I smirked as I got my wish. Both Rob and I were in the final. Hopefully we would be going head to head. That was just how I wanted it.
I held my breath while watching the champion square lower. Thunderous applause came from the crowd as we four finalists waited for it to arrive. Rob snickered at me. Kristy, a very fit girl dressed all in red, didn't even look in my direction. A buff brute named Chris with a necklace of skulls wrapped around his neck, also kept his eyes away. Obviously Kristy and Chris were focused on winning, while Rob was simply set on humiliating me. I guess I was just too womanly for him, so he had nothing better to do than hate me. Oh well, that was too bad. I was gonna nail him.
With the champion square now level with the ground, we stepped on and took up our positions. Each of our individual squares were separated by thin red lines. I couldn’t believe I was a freakin finalist with the eyes of almost everyone in Vampire World on me.
Slowly the square rose again. The view of the audience wrapped around us was breathtaking, even though the cave-like darkness made it difficult to distinguish individual faces most of the time. However, bright scarlet flashes from the many cameras in use did momentarily illuminate small sections of those watching.
We were still rising and I was now too scared to look down. Heights had never been my friend, but I couldn’t let it get the best of me. Rob kept laughing. I knew he was going to be a big challenge.
Bam! The square suddenly stopped rising. I breathed a sigh of relief and forced myself to glance down. Whoa. We were perhaps three hundred feet in the air. Far below me I could see large blood-red nets ready to catch us if we fell. There were also ambulances on spot.
We were ordered to get set. The crowd began chanting the countdown.
“Five….four….three…two….one….”
GAME BATTLE
A fiery ball came out of the darkness, igniting a huge roar from the crowd. It landed in my individual square. Frowning with concentration, I spiked the ball into Rob’s space, optimistically hoping he would miss it. But of course, he didn’t. He slammed it back to me so hard that I was very nearly the one missing my shot. Fortunately, because we were allowed one bounce in our own square, I had enough time to direct my fire at Chris.
The ball soared around a couple of times. We were pretty evenly matched, though I knew that a cheating Rob could only compete at this level thanks to his special blood. He obviously hadn't practiced anywhere near as hard as me.
The main platform started to spin, rapidly increasing in speed when I pounded the ball yet again in Rob’s direction. As before, he was just too swift. Diving athletically close to the edge of his square, he knocked it over to Kristy.
“Suck it, bloodbitch….” he yelled in my direction. While mocking me, disgusting drool dribbled down his chin.
Now the game was getting really serious. Short handlebars magically morphed into each player’s square as the already spinning main square began to rise and fall sharply as well. I’d practiced under these kinds of conditions and velocities many times before, so it was nothing I couldn’t deal with. But the view of the floor so far below petrified the crap out of me, especially when the square dipped and I was forced to hold onto the handle bars with one hand while beating the ball with the other.
I continued to swing hard at the ball, hoping to knock someone off before I got tired. But I'd still had no success with this tactic when a green mist suddenly appeared and enshrouded the entire playing square. I could no longer see the crowd, or even my three opponents. For a brief tenth of a degree I panicked. I threw my hands in front of me. All I could hear was the roar of the crowd and the pounding of the ball.
Then, almost instantly, the mist cleared and I could see again. I gasped. The luminous fireball was only inches away from my face, courtesy of a grinning Rob across from me. With all my strength I swatted the ball away the best I could. It pummeled towards Kristy.
Entirely down to luck, my hit turned out to be amazingly accurate. The ball hit the perfect spot, just inside the left corner of Kristy’s square. She tried to dive for it but was not quite fast enough. It bounced off the playing square and into the air.
A thunderous cheer rose from the crowd. I'd just got Kristy out. With a look of terror on her pretty and somewhat innocent face, I watched as her individual square shook. Then a circle opened from under her and she plunged hundreds of feet into the net below.
There was little time for self-congratulations. The square was now spinning, rising and dipping with a ferocity that exceeded even the most difficult level three practice rounds. Nevertheless, I kept my balance when Rob effortlessly spiked the ball across to me. But I was beginning to tire. I wished I'd also had access to the special blood so we could compete on level terms.
Something frightening flashed across the indoor sky. The first holographic image was now coming our way. It was a monstrous jade dragon with ruby red eyes.
But I needed to keep my eyes on the ball as Rob flung it back at me again. With my section of the playing square plummeting down, I gripped the handlebars with one hand and managed to swat the fireball toward Chris with the other. It was clear to see that he was also growing weary.
The massive computer-generated dragon, which was probably controlled by some playing judge in a hidden cave suite, charged at Chris with knife-like talons extended, forcing him to drop down on his stomach to avoid being stabbed and eliminated. Even so, with the fireball zooming straight at him, he still somehow managed to punch the ball accurately to Rob.
As if in anger at being denied a victim, the dragon roared and unleashed a fiery blast that all three of us had to keep dodging as it cut through our individual squares. It zipped through my square just as a ball from Rob was bouncing in the left corner. But I ducked under the seething line of fire and swatted the ball toward Chris, who was next in line to get blasted by the fake flames.
By now drained, Chris still managed to play the ball well enough. But all his brawny muscles couldn’t save him this time. The dragon finally got its man and the flames cut through him. Not literally, of course. Nevertheless, the damage was done.
It took him a while to realize he’d been hit, even after he'd knocked the ball into Rob’s square with a satisfied smirk on his face. But with the circle of death slowly opening below his feet, his smirk turned to a look of dread. Then, without warning, his section of the playing square dipped sharply to an almost vertical angle, sending him tumbling over backwards. Unable to grip the handlebars, he plummeted to the net. The crowd's tumultuous cheers followed him down every foot of the way.
The dragon vanished and I gazed at Rob. “Looks like it’s just me and you, babe,” I said sarcastically, not letting him get the first line like he usually did. This is how I'd wanted it to be. I wanted to beat his cocky ass in front of the masses. Hell yes!
“I can’t wait to see you lying on the floor, smothered in your own blood,” he snarled back. “Everyone will be laughing at you and cheering for me.” Then, high as an emerald cloud, he giggled insanely.
Rob and I went head to head at full throttle. The main playing square rose and fell at unimaginable speeds, and all the time we needed to hold firm onto the handlebars in order to stay upright on our erratically dipping individual squares. Even so, we thundered the ball back and forth at each other with a ferocity that only the worst of enemies can muster.
A faceless beast that resembled the Grim Reaper appeared in the center of the main square. It held a thick, maroon-colored stake that contrasted starkly with its black garments. The image invaded my square, jabbing at my mid-section with the stake, each jab accompanied by a loud cracking noise. I twisted my hips just in time to avoid the attacks, then, releasing the handlebar for an instant, used both hands to hammer the fireball at Rob.
The dragon returned, giving me the chilly realization that we now had to deal with two holographic beasts. It aimed its fire at Rob, while the stake-wielding cloaked monster also joined in with the assault. Rob's magic blood must have
been working overtime because he somehow dodged both attacks, and was able to knock the ball straight back into my face. Fortunately, I was quick enough to return fire.
But my frustration was growing. No matter what I threw at Rob, he never seemed to go away. I could hear him laughing and calling me bloodbitch. The dragon swung back in my direction, forcing me to jump aside. As I did so, my square dipped and I came dangerously close to falling over the edge. Only the handlebars saved me.
The fireball came whizzing back at me, closely followed by the cloaked monster. At the same time, a cloud of red dust engulfed the square. It was a miracle I was able to make any sort of contact with the ball in all this mess. I must have done though, because it vanished into a wall of dust, back toward Rob’s square for what felt like the thousandth time.
Suddenly, the ghastly stake stabbed out of the blinding dust. It was right in my face. I was forced to back away too far, and though the stake narrowly missed me, the damage was done. I slipped off the rear edge of the playing square. All at once there was nothing beneath my feet. Flashing through my mind was the horrible truth that I was about to lose to someone who didn’t freakin deserve to win.
Yet in the midst of the fall, I somehow had the quickness of mind to raise my arm. My desperately searching fingers found and grabbed the edge of the square. I was left precariously dangling from the rapidly rising and twisting platform, knowing I was only moments away from defeat.
With the crowd flashing in and out of view through the dust, the square took me on the ride of my life, I knew I couldn’t lose to someone so mean and conceited. I couldn’t lose to a cheater. And I couldn’t lose to someone who tried to use me and violate me!
NO! I would not stand for this!
Everyone knows that love can sometimes bring out superpowers in a vampire. Maybe hate can sometimes do the same thing? Whatever the truth of it, right now I hated Rob more than it was possible to imagine, and I was feeding on that. A miracle happened. Summoning all of my remaining strength, I somehow climbed back up on my square. My arms burned in agony - the ball was hurtling toward me – but as the dust faded my view of Rob was clear.
I pummeled the ball directly at him. The audience roared as it bounced violently in the right corner of his square. He made a huge dive for it, but my delivery was just too quick. He completely missed the ball. It bounced off of his square and into the void below.
The crowd erupted. I wasn't really in Vampire World any longer – I was in Fantasy Land. This was everything I'd dreamed of. The dragon blasted Rob in the head with its fire, while the stake monster stabbed him in the arm. Though not physically harmed, he was done for. He was officially a loser. Yes. HELL YEAH!
“NO!” he shouted at me as his square began to open up below him.
“Looks like you’ll be the one sucking blood when you hit the bottom,” I told him.
With a livid scowl on his face, he plunged down into the net. I’ll never forget that disbelieving look of despair in his eyes right before he fell. Never, ever!
The champion square slowly lowered with just me standing proudly on it, the crowd's cheering not letting up for an instant. I felt like I was descending from heaven. All the sweat and practice had truly paid off.
At the bottom, several game officials gathered around to officially declare me the champion. I tried to catch a glimpse of Brett or Mr. FreeCut, but couldn’t see them. However, I did catch sight of a disgusted Rob still awkwardly tangled up in the safety net. He stared at me with a look of utter defeat. Dreams really did come true.
Another game official handed me my prize: the ten thousand Carn card! Yes! Now I could buy Mr. FreeCut a new house. And I could get a new wardrobe. And so much more.
For the remainder of the evening, newspaper and magazine photographers lined up to snap flicks of me. I was now famous. Suddenly, the orb in my pocket vibrated. I disappeared into the restroom to listen.
“Janice, congrats on winning the fireball tournament. But there is no time for more celebrating. I am now about to reveal to you the secret of your life. When you get on the train, keep the orb handy. I will direct you to a house where the secret will finally be revealed. You’ve come so far. Now you can be rewarded with the truth.”
I searched for Brett one more time without success. It was annoying, but I couldn’t hang around any longer. At long last, I was going to get all the answers I wanted.
SHOCKING REALIZATION
After leaving the train, I set off walking at a brisk pace. I was so ready to figure out all this crap. I’d waited long enough. Now it was time for the big reveal.
My messenger's voice continued.
“Turn right on Cut Throat Avenue. The number is two-zero-one. It’s the big red house on the corner. You can’t miss it. Don’t worry about knocking, the front door is open. You’ve worked long and hard for this very special moment, and I’m honored to reveal it to you. Come on inside, Janice.”
I’d also grown tired of all his weird pep talk. I turned the corner of a narrow, tree-lined street and saw an old, two story house with the number 201 on the front. Making my way past the dense trees that occupied the front yard, I stepped onto the porch feeling pretty creeped out. Just in case, I grabbed a stake from my belt for protection. If this turned out to be one big joke, there would be bloody hell to pay.
Immediately inside the house was a dark hallway, so dark that I could barely see a thing in front of me. The familiar, haunting voice spoke again.
“I wanted the journey of knowing to be difficult and challenging for you, Janice. I enjoyed seeing you grow from a confused young vampire into a brave and mature one. And I’m sure you have benefited from the challenges in other ways as well. Now take the second door to your right. There you’ll enter the living room and complete your remarkable transformation to maturity and knowing.”
I gawked at the door he was speaking about. After taking a deep breath, I turned the skull-shaped knob and cautiously walked through.
I was in some kind of gloomy room with a high ceiling. I couldn’t see the walls, or my secret stranger. A white stage light set on the floor was pointing to the high ceiling. It illuminated a magnificent chandelier.
“Where the hell are you?” I demanded. “Show yourself!”
There was nothing. Growing ever more frustrated, my fangs jutted out.
Then he spoke, and this time it was not though the orb. He was here in the room with me. “Patience has been your virtue, Janice. Behold your reward.”
The stage light switched direction. Now it was shining on a giant globe of the blue planet I'd first seen in the hidden room at the observatory. I took in all its marvelous detail - the green land areas shaped like puzzle pieces - the swirls of white clouds - and all the blue stuff, whatever the hell that was.
“Janice, this is the first major secret that was revealed. What you are looking at is a real planet called Earth.”
I frowned. Earth? Earth? The name sounded eerily familiar.
“You may be surprised and enlightened to know that Earth is your real home. Vampire World is not.”
I found this hard to believe. And my messenger read my mind precisely.
“I know this may come as confusing to you. But once you see the truths behind the second and third major secrets you discovered, then you’ll understand.”
The stage light rotated sideways, now illuminating a television screen mounted on the wall.
“The second major task involved you discovering two things.”
I saw the emblem of TriFang flash on the screen. Then something far worse appeared: thousands of dead vampires, all brutally stabbed like kebabs from one end to the other by enormous stakes. I was seeing again the horrific room I'd been guided to down in TriFang’s tunnel. I felt sick and had to look away.
“I wanted you to discover the secret of TriFang, and most importantly, the blood they so highly desire. As you have learned, this is not only extremely pleasurable to drink, but also a source of eternal youth and bound
less energy. TriFang is the only organization in Vampire World who knows how to obtain it.”
The picture changed to another disturbing image. A girl was running through a wooded area, scared for her life. Someone was chasing her.
“So where do TriFang get their blood from?” he asked.
“From humans,” I responded.
“Exactly. You are a vampire now, but you may be surprised to know that you were once a human.”
I frowned. What the hell was a human?
Still puzzling over this, I gazed up at the screen again and saw the poor, helpless girl tripping on a root and falling to the ground. Her stalker loomed over her.
“The girl is not a vampire. She is a human, Janice. However, the man chasing her is a vampire.”
I followed the terrifying scene as the guy trapped her on the ground, then mercilessly bit into her neck with his fangs. Moments later her body was being carried by a trio of vampires into an obscure room. Tubes were attached to her, draining her blood. And what was even freakier, she was still alive!
“Now she is a vampire too because she was bitten by another vampire,” my messenger said. “However, she still has human blood inside of her. They are draining this from her so they can use it for their own selfish desires.”
The screen went black. “Then she is discarded.”
I gasped, my mind flashing back to the nauseating underground room with all the bodies. Only after forcing that nightmarish image out of my mind was I able to speak my mind.
“So, you’re saying that I was taken from Earth like this girl was and turned into a vampire? That’s impossible! If I wasn’t born in Vampire World, how did I get to be where I am now? And if I have human blood inside of me, why am I not dead?”
“Let me answer your first question first.”
“You better not be messing with me!” I shouted. “I ain’t the weak girl I once was. I swear, I’ll kick your ass if you’re lying to me!”
Vampire World Page 24