Chapter 37
Darkwood Military Base, WA - July 27th
Dr. Bennet took a sip of his coffee as he stared through the glass. The vampire he was testing lay strapped down on the operating table. Two of his assistants were feeding it by injecting blood directly into its arm. The blood bag was half empty.
“How the hell do we defeat you?” he said out loud even though he was the only person in the corridor.
Things were not going well outside, of that he was sure. Mass genocide was a phrase that didn’t quite grasp the severity of it. The unrelenting march of vampires recently swept all the way to the west coast. Not even during the Civil War had there been this much bloodshed on American soil.
The vampires recently broke through into lower California. Then their main force swept southward, while northern ground was being lost at a slower rate.
All air and water traffic had long since been shut down, yet somehow the creatures still reached Hawaii along with other remote islands across the world. A whopping seventy percent of the world’s countries had already gone dark, with no communications going in or coming out. Of those that were still communicating, it sounded like they were on life support. There would be no great rescue from the outside; they were on their own.
Dr. Bennet’s hand began to quiver, something that seemed to be happening more and more as of late. He switched his coffee to the other hand, licking the drips off of his knuckle.
The status of Darkwood was no more reassuring than the rest of the world. The President declared their project a priority one initiative, yet they hadn’t been able to receive supplies in days. He thought that this, more than anything, explained how bad the decline of the United States really was.
At least they had yet to face the vampires directly. If that had happened they might not have been there at all.
On a slightly more positive note, Wyoming was holding its own. At the very least, it was holding its own better than most other places. The men and women there must have been putting up one hell of a fight because the vampires had been there for three days and still hadn’t overtaken the state. It was the main reason the vampires reached the southern part of the west coast first. The fight in Wyoming created a safety bubble for the northwestern states. Unfortunately, that bubble was about to pop.
Nobody could fight off the vampire onslaught forever, Wyoming included. From what Dr. Bennet had heard, the state’s back was broken and the vampires were merely sweeping up the last of the resistance.
Dr. Bennet could sense the vice closing tighter every day. It made him want to puke constantly. He felt like a criminal in prison, waiting for his turn to ride the lightning.
He sensed movement out of the corner of his eye and turned to see Major General Smith stepping from the elevator in the next room. Though the man always wore a no bullshit expression, this time his face looked exceptionally grim.
Dr. Bennet waited for him to walk down the hall and through the pressure sealed doors.
“General,” he said when the man came through the door. Dr. Bennet took another sip of coffee.
Smith took a deep breath before speaking. “I don’t know how to say this Doctor, so I’m going to skip all the bullshit. The president is dead.”
“What?” Bennet almost spit the coffee.
“Air Force One could not find a ship that could refuel it. They flew for as long as possible before they were forced to land some time last night in Oregon. The president hasn’t been heard from since.”
“But Oregon should still be relatively safe.” Dr. Bennet’s hands were beginning to shake again. This time he felt there was nothing he could do to stop them.
“Nowhere is safe Doctor,” said Smith. “There are vampires everywhere, not just the places that are overrun. We believe the vampires spotted Air Force One as it was making its approach. They most likely flocked to the landing site and overran the President’s guard.”
Dr. Bennet dropped his coffee. Both he and Smith jumped back as its contents exploded on the ground.
“Are you alright?” asked Smith.
“Fuck no I’m not alright! The entire world is crashing down around-”
“I’m going to need you to get ahold of yourself,” said Smith. “We’re counting on you to keep your head, now more than ever.”
“Get a hold of myself? That’s it, the end is here, how the hell am I going to get ahold of myself?”
“It’s not over until it’s over Doctor.”
“The President is dead, that’s our last defense.”
“You’re wrong, the President is only a symbol. We are the last defense.”
Dr. Bennet leaned against the glass. He thought he would of collapsed if he hadn’t. “He’s dead?”
“We’re sure of it.”
Dr. Bennet’s arm was against the glass, and his forehead was against his arm. He wanted to quit, to throw his arms up and walk right out of there.
Everyone else was cowering in peace, why couldn’t he?
“Dr. Bennet,” said Smith, his voice piercing the silence that had filled the corridor. “We need a better way to defend ourselves, mankind needs a better way to defend itself. If there was ever a time to figure out that way, it would be now.
”
“No shit…” Bennet mumbled.
“I expect a briefing on everything you think could help us,” said Smith. “Given our current status, I’m giving you five hours to get it together. I know you feel like you need a break, but humanity is counting on you. Remember, there will be plenty of time to rest when you’re dead.”
He turned and left. Dr. Bennet sank to his knees.
What the hell am I going to do?
He pressed his forehead against the glass and watched the vampire from his spot on the floor. The thing was breathing fast and hard, though he wasn’t sure it even needed to breath. It was probably taking in the scent of the prey around him.
Could they create some kind of bomb that filled their lungs? Perhaps they could make one that spewed silver particles and garlic? Maybe if we had more time and resources.
He thought about the President, loved by many, but not all. Dr. Bennet always found him to be a nice enough man. Just like so many other people, he hadn’t deserved to die.
“You son of a bitch!” he screamed.
Both of his assistants turned at the sound of his voice.
Dr. Bennet was getting to his feet. The shakes were gone, replaced by anger.
He marched down the corridor then threw open the sliding glass door that separated the two rooms. His assistants stumbled backwards as he pushed through them.
He pulled a silver scalpel off a nearby tray and held it to the vampire’s throat. The vampire’s skin turned red where the scalpel touched.
“How the fuck do we stop you?”
The vampire choked back a cough, flashing its long fangs.
“You have me,” it managed.
“The rest of you, how do we stop the rest of you?” Bennet pushed the blade deeper and a trickle of blood came out.
“Doctor?” asked one of his assistants.
“The, rest, of… me?”
“Yes the rest of,” Dr. Bennet froze. A sudden thought struck him. “You don’t know what’s happening do you?”
He pulled the knife away and took a step back.
The cut in the vampire’s neck was slow to close. The silver had been taken away, but the wound remained.
Dr. Bennet turned to his nearest assistant, a middle-aged woman with straight black hair. Her name was Nancy.
“Do we have a way to transport him?”
“Why would we do that?” asked Nancy.
“Do we or do we not?”
“Yes, we have a specially made gurney, but-”
“Good, get everyone you can to help. I want this vampire brought up to the surface before the sun comes up.”
Nancy didn’t move. “But Doctor.”
“Now dammit, we’re running out of time…”
Twenty minutes later, the vampire was strapped to a gurney with thick silver brackets. Major General Smith was back as well, along with twelve soldiers. They guided the gurney as it was wheeled to the elevator and up to the surface.
Dr. Bennet stepped outside first, opening the double doors and letting the warm night air hit him. It smelled so fresh, he had to close his eyes and take it in. The difference between the stale air inside was palpable. Thick clouds drifted across the sky, revealing an ocean of stars every time they separated.
He heard a gasp and turned around in time to see the vampire letting out its breath. Its skin sizzled where it was being pressed against the silver restraints.
“YEESSSS!” the vampire cried. The end of the word was drawn out making a slithering sound. “Master, I’m here!”
Dr. Bennet glanced at his watch, watching the second hand tick.
“Now what?” asked Smith.
“Wait.”
There was a soft breeze that made the night heat feel comfortable. Behind Dr. Bennet, the vampire vibrated in jubilation.
The second hand on Dr. Bennet’s watch went around once and then twice. The guards stood with their weapons out. They passed questioning glances back and forth and he could catch them shrugging out of the corner of his eyes.
“Now,” said Dr. Bennet. “Take him back inside.”
The soldiers were well trained and didn’t hesitate to follow the order. The doors were parted behind them and the vampire was whisked through, almost faster than Bennet himself could get inside.
“To the elevator, get him back to the operating table.”
Dr. Bennet squeezed in with the soldiers and waited for the doors to shut. Smith stayed up top, waving them on without him.
As soon as the elevator began to move, the vampire shrieked. His arms tightened and he banged against his restraints.
“No,” he cried. “No more!”
Dr. Bennet was afraid the restraints might break. They creaked against the tension and he thought he could see them stretch. Smoke drifted out from underneath and he could smell burnt flesh.
Fortunately, they held and he soon had the vampire transferred back to its original table.
“Where is your master?” Dr Bennet asked as the soldiers were clearing out.
The vampire’s eyes darted around the room. It looked as though it were drugged.
“Answer me!”
The vampire stopped searching, its eyes falling on Bennet.
“I will never tell,” it hissed.
“What if we gave you more blood?”
The vampire ignored him.
“As much as you want, just ask.”
“I won’t make deals with you, pathetic human.”
Dr. Bennet sighed. “No? Well how about if we promise to let you go?”
The vampire’s red eyes darkened. “No,” it growled.
There was a knock on the glass, Dr. Bennet turned to see Major General Smith. He was gesturing for Bennet to step outside.
“I’m kind of busy at the moment General, what is it?” said Bennet as he came through the door.
Smith eyed the vampire. “I need to speak with you somewhere a little more private.”
Dr. Bennet felt reluctant to waste time, but held out his hand anyway. “Lead the way.”
When they reached the upper level and the elevator doors were parting, Smith jabbed a finger into Bennet’s chest.
“What the hell did we just do?”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean,” said Smith. “Is what the hell kind of wrath did we just bring upon ourselves?”
“I don’t understand General.”
“I just received radio transmission, according to what little eyes we have left, every vampire on the damn continent just turned and began heading in our direction.”
Dr. Bennet’s heart skipped a beat. “Are you sure?”
“That we’re all going to be dead soon because of what you just did? I’m pretty fucking sure.”
Bennet struggled to keep his breathing steady. He was ringing his hands together so tight that the skin underneath was turning white.
“Okay,” said Dr. Bennet. “I need you to work on a way to communicate. When the time comes I’m going to need to send out a message. Something broad, I want as many people to receive it as possible.”
“Okay?”
“Please, there’s no time and this needs to be done if we’re going to stand a chance.”
“This better be good.”
Dr. Bennet stepped back into the elevator and began pressing the button to close the doors. Major General Smith looked surprised by this, like he was going to stop the doors from closing.
“I have a plan General, but there’s no time to waste. Come to me when you have a way to send out a message.”
The doors slid closed and Dr. Bennet was soon heading back into the room where the vampire lay.
“Are you ready to talk?”
The vampire ignored him.
Dr. Bennet stepped closer and leaned over him. He took in the vampire’s flower-scented breath and grimaced. It was a dirty trick to draw in unsuspecting victims. Everything about this creature was a ruthless killing machine.
Well, if that was the game they were playing, he was going to show it how mankind did ruthless.