Vacation of Fear

by J. G. Wilson

“No,” Colton said, a look of hurt crossing his features. “I did not.”

  “Then who did?” Melody asked, her voice carrying over the deserted parking lot. She could hear the music from inside the building, and her ears were burning as she glared at Colton.

  “Your cousin,” he said quietly. “Valery has crossed over. She’s now a killer.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Melody said, jumping out of the trunk. She beat her fists against, Colton, hitting his chest and face. “You did this!” she screamed, the rage and sobbing blinding her as she swung her fists. Colton wrapped his arms around her tightly. The fight in her subsided, and exhaustion consumed Melody.

  She cried on his shirt as he gently stroked her hair and told her everything was okay. “We’ll kill that bat tomorrow,” he said. “I promise you, no one else will have to suffer as you have.”

  Melody nodded.

  Colton lifted her chin gently with his hand and gazed into her eyes. “We have to leave now, before someone sees us beside these bodies.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  Colton lifted Melody up into his arms and fled from the parking lot, Melody’s copper hair trailing behind him as he raced down the dark street. Melody squinted as the wind torpedoed her face, the trees and telephone poles flying by, blurring into the night. Soon they were going so fast, she could no longer tell what she was passing and had to close her eyes.

  They came to a stop at a dilapidated white house, with plywood covering the windows. Melody looked around the yard, surrounded completely by trees. There was an odd feel about the place, and Melody felt frightened. “Where are we?” she asked, tightening her grip around Colton’s neck.

  “My home,” he said.

  Chapter 30

  The moment Melody opened her eyes, she knew something was wrong. Everything was a red hue, just like the cave. She tried to sit up, but the ceiling stopped her. She was trapped. She tried stretching her arms and legs to the side, but realized she was trapped inside a box! A panic set in then. Was she still inside the trunk?

  “Help!” she screamed. “Somebody! I’m in the car!”

  The ceiling disappeared, revealing Colton standing above her, studying her curiously, a smile on his face. She sat up and realized she was not in the trunk of the Mustang but in a coffin. The world was still a shade of red.

  “We’re inside my house,” Colton said. “All light has been blocked out of this room. That’s why you’re seeing red right now,” he explained, helping her out of the box.

  Melody followed Colton through a door, down a hall into another room. A long table sat in the center, filled with stakes and guns and arrows and other weapons Melody couldn’t even name.

  Colton picked up a bag from the floor and began filling it with stakes. “We’ll kill the omega vampires with these stakes,” he explained. “Their coffins are lined up side-by-side, so it will be extremely easy.”

  Melody shuddered. “I don’t remember seeing any coffins,” she said, feeling queasy.

  “That’s because you didn’t explore the cave beyond the bat,” Colton said. They’re in the tunnel that leads to the sea. “I’ve staked several vampires before. It isn’t too hard for me to push a stake through its chest, but you may have some difficulty. I guess I need to do the staking myself.”

  “But I thought you said vampires couldn’t kill each other,” Melody said.

  “No,” Colton replied. “Omegas can kill omegas. They just can’t kill the alpha, the Creator. You’re going to have to kill the Creator, Melody.”

  “How?” Melody asked. “How can I possibly kill that thing?”

  Colton reached down and picked up a long, heavy looking weapon off the table. “Know what this is?” he asked Melody.

  “A spear?”

  “This is a harpoon,” Colton explained. I’m going to throw it at that giant bat and hook it like a fish. Attached to the butt of the harpoon is a rope. The other end of the rope will be tied to the motor boat you are in.”

  “Huh?” Melody said.

  “You’re going to drag that big bat out into the sunlight,” Colton said, grabbing a pair of sunglasses off the table. He tossed it to her. “Better put these on.”

  He grabbed his own pair and took her hand, guiding her to the front door.

  Light flooded Melody as she stepped out on the front porch, the sun sending a searing pain, stronger than any sinus headache, through her brain. She couldn’t even open her eyes. She put the sunglasses on and looked around. Despite their UV protection, she could still feel the power of the sun. She noticed a purple discoloration on her wrists.

  “What happened?” she asked Colton, holding up her arms.

  “You’re slowly decomposing, Melody,” Colton said. “If we don’t kill that thing today, then your hands will probably fall off tomorrow. I’ll stick that harpoon in the Creator just as soon as I kill the other vampires, and then you’ll be back to normal.”

  “Don’t we want to kill the alpha first and see if any of the omega vampires turn back to human beings?”

  “Once you turn into a vampire,” Colton said, “there’s a 24 hour interval you have to revert back to human form. If you consume the blood of the living, however, you’re forever cursed.”

  Melody looked away from the bag of weapons slung over Colton’s arm and the harpoon he carried over his shoulder. “Are you saying Valery’s doomed?”

  “We’ve got to put her down,” Colton said. “Your cousin is no more.”

  “But can’t she be a good vampire like you?”

  “No,” Colton said, silently. “Once you taste human blood, there’s no hope. You develop a bloodlust for it and become like a mad dog.”

  “You’ve never…” Melody couldn’t bare to finish her sentence.

  “I’ve never drank from a human being,” Colton said.

  “You can’t kill my cousin,” Melody said. “I’m not going to let you.”

  “Okay,” Colton said. “But if she kills again, then that’s on you.”

  Chapter 31

  It seemed like a bad movie to Melody, standing at the dock as she watched Colton steal a motor boat. He sped them across the sea, the wind in her hair, the boat cutting through the water like a knife, salt water splashing her face as the boat bounced.

  The island emerged and grew larger until it towered over Melody, a dark grey rock of evil.

  Colton went around to the other side of the island, a rough patch of rock she had never seen before. There, amongst the white foaming water, was the mouth of the cave, opening wide. Colton backed the boat as close to the entrance of the cavern as possible, dodging large rocks that the waves angrily struck with white, spewing water. The sound of the sea slapping the rocks and the fast side-to-side swaying of the boat made it hard for Melody to hear.

  “Come back here,” Colton shouted.

  Melody stood up unsteadily, the boat rocking side-to-side.

  “Don’t fall in the ocean!” Colton said. “The water will smash you against the rocks.”

  She carefully moved to the back of the boat, Colton showing her how to turn on the motor and pull forward.

  “I need you to be able to do this!” Colton shouted. “I’d do it myself, but I can’t kill my Creator. It’s up to you. I’ll shoot the alpha through the wing, and you drag its ugly butt into the sun.”

  “Okay,” Melody said.

  “When you see the flare,” Colton said, holding up a flare gun, pull the anchor up, lower the motor, and let her rip. Understand?”

  Melody nodded her head.

  “Good!” Colton shouted, shouldering the bag of stakes and grabbing the harpoon. He checked the end of the rope, the knot he had tied around the boat rail. “I hope this holds him,” Colton said, jumping overboard, landing on solid ground, several yards away from the boat.

  He disappeared inside the cave and left Melody sitting alone in the boat, staring into the dark cave, waiting to see the blinding red flash of a flare.

  Chapter 32

&
nbsp; Colton ran through the tunnel, his feet splashing the puddles of water on the floor, echoing throughout the quiet of the cave. He passed rows of stalagmites and stalactites that jutted from the cave like fangs. There, on the wall, were the coffins. He lowered the harpoon and studied them, trying to decide which end to start with.

  “Who’s there?” came a powerful screech in his head. The bat must have heard him running! Colton frowned and darted past the coffins, reaching the opening, his eyes cutting to the ceiling, spotting the huge bat hanging upside down, the red eyes glowing in rage.

  “You!” the bat hissed inside his head.

  Colton threw the harpoon, the barb slicing through the leathery wing of the bat. The creature screeched, its huge feet releasing it from the roof of the cave. The wings stretched out, massive, and powerful, the harpoon jutting from the left one as it fluttered up and down. The bat soared straight for Colton as he pulled out the flare pistol and pulled the trigger.

  The flare shot down the tunnel, glowing bright red, the bat screeching as it crashed into Colton, sending him crashing into the side of the wall.

  “I’m going to eat you whole” the bat exploded inside Colton’s head, the massive jaws opening, revealing rows of razor teeth.

  Chapter 33

  Melody saw the flare and immediately began pulling the anchor up. She lowered the motor, cranked the engine, and the boat sped off. Despite the wind and the crashing of the water against the rocks, she could hear the high pitch squeal of the bat as it smacked the tunnel walls and spiraled out into the sunny morning.

  It immediately burst into flames, a great ball of fire, then dived for the water, disappearing beneath the surface. The water bubbled, and it reemerged, a shrieking noise erupting from its throat as the flames roared green and the water boiled around it. It shot out of the water, lifting the boat with it, sending Melody tumbling into the ocean.

  Melody hit the ocean hard, resurfaced and watched in horror as the ball of fire rose higher and higher with the boat trailing it.

  Suddenly, the monster burst, and Melody dove deep into the water to avoid the falling boat. She came back up, gasping for air and felt the pull of the water, reeling her into the mouth of the cave, to where the rocks rested. She smashed against a rock and screamed, expecting to feel a stab of pain. There was no pain, and she shot past the rock, hitting another with a crashing thud. She pulled herself free and the water slammed her against the mouth of the cave. She grabbed the rocky ledge and frantically fought the water trying to pull her under.

  She lifted herself up. And stared into the dark cave. Water dripped from her wet hair as she examined the blackness, wondering why she was still able to see things in a red hue. The bat was dead. Her Creator was dead. So why was she still a ghoul?

  Melody stood up and made her way inside the cave. “Colton!” she shouted. “Valery!” There was nothing but a stony silence in response. Melody rounded a corner, and a bright flash in the distance caught her eye.

  “Colton!” she screamed, running to the light.

  She found him in the middle of lifting coffin lids, staking vampires in their slumber. The wood punctured the chest of one, and the creature burst into flames.

  “Melody,” he said, turning away from the coffins. “I’m finishing them off.”

  Melody’s heart raced. “You didn’t stake Valery, did you?”

  Colton looked at her sadly. “She’s got to die, Melody.”

  He pulled off the next lid, revealing another body. He plunged the stake in and watched the vampire erupt into flames.

  Melody flung herself on him.

  “You’re not killing my cousin!” she screamed, pushing him away from the remaining two coffins. She opened a lid, saw a stranger deep in slumber and panicked. Had Colton already staked Valery? Melody removed the last remaining coffin’s lid.

  Valery rested peacefully inside, her stomach softly moving up and down as she breathed. As she breathed! thought Melody.

  Colton slammed the stake down into the vampire beside her cousin and the flames almost singed her hair.

  “Valery’s alive!” Melody screamed. “She’s not a vampire!”

  “Get out of the way,” Colton ordered. “She killed Max and Luke. She can’t be human.”

  “She’s alive!” Melody screamed, kicking at him. “Get away from her.”

  “Valery!” Melody shouted, violently shaking her. “Valery, wake up!”

  Valery gasped, then opened her eyes.

  “Melody?” she said. “Melody, where are you? I can’t see anything. Where are we?”

  “See!” Melody shouted at Colton. “She can’t even see in the dark anymore! She’s not a vampire!”

  A sickening thought suddenly occurred to Melody as she stared at Colton, his eyes glowing like burning embers. His eyes glowing like the huge bat she had just killed.

  “Why did Valery turn back after I killed the bat, but I didn’t?” Melody asked.

  Colton smiled, exposing two long fangs.

  “Because I was the one who bit you,” Colton said. “I needed a queen once I became the alpha vampire, and I choose you.”

  “Valery didn’t kill Max and Luke, did she?”

  Colton shook his head. “No, she fled as I killed them.”

  Melody, what’s going on?” came Valery’s voice.

  Colton’s smile widened. “Come to me Melody, and let’s complete the ceremony. Let me drain you, and then you can drink of me and live forever. It shall be the two of us, and we will have a son, just as my father and his queen, the man you killed, produced me.”

  “Never!” Melody shouted.

  “Then I’ll kill your cousin,” Colton said. He disappeared from sight, and Melody felt a rush of wind. She turned and Colton was squeezing Valery’s neck with a powerful hand, lifting her from the ground, her legs dangling in the air.

  “Okay!” Melody said. “Let her go, and you can have me.”

  “Deal,” Colton said, dropping Valery to the floor. Valery stood up, screaming, and ran away.

  Colton gently brought his hand to Melody’s neck, sliding away the copper hair, revealing a smooth, pale neck. He sunk his fangs into the creamy skin and drank deeply.

  Melody felt an excruciating pain and groaned as she the blood left her body. Her eyes were burning, her heart thundering in her ears.

  Colton lifted his head suddenly, blood dripping down his chin, a wild expression on his face.

  “Something is wrong,” he said, clutching his stomach. He doubled over in pain, moaning as he dropped to his knees. “Something’s not right,” he repeated as his head began smoking.

  “I didn’t know if I could trust you,” Melody said, her hand reaching into her jeans pocket. She pulled out a bottle of garlic pills and tossed it to Colton. “I took a bunch of these while you were stealing that boat.”

  Colton looked up at her, blood running from his eyes.

  “We could have been so good together,” he said. “I loved you.”

  Then his head exploded.

  And Melody was engulfed in the darkness of the cave.

  Chapter 34

  They had been in Valery’s Ford Taurus for about four hours straight, no stops, heading straight for home at 2 a.m. in the morning. Melody had eventually found Valery cowering in a corner of the cavern, then led them to the opening of the cave. It had taken almost a day, but finally a fishing vessel had spotted them waving frantically from the island.

  “What happened back there?” the fisherman had asked when they were onboard.

  “Not a thing,” Melody said, staring at the setting sun as the boat crossed the ocean.

  Valery was not letting up on the gas as the car sped down Highway 19 to Red Oaks. Melody admitted she was glad to see the “Welcome” sign when they reached the city limits.

  Valery was so excited she honked the horn repeatedly, and Melody had to tell her to stop.

  Valery nodded her head and returned to her silence, something that had never happened to her cous
in before.

  Melody leaned back against the headrest and sighed. “That sure was a great vacation, wasn’t it?”

  “It was horrible,” Valery whispered. “I’ll never go anywhere during Spring Break again.” She turned to Melody then, her mouth trembling. “Thanks for saving my life, Mel.”

  “No problem,” Melody said. She kind of hated that the trip was over in a way. Now it was back to the same boring old lifestyle. Except for that history paper. There was no way Melody was going to write it until the night before it was due. I’ve really changed, she thought to herself.

  A bat hit the windshield with a thud.

  Valery screamed and slammed on the brakes, the Taurus coming to a screeching halt in the middle of the road.

  “A bat! A bat!” Valery screamed. “It’s going to get us!”

  “Valery, chill,” Melody said, turning on the windshield wipers, the blades swiping it off the glass. “It’s only a bat.”

  THE END

  About the Author

  J.G. Wilson lives in Americus, Georgia, with his wife Gena and sons Jake and Gavin. He currently works at Georgia Southwestern State University in the James Earl Carter Library. Wilson loves to hear from his readers. You can email him at authorjgwilson@gmail.com