Washington, D.C.
0436hrs, Oct 28th
The director was sleeping when his wife of thirty years woke him up holding the phone. He sighed and took it from her.
"This better be good," he said irritably.
"Sir," Agent Minez said. "I apologize about waking you up so early, but three more victims were found. They were torn up pretty bad, but the bodies were still at the scene. Mostly. It appears that the assailant was interrupted."
The director cursed as he heard the news. It appeared that his agent had only been the beginning. And a warning. The creatures wanted his body to be found. "Descriptions?"
"Sir, the only profile the victims have is that they appeared to be the only ones around. It might just be a coincidence that the numbers increase by one each time."
"Minez, how long have you been in the C.I.A.?"
"Three years, sir."
Huber Heights, Ohio
0800, Oct 28th
Alan woke up to Nikki talking to someone in the hallway. He pulled down his sheets and found himself in only boxers, his athletic build shown for all to see. He opened the door to find Nikki fully dressed and on the phone.
"More victims," she asked before turning and looking at Alan. "Oh, I'll call you back."
"More victims?" Alan was still groggy, his eyes half open. From outside, he heard a familiar pop and tackled Nikki to the ground right as his window exploded and his wall hit by a bullet. He pushed Nikki across the floor and down the stairs. He crawled back up, slid into the first room to his left, and slid back out, carrying a 9 mm with him.
"Go all the way downstairs and stay there," Alan ordered Nikki as he positioned himself behind the divider between the small kitchen and living room, giving him a clear shot at anyone who walked through the front door.
He only had to wait two minutes, enough time for Nikki to get downstairs and hide, when a man carrying an M16 walked into his house. Without a moment's hesitation, Alan shot the man's left knee cap and right hand. Quickly, while the man yelled in pain, he kicked the weapon to the side and kicked the man in the stomach, rolling him on his back.
"You bastard," the man yelled.
"You shot at me first. What was I suppose to do?" Alan stood on the man's hand, causing him to yell louder. "Now, who do you work for?"
"What's it to you?"
Alan stepped harder. The man screamed louder.
"I figure you have about thirty more seconds before you go into complete shock. Who do you work for?"
"Peters…" the man got most of the word out before Alan knocked him out with a heel to the head.
Alan heard Nikki walk up from downstairs. "I smell blood."
"No, he must survive. But now I know where I stand."
"What?"
"I have a call to make."
Washington, D.C.
0900hrs
"Sir," Liza said over the intercom. "You have a call from a Lt. Pierce."
"Ah, yes. Send him through." Peterson waited as Liza sent the call through. When it did, he picked up cheerfully. "So, you've taken on that mantel again, have you Pierce?"
"Well, seeing as I've killed many people under that title, it felt necessary for this call."
"I see you've chosen a side."
"No sir, it was forced on me when you sent your agent in to kill me."
"Don't take it personally, Pierce. There was a doubt that you would stay loyal to us through this mission. When a certain fact was uncovered, it was felt necessary to take a more aggressive approach. You understand, of course."
"I understand that you feel I constitute a threat on a national scale. I also understand that I have also joined the Most Wanted list."
"Oh, contraire. I understand self defense. His death will be blamed on your vampire friends. If, however, you stay with them, there is a distinct possibility that a war hero will become a fallen hero."
"And if they are innocent?"
"Then you have a deadline to meet."
"Sir," Alan hesitated slightly. "If I meet the deadline…"
"I told you after Iraq, you will be taken care of."
"Thank you sir."
"Alan, I'll give you the rest of the day. I know how hard it is to kill a fellow agent. But at midnight, you have twenty-four hours to find absolute truth that your vampires have nothing to do with the murders."
Huber Heights, Ohio
0925hrs
38 hours and 35 minutes left
Alan hung up the phone and turned to Nikki seriously. "Take me to Rachael, now."
"Alan…"
"Nikki, I have just over thirty-eight hours to determine without a doubt you guys are innocent of the murders this past week. Now, take me to Rachael's." Nikki did so reluctantly.
Twenty minutes later, they pulled into Rachael's driveway. Alan tore a path to the front door, Nikki following solemnly behind. He threw open the door and stormed into the house.
"Rachael, you're going to tell me everything. Now."
"Alan, whatever are you talking about? Nikki, what is he going on about?"
"Damn it, Rae. It you love your way of life you will tell me everything you know about this week's murders." Alan charged at Rachael, grabbed your by her shirt, and pulled her up to his level. "You can start by the murder of the agent three nights ago."
"Alan, even if I did know, do you really think barging in here and forcing me to tell you will work."
"I don't have time for anything else. I have thirty-eight hours and fifteen minutes to prove your innocence in the murders or Peterson will have his men come here and exterminate everyone."
"Peterson," Rachael repeated. "As in Director of the Central Intelligence Agency? I thought you said you weren't a federal agent."
"I'm not. I don't have time to explain, Rae." Alan pleaded with his former girlfriend, his eyes pleading even harder.
"You have eighty-six hours. That's plenty of time."
"Rae, please. You can do as you please with me afterwards. Tell me and I'm yours."
"If you insist. But remember your words now. Once I fulfill my end, you are to serve me until death, be that as human or otherwise."
"Of course."
"Now," Rachael stared into his eyes. "Put me down."
Washington, D.C.
1000hrs
38 hours left
The director smiled for the first time this week. Everything but Walsh going off without a hitch. This was the reason he wanted Pierce on the case. He knew that if anything threatened his friends, Pierce would rise to the occasion. It had been obvious in Iraq and now Peterson was using it to his advantage. Even if Pierce failed, the whole incident would be forgotten after the vampires and their human supporters were eradicated from the town. When he heard the door knock, he yelled "Come in", and smiled as Minez walked in.
"Sir, something happen?" Minez walked up to the director's desk.
"Not yet, but this case will be closer to being closed for better or worse come tomorrow at midnight."
"What happened?"
"I simply gave Pierce a reason to actually work."
Huber Heights, Ohio
1015hrs
37 hours and 45 minutes left
"That's all you know?" Alan looked at Rachael skeptically.
"Alan, it's not like I control this area as a whole; only those loyal to me for whatever reason."
"Is it possible one of those who are loyal is committing these murders?"
"Not possible. I might not control this area as a whole, but all those loyal to me are bound by a blood oath. My word is law."
"So do you have any clue as to who is committing these murders, because a 'blood oath' won't fly?"
"Kira is working on that as we speak," Rachael said as her cell rang. "This might be her."
Rachael answered and immediately became angry. She cursed, hung up, and looked at Alan.
"Well?"
"The good news is we have the culprit."
"What's the bad news?"
"You were right; partially. She was one of mine. But she asked to be set free."
Alan stood up, turned around and started towards the door, asking only, "Where's Kira?"
"At the school."
Alan skidded to a stop in front of Wayne High School five minutes later. He put Nikki's car in park and looked at her.
"I assume this vampire has that sun cream on. How long does it last?"
"Half an hour, then it evaporates," Nikki answered him.
"Thanks, for everything." Alan smiled and ran to the school.
He rammed through the first entrance to find and empty hallway. Checking his weapon, Alan walked down the corridor, looking from room to room, searching for Kira. He had gone through three-quarters of the rooms when his phone vibrated.
"Alan here," he answered.
"Alan, its Rae. Kira and the other vampire are in the main building of the school. She has her trapped in the snack room."
"Thanks. On my way."
Alan ran out the doors, across the lawn between four of the buildings, and rammed his way through the building on his left. He ran inside and down most of the hallway before turning right into the cafeteria. Looking at the back room, Alan could see Kira standing menacingly. He ran into the room, his weapon still pointed in front of him and saw a dirty blonde girl no older than himself.
"This her?"
"Yeah."
"Ok. I'll make the call." Alan left and called Peterson. "Peterson, I have your vampire right here. However, you're going to have to interview her and kill her here as well."
Outside Huber Heights, Ohio
1455hrs
21 hours and 5 minutes left
Director Peterson walked into the vampire's hideout. It wasn't what he had expected at all. Instead of gloom and doom, the house was quite cozy, like any house in the neighborhood. But when he walked inside, reality hit hard. As he walked in, he saw a female chained spread eagle in nothing but her bra and panties. Her lips were bleeding and holes the size of bullets marred her body everywhere but around her chest.
"What the hell is going on," Peterson demanded as he saw Alan kneeling next to the girl. "Pierce, what the fuck?"
"It's punishment, sir. She now has no choice but to tell you the truth."
"Who ordered this?"
"I did," a soft voice replied from behind him.
"And just who the hell are you?" He watched as a girl no older than seventeen walked from the shadows to behind Alan, who she put her hands on. Alan's head moved to meet her touch.
"I am the one who so wrongfully accused of murder, Director."
"So who is she?"
"Your murder suspect," the girl answered. "You can ask her any questions you chose, but she will die in this room. She has committed a great taboo, in your society and, more importantly, ours. And since she would just break out of your jails, we shall be the executioners."
"Fine, but I want to ask the questions in private."
"Whatever you say, Director." The girl tapped on Alan's shoulder and left the room, shortly after Alan left.
The director finished his interrogations twenty minutes later. Alan and Rachael walked back into the room.
"I take it you are satisfied with her confession," Rachael said.
"I guess I have no choice in the matter. There was no evidence to disprove her involvement. And she denied any help."
"Director," Rachael smiled. "Go home, kiss your wife, and keep out of our affairs, alright?"
"You know I can't do that," Peterson replied, turning to leave.
"Director, before you leave" Rachael started. "Thank you for all that you have done for Alan."
"He's a war hero," Peterson replied. "He's getting nothing more than he deserves."
An hour later, Rachael still hadn't finished with the girl. Alan watched as the girl was tortured beyond comprehension, all with no emotion showing on his face. Even as the girl screamed in pain, Alan kept his emotions in check.
Finally, Rachael relented. "Do you have any final words?"
"My master will find you and kill you."
"Let him. Any vampire will to let his ward kill like you did should be punished. And since he's looking for me, I don't have to do any work." She looked over at Alan, who merely nodded.
Alan stood over the girl before kneeling beside her. He wiped away her tear and kissed her head. As he brought the knife that would kill her down towards her heart, he whispered, "One more moment of pain then it will all disappear." His knife reached her heart at his final word and she turned to dust. Standing, he turned to Rachael.
"You know," Rachael said lovingly, looking up at him. "You really do have a heart of gold."
"Only when needed," he replied simply.