Emily joins me. Angrily, she gives the door a kick with her boot, leaving a dent in its place.
Just then a crackling noise interrupts our panic. “Leaving so soon?” Emily and I stand upright and tense. “I was hoping that the two of you would care to stay a little while.” It’s Harold’s voice. “I knew there was something special about you.”
Emily and I look at each other, and her eyebrows furrow in anger. We move to the window to see Harold and Carissa standing between the two gurneys. Harold, in a white laboratory coat, is standing next to a machine. Tubing, filled with a rich, red color, leads from the machine to both Marisol’s and Andrew’s arms. I’m uncertain whose blood it is, but my dream still fresh at the forefront of my mind, offers up an answer. But for what purpose? I don’t fully understand Harold’s intentions.
Emily moves over to the speaker on the wall next to the window. After figuring out how to use it, she clicks on the button, “Why don’t you open this door and we can show you how special we are.” There are times when I wish Emily would hold her tongue. This was not one of those moments.
“Ah, Emily. You are quite the fighter. Your work in the Finway Aqueduct cannot go without merit. You clearly are the most formidable of the three of you.” Harold smiles. “In due time, you will be out of there.”
“What do you want, Harold?” I ask. “Why are you doing this? Let Andrew go. We can talk about this, can’t we?” I try to control the frustration and anger welling deep inside of me.
Harold moves towards the window with a device in his hand. He clicks it and responds, “Oh, I wish we had time to talk, Kieran. Time is precious. I’m afraid Marisol is in desperate need of Andrew’s blood.”
Emily jumps in, “What does Marisol need with Andrew’s blood? I can give you plenty of blood. Just let us out of here.”
Harold laughs as Carissa looks on nervously, “You see, it’s not just blood Marisol needs. She needs vampire blood.” He pauses. “Let me take you back to the beginning. Sebastian Labs was very, very close to finding a cure for the likes of you.”
“The likes of us?” I ask.
“Yes. Your kind. Vampires,” Harold spits.
“I don’t understand. We’ve spent generations trying to work with humans. To become a part of one society. Why target us?” I ask, not hiding my frustration.
“Why target you? That question is silly. We target you because some of you still target us. Some have proven that they aren’t civilized creatures. You dull in comparison to humans.”
“Dull in comparison? We are far superior. There are plenty more humans that are far more destructive, not just to vampires, but to their own kind. It’s a rare occasion if ever, a vampire would attack their own,” I counter.
“But, you have attacked humans! Your kind has feasted on us! Just ask my brother! Oh wait, you can’t ask him because your kind took his life! He’s dead! So, the potential for your kind to bring such sadness far outweighs anything a human can do!” Harold stamps out each sentence as if etching it into metal as he approaches the glass separating us. His eyes fill with anger and his chest heaves as if at any moment, he would be brave enough to enter our room to face us. He closes his eyes for several seconds to regulate his emotions. Finally, he continues, “We were so close to an immunization against your kind. We were so close to a cure.”
I move to the glass and try to reason, “Harold, we aren’t something to be cured. We are who we are. You cannot change that any more than you can be cured of being a human. That’s not how it works.”
Harold smiles, “Oh, but we were close. Our preliminary trials showed promise. Then, we moved forward with the next phase –,”
“The next phase?” Emily interrupts.
“Yes, the next phase. You see, we had exhausted all laboratory experiments, and we had to think…bigger. We found some willing vampire participants and conducted experimentation.”
“Willing participants? Do you mean the same way you made Andrew a willing participant?” I ask, sarcasm serving as my machete.
Harold chuckles, “Clever. You are clever. How they became participants really doesn’t matter.” He flicks his hand in the air as if discarding a bug on his shoulder.
Suddenly, Carissa, desperately searching for a way to join the conversation, bursts forward, “It wasn’t our intention for things to end up this way. It’s just – we are running out of time.”
Harold puts his hand in the air, forefinger extended and cuts in, “Please, Carissa. There will be plenty of time for explanations. Don’t interrupt us again.” Carissa shuts up immediately and moves back to where she was standing next to Andrew’s sleeping body. “Where were we? Ah yes, the experiments. Initial trials showed progress. A world where no one had to live in fear of vampires was closer to becoming a reality. But then, something went horribly wrong. You see, we didn’t get it quite right, so we have what we have out there.” He moves both hands as if to point out of Sebastian Labs. “That is the result of our experiments. It really happened so fast. One minute we were conducting the trial and the next, it went all awry. The vampire died of…complications. So, Sebastian Labs went into damage control. However, the real consequences were more than we bargained for. The vampire came alive as one of them. Patient zero of the apocalypse, so to speak. We had it contained, but then one scientist became careless. He thought it best to inform sources outside Sebastian Labs. We couldn’t allow that to happen.” Harold pauses as the story appears to weigh heavy on his mind. Then he whispers, “We couldn’t let that happen. Dr. Nathaniel Fargo, a good friend of mine, a fellow scientist, and an even better man, wanted to get the government involved. He wanted to contact the Center for Disease Control. But then, he had a terrible accident.”
“An accident?” I ask.
“He wanted so badly to help, to make things right, but there was no way we could let that information out. We had worked so hard to build the prestige of Sebastian Labs. Imagine what a story like this would do to the reputation of our laboratory. It turns out that when he entered the lab to check over the patient, someone forgot to secure the restraints. It was terribly tragic. At this point, we hadn’t known that the disease could spread. When it did, it had metastasized like wildfire. Obviously, there was no way to know the rate of proliferation. We thought he was dead; however, it wasn’t long before his body reanimated. Dr. Fargo attacked the two interns who were cleaning up the mess. And, well, you know the rest.”
Emily and I look at each other in disbelief, struggling to process this information. Harold is clearly waiting for us to catch up to his thinking. When we do, I ask, “So, Dr. Fargo turned into a Feaster? The interns too?”
“Feasters. Yes. We are guilty. Sebastian Labs is ground zero for the apocalypse. Unfortunately, not exactly the notoriety we wanted.”
“So, now what? What are you going to do with Andrew?” I ask.
“Well, despite our setback, I forged ahead with our research, especially after my sweet Marisol and son became infected. I am certain that I can find a cure for what is happening out there. I believe we are close.” Emily and I shoot each other glances. “It turns out that the original antitoxin that was set to cure humans of vampirism actually offers some hope when mixed with specific proteins found in vampire’s blood. These proteins have a restorative quality. At a cellular level, the antitoxin actually strengthens those proteins and converts the zombie blood cells back to near normal. So, I am moving forward with experimentation and clinical trials, but we need vampire blood to do so.”
“Why not just ask us to be part of the experiment if it could rid the world of Feasters?” Emily bites.
“That question is fair enough. You see, we have tried. You see that room over there? Many of those used to be vampires. We didn’t have it right. So, there is no way you would volunteer since it could mean your life. Isn’t that correct?” Our silence gives him our answer. “Now, with a few tweaks, I believe I have it right. With this new formula, the only thing my sweet Marisol needs is pure va
mpire blood. That’s where Andrew and the two of you stumbled into our plans.”
“So,” I ask, “why attack us at the aqueduct?”
“Well, when I saw how strong the three of you were when clearing away the Feasters in front of the house, I knew I had to separate you. You see, I sent those zombies in hopes to weaken your trio. I thought for sure one or two of you would fall, but I underestimated you. So, I concocted a different plan. I’d say it’s working beautifully.” Harold straightens his shoulders in confidence.
“You have underestimated us,” I say. Emily tugs on my jacket, giving me the green light to say what I am going to say next. “What about Case?”
Harold’s jaw stiffens. “How do you know his name?” he demands.
“Turns out we know a lot about him,” I continue. “I mean seriously, who locks up their own son in a cage? Only careless and uncaring parents do that.” I stare directly into Harold’s eyes.
He lowers his head and whispers sternly, “What do you know about being a parent? What do you know about caring for anybody?”
“Our parents fought off your zombie creations. They sacrificed everything so that we would survive,” Emily jumps in. “You? You didn’t even protect your own son and wife! So, please do not ask us what we know about caring for someone we love.”
“You will see, you sniveling beasts! You will see it! I will make this right. As I drain Andrew of all his blood, you will be able to do nothing about it but watch. Just like I had to watch as my sweet son, Case, was bitten by one of those creatures out there! Yes, I could do nothing! And when he bit my Marisol, I could do nothing! But, now I can. When I am done draining Andrew’s blood, I will cure my poor Marisol, and then I will cure Case with your blood!”
Rage starts to build inside me. I feel my fangs drop, and my eyes glow red. Moving to the window, I roar, “That’s if your sweet Case is even alive.”
Harold freezes as if struck by something. He turns to us, “What did you do!?”
“It’s all gone! All of it. The laboratory. The house. The cage you kept your son in. And Case. It’s all gone. Up in flames. So, do what you must. I swear, when this is all over, you will have lost everything!” My rage burns deep.
Carissa’s mouth is open, astonished at this revelation. “Gone? You mean my brother too?” Emily and I reveal nothing about setting him free.
Emily moves to the window, banging her fists against it. “Everything!”
“YOU BEASTS!” Harold screams. He clicks a switch and the machine between Andrew and Marisol comes to life. Blood starts to flow from Andrew and into Marisol. “I WILL DRAIN HIS BLOOD! YOU WILL BE THE ONES WHO LOSE EVERYTHING!” Emily and I bang our fists and anything else we can find against the thick window. We only make scratches into it. “Bang all you want. There’s no way through that glass. Watch as I had to watch!”
Slowly, we watch Andrew’s color change to the same sickly shade it was when he first came into our lives. Emily’s eyes drip with rage and sadness. “NO! Stop it! Please.”
“Oh, now the wild one begs. You aren’t so tough when there’s more on the line.”
By now, my fangs have retracted, but my anger still burns deep. I know we are at a disadvantage. “Harold, we will help you. We will offer you our blood to save Marisol. That is our promise. Please,” I ask. “Please don’t take Andrew from us.”
Harold pauses for a moment, seemingly mulling over my offer. He straightens his lab coat and pushes back his hair, which had gone wild during the exchange. Walking over to the machine that is draining Andrew’s blood, he takes a long look at both of us and switches it. The blood flow continues but slows, however, Andrew’s color still looks pallid and sickly.
After a few moments of silence, Marisol begins to move. Harold and Carissa rush to her side. Her mouth moves as if she is trying to speak. Tears flood Carissa’s eyes. “Daddy, is it working? Is it?”
“I don’t know, angel. It’s too soon to tell.”
Without breaking her unbelieving stare, Emily whispers, “This isn’t possible, is it? Did that lunatic really find a cure?”
“I don’t know, Em. This would change everything. Imagine having a cure to get rid of the Feasters.” I never thought it would be possible. Perhaps a truce with Harold and Carissa might be beneficial for everybody. For so long, it seemed that there was no hope. I look out that window every night for hope, but I’m not sure if I actually ever believed it would be delivered in this way. Hope for me means life. But I never thought about the real hope; a possibility for things to return to some level of normal. On the other hand, are we to trust a man who wants to cure us? Change who we are?
Using a stethoscope from around his neck, Harold checks Marisol’s vitals. He pulls the earpiece from his ears, smiles, and nods at Carissa. “Her heartbeat is stronger. This is promising!” Harold says with a smile across his face. Marisol, still moving, appears as if she is trying to say something. Harold moves close to listen. “It’s okay, my sweetheart. There will be enough time to talk when you’re better.” Marisol starts to whisper, and Harold and Carissa move closer. It’s Harold that moves his ear next to Marisol’s mouth. As he listens, Marisol’s head jerks forward, and she sinks her teeth into Harold’s neck. He manages to get free only after losing a large chunk of flesh and falls against Andrew’s gurney, ripping his IV out of his arm, spraying blood onto the floor. As he tries to get to his feet, he slips on the blood, crashes into the control panel on the wall, and lands hard on his back. The fall into the control panel deactivates the magnetic mechanism that locks both Containment Rooms, releasing us from our prison, but freeing the Feasters too. Realizing the danger we’re in, Emily races over to the door and manually locks it, keeping the Feasters out of the room.
Bleeding profusely, Harold grabs the nearest towel and presses it against his neck. Carissa moves to his side, “Father! Are you okay?!”
It doesn’t take long for Harold to understand the gravity of his situation. “Carissa, please stay away.”
“Father, why?”
“Mother bit me. You know what that means.”
“But it may be different. You said it yourself. It’s promising,” Carissa says, holding back heavy sobs.
“That is true, sweetheart. I am, however, already starting to feel quite sick,” he coughs, struggling to stop the blood flowing from his neck. “I don’t know where we went wrong. I was sure that we had everything right this time.”
Emily bangs on the window. “There’s one detail that you missed! You said you needed pure vampire blood.”
“Yes, yes. That is true,” Harold says, getting to his feet as he staggers to the window. Blood splatters on the window as he coughs, Feaster cells coursing through his body.
I move closer to the window. “You see, Andrew’s blood isn’t pure.”
“When we found him, he was a human. We changed him.”
Harold, trying to make sense of it all, splutters, “I thought you said that your kind didn’t change people any longer.”
“We don’t, but when we found Andrew, he was dying,” Emily adds. “We made a decision to save his life.”
“You see, Harold. You filled Marisol with the blood of someone who isn’t fully a vampire.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he coughs.
Emily smiles coyly. “Another underestimation. You didn’t ask and never gave us a chance to explain. You can’t cure us. We aren’t something to be fixed. Your arrogance is the reason you’re in this situation.”
Struck by this realization, Harold turns to Carissa, “Sweetheart, I am so sorry. I tried my best to make things right. I wanted to bring mother back to you. For us. Your brother too. I failed.” In the background, Marisol, like a shark frenzied by a drop of blood in water, snaps her jaws and stares savagely at Harold and Carissa. It’s no doubt she’s now a full-fledged Feaster. Harold turns Carissa’s head so she doesn’t have to see her mother and pulls out a handkerchief to wipe the blood from his mouth. “Come here so I can hold you one
last time.”
She buries her face into Harold’s chest and sobs, “Daddy, please don’t go!”
“Oh Sweetheart, it’s not my choice. I need you to be strong. Move on. Find a way to survive.” Still holding Carissa, he shifts his focus to us, “Kieran. Emily. I know I don’t deserve anything from you, but I hope that you can forgive me. Please, if you have any shred of mercy in you, will you please watch over my Carissa? She had nothing to do with all this other than to follow along with what I asked of her.”
As he’s staring intently, pleading with his eyes, I can’t help but think about all we lost because of this man. Part of me loathes him, and I’m exasperated at the notion of doing anything humane for him. On the other hand, I think of the family I lost. I never got to say goodbye. Emily did, but I never had that opportunity. I envy that Carissa gets to do this. When I look over at Emily, I’m surprised to see her crying. Knowing her so well, I realize that she’s come to the same conclusion I have. We will honor Harold’s request. I nod at Harold, and Emily puts her head on my shoulder.
Harold peels himself from Carissa’s embrace and falls to one knee, weakened by the combination of Feaster transformation and blood loss. “You have to go, Carissa. Before it’s too late. I don’t want you to see me like this. Unlock Andrew’s gurney and roll him out.”
“Um…Harold,” Emily says. “That isn’t going to work.”
He coughs, “How do you mean?”
I add, “When you were bitten, you fell against that control panel. All those Feasters in the Containment Room are free.”
“Oh, that isn’t good,” Harold adds.
“Daddy, I’m scared!”
I think about what we can do. Since the generation before me, Vamps have done our best to fit in with human society’s expectations. Faced all the scrutiny. All the persecution. All the laws. All of it to suppress who we are. We’ve never been able to realize our full potential. Deep down, our powers make us superior in so many ways, and we’ve known that. Society has dictated the standards of behavior for us to fit in. I know that I’ve seen hints of it throughout my life like the time in the bathroom in grade school. I never told anyone, but it felt liberating. Scary on some level, but I felt free. For the first time, I got a hint of who I really am; who I could be. Emily, too, has been close. I’ve seen it on the day she changed Andrew. Also, the precision in which she’s mastered the compound bow is amazing. She’s able to tap into the focus that only a vampire can possess.
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