Blood Slayer (8 page)

Chapter 22

     Back at the compound, Adam sat in the conference room or the War Room, as he called it. Another man came inside, this one much older. He lived at the compound as well, stayed in the lower levels and rarely came out other than for a large battle, and sometimes not even that. He opened the door and stepped inside, getting Adam’s attention immediately.

     “Randall? What brings you up here?” Randall was a tall black man. His hair showed some gray specks, but that was his only real sign of age. He completely filled out the doorway as he stood.

     “So you let the girl go see her mother,” Randall said.

     “Yeah. I didn’t think it would hurt. Plus it will ease her mind. So I let her go.”

     “And what if she learns the truth?”

     “I don’t think she will. Her mom doesn’t know enough for one. And I don’t think Jessica could put it together with what she does know.”

     Randall took some steps in side toward Adam who was still sitting and crossed his arms. Adam stood, but was still several inches shorter.

     “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Randall said. “Look at how she did against the vampires.”

     “Yes, I know. I wasn’t expecting that.”

     “You need to get her under control. We need her. She is our best weapon against them.”

     Adam looked away.

     “Oh, come on now. You’re not getting soft on me, are you?” Randall asked.

     “No. It’s not that.”

     “You like her don’t you. I told you not to get attached. Not to her, not to any of them. We are leaders. This is war! We send soldiers into battle; many of which will die.”

     “I know,” Adam said. “This is just different. She’s not just a kid, but she’s a disabled one.”

     “She seems pretty
capable to me. She might be perfect to lead the attack.”

     “Lead the attack? Are you kidding?” Adam asked.

     “Reconnaissance; they can’t get into her head. She could easily slip into those mines and get a look at the place before we all go in. Send her in with a video camera so she can stream it back to us.”

     “That would be a suicide mission.”

     “She would be another sacrifice to the cause.” Randall said.

     “And just what cause is that? We’ve been fighting for so long, I’m not sure I remember.”

     Randall grabbed Adam’s jacket and slammed him up against the wall, lifting him a few inches off the ground so they were at eye level.

     “Then perhaps I should refresh your memory,” Randall said. As he spoke, his eyes turned black as stared at Adam.

     “Randall, you’re turning.” Adam said.

     “Maybe this is what it will take to remind you of our mission. The vampires are like rats. They’re vermin. Just like you’d smoke out a rat from its hole, we must go to their hole and smoke them out, or kill them where they lie, no matter what the cost. This is our chance for total victory. I will not have you jeopardize it because you feel sorry for some slow kid. Do you understand?”

     Adam looked down and nodded slightly.

     “I said do you understand?” Randall said louder.

     “Yes! Yes. I get it.”

     Randall’s eyes turned back to normal as he sat Adam down.

     “I hope so. I have much more convincing reminders if needed.”

     “That won’t be necessary,” Adam said. “I’ll tell her about going and scouting. I’ll sell it to her.”

     “Good. I’m sure it won’t be too difficult. Use that charm of yours.”

     “Yeah. Too bad I can’t pass some of that charm over to you.”

     “My days of being charming are long gone. Now it’s just force. I’m going back to my quarters. Remember, keep her under control. Make sure she goes on that mission. Even send Anna with her if you need to. She won’t last long enough there to be a distraction.”

     Adam recoiled at Randall’s coldness. Adam has led battles and had to send fighters to their deaths before, but he always tried not to think about it. It was just part of the job, but not one he cared to focus on. Randall seemed to revel in it.

     “She won’t be. It’ll get done. I’ll make sure,” Adam said.

     Randall turned and walked to the door, turning back just before stepping out.

     “Good.”

Chapter 23

     When they returned to the compound, Adam was waiting for them at the rooftop. Jessica smiled and jumped from Hawk’s back once they landed.

     “Hey Adam!” She said.

     “How’d it go?”

     “Really good!”

     Anna sat on Hawk’s back, staring at Adam. Finally, he noticed her sitting there.

     “Everything ok?” He asked.

     “Yeah, fine.” Anna said as she climbed off.

     “So how was your mom, Jess?” He asked.

     Jessica went on to fill her in on the visit, and told him the things her mom told her. As she got to the part about Adam’s age, Anna was going to jump in, but Jessica was too quick.

     “So then my mom said you knew my dad!” Jessica exclaimed.

     “She what?” He asked.

     “She said you knew my dad. You saved him from a vampire just like you did me. And then he fought for you for a long time until the vampires got
him. I was just a baby I guess; though you don’t look very old to have been around my dad. How old are you?”

     Adam looked around uncomfortably, glancing at Anna who crossed her arms.

     “I’m only 21 Jess. Your mom must have been mistaken.”

     “Oh no, she’s sure it was you. Or is your dad named Adam and look like you?”

     “No, let’s go inside. We can talk more about this later. I want to talk to you about something.”

     They all walked inside and to the conference room. Once inside, Adam explained to Jessica his plan for the vampire nest in the mines.

     “You want me to go in?” Jessica said.

     “Yes. Not by yourself. We’ll be nearby. But
we can’t send a whole army in there. We need someone to scout. Since the vampires can’t hypnotize you, I think you’d be the best one to go in.” He explained.

     “Adam,” Anna chimed in. “She’s just a kid, you can’t send her in by herself.”

     “Sure I can,” Jessica said. “I want to do it.”

     “She’ll be fine,” Adam said. “We won’t let anything happen to her.”

     “How? You won’t even be there with her. If those grubs gang up on her or...” Adam put his hand up, silencing her.

     “The decision has been made. She will go in tomorrow at noon, so you will want to get some sleep. But
first, take her down to supply; I got something for her that will help her on this.”

     The girls got up and Anna took Jessica down a few floors to supply. Linus was there arranging armor and helmets.

     “Do you ever sleep?” Anna asked.

     “Not if I can help it,” he said. Linus was short and walked with a cane. His left leg was almost torn off by a vampire the year before. While they were able to repair the leg, he’d never be able to use it the same way again. So he worked in supply. “So what do you ladies need?”

     “Adam said you had something for her.”

     “Oh, this is Jessica?”

     “That’s me!” Jessica said.

     “Well, I’ve heard a lot about you Miss Jessica. I’ve been working on this little number for a few months, finally got it working.” Linus reached into a cabinet and pulled out a black helmet. It was thin, and looked like it was made from some kind of
              latex, but thicker. It covered the entire face and had what looked like mesh where the eyes would be. He handed it to Jessica who looked it up and down, not sure what to make of it.

     “What is it?”

     “It’s a helmet,” Linus said, as if it were the most obvious answer.

     “I can see that but how would I even see out of it?”

     “Try it on, you’ll see.”

     She pulled it on over her head. Once it was on, she was surprised she could see clearly in front of her.

     “Now step in here,” he said pointing to the back of the room. She walked to the back and he switched the light off. As he did so, everything lit green as the night vision kicked in. Also, Linus and Anna were colored orange and yellow through the helmet’s visor. “What you’re seeing is the infrared. Down in the mines, it’ll be dark. Instead of a flashlight to rely on that will give you away. You’ll wear that helmet. It will protect your head, and you can see in the dark.”

     “This is so cool!”

     “Yeah, it is pretty neat.” Linus said as he turned the light back on.

     “How do I look Anna?”

     “You look like a ninja.”

     “Adam said you did some firearms practice with her also?”

     “Yeah, we’ve done some on the pistol range mostly,” Anna said.

     “Great! She’ll be fine with these.” He dug into a large, steel locker and pulled out a pair of pistols. “Now, these look like regular handguns, but they’re not. They shoot 9mm at full auto. I rigged them to hold special magazines with 150 rounds each. They have a computer chip in them, so the sighting is synced with her visor. So she can shoot in the dark. It will target for her.”

     “Oh! Like Robocop?” Jessica asked.

     “Yes! Exactly like Robocop. Except you’re Robo-Jess, but not a robot. Anyway, between these bad boys, four extra magazines, her armor and visor. I think she’ll be just fine.”

     “See Anna? I’ll be just fine,” Jessica repeated.

     “Ok kid. Let’s go. You should get some sleep before the big day.”

Chapter 24

     Anna came in and woke Jessica around 10:00 a.m. Jessica dressed in her armor, and loaded the guns. Once she was geared up, thy walked up to the conference room to meet with Adam. He was waiting for them when they came in. He went over everything with Jessica one more time. Through the whole conversation, he wasn’t sure if she
understood. She’d interrupt with a reference to a TV show or movie. Though he figured it was just her way or understanding things.

     “Are you nervous?” He asked.

     “Nope!” Jessica said. “I’m gonna kick some vampire butt!”

     “No, you’re not. You’re just there to scout. Your visor also has a camera built in, so you’ll be streaming back to us. We’ll be able to see what you see. Do not engage anyone or anything unless you have to. Understand?”

     “Yeah, I understand.”

     Adam looked at Anna and nodded.

     “Let’s go Jess, it’s time.” Anna said.

     They walked to the rooftop and Jessica climbed onto Hawk’s back.

     “Jess,” Anna said. “You’re going to do fine. Just be careful. If it gets too weird in there, get out. Ok?”

     “Ok Anna. I’ll do fine. I’m not scared.”

     “Well you should be. You’re about to do something really dangerous. Just keep your eyes open, remember the things we’ve practiced.”

     “I will. I gotta go.” Jessica said as Hawk trotted to the end of the rooftop and took flight. Jessica pulled down the visor as they flew over
the city. Before long, they were flying over the hills toward the mines. Hawk landed and came to a stop and she hopped off. The entrance to the mines was only a few feet away.

     She got to the entrance and saw there were large boards covering it. Grabbing the ends of it, she pulled on one of the boards. It was a struggle, but she managed to slide it out of the way. There were two more she struggled with, but finally got moved. Now, the large opening to the mines was open.

     Drawing both guns, she stepped inside and headed into the mine. She walked for quite a while and saw nothing. The tunnel wound around at a downward angle. After a little over an hour, she saw one. A grub was wandering around the tunnel. It was a man, his shoulders were hunched over and clothing tattered. It hadn’t seen her. She lifted the visor to look around, but it was pitch black without it. She lowered the visor again and silently moved forward.

     Jessica stood about ten feet behind the grub, raised her gun and fired a single shot in the back of its head. There was a silencer on each gun, so it fired making a quick flash and a
click!
The grub dropped to the ground.

     “You guys!” She whispered, as if Adam and Anna could hear her. “Did you see that?” There was no answer of course as she looked around. After a minute she continued forward.
The tunnel wound around awhile before she had more contact. This time, there were several grubs, four or five of them. One of them saw her, but before it could react, she opened fire, dropping all of them in seconds.

     Pressing forward, she ran into several pockets of grubs, with little resistance. She was too quiet and too quick for them to stand a chance against her.

     Back at the compound, Adam, Anna and several others watched on a large screen Jessica’s live feed.

     “Why didn’t you put a mic on her?” Cedric asked.

     “Radio communication would just distract her,” Adam explained.

     They watched her take out dozens of grubs as if they were nothing.

     “She is amazing,” Anna said.

    Adam looked at her and smiled.

     “You trained her.”

     “Yeah, but she picked everything up so fast. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

     On the screen, she ran into a big pack of grubs, dozens of them. She opened fire, mowing each of them down. She stopped, reloaded and continued firing.
After several minutes, they were all down. In front of her was a large opening. She stepped into the opening, which opened into a large cavern. Looking around, there were pods all along the rock walls, hundreds of them, maybe thousands. In the pods, were sleeping vampires.

     Jessica looked around the cavern at all the vampires in the pods.

     “Wow! There’s so many! I hope you guys can see this,” she said. There was movement behind her, causing her to spin and fire at a grub
that was walking up to her. She fired a volley of shots, hitting it in the head with each shot. It fell to the ground, but stood back up, its eyes glowing white.

     “Oh
crap,” she said while backing up. It moved toward her baring its fangs. She couldn’t figure out why a vampire would be awake in the middle of the day, even this far below ground. She pulled off her visor and tossed it aside and then reached for her crossbow which was slung across her back.

     The vampire took a few more steps toward her, and started laughing as she fumbled with the bolt. It stared directly at her, making eye contact. She could tell it was trying to hypnotize her, so she kept working the bolt. Suddenly, he stopped and cocked his head to the side.

     “Jessica?” He said.

     “What? How do you know my name?” She asked.

     “I’m your dad.”