by G. K. DeRosa
“I’m sorry we missed our date,” he murmured, his voice raspy.
“Yeah, me too.”
His thumb slowly drifted over my cheek, his eager eyes still intent on mine. He leaned closer, and my stomach clenched in anticipation.
“Asher! Liv!” My dad burst through the door, and Ash practically threw me off his lap.
It was like a bucket of ice had been poured over my head. I scrambled to my feet as my dad’s brows knitted. His eyes shot back and forth between Asher and me for a long moment.
“What’s wrong?” I squeaked, trying to break the uncomfortable silence as I casually tucked my hair behind my ears.
“You have to come see this. There’s news.”
We followed Dad out into the living room, his anxious pace making my nerves twitch. Or maybe it was the almost-kiss. Though Asher walked beside me, his gaze remained glued to the floor as we rushed down the hallway.
Did he regret what almost happened? The only thing I regretted was my dad’s interruption. Geez, how long had I felt this way about my best friend?
We rounded the corner into the sitting room and were met with a somber face on the TV screen. The white-haired military man wore Army fatigues, but judging by his weary expression and sunken eyes, fighting in the frontlines was not in his normal job description—at least not anymore.
Dad sat beside Mom on the couch, and Asher and I filled in the smaller loveseat. Was it me or did he scoot down to the far end?
“Did we miss anything?” Dad asked Mom, her pinched lips confirming whatever it was, was nothing good.
She shook her head. “No, they’re just about to begin.”
The man cleared his throat, and his face filled the screen as the camera zoomed in with the towering Brooklyn Bridge as the backdrop. “Good evening, folks. I’m General McCarthy, and I’d like to take a few minutes to update you on the latest developments.”
A sea of hands shot up from the audience the moment he paused.
“Please hold all questions until the end.” His gaze fell to the crowd of reporters before returning to the camera. “The city of Manhattan has been under siege for five days now. In all my years serving this country, I’ve seen many horrific things, but I never thought I’d live to see this day. We have confirmed the invaders to be vampires—immortal creatures that require blood to survive. They’re incredibly fast and even more difficult to kill. As recounted in legend, a stake through the heart is the most efficient way to permanently kill them—either that or detaching their heads.”
“What about the sun?” a voice from the crowd called out.
The old general raised a hand. “Please. Wait till the end for all questions.” He paused for a moment and then exhaled, lifting his eyes to the sky. “As you can see, we haven’t had more than a few shreds of sunlight over the city since their arrival.”
How had I not noticed that before? I thought back to all the videos we’d seen thus far. It was true; the sky had been overcast each time. Had the vampires actually found a way to block out the sun?
The general’s strained voice drew my attention back to the television. “We have managed to capture a few of the vampires which is how we’ve come to our conclusions thus far. Unfortunately, we still know very little about them. The angels have been even more difficult to apprehend. Though it seems that they are fighting the vampires, loss of human life doesn’t appear to be their main concern. In fact, the fighting has caused more damage to our beloved city than I’ve ever seen in my seventy-one years on this earth. I’m aware that videos have already been leaked so I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you, folks. It’s bad. And I fear that the worst is yet to come.”
The broadcast cut to a black screen, and the familiar viewer discretion advisory scrawled across the screen in big ominous white letters. A silent reel of death and destruction flashed across the display, playing in what seemed like slow motion. Bodies littered the streets, bloodied and mangled corpses thrown about like yesterday’s trash—women, children—no one had been spared. Every single building the camera panned over had some sort of damage—windows broken, chunks of brick and plaster missing, scorch marks along crumbling façades. It looked like a bomb had gone off. After a while, I couldn’t watch anymore. My stomach churned, acid crawling up my throat. How could this be happening?
Asher’s hands were tightly clamped together in his lap. Normally, I wouldn’t have thought twice about grabbing one, but now everything had changed. I felt weird around my best friend, and that was the last thing I needed right now.
Finally, the devastating images cut off, and the general’s somber face appeared once again. “We are working around the clock to devise a strategy to defeat these invaders. We’ve attempted to speak to the angels, but have been rebuffed thus far. We won’t stop trying though. This is our city and our country, and we will not sit by while immortal creatures ravage our nation.”
He pressed his thin lips together and nodded, and a slew of hands shot up. He pointed at one and the onslaught of questions began.
“How many are dead?”
“When can we get into the city?”
“How can you contain them?”
“Who is their leader?”
“Did the angels really come to help us?”
The general’s gaze hardened. “One at a time! Or else I won’t answer anyone.” He signaled toward a blonde female reporter. “You.”
“Is it true that the people outside of St. Catherine’s Church were killed by the angels?” the woman asked.
His face grew darker still. “While we cannot confirm the source of the blast, it appears to have come from the angel warriors. Their swords have the ability to shoot flames at great distances. And yes, sadly, we lost fifty-some innocent souls that day.”
He pointed at another reporter, and the man quickly began speaking. “How can you assure the American people that what’s happening in New York City won’t spread?”
His weary gaze cast down, and he suddenly looked beyond exhausted. It seemed like every single minute of his seventy-one years weighed his face down. Each line and crinkle was magnified, every timeworn mark deepened. “I can’t,” he muttered.
More panicked questions exploded from the audience. I couldn’t take it anymore. Jumping to my feet, I raced out of the living room and down the corridor. Barreling into the bathroom, I slammed the door behind me and buried my face in my hands. Hot tears streamed down my face as my shoulders shuddered from the release.
How were we going to survive this?
Chapter 7
A big man barreled by me, shoving me against the towering stand filled with flashlights, lanterns and batteries. “Watch it!” I snarled as I struggled to keep my balance and keep the display from toppling over. Standing on my tiptoes, I searched the jam-packed aisles for my dad. Everyone’s favorite local megastore, Wally World, was beyond chaotic today.
I normally enjoyed my leisurely Sunday trips to the store with Dad, but today, the nervous buzz in the air had my skin crawling. It was like ten times worse than when Hurricane Sandy threatened the coast a few years back. All the fuss had been for nothing too. Our small town was so far inland, we hadn’t felt a thing. This time I wasn’t so sure we’d be spared.
“There you are.” Dad appeared around a corner pushing two giant shopping carts filled to the brim. “It’s pretty crazy in here, huh?”
I stared at the carts, unable to wrap my head around the possibility of having to survive for an extended period of time on these bare essentials. “Yup,” I finally answered.
“I think this will be good enough for now. I just talked to Daryl and he said they’re due another shipment of batteries, chargers, and generators tomorrow. We’ll stock up on more then.”
“Okay.” I grabbed the cart holding the generator and followed Dad to the checkout counter, weaving between countless rushing bodies. Before long, I lost Dad in the commotion as a family of four crossed in front of me. I pushed the darn unwieldy thing harder to cat
ch up as I snaked through the masses.
A beefy man cut in front of me, blotting out my dad’s form a few carts ahead. “Excuse me,” I huffed as I veered to get around him.
His meaty hands wrapped around the front of the cart, stopping my forward momentum.
“What are you doing?” I half-shouted.
“Sorry, sugar, but I’m gonna have to take this generator off your hands.” The man’s lip curled into a growl.
I was so shocked, I froze. Was this man really going to steal my generator?
“Liv!”
I blinked and Dad was beside me, the cart he’d been pushing no longer at his side. “Release the cart now, sir.”
“I don’t think so.” The big bearded man dug his heels into the linoleum, fixing my dad with a glare.
Dad lifted the hem of his shirt, revealing a gun tucked into the waistband of his jeans. I slapped my hand over my mouth to keep from gasping out loud. I knew Dad had a rifle for hunting, but I’d never seen this handgun.
The man grunted and released my shopping cart, slowly backing up before he disappeared into the frenzied crowd.
The moment he was gone, the tension in my shoulders released and I slumped forward. “Geez,” I murmured.
“Are you okay?” Dad pulled me into his chest and wrapped me in a bear hug.
“Yeah. Just caught me by surprise.”
“I should go tell Daryl,” said Dad. “They need to step-up their security. I’m afraid people are only going to get more desperate.”
I followed Dad to Daryl’s office in the back, keeping an eye on everyone that ogled the generator as we passed. Apparently, we’d gotten the last one. Lucky us.
After Dad told the store manager what had happened, we paid for our supplies and headed out to the car. The store was so packed, we’d had to park the truck at the far end of the lot. We plodded on, both my father and I silent, our thoughts too hefty for casual conversation.
The heavy slap of shoes against asphalt jerked my head up and out of the clouds. In an instant, three men surrounded us.
Crap! One was the would-be generator thief.
The mustached guy next to him pulled out a gun, training it at my father. My eyes widened, and a scream ripped out of my mouth.
“Shut your trap!” the guy from the store shouted. “Give us that generator, and we’ll be on our way.”
My dad pulled me to his side and raised his hands. “Take it. Just leave us alone.”
The men grabbed all the bags from our carts as I stared in shocked silence. Seconds later, they took off, disappearing around the corner of the Wally World with all our stuff in tow.
Anger uncoiled in my gut, pummeling over the fear as I watched the cowards running off with our supplies. “How could they?”
My dad tugged me in closer and kissed the top of my head. “Disasters bring out the darkness in people, Liv. Don’t you ever forget that. I’m afraid that if things get worse, the vampires and angels won’t be our only enemies.”
I stared at our empty shopping carts. “Now what?”
“Now I call the cops, and we go home. We can come back tomorrow and replenish.”
Dad wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and we trudged back to the truck in a dense silence.
I was surprised to find Asher in my room when we got back home. Not that that would have normally surprised me, but now things were weird. He hadn’t called or texted me all day yesterday, and I’d felt his absence so deeply I didn’t know what to do with myself. I wanted more than anything for our relationship to go back to normal. I’d even forgo the chance to have something more with him if only we’d get back what we lost.
“Hey,” he said, scooting to the edge of the bed as I lingered by the doorway.
“Hey, yourself.”
“Everything okay?” His intense green eyes scanned me from head to toe.
My best friend knew me too well. “Well, we just got held up at gunpoint for our generator, and then we spent the last half hour at the police station making our report.”
“What?” Ash was on his feet and by my side before I could blink. “Did anyone get hurt?”
“Nope. Just our egos.” I forced a smile. “Wally World is insane. You better tell your parents they’re getting a new shipment in tomorrow. Dad and I are going back first thing in the morning. There will probably be a line before it opens.”
“Right. Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be sure to tell him.”
I walked toward my bed, and Ash trailed behind me. We sat down and unease swirled in my belly. I hated this. I opened my mouth at the same time Asher did, essentially drowning out what the other was saying.
“Sorry, you go first,” he said.
“Ash, I don’t want anything to get in the way of our friendship. You’re my best friend and with all this craziness, I need you now more than ever.”
The vein in his forehead pulsed, and I could have sworn disappointment flashed across his expression, but a second later it was gone. I must have imagined it.
“You’re right,” he finally said. “I was actually going to say the same thing.” He shook his head, his jaw clenched. “It was stupid of me to suggest the date and what happened the other day…”
“No. It wasn’t stupid and honestly, if things were different—”
He squeezed my hand, cutting me off and gave me a small smile. “I know.”
We sat in silence for a while, the time ticking by slowly. Neither of us spoke, but it wasn’t uncomfortable like before. It was just Ash and me like the old times. We never had to speak to know how the other felt. Finally, Ash stood, and I immediately felt the chill of his absence.
“I’m gonna head home and let my dad know about tomorrow. Maybe we should all go together.”
“I think that would be smart after what happened today.”
He moved to the door, but turned back with one hand on the knob. “I’m glad you’re okay, Liv,” he said over his shoulder.
“Thanks.” I held his gaze for a few moments longer until my heart rate quickened to more than a friendly rate. Pushing away the rush of emotion, I regarded my best friend. “Ash, did you finish working on your basement? Are you guys really prepared for what’s to come?”
He nodded, his expression dark. “As ready as we can be.”
Chapter 8
Three months later
Duke nuzzled my leg and whined, drawing my attention away from the yellowing pages of one of my favorite books. “What’s up, buddy?”
He shot up to his feet, tail wagging furiously and sprinted to the thick metal door.
Mom followed his frenzied movements then turned her weary gaze toward me. “Maybe we should make him wait till your dad gets back.”
I dropped my book onto the cot and stood, stretching my legs out. “It’s not even full dark yet, Mom. I’ll be fine. I’ll just take him out behind the house.”
“I don’t like you going out there alone, honey.”
I huffed as Duke continued to whine at the door. We’d been on lockdown for over a month now. It felt more like a year with each minute passing at a snail’s pace. Things had started getting worse and Dad convinced us moving to the basement full-time was our safest option. I was only allowed out with Dad and only in the murky light of day. The thick clouds that had initially shrouded Manhattan now covered the entire nation—much like the fighting.
After the initial attack, it was only a matter of weeks before the destruction spread. Though we were fairly close to the city, we’d been fortunate due to our remote location. Apparently, not even the vampires or angels cared about our Podunk town. Still, we took precautions as nearby towns hadn’t fared as well.
Plus, there was the troupe of golden-armored angels and accompanying fireballs that occasionally soared across the sky.
Duke barked, and I made my mind up. “I’ll be right back, Mom.”
Her lips twisted as she crossed her arms over her chest, but she nodded anyway. Better to risk a quick outing than an acci
dent in close quarters. Duke had grown accustomed to his two bathroom breaks a day and if he was acting like this, then he really needed to go.
I hauled the deadbolt to the side, and Duke darted out before the door was fully open. He definitely had to go. The dry grass crunched under my feet as I followed my dog behind the barn. It was “his spot”.
Glancing across the apple orchard, I scanned the bare trees for my dad. Dark purples and grays covered the skies as the last shreds of light dipped behind the grove. Dad was the biggest stickler for the rules, and him being out past dark had my nerves twitching. My chest tightened. What if something bad had happened to him?
I swallowed hard, chasing away the nervous flutter in my stomach. No. It was Dad. He’d be fine. He’d gone into town to check in on the others and round up some more supplies. Surely, he’d be back soon. Without cell phone service, there was no way for him to contact us. It had been knocked out in the first month of fighting—along with the cable. We had some local channels and electricity was spotty, but luckily we had the back-up generator.
It still felt like we were living back in the Stone Age.
The stores’ stocks had been dwindling faster in the past few weeks. People were starting to realize this war was far from over. Every time Dad heard about a new shipment coming in, he was the first in line. Wally World was the only store still standing nearby. All the smaller mom-and-pop shops were forced to close up once the destruction spread. They couldn’t compete with the increasing prices. Heck, it was hard for us to keep up. Luckily, Dad had started stocking up right in the beginning, plus living on a farm was a huge bonus.
I’d never helped around the property much, but now since school was no longer an option, I became more involved in the family business. Even though most of our crops were dying. Fresh, running water was a big problem. For now, we lived off of what we could get from the well, but it wasn’t enough.