by Brandon Hale
“My story’s not that interesting,” Grung said. “My mom was a police officer. As soon as I was old enough, I went to the academy to become a cop. During training, I discovered that I was a natural when it came to weaponry and defense tactics. After I graduated the academy, I put in for a position to train other police officers on weapons and combat.
“It was around then that the Legion attacked Virginia Beach. When that happened, this thing became real for me. I’m from Roanoke, which is pretty damn close. I decided to join, had full support from my folks, and… well… here I am.”
“I was there,” Ellie said quietly.
“Where?” Scott asked.
“Virginia Beach,” Ellie answered. “When the attack happened. I was on vacation with some friends from college. When the attack started, it was chaos. We were on a pier and heard the screams. It was just after dark, so there were still quite a few people on the beach. They were all massacred.”
“Vamps?” Grung asked.
“No,” Ellie said. ”Werewolves. Looked like dozens of them. I think the vamps took to the stores and hotels and the werewolves took the beach. I don’t know for sure, but that’s what it looked like to us. It was me and two friends. One of my friends just flipped the hell out. She jumped from the pier. I guess she thought she could land in the water and swim away. Didn’t happen, though. She went under and never came up. I guess she hit the pier or something. I don’t know. It was a long drop.”
“Damn,” Lily said.
Ellie nodded. “Yeah. Damn.”
“What did you and the other friend do?” Grung asked.
“We climbed under the pier,” Ellie said. “We just hung underneath it, with the ocean below us. Eventually, the werewolves made it to the pier and slaughtered everybody who was still on it.”
“But they didn’t see you?” Lily asked.
“Eventually they did,” Ellie said. “Theresa and I weren’t the only ones hanging there. Other people did the same thing, and some of them screamed when the killing started above us. The werewolves started ripping up the boards from the pier and pulling people through. I don’t have the words to explain how terrifying it is to see those other people just getting yanked up through the pier.”
“I think I’d have just dropped,” Grung said. “Took my chances with the ocean.”
“People were dropping left and right,” Ellie said. “I was about to join them when I heard the first gunshots.”
“Day Soldiers,” Lily said.
“Yeah,” Ellie said. “It was the best damn sound I’d ever heard. The wolves on the pier immediately gave up on us and ran back to the beach, toward the attacking soldiers. Within a few minutes, some soldiers ran onto the pier and started pulling us up. Wallace was one of those men.
“After that, Theresa went back to her family in South Carolina and I joined the Day Soldiers. And here I am.”
“I guess that leaves you, fearless leader,” Scott said.
“You all know my story,” Lily said.
“That’s crap and you know it,” Grung said.
Lily laughed. “Okay,” she said. “This is the first time I’ve ever really talked about this stuff, so don’t judge me if I get emotional.”
She told them everything. At first, it was difficult, but as she went on, it became easier. By the time she finished, she felt strangely lighter. Apparently, she hadn’t realized what a weight those events had been on her. She found herself hoping Leo could have the opportunity to do the same.
When she finished, everyone just sat quietly for a few seconds. Lily didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt embarrassed.
“I have one question,” Grung said.
“Sure,” Lily said, relieved for the break in silence.
“Why didn’t you wait until morning to finish them off?” he asked. “It would have been much easier.”
“I’ve asked myself that same question,” Lily said. “It wasn’t a macho thing, I promise you that. If I had to guess, I’d say it was because I wanted to fight the evil that had taken my town. It wasn’t enough to just get rid of it. I had to fight it. I had to look this evil in the eyes and fight it and win. Killing them while they slept would have been a mercy to that evil and I wasn’t in a merciful mood. I know that sounds stupid, but I can’t really think of a better way to explain it.”
“It doesn’t sound stupid at all,” Ellie said. “As a matter of fact, I’d say that’s the one thing we all have in common.”
“And not just us,” Scott said. “I think you just described the heart of the Day Soldiers.”
“Okay,” Lily said, “I think we should try to figure out a way to sleep. I’ll take the first watch.”
“The first watch?” Scott asked. “You really think that’s necessary?”
“Makes sense,” Grung said. “Abbie wants this place to replicate living in enemy territory. I bet she’ll be checking to see if we thought of it.”
“Alright,” Lily said. “Big day tomorrow. Each person can take two hours. Who wants to be the person I get up for the second watch?”
“I’ll do it,” Scott said.
“I’ll take third,” Grung said, “since clearly Ellie isn’t volunteering.”
They all looked in Ellie’s direction. She was curled up next to a building, sleeping soundly.
“How is that even possible?” Scott said.
“She earned the rest,” Grung said. “She sacrificed an alarm to give us food.”
“Okay,” Lily said. “I’ll be at the end of the alley. Sleep well guys.”
“Yeah,” Scott said looking at the street. “I’m sure we’ll sleep like babies here.”
“Good,” Lily said. “It’ll match your attitude.”
As she walked to the end of the alley, Lily enjoyed the fact that Grung was laughing at her comment.
***
Lily sat at the edge of the alley, looking out at the empty street. She had been on watch for an hour. This is stupid, she thought. We’re in a training facility.
“I’m glad you took the first watch.”
Lily jumped and spun around to see Sister Abigail sitting beside her. “How the hell did you do that?”
Abbie pointed to the window above her.
“I was sitting right here,” Lily said. “How did I not hear you?”
“I train sneakers, dear,” Abbie said.
“Oh, yeah,” Lily said. “Fair point.”
“I was impressed by your group’s decision to keep watch at night,” Abbie said. “It tells me you’re taking this seriously.”
“Thank you,” Lily said. “We’re taking it very seriously.”
“I was a little disappointed,” Abbie added, “that Ellie already set off an alarm. There are many days left.”
“Yeah,” Lily agreed. “I shouldn’t have sent her in there alone. We can find better places for food. I think our growling stomachs interfered with our logical thinking.”
Abbie smiled. “Probably.”
Lily raised an eyebrow. “Are you going to randomly show up for visits like this a lot?”
“Not often,” Abbie said, still smiling, “but sometimes. Tonight I came because I want to tell you what your final test will be in order to graduate this training.”
“You’re telling me this on the first day?”
“I am,” Abbie answered. “I want you to be able to work on this for the next eight weeks. All you have to do is answer one question.”
“What if I can answer it now?” Lily asked. “Can I skip the training?”
“Do you really want to?” Abbie asked.
Lily smiled. “No, ma’am. That was a joke. What was your question?”
“It’s a simple question,” Abbie said. “Why does humanity deserve to win this war?”
“That’s it?” Lily asked. “Because frankly, I can answer that now.”
“Please do.”
>
Lily thought for a moment. “Because we are stronger. They have powers we don’t have, but the human heart will always be stronger than any power they have.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Abbie said. “I didn’t ask why humanity is going to win this war. I asked why humanity deserves to win this war. There is a difference.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Lily said honestly.
“In a few thousand years,” Abbie explained, “humanity has managed to destroy most of the rain forests. We’ve hunted thousands of animals to extinction. It’s possible we’re actually destroying our own atmosphere. Our scientists developed the ability to split an atom, and what did we do with it? We used the technology to kill millions of other human beings. We’ve polluted our air, our land, and our water.”
“The Legion is evil,” Lily said softly.
“The Legion,” Abbie countered, “has done none of these things. As a matter of fact, the Legion has done nothing but try to kill the most destructive force this world has ever known.”
Lily was silent.
“Before I’ll let you lead one of my teams into Legion territory,” Abbie continued, “I need you to explain to me why – despite everything I just said – humanity deserves to win this war.”
Without another word, Sister Abbie climbed back into the window behind her.
Lily continued to sit at the edge of the alley, surprised that she didn’t have an answer to the question.
Chapter 10
Good and Evil
Lily woke to the sound of the others’ voices.
“Where did it come from?” she heard Grung say.
“Don’t be stupid,” Ellie’s voice answered. “Abbie brought it.”
Is that what I sound like when I talk to Leo? Lily thought. Because she sounds like an asshole.
“I know that,” Grung said. “I just mean, I can’t get over how she can get something like that in this alley without us seeing it.”
Lily finally opened her eyes and got to her feet. She looked at the center of the alley and was stunned by what she saw.
“Mornin’, Chief,” Scott said. “We have company.”
A vampire sat in the center of the street. It was on its knees, looking at the ground. Its hands were bound with heavy chains that tethered it to a nearby dumpster. It wasn’t making any attempt to attack or escape its bonds.
“I just can’t figure out,” Grung was saying, “how she managed to chain this thing here without waking us.”
“Well, she is the trainer of the sneakers,” Lily said. “If anybody can do it, she can.”
“You stole my line.” They all turned to see Sister Abbie walking toward them from the street. “I see you’ve met our guest.”
“Power objects,” Scott said. “We’re going to be using them on this poor bastard.”
Something about that troubled Lily. Torturing other creatures – even these monstrosities – just didn’t feel right to her.
Abbie pulled a rosary from around her neck and reached it to Ellie. “Take it,” she said.
Ellie took the necklace, holding the crucifix in her palm.
“Touch him,” Abbie said.
“With the cross?” Ellie asked nervously.
“Of course,” Abbie said.
Ellie walked slowly toward the chained vampire.
“Wait,” Lily said. “This feels wrong.”
“Ellie, stop,” Abbie said. “Don’t continue until Lily gives the order.”
“Really?” Ellie asked.
“Yes,” Abbie said. “Chain of command is different for the Day Soldiers. Your squad commander outranks everyone else. Always. If you’re in the field and I give an order, but Lily gives a different order, I fully expect you to follow Lily, not me. There are reasons for this that I will not get into today. For now, she said to stop, so stop.”
Ellie stopped.
Abbie turned to Lily and asked, “Why did you stop her? The answer to this question is very important.”
Lily could feel her own face flush. “Something feels wrong here,” she finally said. “I feel like we’re torturing this creature.”
“So?” Abbie said with cold eyes.
“It used to be a human being,” Lily said. “If we capture them and torture them, I think we run the risk of becoming them.”
“How very profound,” Abbie said. “Of course, you are right. This thing used to be a human. I’m curious, though. How does torturing it make us become them?” She pulled a cross from a pouch on her belt and placed it on the side of the vampire’s face. The creature let loose a tormented wail. “Please explain. We’re all curious.”
“I…” Lily’s mind was racing, but she couldn’t focus on anything but the screaming vampire in that street.
The creature tried to pull away from the cross, but Abbie grabbed the back of its bald head and held it in place. The vampire wasn’t just screaming at this point. It was sobbing. “Don’t back down,” Abbie said to Lily. “Right now, I’m being horribly cruel to this creature. You don’t like it. Why don’t you like it?”
“It’s in pain,” Lily said.
“This thing,” Abbie said, speaking above the vampire’s screams, “killed every person you’ve ever known. You and Leo are orphans because of this creature, and yet you feel bad because it’s in pain now? That’s very interesting.”
“It’s not that I feel bad for it,” Lily tried to explain. “It’s that… I don’t know.”
Abbie pulled the cross from the vampire’s face. The creature now just sat in the street, whimpering as it covered the new cross-shaped burn on its face.
“Lily,” Abbie said, “I appreciate your compassion. I love it actually. But do not confuse this thing for a human. Do not confuse it for anything good or even alive. The soul that used to live in its body has long since gone to a better place. A vampire’s soul is nothing more than a human soul with all the love drained from it. A vampire is incapable of love. It is incapable of compassion.”
She pointed at the whimpering creature and continued. “A body can’t survive without love. This vampire’s body is dead. Its heart does not beat. And the only way it can keep its dead body animated is by drinking the life force of something that can love.”
“I understand,” Lily said.
“Do you really?” Abbie said. “Or are you placating me so I’ll shut up. Lily, hold on to your compassion. You’re right in your belief that our compassion is part of what makes us human. But save your compassion for things that need it. If I let our friend loose, do you think he would thank you for your compassion?”
“No,” Lily said.
“What do you think he would do, child?”
Lily sighed. “He would attack me.”
“Would he do it because he hates you?” Abbie asked.
This took Lily by surprise. “I… I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“No,” Abbie said. “He would not do it because he hates you. He is incapable of hate, just like he is incapable of love. He only knows hunger. He feels nothing. He is nothing. And if you feel an ounce of compassion for this creature, you will die. I promise you that.”
Lily nodded.
“Child,” Abbie said, her voice a bit softer, “I’m not trying to humiliate you in front of your team. I just want to make it very clear that your compassion isn’t for this vampire. Your compassion is for the person this vampire used to be. And that person is dead.”
“What about werewolves,” Grung asked.
“Werewolves,” Abbie said, “are different altogether. And they are a discussion for another day.” She turned back to Lily. “How we continue this training is up to you, Lily. If you want, I will simply explain everything to the team. I won’t hurt this vampire if you’re not ready for that. I would prefer demonstration over lecture, but I’ll let the choice be yours.”
Lily took a deep b
reath and let the humiliation she felt fall away. This was not a moment to feel ashamed. This moment was a test, and the test wasn’t coming from Sister Abbie. “No more demonstrations,” Lily said.
“I’m sorry?” Abbie said. “Did you just forbid demonstrations?”
“I did,” Lily said. “I believe everything you just said. I know these things are not humans. I know they are creatures that don’t feel. I know they suffer from an absence of love. And I know I feel compassion for them. I understand it’s a misguided compassion, and I accept that.”
“If you accept that it’s misguided,” Abbie said, “then why do you embrace it?”
“Because it isn’t about this vampire,” Lily said. “It’s about my team. You selected me to lead a team of Day Soldiers and I’ve accepted that responsibility. And I can tell you my team will kill vampires without hesitation. Werewolves, too. But the horror we all felt while this creature was screaming…I do not want my team to just learn to ignore that feeling. I want them to embrace it. I want them to feel horrible every time they kill another thing, whether it has a soul or not. Because it’s not about the things we kill. It’s about us.”
“I see,” Abbie said.
“And I know I’m just a kid,” Lily said. “I know my opinion on this might change as I develop some wisdom. But that’s how I feel right now, and if torturing this vampire is a requirement, then I’m not the right person to lead your team.”
Abbie pulled a stake from her belt and threw it in the direction of the vampire. The small wooden shaft pierced the vampire’s chest and heart. The creature screamed once, then fell to the ground, dead.
Abbie turned to the others and said, “Power objects are not inherently powerful. The power isn’t within the object itself. The power is within you.”
Lily was flooded with relief as she listened to Abbie continue the lesson.
“Crosses are most common because this power was first used against vampires in the medieval England, a time and place that was dominated by Christianity. Back then, people believed it was the power of the cross that harmed the vampire, but we know now that isn’t true. It’s the power in us that hurts them.”
“So to a Jewish man,” Grung said, “would the cross still work?”
“If that Jewish man believed it would work,” Abbie answered, “it would work. What is your religion, Grung?”
“I’m a Baptist,” Grung said. “Or at least I was as a kid. I’m not really much of anything anymore.”