by Rich, Mark
The police finally arrived and began shooting at the zombies, but there were too many of them and the two officers were both overwhelmed. But one of the officers was able to call back for up.
"They have taken over the whole block I tell you!" a police Sargent informs his captain, "I think we have to do the whole block!"
"You know what that means. That means that no telling how many innocent people will be killed!"
"I know, captain. But after seeing what’s going on over there, I don't think we have a choice. "The police captain took a moment to contemplate his next step and then ordered "Go ahead and drop it! We will have the bird in the air in ten minutes!"
The sounds of the approaching helicopter could be heard in the crack house. Fran lay in the front room dead and in the front yard Judabug and Baby Rat had become the neighbors dinner.
"I see them! Unbelievable! What would make people act like that?"
"At this point I don’t know and don't care!" the helicopter pilot tells his co-pilot.
"We’re above the target!" the pilot alerts police command. They’re stationed two blocks from the street the crack house is on. The captain gives the word,
"Deliver The Package!" A round basketball size black object, is released from under the helicopter and after the helicopter gets some distance, there is a large ‘Boom!’ And, then nothing but smoke.
The next day in front of where the crack house stood, there is nothing but mangled wood and debris. The whole neighborhood has been demolished. The police captain and a woman from eyewitness news describes what happened. "As you know this area has been drug infested for years now. It all finally came to halt early this morning. Our officers were attempting a raid on the crack house across the street. The dealers inside refused to come out and then decided on suicide, rather than face the long arm of the law!"
"They were some very dangerous individuals. It took a lot of explosives to do this much damage to a whole city block!"
"So you’re saying the dope dealers in that house caused all this destruction?"
"That's right. They blew themselves and the rest of the block up with them"
"What type of explosives did they have?"
"That's all I am at liberty to say about this now. There will be more info to give after we complete our investigation!"
"Thanks for the interview captain!"
"My pleasure!"
Ten miles away on the other side of town.
"Hey baby did you see what happened to the spot on Lennox?"
"Yeah! I heard it on the radio. I stopped by there on the way to work last night. I got us a fat fifty. Judabug sold it to me for twenty dollars. Those fools had a gang of dope last night! Luckily I coped before the explosion!"
"I hope Judabug and them ninjas at the house are alright!"
"Those fools probably made it. Break me off some of that. I want a hit!"
Blackula
My name is Kenny Allbright, I am a eighth grade school teacher here in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA. I moved here just about three months ago right before the school year started. All had been quiet and normal around here, until the rumors of vampires started circulating.
Who knows how long this had been going on, but the first time I heard of it was when Leon was attacked. Leon, a local Real Estate agent, was found one morning completely drained of blood with two neat puncture wounds in his throat. I must confess at first I acted the part of the big skeptic.
"Vampires? are you guys serious? This is the twenty first century! Leave the Vampire tales for the Sci-Fi channel! Plus you’re scaring the women and children with those wild stories!"
"Mr Allbright, we respect your opinion. So you think it's someone just trying to make the murders look like a vampire?"
"Exactly!"
But the next time a full moon rosethe vampire struck again. This time the victim was a lawyer, Mr Wallner. When he was found drained of his blood with the same two neat puncture marks in his throat, there was nothing I could say. I could hear others talking about the murders in the teachers’ lunch room.
"That last one proved it. There really is a Vampire out there!" That night a search party was formed with the police they searched the neighborhood all night looking for clues.
By the next morning they all came back home disappointed and empty handed.
"What are we going to do now?" one of the search party team asked the police chief in charge of the search.
"Nothing more we can do, than patrol the streets at night and keep all women and children indoors at night."
After that, everything was quiet for a while. Then two months passed with no vampire attacks. The suburbs’ tense nerves began to slacken and the night patrols were discontinued. It was just about that time that a new kid started in my class – a Johnny Turner
"Hey class! Johnny here is your new classmate. Tell him hi! I want all of you to try and be friends and welcome him!" And then just so the new kid wouldn't feel like a stranger I asked him a few questions in front of the class. "Johnny,I want you to tell us all about yourself! First what type of work does your father do?"
"My Daddy is a Vampire!" The class laughed but I did not find it funny at all, especially with the recent murders and all.
"I am going to have to ask you to apologize to the class, Johnny!"
"No! It's true my father is really a vampire!" At that point, knowing that some of his classmates could have been directly affected by the murders, I became angry and grabbed Johnny.
"I never want to hear you say that in this class room again! Do you understand me?"
The boy had tears in his eyes and just remained silent. At the end of the school day I wrote Johnny's father a note I made Johnny stay after school that day and sent the note home with him. The next few nights I began having the same nightmare: little Johnny and his daddy the vampire had me cornered in an alley. Every morning I would wake up in a cold sweat. That following Monday morning I could hear other teachers in the hall talking among themselves.
"Something’s wrong with Mr Allbright. He has been looking sick lately!"
"Yeah I noticed it, too. He has been walking around in a daze all week."
Every day I would ask Johnny: did his father read the note? Every morning Johnny said: yes, but still no answer.
Then another full moon. And the vampire struck again. The next morning, Johnny brought back a written reply from his father, stating he was to busy to come to the school to meet. But if it was possible, for me to come to their house this evening for dinner. Later that evening I approached the dark and quiet house. It's at least ten miles from town with no street lights and nothing but the full moon to light the dark evening.
Before I can ring the doorbell the door swings open.
"You must be Johnny's father?"
"Mr Allbright, how nice of you to come please step inside. My son is over his aunt’s house. So we’re alone. I thought it best when discussing his school work."
"Johnny is a very bright kid. I enjoy having him in my class." While I am talking about Johnny's school behavior, I slip a small compact mirror out of my coat pocket. But right at that moment,
"You shouldn't have done that, Allbright! Of course you can't see my reflection in the mirror. I am a Vampire, my son told you didn't he?" He transformed in almost the blink of an eye from a mild-mannered black man in his fifties to a grotesque man sized bat.
But what was really terrifying was the fact he still had his human face on the giant bat's body. He lunged at me but I was too fast. I was ready for him. He lunged again and managed to bite me on the hand.
And then his face expression turns to shock, as I at 6'4" and 260 pounds, transform myself into a giant sized bat as well, much bigger than Johnny's father.
"No! No it can't be!"
"But it is partner! Thismy town. I came here first. I refuse to share this town’s blood with anybody!"
The shock of me turning into a vampire bat twice the size of him had him in shock and then my
jagged teeth did the rest.
"I hope you sleep well without your blood!" I told Johnny's daddy as I sucked the last few drops from his lifeless body. After satisfying my blood lust, I turned back into the mild mannered Mr Allbright, drove back to town and had planned to retire for the evening. When I got out of my car, I heard little demons running up behind me I turned and I could see them there were at least twelve of them. I killed another vampire. Maybe I transgressed the law of the living dead. They have come to get me. So I ran as fast as I could until I went over a hill at the end of our block. I could hear someone behind me.
"Watch out there's a spiked fence down there!"
And then the pain of a stake through my heart. It's the only way to kill a Vampire like me. Then I could faintly hear the small children's voices.
"Why did Mr Allbright run like that? It was easy to see that we were only wearing Halloween mask and costumes."
"Yeah, I never seen anyone that scared before."
"I have the strength for one last grim smile. What an old fool I have been! Johnny's father's bite on my han, must have made me delusional. I totally forgot - tonight's Halloween!
Drug Ship
"Blast them, Gilcrease! What are you waiting for?" M-16 gunfire erupts, twenty five miles outside of the San Diego coast line. Coast Guard sailors battle dope runners on a small smuggling ship. After the gun battle there is no further contact with the Coast Guard vessel.
The next morning.
"We've had a lot of reports about a small vessel docked outside the port, carrying contraband! We sent a scout boat out, but it hasn't returned and we haven't had any further contact since. I want you to go and investigate. You can get the ship’s last location from the officer on deck!"
"Okay, sir. We'll shove off at 0800!" The amphibious assault craft officer debriefs the crew.
"We'll be heading south, men, looking for a drug running vessel. We have already sent a boat crew out and now they’re missing! Stay Alert!"
The assault craft hits a heavy patch of fog.
"We should be approaching that last location, Pete. Real interested to find out what happened to that last crew!"
"I just hope we find them safe!" The dense fog suddenly settled around the cruising boat, shutting off all visibility. And then, suddenly…
"Ship ahoy! Unidentified craft off the starboard bow!" the boat watchman shouts out. "Looks mighty quiet, Pete.I can't see one soul stirring on that boat from here! There is the boat we sent earlier. It's still tied off the side of the ship. Get the men ready to board the ship. If we’re not back in two hours, send over another party, it shouldn't take any longer than that!"
"Aye, Aye, sir!"
The small attack boat approached the merchant marine ship slow and cautiously.
"What in the world?"
The Coast Guard boat crew could see a thick black substance floating on top of the water surrounding the ship.
"What is that? Its moving like it's alive."
Once the men boarded the ship.
"I thought, I just saw something move over there! Halt this is the United States Coast Guard!" But the three zombie-like creatures continued to creep up on the Coast Guard sailors.
"I said halt!" One of the junior seamen yells out at the half dead-looking man.
"Fire at will!" The ship's deck is immediately filled with M-16 gunfire. The Zombies began to speak as they were shot down.
"Get way from this boat. Get out of here!"
Behind the creatures on the floor, the black slime that was in the water was slowly creeping up on them. It covered the ship's deck.
"Pete, look at that stuff. It's swallowing those things whole!"
"I have never seen anything like that in my life!"
"Did you notice those things were wearing Coast Guard uniforms?"
"Yeah I did." They finally found the captains quarters.
"Let's check inside and see if we can find his log. Maybe it will help us find out what's going on around here."
"I wonder why those things were telling us to go back and to leave the ship."
"Look Pete, that black goo is right behind us, like it's following us. I am not get eaten alive by this stuff!" The young seaman begins firing his M-16 into the black mud like substance. Bullets ricochet all around their heads.
"Are you crazy? Stop firing that weapon, now!"
I'm getting out of here. I'll wait for you on the boat!"
"Johnson Watch out!" The black slime attaches itself to the body of the sailor and begins consuming him.
"It's sucking the skin right off of his bones!"
"It's got Johnson I got to save him!"
"It's too late, Pete, he’s gone! No doubt about it, this thing is alive and it feeds on human flesh."
"It's blocking us off!"
"Captain look at your face! It looks like the men Johnson shot down earlier!"
"Yours to Pete, the spores from that black slime have gotten to us!"
"The two hours are almost up they should be boarding the ship any moment!"
"That may be our only hope of getting out of here alive!"
Three more Coast Guard sailors, packing M-16s, close in on Pete and the Captain.
"They look like the walking dead!"
"Go back leave the ship! Save yourselves! I don't know what those things are, but they’re not going to stop us from saving the captain. Let ‘em have it!"
The sailors mow down Pete and the captain. After firing the weapons, they don't even notice the black slime coming up behind them.
Haunted Mine
The mine workers ran out screaming for their lives and refused to return to work the Mexican silver mine.
"Yeah, it's bad boss. All of the workers quit. They swear there are ghosts in the mine shafts. I even offered them double time pay and they still refused! We will be landing in less than an hour. I am coming with our chief financial officer, Dean Holt."
"Good! You’re on your way. Because it's a mess down here!" The mine supervisor hangs up the phone and contemplates his next move.
"We’re almost there, Holt. What do you make of it?"
"Either the supervisor is mad or all of our workers have lost it! The previous owner had the same trouble, Stevenson. Hard to keep good workers when they’re that superstitious! We will have this straightened out shortly!"
A few hours later in front of the mine’s supervisor shack.
"What they’re talking about is crazy! Ghost in the mine? Come on!"
"I know! But the workers take this stuff very seriously and they refuse to work."
"We are losing millions over some crazy superstition! Listen, Fred, if you can't get a handle on this, maybe we need to find someone else to supervise the mine!"
"There is more to it than just a local superstition. But maybe I should start from the beginning. Six months ago when you had the mine reopened, we found a new vein in the lower shafts. ‘We will start working here’, I instructed the miners. Everything went well until last week."
"Amigos look shadows creeping toward us!"
"WHAT IS THAT!" the miners heard death curling screams and heavy breathing.
"This mine is cursed!"
"And since then the men refuse to go into the mines. I know there must be some way to get them to back to work." "The only way they say they will go back to work, is if two people die!" Both of the mine executives started laughing.
"This voodoo crap gets funnier by the minute! It would really be funny if we weren't losing so much money." I will talk to the workers myself Stevenson tells the two men.
The worker everyone listened to was Hosea. The two businessmen conferred with him and almost begged him to convince the workers to return.
"The only way the curse can be broken is if two people die in the mine!"
"What is it you want Hosea, more money, stock options, what?"
"I have no use for your money, I am just telling you the curse will not be lifted until two people die!" The two mining exec
s left angry!
"There is another angle to this, I just have to figure it out. I am thinking maybe a competitor has gotten to Hosea and the men. Let's go to the mine and look around."
By the time the two reached the mine it was getting dark.
"Why don't we wait until tomorrow Stevenson, when we will have more light?"
"Nonsense I am getting to the bottom of this now! I am started to think, maybe they found a new vein they’re not telling us about." Then the two men heard a loud shriek
"What was that!" Holt asked with a look of fear on his face.
"I don't know Holt, be quiet let me try and figure out where it came from!" Both men began shaking in fear. They could see the shadows the mine workers had told everybody about. And the shadows got closer.
"Oh, no! It can't be! It's that Mexican foreman who died in the mine collapse three years ago. Pedro Gomez!
"That's right, gentlemen. I died and my family suffered due to your greed." Stevenson pulled out a .38 revolver and began shooting at the ghost. The dead foreman just laughed.
"Your guns are useless!"
The two ran frantically trying to find an exit but got lost.
"Wait, this is the entrance to the old mine that killed Gomez!"
"Who cares Holt, we need to hide here for a while. I think were safe here." And for a brief moment there was silent and calm. Then the mine started to shake rocks and debris began falling on the two men. They tried to fight off the rocks but the collapse was to powerful and they eventually were buried beneath the mine quarry’s rocks. I saw them go into the mine a worker that camps out close to the mine told Fred the supervisor. The next day the men finally cleared enough debris to retrieve the dead execs. Once the rocks were moved away, all the men present stopped and stared in shock.
Both men had been beheaded. Their heads were on the top of two wooden stakes buried in the ground.
"Well this is good news and bad news. The good news is, you guys can go back to work now!"
"The bad news: it looks like we’re going to be getting a new owner." Stevenson tells his workers as they continue to stare at the two heads of the execs in horror.