Location: Vancouver, Northern Territories of the Pacific Empire
Time: 11:20 PM, 11/10/2103
My legs collapsed as her hand was pulled out of my chest. A torrent of blood, and a few other things I’d have preferred to keep on the inside of my body, came gushing out of the freshly crafted hole in my torso. The girl with the blood-stained hand bit down on her clean arm hard enough to draw blood. She held her bite wound over my body, letting a few drops of blood roll into my open chest.
“That should buy us a few minutes.”
The girl spoke in a distastefully calm voice. She looked a few years younger than me, but now that I know more about her, let me just clear that misunderstanding up. She was definitely older.
How much older? Who knows. I wasn’t going to ask.
Her appearance was eerily perfect. So perfect that it went too far and ended up looking unsettling. If she hadn’t been moving around I wouldn’t have believed she was even alive. Completely devoid of any signs of stress, her skin looked more like porcelain than anything else, and her gothic style of dress wasn’t something you’d expect to see on a young girl.
“A few minutes? What a relief. Here I thought I was going to die before my time. On an unrelated note, want to help me speedrun my bucket list?” Apparently I’m the type to resort to humor in traumatic experiences.
“A joke?”
“What? Not your style? Would you rather talk about the mortal wound you just gave me or the fact that you turned my body into a short-term water fountain?”
“Those are both the same thing.”
“Funny that. But you know, it’s a pretty big concern, don’t you think?”
“It doesn’t have to be. Just calm down for a moment.”
“Calm down? Thanks for the advice, but I’d rather not. You’re already too calm. This is definitely the time to panic. And will you call an ambulance already?”
“I can’t do that.”
I did consider calling an ambulance myself; calling emergency services was free after all. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the strength left to move my arms.
“Of course not. Sorry, it was stupid of me for thinking we’d contact any kind of medical professionals to deal with the fact that you punched a hole through my chest. But hey, since I’m such a forgetful guy, mind explaining why that is again?”
“We can’t let anyone find out about this. Any kind of official record would be bad news.”
“Seeing as you just added an extra opening to my body I can see why you’d think that, but do you think they won’t notice my dead body? Typically no one is out at this time of night, but once morning comes around someone will definitely find my corpse.”
“Unfortunately you’re right, it would be noticed, and then eventually traced back to me. Are you starting to realize the difficult situation I’m in?”
“Sorry, my bad. I’m just focusing on my own problems at the moment. I guess I’m the insensitive kind of guy that can’t read the room. And you know, you should be more careful with insensitive guys like me. I’ll definitely haunt you if I die from something like this.”
The lifeless girl ignored my comeback and looked over her shoulder toward a second girl; the only witness, or maybe she’d be better labeled as an accomplice. Seeing as I was in the process of quickly dying, I’d leave the finner details for the court to iron out.
She looked older, probably around my age. And based on the fact that she was wearing my high school’s gym uniform she was probably a student there as well.
It’s worth noting that she didn’t look out of place at all wearing a gym uniform and baseball hat in the middle of the night. Her tanned skin and muscle definition made her seem like the type that always had the energy for a quick workout.
“Lucy, what are we going to do about this? And stop trying to sneak away.”
For obvious reasons, I hadn’t been paying much attention to the athletic girl, Lucy apparently, but the lifeless girl was right. During our short conversation Lucy had been subtly moving away from the crime scene.
“Sneak away? I’m not trying to sneak away. I’m just, ah, I’m, oh, I got it. I’m just making sure no one is around. Besides, this is mostly your problem. You’re the one who hit him.”
I’m pretty sure it was mostly my problem.
“Hit? I’d appreciate it if you used a stronger verb to describe my current situation. How about impaled, skewered, or maybe even my personal choice: mortally wounded?”
Both girls offered me a quick glance before deciding I was better off being ignored.
“Well, I wouldn’t have hit him if you didn’t move out of the way.”
“Of course I moved out of the way! What kind of idiot would take a punch with that much force behind it?” Lucy looked back in my direction. “Sorry, no offense.”
“Lots taken.”
“Lucy, what do you think will happen if he dies? They won’t just come after me. Once they learn you were even slightly connected to the death of a human they’ll send Hunters after you too.”
“But, you’re important. Can’t you do something?”
“I’m nothing, my family is important.”
“Can’t they do something?”
“You think they’d help the daughter that got sent to the Northern Territories? If anything, this will be a perfect chance to get rid of me for good. Right now I’m in no position to cause any trouble. If anything, this is the perfect excuse to have me executed for good.”
Considering that my murder is the issue in question, I don’t think it’s quite right to call it an excuse. If anything, such a potential execution seems perfectly reasonable. At least from my position.
“Well if you can’t do anything, what am I supposed to do? I don’t know anything about fixing a human.”
The lifeless girl looked away, so Lucy decided to face me again.
“Why’d you have to get involved in the first place? This whole thing is your fault, you know?”
“Stop trying to blame the victim. You involved me. You two probably didn’t notice, but you crushed my bike during your fight. I was chasing after you to get compensation.”
It was a surreal sight. I managed to catch the tail end of a supernatural between those two. They were fighting with enough force to uproot nearby trees, yet somehow the only casualty was an innocent bystander: my bike.
“Compensation? You saw us training hard enough to crush a bike without noticing and decided to chase after us for compensation? Are you an idiot or something?”
“Of course I chased after you. I’m something, and that something is frugal. Do you have any idea how much a bike costs? How many shifts I had to work to save up that money?”
No need to mention I got it second-hand for a thrift shop.
“Does it matter? Is any amount of money worth risking your life on?”
“I believe my current situation serves as an answer to that question.”
“Stop with the pointless conversation.” The lifeless girl interrupted our back and forth. “My blood bought us some time, but it won’t be enough to close the wound. If nothing is done, you’ll die. And if you die the two of us will be killed.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Stop acting like the only negative of me dying is the impact it will have on you. And I’m a little occupied at the moment, you know, with the whole dying thing, so I’m going to need one of you two to handle this one.”
“I would, but. . .” Even as she struggled to think of something, her lifeless expression remained intact.
“Hey, Ellie, there is one thing you could do, if you really wanted to save him.” Lucy looked away as she spoke.
And the lifeless girl’s name was Ellie.
“I already thought of that option, but it’s almost as bad as letting him die naturally.”
“Excuse me, long time listener, first time caller. Radio name: Losing blood and drying quickly. I’m interested in hearing about this mystery option.”
“No, you don’t want to. You’ll end up regretting it.”
“The fact that I’m going to be dead in a few minutes makes the prospect of living long enough to regret something sound pretty good.”
“You won’t live.”
“Huh?”
“If I do what Lucy is suggesting, you will die. You’ll take your last breath as a human right there on the ground. Your heart will never beat again, but you will be forced to continue on.”
“You know, I’ve never been a fan of riddles.”
“Lucy wants me to make you like me. She wants me to turn you into a vampire.”
So that’s what it was. I knew the two of them had to be augmenteds when I first saw them fighting, so learning they were vampires wasn’t very surprising.
Aberrations, anyone whose augmentation altered their physical body or genetic makeup, didn’t have the best reputation. Understandably so. Their blood was useful in crafting medicines, but most people wouldn’t be comfortable with a neighbor that resembled the monsters from old horror stories. That was true even in the Pacific Empire. They’d been relocating most of their aberrations into the freshly conquered Northern Territories from the beginning.
I couldn’t remember if that information was available to the public though.
“So, you two are vampires then?”
I could tell that my reaction was a little underwhelming for them, but I didn’t have the energy left to feign surprise.
“Me, a vampire? I’ve got nothing in common with those gloomy leeches. I’m a werewolf.” Lucy took off her baseball hat and two canine ears that matched her grey hair twitched slightly.
“Lucy is a lesser being, but you are right about me. I’m a vampire, or if you prefer, an aberration that resembles the classic description of a vampire. And in my case, it’s contagious. I can turn others into aberrations as well. Becoming a vampire would certainly heal the wound in your chest, but you could never turn back. As far as I know, there isn’t any method of undoing it. Your human life will end, and you’ll continue on as an aberration like us.”
“What kind of vampire?” She had a lot to say, but most of it wasn’t worth discussing at such a crucial moment.
“What?” My question seemed to throw her off guard.
“You heard me. Are we talking about the creepy ones that live in old castles, or the cool, attractive ones that live normal lives, just with amazing powers?”
“Huh? Are you hoping for something?”
“Of course. I’d want to be one of the angsty, sexy ones, obviously. People can make fun of them all they want, but most of their problems come from their personality, not the fact that they’re vampires.”
“Real vampires, at least the ones like me, aren’t quite like the ones you’re describing, but we’re not completely different either. It’s kind of hard to describe because I’ve been one all my life. I’m not entirely sure what being a normal human is like, so I can’t say how being a vampire compares.”
I don’t think it was on purpose, but her answer was far too vague. Coupled with her lack of emotion, it really sounded like she was trying to take me for a ride. Was I going to sparkle or turn into bats? Not that it really mattered. My extremities were already numb. Death from blood loss was only a few minutes away.
“Alright, then just answer one thing: could a vampire ever become a hero?”
Ellie let out a dry laugh while Lucy looked away.
“Never. Forget vampires, an aberration will never become a hero.”
“Alright, sounds good to me, let’s do this.”
I didn’t have the time or desire to explain my reasoning to them.
“Are you sure? Living as a vampire isn’t easy.” Ellie’s voice lacked any kind of passion.
“Hey, stop trying to talk him out of it. Turning him will solve everyone’s problems.” Lucy’s voice, on the other hand, had passion in spades.
“Yeah, stop trying to talk me out of it.”
I wasn’t interested in any cliche developments about how it’s better to die as a human than become a monster. Once death became a real possibility my choice was obvious.
Let me experience some of that melodramatic angst.
“But you’ll miss out on so much if you become a vampire. You won’t be able to enjoy the sun.”
“So what? Think of all the money I’ll save on sunscreen.”
“You’ll never be able to sleep again.”
“That’s actually pretty great. I’ll be able to pick up an extra part time job.”
“You won’t show up in pictures or mirrors.”
“Who was the time to waste looking at those pointless things?”
“You’ll have to start avoiding garlic.”
“Never mind, let’s forget about this vampire thing.”
“Huh?”
“Come on, let’s put our heads together. There’s got to be something we could do to save me. Maybe turn me into a werewolf? Is that contagious?”
“Most humans think it is, but nope. It’s hereditary.”
“Hmm. Think we could pull off some kind of Frankenstein type thing? Or do you know any necromancers?”
“This isn’t the time to talk about my necromancer acquaintances. Besides, he wouldn’t bring you back the way you’d like.” Ellie rejoined the conversation.
“So you do know one.”
“Shut up! Why are you suddenly against becoming a vampire?”
“Hey, you’re the one who was trying to talk me out of it.”
“I was only acting that way because I thought you were going to agree to it anyway. I was fully prepared to turn you from the beginning! It was an act. I wanted to be able to say ‘told you so,’ in two weeks whenever you start complaining. That way none of this would have been my fault!”
The lifeless facade Ellie had been pushing forward shattered without leaving any trace behind.
Did she think that stoic personality suited her needs? Honestly, I found her rage filled voice easier to listen to.
“So the truth comes out. What’s up with that incredibly self-centered reasoning? And I’d like to point out, no matter what else happens, this was definitely your fault.”
“Shut up. I’m definitely turning you into a vampire. Why’d garlic put you over the edge anyway?”
“Listen, food is expensive.” I decided to start with the basics.
“What are you on about?”
“The only way I can afford to feed myself is to buy food in bulk. Every month I make a huge amount of food and freeze it. I’ll thaw out one portion per day and keep eating that same meal until it’s gone.”
“So what?”
“This month was garlic noodles. Forget about my literal life, my financial life can’t afford a hit like that.”
“Seriously?”
“Only the truly foolish would joke about something so important. My finances are more important than my life.”
“Um, Ellie, if that’s his reason, we’re fine, right?”
“Yeah. You stingy idiot, forget about food. Vampires only drink blood.”
“Make me a vampire.”
Only blood? Think of the money I’d save. No need to get into it yet, but I already had a good idea of where to get all the blood I could drink.
“Eh? Back to that?”
“Stop standing around and do it already. How long until I start counting things or selling chocolate cereal? I’ll gladly sacrifice a month of garlic noodles to never have to buy food again. Turn me into a vampire.”
“Now I kind of don’t want to. Your enthusiasm is starting to creep me out.”
Her words might have seemed a little harsh, but they had nothing on the genuine look of disgust on her face.
“Ellie, come on, just bite him and get this over with.”
“Fine, I’ll do it.”
“Nice.”
Ellie knelt down beside me. I responded by lifting my neck toward her mouth.
“What are you doing?” Ellie pulled away as she spoke. And not just physically. I feel like the emotional distance between us got even wider.
“Bringing my neck up so you can bite it.”
“What are you, some kind of pervert? Why should I bite you on the neck?”
“No, that’s normal, right? Vampires always bite on the neck. That’s the best place to get blood.”
“Have you ever gotten your blood drawn before?”
“That’s different! Of course a nurse isn’t going to stick a needle in your neck if they don’t have to. Lucy, help me out here.”
“I won’t bring up her actual age, but I don’t think you’d find anyone who thinks she looks older than thirteen or so. I should probably let the police know there’s a child predator in the area.”
“So an ambulance is a no go, but you’ll call the police? Put that phone down!”
“Trying to deflect, classic criminal behavior.”
“Stop profiling me. And Ellie, bite me anywhere, I don’t care.” We all knew it should have been the neck, but I didn’t have the time to play pointless games with them.
“So anywhere will get you off? I shouldn’t have underestimated a pervert like yourself. And I’d prefer if you didn’t refer to me so casually.”
We only just met and she was already driving my character into the ground.
“You know what I meant. I’d rather not die over something like your fear of necks.”
“What fear of necks? Stop trying to make it seem like this is my problem.”
“Whatever, we can settle this later. Just get it over with.”
After giving me a few more suspicious glances, Ellie bit down on my arm. If I had any feeling left in my extremities it might have hurt. After a few seconds she released my arm and stood back up.
“Hey, I didn’t think to ask this before, but is this going to hurt?”
“I don’t think. From what I understand you will pass out though.”
“Okay, that’s not so bad.”
“And you may never wake up.”
“First I’ve heard about it! Next time lead with that!”
Then I lost consciousness while feeling a strange mix of anger, fear, but mostly, annoyance. Either way, I was fully prepared to become a rather spiteful ghost.