by Brandon Hale
Once Jesse had removed the debris, he tried to open the hatch. Even with his strength, the hatch wouldn’t budge. “This thing’s thick,” he said. “They’re in a shelter designed to survive a holocaust.”
This gave Jesse hope. Humans were down there. He didn’t know how many, but he guessed the number was high. They had obviously been trapped down there for a year now, which meant they were very well equipped.
In the past year, Jesse learned the bombings had started right after the Day Soldiers had won DC in a major battle. He was convinced soldiers were in that bunker and he was determined to help them get out.
Since he couldn’t think of a better idea, he knocked.
You really think they’re just going to answer?
“They might.”
Nobody answered, but Jesse continued to knock. He steadily tapped at the door until the sun started to lay a morning blanket of light on the ruins of DC. Jesse continued knocking, but he watched as soft light on the road crept toward him.
The sun’s going to be over those buildings any minute now. Are you willing to fry yourself over this?
“I think so,” Jesse said as he continued to knock.
Jesse jumped when a loud click came from beneath the hatch. Hand trembling, Jesse reached down and pulled on the handle of the latch.
The hatch opened.
Ignoring the ladder running up to the hatch, Jesse dropped into the hole just as the sun rose above the broken buildings behind him.
He dropped for at least twenty feet, landing softly on a cement floor. He looked up to see a corridor full of humans.
They all had crossbows pointed at his heart.
Jesse raised his hands, palms out, and said, “Don’t shoot. I was just trying to help.”
A girl with eyes much older than her face stood in front of the crowd. “Thanks for your help,” she said. To the humans behind her, she said, “Kill him.”
“You need me, Lily,” Jesse said.
Lily held up her hand, which apparently told the others to hold their fire.
“Of course I recognized you,” Jesse said. “You’re probably the most famous human in the world.”
“That’s nice,” Lily said. “Now, explain why I need help from a bloodsucker like you.”
“I’m assuming you’ve been locked away in this tomb for over a year,” Jesse said. “It’s not the same world you left. I’ve been everywhere. I know what’s up there. You don’t.”
Lily smiled and walked toward him. She reached out, grabbed his face, and shoved him against the wall. Her touch was excruciating, but Jesse didn’t fight. He knew if he tried anything, he’d have a dozen crossbow bolts in his heart.
“So tell me, vampire,” Lily said. “What’s up there?”
To be concluded…
About the Author
Brandon Hale grew up in a small Virginia town. It was in that town that he met his first love: Horror books and movies. He wrote his first full length novel when he was 17. In the decades since, he has written nonstop, producing multiple novels and short stories. Brandon's first published novel was The Gods and the Builders. Shortly after that, his second novel - Day Soldiers - was released. Brandon still lives in Virginia with his wife Laura.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
