by Brown, Wayne
The vampires went their way. They had to find another refuge and one that would be really far from the present vicinity that the morphologically changed vampire scouts. They could not however do this at the moment as the sun was now quite high in the sky. They found shade nearby and sat around in a circle; their topic of discussion, how to put an end to the common enemy. Their new alpha suggested they build a trap. If they can lead the zompire into it, then it would be easier to have their problem solved. In the past, in the days when zombies were still rampant, the vampire community did contribute a lot in reducing their population. They hacked them to death with clubs, machetes and any weapon at all that served their purpose. The zombies were just slow bodies craving flesh to consume. This ‘friend’ of theirs was however hugely different. He still retained the speed of a vampire and more so his intelligence…..and as they could see, he was also able to travel in the scouring sunlight.
One of the vampires brought up another aspect of the creature which interested them all. He asked how it was that cyanide bullets in the quantity the SSS rained on the zombie vampire had no effect on him. They figured that his weird metabolism in his body must be so unheard of to wield such immense resistance to cyanide. That was however only to be if they could find out how to combine whatever was responsible for this in him with their system without being turned into zombies themselves.
They discussed other trivial things like how the VCA and SSS were so busy looking for their transformed brother that they have totally forgot about them. Probably, they thought, he was a much greater threat than they were being his immense strength and uncanny ability to walk in the sun and also his zombie like features having come from the dead so to speak and consuming human flesh.
Even though they were now fairly thirsty given that they spent a lot of energy running when they should be resting during daytime, hunting for blood to sustain themselves right then and now was however not an option. They therefore remained under the shade, fighting sleep as they couldn’t let down their guard out there in the open. It would be till night that they can go farther from there to find another place to stay.
As they remained in the woods across the river half asleep, there was this awkward silence amidst them. This was not just due to the fact that they were tired after fleeing under the scorching sun from a previous member of their vampire clan who was now a threat to them; this silence was however as a result of fear. Fear of what would happen should he suddenly appear amidst them. This same fear is what kept them awake even when their vampire bodies were desperately craving for rest and sleep.
The rustling wind blew leaves off their branches leading them all the way down to cluster among previously fallen leaves thus making a sound which was far from pleasant to them at the moment; their fears heightened more with this making each of them snap out of their slumber staring around confusingly.
Back at the laboratory, the VCA officers’ confusion was at an all time high, considering the fact that they were the originators of their newly found problem. They didn't resort to trading blames on each other though. They knew better. Instead they continued their brainstorm on how to combat this ZOMBIE-VAMPIRE which was at loose as they spoke.
As a result of the mishap, they had suffered huge losses, a couple of their scientists having being put to death by this creature or they have been left incapacitated. Such individuals include Dr. Socrates, Dr. Kerkov and Dr. Mabel, three top scientists whose strength and presence would have helped bring this menacing behemoth to an end. They just had to think and do what these brave men would have done in every situation that they now faced.
Some other staff members of the VCA and officers of the State Security Service who were at the scene of the incidents at different times were also killed by the zombie-vampire totaling 17 deaths up to that moment. This did not take into account the number of civilians that may have encountered the strange creature and died cruel deaths by its hands.
Dr. Fisher the head professor of Biology and Genetics at the state's university had earlier been invited by the VCA to come join Dr. Lenzo to help curb and bring an end to this creature.
On his arrival Dr. Lenzo did not even bother exchanging pleasantries with him before he began to fill him in on the situation at hand.
When he was done the suggestion made by Dr. Fisher was the same made by the VCA team which was that they get a sample of the vampire's body fluid so as to possibly produce a lethal weapon that would bring this creature to a halt since the cyanide bullets proved ineffective against him.
A brilliant idea it was but it all came down to the same problem which the team had envisaged earlier which was how could they extract body fluid from such a fierce creature.
“This is mission impossible” they mumbled among themselves.
One of the members of the VCA team spoke up to the professor. He asked him a simple question which at this time seemed a bit more complex that it should.
“How do we do that Prof?”
The question lead to an unusual silence in the room. The silence was soon broken by a staff of the VZCA who dashed into the lab with a phone, handing it to Dr. Lenzo, saying a few words which left Dr. Lenzo a bit terrified.
“The Governor would like to speak with you sir.”
Dr. Lenzo slowly collected the phone, placed it on the table and picked up the receiver. Clearing his Throat he said "Good day sir"
Then the Governor replied; "Good day doctor"
"Reports reaching my ears say we have a life threatening situation at hand, is this true doctor?"
"It is sadly true sir" Dr Lenzo replied.
"Okay so have you and your team any solution to quickly put this monster under control?"
"We are working on one as we speak sir."
"Very good doctor, very good."
"If you and your team need anything to help put this to an end as soon as possible be sure to contact me."
"Okay sir"
"Don't forget to keep me informed with every new development."
"We will do just that sir"
"Good. I'll leave you to get back to work doctor."
"Okay sir."
Dr. Lenzo dropping the receiver says to the other doctor and other top officials of the VCA there with him.
"That was the Governor on the phone. He has been informed of the situation at hand. We have to act fast."
Dr. Fisher said to Dr. Lenzo……
"Let's have the security team and other VCA officers to figure out a means to extract body fluid from the zombie-vampire while we move to inspect the bodies of its victims for any reasonable clue.
Dr. Fisher and Dr. Lenzo left the room and headed to the morgue where the bodies of the victims had been stored.
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The zombie-vampire was also on the move but his move was in search of prey for food. His transformation from a vampire to a zombie-vampire had also lead to an increase in his appetite. He roamed through the woods as he did not want to move into the streets till it started too darken a bit. He moved briskly through the woods and after about an hour of fruitless roaming, he could perceive the scent of a human nearby. Could it be another camper or was it those pesky VCA officers who were on his trail yet again.
He moved slowly this time in the direction of the scent sniffing in more air with every step taken as though to separate the smell of the woods from that of his prey. The zompire finally arrived to meet yet another camper at a small stream which seemed to be linked to the river he saw when chasing the vampire clan.
The camper looked backwards on hearing the sound of a creature creeping up on him. He thought it were a wild animal not knowing it was much worse.
He was shivering from fear of this weird looking man-like creature heading for him but still managed to pick up his hunter's gun he had beside him. It wasn't useful because before he could point the gun towards this creature, the zompire knocked out the gun with its left hand, lifting him up with its right. As a vampire he spotte
d the man's jugular veins in less than half of a second and began to suck the man dry while the man stayed shivering in his arms. He continued till the man now lay quiet and made no more movement. His zombie characteristics kicked in and he then sat on a fallen log beside the stream as a man at a picnic with his kids would, and hurriedly devoured portions of the man's body. After his meal and feeling a bit full, he continued roaming the woods in no specific direction. This is a prominent trait found in zombies as they do not sleep, making them forever in motion.
While he still moved around at a much slower pace this time, the sun began to set. He then started heading out of the woods back into the town.
Chapter 8
The vampire clan, having had their desired rest although it was one filled with much fear, continued their journey searching for a new residence which should be far from the place where their new enemy, the zombie-vampire, would not be able to reach them there. Having been on the move most of the day they haven't been able to feed so they stopped by a small community in the outskirts of the state hoping to find a few prey to feed on and they sure did. They lay ambush in wait for anyone they could find walking the streets without care. This time, they did not bother to choose for a palatable victim’s blood. They simply attacked and dragged their victims into the woods where they then settled to draining the bodies of every drop of blood. After sucking them dry, they continued their journey in search of the perfect location for their new camp.
In a major town in the state, news of a different breed of flesh eating vampire began hitting the media, putting everyone in the state in pandemonium. Not only do they have to already be worrying about the night-time only vampires, now they have to worrying about an any time of the day monster. A few misinformed residents stood behind their doors with crosses and stakes hoping to defend their lives and that of their family should this creature come knocking not knowing that it was immune to these objects which were believed to have a weakening effect on vampires.
The streets of the city were deserted, public offices closed, shopping malls shutdown. Schools were closed. Everyone was indoors and the only few found outside were hurrying home.
It felt like the end of the world. One could almost clench and smell the fear in the air.
Dr. Lenzo and Dr. Fisher were done inspecting the victims and now back in the laboratory. During the inspection they noticed the bite marks were that of two vampire eye-teeth not forgetting the fact that he had one of his vampire tooth extracted before his death and re-awakening. That means he still possessed the power to reproduce any body part lost including his bone structure.
Dr. Fisher picked up the extracted tooth and while staring closely at it, he noticed a clear slimy fluid contained in the hollow of the tooth; the draculin which the eye-teeth of a vampire secretions.
He gently tilted the tooth letting all the trapped fluid into a specimen bottle then said to his colleague Dr Lenzo,
“We can run a study of its draculin. We may yet be able to find enough to disable the vampire part of him.”
D. Lenzo didn’t want to go about explaining to Fisher that he had already ran extensive tests that had led to nothing from this same fluid. Fisher was a biologist of course, and Lenzo could only hope for the best; whatever provides solution to the problem, he was up for.
"Great idea!" exclaimed Dr Lenzo.
So they split the small draculin in the bottle into even smaller bits so as to make it easier to run series of tests at the same time. They started by checking its reaction to heat and then its reaction to other chemical agents and also previously designed lethal substances.
While the doctors were in the laboratory trying out various chemical compositions, searching for a means to neutralize the vampire traits of the zombie vampire, the state security service had also brought out the finest of weapons they had in their arsenal. Assorted variants of fire arms, skilled snipers positioned at strategic points in different cities, armed with rifles of incredible bullet speeds and thousands of police men on ground with Ak-47 rifles and grenades covered every perimeter. Police helicopters were hovering around the city trying to spot any clue.
As the skies darkened, the police raised their alert level. Some if the helicopters landed. Soon, as expected, the zombie- vampire whom the media had now nicknamed “Zomvamp” and also “Zompire”, surfaced in one of the cities closest to the woods. The team covering the area quickly communicated this over the radio to all units.
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As he moved into the streets occupied by the state security service men, he was predictably attacked by the SSS ( State Security Services ) who have been waiting his arrival. Unfortunately as they fired numerous shots of silver bullets and even lead bullets on which a ban had been placed stopping its use by the military, he still made his way towards them undeterred.
He breezed through them, knocking away their weapons and biting into those he had the time to. He kept at this until he came up to an officer in his vehicle who fearfully pulled the pin of his grenade and threw it at him. Luckily for him, it was a very close call and the explosion of the hand grenade pushes the ZOMPIRE back a few meters, giving the police officer enough time to run and hide.
As fate would have it, that man was one of the few SSS officers in that incident who returned alive, the others were rescued by the helicopters.
The Zompire roamed the streets freely injuring and killing anyone it could get its hands and teeth into it.
Now at a safe distance, the vampire clan settled in a remote building whose residents, they had gotten rid of. In the sitting room of the first story they gathered, planning on how to attack the ZOMPIRE. The new Alpha suggested a plan,
"How about we pick up a prey and plant it close to him so while he comes out to feed it,we attack him".
Then the female amongst them asked,
"But how can we attack him when we are not certain on which weapon would kill him?".
Then the Alpha replied her
"We will try all the weapons we can lay our hands on excluding guns and "anti vampire serum" which those puny mortal humans have proved ineffective. We shall go with machetes and stakes. We shall move at once. Check across the perimeter of the building for the tool room and pick every object that can be of help,” he instructed.
So they went around with full speed, picking up knives, cutlasses, machetes, axes.
One of the vampires then left their camp and went into the city in search of a prey holding a rope and a strong duct tape. With much ease, he spots a lady walking all by herself. She had obviously not heard the news about the ZOMPIRE on rampage because if she had, she would have not been out in the streets at this time of the night, at least not by herself. He gently approached her and then swiftly dragged her off the road to a more quiet and lonely area, where he then firmly placed the duct tape over her mouth and tied her arms and legs behind her back. One of the greatest advantages of being a vampire over regular humans or even zombies is their speed. They can travel at a comparatively fast speed thus enabling them cover a very wide distance in very little time. Bad thing was also that their nemesis also portrayed that very same characteristic.
After binding her arms and legs, he lifted her and raced back towards their camp. Everything was now set. All these were done in just a bit more than an hour. The vampires then hit the roads as a group, heading back to their previous camp as they expect the ZOMPIRE to show up there.
This time, they were faster than they were in the day time so it took them lesser time before they arrived at the river.
They had to cross the river again to the other side, notwithstanding their hate for water. They had no choice than to go through the river as searching for an alternate route would be time wasting.
So they moved through the river as fast as they could, still carrying their struggling bait.
They were now across the river, half wet. Without any further delay, they moved with full speed, determined to carry out their mission of r
etaliation while being optimistic that it works out as planned.
On getting to their previous hold out site, they started sniffing around for traces of the ZOMPIRE. While they were still looking around for the enemy, they stumbled on the skeletal remains of one of its earlier victims. It wouldn’t be far away, they thought to themselves. They kept moving in the direction of the scent they had picked up.
