CHAPTER 5
TO THE BOTTOM
Matt and Gloria are outside of the High Rise. Both are enveloped in a yellow orange glow and it's Gloria 's aura power that is keeping them hovering. Both don't dare look down as both can easily guess and feel they are about thirty stories high as the cityscape is still under their feet.
Gloria looks at Matt and says, "You picked one hell of an escape."
Matt says, "Sorry Gloria but it was the only logical thing I could come up with."
"Only problem I can't keep us afloat for too long, my Aura power will run down fast."
"Descend down in intervals, we'll go down a few floors at
a time and then take a break on the ledges for your mask to recharge."
Both as they descend a little, they find a ledge of the building and levitate toward it, till they're both firmly on it.
As Gloria's aura power comes off, she looks to Matt and says, "Wait what about those creatures coming from the garden nursery?"
Matt looks to her and says, "Don't worry, I used the power control panel to turn on the lights on a timer which will come on soon, their lights are almost equal the same amount of solar power as my spectrum beam, they'll keep them off for a while.
Both Matt and Gloria can hear some screams of pain from above as there were a few of the creatures that go into the nursery at the wrong time, they even see a little smoke coming from the place.
Gloria looks at Matt and says, "Why can't we descend a floor and just break into one of them?"
"We don't know how many floors those creatures occupied,
here we at least have a chance for escape."
"Some chance it's a damn multiple choice, either
get blood soaked, smashed and crash down."
"Or possibly, we'll go on that vacation we planed on a year ago."
Gloria shakes her head and says, "You sometimes sound like a character from an old 40's film."
"I take that as a compliment."
Gloria makes a slight movement with her head and from that Matt knows she's smiling. Matt then takes out a small metal case which is a Med Kit that he was able to find inside the desk next to the Nursery control panel, while Gloria waits for all the power bars from her mask to reach full. As Matt puts some iodine onto a cloth and then is about to wipe his wounds with it, Matt looks and notices Gloria breathing hard and from his spectrum mask he sees her vitals which are racing.
Matt says, "Gloria are you alright?"
"Yes, it's just I was never very good with heights."
Matt looks out and says, "Yeah me neither."
"You think maybe you can talk to me about something, it helps take my mind off the heights."
Matt, he looks out and thinks and then looks at her and then starts talking.
Flashback: Both Matt and Gloria they're at a movie theater, both sitting in nice stylish red seats and their watching an old 1940's film "The Big Sleep" playing on a projector. Both also have lots of snacks with them, one of them nachos another a hot dog. Gloria takes one nacho which is dipped in cheese, and she says, 'I know I shouldn't do this but…
She then munches on the held nacho and says, "Not having one for months can be an eternity."
Matt says, "I know the feeling."
He takes a bit out of his hot dog, and both sip their sodas as they both watch more of the film."
Gloria says, Glad, you found a working movie theater."
Matt says, "I am too, it's sad to remember that for a little while
people stopped coming to these places, even went so far as to shut and tear them down."
Gloria says, 'From what happened to this world, that bad dream almost came true."
Matt says, "It's not the way to the future."
Matt looks at the screen again and says, "Me, I want a future a good one."
"And what do you see in it."
"Well, this place and…"
He looks at Gloria and Gloria has a smile and shakes her head and continues.
"Other than me, why is this one of your favorite movies."
Matt looks and says, "I don't know like with any movies there are many reasons, I'll just state one, probably because of the main hero Philp Marlowe."
Matt takes a sip of soda and continues.
Gloria says, 'So you like the old-fashioned tough guys."
"Is there anything wrong with that?"
"No, continue."
"A lot of people think there is no place for old fashioned tough guys now, well that's what a lot of people in the film and novel series thought of Philip as someone that did fit or belong anywhere, that's what most people thought about me being a computer and tech whiz kid."
Gloria looks at the screen and says, "You don't believe that Matt?"
Matt says, "No, never I believe their all wrong, because if Philip didn't' exist, he wouldn't of been there to save Vivian ."
Gloria says, "Technically he doesn't exist."
Matt looks at Gloria and says, 'No, but I do."
Gloria looks at Matt with a little surprise then has a smile and says, "Oh, I see where you're going with this, but you also have to realize."
Gloria looks at the screen and then him and says, "Without Vivian there wouldn't be a point for a Philip Marlowe."
Matt then has a smile and then surprisingly Gloria leans in on Matt and then delivers a deep kiss and same with Matt which happened at the same time as a scene when both Philip and Vivian kiss.
Back at the present, Gloria's breathing is gentler as Matt's talk about the past helped. Gloria sees the bars on her mask are almost only half full but then suddenly there is some sort of crash from one of the windows behind them.
Two of the hands grab Matt by the shoulders and pull him into the office by one of the vampires. With his Spectrum mask he can deliver a blinding flash which blinds and burns the vampire. Matt then gets up and runs a great distance, he sees he's in what looks like some sort of office area as there is just a maze of cubicles with desks in all of them. Once Matt gets enough space between him and the creature, he then hides behind a cubical in the desk and the vampire being frustrated he is looking with his black peril eyes for Matt's presence. Matt he is trying to think about what to do. And then he suddenly got an idea, he took out a Hawthorne stick he broke off of one of the trees and stashed it behind him.
He takes a breath and then he makes a turn ready for the vampire to come to him. But they then see the vampire looking at Gloria from the outside. It spreads its arms and has its wings spread. It's about to glide down and swipe her but Matt runs and as he gets close, he impales the vampire with the branch, that runs and penetrates deep from behind and goes straight through to the other side. But the branch misses the heart by mere inches above and Matt runs too fast bumping into the vampire. And both lose their balance and then both fall off the broken window. Matt and the vampire fall a story or two down.
Gloria sees this but her mask is unable to get a proper lock as Matt's decent was so fast and suddenly. But then Gloria sees Matt and the vampire they fall onto a scaffolding. Matt then is shaking from the full impact which wasn't bad but still hurt a little. Suddenly matt sees a claw thrust which grabs his neck and then picks him up almost like he weighed nothing. Gloria sees this and looks onto the vampire that has a hold of Matt. Gloria then tries to use her Aura power, but the bars they read low and another reading that says out of range. Gloria says to herself, "Damn it." She then shuffles to the scaffolding as fast as she can.
Meanwhile, Matt is struggling with the vampire which just has an amused grin with its barred sharp tall teeth as its setting up its other hand about to slash Matt to pieces. But Matt he then does a kick stomp which connects with the stick lodged onto the vampire. Matt kicks it down hard, the stick makes a vertical wound, and the stick has a small sharp branch that forks from it. This forked branch penetrates the heart. The vampire then drops Matt but right off the side of the windshield lift.
Matt immediately grabbed the edge of the platform. As Matt is holding on for dear life, despite feeling some of the pain in his arms. The vamp then is about to move in on Matt again despite its pain, but then suddenly the vampire then stops in its' tracks and cries out in pain and then suddenly explodes in a barrage of black blood. This blood unfortunately hits the surface of the windshield platform and sidles down, hitting Matts hands and making his grip on the platform slippery.
Suddenly Matt gives away his grip and he starts to fall. He feels his fall very slowly despite how fast he's about to meet the Earth which is still far away. But then suddenly he finds his body enveloped in what yellow orange light and knows it's Gloria's aura. Gloria, with the little amount of Aura power, can bring Matt back to her from the scaffolding. Matt comes to her and then both hug each other in relief.
Knowing both are alright both then break off the hug when they hear some screeching from above. Matt with the last of his spectrum power, which is little, hacks into the automated system of the lift and commands it to take them down. The lift then descends at a steady pace but both Gloria and Matt know it may not be fast enough as the sound is getting louder from the inside and outside.
Matt then immediately stops the lift, and they see their only three stories up which is still far away from the ground. Matt then points out the window they're facing and then Gloria both take their masks off and use them to break the window by pieces until it's all cleared. Both then put their mask back on and they go inside the high rise once more. It's another office area but they both immediately see the stairwell door and run down the stairs, but it doesn't feel far enough as those sounds are now from the top of the stairwell, and they are growing louder and closer. Then finally they get to the final floor off the high rise.
Both open the door and immediately run as they are going right past the lobby area and in front of their sight just mere meters away there are two double glass doors which are their entrance to freedom. Both just continue running never stopping as they both hear there is screeching roars from behind them and the roaring is getting louder and louder until a lot of bats like beings they crash through the double doors and all other doors from other place on the final floor. A small group of them are pursuing both Matt and Gloria. Both are constantly running but despite how much distance he tries to put between himself and the vampires, each step they put down their three or four feet closer to each step.
Matt and Gloria are closer to the front doors but before they can both open them, suddenly there is the sound of a vehicle outside. It is the sound of a crimson red semi truck and as both hear the semi coming forward rapidly. Gloria is the first to react by knocking Matt to the right and having him in her embrace while employing the very last of the aura energy to help both move far enough away from the semi.
The semi is all the way broken through both glass double doors in fact making the entrance bigger than before. On its big grill, there are two-gun muzzles which stick out and both muzzles are gatling muzzles. They both start to rotate clockwise and then suddenly discharge high velocity rounds.
Both Matt and Gloria are both flat down on the ground as the round they travel and cut down each of the vampires that are coming their way. The round just cut and make Swiss cheese out of each of the vamps and from how much damage and chunks are blown and shredded there are multiple black blooded explosions of all kinds as some are big splats and others are geysers and gushers, all the blood splats made just paint up most of the area black.
There is a small group of vampires that fly out of the Highrise and then suddenly the remaining group they dive right for the Semi. But suddenly from the back of the Semi there is a back missile that shoots out from behind. The missile goes up in the air and the missile tracks and then the missile zeros in on the vampire and then the missile reaches its target and blows the vampire apart. There are green neon blood and batwings and other parts that pain up the window of the high rise. And even rain droplets on the ground.
As soon as the firing stops, Matt and Gloria they peak their head up slowly and they see the crimson color semi. Matt and Gloria recognize the vehicle, he realizes it's the Rhino. One of the doors opens and Matt recognizes the driver, whom has an orange round mask and a black and dark brown uniform on.
The driver says, "Get in."
Matt says, "Bruce?"
The passenger door of the Rhino opens up and it's a female passenger who has a dark blue and purple skintight uniform, red forearm sleeves, and a mask that is grey colored and block shaped.
Gloria says, "Vanessa?"
Vanessa says, "Hurry."
Matt and Gloria, they immediately get up and run toward the Rhino. Both get inside and the Rhino goes into reverse, makes a small back turn and then Bruce then pushes the lever and then presses on the gas and the semi goes forward on the road which then takes them to a highway. As their driving both Matt and Gloria they're in the technical station of the Rhino which is behind both the driver and passenger seat. Vanessa, she has a med kit out and is taking a look at both of them mainly Matt who had it bad with his arm wounds.
Bruce says, "You two were really hard to find."
Matt looks up and says, "Never thought I'd ever see both of you again, almost thought you were both dead."
"You know both of us better than that Matt we're hard to kill and surviving your ordeal so are both of you."
Vanessa is applying a little iodine on Matt's cuts and then looks up at Gloria and says, "What were those things?"
Gloria says, 'Those were what you'd call vampires."
"Thought their supposed to be a myth, but then again…"
Vanessa looks at Bruce and says, "Considering everything both Bruce and I saw in our travels and today, I believe anything in this world is possible."
Gloria says, 'My feelings exactly."
Gloria looks on the monitors from the computers, they display the setting outside and she says, "Wow, things really aren't what they use to be and…. I'm not sure they ever will be again."
Matt says, "The war with VENOM and everything else in the past, I thought was hard, but I honestly never imagined our war would ever go on this long and our world grown more dangerous.
All four are quiet for a moment and then Vanessa she asks, "So what were you two in the months you were gone?"
Gloria says, "I'd like to know the same thing with you and Bruce."
Matt says, "I think Gloria, we'll have a lot of catching up to do but latter."
Matt looks toward Bruce and says, "One thing I want to know is where are we going?"
Bruce then says, "Let's just say the new Bolder Hill, and there are plenty of people to meet and see you both again."
Matt and Gloria, they both are in wonder as to what Bruce said and suddenly have that same feeling of anticipation that you get when moving to a new place and home. Vanessa is done changing the bandages on both Matts arms and she then comes back to the passenger seat with Bruce.
Matt then comes to another chair which is right next to Gloria. Both then take off their masks and put them aside. Both look at the monitors and Gloria puts her head on Matt's shoulder, and both take each other's hand and squeeze gently. Despite the sight they see on the monitors, both are only relieved and glad, both are still alive and together.
The Rhino drives away from the city that says, "Now Leaving, Boise, Idaho"
And right behind them there is a city scape where most of the buildings that were once proud and standing are all crumbling, dark, dirty, grimy, and worst of all lifeless as there is not one single soul around. A city that never sleeps has been put to rest.
Authors Note: This is my second story to the MASK series. I know another strange entry but in the "Falls verse" anything is possible. I got the idea from an unproduced idea for the "Halloween 2" movie where Michael Myers was going to be on a high rise. I know a crazy but interesting concept, which of course didn't happen but with the series on break and the different direction their thinking of going for a future film or two, who's to say this concept can't happen.
But I was also inspired by an episode from the YouTube channel "Wartime Stories" another good channel for unexplained phenomena. The episode was on vampires, the story takes place during the aftermath of the Austo-Turkish War which was in 1716 to 1718. According to a military report from a Serbian village it indicated that vampires are real and as you can guess the possibility on that fascinated me. As I thought about this story and the unmade "Halloween" film concept, I combined them and there you go.
This was a story for Gloria and Matt. I know having vampires on the MASK series is an unorthodox move but since my version of the series takes place in my "Fallsverse" it's not far off. In the story I wanted to show how both delt with this unnatural threat with both their knowledge in the mask tech and just mere skill and wit.
Also, I wanted to give out little into both Gloria and Matt's past and relationship as well as deepen the world of MASK. And of course, what you read at the end, the story takes place in the Final Circuit of the MASK timeline; but in the "Fallsverse" this is the Senior year which to me is the final season in my "Fallsverse" series. As you read, we see the world is in a very bad state. But what made the world that way, why have Gloria, Matt, and the rest of MASK been scattered and separated. There is also Vanessa Warfield whom we see is now part of MASK and with Bruce Sato, when did this happen and what caused her to defect from VENOM? These are all questions which will be answered on time, but for now they will all have to wait. This is me from the secret base Bolder Hill signing off.
MASK Road Map
Independent Circuit/Freshman Year
Sphere of Power
Ship of Destiny
First Circuit/ Sophomore Year
Knights: Book 1
Second Circuit/Junior Year
Track Line
Final Circuit/ Senior Year
Color of the Fang