RESPONSIBILITY

RALPH

    Eighteen years after the meeting...

     The prisoners were brought before me to select whom I wanted to feed on. The prisoners were mostly women and a few men. These days, we feed on men instead of women. More females were becoming slaves in the capital, but none seemed like who I was looking for. They were all terrified of vampires. I did not know how to identify her, but I knew I had not found her yet.

     A timid girl stepped up. The stink of urine wafted into my nostrils, and my nose twitched. I looked away from her and sighed.

      "Why does she stink?"

     "She urinated on herself, my Lord," the vampire in charge of prisoners replied.

  I fisted my hands on my waist and paced around the place. "Why is she in my presence?"

    The vampire opened his mouth to speak, but I was uninterested in his explanation. I was beside him in a flash and drove my hand into his chest, ripping out his heart. He crumpled to the floor, and I tossed the bundle of nerves aside while the humans whimpered in fear. I was used to killing stupid men that were incompetent, and I wanted to make sure that humans saw how brutal I was, so they would never try their rebellion.

      "You, come here." I pointed to a human teenage boy.

  He took shaky steps toward me; tears stained his cheek, and I almost laughed at how pathetic humans were. He was a man, yet he was crying like a fucking baby.

     "Why the fuck are you crying?" I asked.

      "I know where she is," he blurted, his voice clutched with fear.

   My eyebrows furrowed, and I moved closer, eyes narrowing at him. "You know where who is?"

        "The... the girl... the girl you are lo... looking for. I know where she is."

    I smiled inwardly. Fear is an amazingly effective tool for getting information. "Where is she?"

     "If... if you spear my life, I will take you there."

    I stared meticulously at the boy, who was sweating profusely now. His lips quivered in fear, and although he wanted to hide it so severely, his hands shook uncontrollably. Humans will always be good in business, always ready to bargain.

        "Deal. We will go to the town tonight. If you are lying to me. I will kill you most brutally." He nodded frantically. "Take him to one of the rooms in the castle," I commanded the other vampires. "Lock the others in the cell until I decide what to do with them.

~~~~~

JOVITA

     "I can't believe they took Harrison," I said, running my hand over my hair. 

     Ana, my female best friend, and I went to the local mall to pick up some groceries, and we heard the news of the missing people, which Harrison was among. We all knew that the vampires had taken them. They have taken over the world, and people disappeared from the town occasionally. The creatures of the night took them away to where the capital was now. I have never seen a vampire before, but I know they exist.

     Humans live in fear because vampires are now lords over us and have made the rules we live with. Mother told me they take only a few humans to let the others be so they can multiply and keep feeding them. They were strong, fast, and cold, and that was why no one could kill them that easily.

     I was born in a small eastern village in this era and grew up like a normal human. My parents always told me I was unique, and my uncle, Kala, would train me to defend myself against vampires. We went to school during the day and returned to our houses before sunset, fearing the vamps. They only come out at night, but there were rumors that they coexist with us because they wear special rings that help them not burn under the sun. One of my friends was taken on the night before my eighteenth birthday. Harrison was a cool guy, and I could consider him a best friend.

     I never knew why until a few days before my birthday when my parents told me that the lives of those blood-sucking demons were in my hands. I was destined to make them go extinct and also the one to give them immortality. My blood would make them live forever and rule over us, humans. I confided in Ana and Harrison, my besties, even though my parents warned me never to tell anyone about it, but I trusted them. Now, they have taken Harrison away. I was sad and agitated at the same time and feared what the outcome of his abduction would be. I do not know what they do to humans over the castles, but I was afraid Harrison would sell my secret.

      "Jovita!" Ana's voice snapped me back to reality. 

   I was a little startled. "Any vampire alerts?" I asked, looking around. We were in front of our house, and my mother stood on our porch.

    Ana stared quizzically at me for a moment. "You look agitated. Is anything the matter? Or is it Harrison?"

     "Er... I might be in trouble. What if they threaten him, and he speaks about me?"

     "Do you believe what your parents told you, though?" Ana asked, but I did not reply. We were a few feet away from my mother when she stood in front of me. "Listen, I know your fears and all, but it's your birthday today, and it's kind of sad that Harrison was taken, but there is nothing we can do about it. We will all be taken at one point or the other. That is our sad reality. So, you should enjoy life when you can before those bloodsuckers snatch you up."

     "Jo?" my mother called. We both turned to see her behind Ana; worry was printed on her face.

     "Yes, mum."

      "I need to speak with you. Come here."

   I hugged Ana, promising to see her later in the evening when I would celebrate my birthday with my little family. Humans do not throw parties or have large gatherings since everyone feared the vampires raiding their parties. Funerals were done quietly with only family members and the priest. Weddings were done indoors, the same as birthdays. We were free in our homes, but never free.

      "Tell me, did you tell Ana and Harris what you are?" my mother asked as we climbed the porch stairs. She never gets his name, no matter how many times we corrected her.

      "They are my friends..." My words were cut off when I saw my dad and Uncle Kala seated in the dining room with solemn faces. 

       I get Harrison was taken away, but I did not expect everyone to be mournful. Mother guided me to the dining table, and I sat, looking from my father to my uncle and then to my mother in confusion.

      "Jo, darling," my father began. "You are no longer safe with us here. We worry about you every day and what would happen if those night creatures finally found you."

       "Is it that serious?" I asked. I did not want to get scared.

      "The death of your great-grandmother brought about the prophecy. She was a teenage mom before she died and fought them because of her babe." He gave me a piece of paper that had my drawing on it.

      "This is me," I said.

   My father shook his head. "That is Beulah. She is our ancestor. She has been the only human to rebel against vampires in history. You are her blood; that's why you were chosen."

       Everything was not making sense yet to me. "So, what are you suggesting?"

       "Lord Ralph is the ruler of the vampires and the most brutal vampire in history. Here, take this book." He slid a book towards me. "Beulah researched enough about vampires. She wrote down everything she found out. Their weaknesses, their strengths, everything you need to know about them."

       "Are you saying I will have to go to this Lord Ralph's castle in the capital and start fighting him or what?"

       "No, we are saying you have to know your responsibility. Humanity lies on your shoulders now, and it is time you take charge."

       "But, dad, this is ridiculous."

       "It is. You are a two-edged sword that could either be the demise of the walking dead or their savior. You must be careful in all you do. That is why we did not want you to disclose what we told you a few days ago to anyone, and that is why we have been very protective of you."

       "That is also why Uncle Kala follows me everywhere?" I asked. They thought I did not know that my father's younger brother constantly stalked me.

        "Yes," was my mother's curt reply. When I looked at her, there were pools of tears in her eyes. "I wish you were not chosen for this."

      "Delores, that's enough. We have discussed this already," my father cautioned. My mother quickly wiped her tears.

    My mother's tears made me cringe. It all sounded like a story to me until now. Humanity lies on my shoulders now? How is that even possible? How will I win against these vampires with just a book? Goosebumps crept all over my skin because fear had gripped me with its cold hands.

       "Always remember, Jo. Lord Ralph is the one you should aim to kill. It is through him that you will defeat the vampires and restore humanity," my father said, placing a hand on my shoulder.