time’s over,” Adam called out from the front seat. “Let’s get this done!”