The Night Killers

by Senese, Rebecca M.

  “Yes.”

  A waitress came over and stood silent.

  “Scotch,” Rick said. “Bring the bottle and two glasses.”

  She nodded and headed away.

  “How many from your squad?” Ted said.

  “Just me,” Rick said. “But we’d already lost Raj and Peter.”

  Ted shook his head and drank from his beer. “Idiots. They got three from our squad. I heard something about the Scourge being disbanded and sent to other squads. Is that happening to the Night Killers?”

  Rick shrugged. “I haven’t heard anything.”

  The waitress returned with the scotch and two glasses. Rick poured generous portions and slid a glass to Ted.

  “To fallen comrades.”

  “Let there be no more of them,” Ted said.

  Not likely, Rick thought, not the way things were going. They drank.

  Without the sun, Rick couldn’t tell the passage of time in the bar. The level of scotch in the bottle shrank. When it was almost gone, Ted ordered another bottle. They kept drinking. Rick found he had to concentrate to make sure he poured into the glasses. A couple of times on his turn to pour, Ted splashed some scotch on the table. Terrible waste, Rick thought. Almost as much of a waste as them having to sit here when they should be out with their squads, doing their job.

  “Don unnerstand it,” Ted said.

  “Don try,” Rick said. “Have ‘nother drink.” He tipped the bottle and dribbled more into Ted’s glass. Pretty good shot, Rick thought since there where two of everything.

  The sound of a throat clearing caught his attention. He looked up. Two men in uniform blurred in front of him. Rick shook his head, forced his eyes to focus. The two men pulled together into one. The uniform became clear and he recognized the buzz cut and square jaw. Across the table, Ted finished his drink and slammed the glass down on the table.

  “Not thirsty any more,” he said. “I’ll pay for my bottle at the bar. See you, Rick.” He pushed himself up and walked away. He didn’t stagger once.

  “Need another report, General? Want me to sanitize another one?” Rick said. “Maybe you haven’t heard the news. I’m out of the vampire hunting business.”

  “I’ve heard, Captain,” Mitchell said. “I’m sorry for what’s happened.”

  Rick put out a hand. “No, not a Captain anymore. Resigned. Didn’t you get the memo?”

  Mitchell sighed and sat down in the chair Ted had vacated. Rick wanted to point out that he hadn’t asked the man to join him but he was having a hard enough time holding Mitchell in focus.

  “I’m sorry it worked out this way,” Mitchell said. “There was nothing I could do.”

  “And you did it very well. The nothing, I mean. Excellent job.” Rick lifted the bottle. It felt oddly empty. The last drops splashed into the bottom of his glass, not even covering it. Damn shame.

  Mitchell frowned. “I have the USC to think about, not just a bunch of squad members bad mouthing and threatening treason.”

  The bottle hit the table with a thud. Now Mitchell was definitely in focus.

  “Treason, is that what you think?”

  Mitchell leaned forward. “Look, Captain, the USC is under a lot of pressure right now. There’s increasing resistance to fund us at all. It’s all I can do to keep any squads operating outside, even at a minimum.”

  “I understand.” Rick nodded. “You are just taking care of the USC.”

  “That’s right,” Mitchell said.

  “Just covering your own ass.”

  A vein jumped along Mitchell’s jaw as he clenched his teeth. “Now you look,” he said.

  “No,” Rick said. “You look.” His voice rose and carried through the bar. What little conversation there was ceased.

  “You hung us out to dry,” Rick said. “We spend years protecting this city and you couldn’t even cover us for a few days. You sit in your cosy office, fretting over your budget as our members are fighting and dying outside this dome. You think this dome will protect you without the squads? No chance. This dome won’t last a week without the squads to patrol outside. You have no idea what’s going on out there.”

  The creases that had been deepening in Mitchell’s forehead smoothed out. “What do you mean? What’s going on out there?”

  Rick waved a hand and lifted the glass. “Nothing.” He swallowed the final mouthful.

  “What is it?”

  “I said nothing.” Rick slammed the glass down on the table. “I don’t have any further reports for you, General. Good day.”

  He stood up from the table. His legs wobbled a bit then steadied as he started moving. He headed for the bar, pulling out a credchit to pay. Probably his last for a while.

  The bartender waved him away. “You’re paid up.”

  Rick saw the stack of chits in front of him, various colors, indicating various owners. Rick gave the man a salute and pivoted to share it with the bar. A few murmurs reached him as he turned away and headed for the door.

  Shadows crested over the tops of the buildings as Rick exited the bar. He must have been in there for hours. The day was almost gone. He should be hungry but the thought of food left him numb, or maybe he was numb already.

  Footsteps behind him made him reach for a nonexistent gun. A thick hand descended on his shoulder.

  “At least let me make sure you get home, Rick,” Mitchell said.

  Rick didn’t want to argue so he allowed the general to walk with him. Their footsteps echoed in the street. Hazy double images of their shadows marched ahead of them, leading the way, at least it looked like that to Rick. Whatever righteous anger he felt was being diluted by the alcohol. He regretted that, he wanted to hold onto it but holding onto the anger meant holding on to the pain too. Better to just let the booze wash it all away. For now.

  At the door to his room, he turned to Mitchell. “This is me.”

  “Yes, it is, Captain.”

  “I tol’ you…”

  “I know. You aren’t a captain any more.” Mitchell reached out and grabbed Rick’s arm, steadying him on his feet.

  “Listen to me, Rick, you’ve got a lot of skill and knowledge and I won’t let that go to waste. Come and see me tomorrow. You can still do some good for the USC.”

  Rick closed the door in Mitchell’s face. Darker shadows marked the furniture in the gloom. He managed to yank off his jacket before he bumped his shins against the bed. He sat down on the thin mattress and worked to kick off his boots. His hands and feet felt uncoordinated then the boots came off. He lay down on the mattress, staring at the ceiling. Late afternoon light barely penetrated the curtain over the window.

  Were the Night Killers still out there, he wondered. Were they off on long range reconnaissance or was this a short jaunt? Maybe if he hadn’t been snippy with Sami she would have told him. But she could have left word and she hadn’t. No word at all. Just left him behind to wallow in his misery.

  The thoughts whirled in his head until sleep came and took him down into a deeper darkness.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Sami pushed her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose, blocking as much of the bright sunlight as possible. Her head pounded, first the strain of losing Peter and Raj, then Rick being kicked off the squad and rejecting her and now Michael. He sat across from her in the van, wearing those fatigues as if it was some kind of costume, even down to the stakes strapped around his waist. Would he even know where to put them if they were faced with vampires?

  Thank god there was no chance with the sun so high in the sky. Druthers had better keep his promise and make sure this was just a one day patrol, she thought. She’d hate to think of having another loss in the squad but she’d make sure that loss was him.

  The Sister sat beside the other boy. She’d been trying to get him to talk but he didn’t say a word. His rigid posture was like a statute, the only movement the muscles on the back of his hands as he clenched the fabric of his pants.

  Michael avoided Sami’s gaz
e. He had turned to look out the window. In the sunlight, his red hair glowed. Was he even using a beard regrowth inhibitor yet?

  The whine of the engine lowered. The van bumped to a halt. After a moment, the back door opened. The sunlight pounded into Sami’s brain, even through her sunglasses. She suppressed a wince and jumped out.

  A small cluster of buildings stood before them. An old suburb; Sami recognized it from other practice runs. They’d driven vampires out of here several times in the early years. Cracked asphalt driveways led up to deserted houses. Several listed to one side as if leaning away from a strong wind. Others looked like they were sinking into the desert; sand drifted up to the windows and flowed in through the doorways. Hot air shimmered off the sands and ruined roadway.

  Josh and Druthers climbed out of the front of the van. Even in the still heat, Druthers looked crisp and cool in his uniform. Both Michael and the other boy, Neil, wilted. How long had it been since they’d been outside the city, outside the climate control of the dome?

  “This is a training run for our new recruits,” Druthers said. “You’ll get to see how a squad operates and what’s expected of you. You will participate in reconnaissance, note possible locations of hideouts for IHs, and plan responses. Any questions?”

  Sami and Sister Theresa exchanged glances. The Sister lifted her arm.

  “Yes, Sister.”

  “What’s an ‘IH’?”

  “Infected hostile.”

  “Do you mean the vampires?”

  Druthers stiffened. “Official terminology is ‘infected hostile,’ Sister.”

  “Really? I’ve never seen an ‘infected hostile’ tear the throat out of anyone but I’ve seen vampires do it.”

  Sami looked away to stop from laughing. She heard Josh cough; his usual way of covering a laugh.

  “We will start our patrol now,” Druthers said. “Would you stay back with the van, Sister?”

  The Sister smiled and leaned against the door, crossing her arms. “Happy to.”

  Druthers paused, then waved at them to gather their equipment. Sami grabbed a semi automatic and a smaller hand gun that she shoved into her belt. As the others started down the asphalt path, she leaned over to the Sister.

  “I think that stick up his ass just hardened into a pole of steel rebar.”

  The Sister snorted a laugh. Sami grabbed two hands axes and followed.

  She caught up to Josh and passed him an axe. He nodded thanks and slipped the handle through his belt loop. He carried his shotgun at the ready.

  Druthers led the way. Michael and Neil flanked him. They both held shotguns. Sami could tell from the way the guns wavered that the boys weren’t familiar with the weight of them. How much training had they had? Michael must have been training before she came back. Was that part of the tension with Gran?

  They reached the first house. Yellow wood had been bleached in the sun to the colour of dried bone. The door was shut. Shards of glass hung in the empty windows. The bright sun didn’t penetrate far into the gloom in the house. Josh and Sami separated and came at the house from either end. Druthers walked up to the front door. He gestured at Michael and Neil. They approached along the cracked front walk until the captain stopped them with another gesture.

  “Notice the flanking maneuver of the other squad members. This helps prevent any forward attack from taking out everyone on the team.”

  The boys nodded. Neil looked like he wanted to write it down.

  “We’ll head in from here.” Druthers turned back to the door. He drew out his pistol and reached for the door knob. It didn’t move. Probably seized shut, Sami thought but she wasn’t going to volunteer any information. Let Druthers figure it out for himself.

  When the knob didn’t turn, he pushed at the wood. It groaned and the boys jumped back. Sami looked across at Josh. He finally took a deep breath and walked over.

  “Shall I open it, captain?” he said.

  Druthers stepped back. One hand pushed his hair into place. “Yes, lieutenant, please do.”

  Josh planted himself in front of the door. He took two deep breaths, bent his knees, then kicked out hard with his right leg. Air burst out of his lungs in a yell. The door snapped back with a screech of rusted iron and breaking wood.

  Dust floated in the air, blocking the view. Sami squinted to see through the doorway but she was too far away. Staying at the same angle, she shifted forward. Josh held his shotgun at ready as he advanced toward the doorway.

  “I think we should have our new team mates go first, lieutenant,” Druthers said.

  Sami clenched her teeth. Was Druthers purposely being an ass? Rookies did not enter uncleared premises first. They came in as backup.

  Josh moved to the side of the doorway and turned his head. Sami could tell he was still keeping an eye on the interior of the house.

  “Respectfully, sir, that is against standard procedure.”

  “It might be standard for you,” Druthers said. “But I want the new lads to get a taste of squad life right away. They can’t do that hiding in the background.” He gestured to Michael and Neil. “Step up, privates.”

  Michael’s head started to turn toward Sami then he stopped. His hands whitened on the rifle he carried. He took a step forward.

  “Come on, private, let’s go. We can’t spend all day on one house,” Druthers said.

  Sami wanted to whack him across the back of his head with her gun. She felt the muscles in her arms tighten with her desire but she stopped herself. She didn’t want to be court-martialled and drummed out of the squad. Who would look after Michael then?

  As Michael approached the door with Neil behind him, Sami saw Josh dip his head. His lips moved. Giving pointers to Michael. It was almost as good as doing it herself. Josh looked up and she nodded at him. He inclined his head to acknowledge her.

  Michael slipped inside the house. Neil followed, edging in, right foot moving forward, then his left. Josh moved to follow.

  “Stop there, lieutenant, I want the lads to investigate the house themselves.”

  “With all due respect,” Sami said. “They are not qualified to clear a house.”

  Druthers turned to her. “Are you questioning my orders, lieutenant? That could be construed as insubordination.”

  “Merely pointing out that under regulations, I would need to report such unorthodox orders up through the chain of command.” Sami made sure her tone stayed level no matter how much she wanted to snap his neck. “I’m sure General Mitchell would find it very interesting.”

  She watched that adam’s apple in Druthers’s neck shift up and down. He spun away from her to Josh.

  “Follow them in, lieutenant.”

  “Yes, sir.” Josh took one step.

  A boy’s yell reverberated from the house.

  Josh was through the door before Sami took two steps. She charged after him, pushing past Druthers who stood unmoving in the way. He stumbled but she didn’t stop to see if he fell.

  As she moved into the darkness, she yanked the sunglasses off her face and stuffed them in her pocket. Her eyes took an agonizing moment to adjust and although she wanted to rush head long, she did what any good vampire hunter did. She waited and then moved.

  The yelling fell off into whimper. A shot rang out to her left. Josh. She ran down the hallway.

  It ended in a large room with the ceiling caved in, blocking half of the door. Josh had moved into the room. From this angle, he was the only person she could see. He was pointing his gun toward the caved in debris.

  Where was Michael?

  Her heart pounded and she wanted to dash forward. She took a deep breath and forced herself to move by inches. In confined spaces like this, she knew she had to be careful. Josh deserved the best backup she could give him. Besides, she was a professional. Time to act like it. Show this idiot Druthers what it meant to be a member of the Night Killers.

  Her footing became surer. She stepped forward, scanning the hallway and the room. As she rea
ched the half blocked door, she looked back to make sure nothing was behind her then she slipped into the room.

  A quick look showed her Michael backed up against the wall to her left. Josh still stood in the center, shotgun pointed around a large piece of hanging ceiling. Sami came around him and saw a male vampire crouching in the corner. He held Neil by the throat, using the boy as a shield. Dust and debris on the vampire told Sami he’d been using the cave-in as a nest. One glance at Josh’s frowning face and she knew he was thinking the same thing; if there was one vampire nesting this close to the city, there were others.

  They had to kill this one before it could warn them.

  Sami leveled the submachine gun at the vampire. It snarled, shifting Neil’s body to cover more of its own. The boy whimpered. His right arm hung at an odd angle. His left hand opened and closed compulsively. Sami saw a stake lying on the debris, several feet away. Even trapped, the boy was trying to reach for it. She felt a lump block her throat. He was being so brave. She was going to do everything she could for him.

  Josh shifted away from her, moving toward the right. The vampire hissed, moving Neil again. Sami took a step to the left, widening the gap between her and Josh. The vampire’s gaze darted between them. It snarled in frustration; she recognized the whine in its voice. She took a larger step. Now she had a clear shot at its right side. A good blast would shred its leg but she might still hit the boy. She needed a better angle.

  The sound of Josh chambering a round in the shotgun caught the vampire’s attention. Its head jerked in Josh’s direction. Sami jumped to her left. Now she could aim. Her finger tightened on the trigger. The gun jerked in her hand.

  The vampire roared. The first few shots missed its head by an inch. It ducked its head down. Its hand tightened on Neil. He screamed.

  The vampire pulled. The boy shrieked. Sami shouted as the vampire dug its claws into Neil’s torso and wrenched him in two. Blood splashed the floor, spraying on the wallpaper and carpeting. He flung the two pieces into the air at Sami and Josh. Legs came flying at Sami. She jumped back, feeling warm blood hit her face. Michael screamed and sobbed. Josh cursed.