by Phil Price
“It looks like the forest falls away into the earth,” Bertie said, his mouth feeling dry.
“It does,” Jake agreed. “The whole forest is like a sink hole. We need to get down into the centre of it. That’s where we need to be. Do you remember Mungo?”
“Yes. It’s coming back to me now. Lead on Jake.”
☨☨☨
A few minutes later, two figures emerged from Amatoll. They stood on the track, looking straight ahead at another forest. Other figures emerged behind them, gradually converging in one big group. Lars turned to them all. “I can feel something. A coldness in the air. Can you feel it?” His clan nodded, eager to follow him. “We will look in there,” he said pointing into the opposite forest.
“Be ready for anything,” Coop said to the clan as they started across the track. Into the Vale.
The three men stood at the bottom of the forest. It was deathly quiet. Bertie felt like the trees were looking at him. They’d all noticed tendrils of mist that were floated through the trees. No animals could be seen or heard as they had made their way ever downwards. Jake checked his weapons, his leg throbbing. He’d forgotten to douse his wounds in holy water. He quickly took off his pack, sitting against a tree as he searched for the bottles.
“What are you doing?” Mungo asked.
“I was bitten by one of them. Now I must clean the wound every so often. It keeps my leg healthy. When I don’t do this, it hurts,” he said as he unscrewed the bottle. He knew where the wounds were under his trousers, generously soaking the fabric. As a few drops hit the forest floor they sizzled, as if landing in a hot pan. Jake looked at the two men. “They are close by. Are we set?” Both men nodded, their slingshots and stakes ready. Mungo had the cross tucked into his waistband, Jake knew he would need it. They headed down the rough stone steps as quietly as they could. It grew darker and darker until they were stood in a dark passageway. Jake motioned for the men to come closer. “I’ve never been down the left-hand passage. The right leads to the main ante chamber. The cells are that way too. If Father Stephen is here, that’s where we should find him. Okay. Stay close.” They walked into the low-slung corridor that seemed hewn from the black rock. A few torches further down offered a brief respite to the cloying darkness. Jake took the lead, his shotgun aimed ahead. He stopped suddenly. Bertie and Mungo bumped into him in the darkness.
“What is it?” Mungo whispered.
“I thought I heard voices. Be ready. It may get very ugly, very quickly.” They edged forward, their backs against the damp rock. The first cell came into view. Jake’s eyes widened in shock when he saw not one, but two men sat on straw mattress. Tony Oakes. What the fuck! Jake thought as the two men looked up. Jake put his finger to his lips as he made his way over. Mungo and Bertie followed until the five men were only separated by iron bars. Jake smiled in relief as he looked up at the vicar. “Father Stephen. God, I’m so glad I found you,” he whispered. He looked at the police officer. “Tony. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Long story. I’ll explain once we’re away from this dive. Room service is a bitch!”
“This is Mungo and Bertie. They’re friends of mine. Mungo, Bertie, this is Father Stephen and Tony.” The four men nodded as one. “Who else is here?” Jake asked.
“Elias and Eddie are here. Along with two others.” Father Stephen suddenly had a huge decision to make. How would Jake react to the news? He needed to know. “Jake. Prepare yourself. One of the vampires is your mother.”
Jake stood there, his face a blank mask. It took a few seconds for the words to sink in. “Oh Christ. No!” Stephen reached through the bars, putting his paw on Jake’s shoulder.
“Sorry Jake. I had to tell you now. At least you are prepared in case she walks around the corner.” Jake walked over to the black rock, sliding down until was sat on the floor. He covered his face and silently wept. The four men stood watching for a few minutes, letting him grieve. He raised his head, his eyes impossible to see in the gloom. He climbed to his feet, walking over to them. Each man could see the rage in his eyes.
“He’s fucking dead. Elias is mine.” They all nodded, neither man thinking they should add anything. The look on Jake’s face was enough.
☨☨☨
Coop and Lars came to the bottom of the slope, waiting for the rest of the Cravens to catch up. When they were all there, Lars addressed them. “My kin. Listen up,” he said, his voice gentle. “This looks like a place where monsters could be hiding.” They all looked at the stone steps that led down into the darkness. A few uneasy murmurings floated to Lar’s ears. He pointed at a man and a woman who were stood at the back of the group. They both held axes in their hands. “Helen, Toben, you stay here and watch for anyone who tries to escape. Anyone who is not our kin, dies. Understood?”
“We understand,” Helen said, her voice much louder than her leaders. Her dirty blonde hair stuck to her face. Her teeth were blackened stumps. Toben nodded with her. His grey hair and beard almost running down to his belly. He was topless, his skinny arms mottled with dark bruises. A scar ran from his hair line, diagonally across his face. His one eye was a cloudy white orb. His nose sat a deformed ball of gristle on his face. His black mouth was devoid of teeth. They stood, axes ready for action.
Coop looked at the rest of his clan. “Be ready. Be a Craven,” he said. It seemed to give the clan a moral boost as a few chanted their name.
“Craven, Craven!”
“Quiet,” Lars hissed. “We need the element of surprise. No more talking from now. The clan fell silent, feeling admonished by their leader. One by one they headed down. Into the darkness below.
☨☨☨
“Oh no,” Jake said. They all had heard the voices drifting down from the forest. Jake clearly heard a word that made his stomach turn to ice.
“What is it Jake? Father Stephen said.
“I was attacked last night by some right nutcases. They wanted to eat me. It looks like they’ve followed me here.”
The four other men looked toward the entrance to the tunnel, their expressions grave. Father Stephen broke their trance. “What do we do?”
Jake took off his pack, pulling out the shotgun. He clipped the ammunition belt around his waist and checked the weapon was ready for use. He handed the pistol to Tony. “Take this. You’ve fired a gun before right?”
“Yes. But not for a while.” Jake gave him the spare clips hastily, dropping two on the floor. The noise echoed through the corridor as the five men collectively drew their breaths in. That was the last thing they needed.
☨☨☨
Lars put his hand on Coop’s arm. “Did you hear that?”
“Yes. Someone is down there.”
“This may be a trap. Be ready, Coop. Kill anything you see.” Coop nodded, his face set like stone.
☨☨☨
Eddie’s eyes open as the noise reverberated around the walls. He looked over at Elias whose eyes were also open. They looked at each other, exchanging the briefest of nods. Both vampires sat up, rousing the two others lying next to them. Eddie smiled. He could taste the sweetest aroma flowing through the cavern.
☨☨☨
“We’ve got to get you out of this cell,” Jake said urgently. He looked at the lock, sorely tempted to blast it off with his shotgun. Before he could ponder his options, he heard a noise coming from the entrance. He froze as two figures appeared, silhouetted against the light. They spotted the men, their weapons coming to bear.
“Fuckenhell,” Mungo said as he readied his slingshot. Bertie did the same. The two figures advanced slowly, coming to a halt ten feet away from the group of men.
“We meet again, outlander. I see you have found your friend. More food for us.”
Mungo pulled his slingshot taut, his arm quivering. “One more step and I’ll skewer you through the throat. You and your boy.” Lars looked at Coop. He suddenly realised their predicament. The rest of the Cravens were now gathered behind them. They were poised for
a melee.
“I see you have brought more guests for us Jake,” Elias said from behind them. Jake spun around, bringing the shotgun level. He looked at the giant vampire with the red glaring eyes, wanting nothing more than to pull the trigger. He knew though that if he did all hell would break loose. He had friends here with him. He needed to think. His eyes drifted from Elias to the figure stood next to him. What was once his beloved mother now looked at him inquisitively. Her mouth opened, revealing a black pit lined with grey teeth. Her canines almost reached her bottom lip, her tongue poking between them. She was hungry. She hissed at Jake, bringing goose bumps to his skin.
“Oh Mom. What has he done to you?” Jake said, the shotgun dropping a few inches. Tony watched behind the bars, trying to keep his eyes on both enemies. He could see the boy with the spear whispering to the group in the darkness. Tony could see they were getting ready to attack. He pulled back the slider on the gun, readying himself.
Stephen stood next to him, a large stake in his hand. He put his head close to Tony’s ear. “At the first sign of movement, shoot the padlock off. We’re bloody helpless in here.” Tony nodded, placing the barrel of the gun against the lock.
Karaa looked through steely eyes at the young man with the dark hair. She too, could smell him. Her fetid mouth slowly filled with spit as she gently rocked on her feet. “I want him, Eddie.”
“There will be enough to go around,” Eddie said, wondering who would make the first move.
“You’re mine Jake,” Elias said, taking a step forward.
Jake pulled the cross out from his waist band, holding it outstretched. It instantly came alive in his hand, a bright glow bathing the corridor in light. The four vampires recoiled in pain, the two women screaming curses.
“CRAVENS,” A voice boomed behind Jake as the inevitable happened.
☨☨☨
Mungo and Bertie let their barbs fly, impaling two attackers. They went down hard as two more took their place. The tall man and boy had shrunk back, letting the foot soldiers start the melee. Four more barbs flew in rapid succession, three fatally wounding their prey. The forth attacker suffered a flesh wound that dropped him to his knees as others pushed past. A loud shot rang out, slowing the attack momentarily. The old padlock hit the floor in two pieces, the cell door flung open as Father Stephen and Tony charged out.
“Help them. I’ll help Jake,” Stephen yelled as he pulled the cross from Mungo’s trousers. He turned, holding it aloft in the confines as he advanced on the vampires. They shrank back, even Elias giving ground on Jake and the vicar as they moved in on them.
Tony unloaded the gun into the oncoming masses, trying to hit as many as he could. He roared in defiance as several went down in the darkness. The magazine emptied, Tony swearing in anger as he tried to eject it to reload. He clicked the new magazine into place as Lars grabbed him by the throat, pushing him into the cell bars.
“You will taste so good after I cook you on my spit,” Lars spat into the policeman’s face.
“Fuck you!” Tony replied, grabbing the taller man by his clothing, throwing him into the cell. Lars hit the wall and fell to the ground hard. His eyes tried to focus on the figure coming towards him, scrambling to his feet to meet the attack. Lars had never been outmatched. He was taller than most men, full of wiry muscle that had been garnered from a lifetime of toil. He was shocked when the unknown foe had manhandled him so easily.
“Come on then, outlander,” he said as Tony crashed into him. The two men grappled for supremacy as the battle continued outside the cell. Lars fired a punch that hit Tony in the chest, bouncing off the rubbery muscle. The policeman never even registered the blow, firing his own punch into the taller man’s ribcage. The sound of breaking bones carried to their ears as Lars crumpled to the floor. He’d never been hit like that before. He knew at that moment he was a beaten man. A strong hand grabbed his beard, dragging him to his feet. He was ready for another crushing blow when the policeman’s hand let go of him. Lars looked into Tony’s eyes as a look of incomprehension appeared. He was about to speak when Coop’s spear shot out the front of his throat, coating Lars in a fine red mist. Tony tried a gargled curse before falling to his knees, the spear still embedded in his flesh. A foot on his shoulder and a sharp pull freed the spear, letting Tony fall to the cell floor, a dark puddle spreading underneath him. Coop was about to strike once more, Lars staying his hand.
“Let him die well. He fought like a beast who had the better of me. Leave him.”
Coop nodded, looking at his master. “You’re hurt,” he said as Lars held his side.
“I am. But I will not let that stop me.” They turned their attention back to the corridor as the fight ensued.
Jake and Father Stephen walked forward, herding the four vampires into a far corner of the crypt. The noises behind them made Jake turn around, alarmed to see the battle raging in the corridor. “I need to go help. Can you hold them here?” he said to the vicar.
“I can. Give me your cross. I don’t know how long I can keep them subdued. Do what has to be done.”
Jake handed him the cross and turned to face the cells. He walked forward purposefully, readying his shotgun. He looked into the cell, his face dropping. “Tony?” he said as he saw the policeman lay on his back in a puddle of blood. The wound in his neck told Jake that it was too late to help him. He brought his shotgun level, trying to find a target. He saw the two cannibals that he saw in the forest. The tall man and boy. The man seemed to be injured, the boy helping him out of the cells. Jake fired, the full force of the discharge taking them down, blowing the bodies back into the cell. “Oh no. Mungo!” Jake said as he rounded the bend into the main corridor. The big man with the Asiatic features was down, spears and axes chopping him to pieces. Bertie was further down the corridor, stabbing at anything within range. Many of the Cravens were lay sprawled on the wet stone floor, their blood pooling on the uneven ground. Bertie’s left arm fell to the floor, severed by a single axe blow. He fell against the wall as another blow cleaved his head in two. Jake screamed, unloading his shotgun into the throng of bodies. He cut a woman in two as she charged him. The blast deafening in the confines. Her innards slid out of her body as Jake fired again, hitting Bertie’s killer side on. Jake racked the barrel of the shotgun, the spent cartridge landing in a sea of bodies. Two more shots rang out, clearing a pathway for their escape. Jake reloaded the shotgun as a voice rang out to him.
“Jake. I can’t hold on much longer. My hands are almost on fire.”
Jake checked the corridor, satisfied that no threat remained. “Hang on Father,” he said as he caught sight of Bertie. The old man was sat against the wall, his ruined head lay on his slender shoulders. Jake wanted to retch but knew he was out of time. They had to get out of there. He spotted Mungo as he made his way back. He’d been decapitated. His body bore terrible wounds that Jake tried not to look at. “I’m so sorry Mungo.”
“Hurry Jake. The crosses are losing their power,” Stephen called, making Jake run back to the main cavern. He took the one cross off the vicar, noticing the older man looked weary.
“Let’s go,” he said as they backed away.
Elias stood, hissing at the retreating men. “You will not leave here alive. I promise you that.”
Jake fired the shotgun, hitting Elias in the chest, propelling him into the others. The two men backed away quicker until they were running back through the corridor towards the forest, Jake clicking his backpack on as he navigated the fallen bodies.
Eddie made to give chase, Elias’s hand holding him back. “Let them get into the forest. You and Karaa then can go after them. Lead them away from the doorway if you can. I want Jake somewhere else when it opens.” Eddie smiled, knowing what the giant was thinking. He motioned for Karaa to follow him, leaving Elias and Alison in the cavern.
☨☨☨
Jake and Father Stephen got to the bottom of the stairs as the younger man checked his shotgun. “Fuck. The handgun. Tony
had it.”
“You cannot go back for it now. We need to get out while we can.” Jake nodded reluctantly as the two men started to climb the steps into the forest.
Helen and Toben crouched behind two trees, the loud bangs and cries of pain filtering up into the forest. Mist had started swirling around their feet making them more on edge. Helen looked over at her mate. “What should we do?”
“We wait here. Lars told us to stay.” They heard a noise as two heads appeared from below. They both looked at the men who were coming up the steps close by where they were stood. Helen decided to make her move, her axe ready.
☨☨☨
“Which way Jake?” Stephen asked as they stood on the forest floor looking around. Jake tried to figure out which way the bike and cart would be when a noise pierced the forest.
“WAAAAAAA,” the woman screamed as she broke from her hiding place. Kenneth tried to duck her blow but he was too late. The axe’s flat head caught him square on the forehead, crumpling him to the floor. Jake was about to cry out when a man appeared before him. He too was swinging an axe, aimed at his head. Jake brought up the shotgun, firing off his last shot. It caught Toben in the chest, smashing him into a tree. He was dead before he hit the soft ferns on the forest floor.
“TOBEN,” the woman screamed, throwing herself at Jake. She barrelled into him, sending them sprawling on the forest floor. Before Jake could think she was on him, gouging at his face with her sharp, jagged nails. He grunted in pain as her thumb broke the skin on his cheek, raking his flesh. Her other hand was trying to take his eyeball out. Jake tried to wriggle from under her, stretching his neck as far away from her sharp nails as he could.
“AAAAAGH!” Jake screamed in pain as her nail dug into his eyelid, drawing blood. He threw a punch, connecting with the woman’s mouth, splitting her lip and snapping off two teeth. He felt the pressure on his cheek and eye lessen as the woman screamed in defiance. Shoving her off, he rolled to one side to escape. She was on him again, trying to bite his ear off from behind. Her blackened stumps tore a chunk of Jake’s hair off, making him scream again as he tried to get her off his back. Her legs were wrapped around him, her bony arms holding him in a headlock. He felt a sharp pain on his ear as she nipped the edge of his flesh. In desperation he grabbed her thighs, running backwards into a stout tree trunk. The back of his head caught her in the face, knocking her out cold. She slipped to the forest floor, blood seeping from the black pit of her mouth.