Created (Book 1 of the Created)

by Shaw, Shannon

  The creature lunged for me as I reached for the door handle. I caught the zombie in mid attack and held him back by its fragile neck. The undead guard was no stronger than a human, but possessed a tenacity and resolve unlike anything I had encountered so far on the Farm. Despite its inability to bite me, it countered with constantly snapping jaws of razor sharp metal teeth and lethal finger nail tips of metal.

  "Shit, who makes a freaking super zombie with stainless steel teeth," I quipped before I realized it was the same people who made herds of wolves and vampires, which included me.

  My smart-aleck remark was not well thought through, but I recovered nicely and proceeded to prolong the battle with the zombie until I could formulate a plan.

  Carefully, I tried to combat the zombie without getting myself ripped to shreds. I had to dodge swat after swat as well as barge after barge of attempts to wound me by biting with the steel mandibles.

  The fight could have ended fast had I chosen to break the neck of the zombie, but the poor thing was doing the job it was designed for which was the protection of my house.

  Thinking fast about how to react, I slammed the unyielding zombie against the wood frame of the door. The hardness at which the sentinel struck the house should have ended or slowed down the onslaught, yet the attacker rose slowly then sped to continue with the job at hand.

  As the zombie jogged toward me, I stepped aside to snatch him around the neck, shielding myself from any harm. Shoving my arm under his head I forced the jaws closed then placed my other hand under the nose of the predator. I held my hand in place until there appeared to be something resembling recognition, which in this case was when the zombie's struggling stopped. Letting go, I stepped back. The zombie disregarded me and began pacing back and forth along the small concrete floor of the porch.

  As I entered my house I muttered. "What a day."

  Chapter 22

  The dull droning coming from the zombies passing back and forth along the sides of my house kept me awake most of the night, but by early morning I had grown accustomed to the shallow, wheezing of one and the raspy, hollow tenor of the other. The rattling of the chains was a mere afterthought once one dealt with the sounds being emitted from both. Oddly, I could not recall whether or not the zombie from the porch made a single sound during our encounter.

  For hours, I lay awake and watched the one I privately named Chuck through the sliding door of my bedroom, but he never paid any mind to me or what I was doing. The gray, spent eyes were constantly empty and soulless. Eventually, I closed my eyes.

  It was what wasn't there and not what was that had awoken me from my slumber. Somewhere around five in the morning the sounds of chains and moans had stopped quietly enough, but the lack of noise alerted me to the change as the sounds got further and further away. Trudging to the door, I peeked to see yellowed eyed humanoids leading the zombies away deeper into the Town.

  Sitting in the chair in the living room, I cracked open the cover of the e-reader from school and started scrolling through the story we had been assigned to read. Pages in, I began to tire and dozed off as much as a vampire can.

  The rest of the morning was uneventful. No Darby in my bed. No Veronica sounding an alarm or picking out my clothes. The house felt empty as I readied myself for another day of high school.

  I wasn't hungry, and I knew I could go days without feeding, but I took two bags of type A blood from the fridge. I warmed both to knock off the chill. The taste still wasn't like when I was feeding on Darby, but it filled me with strength and renewed energy. Another day was now certainly doable.

  Everybody was gathered in front of his or her respective house. We all had our own ways to pass the time. A few had headphones, a couple had their phone in hand, or like Liam, was simply staring into space.

  Waving at Darby to say hello across our respective lawns, she noticed my attentions then started reading from the e-reader in her hand without acknowledgement.

  I caught Veronica’s attention.

  Our leader rolled her eyes then smiled a pained smile.

  Veronica must have said something to Darby was the reason she wasn't talking to me.

  I huffed, and then joined the group in a version of the quiet game until the bus arrived.

  Even the bus trip was quiet. The group passed the time sleeping or doing the same things as before the trip. If this was an indication of how the day was going to be then it was going to be boring.

  Veronica slipped me two Inhibitor pills as we got off the bus together.

  Taking them, I denied myself the feeling of having to deal with the noise of the crowd. I didn't feel like it was going to be a day I should try to handle without the added boost.

  A couple hours ticked off the clock then another. Soon, we would be in lunch then the home stretch, with Spanish class to finish the day. I was sure it was going to be a wild weekend and was ready to get it started when the whole day went to hell.

  The U.S. had gone to great pains to put operatives in the field for training and did not want territorial problems either at school or on the Farm. The wolves and the vampires were kept separated by busses, class schedules and hall assignments. The plan, except for the small hiccup the previous day, had been flawless.

  Lunch was the same as the previous day, though this time with even less talking and without Darby's trademark smile. Something was up besides school, besides Darby and me, besides...and it hit me. This had to do with Veronica's punishment for helping me. It had to be about that because what else could make even the normally bitchy Chloe act downright sadly and even a tad bit with real emotional depth.

  Veronica was upbeat, but quiet.

  We all sat together human watching, as we called it.

  I wondered if anybody found it weird that none of our clan ate anything. The wonder stopped when I heard a commotion on the far said of the expansive lunchroom. The commotion would have registered as a small grumble to the humans that surrounded us, but to my enclave of vampires it was almost riotous.

  Scanning the room, I locked in on the source not by sight at first, but by smell. The wolves were involved in causing an issue. There were too many students blocking my view so I stood up to only have Darby tug at my shirt trying to get me to sit down.

  Darby loudly whispered, "Don't make a scene. We have a job to do. Sit down. Now."

  She tugged harder. The threads of my shirt could be heard starting to tear. "We need to talk anyway and this will give us a chance to iron things out since I think you have the wrong impression of me."

  I looked to Veronica for guidance, but she and the rest of our group was already headed for the cafeteria exit.

  Gently I removed Darby's hand from my shirt as I continued to scope out what was the source of the problem occurring across the room. "I know we need to talk and we will, but those wolves need an attitude adjustment."

  She sighed and read me the riot act in a very an understated way. "Suddenly you think you are man enough to give it to them? This is not the place for a fight, plus there are three of them and you are still fresh, untested. Getting your ass kicked at school may not be the best way to stay low key and stay in the program."

  In my heart I knew she was right on all accounts, and had resigned myself to letting the issue drop. Sitting back down at the table, I was ready to talk until the sound of a very audible slap reverberated throughout the student population. The room grew silent and still as everyone waited to see what happened.

  Without the din of the chatter of students and clanking of plastic trays, two voices were distinct, though I did not know either.

  A female voice spat out, "You deserved that and if you put your hands on me again, I can promise that a slap is the least of your worries."

  The male voice was filled with anger, "Little girl, you don't know who you are messing with. I allowed you that much because I enjoy it, but no more. I will put my hands on you whenever and however I choose."

  Several people had risen from their se
ats and were blocking my view. Even the few remaining teachers had risen, but none attempted to diffuse the situation that was erupting before their eyes.

  The fire in the girl's voice was crumbling into fear as she attempted to back away from the standoff. "You are a jerk! You come near me again and you...you...will regret it..."

  I could see who had been on the receiving end of her ire: John.

  A lump leapt into my throat as I decided something had to be done to prevent this from becoming much worse.

  Darby issued a soft comment under her breath, "Let's go before we get involved and blow our cover."

  Again she tugged at my shirt, but this time with the force of a vampire and not the teen she appeared to be outwardly.

  My shirt tail was torn as I pulled away without thought to the ramifications.

  John erupted as he took three large steps in order to cut off her retreat as the other two member of his groups stood guard nearby, "Such insolence from you. I wanted you before, but now I just want to prove my point. Know your place woman!"

  He seized her roughly by the arm.

  Darting past his companions, but trying to remain as close to humanly fast as I could, I grabbed his arm, wrenching his wrist before he could react. There was a crunch of bone breaking as I rotated it completely around until he let go her wrist. The pain drove him to one knee. The girl stumbled hard, knocking a garbage can over on herself. She appeared to be ok for the most part.

  I had other problems to worry about. Approaching fast were his constant companions. Whirling him around by his broken wrist, I kept twisting as my other hand squeezed the elbow hard. Using the pain to steer him in the direction I needed, his body became a shield. Both circled John and I looking for an opportunity to strike. This ballet lasted only seconds as the school resource officers arrived before the altercation became one of claws and teeth.

  John knew he had to maintain some cover discipline or this could become worse than it was, so he relented to being taken into custody. He motioned for his friends to scatter, which they did without hesitation. On his way out, Tristan pegged me with a hotdog, coating my shirt in ketchup as he disappeared out a rear entrance with another group of students.

  The officers wanted to detain me, but Mrs. Patterson intervened on my behalf and explained the series of events. She then pointed skyward at the rotating black discs in the ceilings. They knew she was right; the camera never lies.

  Before she walked away, she pulled my close as if to hug me. It was not a hug but a stern warning disguised as a smile, “The government did not bring you here boy to be a damn hero, so you better mind your place or I will make sure you are taken care of, even if I have to do it myself."

  Stunned, I watched the hefty, older woman wander out into the hallway, then begin yelling at some students before she too was gone.

  In all the events that unfolded, no one had thought to help the girl up from the trash. Offering my hand, she brushed off several pieces of lettuce, a couple of croutons and a half eaten hot dog bun. After she made sure she was partially presentable, she accepted my hand. Helping her from the floor, I got my first real glance of the lady whose honor I was defending. We had met the previous day during another floor episode. This was the same young lady who had refused my apology.

  In the blur of yesterday and added embarrassment of knocking her down, I had failed to notice how magnificently gorgeous the young blonde had been. Her name escaped me at the moment. Studying her as she brushed herself clean, I could see why John had been smitten with her.

  Her hair was a combination of pumped-up, textured tresses with resplendent brown eyes framed in the smoky eye shadow that was so popular with the girls in the school. Clothing was eclectic, but reasonably more fashionable than even the girls that tried the hardest to be trendy. The outfit she wore was as close to the edge of allowable fashion as it would get within this small town, and she had an appearance that did not bespeak of her current circumstance.

  As she inspected herself I took the opportunity to strike up a conversation as I ran my hand nervously through my hair. "It is funny how we have met the last two days. Somehow it always seems that when we meet I always finish on top of you."

  The girl gave me a queer sideways glance as she picked off an errant tomato fragment from her pants.

  As we both stood there, the comment I had just completed bounced around in my head. What a dumb ass I must be.

  Wiping a small amount of ketchup from my own shirt I tried again. "That didn't come out right just a second ago. I meant it seems like I am always bumping into you at the worst times. By the way, I am Ethan."

  Her hand shot to her hips. "Ethan, I had everything under control until you got involved, now look at me."

  I was conflicted between wanting to fire back at her and understanding that the spectacle had to be a hot topic across the school by now and would only grow as it spread. To make matters worse, she was going to have to spend the day covered in used food stains.

  Standing my ground, I replied sternly, "Well, it sure did look like it was under your control. That animal would have killed you if he got his hands on you and may still. John is not the most agreeable ape I have ever seen."

  Her voice was still harsh and judgmental. "So you know him? That figures. I am sure you must be the best of friends."

  The comment lacked bite. She was angry, but it was obvious it was not at me.

  She needed to vent, and I decided I could fill that role for the moment. "If you are going to be pissed at me then at least do me the decency of allowing me to know your name!"

  She cracked a grin and a softer stance after hearing my heated, but innocent response. "My name is Sunnie. And thank you."

  Returning the friendly tone, I spoke in a more peaceful resonance than my previous statement. "Nice to meet you too and you are welcome."

  We both laughed and walked out of the lunchroom together before we parted to go our separate ways.

  Chapter 23

  The fallout was not as bad as I expected, though it was bad enough.

  Veronica was friendly during the rest of the block on a level par with the other few days that I had known her.

  When the bell rang, she disappeared.

  I dwelled on the abrupt departure as I made my way to my locker.

  Darby smiled timidly at me a couple times as we met at our lockers. Unfortunately for one of us, the lockers happened to be side by side. Whatever Veronica had said to her must have sunk in because she was the same, but different.

  I briefly mulled over whether I missed being unwanted by her or receiving the attention she wanted to provide as she proceeded to ramble on and on. The rambling was about how absurd the teachers all seemed to act and how she didn't know whether are not she should shoot for the honor roll or hover around in the good solid average student land.

  "Average student," I mumbled, before sliding it the blob of students scooting to class.

  "Bye. See you on the bus," Darby hollered.

  I waved over my head at her and moved on down the hall to last block.

  Veronica wasn't there beside me. Where could she have gone, I wondered? I knew it must have been an issue regarding the screw up in her life - me.

  The class went smoothly enough as the teacher showed us a film about his trip to Spain to round out the day. This was after a mind numbing thirty eight minute, nineteen second dissertation about why he loved to learn new languages. The bell could not have sounded soon enough.

  I swept my book off the desk, and sauntered out the door. In the hall, I bumped into Liam and Logan.

  "What's up guys?" I queried, in low key fashion.

  Both smiled warmly as Liam pulled me into him with one of his gigantic arms.

  I thought for an instant I was about to be crushed by his brute force.

  He laughed and smiled as he ribbed at me with phantom punches to the ribs. "Next time don't pick out the biggest wolf in school to go head to head with before getting some back up."
/>
  Logan chimed in as Liam squeezed me tighter. "You may be in hot water with V, but you are okay in our book. Isn’t that right, Liam?"

  "Kid you got some balls, and if you ever need help we have got your back all the way except with Ronnie. She is major league pissed at you for endangering our mission. Veronica even got called to a meeting where the base sent a private car to carry her home," Logan stated.

  "But it is cool Bro. If anybody can talk you out of this it is her. She will take care of the problem so don't sweat it," Logan added.

  If it hadn't been for Liam holding me up I might have collapsed. "I know Veronica will, but I am not sure she will want to since she warned me to keep all of our troubles to the Farm. I let her down."

  The other guys got quiet as we all arrived at our lockers.

  Darby was blocking mine, but of course. "Don't forget we need to talk after the feeding tonight. You are coming right?"

  I looked to the guys for help and they were nodding in unison at the guys. "Yes, you know I will."

  Logan walked up to us. "Tonight is going to be killer! I can't wait for a taste of fresh. It has been so long."

  Liam muscled in on us as he threw his arm around me again. "It’s going to be sweet! We get to see our baby boy, Ethan, here sink his fangs into some strange."

  They all laughed.

  He and Logan issued weird imaginary high fives.

  I wasn't sure about how I was supposed to feel about all of this feeding business, but since they were so enthused I decided to let it spread to me. A sheepish grin fixed across my face as we began to head to the bus a different group than this morning. Unfortunately, trouble arrived in the form of Chloe.

  Chloe made sure the campus was mostly deserted before attacking. She had waited until we cleared the school doors to pounce. Chloe sprung with the assuredness of a jungle cat. Strong and fluidly she divided our group by knocking down Darby and Logan, who was on either side, forcing me into a nearby fountain with her momentum. She held me down as I struggled to get up. The forceful vampire pushed and pushed down on my head. Closer to the water I became as I struggled.