Night Zero
A small child laid in her bed but she was not sleeping. She had the covers pulled up to her chin as she shivered under the sheets. A storm was raging outside, and the hard rain pelted her window. A storm, even a harsh one like this, isn't what frightened the young girl. It was the loud sounds coming from downstairs.
Once she heard the sound of glass breaking she had gotten out of her bed to check it out. As she peeked through her door her father came by holding a weapon, he spotted his daughter and told her to stay in her room. Listening to her father she closed the door, but leaned against it resting her ear on the door trying to hear whatever she could. She jumped when she heard her father shout out. She heard the sounds of fighting and yelling, then a loud shriek went out followed by a thud and then it was silent. She heard the sound heavy footsteps coming upstairs, she bent down to look under the door and her eyes widened when she saw the shadow of a large creature glide by. It headed off in the direction of her parent's room, where her mother was. She heard her mother call out thinking it was her husband. The little girl peeked out the door when she heard her mother shriek. Her eyes widened when she saw a large cloaked figure in front of her mother, but really scared her was the tongue-like appendage that was latched onto her neck. The little girl's mouth was wide open with terror as she saw her mother's face grew paler and paler by the second. The woman's mouth was open gasping for the air that would not come. She locked eyes with her daughter, and mouthed out the words run.
Giving one last look to her mother she bolted out her bedroom door. The creature that held her mother dropped her and the woman landed with a loud thud on the floor. Her eyes going lifeless as she watched her only child run for her life.
The little girl ran down the hallway as quickly as her little legs could, when she spotted the top of the stairs she let out a yelp as she tripped on a rug. She landed hard on her face, and quickly tried to pick herself up, but she stopped when she heard a growl mixed with clicking noises. On her hands and knees, she slowly turned around to see the cloaked figure. She let out a scream as she spotted blood red eyes. She scooted away from the monster as tears started to fall down her face.
"It's good to finally meet you, Kleine," The creature said
He slowly pulls down his hood revealing his face to the girl.
"I've been waiting a long time to finally meet you besonderes," The man said stepping closer.
"S-Strigoi," The girl said lowly.
"Ahhh, so he's been telling you stories. Tell me Kleine what has the old man told you?" The monster asked
The girl scoots back further finally getting on her feet, "You are a monster. You hurt people."
"Hmmm is that all?" He asked
"What did you do to Papa?" The girl asked
The man let out a sinister smile and instantly her she knew what had happened. She slowly crept back trying to make her way downstairs. The creature stepped forward getting closer to the girl and as he did so she reached towards the collar of her shirt.
"Now where do you think you're going besonderes? As Ive said Ive been waiting a long time for you and so has someone else," The man said stepping forward.
"My Bunic, told me more than just stories," The girl said reaching into her shirt.
"And what is that kleine?" The monster asked getting close to the girl's face.
"That you can't handle this!"
The little girl grasped the Star of David that hung around her neck and yanked it breaking the chain off she threw it as the creature's face and once it made contact it let out an otherworldly shriek as the silver necklace burned his face.
The little girl took this chance to run, she made it to the stairs but luck was not her side. As she was halfway down the stairs she fell and tumbled down the stairs. She landed on her arm and let out an ear piercing scream as the bone her arm snapped. She looked up when she heard a shriek and saw the monster hanging over the banister grabbing at his face. He looked at the girl and let out another shriek. With that as motivation, she got up holding her arm and ran through the living room towards the front door. She let out a scream as she saw her father lying on the ground his body laying lifeless on the ground and his head completely twisted all the way around. With more tears pouring from her eyes she ran to the door and yanked it open running into the night. She was met with the cold rain as she ran down the street screaming. Dirt and mud caked her feet as she continued to run, she huffed and gasped for air as she kept running but didn't allow that to stop her. She heard the sound of tires screeching and saw a bright light. She let out a scream as the lights stopped in front of her and a loud horn blared.
The car door opened and a man stepped out. He came around the car spotting the small girl.
"Holy shit," The man said
He quickly ran forward and grabbed the girl. He carried her to the car and threw a blanket around her.
"Where are your parents? What are you doing out here?" The man asked
The girl just cradled her broken arm close to her chest, "Tot," The girl simply said.
The man gave the girl a strange yet sympathetic look picking up her accent.
"Don't worry I'm gonna get you somewhere safe," The man said
He started up his car and headed to the nearest hospital.
Abraham Setrakian was an old man who had seen a lot in his the age of 65 he had suffered many great losses, and as seen things, no man or woman should ever see. Even though he suffered a great deal he was lucky to receive one miracle in his life which multiplied into two miracles. So it was a great heartbreak when he received a call late at night, informing him that his only granddaughter was in the hospital and that his son was found dead in his home, with his wife missing.
Hearing the news he caught the first flight out of New York to Seattle.
Waking up in a white room was unsettling to the young girl. The memories of last night flashing through her head did nothing to settle the uneasiness in her stomach. She looked down to see her arm in a sling and immediately took it off as the nurse came in pushing a cart.
"What are you doing you need to keep that on," The nurse said with an authoritative tone.
"I don't need it," The girl said
"Yes you do," The nurse said
The nurse said putting the sling back on the girl. She walked back over to the cart she had pushed in and pulled out a covered tray.
"I don't like carrots," The girl said surprising the nurse.
"What?" The nurse questioned not understanding what she meant.
"I don't like carrots," The girl said pointing at the tray the nurse was holding.
The nurse looked down at the tray she was holding and placed it in front of the girl. She removed the cover to reveal the meal. A sandwich, a small side of soup, with another side of carrots.
The nurse gave the girl a strange look before her attention was drawn away from her by knocking at the door.
Two uniformed police officer stood at the door.
"Sorry for the interruption, but we need to speak with the girl," The Officer said
"You're gonna need to make it quick. Visiting hours are over and she needs to eat," The nurse said before walking out the room.
The two officers walked over the girl and one of the men knelt down next to her.
"Hey, there sweetie can you tell us your name?"
"Jacqueline….Jacqueline Setrakian," Jacqueline said
"That is a really pretty name. Now Jacqueline my friend and I are here to see what happened, to you. Ask you a few questions. Someone came into your home did you see who?"
Jacqueline shook her head looking down.
"Did you hear anything?"
"Screaming lots of screaming," Jacqueline said
The other officer wrote down in his notepad, but Jacqueline made sure not give any information that suggests she saw a monster.
The Officer asked her series of more questions but they all seemed pointless to her. Her Grandfather had told her that no one believed in strigoi that's why they can get away with hurting so many people. As the officer went to ask her another question another knock was heard on the door.
Everyone in the room looked up and Jacqueline's eyes widened and she hopped out of bed.
"BUNIC!" Jacqueline yelled out throwing herself at the older man.
Abraham quickly caught the small girl doing his best to stay balanced as he tried to support her weight.
"I'm assuming you know this girl?" The Officer said
"Yes I am her grandfather," Abraham said picking Jacqueline up.
Jacqueline buried her face deep into her grandfather's neck letting his familiar scent calm her.
"I've got you now. Don't worry stea mică, I've got you," Abraham said stroking the girl's hair.
"I'd hate to interrupt your moment sir but there's some things we must discuss and some paperwork that must be done," The Officer said
"Yes, yes, of course, but could you allow me just a few minutes alone with my granddaughter. She's been through a lot," Abraham said
"Yes, of course, sir. We'll be waiting outside the room," The Officer said
Once the officers left Abraham carried his granddaughter back over to the hospital bed and laid her down.
He gently stroked her hair as tears came down her face.
"What did you see?" Abraham asked
"Strigoi. He killed Papa and hurt mama," Jacqueline said, "I'm sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry about. There was nothing you could do," Abraham said
"I lost your gift. I threw it at the monster's face and it burned him just like you said," Jacqueline
"It is fine. You are worth much more to me than some old trinket," Abraham said kissing his granddaughter's forehead, "I feared that someday something like this would happen. I thought I had prepared your father that he was strong enough on his own but it appears I was wrong. I won't make that same mistake again. Jacqueline you are going to live with me and I promise the monster that killed your parents is going to pay, but I'm going to need your help. Can you do that?" Abraham said
Jacqueline let out sniffled and wiped her nose, "Yes grandpa."
"Very good. Now get some rest," Abraham said standing up.
Hunger, a poet once said, is the most important thing we know, the first lesson we learn. But hunger can be easily quieted down, easily satiated. There is another force, a different type of hunger, an unquenchable thirst that cannot be extinguished. It's very existence is what defines us, what makes us human. That force is love.
25-year-old Jacqueline Setrakian was walking down the street wearing a leotard under a coat, her coat seemed a little thin for the cold air but that didn't really bother her. She carried groceries in her hands, she stopped to pick them up on her way home from a dance rehearsal. She made her way back to grandfather's pawn shop as she turned the corner two Hispanic guys ran into her. She didn't flatter keeping her ground but the smaller guy fell back onto the ground. Jacqueline just gave them weird looks as she stepped over the smaller guy and committed to her way to the shop. As she passed by an electronics store a news story caught her attention. She stopped walking and looked stood in front of the glass window looking at the news report.
"We have more now on the developing story out of JFK Airport tonight. You're looking at live video of the airplane identified as a Regis Air widebody jet. It originated in Berlin and it shut down just moments after landing. We are told there has been no communication from the pilot. All attempts to contact the flight crew…"
"Shit…." That's all Jacqueline needed to hear before she took off running down the street.
Jacqueline quickly made her way to the pawnshop. She ran inside depositing her groceries on the counter.
"Grandpa! Grandpa! Bunic!" Jacqueline yelled out as she ran downstairs. She looked to where he grandfather normally kept his cane and saw that it was gone, "Crap." She back upstairs and pulled out her phone. She quickly dialed her grandfather's number, "Pick up, pick up. Come on," The phone went to voicemail making Jacqueline curse out hanging up the phone, "Grandpa I got you a phone for a reason!"
Not knowing how to react to the situation Jacqueline did her best to prepare when her grandfather returned. She got to work smelting down silver, jewelry, cutlery, dinnerware, and various other objects were melted down and turned into bullets. She had the tv going with news playing making sure she was updated with the news about the plane.
Jacqueline was just finishing up casting some bullets when her phone rung. She pulled up her goggles and grabbed the phone. She looked at the phone hoping it would her grandfather but all she saw was an unknown number. She answered the phone just as she looked at the TV.
Her eyes widened as she heard a voice speak over the phone.
"Hello is this a Miss Setrakian?"
"I'll pick him up," Jacqueline said before hanging up the phone.
Jacqueline did not have to hear what the man was going to tell her because on TV she saw her grandfather being carried away by the police.
Jacqueline made her way down the police station. She was just across the street from the station and as she stood at the crosswalk she saw a man standing on the other side. He was smiling at her, but here was something terribly wrong with him. His skin was all waxy and his hair was clearly a nice wig. He seemed rather familiar and even though he was smiling his she felt nothing but sinister intentions coming from him. A bus passed by and when it was gone the guy was gone.
The crosswalk light turned green and Jacqueline made her way quickly across the street and looked for where the man was, but there was nothing that indicated that he was even there. Not being able to do anything else Jacqueline continued her way to the station.
"Hello, I'm here for Mr. Setrakian. I'm his granddaughter," Jacqueline said to an officer.
The officer searched through some files and pulled one out, "Right this way mam."
Jacqueline was led through some doors until she arrived at a visitor center. He led her to one of the windows.
"He'll be out in a moment."
"Wait can't I take him home?" Jacqueline asked
"Your grandfather had been charged with disturbing the peace-"
"Well I don't think that's grounds for keeping him here," Jacqueline said
"-AND with carrying a concealed weapon. He's going to have to go in front of a judge to settle the charges."
"Oh great," Jacqueline said sitting down.
After a few moments, her grandfather was escorted out and sat in front of her. They both picked up the phone. Jacqueline was about to speak be she noticed the officer basically looming over her shoulder.
"Esti bine? Nu s-au rănit te-au făcut-o?" Jacqueline asked (1)
"Nu, sunt bine, dar Jacqueline trebuie să acționăm rapid. Am nevoie de tine pentru a ajunge la aeroport găsi cutia și să-l distrugă," Abraham said quickly. (2)
"Am înțeles, dar ce se întâmplă dacă nu e acolo?" Jacqueline asked (3)
"Atunci să ne rugăm ai făcut destule gloanțe," Abraham said (4)
Doing as her grandfather instructed Jacqueline grabbed the first taxi she could to the airport. As she got closer to the airport the worse the traffic got. Pretty soon they were at a standstill.
"I don't have time for this," Jacqueline said
She grabbed a wad of cash and threw it at the driver before hopping out the car. She booked it down the street running to the airport. As it came into view she saw the airport swamped by reporters, police, and protesters.
"Time to find a way in," Jacqueline said to herself.
Jacqueline adjusted er backpack and weapon strapped to her thigh. She made her way into the crowd and listened for any information that could help her. That when she noticed a people by the CDC trucks. She pushed her way through the crowd so she could get within earshot.
She heard bits and piece's of the conversation but caught box and warehouse.
"So it's in the airport storage warehouse, good to know," Jacqueline thought.
She snuck her way around the building staying in the shadows. Hiding from the police and security guards was much easier than she had planned. She found a wall that had a metal ladder hanging off the side. The ladder was folded up but Jacqueline jumped up and grabbed it. Unfortunately, the ladder didn't pull down like she had planned it to and she hung there.
"Okay this is gonna be hard," Jacqueline said
She reached for the next bar and pulled herself up. She climbed up the rest of the way and pulled herself over the side of the warehouse. She saw old window panels and wiped it down with the sleeve of her jacket. She peered into the building and saw exactly what she was looking for.
"Bingo," Jacqueline said
She slipped through the window and skillfully climbed her way down. She slowly made her way to the box keeping herself on high alert.
She gripped the handle of her weapon, "This ends now," With a swift pull she pulled out her weapon a long dagger. She kept up to the box and took a deep breath. She reaches for the box and pulls it open quickly raising her weapon.
"No…..no no no no no!" Jacqueline said
The box was empty.
"GAH!" Jacqueline yelled out kicking the box.
"Hey! Who's there!?"
Jacqueline looked back when she heard a man shout saw the flicker of a flashlight and ran. By the time the guard got there, there was no sign of anyone but a lone window pane was still open.
The box had gone missing and now the people of the CDC were looking at security footage to see where it had gone.
Everyone watched the screen in anticipation. They fast forward the video until Eph says stop. On the screen was small figure entered. The person was wearing a hood and a scarf wrapped around the lower half of their face obscuring their face from the people. Even though her face had been hidden they could tell it was a woman by the small stature.
"Who's that? What is she doing?" Nora questioned
They watched as the woman pulled out a knife.
"Is that a knife?" Eph questioned in disbelief.
They watched as the woman held up the knife and threw open the coffin like box's doors. Nothing happens and the woman freezes as she looks at the box. She drops her arms and stands still for a moment before she starts kicking the box.
"Well someone's angry," Jim said
"Yeah but why?" Eph pondered
Suddenly the woman's head snaps back and then she books it out of the view of the camera. A security guard comes onto to screen. He looks around and then leaves. Nothing happens for a few minutes so Eph tells the security guard to fast forward the recording. As they watch the video something flashes across the screen and the box disappeared.
"There, right there. Rewind. Can you go slower, frame by frame?" Eph asked, "There must be a gap or a cut."
"No, there's not cut. Watch the time code," The security officer said
He rewinds the video and in the span of two seconds, the coffin disappears.
"Two seconds. Go back. Start there. Wait, wait," The video is paused, "There. What's that distortion?" Eph questioned pointing at the screen.
"I don't know. It grabs the box and lifts it off...up…" The security guard said
"That box was 500 pounds. Nothing could lift it up like that," Eph said
"The old man said, 'If you have the coffin, you still have him.' Him," Nora said pointing at the screen.
"Damn it!" Jacqueline said as she got back to the pawn shop. She slammed her hands on the table in frustration. She might not have found the Master but if that officer hadn't of come she might have been able to destroy the box. Now he was probably loose somewhere in the city and her grandfather was in jail.
She looked up at a wall and saw a silver rapier resting, "When he comes I'll be ready."
Jacqueline stared at the weapon and reached for the Star of David resting around her neck, her hard glare continued as her eyes briefly flashed red.
Love, you see, is the one force that cannot be explained cannot be broken down into a chemical process. It is the beacon that guides us back home when no one is there and the light that illuminates our loss. Its absence robs us of all pleasure of our capacity for joy. It makes our nights darker and our days gloomier. But when we find love no matter how wrong, how sad or how terrible we cling to it. It gives us our strength. It holds us upright. It feeds on us and we feed on it. Love is our grace. Love is our downfall.
1 - Are you okay? They didn't hurt you did they?
2 - No, No, I'm fine, but Jacqueline we must act quick. I need you to get to the airport find the box and destroy him.
3 - I understand but what if it's not there?
4 - Then let us pray you made enough bullets.