Fall of the Mortals (Book 1) (32 page)

Shaun and Alessandra flew away.

***

Yuri sat at his desk typing something into a laptop computer. Several boxes of ammo were lined up at his work station ready for action. Terry and Curtis approached him with scowls on their faces, holding their machine guns.

“I think they’re ready,” stated Yuri, adjusting his glasses then handing Terry a handful of bullets. “It’s a good batch. There’s a variety of nine millimeter for your mp5 machine guns, along with forty calibers and fifty calibers.”

“Sweet, dude,” said Terry, impressed but still stern.

“Now we just need a field test,” said Curtis.

“Right. Well there should be plenty of targets out tonight, yes?” said Yuri.

“Let’s head to the roof,” said Terry, noticing the sun was going down and loading a magazine into his mp5.

“Let’s go, man,” Curtis said to Yuri.

***

On level seventy-two, Curtis was suited up with a backpack of holy water. Terry stood in front of everybody, armored up for a battle. He wore a backpack, a belt full of magazines, two side arms and a machete.

“Hope this works, brother,” said Curtis.

“It will,” Terry responded.

“You realize you’re putting your life in the Russian dude’s hands?” said Curtis.

“I know what I’m doing, bro,” said Terry, trying to sound brave.

Harold and the others sat quietly and watched Terry prepare for what he thought was Armageddon. Harold and the others were doubtful that Terry would return alive.

“Alright, Curtis. Lay it on me, brother,” said Terry, waiting to be drenched, closing his eyes and holding his arms out.

Curtis sprayed him down, soaking him from head to toe. Terry was dripping wet. His eyes were focused. There was no stopping him as he headed to the roof.

“Alright, boys. Moment of truth,” he said, walking to the elevators.

***

On the roof, Terry came out to the round helicopter landing pad, which had a large number twelve painted in red on it. His gun was in the up position and he was ready for anything. He looked around watching his step as if he was in the wild hunting for game. He heard the sounds of the vampires swarming levels below which grew louder. He stepped to the middle of the number twelve on the roof, waiting for his presumed victims to arrive.

Four vampires flew to the edge of the rooftop surrounding Terry. They hissed and fluttered their tongues at him in disbelief that fresh blood had so willingly walked into their midst.

“Finally, one of you is brave enough to face us,” said a male vampire to Terry.

“I can taste his blood from here,” said a female vampire, licking her lips, showing off her fangs, stroking her hair with her hand.

Terry stood still, aiming his gun at the female.

“Time to die!” another vampire hollered.

The four vampires flew in to rush Terry. He opened fire on them with his machine gun, pacing in a circle and hitting all of them with his shots. Each of the vampires screamed and fell to the roof crying out in agony. Terry ceased fire. The barrel of his machine gun smoked.

“Gunshots?” a male vampire gasped as he bled from the chest, crawling across the number twelve for his life. “Are we weakened?”

“I th-think I’m dying,” said the female, stammering and quivering as she lay on her side.

Terry smirked walking up to the female. She looked up at him as if she hoped for mercy. Terry opened fire on her with his machine gun where she lay. She was killed instantly. Her eyes remained open.

“A fascinating weapon,” said another male vampire as he bled to death from the chest. ”I thought we had power over g—”

Terry pulled his pistol and fired a round through the male vampire’s forehead. He slumped over and died.

“Shut up,” Terry said sternly.

“No please don’t kill me,” cried the second male vampire who lay close to the edge of the roof. “I will never trouble you again,” the vampire added, gasping for air, bleeding from the mouth.

Terry walked up to him and stared down at him coldly. He raised his gun at the vampire.

“Please do it quickly,” said the male vampire, quivering.

“Quickly is too good for you,” Terry responded in a hard tone, shooting the male vampire in the upper thigh.

The male vampire screamed in agonizing pain, grabbing his leg. Terry kicked him over the edge. The male vampire fell down the side of the tower screaming until it faded. Terry walked over to the last male vampire who was nearly dead. He looked up at Terry knowing there would be no mercy and that he was going to die. Terry looked behind him noticing the other two vampires had turned to dust and blown away in the wind.

Terry pulled out his machete and formed a crazy look on his face as he drew closer to the last vampire. He held his machete above his head, gnashing his teeth, standing over the vampire.

“This is for Trent,” Terry mumbled.

“No!” the vampire cried, holding his hand up in defense, but was silenced by Terry’s swift stroke relieving the vampire of his head. 

Terry walked back to the edge of the roof to get down. The last vampire’s remains turned to skeleton then to ash. It blew away as Terry hopped down from the helicopter pad to the roof. He was ecstatic about the new vampire killing weapon.

***

It was later in the night on level seventy-two. Shane sat guard for the shift on night watch. Harold and the others were asleep. Shane stood up and looked out the window and noticed there were some vampires flying around the lower levels of the tower. He sat down, holding his gun. The night was upon him and he was tired. His eyes grew heavy trying to stay awake. He dozed off but quickly woke up again.

“Shane,” a whispery male voice called.

He looked out the window but didn’t see anything.

“Shane.” The voice sounded again. This time a little louder.

Shane looked across the living area and tried to see through the dark room. There was just Billy asleep in his chair while the rest of the tower family slept.

“Shane,” the voice called out again.

Shane got up and looked out the window again. Nothing. He walked to the kitchen and dining area then turned on the light. No one was there either.  He walked back to his post gripping his gun feeling a little anxious.

“What the hell?” Shane whispered.

“Over here, Shane,” the voice called.

Shane walked to the window next to his post again. His eyes widened. His jaw dropped. He saw Trent floating outside the window staring at him with a cold smile.

“Hey buddy,” said Trent.

“Trent?” said Shane quietly, trying not to wake the others but appearing frightened.

“Don’t be afraid. We’re pals, remember?” said Trent.

“What is this, man? Are you one of them now?” asked Shane.

“I was cheated, Shane,” said Trent, disgruntled.

“Cheated? What do you mean?” Shane responded, his eyes focused on Trent.

“Terry let me die, bro,” Trent answered. “He let me fall to my death.”

“He reached out for you, dude,” Shane said, scared but still trying to defend Terry.

“No!” Trent hollered.

“No?” Shane answered, dissuaded.

“He let me die, brother,” Trent emphasized. “He’ll let you die too if you let him.”

“Don’t say that, man,” said Shane.

“Terry and Curtis used us to do their dirty work,” said Trent in a hard tone. “Don’t you remember?”

“Yeah, I guess,” Shane answered, his eyes still bugged remembering Terry always bossing them around.

“It doesn’t have to be like that, bro,” said Trent. “We can change things. You and I right now.”

“What are you saying?” asked Shane.

“End Terry,” Trent answered, glaring at Shane with an evil stare.

“End Terry?” asked Shane, gripping his gun, still mesmerized by Trent’s stare.

“Look into my eyes, Shane,” said Trent staring deeply into Shane’s and drawing closer to the window.

Trent continued the stare until an unseen power travelled from his orange iris to Shane’s and he knew he was locked into Shane’s stare.

“Do I have your attention, Shane?” asked Trent in a calm, monotone voice.

“Yes,” Shane responded, gazing at Trent as if he was in a trance.

“I want you to use your gun, go find Terry and shoot him,” said Trent.

“Shoot Terry,” said Shane in a calm tone, his eyes still on Trent without blinking.

“Shoot Terry,” Trent responded. “Do you understand? You will free yourself once and for all. Do you understand?”

“Yeah, I mean Yes. I understand,” Shane responded in a trance.

“Go then,” Trent ordered.

Shane turned and walked to the elevators. The doors opened and he entered loading a round in the chamber of his mp5 machine gun.

The elevator doors opened on level seventy-one. He came out still in a trance, gripping his gun, and headed for Terry.

***

In the other room, Terry and Curtis lay asleep. The lights were down but there was still enough lighting to see someone come into the room. It was a wide living area. The meth lab sat on the opposite side of the room from where Terry and Curtis slept. Their guns were on the floor next to their sofas. They didn’t hear Shane come in aiming his weapon at Terry.

“Shoot Terry because Terry must die,” Shane mumbled placing his finger on his trigger. 

As Shane was just about to shoot, he stepped on a broken piece of glass making a loud crunching sound. Terry and Curtis woke and were startled at Shane aiming his weapon at them.

“Terry must die,” said Shane, his voice still monotone being in a trance.

Terry’s eyes widened in horror watching the barrel of Shane’s gun point directly at them.  Terry and Curtis threw themselves off the sofa just as Shane opened fire. The automatic rounds ripped through the sofa cushions making several holes, barely missing them. Terry and Curtis scrambled across the room and took cover behind concrete posts which stood from the floor to the ceiling. They made it just in time as Shane’s bullets whizzed by them hitting the wall, pictures on the wall, chairs and the concrete posts. Terry and Curtis crouched behind the round cement posts as Shane’s bullets ricocheted off them missing them by hairs. Dust from the shots sprinkled over both of them.

***

On level seventy-two, Billy, Brody and the tower family woke up to the sounds of Shane’s gunshots popping off below them. Billy stood holding his gun and turned on the lights. He was caught off guard looking in all directions listening to the gunshots.

“What the hell is that?” asked Harold, alarmed.

“It’s coming from downstairs!” hollered Brody.

“Chris!” Billy yelled.

“Yeah?”

“Watch them while we find out what the freak is going on down there!” said Billy. “Brody! C’mon, let’s go!”

Chris looked at Harold feeling uncertain and nervous about being the guard dog. Harold glared at Chris as if he was a traitor.

“Are you going to freaking do it or not?” Billy shouted in anger.

“Okay, man. I got this,” Chris answered in a soft tone trying not to frustrate Billy any further.

“Don’t dick it up, boy,” said Brody, tossing Chris a pistol and running out of the room heading to the elevators.

Chris stood holding the gun, unsure of himself. He shook nervously looking over his tower family. Harold stared at him as if his eyes alone were going to beat logic and reason into Chris. The sounds of Billy and Brody cursing the slow moving elevator were heard in the background.

“Chris?” asked Harold, keeping his eyes on him.

“Wh-What?” Chris answered, stuttering, afraid to point the gun at Harold.

“Give me the gun,” stated Harold in a serious tone. “You don’t have to do this. You’re not one of them. We’ll seal them off down there. I’ll lock the elevator and the stairwell door. It’s okay.”

“I don’t know, Harold,” said Chris, his voice sounding scared. “I don’t know about that.”

“Chris, listen to Harold,” said Betty. “These guys are animals. Give him the gun. We’ll win this thing together.”

Chris’ eyes darted back and forth from Harold to Betty. He didn’t know what to do.

“Chris? Give me the gun,” said Harold, slowly walking towards Chris, reaching out for the handgun. “Don’t worry about anything that’s happened. It doesn’t matter. Do you understand?”

“Stay back, man,” said Chris, raising the gun to Harold.

Harold reached for the gun. Chris’ finger went over the trigger.

“We love you, Chris,” said Harold softly, his hand gripping the top of the gun.

Chris’ eyes were large. His body quivered. His lips trembled. He was stuck in between worlds and didn’t know what to do. Harold grabbed the gun out of his hands. Chris dropped to his knees and started to cry, burying his face his hands. Betty rushed over to comfort him.