Marked for Damnation

by S.A. Tadej

  I walked around the back of the truck and rounded the corner to the side of the truck he was standing on. He stood there – arms outstretched, keys in hand, as if mocking me. He grinned and I grinned back as I lifted the gun and pointed it at him.

  “You’re not gonna shoot me, Nicole.”

  “Give me the keys,” I demanded.

  He shook his head no. I pulled back on the trigger. “I said give me the keys,” I repeated.

  “You wanna shoot me, go ahead. But I’m not giving you the keys. I’m not gonna help you get yourself killed.”

  I stared at him trying to see if he was bluffing, but it soon became obvious that he was serious. If I wanted the keys, I would have to shoot him. We stood there staring each other down for what felt like an eternity.

  “Come on, shoot me! It’s what you want, right?” Devin challenged.

  I think we both knew that I couldn’t and wouldn’t shoot him. I released my finger from the trigger and backed up against the side of the truck in defeat. I slid down the side of it until I was sitting on the ground. I put my head in my hands and began to cry. In no time, Devin was beside me.

  “Shhh,” he whispered as he put his arm around me and grabbed the gun off the ground. He put the gun in his back pocket then stood up and lifted me into his arms. I cried into his shoulder as he carried me back inside and laid me back down on the bed.

  He got in bed and lay down beside me, wrapping his arm around my waist as he kissed the back of my head. I sobbed silently until sleep finally overtook me.

  My mother barely slept a wink since my disappearance. She was a bundle of nerves with constant worry that like the countless others on the news, I would also be found dead. To make matters worse, she was still watching my cousin Kelly, whom cried for me all the time and wondered where I was. All my mother would tell her was that I had to leave suddenly, that I loved her, and that I would be back.

  The telephone rang and my mother jumped to answer it. It was Detective Ramos letting her know that all my acquaintances had been contacted and it had led nowhere. As my mother was on the phone, Kelly asked if she could play outside. My mother mindlessly told her it was okay.

  Kelly ran out the back door, excited to be going outside. The weather was warm and she wanted to play with the new plastic ball Tommy had bought for her. As she was playing with it, a strong wind blew it further away from her. She ran to catch it, almost getting it several times as it continued to blow further from the house. Eventually it hit a tree and stopped. Kelly smiled victoriously as she continued running to retrieve it.

  As she approached the tree, a man stepped out from behind it. He picked up the ball. Kelly stopped and stared up at him. “Does this belong to you?” he whispered gently as he held it out towards her.

  Kelly silently nodded her head as she looked up at the man with the dark blond hair and piercing brown eyes. “Who are you?” she asked.

  “I’m a friend of Nicole’s. She asked me to come pick you up so she can play with you,” Damien answered as he smiled sweetly at the child and extended his hand.

  Kelly smiled and put her hand out to hold his. Damien dropped the ball and picked Kelly up, covering her mouth with one of his hands.

  My mother hung up the phone feeling eerie. The 48-hour time period had elapsed, which didn’t give her much hope of my being found alive. To top it all off, she had watched the news that morning only to be informed of dozens more disappearances. She paced the kitchen floor back and forth. “Kelly!” she called out as she suddenly remembered her young niece. She ran out the back door. Not seeing her anywhere, she began screaming her name.

  Tommy heard my mother’s screams and came running out of the barn where he had been tinkering around with an engine. He assisted my mother in the search for my six-year-old cousin. Not finding her anywhere, they both ran back into the house. They did a thorough check of the interior and came up with nothing. My mother felt as if she would pass out as her and Tommy exchanged horrified glances and she picked up the phone to dial 911.

  Chapter 18

  I awoke suddenly with an eerie feeling in the pit of my stomach. I opened my eyes and looked around the room. Devin was sitting in the chair across the room watching me. He stood up and walked toward me when he realized I was awake.

  “You’re up earlier than usual.”

  “Just couldn’t sleep well. I have this horrible feeling that something is wrong.”

  “Like what?”

  “I don’t know exactly. I just sense that something terrible has happened,” I replied as I stormed out of bed and down the hallway. Devin was close behind me as usual. I walked into the living room and turned on the TV. The news was on as I had expected. My heart caught in my throat when I read the bottom of the screen. AMBER ALERT – Kelly Shaw, Age 6, Southern Illinois. Next to the alert was a small photo of my cousin.

  My mouth dropped open and I looked over at Devin. “That’s my cousin,” I whispered. I stood up and paced the floor, becoming frantic. “Oh my God! Devin, that’s my cousin. She’s been abducted. We have to do something.”

  Devin nodded silently.

  I heard the reporter on the news mention Kelly’s name and my head instantly turned back to the TV. The screen displayed a full-sized photo of my cousin, then a photo of my home. I listened as they explained that Kelly had been taken right from my front yard and of course nobody had seen a thing. Then they went on to question a possible connection in her disappearance with mine.

  My heart felt as if it would rip in two as I stared at the photo of my sweet little cousin with her big blue eyes, light brown curly hair, and sweet dimpled smile. Who had taken her? Was she hurt? Was she hungry? Was she cold? Was she afraid? Was she even still alive? Was she being tortured? A million thoughts were running through my head as tears slid down my face almost unnoticed. I tried to quiet my imagination, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what they might be doing to her at this very second.

  I was nearly hysterical when I walked over to Devin, grabbed his arms and started shaking him. “Did you hear what I just said? My cousin is missing! We have to do something!”

  Devin was silent for a few moments then he let out a smirk. “Motherfucker,” he whispered as he shook his head.

  “What?” I whispered as I looked up at him, my eyes glazed and vulnerable.

  “I bet I know exactly who took her.”

  “Who?” I demanded.

  Devin ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. Then he exhaled loudly and looked over at me. “Damien,” he whispered.

  “Oh my God,” I exclaimed as I put my hand over my mouth. I felt sick to my stomach. “Why her? Why my cousin? I don’t understand. It’s me they want.”

  “That’s why they did it – to get to you.”

  “Well, they win! There’s no way I’m letting my cousin get killed because of me. Come on, we have to go save her.”

  “No.”

  “What do you mean, no?”

  “I must go alone.”

  “Are you crazy? You said yourself that they were stronger than you.”

  Devin frowned and sat down to think for a minute. Then an idea came to him. “I know how I can gain strength.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, and how is that?”

  “Isn’t there a Red Cross Center around here?”

  “How the hell should I know? I don’t even know where we are.”

  Devin stood up and walked toward the door. “I’m almost positive we passed a Red Cross building on the way up here.”

  I shrugged my shoulders and looked at him questioningly. “Okay, and if there is – then what? What are you getting at?”

  “Blood.”

  I thought it over for a minute. “Oh,” I whispered.

  “I haven’t got much time. I need to go now.”

  “I’m coming with you,” I said as I gave him a look that said I was serio
us and crossed my arms over my chest.

  He smirked and shook his head. “Too dangerous.”

  “I can’t just sit here and wait, Devin. She’s my cousin! Besides, what if you don’t make it? You haven’t told me where they’re keeping her.”

  “I’m not for sure on this, but I’ll bet they’re keeping her at the house – the same house I lived in.”

  “Which is where?” I asked.

  “It’s just off of Route 170. An old white farmhouse, set far back from the road and almost completely hidden by trees. It’s about a quarter mile after the bend.”

  He looked up at me as I nervously chewed my lower lip. He walked up to me and wrapped his arms around me, kissing the top of my forehead. “I’ll make it.”

  Devin walked out the door and I followed him. As he started the truck, I opened the passenger side door and jumped inside. He put the truck in gear, leaned over, opened my door, and pushed me out. I fell to the ground but was quickly back on my feet. I chased after the truck until it was no longer in sight.

  Devin kept driving down the country back roads until he came upon the brown brick building with the big overhead sign that read ‘Red Cross’. He was thankful that there were only two cars in the lot. It was around lunchtime, so the cars probably belonged to staff members. He parked his truck on the side and grabbed the shiny black pistol.

  Devin approached the building, gun in hand. The sleeves of his sweatshirt, which he had pulled down over his hands to conceal his weapon, hid the gun. A plump elderly woman with gray hair tied up in a bun sat behind a large desk. She looked up and smiled when he walked inside. “I’m sorry, sir, but we are closed for lunch right now.”

  Devin looked around nervously. Not seeing anyone, he approached the woman and pulled the gun out, pointing it at her. “Guess what - you just reopened!” he exclaimed.

  “Oh, Jesus!” she exclaimed as her eyes grew wide.

  “The blood bank – take me to it,” he commanded.

  The woman swallowed hard. She was visibly shaking all over. Devin pulled back on the trigger and aimed it at her face. “Now,” he demanded. “ I don’t have much time.”

  The woman’s knees were shaking as she led Devin to the room and opened a large refrigerator, which contained countless bags of human blood. “Please, don’t hurt me,” the woman pleaded.

  Devin smirked as he grabbed several bags of the blood. Then he turned to face the frightened woman. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He held on tightly to the bags and turned to leave. Once he was at the door, he turned to face the woman again. “You call the police and you’re dead,” he warned.

  The old woman nodded her head in agreement. “I won’t. Please, just take it and go.”

  Devin gave her one last glare, turned, and walked out the door. He peeled out of the parking lot as fast as he could, trying to put as much distance between himself and the crime he had just committed. He felt bad for scaring the poor old woman, but it needed to be done. He needed human blood for strength if he was to have any shot at beating Damien and the others.

  When he felt he was at a safe enough distance away, Devin reached over across the seat and grabbed one of the bags, ripping it open. He quickly gulped it down, the sickeningly sweet taste making him gag. Still, he forced down bag after bag as he felt himself getting stronger with each one.

  I couldn’t believe that Devin just left me there like that. I know he thought he was protecting me by doing so, but it still didn’t make it right. I was full of adrenaline and rage as I walked down the quiet country road. I must’ve walked for nearly two hours before I finally heard a car approaching. I stood off to the side of the road and put my thumb out. Yes, I was hitchhiking. I couldn’t believe it myself, but it was the only choice I had – the only choice and the only chance.

  The driver pulled over. It was a woman, maybe in her late forties with sloppy scraggly hair that looked like it hadn’t been brushed, buckteeth, and big glasses that made her look like a bug. She leaned over and rolled down the passenger window. “Need some help?” she called out.

  I walked up to the window. “I had a fight with my boyfriend and he left me out here stranded. I could really use a ride,” I replied, trying to appear as innocent and pathetic as I could.

  She opened the passenger door and I climbed in. “Thanks,” I said as I smiled over at her. The woman introduced herself as Candy. I barely paid attention as she tried to make small talk. All I could think about was my cousin and who had taken her. I would get to Damien and Kya somehow, even if it killed me – even if it meant I had to learn how to kill.

  “I’m kind of in a hurry. Could we maybe go a little faster?” I asked impatiently as I looked over at the speedometer.

  She looked over at me in disbelief. I stared back, sizing her up.

  “Look, it was nice of me to offer you a ride,” Candy stated as she slowed her truck to the side of the road. “But I can see that you’re obviously ungrateful.”

  She stopped the truck and asked me to get out. I didn’t think. I just reacted as I lunged at her across the seat and put my hands around her neck. She tried to kick me in the face, but I pulled back, still keeping my grip on her throat. I released one of my hands, punched her hard in the face, opened her car door, and threw her out of the vehicle. “Hey,” she yelled after me as I slammed the door shut and floored the gas. I didn’t have time for this shit. I needed to save Kelly – and possibly Devin too. I was unprepared for what lie ahead – that much I’ll admit. The only plan I had was to find the farmhouse Devin spoke of and pretty much figure out the rest once I got there. I was winging it and I knew it.

  I was scared – petrified really – but the adrenaline and rage coursing through my body kept me moving forward. I had to stay focused. My cousin looked up to me and there was no way I was going to fail her when she needed me the most. And my mother was going to know that I was still alive. I owed her at least that much.

  I saw a gas station coming up on the right. I slowed the truck and pulled into the lot. Then I filled up the gas tank and went inside. The attendant informed me of my location out here in the boonies. I bought a map and he helped me study it. From what I could tell, I was still hours away from my destination. It would be nearly dark by the time I reached it.

  As I was exiting the gas station, I eyed a payphone across the parking lot. I remembered seeing one of those coin holder things in the truck. I jogged back to it and grabbed some quarters, then ran up to the payphone and dialed my home number.

  My mother answered on the first ring, her voice sounding fragile and stressed.

  “Mom, it’s me Nicole,” I said, trying my best to sound calm.

  “Nicole? Oh my God! Honey, are you okay? Where are you? I’ve been worried sick over you? Kelly’s been kidnapped,” she blurted out.

  “I’m fine, mom,” I started to say.

  “It’s so great to hear your voice,” she interrupted. “Just where the hell have you been the past few days? And why haven’t you called me sooner? And what happened to your car?”

  I interrupted her stream of questions. “Mom, listen, I can’t explain it all right now. I just wanted you to know that I’m okay. I think I know where Kelly is and I’m going to get her.”

  “Where is she? You’ve seen her? Who took her?”

  My mother was frantic and I felt really bad for that, but I couldn’t tell her everything that was going on. That would just worry her more. Besides, how would I even go about trying to explain to my mother that I’d gotten myself involved with a man that turned out to be a vampire and that Satan’s army wants to kill me because I’m possibly an angel?

  “Tell me where she is and I’ll go and get her,” my mother continued.

  “I’m sorry, mom, but I can’t tell you. That’s hard for me to say to you, but it’s not safe.”

  “Not safe? What do you mean not safe? What’s going on, Nicole?
”

  “I can’t tell you everything right now. It could put you in danger. So you just need to trust me, okay? Can you do that for me, mom? Can you trust me?”

  “Nicole, you’re scaring me.”

  “I’m sorry, mom. I don’t mean to scare you. But right now, the less you know, the better off you are. There is something going on and I can’t tell you what. All you need to know is that I’m alive, I’m safe, and I’m going to get Kelly and bring her back. Now you just stay inside and lock the doors. Can you do that for me, mom?”

  “Nicole,” my mom started again.

  I cut her off. “I love you, mom,” I whispered into the phone before I hung up.

  I ran back to the truck and took off. I had a long way to go and a short time to get there. Devin already had quite a bit of a head start on me. Also, I didn’t know exactly where I was going - which was another advantage that he had, for he knew exactly where he was going.

  I tried to stay on the back roads. I figured there probably wouldn’t be many cops, if any, so I could get away with speeding. Also, I worried that Candy would report her truck stolen and I couldn’t afford to go down for that. Really, I couldn’t afford to stop at all until I reached my destination.

  Chapter 19

  Devin saw the old farmhouse in view and he parked his truck. He didn’t want to pull into the driveway or yard. He thought they would surely hear him if he did that and he wanted the benefit of having the element of surprise.

  The sunlight filtering in from the side of his dark sunglasses burned at his eyes. He walked slowly, darting behind trees to hide himself. At last, he was close to the house. He listened intently but didn’t hear anything. He crawled slowly on his hands and knees around the perimeter of the front of the house until he was just to the side of the big bay window. Slowly he brought himself up and peered around at it. Shit! The drapes were closed, as he pretty much knew they would be. I mean these vampires were so far away from the light that they couldn’t see in it. Darkness had become their custom and their reality. It had been his too – that is, until he met me. I would be his salvation. I had my doubts on that, but he seemed sure of it.