The Foundlings: Book One of the Urban Fantasy Paranormal Vampire Series, The Foundlings

by R. M. Garcia

  “Abbie,” he called out.

  “Donnie! Down here!” Abbie called out. Donnie looked down, and at the bottom of the wall, there was a small grate. It was barely a foot across, and outstretched from it was Abbie’s hand. Donnie dropped onto his stomach and grabbed her hand. She caressed his face. He could just barely make out her features in the shadows.

  “Abbie, I’m here now,” he said. “I’m going to get you out.”

  “No, Donnie, listen carefully. I need to be quick, before he finds me,” Abbie said.

  “Who finds you?” he asked.

  “Shush, just listen. I have a message,” she said quickly. “I’m trapped here. My . . .”

  “Who trapped you? Why?” Donnie interrupted.

  “Donnie, please, just listen we don’t have much time before he finds me,” Abbie replied. “Only you can save me. Set me free.”

  “I’ll do it, baby, just tell me what to do,” he replied quickly.

  “I don’t know,” Abbie replied. “That was what I was supposed to tell you. I’m trapped here, and you can save me, only you.”

  “Who told you this?” Donnie asked.

  “Donnie is there really an endless plain where the sun always shines and cool breezes go on forever? Have you been there?” Abbie asked.

  “What?” Donnie asked.

  “Hurry, he knows and is coming for me!” Abbie pleaded. “Is there such a place!”

  “Yes, Abbie, I have been there,” he replied.

  “Then maybe it’s possible, just like he said,” she smiled as hope filled her.

  “You’re not making sense, Abbie,” Donnie replied.

  “Oh no, he’s here!” Abbie cried and grabbed onto Donnie’s arm with both hands. “No matter what happens, I will always love youuuuuuuuuuuuuu.” Abbie was violently ripped away from Donnie’s grip and disappeared into the darkness behind the grate.

  “Abbie! Abbie! Abbie!” Donnie screamed and reached into the darkness but felt nothing but bitter cold. He grabbed the grate and tried to pull it loose, but no matter how hard he pulled, it would not budge. He suddenly awoke and sat up. His arm was frozen and covered in ice particles and frost. He found Lily quietly looking over him. She had a somber look to her.

  “You were calling out her name,” Lily said softly. “I didn’t think we could dream as vampires anymore. Donnie turned to face her.”

  “What are you still doing here?” Donnie asked. “You’re supposed to be gone.”

  “I tried,” Lily said. “But they left me out to dry. They won’t help me now.”

  “Not my problem,” Donnie said. “Please go away.”

  “I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek thy servant, for I do not forget thy commandments,” Lily said softly.

  Donnie was perplexed by her words; he turned back to face her and said, “What did you just say?”

  “Nothing, it’s just something Russ used to say,” Lily replied. “He made me memorize a few things.”

  “Who is Russ?” Donnie asked.

  “He was the priest that helped me out for a few nights after I was killed,” Lily replied.

  “Did he say anything else?” Donnie asked.

  “He was kind of insane. I think he was always quoting the Bible and stuff,” Lily replied.

  “What else did he say?” he asked.

  “He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages. In the secret places doth he murder the innocent. His eyes are privily set against the helpless,” Lily said, unsure.

  “What the . . .” Donnie didn’t understand why Lily was quoting scripture, or why he felt compelled to listen, “Anything else?”

  “I can’t remember!” Lily snapped. “I’m starving, and I’m having trouble thinking.”

  “Think, Lily, I think it’s important,” he urged.

  “There was one thing. He would say it over and over again,” Lily replied. “Everything is connected.”

  “I’ve heard that before.”

  “Where?” Lily asked.

  “In a message from my mother,” Donnie got up and began pacing.

  “Are we going to hunt, Donnie?” He looked at her pathetic face, and she smiled meekly. She was indeed starving.

  “We don’t have time,” Donnie said. “I need answers.” Donnie walked over to Lily and bit into his wrist and offered it to Lily. She quickly grabbed his wrist and began to drink greedily. Donnie found it strange that she did not hesitate; he was sure that she had been instructed not to drink blood from another vampire. When she was full, she pulled away on her own.

  “You didn’t think it was strange to drink from another vampire?” Donnie asked.

  “No,” Lily replied.

  “Why?” Donnie asked. “I know Espee told you never to do it.”

  “Yeah, but I saw you drink from Abbie, and she from you when you made out.” Lily stopped and covered her mouth. Now she had done it.

  “You watched us?” Donnie looked at her angrily. “You watched us make love?”

  “I’m sorry?” she replied and smiled awkwardly.

  “I’m trying to be nice to you, but you keep making me angry.” He looked at her and sneered. “Just be gone by the time I wake up.”

  “OK,” Lily replied. Lily tried to think where to go, but she had no clue, so she walked over to another part of the theater and lay down to sleep. She would move out tomorrow night. Once it was again quiet Donnie slipped into sleep.

  Donnie found himself once again on the Eternal Plains. The sun was past its midday apex; it was warm, and a cool spring breeze was blowing. “Oh, not again, I didn’t mean to come back,” Donnie said aloud.

  “Well, then it is a good thing I brought you here then, isn’t it?” Shadow Walker said. Donnie looked over to the shadowy man standing next to a large turquoise bear.

  “Hello, Donato. I missed you,” Punu said. Donnie ran over to the large bear and plowed into him as he hugged him. Punu could only laugh as he was knocked over.

  “I missed you too, you big furball,” he said, laughing.

  “Now that we are all here, we can begin,” Shadow Walker said.

  “Training, a little too late, they killed Abbie,” Donnie said as he got up.

  “We are not here to train,” Shadow Walker said.

  “We’re not? Then why am I here then?” he asked.

  “Abbie needs your help, Donnie, and only you can save her,” Punu said.

  “Save Abbie?” Donnie asked.

  “Yes, Abbie,” Shadow Walker replied. The three began walking toward a large totem pole that could be seen off in the distance.

  “Where is she?” Donnie asked. “I dreamt I was in a place. It was like an old, dark city, and she was there. She was trapped in a basement.”

  “That was not a dream,” Shadow Walker replied.

  “She is in purgatory, Donnie,” Punu replied.

  “Her soul is trapped there,” Shadow Walker said.

  “Wait, but how do you know this? You’re a Native American spirit?” Donnie asked.

  “We are both so much more,” Punu replied.

  “Where are we now, Donnie?” Shadow Walker asked.

  “The Eternal Plains,” he replied.

  “And what is the purpose of this place?” Shadow Walker asked as they continued to walk.

  “This is where Native Americans go when they are lost after death,” Donnie replied not really sure why he was giving him a lesson in religion.

  “How long do they stay here?” Shadow Walker asked.

  “You said it varies,” he answered. “Could be minutes or could be years.”

  “Or until the Great Bear finds them and devours them,” Punu added.

  “Correct, and what is purgatory?” Shadow Walker asked Donnie.

  “Purgatory is the place of purification,” he said. “It’s where the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for heaven.” They stopped when they reached the large totem pole. The totem pole was intricately sculpted with birds and bears and wolves. I
t had two large wings that outstretched near its top.

  “We are here,” Punu said.

  “Where is here?” Donnie asked.

  “What do you see, Donnie?” Shadow walker asked.

  “Uh, I see a totem pole, grass, and the sky?” Donnie was not really sure if that was what the correct answer should be.

  “Donnie, is that you?” Abbie’s voice said.

  “Abbie,” Donnie yelled out and began looking around for her.

  “Donnie, it’s me, where are you?” Abbie asked.

  “I’m on the Eternal Plains,” Donnie yelled out. “Where are you?”

  “I’m in a dark cell, Donnie. It’s really cold, and I’m scared,” she replied.

  “I’m here babe!” Donnie yelled. “I’ll get you out!” Donnie turned to Shadow Walker and Punu. “Help me guys, how do I get her out of there?”

  “She has committed a mortal sin Donnie,” Shadow Walker said. “She is supposed to be judged soon.”

  “What mortal sin?” Donnie asked. “She’s a good person. What are you talking about?”

  “She broke the sixth commandment,” Shadow Walker said. “She took a life.”

  “Who, that Stefan guy,” Donnie asked. “He can’t really count. He was already dead right?”

  “Although destroying any vampire is the creators will,” Shadow Walker replied, “she killed an innocent soul.”

  “Who, who did she kill?” Donnie feared that while he had been asleep in Miami, that she had killed someone while hunting, and then his jaw dropped.

  “You,” Punu answered. Donnie looked at them both in disbelief.

  “What?” Donnie said in shock. “She’s going to hell?”

  “Yes,” Shadow Walker said.

  “But you can save her,” Punu said.

  “I’ll do whatever it takes!” Donnie said. “What do I do?”

  “Call to her and make her believe this place is real,” Shadow Walker instructed.

  “Everything is connected,” Punu said. “Every place is connected, every life is connected.”

  “Punu,” Abbie asked, “is Donnie with you?”

  “Yes, I am with him,” Punu replied.

  “The tracks I saw in my dream, they were yours, weren’t they, Punu?” Donnie asked.

  “That was not a dream, Donnie,” Shadow Walker said. “You slipped into purgatory, just like you slipped into the Eternal Plains.”

  “I did?” Donnie couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “Everything is connected,” Punu said again.

  “Why do you keep saying that?” Donnie said exasperated.

  “Because it’s true, think, Donnie.” Shadow Walker walked next to the totem pole. “What do you see?”

  “I see a big totem pole!” Donnie yelled out. He was getting frustrated. “A bear, wolf, beaver, an eagle, and a turtle, that’s all I see!” Punu walked over a few feet from the pole.

  “What do you see here?” Punu asked. Donnie looked over to the large bear.

  “I see you, Punu.” Donnie wasn’t sure what they wanted him to see.

  “Calm yourself and look again,” Punu said. Donnie looked at the totem pole and then back to Punu several times.

  “I see shadows, yours and the poles’,” Donnie said.

  “And what shape is the shadow in?” Shadow Walker asked. Donnie was shocked as he finally made the connection.

  “It looks like a cross, the shadow looks like a cross,” Donnie said.

  “Everything is connected, Donnie,” Punu said.

  “I get it! The Eternal Plains and purgatory serve the same purpose. They are connected or are they the same place?”

  “Yes,” Shadow Walker said. “Now you understand.”

  “If she believes in both, you can bring her here,” Punu said. Donnie’s eyes went wide with excitement. He began calling to her.

  “Abbie, can you hear me?”

  “Yes, I can still hear you,” she replied.

  “Walk toward my voice.”

  “There is a wall, a solid wall. I can’t reach you.”

  “Abbie, do you remember what I told you about The Great Spirit, about Yowa?” he asked.

  “Yes, I remember some of it.”

  “Did you ever believe me?” he asked.

  “I believed that you believed,” Abbie replied. Donnie began pacing and started thinking of things to say.

  “Abbie, did I come see you where you are?” he asked.

  “Yes, you held my hands, and then he pulled me away.”

  “Do you know where you are?” he asked.

  “I’m waiting to go to hell. I’m in purgatory,” she replied. “I’m so scared, Donnie.”

  “I’m on the Eternal Plains. It is also a purgatory, but for Native Americans.”

  “OK, so how does that help me?”

  “They are connected. They touch or overlap somehow,” he said. “You need to cross over to this side.”

  “How do I do that?”

  “You need to have faith,” Donnie said and smiled.

  “I don’t know, Donnie. I don’t know how to cross over.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Yes, with my life.”

  “Do you believe in me?”

  “Yes, completely.”

  “Then trust me when I tell you there is such a place, and you can get here,” Donnie urged. “You need to believe.”

  “I’m trying, Donnie.” Donnie closed his eyes.

  “Abbie, close your eyes. Think of a vast green plain, where the sun is high in the sky and it warms your back, but it’s OK because there’s a cool breeze.” Donnie smiled as he felt the warmth on his body.

  “OK.”

  “Do you remember the prayer I say in the mornings?”

  “Yes, I think I remember it.”

  “Pray now with me,” Donnie instructed. Donnie began reciting the prayer. Abbie had learned it because she thought it was beautiful. “Thank you, Creator for what we have, or what we will receive. I will never take more than I need. I will use all of what I have. I will give away what I do not need. Everything on earth is alive. Everything on earth has purpose. Everything on earth is connected. Everything on earth is to be embraced,” she recited along with Donnie.

  “Great, baby. Now think of me, standing on this plain, with my arms wide open. I’m here waiting to hold you in my arms, and kiss your warm lips. Come to me.” Donnie held out his arms.

  “I’ll try,” Abbie started walking forward.

  “I love you, and I need you,” Donnie said. “Step toward me, and trust that I will be here.” Donnie waited for a few moments and then felt a familiar embrace. Abbie placed her head on her favorite spot on his chest. Donnie opened his eyes and saw that he was holding Abbie once more in his arms and began to weep. Donnie and Abbie held each another for a long time before they released their embrace.

  “I missed you so much,” Donnie said.

  “Me too. I can’t believe we are together again,” Abbie said. “I don’t want to ever leave your side.” Shadow Walker walked up to them.

  “We need to move,” Shadow Walker said. “We need to get her to a safe spot before the sun sets.”

  “Why?” Donnie asked.

  “That is when the Great Bear Hunts,” Punu said. Abbie looked at Punu and Shadow Walker.

  “Punu, is that you? You look different,” Abbie said as they all began to move. Then she turned and looked at Shadow Walker. “You seem familiar too.”

  “Don’t let it worry you right now, and go with Punu,” Shadow Walker commanded.

  “But I don’t want to leave Donnie,” Abbie said protesting. “I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t want to leave her either,” Donnie said.

  “Donnie and Abbie, please. You must do as I say,” Shadow Walker urged. “Punu will watch over Abbie. We don’t have much time.” Donnie walked over to Abbie and kissed her warmly.

  “It’s all right babe,” Donnie said. “I’ll be along shortly.” Abbie and
Punu walked out of his sight. Once they were out of earshot, Shadow Walker turned to Donnie.

  “We have only delayed the inevitable,” Shadow Walker said. “Eventually, the Great Bear will pick up on her scent and track her down.”

  “What happens then?” Donnie asked.

  “He devours her,” Shadow Walker replied.

  “So why bring her here then,” Donnie asked.

  “It will delay her imprisonment, and I had nothing to do with bringing her here,” Shadow Walker said. “She did that on her own.”

  “I’m pretty sure you helped,” Donnie said.

  “Did I?” Shadow Walker asked. “I only showed you the clues, made you see. I think you figured that part of it out on your own.”

  “I can defend her against the Great Bear.”

  “Although the Great Bear cannot devour you, there is little you can do to stop him here,” Shadow Walker advised.

  “Why?”

  “While you are here, you are no stronger than you were when you were alive,” Shadow Walker replied. “Here, you are the like a normal human being.”

  “So that’s why I couldn’t bend the bars on the grate?”

  “Correct,” Shadow Walker replied.

  “So how much time do we have?”

  “A few days I would hope, maybe a week before he notices that she is gone,” Shadow Walker said. “Even then, he will be unable to find her right away.”

  “Who, Satan?” Donnie asked.

  “Lucifer does not trouble himself with the entrapment of souls,” Shadow Walker said. “He is much too proud to lower himself to do menial labor.”

  “You say that as if you know him,” he said.

  “Yes, I knew him once, long ago,” Shadow Walker replied.

  “So who’ll be looking for Abbie then?” he asked.

  “The one who took her soul,” Shadow Walker replied and continued, “is the man who was once known as Heinrich Müller.”

  “Who is that?” Donnie said.

  “You may know him as Gestapo,” Shadow Walker said.

  “Wait, the Source of the Reich Bloodline?”

  “Yes, the very same,” Shadow Walker answered.

  “Oh, man, how do I get her soul back from him?” Donnie quickly remembered what Espee had told him about the power of a Source.

  “Since time is of great importance,” Shadow Walker said, “I need to speed things up.”

  “What do you mean?” Donnie asked. “What am I supposed to do?”