by Jez Strider
Vampire Takeover
A Tale of Survival
By Jez Strider
©2013 Jez Strider
The end of the world came without warning. Well, not entirely, but life as we knew it ended in a completely unexpected way. Society had been devolving further into chaos with each passing day. I was only fifteen years old and even I could see it. Jobs were scarce. People became accustomed to living paycheck to paycheck without the promise of job security. Children grew up learning the trades of drug trafficking and stealing. The number of people living in poverty grew with each day. The sick were sent home from hospitals to die when they had no insurance. Wars raged overseas. We lived in fear of when the attacks would reach our own homeland.
The state of the earth was terrible, so the creatures of the night stepped in. Vampires had remained hidden, but they weren’t about to let humans destroy their world. Each night more and more people disappeared. Curfews were instated, but it didn’t stop the vampires. These ancient beings were at the top of the food chain and everyone was about to realize humanity was a notch lower.
My father had relocated us from Nashville to a cabin in the Appalachian Mountains before the vampire takeover. He’d known a big change was coming. A tip from a friend had sent him running to the hills. I’d hated moving and hated my father for making us. Leaving my home meant no more sports, no more video games, and no more Carrie. I’d never even talked to the girl but I was sure I’d never get the opportunity since a vampire had probably enslaved her. She was too beautiful to kill.
I would spend the next two years of my destroyed teenage existence hiding during the night. Vampires ruined my life. I would have preferred a nuke, mega asteroid, or super volcano. At least it would have been over quickly instead of suffering through endless nights filled with fear and every day being the unending scrape for survival.
“Get down, Preston.” My father whispered and I lowered myself to the ground.
We left the relative safety of our most recent cave home in the mountains to hunt for food. It was winter and the woods held little nourishment. After searching for endless hours, we had stumbled upon a gas station after following an old road. I was so excited that I started to run toward the building. My father called out to me and luckily I listened. The station wasn’t vacant. Other survivors were looting the place. It was great to know there were other humans still free from the grasps of vampires, but they couldn’t be trusted. In times of survival, it’s every man for himself.
I crawled along the cold ground as silently as I could toward my father. The dry, dead leaves crackled faintly and I winced at every noise as if it were amplified. “Maybe they’ll help us.” I said quietly when I reached my dad.
My father had aged in the past couple of years. His hair and beard were turning gray and he was haggard. I knew he went without food more often than not so that my mother, younger sister, and I could eat. He’d say he found some berries and ate while he was hunting. I knew he was lying. The times of hating him were long past, now I looked up to him for his many sacrifices and for saving our family.
“No. It’s too risky. We wait here to see if they leave and then find a place to hide for the night. I don’t like being this close to cities at dark.” He didn’t take his eyes off the station and I turned my attention back to it.
I wondered what types of treats were within the four walls. It was possible there was nothing left behind by earlier raiders, but that didn’t stop me from hoping. Maybe there was chocolate for my mother and sister and beer for my dad. My mom always stopped at the corner store on the way home from football practice and I’d get a blue slush drink. That’s what I wanted, but I doubted the machine would work even if it was still there.
Gun shots disrupted my thoughts. Several men fled with full bags and piled into a vehicle. Whoops and hollers came from the truck as they sped away blaring loud music. I had no idea how the idiots had survived so long. Then again, the days were relatively safe. Perhaps they were more cautious at night when the monsters awakened.
My father stood up when the men were out of sight. “Stay here, I’m going to see if I can help if someone was shot.” He told me.
“But dad, it’s going to be dark soon. We need to get away from the streets and civilization.” I glanced up. The light of the sun was fading quickly.
“It’s the right thing to do.” He said as he started covering me with leaves and branches. “Don’t move. No matter what.”
I started to protest again. “But….”
“Don’t argue.” He started walking away and turned back briefly. “I love you, son.”
My childish fury at being made to stay behind kept me from responding. I was about to learn the hard lesson of why I shouldn’t let anger lead to regrets.
Anxiously, I watched my father cross the road and enter the store. The sky grew blacker with each passing moment. Night was upon us. I’d never been this close to vampire civilization or away from the safety of the cave during the night. The air was growing colder and I shivered against the ground in the near freezing temperatures.
Then, I saw Dad returning. His backpack was slung on and he looked back and forth cautiously before exiting the station. A vampire was striding calmly down the street. Red eyes glowed in the dark. I could see the flickering from my hiding spot. He wore what looked like a uniform. It would be our luck that a patrol would be passing by.
The vampire noticed Dad long before he had a chance to flee. Blood from the man who’d been shot was like a neon arrow over the station that read “Eat here.” I gripped the stake at my side and resolved to charge. The filthy, lifeless demon grabbed my father by the shirt and lifted him into the air with one hand. That’s when I started running at full speed. The vampire dropped his fangs into my father’s throat and began to drink. From rumors and radio chatter, I knew vampires were at their weakest while feeding. They became enthralled and drunk on the blood. If I could get to my father before he was drained, he might be okay. If it was true that vampires were born and not made, a bite wouldn’t turn a human.
Crossing the distance to reach them took longer than I expected. When I arrived, the monster released my father. Dad fell to the ground. Red eyes bore down on me. The vampire stood at over six foot, taller than most humans.
“Get away from here or I’ll kill you.” I threatened with as much confidence in my voice as I could muster.
A chilling laugh enveloped me. “Such a scrawny boy, but brave.”
He tried to circle me. I turned as well, keeping my stake, which was more like a wooden polearm, aimed at him. “I’m not kidding, Dracula.”
“Dracula?” There was another laugh. “Children and their myths are so amusing.” He tapped the badge on his uniform with a long fingernail. “My name is Monserat and you are in my territory.”
There was a groan from my father and I turned toward the sound without thinking. Surprisingly, Monserat didn’t stop me when I fell to my knees by Dad’s side. He was trying to say something so I leaned my ear near his mouth.
“Don’t…go…home.” He whispered with his last breath.
My head sagged and then I shook him roughly. “Wake up. Now!” I screamed. “Please, dad!” When I finally stopped, Monserat was looking down on me with a strange expression. I refused to let the bastard see me cry.
“Humans are such weak creatures.” The curiosity that had been present on his features was fading as if it had never been there. “I shall return you to the capital as a gift. Do you sing? The Master loves that.”
Rage was building within me and I gripped the stake with one hand as I stood slowly. I didn’t feel as weak as I had since the apocalypse began. Despite my hunger, I had energy…I was powered by pure hatred. There was nothing left to lo
se. I knew I was as good as dead anyway so I threw the spear at the vampire with all my strength.
Easily, he knocked the wooden weapon aside. “We could use a fighter with this much spirit in the arena.” He stepped toward me, but I’d equipped my fighting knuckles. I slung my hand at his face and pierced his crimson eyes with the silver spikes adorning the fist weapon. Dad and I had melted everything containing silver in our household to make it.
Monserat hissed and covered his eyes. I knew that one of the vampires’ greatest assets was their night vision. Smoke rose from his face as the silver blinded and melted his eyes shut. There was nothing more I could do for my father, so I took off running through the forest. The vampire was following my scent and moving much faster than me, but his speed only made him crash blindly into trees as I weaved between the thick trunks. It would only be a matter of time before he caught me. I had to think fast so I ran for the nearby river. The river was wide and the current fast. I stole one glance back at the beast on my trail before diving into the freezing water. My scent would be impossible to track. I allowed the current to take me a little ways downstream before grabbing onto a branch hanging over the middle of the river.
“I’ll hunt you until the end of time, human!” The vampire yelled. It sounded like he cursed at me in a language I’d never heard before when he stopped at the edge of the river. The sound of the rippling water over the rocks alerted him to the danger. I didn’t know if vampires were scared of water or if he just didn’t want to be caught blind in a river.
I remained silent as my blood was slowed by the near freezing water. My entire body was shaking and only adrenaline kept me from falling asleep. To sleep would most certainly lead to hypothermic death. It was too cold to remain in the water any longer and dawn was an eternity away. Carefully, I climbed to shore slowly by moving along the branch. I was far from where I’d escaped the vampire, but I had no idea where he could be. It was hard to focus and walk as I exited the river. My mind was cloudy, but I knew if I didn’t get warmth soon I would die.
Building a fire would be suicide. The vampire had probably called colleagues to the area to aid him in the search. I stumbled through the woods, stripping off my wet clothing as I walked. Eventually, I could go no further and I fell to the forest floor. Darkness took me.
Unexpectedly, I awoke sometime later in a small room. It was bright. A few rays of sunlight broke through the rough wooden boards of the shelter. I tried to sit up, but fell back down against the blanket on the floor and hugged the one around me tightly.
“Here, drink this.” An older woman helped me lean against the wall before handing me a bowl of a steaming concoction.
I was hesitant. It had been a long time since I’d associated with humans other than my immediate family. Then, I remembered. My father had been murdered and told me not to go home. Of course, I couldn’t go home with a vampire hunting me. I knew that. It would be too dangerous. I’d basically lost my entire family in one moment. The tears I’d fought back when I attacked the vampire called Monserat flowed freely now. To my relief, the lady turned, exited the room, and left me to mourn in solitude.
Finally, I recovered enough to sip on the broth. It tasted like what my grandmother gave me when I was out of school because I was sick with the flu. My body warmed and the emptiness of my stomach abated somewhat. How long had it been since I’d eaten? I couldn’t even remember.
With effort I stood up and surveyed my surroundings more thoroughly. I couldn’t figure out how a small home, as rough as it might be, had avoided the vampire’s detection. My clothing was folded beside the blanket I had slept on. They were dry and clean now. I dressed in a hurry, for fear of the lady’s return.
A mirror on the far side of the room caught my eye and I slowly moved toward it, my hand dragging against the wall for support. My mother’s mirror had been broken when she slammed it against the ground in frustration, shattering it into tiny sharp pieces. It was hard for her to live without the amenities she was used to, but she had still been beautiful to me. It had been since then that I had seen my reflection in anything other than water.
I hardly recognized the boy I saw in front of me when I peered into the glass. Sure, I was still scrawny from lack of food, but I was broader.
“I look more like Dad now.” I mumbled as I ran my hand through the light scruff growing on my chin. My brown hair had grown longer than I realized. It was matted and tangled from the turbulence of the river. Not only did my features make me appear older, but my dark eyes held a deep sadness. The big brown puppy dog eyes, as my Mom had referred to them, had lost their innocence.
There was a knock on the thin door of the shelter and I turned my attention away from the mirror. “Come in.” I said awkwardly, considering it wasn’t my home.
“You’re starting to look better.” She bent down and picked up the bowl I’d left on the floor, giving a small nod of approval when she saw I’d finished all of the broth. “My name is Maggie. Who might you be?”
“Preston Mitchell. Thank you for your kindness. I should be on my way before I put you in further danger.” I started toward the door.
The old lady moved in front of it faster than I anticipated. “A vampire is after you, yes?”
Involuntarily, I gulped. “Y…yes. He murdered my father and has vowed to hunt me.”
“We heard the abomination screaming. My son climbed down and brought you up when you collapsed underneath our shelter. The vampires will be hunting this area at nightfall. All three of us must flee before it is too late.”
“Underneath?” I asked in confusion before walking toward the door once more. This time the lady stepped aside and I opened it to peer outside. An immediate wave of vertigo overwhelmed me and I backed up a few steps. The shelter was a makeshift tree house and we were high above the forest floor. “I…really don’t like heights.” Tightly, I closed my eyes for a moment.
Maggie started laughing, but suddenly broke into a fit of coughs. She was ill. I hated myself for bringing danger to her doorstep. “You fight demons, but you’re afraid of being up in a tree? What a cute boy.” She walked over and patted me on the back.
I gave her a half smile. “You should head to where my mother and sister are hiding. I’ll go a different way. I can set a few false trails and hopefully keep the vampires from tracking you.” I’d expected the woman to protest and I believe she almost did, but she nodded instead of saying what she first intended.
“I see your resolve so it’s no use for me to argue. I’m not your kin so it’s not my place to give you orders.” She closed the distance between us and gave me a small hug. “Be safe. The young are the only hope for humanity.”
When her son returned, I explained how to reach my mother and sister. I must have thanked them a million times in the short moments we had before parting. Daylight was too precious to waste. There was much to do before nightfall.
My backpack was in the corner of the room. It was a relief that most of my belongings were still intact. First, I pulled out my knife. The long hair had to go. As far as haircuts go, I’d had better. I gathered chunks of hair between my fingers and used the knife to cut it. When I had finished, I gathered up the pieces of loose hair and walked to the door of the tree house. The wind was blowing in a direction opposite of the path I sent my rescuers on. For a long moment, I held my breath. Then, I worked up the courage to look down again. It seemed like I would lose my balance, so I tossed the hair into the wind before moving back from the doorway. My breathing was labored, but I finally fought off the anxiety of my phobia. I hoped my hair would set a trail for the vampires to follow away from me and away from my new friends.
Time was against me. The short days of winter made hiding from the vampires more difficult even when they weren’t hell bent on killing me.
Maggie had left with me what meager rations she could spare. The supplies included a small bag of walnuts and acorns. It wasn’t gourmet, but having food on hand would allow me to travel a greater di
stance since I wouldn’t have to pause to gather. I packed the rest of my items and hefted my backpack on. The fact that I had to climb down the small ladder terrified me, but I had to face my fear or die when night came.
I gave one last glance in the mirror, nodded at myself for encouragement, and moved quickly out the door and down the makeshift ladder. Surprisingly, I made it and my feet touched ground before I had much chance to freeze up from fear. The morning was still young as I took the first steps of my lonesome journey.
After a short distance, I stopped and looked back toward the direction I’d fled the night before. The image of my father lying dead in front of the gas station wouldn’t leave my mind. Only an idiot would go back, but I owed him more. Besides, his bag still held much needed supplies. I’d made up my mind. I was returning to the horrible scene before continuing onward.
The trek through the woods took longer than I expected and was tiring me faster than my usual hikes. I followed the river that had nearly taken my life, but in the end had saved it…at least temporarily. A few landmarks led me back to the road and I found the station. My exhaustion left me little room for caution. I didn’t care who or what might be waiting inside the building as I marched across the pavement.
A large bird was perched on my father’s corpse. Wildly, I ran up waving my arms and it flew away. The pain of loss hit me again full force. “I’m going to avenge you, Dad. Someday.”
I walked into the station. The dead man who’d been shot was sprawled on the floor with a bullet wound in his head. It was disturbing, but I focused on finding tools. There was nothing. No shovels or even a woodcutter’s axe. My frustrations boiled over and I charged back outside. Beside the station, I found a plot of ground that seemed appropriate for a burial. Hand over hand, I dug at the soil, but the cold, hard winter earth wasn’t cooperating. I rested my face against the ground and wept. The sun had moved higher in the sky. Time was up for delays. As hopeless as I felt, I couldn’t give up. Dad had always said, “We will not lie down and die at the hands of our oppressors.”
