The Collapse

by Claudia Silva

  In his mind, he counted to three. One. Two. Three. The vampire opened its red eyes.

  Nick felt the hand on his leg and fell back, dropping the piece of metal. Dylan was awake. Slowly, he dragged him closer to his mouth, to his fangs. That was it. The moment he'd feared would come was there. He was about to die, drained of his blood by a vampire. "No, Dylan wake up! Don't kill me, you can't." Reynolds kicked and punched, but the vampire seemed to be made out of stone. Nothing he did disturbed the monster. "Help! Help me! Somebody! Help!"

  “Get down!” He heard a female voice command.

  Nick Reynolds put his hands over his head, trying to protect himself for whatever was to come. He heard a shot, and then he felt the grip on his leg loosen as the vampire lost consciousness again. When he looked up, he saw a tall, brown eyed young woman still aiming her gun at the body behind him. She was wearing a gray suit and pants. Behind her, a team of men rushed to help him, but it was clear the woman was in charge.

  "My name is Rebecca Torrence," she told him.

  Realization soon filled Reynolds’ face. Becca. This was the vampire's wife. Another vampire. He wondered if she knew he was aware of what she was. Someone helped him stand up, yet Reynolds couldn't keep his eyes off her. "He'll wake up again, he's-"

  "Don't worry, you're safe now," Mrs. Torrence said, "I'll take care of him."

  Reynolds glanced in Dylan's direction. Someone had already put him in a stretcher, the white blanket over his face. "He's dead?"

  "He'll be okay," Rebecca told him.

  "There are three other bodies here," they heard someone say.

  "A bomb exploded," muttered Reynolds to no one in particular.

  Rebecca helped him stand; Reynolds noticed how cold her hand was. Vampires. He couldn't believe no one else knew they existed. They had done a good job pretending to be a work of fiction. "Are you hurt?" she asked.

  "No, not really."

  "Good. Then, I'm going to need you to come with me."

  Reynolds thought to object. He'd had a long day, he'd survived being killed by a bomb and a vampire. All he wanted was to go home. Except, he couldn't say no to this woman. He didn't want to enrage the wife of the vampire he had shot a dozen times.

  "Lead the way," he said. Together, they followed the body of Dylan Torrence out of the building.

  7

  Nick Reynolds pondered about the day's events during his drive back home.

  Dylan Torrence's wife, a vampire who also posed as an FBI agent, had walked him to an ambulance where a paramedic made sure he was unharmed. Before she had walked away, he’d asked: "Will he be all right?"

  "Don't worry about him," she’d smiled. "I'm just glad you survived. It would've been a bummer if you hadn't."

  Somehow, Reynolds was sure Rebecca Torrence was relieved he hadn't died more for her husband's sake than his. Perhaps it would've been bad if he'd died, but it would've been worse for Dylan if he’d killed him. Both scenarios were bad. Good thing he was alive.

  The day had been more than confusing and he knew he would think about it for years to come. In fact, it surprised him they had just let him go. He doubted many people knew vampires existed and the rational thing to do would've been to take him down to question him or threaten him to keep it a secret... or something.

  It was late. His wife was probably worried about him. Besides, he was tired and all he wanted was to go home, hug his girls, and take a long shower.

  Part of him still expected to wake up any minute.

  8

  He decided not to mention anything to his wife about the vampire. Natalie wouldn't believe him and his daughter was too young to understand much of what happened. It was just another day at work, except he'd been trapped under a building with a monster. His wife was relieved to see him and glad he was home. She was worried, she told him. No one let her know what had happened until they'd gotten him out, but she'd been scared in her uncertainty.

  Reynolds answered every question Natalie had about his day of peril, and when he spoke of the other FBI agent trapped there with him, all he did was tell her his name.

  The doorbell rang after they put their daughter in bed and were watching TV together. Reynolds was too tired to think about who it could be. It was late and his wife offered to stand up to see who it was.

  "It's Dylan Torrence," she said interrupting his TV show. Nick Reynolds wondered what this visit could be about. Part of him wasn't surprised. He'd thought it unlikely the vampires had just let him go. But, come to his home? The safe place where his wife and daughter slept? He wasn't sure how he felt about that. "Isn't he the guy who got stuck with you in the building?"

  "He is," Nick replied.

  "He looks young," she remarked.

  "He does, doesn't he?" There was a hidden truth in his tone, a truth his wife would never know about.

  "I can tell him to come back tomorrow, Nick, you don't have to deal with any of this right now."

  "No, it's fine. It'll just take a moment." Unsure, his wife watched him stand up and walk to the front door. "Stay here,” he told her.

  The man who had tried to suck his blood a few hours before looked nothing like the monster he'd once been. Dylan Torrence stood waiting in a clean suit with his face looking perfectly human.

  "Hey," Nick greeted him at the door.

  "Hi, Nick," Dylan began. "How are you?"

  He didn't know how to answer that question. Instead, he asked another, "Why are you here?"

  "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

  "I am. I mean, it was intense, but I'm alive."

  "Yeah," Dylan rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry about that."

  "Hey, man, you had no control, it's not on you."

  Dylan nodded. Maybe he really believed it hadn't been his fault. For a moment, Nick thought it was time to say goodnight, close the door, and forget any of it had happened. Except, it wouldn't be that easy.

  "Mind taking a ride with me?" Dylan asked. Glancing behind him, Nick saw a black car waiting in front of his house. "It'll be quick, I promise."

  "I don't know." Nick shrugged, sending Dylan a clear message.

  "I won't hurt you," he said. "Look, what happened back there was circumstantial. I'm a regular guy, most of the time. But, we need to talk. It's important. It's important for you, too. Today must've been hard for you. You almost died, you learned things most humans don't know; things they’ll never know. Besides, I don't want to do it here, in the middle of your neighborhood where meddling neighbors could overhear.

  He has a point.

  One more time, Nick took a quick look at the car. "Just a ride?"

  "Just a ride," Dylan assured him.

  "All right, I just need to tell my wife I'm stepping out for a moment."

  "I'll be here," Dylan nodded.

  9

  "Hello."

  Nick jumped in the seat after hearing a young girl's voice behind him right after he'd buckled his seat belt. Turning around, he saw a girl sitting in the back seat. She wore her light brown hair in a braid behind her, her crystal blue eyes staring back at him expectantly. Nick had a good idea who the girl might be.

  "You brought your daughter?"

  Dylan started the engine, turned to the girl with a wink and a smile and said, "Yes, this is Crystal. Crys, this is Agent Nick Reynolds."

  "Nice to meet you, Agent Reynolds."

  With a nervous smile, Nick forced a "Nice to meet you, too." He saw his house disappear in the distance right before Dylan turned the corner. "Where are we going?"

  "Nowhere in particular," Dylan offered. "Just a drive."

  That didn't make sense to Nick. "Why? Am I in some sort of trouble? I won't speak about what happened today. I mean, if that's what you're worried about." He couldn't understand why the vampire had brought his daughter for the ride. "Why did you bring your daughter? Is she like you?"

  "No," it was the girl who answered the question. "I'm not a vampire. I'm a witch."

  Nick laughed nervousl
y. "Witch? Did I hear right?"

  "You did." The car drove under the speed limit, moving from one neighborhood to the next. Soon, Nick had no idea where they were.

  "Where are we going?"

  Dylan wasn't interested in answering questions. "What do you think of Becca? She's great, isn't she?"

  Nick turned to face Dylan, confused. The vampire kept driving, his eyes fixed on the road. Behind them, the girl sat quiet, still. "Are you kidnapping me?"

  "Don't be ridiculous," Dylan scoffed. "I thought we had a connection back there, in the building. Don't you think?"

  "You mean before you tried to suck my blood out? Before you almost killed me?"

  "Whatever happened after I passed out, that wasn't me. I thought you understood that."

  He did, but that didn't mean the nightmare hadn't happened. "I look at you and I see..."

  "I like you, Nick. You're a good man." Dylan paused for effect, Nick couldn't be more confused. "But now you know I'm a vampire and you know Crys is a witch."

  "I won't tell anyone," pleaded Nick. "I swear. Your secret is safe with me."

  The vampire took in a deep breath. “I know you're scared," Dylan told him. "Don't be scared. I believe you won’t tell a soul. I don't think you'll go around telling people about what happened in that building. I want to take advantage of that. Of course, you have to willingly agree to this. I won't do anything unless you tell me you're okay with it."

  "I have no idea what you're saying."

  "Witches have the ability to erase thoughts," Dylan confessed. "Crys is new at it, but she can do it. She can make you forget. I can take you home and you won't remember anything that happened today. No nightmares, no bad memories.“

  "She can do that?" Nick glanced behind him, the girl remained stoic.

  "Or, you can keep your memories and become a part of our organization. You'd be a sleeper agent, a liaison of sorts. Someone I can trust if I need anything in the area. You'll get access to information to help us monitor werewolves and vampires, you'll check things out if we need you to. Nothing dangerous. Of course, every time we need to go to the morgue, we'll contact you," Dylan smiled.

  "Are you offering me a job?"

  "I guess I am."

  "Will I get paid for it?"

  "Yes," Dylan said. "You won't be rich, by any means, but there's compensation. If you agree, then the agency will call you to set up a meeting, you'll meet our lawyers and will go through orientation." Everything he said sounded so routine - except he was talking about a government agency where vampires worked. "You must have questions." It was like Dylan could tell what he was thinking.

  "Are there any more like me?"

  "Yes, there are. We are always looking for candidates. Although, not everyone is able... or willing."

  Nick was thoughtful for a moment. Dylan kept driving the car slowly from one neighborhood to the next. "What's the catch?"

  "The catch is you will know what no one else knows. We've found some people can't take it. You won't even be able to tell your wife."

  "What will happen if I do?"

  "We won't do anything if that's what you're thinking. But, think about it... she wouldn't believe you. You'd sound crazy. No one would be there to confirm your theory. It can get a little lonesome." Dylan shrugged, "Or we can help you forget all about it. Literally forget about it."

  One last time, Nick turned to look at the girl in the back seat. "Is she really your daughter?"

  "Adopted daughter," the girl spoke.

  Nick Reynolds thought about everything that had happened in the last twelve hours. Twelve hours. It had only taken twelve hours to turn my life upside down. What should I do? Should I forget everything that happened? Would it be better to live my life not knowing? Although, it would feel good to be one of the few who knows the truth. Many people wish to know these secrets and now I’m one of the lucky few who’s stumbled upon the truth... am I willing to let it go? What if I change my mind? What if it isn’t for me?

  "What if I accept and I change my mind later? Will I be able to get out?"

  "Yes, but you’ll lose all the memories from this day on. You must decide if you're willing to take that risk." Nick did nothing but nod in acknowledgment. All the cards were on the table and he needed to make a choice. "I'll give you time to think about it. How does twenty-four hours sound?" Nick took a deep breath. "I'll drive you home, Nick. I'll come back tomorrow." It was probably for the best, Nick thought. Although, deep down he knew what the answer would be. Dylan said, "I like you, Nick. Next time we meet, I'd like to be myself. It's a nice feeling not having to pretend.”

  In a few minutes, they were back in front of his house. Wherever Dylan had taken him hadn’t been that far away. The girl in the back a silent companion through it all. He wondered what kind of relationship these incredible beings had.

  Nick Reynolds opened the door, but before stepping out, he said, "I don't need twenty-four hours, man. I'm in."

  A huge smile appeared on Dylan Torrence's lips.

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Claudia Silva is the author of the North American Vampire Secret Agency series and other dark fantasy tales. You can find her online home at www.claudia-silva.com.

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  ALSO BY CLAUDIA SILVA

  Have you read the North American Vampire Secret Agency Series?

  The North American Vampire Secret Agency (NAVSA) series follows the adventures of Rebecca Sawyer as she joins werewolf hunter Dylan Torrence in battling werewolves and other supernatural threats that terrorize mankind.

  Book 1: The Recruit

  Book 2: Werewolf Pbenomenon

  Book 3: The Fall of Witchcraft

  Book 4 - 6 to be released soon

  Find the series on Amazon

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