Torturous Shadows
Chapter 1
Earth, 2160…
Dr. Cid Highwind looked down his microscope. Once again the results were negative. There was still no way to identify the virus, and his employers were getting impatient. Soon the funding and all of his equipment would be taken away.
He sat back in his chair and stared at his favorite book. It was this book that kept him going for 12 years on the project, Dracula. What an amazing creature he was. Quite amazing were the vampires, but now he had in front of him a blood sample taken from a woman that may prove their existence.
So far he had concluded that vampires are not demons from hell. In fact people from the 18th century had people suffering from vampirism. Vampirism was discovered in this woman's blood. It was this sample also that kept him going. The blood was no longer human, but an advanced form of thin red blood.
When shown a picture of the woman Cid guessed her to be in her mid to late thirties. The man corrected him though; in fact she was 88 years old. Cid's jaw dropped when he was told this.
Suddenly Cid's jaw really did drop. He could not believe the wonderful things that came with this disease. Immortality began when the subject was subjected to the virus. Then came the strength, the speed, and the intelligence… But also came the hunger. Vampires did indeed need to feed on blood to survive. The fat in their cells was not sufficient enough to survive on. So the amazing creatures had to go out and feed, and in turn, make more of their kind.
Suddenly the vampires disappeared. The fact then turned to fabled stories for men and women of all ages throughout time. Vampirism also played tricks with the mind. Some men went insane and killed hundreds for pleasure. Others… well, were just too horrid to think about.
Cid just sat there, staring at the blood sample. What hadn't he tried yet? He tried every type of bacterial agent, anti-bacterial agent, even the common agents. Yet nothing worked except… no he couldn't.
"It isn't gonna happen Cid," he said to himself. "It's crazy, what if it kills you or something?"
Sometimes risks had to be taken. Cid then filled a needle with the blood sample and inserted it into his own neck. He kept repeating that this is for science. He then closed the gap between his neck and the vampiric blood. It filled his neck and made him cold and shiver violently. Oh God, what had he done?
A few months later Cid Highwind, some unknown scientist, was standing in front of a live audience and cameras all around the world. He was now famous and very rich. The virus was real and the people now knew about it.
"We are now aware of humans carrying this virus", he began, "Now it is time to take action. The virus though giving you everlasting life will take away everything you hold dear. You will want to kill and feed upon human blood, and in some cases, human flesh. Sadly there is now real cure, but now we have a way to identify it at birth. So now hopefully, no more incidents will occur. Thank you ladies and gentlemen, and good health to all of you."
He waved and stepped off the pedestal.
A month later Cid was sitting in his study in his new house. He sat in front of the fire. He felt the hunger again. He had been drinking whiskey instead of blood, he has been doing this since the day he inserted the blood. But now he could no longer hold it back. His fangs and talons extended the craving tearing him apart inside.
He went to his gun rack and loaded his magnum. He could never hurt another human being. But now… he was no longer human.
Tears ran down his cheeks.
"In the name of science…" He pulled back the hammer, stuck the barrel in his mouth, and fired…
Black is the moon which quotes our doom…Mars colony, 2860 15 years after the Galactic Revolt…
The Galactic revolt was catastrophic. The technology took a nosedive but now humanity was catching up. Though the year was 2860, the technology was back to the 22nd century.
The TV's everywhere flashed his name. He was a criminal finally getting sent to prison. In fact he was the second vampire found guilty of murder. Now he was being sent to the maximum-security prison on Pluto.
The space transport was taking off from mars and heading to Pluto colony at the edge of the system. He looked out the only window he was allowed. The straightjacket, shackles, and mouth restraint made it difficult to move to see anything. But now he could see stars. He could also hear the armored guards speaking to each other. They were in fact whispering about him.
"The report said he has killed 12 men, isn't the amazing?" Said the first guard.
"Fuck yeah, and he is a vampire, so it makes it that much creepier." The other replied
"Well the sooner we get rid of him the better."
"How old are you, Vampire?" The first guard asked loudly.
He looked at the guards as best he could. His odd glowing brown eyes seemed to search their souls.
"Nine-hundred." The vampire replied, and then went back to the stars.
"Holy shit that's old." Replied the idiotic guards.
The ship shifted violently. A few moments later it shifted again, this time alarms began to sound. The comm. said something about an ion storm and needing to perform an emergency landing. The vampire managed a thin smile under the leather guard. Now he was going somewhere else until the vessel could manage a proper flight. Question was where was it going to land?
"We are going to land at the Women's Correctional Facility on phobos. There we will stay until the violent storm subsides." The captain was young but seemed experienced.
The ship changed course and headed for the penal station. The vampire watched the ship enter the massive station. It was colonized properly at least. It seemed to be somewhat organized from his point of view. Of course he hadn't seen many prisons.
The guard walked up to him and began to unhook him from the ships restraints.
"What is your name Prisoner?" The guard asked.
"My name", said the vampire, "Is Valentine, Vincent Valentine."
The guard nodded and escorted him off the ship out on to the deck. The deck wasn't much to look at. He looked at the path ahead. It was a long dark hallway. The now three guards escorted him down it. They had large weapons, ready to kill him if necessary. He still had the straightjacket on and the mouth restraint. Now he could see a door at the end of the hall. Another guard, in a prison uniform, opened it.
The small hallways opened to a large cellblock, the number was 28. The prisoners were in lockdown thanks to his arrival. A woman stood in front of him now. She had a female business suit on and she had a sidearm, a lovely magnum .50.
She gave him a dirty look, as did a lot of the prisoners he could see.
"I am the Dean here at Phobos colony", she began, "are you going to give us any trouble Mr. Valentine?"
"I don't see a reason to harm any of you, no, but I will kill anyone that tries to harm me." He smiles and hisses lightly.
"Hahaha, guess we'll have to keep an eye on you." She smiled at him. "Take him to his cell for the night, he can meet the locals tomorrow.
And with that, she turned on her heel and walked to the office wing.