by J. Thorn
Dax grabbed the drug paraphernalia and stormed to the open window, dumping the kit, belt, and drugs out into the floodwaters. Only then did he pick up the painkillers and nuts, and go back out into the hallway.
“You listening to me, man?” Chuck asked. “What were you doing in there?”
“Nothing,” Dax said. He popped open the bottle of ibuprofen. “Give me your hand.” Chuck held his palm out—the hand that had been keeping pressure on the wound. Blood dripped from the sides.
“Other hand, dumb ass.”
Shaking his head, Chuck nervously laughed. “Sorry, bro. Might be the blood loss or some shit getting to me.”
Dax dropped three of the pills into Chuck’s palm.
“You didn’t by chance find some water, did you?”
Dax narrowed his eyes at Chuck.
“Sorry. I’ll try not to get these caught in my dry-ass throat.” Chuck tossed the pills back, closing his eyes and grimacing as he struggled to swallow.
Opening the bag of nuts, Dax dropped some into his own palm and then left the bag beside Chuck before he stood. He went to the doorway of the room the woman had been staying in again and stared out the window. The rain was coming down harder now, and the clouds blotted out the sun. It would take only a few hours until the flood rose to their floor if the rain continued to fall at this rate.
“You think she was alone?” Chuck asked.
“Looks like it. And I think that if anyone, or anything, were in this building, we’d know by now. She made a lot of noise. Not to mention you screaming like a bitch.”
“She stabbed me, motherfucker! Fuck you!”
Dax laughed. “I’m just messing with you, bro. I’m glad you’re all right.”
“Me, too. But I don’t know how I’m supposed to help you now.”
“You still got one good arm. You can fight with that. Besides, we’ve still got a little bit of daylight before—”
Dax felt a sudden pain rush into his chest, and he fell to the ground.
“What the hell, dude?” Chuck said. He rushed to Dax and put his hand on his shoulder.
Dax’s eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he began to tremble.
“Dax! Snap out of it, man.”
Chuck’s voice faded, and Dax drifted into the deep, black void.
Chapter 43
Dax stood and looked out over the dirt road.
Wheatgrass and corn fields stretched for miles all around him. The night was coming quickly as streams of orange and red illuminated the clouds hanging low in the western sky. He spun around. The road stretched to the horizon—no buildings, and only the same flat, rural landscape.
A dirt road created an intersection several yards in front of him. A single tree stood in the grass on the other side of the road. Something hung from the tree, and he squinted to try and see what it was.
Dax stepped across the dirt road, kicking rocks as he made his way to the intersection. He stared straight ahead, then checked to his left and his right. As had been the case when he’d looked back, the road went straight for as far as he could see—miles.
He returned his attention to the old tree—an odd sight, the only tree he could see. And now that he was closer, he could make out the object hanging from it. The wind blew the rope back and forth. Dax took hold of the noose, which hung in front of his face.
“Damn shame. Isn’t it?”
Dax let go of the rope and snapped his head around at the sound of the voice. He blinked, stunned by the man who stood before him.
“Papa Midnight?”
The voodoo priest wore a tailored white suit, his gray and black dreads resting on his chest. He made his way over to the tree and took hold of the rope.
“Amazing how many of our ancestors died this way. What a despicable and dishonorable death.”
“Where am I?” Dax asked. “Are you really here?”
“You’re just as much here as I am.”
“What’s going on?”
Papa Midnight gestured toward the road. “Walk with me.”
The blind man put his hands behind his back, not seeming to need his cane anymore. Together, they started down the road.
“You have many questions to ask me,” Papa Midnight said. “But few of them are relevant. So, clear your mind and focus on the ones that are important.”
Dax thought for a moment. “Do you still think I can defeat Serafino?”
“Nothing has changed in that regard. You are the only one who can defeat him.”
“He has the kids. Not only Darius and Monica, but my sister’s. I’m pretty sure they’re alive, but I don’t think they’re in New Orleans.”
“That is correct.”
“You know where they are?” Dax asked, his eyes wide.
“I did not say that. Your powers are growing, Jackson. You have obviously felt that the children are alive and that they have been taken elsewhere.”
“And how am I supposed to find them?”
“Do not get ahead of yourself,” the voodoo priest said. “First, you must defeat Serafino.”
Dax lowered his head. “I’m not sure that I can. I don’t understand how I’m supposed to do it when it’s just me and some two-cent gangster with one good arm.”
“He loved your sister, you know.”
Looking up, Dax stared at Papa Midnight.
“And she loved him. I know that he has brought darkness to you in recent times, but you must trust him. Without him, you will not survive the fight with Serafino.”
“I’m trying,” Dax said.
“Let us go back now.”
They turned around and returned to the tree, walking in silence until they were about halfway back.
“I am sorry I let you down.”
“And how do you think you did that?”
“By letting you die.”
The blind man laughed. “You did not let me die, son.”
“I did. I should have been there for you. I should have never left you inside of that apartment building. We should have stayed together.”
“You must forge ahead and quit allowing your past to rule your emotions. There is nothing you can do to heal those wounds. Not even the revenge killing of Serafino is going to save you.”
“Then how am I supposed to get over my pain?”
“You aren’t,” Papa Midnight said, shaking his head.
Dax lowered his head again and choked back tears. He nodded.
“How can I see you again, if I need you?” Dax asked.
“Oh, I can assure you that I will be around. Do not worry about that.”
The two men came to a stop near the tree. They stood in the middle of the road and faced each other. Papa Midnight smiled, placing his hand on Dax’s shoulder.
“Thank you for coming to see me, Jackson.”
“How do I get back?”
“Walk. Feel the stones beneath your feet. Taste the dirt. Listen to the wind in the delta. This place is special to you, even if you don’t quite understand why yet.”
Dax smirked. “I walk. That’s it?”
“Yes, son. You must keep moving if you want to survive. Never forget that.”
He shook Papa Midnight’s hand and did as the old man had instructed. Dax walked past the tree, through the intersection, and down the road toward the horizon. He kept an even, steady pace, not once turning around to look back. The sun warmed his face, and the breeze cooled his core. Dax smiled and closed his eyes, taking one step after another.
Chapter 44
Dax woke up, lying on his back and looking up at the ceiling. His leg felt wet. He looked over to see water pooling on the floor, coming out of the office with the broken windows. In the middle of the hallway, Chuck sat in an office chair. His head was tilted back, and his mouth was wide open as he snored. It was as if he could feel Dax looking at him, though, because he suddenly opened his eyes. He leaned forward, a blank expression on his face.
“You’re awake.”
“How long have
I been out?”
“Hours, bro. I was worried you weren’t going to wake up before the sun went down.”
Dax sat up and looked through the doorway next to him. The rain kept falling, but it had slowed down. The sun’s rays reflected off the water, but it had almost dropped entirely below the horizon.
“What happened to me?” Dax asked.
“It was crazy, man. Your legs started moving like you was walking and shit. And you had this dumb-ass smile on yo face. I thought maybe you was trippin’ or something.”
Dax shook his head. “I met an old friend and then went for a stroll. I think.”
“Whatever,” Chuck said, standing up from the chair. “Time to get yo shit together ‘cause we got to get out of here if we want to find somewhere dry before the sun goes down. We ain’t got much time.”
“We aren’t leaving.”
Chuck furrowed his brow. “What? I thought you said this wouldn’t be a good place to be once the sun went down. And the water’s rising.”
“Change of plans.”
“You hit your head or somethin’? Have a crazy-ass dream?”
“You could say that.” Dax pushed himself up to his feet.
“Seriously, though. You said we should leave. What changed your mind?”
Dax went into one of the offices and walked to the window. He put his hands on his hips and stared outside.
“Where would we go? It’s a dead world out there. The sun is about to go down, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to be caught in the flood once Serafino’s army emerges from the shadows.”
“Won’t they be able to sniff us out if we hide here?”
Dax smiled. “Who said anything about hiding?”
Chuck sighed and stood up.
“Let’s head upstairs,” Dax said. “The water is about to flood this floor. As long as we don’t get no hurricane, we should be fine going a couple of floors up.”
They found a staircase at the end of the hall and climbed the stairs to the next floor. On the other side of the door, they emerged into a hallway of the same style as the previous floor’s. Each side was lined with offices—some open and several closed.
“We need to scour these offices,” Dax said. “Look for as much wood as you can.
“You sure this is the best idea, bro?”
“Let’s get to work,” Dax said, ignoring the question.
The two men scavenged the offices, breaking apart desks, book shelves—anything made of wood. As they gathered material, they piled it on a large table in a conference room
After several trips to the pile, Dax wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I think we’ve got enough.”
“Check out this shit,” Chuck said. He came out of an office with a smile on his face and a golf club in his hand.
“Who has one golf club? In an office building?”
“Some white boy had it hanging on his wall in there,” Chuck said, resting the shaft of the club on his shoulder. “It’s one of those old-time replicas. But it feels strong, and it’s made of wood.”
“All right then. Let’s start making stakes.”
The two men worked through the pile, breaking pieces of wood into sharp points. Dax still had the woman’s knife, and he left it on the table where both he and Chuck could use it. When they were finished, a collection of makeshift stakes sat on the table, varying in shape and size. They had weapons to defend themselves with now.
“So what do we do?” Chuck asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
Dax glanced to the window. The last burning rays of the sun had been extinguished by the night sky.
“We wait.”
Chapter 45
Shadows crept into the room as the moon rose. A floor-to-ceiling window stood at the far end of the conference room. Dax stared out of it and into the city. The fires continued to ravage several buildings—not even the rain could extinguish them. The city glowed with an ominous light.
But Dax needed no illumination. When Serafino was near, he would know.
“You sure they’ll know where you are?” Chuck asked, sitting at the conference table which was large enough to seat twenty people.
“Yes.”
“And he will come? You’re sure of it?”
“I can’t imagine he’s too happy I got away. I’m the only thing he wants in the city. So yeah, he will come.”
“Part of me is starting to hope you’re right so I don’t have to sit here until I fuckin’ die of boredom.”
“Just be ready. You remember the plan?”
“What plan?”
Even in the dark, Chuck could see the cold stare coming from Dax.
“Chill, nigga,” Chuck said. “I know the plan.”
Dax heard something then, and he felt a sudden jolt in his mind. He stared out the window again, gritting his teeth.
“They’re coming.”
Chuck stood up and ran to Dax’s side. “I don’t see shit.”
Neither could Dax, but he could feel Serafino’s presence. He had a connection to the vampire, and he had learned from Papa Midnight how to see with his mind instead of his eyes.
“Trust me. Come on.”
Both men rushed from the room. They raced down the hallway, finally stopping in front of one of the open offices.
“Stay hidden,” Dax said. “Don’t attack until you are absolutely sure you can land a kill shot. Aim for the heart. It’s not going to be easy, but their eyes should provide enough illumination for you to find your target.”
“You sure about this?”
Dax laughed and shook his head. “Hell, no. But I think it’s what gives us the best shot to make it out of here.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“Hey.” Dax studied Chuck’s face for a moment. His former enemy stared back at him, waiting for him to speak. Dax stuck out his hand.
“What’s this?”
“What the fuck does it look like? It’s a handshake.”
Chuck hesitated, then took the hand. Dax gripped it tight, not letting his eyes leave Chuck’s. He then pulled him in for a bro hug, wrapping his free arm around Chuck.
“I appreciate everything you did for my sister,” Dax said. “You were there for her. That’s a lot more than I can say for myself.”
The two men pulled back, and Chuck patted Dax on the shoulder.
“That means a lot to hear you say that. It does.” Chuck cleared his throat and licked his lips. “And listen, I want to—”
“Save it,” Dax said. “You can apologize by helping me get out of here so we can find Gabby’s kids.”
The sound of breaking glass came from the front of the building. Several screams rang out.
“Get your ass in there and be ready,” Dax said.
Chuck nodded and disappeared into the room, carrying the wooden golf club he had found and fashioned into a stake.
Dax went back down the hall and ducked into one of the side rooms. He went into the corner where he’d hidden a stack of the stakes. Chuck had some in his room, as well, and they had spread the rest out among the other rooms.
Gravelly snarls came from the floor above the floodwaters, followed by the sound of glass crunching beneath boots.
Dax closed his eyes. He tried to count how many had entered the building by sound, but it was hard to tell. However, it didn’t matter if there were five Screamers or fifty. Dax was one man, and Chuck had a stab wound in his shoulder. But tonight could not be their last stand, their final day on earth. Feeling anxious, Dax felt his hand began to quake.
Do not fear what you cannot see with your eyes.
Dax looked around for a moment, before realizing the voice was inside of his head.
“Papa Midnight?” he whispered.
Do not forget what I have taught you, Jackson. You must focus. Know when they are near, and so then you can strike.
“How are you doing this? Am I going crazy?”
You are not crazy. I am here, as I promised you I would be. Now, do as I have taugh
t you. Close your eyes. Feel.
The voice inside of his head gave him no assurance that he was sane, but Dax closed his eyes and did as he was told. He blocked out everything and focused on the presence of the Screamers in the building.
Dax felt the first vampire enter the room. He spun off the wall and grabbed the head of the creature, covering its mouth. At the same time, he brought his other arm around and drove the stake into its chest. The Screamer cried out, but Dax’s large hand muffled the scream. The body went limp in his arms, and Dax lowered it to the floor.
Another Screamer entered. Already on his knees, Dax grabbed another stake and shot back up. He reared back and drove the stake forward for the kill shot, but the Screamer blocked his attack. The creature swung, landing a blow with the back of its hand to Dax’s face. Dax fell back against the wall. He slid down and felt his hand land on the pile of stakes.
The Screamer picked Dax up and tossed him against the wall, but when it came forward, Dax was ready. He drove a stake into his assailant’s chest, and the Screamer let out a piercing cry as it fell to the floor.
“Dax!” Chuck yelled from down the hall.
Dax picked up another stake and hurried out of the room. Looking down the hallway, he saw two Screamers entering the room where Chuck was hiding. He’d taken one step toward the door when a hand grabbed onto his shoulder and tossed Dax down the hall in the other direction. He landed on his back and slid across the floor. As he looked past the Screamer that had thrown him, he heard Chuck again.
“No!”
Dax jumped to his feet and tried to run through the Screamer, but the creature caught him and shoved him into the nearby conference room. He tried to keep his balance, but tripped and then stumbled across the room and into a chair. He had dropped his stake, and they hadn’t left any in the conference room.
The Screamer looked like a former professional wrestler. He towered over Dax, standing almost seven feet tall and sporting long hair. The vampire picked Dax up by the shirt collar with one hand. He was tall enough to slam Dax’s head into the ceiling. Tiles and debris came crashing down, and so did Dax when the Screamer tossed him aside.