The Dead War Series (Book 2): Desperate Times

by Simmons, D. N.

  Ericka jumped up from the sofa when she saw him approaching, rushing to him and wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply. “I was so worried that you would be attacked,” she said after breaking the kiss. Lovingly, she stroked the strands of his hair, tucking them behind his ears.

  “I came close several times. I only managed to bring back a handful of humans. I have to go back out there, kill as many of those things as I can,” Logan said as he ran his fingertips up and down the length of her spine.

  “There are more of them now than thirty minutes ago. You have to be careful, I don't want you being overpowered,” Ericka said, wrapping her arms around Logan's waist tighter.

  “Trust me, doll, it's the last thing I'll ever let happen to me. I only wish nightfall would come, so that we can take care of these things faster,” Logan commented.

  “Are you feeling... drained?” Ericka asked, her eyes studying Logan carefully, full of concern.

  “I feel like I need to feed to regain my strength, but I know that won't help, nor is it the problem.”

  “Maybe you should, just to be safe.” Ericka tilted her head back slightly, revealing the pale, column of her shapely neck.

  Logan's eyes roamed over the flesh, drinking in every curve, but his hunger did not rise as he knew it wouldn't. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead gently. “Not yet.” He released her, stepping back.

  “Please be careful,” Ericka said as she watched him nod, then turn, walking away. Her heart was caught in her throat the entire time he was away from her. Normally, she never had to worry about his well-being. He was, after all, Ovidius' third highest-ranking lieutenant. No one would dare trifle with him, not if they knew what was good for them. But this time was unlike any other. He went out to face an enemy that had no rhyme or reason or cause for concern. It didn't respect his position or even acknowledge his strength. It only wanted to feed, mindless in its pursuit of flesh and blood. No vampire she'd ever known struck the fear in her heart that those zombies did. She didn't normally pray, not that she didn't believe in God, but the only god she needed nestled himself between her legs nightly as he buried his fangs into her veins. However, now she found herself reaching out to that God she hadn't spoken to since childhood. She gave a whispered prayer, asking for mercy and protection for the love of her life. She only hoped that God was listening and taking the humblest of requests.

  Chapter Six

  “So the sons of bitches took Sarah from you like they took Linda from me!” Richard gritted out. He was now sitting next to Vincent in the cramped room. The two men had hugged, each happy that the other had survived. Quick introductions were made to the group before the two turned to more personal inquiries.

  Vincent nodded, his hands clenched in tight fists as he thought about what they might be doing to her or how much fear she was going through. “They put us in here because they want to turn us. That's why we're not with them,” he informed.

  “Yeah, I caught some of that listening to their conversations. Do you know what they are? I know they aren't human. One of those bastards flew us here all on his own,” Richard said. “Do you know if Sarah is all right? Have they told you?”

  Vincent shook his head. “No. But I know she's here, in this building. From what I can gather, they want to save as many humans as they can, or at least as many as this building and its resources can hold. They want to feed on them. They're vampires and that's what they want to turn us into as well because we're scientists.” He made a gesture to the other scientists in the storage room.

  Richard looked at the other inhabitants, making a mental note of their physical appearances: Clothing, ID tags, etc. “Why you? I mean, what are your fields?” he asked, hoping to see where he fit in. He knew that Vincent didn't work in his field and he wanted to know how plant irrigation and the study of various types of soil will benefit the vampires. He had concluded the only reason he had been tossed inside was only because he worked at SciTech Labs and the vampire who brought them here had designs on Linda. The idea angered him more than he wanted to let on, at least for now.

  The other scientists in the room indulged his curiosity, answering his question about their particular fields. It was just as he'd suspected, all of them had backgrounds in human biology and he knew why Vincent was there. He was the last surviving member of the team who created the virus. He was no doubt the most valuable person here.

  “I think I'm only in here because I worked at SciTech Labs, too,” Richard said. “When they discover that my field of expertise isn't going to help discover a cure, they'll throw me to the lions... along with my wife. The only good thing about that is at least we'll be together.”

  “As soon as we get over this turning shit, I’m going to demand they bring Sarah to me,” Vincent said. He couldn't shake the image of Sarah being used as food. Sucked dry then tossed to the side like some gnawed on chicken bone.

  “Are you sure that's what they are going to do to you?” Richard asked. “I mean, turn you? This isn't something you're just all speculating on, is it?” His gaze shifted from Vincent to the others.

  “They were quite clear on their intentions for us. They told us why we're here,” Felicia said, rising from the floor and approaching him. “And I've seen enough of what they can do not to doubt them whatsoever.”

  “We're just food to them,” Dr. Eric Conway stated.

  “No, we're just another resource to them. Soon, all of those humans out there will be food for us,” Felicia corrected.

  The room was silent for a considerable duration before Richard spoke. “Regardless, if they find me useful or not, I’m going to demand to be taken to my wife. The motherfucker who brought us here made statements that he's going to make her his. I won't let that happen.”

  “Don't fool yourself into thinking you have a choice. If that vampire wants your wife, he'll take her unless another stronger one denies it,” Felicia said.

  “What makes you so sure?” Richard asked.

  “Have you had a chance to make any choices yet? Did they ask you if you wanted to be shoved inside this room and separated from your wife or even if you wanted to come to St. Louis?” Felicia looked at him, eyebrows cocked.

  Richard's expression turned hard, his lips tightening; he parted his mouth to speak when Vincent interjected.

  “She's right, man. Trust me, I don't want to think that I can't protect Sarah either, but look at where I am. I don't know if she's alive or not or what they plan on doing to her. I don't know if she's feeling safe or terrified. I have no idea if any of the people trapped here actually know why they're here or are they under the impression that this is a safe zone.”

  “It's the safest zone right now,” Eric said. “Admit it; this place is the safest zone. Out there...” He pointed towards the stone wall, indicating the outdoors. “Those things are ripping through people and killing left and right. There's no stopping them. In fact, these vampires might be our only hope. You said they saved you, right? Well, we might not like this situation, but it's the best we've got. And I've already said I'd rather be one of them than one of those things.”

  Vincent looked at Eric, he wanted to refute. He wanted to tell the man he was a coward and didn't know what the hell he was talking about, but he knew he'd be the fool. With all he'd seen, the death, the horror and that one vampire managed to achieve what an entire team of highly-trailed military soldiers could not. It was the only reason they still had hope; the research was saved.

  “You're right,” Vincent reluctantly admitted. “I don't want to concede to the fact, but I know you're right. We need them just as much as they need us. I just wish Sarah was with me. I want to know if she's all right.”

  “And if this vampire wants my wife? You're all telling me that I don't have a choice?!” Richard fumed, his nostrils flaring as his rage mounted.

  “I'm asking you to honestly ask yourself if you have a choice,” Felicia retorted. “Do you think you're going to tell that vampire he can't feed
on your wife and that's gonna be that?”

  “What if he just doesn't want to stop at feeding? God, what the fuck am I saying!” Richard put his fingers to his temples, gently massaging the growing soreness. “I can't believe we're actually talking about vampires feeding on us and zombies eating us.”

  “Welcome to the club,” Dr. Lawrence Greenberg chimed in. “I've been sitting here all morning coming to terms with everything. And if I may, this is how I came to grips and have accepted my fate. I'm a doctor, I got into this field to help people. That has been put to the test on this day more than ever before. If becoming a vampire and needing to feed from humans will help me save the world, this is a small sacrifice we're paying. We have the opportunity to save not just one life, but millions...possibly billions. So, I've decided to do what I must whatever the costs.”

  “Even if it means fucking someone you don't want to fuck?” Richard growled.

  “Hardly an act beneath a person's need for survival,” Lawrence stated. “People, in general have been known to fuck someone simply because they need a sandwich, or that person is famous or for revenge.”

  “This motherfucker...” Richard cursed with an offhanded gesture at Lawrence.

  Lawrence shifted his position on the floor, bringing blood back into his legs. “I suppose I may seem heartless to your plight, not having a wife to worry about an all. But would you rather they kill you? What if they kill you and still take your wife? Would that make it all tolerable for you then?”

  Richard was speechless, his lips trembled as his mind struggled to think of something to say. Some witty remark that could swing the opinion in his direction, but nothing came to mind. All of his arguments seemed rather trivial in the great ominous shadow of their circumstances. The only thing he could hold on to was that Linda was his wife and he didn't want to share her or lose her altogether. But in the end, he wondered if what the other doctors was saying were true. What if they killed him for making himself a nuisance? Would even trying to fight back result in both of their deaths? He couldn't live with himself for getting Linda hurt or killed. His mind raced and he found himself turning his back on the inquisitive stares of the others.

  Vincent laid a hand on Richard's shoulder, patting him softly. “Linda loves you, Richard. No matter what, she loves only you. Please, promise me, whatever happens, that you won't give them a reason to kill you. Think about where that would leave Linda... and me, for that matter. You're my best friend.”

  “What if they take her from me?” Richard asked softly, his voice barely audible to her.

  “As long as we live, they can never truly separate either of us from those we love. But we must live.” Vincent's hand tightened on his shoulder. “Whatever happens, promise me you will live.”

  It took Richard a few moments before he could gather himself enough to make such a vow. Finally, he nodded. “I promise.” Turning, he wrapped his arms around Vincent and hugged him.

  Felicity decided to change the subject and get the group focused on what needed to be done. The atmosphere in the room had gotten pretty heavy and they all needed distraction from their personal woes.

  “So, do you think we should ask them to get us another chimpanzee for our experiments?” she suggested.

  “Why?” Eric asked.

  “Because from what I know, an infected chimp is the reason why the virus is out there now. Maybe it's something in their DNA that we're going to need,” Felicia stated.

  “I was actually going to suggest that to them. I was hoping to get one of our animals alive from SciTech Labs, but they were all dead, killed by the other chimp. At least, Cassian brought back the only ape left,” Vincent said. “But you're right. When they come for us, I'm going to request that they not only give us a living, breathing chimp but if possible an ape from each family.”

  “Makes sense,” Lawrence said.

  Vincent paced the little room, moving only as much as the space allowed. “God, how long is it going to take them to build that fucking lab? The sooner we can get in there and start working, the sooner we can come up with a cure.”

  “You're pretty confident that we're going to be the ones to come up with the cure. I'm betting it was this same arrogance that got all of our asses into this shit in the first place,” Eric remarked.

  “You know what? Fuck you!” Vincent spat back. “I've had it up to here with you sanctimonious sons of bitches judging me. You don't think I hate myself enough already? I was doing my job and any one of you could be in my shoes right now had fate been different. Had it chosen one of you.” He pointed his finger at each person standing or sitting in the room. “How many of your experiments seemed harmless when you're working on them?” He dropped his hand to his side, shoulders slumping slightly. “I'm tired of defending myself...to you... to them... to myself. It's not arrogance that's motivates me. It's redemption.”

  Eric remained silent as his eyes studied Vincent, ascertaining the sincerity of his words. Believing the doctor meant what he said, he nodded. “You're right. If we're going to work together, we need to stop bickering.”

  “I agree,” Felicia said, then she walked towards the door, leaning her ear against the metal trying to listen to the muffled sounds on the other side. “Shit, I can't make out anything. This is a thick ass door.”

  “I've got a feeling they aren't going to let us into that lab until they turn us into what they are,” Akane stated.

  The others turned, looking at her.

  “I wonder why they haven't done that already? What are they waiting for?” Eric questioned.

  “Who the hell knows,” Vincent said, leaning against the wall and sliding down to a sitting position on the floor.

  “So, what do we do to past the time?” Lawrence asked the group.

  BAM!!! They all jumped, startled by the sound of Felicia's fist pounding on the metal door.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Eric asked her, springing to his feet and racing towards her. He took hold of her shoulders and pulled her back from the door.

  “Get your hands off me!” Felicia growled.

  He released her, but stood close by. “Are you trying to piss them off?”

  “I'm trying to get one of them to open this damn door so that I can ask them a question,” Felicity replied.

  “And that is?”

  “Look,” she started as her eyes scanned the others in the room. “We're sitting ducks in here playing the blame game. We need to make ourselves useful. If they can just bring us the research data, at least we can study it and have something to go on by the time the lab is complete and they let us work.”

  “That's actually a damn good idea,” Vincent said. “Go ahead, see if we can get one of those bastards to open the door.”

  Felicia nodded and resumed her pounding on the door without any further interruptions. Several minutes passed before they all heard the lock disengage and the door was yanked open. A very tall and angry looking vampire stood on the other side, his gray eyes glaring in at them.

  “What the fuck is going on in here?” he bellowed.

  Felicia took a few steps backwards and cleared her throat before answering. “I just wanted to catch your attention--”

  “Well, you've got it. What the fuck do you want?” he asked.

  “Where's the female vampire at?” Eric asked, thinking the other one was much more pleasant to talk to when she'd let him puke his guts out in the bathroom earlier. She also seemed more accommodating than this guy.

  “Shift change. Why, I'm not pretty enough for you?” The vampire's baritone voice was dripping with sarcasm. He wasn't as pale as they all thought vampires should look. He had to be at least six foot three and all muscles. Scars and tattoos etched up both arms and his all black ensemble, with his short, cropped black hair and sinister gray eyes didn't fail to add to his intimidation factor. Some of them wondered if he was a vampire or just a human guard. Regardless, he didn't look like one to be fucked with. Vincent rose from his seating position,
stepping close to Felicia to offer her any assistance, if necessary.

  The vampire's eyes focused on the pair standing closest to him, then he threw a glance at the others in the room. “I'm waiting, humans.”

  Humans. Well, that answered their unasked question. This menacing figure before them was a vampire for sure.

  “We would like the research data that was collected earlier. We want to study it so that we can be better prepared once the lab is completed,” Felicia said.

  “Oh and here I thought one of you wanted to use the restroom,” the vampire remarked.

  “Well, now that you mention it,” Eric began, rising from the floor and shaking out one leg and then the other. “I've been holding it for over an hour. May we have a bathroom break?” he asked as politely as he could.

  “And if I gave you a bucket?” the vampire taunted.

  “I'd piss in it. But seriously, a bathroom break can't be that much to ask. Isn't that why you took over this place, for its resources and amenities?” Eric asked. Something told him he was teetering dangerously close to the edge, but the ache in his bladder demanded he take action.

  The vampire snorted, the corner of his lip lifting ever so slightly. “I like you.”

  “What's going on here,” a smooth, rich voice asked from behind the vampire, who immediately straightened.