Post by demona on May 2, 2009 18:31:05 GMT
Hi all,
So part 2 is up. Hope you like it.
Merrill was running but moving far too slowly, more like a jog. Why were they moving so slowly? Why couldn’t they go any faster? Was this a dream? A nightmare? Everything seemed to be in a haze, like nothing was real. She felt weak; slow; useless.
“You’ll have to step away now miss.” Merrill felt a presence physically stop her from following the trolley into the room, and remained still as the door shut in her face. She peered through the window, watching the group of people surround the body on the trolley. The body which seemed so dead; and yet she knew it to be alive. So pale, and so covered in blood, he had come too in the ambulance, muttered a few words and then sunk back into unconsciousness. Merrill had ridden alone with him, holding his cold hand all the way, she couldn’t believe how close to death he was. Merrill hugged herself; unable to believe she was here. Her eyes surveyed the body on the table, the black boots, the leather trousers, and the shirt with flames on now torn and discarded on the floor, she hoped Murdoch had made the right decision, was Marty really safe in a human hospital? So lost in thought Merrill failed to realise she was joined by three others of her kind, all sharing her pain. The arm wrapping itself around her, jolted her back to reality, she looked up to see the guy that looked like he had stepped fresh out of the 1950’s, the one that had broken her heart, his focus through the little port hole window into the room beyond.
The door moved and a young nurse appeared. Merrill was mute, but the smooth voice of her comforter sailed through the air.
“Will he be ok?” Drew asked.
“It’s hard to say,” she said, the clinical tone in her voice, as she delivered what must have been a speech well practiced. “He’s lost a lot of blood; the bullet just missed his heart; I know this is a difficult time but if you know what blood type he is, it might just save his life; we’re, erm, we’re having a little trouble locating his records.” That last part was not quite so well rehearsed. The group looked at each other, uncertain what to say.
“We don’t know.” Essie piped up.
“What is your relation to him?” the nurse asked
“Family.” Drew surprised them all with his statement, “I suggest you use some of our blood for him.” The nurse shook her head.
“We need to be certain it’s a match or else we could kill him.” Some alarm started beeping inside the room and the nurse ran back inside.
Why was the heart rate monitor flat lining? There was certainly enough blood pumping out of his veins to indicate a heartbeat. So much blood but why? “Has anyone got this guy’s notes yet?” The doctor shouted out; “He seems to be a haemophiliac, he’s bleeding all over the place.” The female doctor looked at her gloves covered in bright red blood; she couldn’t see anything through the liquid. She knew the bullet was in there somewhere; she had to remove it, and close whatever arteries it appeared to have severed. The removal of a bullet so close to the heart carried with it its own risk. “Do we have a blood type yet?” A voice in the room yelled ‘no’ in answer. “nuts, I want some O negative blood, now. Clamp off the arteries, let’s get this bullet out and repair the damage as quickly as possible.”
The vampires watched the frantic movements of the humans, blood was everywhere, and yet no hunger stirred. It was the blood of one of their own, a possibility they thought they would never see so graphically, up close and personal. The sound of a racing heartbeat broke the spell they were under and they turned round to see their mentor gasping for air, as he had run from the car park, the vampires of course had run on ahead of their teacher, taking mere seconds to take the journey it had taken the human 10 minutes to run. “What’s... How...” Murdoch couldn’t get his breath.
“The bullet almost hit his heart; he’s losing blood all over the place.” Panic evident in Karl’s voice as he spoke, “I think...I think...oh god.” Karl moved away from the group, pacing, agitated.
“It’s going to be alright.” Murdoch said between deep breaths.
“How?” Drew spoke up again, “He’s in a human hospital, they can’t help him; we should have called the Elders. He’s going to die here.”
“It’s the best option we had, the Elders would have taken too long to get here, and I didn’t want to risk moving the silver bullet so close to his heart,” Murdoch reasoned, “besides I think its best they don’t know about Michael yet.”
“Oh this is crap!” Drew said letting go of Merrill and sulkily leaning against the wall. Merrill suddenly felt cold and alone, she moved back to the door and again peered through the window.
What the hell? The doctor held the bullet in the forceps, it seemed to be silver; she dropped in a tray, and set to work on repairing the damage. “Swab.” As the blood was cleared away, the doctor again found herself saying under her breath ‘what the hell?’ The arteries where the bullet had just been removed did not look as damaged as they should be, although blood still heavily flowed out. She looked at the open chest cavity, something wasn’t quite right here, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Karl paced the room restlessly; he didn’t like being put in this room, waiting for news of Marty’s recovery. He felt trapped, useless; at least when they were outside the emergency room he could see what was happening. He tried to think positively but all he could focus on was what would happen if Marty died. As a vampire he thought he had lost the ability to connect with people, to care, but both he and the Elders had been wrong. Maybe they had lost the ability to connect with humans, to see them as more than just food, but with other vampires connections could still be made. The experiment was proof of that. Marty was part of their group, their family; how could they cope if he didn’t make it. Annoying as he was at times, and even hurtful with his taunts, Mansbridge would seem so quiet and empty without him; Marty couldn’t die, he just couldn’t.
Karl paced past Essie, as she fidgeted in the plastic chair, trying to get comfortable. She had to stop herself from reaching out to him, to catch his hand as he passed by. He looked so upset, so worried, she just wanted to comfort him. She doubted whether he would welcome her into his arms; in truth she wanted to be comforted too; not that she and Marty had ever been close, he had been so cruel taunting her on her own death bed; but she didn’t want him to die like this; no vampire should. She looked up at Karl as he passed by again, but she would not use her powers of persuasion to get him to come over and pull her into his arms, if he did that she wanted it to be real. What a mess the last few months had been, she cursed herself for not being up front from the beginning that she just wasn’t ready to make a commitment to Karl, then they could have just carried on as they were, without the whole issue of breaking both their hearts but especially Karl’s. The events of the evening made Essie realise just how much she really cared for Karl. Essie felt alone and vulnerable; she liked the dynamic of the group of vampires she lived with, it made life interesting; she was thankful that it wasn’t Karl that had been shot but if Marty wasn’t there everything would be different too and not necessarily for the better.
Drew leant with his back against the awful pale yellow walls of the ‘relatives’ room. Why had he said that, why had he told the nurse they were Marty’s family? They weren’t and they would never be, but there was that nagging thought in the back of Drew’s head asking where would he be without the other vampires, would he be so happy? No he was not happy; but he was definitely less depressed with his life than what he had been before joining the experiment. Now he had come to think about it he did feel like he was part of a family group. Karl, the older brother, giving advice on women, or to be exact human women, he was the most familiar with the current era of human world, and had helped him with Sherry. Essie the older know-it-all sister, telling Drew the truth whether he wanted to hear it or not. Merrill, a little sister, so eager to please, always studying, someone he wanted to protect. Where would Marty fit in the family dynamic, the pain in the arse that he was, Drew didn’t need to think very hard about that one, Marty was obviously the annoying little brother, a little chuckle rose within him remembering some of his antics, but he soon repressed it. Marty had calmed down from what he was when he first entered Mansbridge, he was manageable, not quite as cruel, but still the joker, still the life of the party. Drew would miss sparing with him, if he died.
Merrill watched Drew from her seat, he was deep in thought; she wanted to read his mind, see what he was thinking; or perhaps ask him to use his powers to wander through the halls and check up on Marty’s progress. She saw a small smirk spread across Drew’s face but no sooner as it appeared it disappeared. What was he thinking? Was he happy that Marty was dying? How could he be so cruel, the two of them may not have liked each other but to be happy he was dead? No she mustn’t think like that. Marty would not die; he would live; he had to live; she was just starting to... to what? Fall for him?
The door opened; expectantly the vampires looked up, hoping Murdoch was back from his talk with the police. Instead it was a middle aged man in a porter’s uniform; his middle aged spread a little larger than was healthy, an untidy beard and moustache hiding his features. He held a note pad in his hand;
“Right then, what’s the name of your friend in the emergency room?” He voice was kind, but had a tone that suggested he had seen this type of thing before. Knife, shooting victims, youth and young men, caught up in fighting gangs, where birth names were not used, and therefore no records could be found. This man was here on a mission, and that mission was to get the real name of the current John Doe fighting for his life.
“Marty Strickland.” Drew said rubbing his eyes; he was tired of these humans constantly trying to find records that didn’t exist. It was a stupid idea to bring Marty to a hospital.
“Yeah, right. Real name.” Impatience crept into the porter’s voice.
“Its Marty Strickland.” Karl joined in, also growing impatient with this pointless game; he stopped pacing and stood in the centre of the small room, with several chairs along the walls.
“You guys really think his name is Marty Strickland? It’s definitely a fake name.”
“Yeah?” asked Karl, “What makes you say that?”
“Marty,” the porter said slowly, then “Strickland.” He looked Karl in the eyes, and saw that no light was switching on there. He then looked at the other three youths in the room. Although they all looked young, there was something about them that made them seem older, much older. “Hello McFly?” The porter gestured with an open palm to the group, willing them to see his logic. He looked at the puzzled stares focused on him, and gave up. “What? Were none of you alive during the 80’s?” The porter turned and opened the door behind him, muttering to himself about the youth of today. The vampires looked at each other.
“What has the 80’s got to do with the name Marty Strickland, and who’s McFly?” Karl asked, then the penny dropped with Drew.
“Oh.” He said and moved from his post along the wall, and took the nearest seat. “Ever seen Back to the Future?” He asked Karl. Karl went to speak, but again the door opened gaining their attention. This time it was Murdoch, hopefully he had news; good news.
“First, it appears that Michael has made a full confession to attacking us, and shooting Marty; well done Essie.” Essie nodded, suppressing the shudder that grew inside her; she never wanted to enter a mind like that again. “It also appears that he killed his wife and daughter earlier today.”
“So much for vampires being the only killers in the world.” Drew muttered under his breath.
“And Marty?” Merrill stood up nervously wringing her hands.
“Marty is stable; he’s still unconscious. He lost a lot of blood; ordinarily that amount of blood lost in a human could lead to brain damage; but in Marty’s case I’ll guess we’ll just have to wait and see.” Merrill said down dejected. “Now that the bullet’s been removed I want to get Marty back to Mansbridge before dawn. I’m going to see what I can do and I want you four to return to Mansbridge and wait. I’ll call you if I need help in moving Marty, but he should be fully recovered by then.” The room door opened again, a nurse wandered thorough, looking slightly shocked.
“He’s awake,” she said, “already.”
Merrill sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair holding on to the cold and clammy hand for dear life. Marty felt very drowsy, but was slowly becoming more aware of the people in the room.
“He doesn’t seem to have sustained any brain damage, it’s really a miracle he’s alive, let alone the fact that’s he’s awake and generally coherent.” The female doctor spoke quietly to Murdoch in the doorway, “I mean he really is a fascinating case, he’s an apparent haemophiliac, and yet the progress he’s making is unbelievable, my only fear is that he could relapse.” The doctor became silent. “Don’t stay too long, you mustn’t wear him out, he still has a long road to recovery.” She closed the door behind her.
Drew watched Merrill curiously, wondering why she was holding on to Marty’s hand as tightly as she was.
“I’m so sorry Marty, this is all my fault.” Merrill said quietly. Merrill’s feeling guilty, that was all it is thought Drew, there’s nothing more going on. It’s just Merrill being nice and kind Merrill.
“It’s not your fault; it was Michael’s and mine for not moving in the right direction.” Marty said with a small smile trying hard to become the vampire they all knew him to be, he was Marty, unstoppable Marty, and Merrill had to know he was ok, even if he didn’t feel it.
Drew looked at Merrill, the smile she gave Marty, the way she brushed back some of his hair that had become stuck to his head. No it wasn’t just guilt; there was something more there, an attraction. Drew couldn’t believe his eyes, and couldn’t believe that Marty could ever feel anything towards anyone, or that Merrill had fallen for whatever lines Marty had been spinning her.
“There’s just one thing I don’t understand, how did Michael know we were vampires?” Karl asked. Marty looked guilty at Merrill, and then the others.
“I guess it might have something to do with the fact that after he drove a car into me, I almost killed him, last night.” Marty said he voice sounded dry and tired.
“Last night?” Drew asked a frown upon his face.
“Yeah he followed us from the bus station; I guess he didn’t like the car or something.”
“What? Why would he follow you, last night?”
“I thought I was the one with brain damage here? Last night after I picked up Merrill from the bus station, Michael followed us and then attacked us.” Marty spoke deliberately slowly paising every few words, partly to annoy Drew, and partly so he could form his words without slurring; Marty was having trouble getting his body to do what he wanted, but he wasn’t going to let the others know that.
“But, I thought,” Drew didn’t finish his sentence; he now knew what Essie had meant this morning, the whole not to wait up for them. Merrill had been with Marty; what had they been doing together? Somewhere deep within Drew, something hurt. He moved away from the bedside and leant against the furthest wall. Essie watched him curiously out of one eye; a slight knowing smile on her lips.
“How are you feeling Marty?” Murdoch asked as he approached the opposite bedside to where Merrill was sitting.
“Tired,” Marty said weakly “and starving.” He added. Murdoch nodded, knowing that his pupil required blood to heal.
“Ok Marty; I’m going to take the others back to Mansbridge; when I return, I’ll bring some blood, and hopefully then you’ll be strong enough to leave.” Marty nodded at his teacher, “no snacking on the humans around here ok?” Murdoch tried a bit of humour to lighten the mood. Marty used what energy he had to smirk. Even if he had wanted to snack on the human nurses he doubted he had the energy to do so. Right now a little blood pack was just what he needed.
Merrill stood up to leave; she didn’t want to leave Marty this way; she wanted to stay with him, feed him; but obedient as always she was ready to go. After only a moment’s hesitation; she bent down and gently kissed Marty’s forehead,
“Try and get some sleep.” She whispered. Marty closed his eyes, but not before steeling a glance at a grumpy Drew in the corner. Jealously was written all over his face. Marty smiled inwardly.
Marty tried in vain to open his eyes; but he couldn’t. He could hear a familiar voice calling his name, but he could not either place the owner, or motivate himself to answer it. Darkness engulfed him.
For hours Murdoch had sat by the hospital bed; his head in his hands. He had tried in vain to feed Marty with blood, but he would neither wake up nor swallow the blood in his sleep. Something was wrong; very wrong; Murdoch could sense that. For once the wise teacher had no clue about how to rectify the situation, he was at a loss, and nothing from his past experiences with vampires had prepared him for anything like this. He had grown attached to his night students, as he knew he would just like he did his human students, but to feel this helpless, unable to help one of them in their hour of need, it bothered him. Marty stirred finally opening his eyes, Murdoch stood up, so that Marty could see him without moving his head.
“Marty.” Murdoch said his voice full of concern, “Can you hear me?” Marty licked his lips they were dry and so was his throat.
“Yeah,” he croaked, slowly coming to. “Something’s wrong,” Marty continued slowly, “I feel really weak.” He tried to sit up.
“Take it easy Marty,” Murdoch tried to keep him lying down, but Marty was determined to sit up, so Murdoch helped him. Marty rubbed one eye and then the other with the back of his hand; he couldn’t believe how heavy he felt, but all he wanted to do was get back to Mansbridge; to the place that was his home, to where he felt safe.
“Can we go now, please.” Marty whispered. Murdoch went to answer, but the opening of the room door stopped him. A large overly cheerful nurse bounced in.
“Good morning sleepy head; you slept quite a while, we thought we had lost you again.” She moved forward to the window parallel to Marty’s hospital bed, “It’s a lovely day outside and a good dose of sunlight will wake you up and help you feel much better.”
Murdoch was already moving to stop the nurse from opening the curtains, that prevented the early morning light from turning his student to a pile of ashes, but he was too late. The nurse had already flung open the curtains; a stream of sunlight hit the bed, exactly where Marty sat. Murdoch heard a cry from behind him and turned to see his student bathed in full sunlight.
Marty automatically cried out as soon as he first saw the glimmer of sunlight through the curtains as they relentlessly opened. Instinctively he flung his arm up to protect his eyes from the sunlight, and tried to roll out of the bed, to the safety of the shade under the bed. The sheets were tucked in tight preventing him from fully rolling out of the bed. As Marty was half hanging out of the bed, his arm still bathed in sunlight, he realised there was no burning sensation as his body turned to ash. In fact there was no pain or sensations at all.
Murdoch stood, his mouth open, speechless. He had merely watched as Marty had tried to dive into the shadows, but had become caught in the bed sheets, but now, even in full sunlight, there was no flames, no screams of terror and pain. Just Marty, looking puzzled.
“There, that’s better.” The nurse said dusting off her hands, “Now what’s all this fuss about young man?” She moved to the opposite side of the bed, where Marty was still half hanging off, and used her full body weight to push him back on the bed. “A little sunlight never did anyone any harm.” She said sternly but cheerfully to him, and tucked the sheets in back around him. She held his wrist and felt his pulse, whilst looking at her clock pinned to her apron. “That’s better, a nice strong pulse, don’t know why the machines didn’t pick it up last night. I’ll just go fetch the doctor to look at your stitches; you might be able to go home soon.” She said as she walked out of the door.
Murdoch still hadn’t moved from his spot, and Marty sat in the
bed staring at the sunlight coming through the window, onto his face. Marty shifted his gaze to Murdoch, both simply stared at each other, their mouths open, shocked and amazed, confused, and just that little bit uneasy.
Down in the Mansbridge Academy wine cellar the other vampires sat restlessly around the central table. Essie was staring down at the latest issue of her favourite fashion magazine, but she wasn’t reading the article or looking at the pictures; Karl was curling his dumbbells, and Drew simply sat there chewing his finger nail. Merrill was pacing, fidgeting.
“Do you think Marty is ok? The sun has already come up. What if they won’t let him leave? What if they have found out what he is? What if they have called the Biomorphic Predatory Disease Agency? What if Hackett is already there with them?” The questions came tumbling out of her mouth; she was unable to stop her thoughts becoming verbal. Merrill needed reassurance that Marty would be ok.
“I’m sure everything is fine Merrill? Murdoch can handle anything that happens.” Drew said, and then added, “Why are you so concerned over Marty all of a sudden?” The question startled Merrill,
“Well, it was my fault that he was shot.” Merrill stammered the answer; she knew that must be the reason she was this worried about Marty, and yet she couldn’t suppress the memory of how his lips had felt on hers, his naked body, and the way she had felt so safe sleeping in his arms, a little voice rose up from the depths of her soul, are we sure that is the only reason we are that worried about him dear sweet Merrill? It asked her.
Drew had stood up and walked into Merrill’s path; she stopped abruptly in front of him. She looked up into his cold blue eyes, and yet the warm rush that she would have felt no longer came to her. He put his hand gently on her shoulder, and there was no feeling of excitement.
“It’s not your fault Merrill; Marty should have known better; he’ll be fine; you don’t need to worry about him.” The words were comforting, yet there was a hint of coldness about them.
The two men sat in an uneasy silence, as Murdoch drove the car. Murdoch took a quick glance at the vampire next to him, sitting in broad daylight. His mind filtered through the events of the morning when the doctor had come and checked on Marty’s wounds. They were not healed, as both Murdoch and Marty knew they should be. The doctor that had visited was still astounded by the fact that the wound was more healed than it should be; it was making the doctors and nurses anxious providing Murdoch the excuse he required to persuade the doctor to allow Marty to be released in his care. He was trying hard to make sense of the situation, and was wondering whether to inform the Elders of this development, it would mean he would have to tell them everything, and he couldn’t predict which way Vakaal, the Elder chosen to oversee the experiment, would swing on this issue; would he be lenient as Murdoch knew he could be, or would the vampire way of old be dominant and shut down the experiment and possibly kill the people involved, just as it was threaten when one of his day students, Dillan, had been bitten by Karl, only weeks ago. Would this second event in just a matter of weeks persuade them that the experiment was failing? The car turned on the Mansbridge Academy private road.
“Hey doc,” Marty spoke for the first time since they had left the hospital, Murdoch looked at Marty, his complexion rosy and healthy, “can we not tell the others about this, not just yet.”
“Of course, whatever you want.”
Drew left the others to their activities, and moved into the boy’s dorm to get some sleep or at least be alone. He opened the lid of his coffin, but became aware he was not actually alone. Drew glanced over his shoulder at the blonde vampire standing behind him. Her arms were crossed against her chest and she had that look on her face; Essie was about to embark on a lecture, full of some kind of insight on how he should be living his undead life.
“What do you want Essie?” He said without turning round, his voice showing signs of irritation.
“I think there might be a green eyed monster in the room.” She said quietly so that the others would not hear.
“Look if you’ve got something to say, just say it plain and clear Essie, I’m not in the mood for your cryptic messages of wisdom.” He turned to face her, crossing his arms across his chest as well, looking defiant and defensive.
“It’s pretty obvious you’re jealous of how close Merrill is becoming with Marty.”
“What? Give me a break. The guys a jerk, Merrill would never be interested in him. Look at the danger he put her in? And even if she were it’s got nothing to do with me.”
“Exactly.” Essie stood her ground, “Why can’t you let her be happy Drew, she finally getting over you.” Drew looked at his feet, and Essie saw everything so clearly. “But that’s the whole point isn’t it?” She continued her insightful onslaught, “you don’t want her to get over you; you like having her follow you around like a puppy dog. You don’t actually want her though do you, but you just can’t stand the thought of her wanting anyone else.” Essie shook her head at the vampire in front her, a thousand other things in her mind ready to outpour on him, but the sound of hurried footsteps coming down the secret entrance way attracted both her and Drew’s attention.
“They’re back!” Merrill called excitedly to the others.
“Quit being so selfish Drew.” Essie said as she turned on her heel and walked into the main room.
Marty walked carefully down the ramp into the darkness of the cellar, a blanket wrapped around him, to make it look like he had been hiding under it, protecting him from the sunlight, whilst Murdoch had driven him home. He looked about the room, Merrill was already running off to get, god knows what to make him more comfortable. Karl was stacking away his weights, and Drew was precariously following Essie out of the boy’s dorm. Marty thought about making a comment, but in his current condition if anything turned physical he was no match for the vampires that stood around him. He had tried to fang out in the car, but nothing came, his telekinesis and various powers had also deserted him. But he was still a vampire though, wasn’t he.
“Good to have you back mate.” Karl gently jabbed Marty in the arm, but a friendly vampire tap on the arm, was more like a full on punch to Marty right now, but he covered his pain well enough. He looked over to Merrill happily walking over to him, a blood pack in hand, she had already snipped away a corner of the packet and inserted a straw.
“Here you are Marty; this will help get your strength back.” He took it from her and muttered some form of thanks. He looked at it, no hunger was stirring in him; he watched the blood move as he gently squashed the packed in his hands. He looked up at Merrill, eagerly waiting for him to drink it. Marty smiled and lifted the pack close to his mouth, his lips gingerly moved down to the straw, where he took a little sip.
“Hmm,” he began a false smile on his lips, but as the blood hit his stomach a gag reflex kicked in, and he violently curled up in pain, as the movement pulled at his stitches, he bit down on his lip suppressing the need to yell out. Marty crouched on the floor afraid to look up at was no doubt a circle of confused and bewildered faces.
“Marty, what’s wrong?” Merrill full of concern rushed forward to his aid, her arms wrapping themselves around his huddled frame.
“Nothing, back off.” Marty growled; but it was too late; Merrill a vampire had already detected his body heat, which for their kind was absent, and worse still, she had heard his heart beating a normal human rhythm. Merrill stood up and backed away from Marty, she tried as hard as she could to suppress the horror that she now felt. Marty carefully stood up, save pulling at his stitches any further; he lifted his head, to see that Merrill was not successfully hiding her feelings. Then he glanced at the rest of the vampires, and knew that he couldn’t hide his little problem from them either. Even Karl, so new to being a vampire had detected that Marty was now different to them.
“You’re...you’re...” Merrill stuttered.
“Human?” Karl finished the sentence, a puzzled look on his face.
“I’m not a human, I’m a vampire.” Marty shouted back at him, at them. Anger and embarrassment rose up within him.
“What the hell happened?” Karl asked still bewildered.
“It would seem,” came Murdoch voice as he walked down the ramp, “that the human blood the hospital gave Marty has somehow,” Murdoch paused uncertain of which word to use, which one would be less insulting, and would result in less panic;
“Turned him into a human?” There was that word again, oh why wouldn’t Karl just shut up, Marty thought as he moved slowly to table, clutching at his chest, and finally sinking into a seat.
The vampires gathered around Murdoch with an onslaught of questions and thoughts.
“You mean there’s a cure for being vamp?” Karl asked excitement in his voice.
“Is it temporary?” Asked Merrill
“I could have been with Sherry properly.” Drew muttered.
“Surely it can’t be permanent. Who would want to be human again?” Essie said.
“I could become human again, go back to my family.” Karl started, but was cut off by Merrill;
“Have you told the Elders?”
“How come no-one has ever thought of trying this before?” Said Drew talking over all of them.
The questions merged into one another, Murdoch couldn’t keep up, and he didn’t know the answers to them either.
“Hold on, hold on a minute, one at a time.” He said his hands held up in front of him, trying to calm the evident mixture of panic and excitement. Silence fell upon the room. “Now,” Murdoch began, “I will need time to try and figure out what has happened to Marty.”
“But is he actually human now?” Drew asked his eyes wide.
“For all intense and purposes, yes, I guess he is.”
More silence, Marty couldn’t stand it. He stared at the table in front of him, not daring to look up and confirm that the others were staring at him. He could feel their eyes boring into his very soul. What if this was permanent, what would he do? It meant he didn’t belong here anymore, he’d be cast out for sure; that is if Vakaal didn’t have him executed first to protect the experiment. Marty would be on his own again, he had just started to like being here; to start feeling like he belonged somewhere, and then there was Merrill. He wasn’t ready to leave yet; he wasn’t ready to be on his own again. Then there was the chance that if he was allowed to live by the convocation, the fury would catch up with him. They knew him, and as a human he wouldn’t be able to defend himself. No this couldn’t be permanent, Marty thought, it just can’t be.
Murdoch poured the tea quietly as Marty sat opposite him, bathed in sunlight in the auditorium. Murdoch handed his pupil the china tea cup on a saucer.
“Try this; it will make you feel better.” Marty stared at Murdoch, a cold stare full of questioning, and anger. “We will figure this out.”
“Why can’t we get someone to bite me again?”
“Because we have no way of knowing what that would do to you. It may well kill you.”
“Maybe that’s the best option all around.”
Murdoch looked at his pupil; he had never before seen this side of Marty; full of resentment for his vampire life.
“Is that how you really feel, I thought you enjoyed being a vampire, you’re always so,” Murdoch searched for the right word, “energetic.”
“What else was I suppose to do with this life, I survived a quivering, I figured I might as well make the most of life, being that death and hell obviously didn’t want me. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve escaped death over the centuries?”
Murdoch looked at the ex-vampire and thought deeply; wondering whether to carry on the subject.
“And now?” He asked, “The experiment has given you a home, friends perhaps? Are you afraid that if this is permanent you will lose this sense of belonging?”
Marty stared at the doctor trying to psychoanalyse him, Marty was not in the mood for sharing, so he just shrugged. Murdoch sat back with his cup of tea, satisfied with the non-verbal answer Marty had given him. Now all he had to worry about was how long this human form would last.
Down in the cellar, Merrill flicked through all her books on vampires in search of an answer for what was happening to Marty and most importantly how they could turn him back into a vampire safely. Drew watched from behind his dorm room curtain, Karl soundly snoring in his coffin, and Essie probably doing the same, he felt certain that he and Merrill could talk alone. Merrill looked up and saw Drew emerging from his dorm; she smiled warmly at him, and then went back to reading her books.
“Hey,” Drew said softly. Merrill looked up again.
“It’s the middle of the day Drew, why are you still up?” She asked him,
“I could ask the same of you?”
“I’m trying to figure out what’s happened to Marty.”
“Hmm,” Drew rubbed his palms together and sat down next to Merrill, “So what’s the deal with you and Marty now?” He asked hesitantly.
“What do you mean?” Merrill stopped reading her book and turned to look at the vampire next to her.
“Well, you’re out together till dawn, and then you were very close to him at the hospital.” Drew trailed off suggestively. Merrill looked at Drew and thought hard about what he was asking, was he jealous? Could it be that after all this time he realised that he actually wanted her? All it required was a little bit of jealously? She fought hard with herself, resisting the urge to read his mind.
“We’re just friends, Drew, closer now but.” Merrill shrugged, not quite sure where her new closer relationship with Marty was heading herself.
“Right, so you not..?” Drew asked the leading question.
“No.” Merrill said just that little bit too quickly, and she wondered if it sounded fake.
“Good,” said Drew, he paused for a second, wondering if Merrill would have liked to have said yes, then said, “Cause you know it’s all a game to him, he doesn’t actually care for anyone but himself, I just wanted to make sure you weren’t falling for any of his lines or anything. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Merrill nodded, speechless, a turmoil of emotions inside of her. Hope and disappointment; happiness and sadness. Could Drew really want her, and that’s why he’s warning her off Marty? Is Marty really just playing a game, and has no feelings for her at all? Merrill was confused, finally the vampire that she thought was the one, seemed to be fighting for her; but a voice in the back of her mind reminded her that she had read his actions of protectiveness as something more several times before. But what about Marty, she had started to feel something deep for him. She felt guilty being here with Drew and feeling the attraction to him grow again; what if Marty was being sincere?
“And even if he was sincere about it, he’s human now, and we can’t have relationships with humans remember.” Drew’s blockades to any possible relationship between Merrill and Marty continued.
“But you were with Sherry.” Merrill answered; a slight bitter tone edged her voice.
“Yeah and look where that got us.” Drew stared at Merrill; she cast her eyes downwards, an old guilt rising up in her. Murdoch had told her that Sherry’s death was not her fault, but deep down she had wished the human girl that held Drew’s heart would die, and it wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility that when Merrill really wanted something, it happened.
“Would you have a blood transfusion to become human Merrill?” Drew asked, “Do you really want to become human again?” Merrill thought about her answer, the whole point of the experiment was for them to become more human, to control their urges of killing; but after the incidents of the last few nights, Merrill was no longer sure if that was what she wanted.
“Humans are cruel Drew, we both know that, and they can do the worse things.” Merrill paused, “I’m not sure which species is worse, at least we only kill for food.” Drew was astonished of the words that were leaving Merrill’s mouth; she had always been the most human like out of all of them. The most determined to get away from her old life to start living and the champion of the experiment. Drew became quietly confident that he would not lose Merrill to Marty, not now he was human, she would stay a vampire, stay with the experiment, even if right now she didn’t feel that it would do anything.
Marty stood in the darkness of the secret entrance to the cellar, listening intently to the conversation between Merrill and Drew. He heard the words that Merrill was saying and felt sorry that the events with Michael had shaken her to her very core. It seemed that Merrill had polarised things, humans good, vampires bad, where in truth the world is never that simple; and now that had been taken away from her. He edged closer to the doorway, to hear more of the conversation.
“Maybe,” Drew continued, “being a vampire isn’t so bad; we don’t have to belong to that world, we can have our own.” Drew placed his hand on top of Merrill’s. Merrill’s heart fluttered, her feeling for Drew re-awakening, could he really be hinting that he wanted to be with her? Merrill looked deeply into Drew’s eyes.
The cellar became silent. Marty’s imagination began to run wild, he could no longer see through the darkness of the cellar to put his mind at rest that they had just stopped talking and nothing else. All he knew was that Drew had used a line that he himself would use to try and hit on a girl, and now it had all gone quiet. Was Drew kissing Merrill? He had to know.
Marty stomping down the entrance slope broke the spell between Merrill and Drew. Merrill moved her gaze from Drew’s hypnotising eyes to look past him at the guy walking towards them. Marty did not look happy.
“Marty,” She said sounding guilty and moving herself away from Drew.
“What’s going on guys?” Marty asked pointedly.
“Nothing that concerns you.” Drew said standing up and turning round to face his rival.
“Really.” Marty stood staring directly at Drew, his arms crossed. Merrill moved so that she stood almost directly between the two men.
“Marty, you should be resting.” She said.
“I’m fine Merrill, I just don’t like the way that Drew is messing with your emotions again.” Marty decided that straight and to the point was needed here.
“You mean like you are?” Drew countered.
“Please both of you just stop this.” Merrill pleaded. Marty shook his and moved forward only steps away from his rival,
“Come on Drew admit it, you always want what you can’t have.” Marty angrily yelled at Drew.
“And you always want what others have. You’re incapable of actually caring for anyone other than yourself, Marty, turning human hasn’t changed that.” Drew taunted.
“Oh you mean like it would have helped you and Sherry.” Drew grabbed Marty’s jersey top and pulled him closer to his face, bearing his fangs he growled at him.
“Don’t you dare bring her into this.”
“You couldn’t have Sherry, she was human, but you just kept pushing,” Marty yelled at the vampire dangerously close to ripping his head off, “you could have easily have had Merrill, but you didn’t want her then, you wanted something you couldn’t or shouldn’t have had. Now that Merrill doesn’t want you, she wants me; you just have to have her, don’t you?”
“Drew, let him go, you’ll kill him!” Merrill cried out.
“You can’t have her either you’re human now, it’s against the rules remember. You don’t belong here anymore.” Drew shouted at Marty as he slowly lifted him off the ground. The collar of his top started to cut into his neck, choking him. Marty struggled but to no avail; he knew he couldn’t win a fight with Drew without his powers.
“Drew please.” Begged Merrill, as Essie and Karl emerged from their respective dorms, awoken by the noise.
“What’s going on?” Asked Essie alarmed to see Marty in Drew’s grasp, his eyes red and his fangs dangerously close to Marty’s neck.
“Hey, back off man.” Karl yelled at Drew as he grabbed at his shoulders, pulling him backwards, but Drew held on to his target.
“Why don’t you ask her who she wants to be with?” Marty choked out with what little air he had left.
“Drew, let him go!” Karl tugged at Drew’s hand clasping the neck of Marty’s top;
“You’re not worth it.” Venom evident in Drew’s whisper as he dropped Marty to the ground. Marty coughed as he choked air back into his lungs, he sat in a heap on the cold stone floor. Merrill was by his side, holding his shoulders seeing if he was alright.
“What the hell do you think you were doing?” She asked, glaring at Drew, “You could have killed him.”
“I guarantee that if you go with him Merrill, he’ll abandon you as soon as he gets bored; you’ll be making one hell of a sacrifice turning human.” Drew yelled at Merrill
“I don’t want to be human. They’re evil.” Merrill yelled back. The words stung Marty, and yet he did not know why, he wasn’t going to ask her to turn human to be with him, he was not even willing to accept that he was human.
“Well you can’t very well have a relationship with a human, you being a vampire and all; you said so yourself hundreds of times.” Drew yelled at her.
“Drew that’s not fair.” Essie interjected, “The circumstances are completely different,” she walked over to Drew, “and you know that.” She continued calmly, placing a hand on his shoulder she whispered “Stop making this about getting one over on Marty, you’ll never lose her as a friend, but you have to let her go Drew, you don’t love her like that, it’s not fair to keep her hanging on like this.” Drew thought hard, and pulled back his fangs, he pressed him lips together biting back any unkind remarks. He knew Essie was right, he knew he was jealous. Jealous of Marty being the centre of Merrill’s world and not him, Jealous of the fact that despite Marty being human, they still had a chance of making things work, where he and Sherry could not. Drew pulled away from Essie, and stalked back to his dorm, pulling the curtains across dramatically.
Marty wrestled out of Merrill’s grasp, he was angry at her, after all he had done for her, offered himself on a plate for her and she still wanted Drew. He did nothing but cause her pain, she really was a glutton for punishment. Marty stood up breathing heavily.
“I’d love to stay and chat, but a whole new sunny world is just waiting for me, and you’re not invited.” His normal grandiose style afforded him to leave without being the loser; Marty turned and headed back up the ramp and into Murdoch’s office. Essie and Karl watched, but Merrill slunk away into the safety of her dorm and coffin.
Marty got to Murdoch’s office before he felt the tears form in his eyes, but his pride would not let them flow, anger, resentment and hurt welled inside him; they had all abandoned him. He tore at the books on Murdoch’s desk throwing them aside. He kicked at the chair and instantly regretted it; the pain in his toe quelled the raging fire within him. Pressing his lips together he suppressed the scream of agony. He stood there for a moment his hands on his hips, what the hell was he going to do now? Slowly in hobbled back to the solarium where he had left Murdoch.
“Hey Doc.” Marty shouted out as he reached the doorway. He stopped dead as two faces looked up at him, one was Murdoch’s, the other was female, framed in blond hair and alarmingly familiar.
“Ahh Marty,” Dr Murdoch stood up and gestured at his guest, “this is Marianne Hackett.” Marty knew full well who she was; Marianne Hackett of the Biomorphic Predatory Disease Agency, aka the BPDA, aka vampire hunters. A small smile edged on to his lips, if only she knew that the creatures she hunted were being protected by Dr Murdoch; that he was a vampire, that she could have been killed by him or by any of the others during anyone of her visits to Mansbridge. Marty for the first time that day felt he could start a battle that he could win; he stayed close to the doorway, covered in shadow.
“Ms Hackett is a government agent specialising in rare diseases; she is somewhat of an expert, believe it or not in vampires.” Murdoch’s tone suggested that he thought the idea of vampires was ludicrous. Marty’s smile grew. Hackett stood up, “Ms Hackett, this is one of my students, Marty Strickland.” Hackett looked curiously at the student covered in dim light in the corner of the room, he looked familiar, but he definitely wasn’t a Mansbridge student, she had interviewed each and everyone of them.
“I thought all the students had left for summer vacation.” She stated in a professional tone,
“Marty is not a Mansbridge student, he comes to me for extra tuition for college.” Murdoch answered as if it was the entire truth.
“Pleased to meet you Mr Strickland,” she extended her hand in a futile effort; somehow she didn’t think this ‘student’ would come out into the light. Marty didn’t need to read minds to know what she was thinking, she was absolutely positive he was a vampire. Marty edged slowly to where the shadows ended, and paused just long enough for Hackett to drop her hand, then slowly Marty moved into the light, the look of amazement of Hackett’s face was brilliant, he hoped that the security camera had caught it.
“You must forgive him Ms Hackett, Marty is rather shy about strangers.” Murdoch only glanced at Marty, but that glance said a thousand words, it warned Marty not to continue his game of cat and mouse, but Marty wasn’t in the mood to stop playing, it had been a hard day so far and he needed a little light relief, perhaps this human thing did have its advantages. Marty had no intentions of being a shy student either.
“So what brings you to Mansbridge Ms Hackett?” He asked as he sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea. Marty looked at the table set out in the centre of the chairs, Murdoch really is quiet the entertainer, Marty thought as he surveyed the freshly made pot of tea and fruit pie laid out before them.
“Well,” said Hackett also sitting down, “I’m here because I have been interviewing a Mr Michael Morgan this morning.” Marty looked at Murdoch, and Murdoch right back at him; Hackett picked up her briefcase from the floor and placed it on her knee, opening it she continued. “He claimed that he killed his wife and child last night.” She paused looking at an eye witness drawing taken long ago, the image bore a striking resemblance to the ‘student’ sitting before her now, a smile grew on her lips, then was suppressed so to not to give her advantage point away. “I take it this is the same man that also shot you Mr Strickland, here last night. I’m surprised you are not still in hospital.” Hackett pulled out several files and bits of paper from her briefcase, closing it she placed the papers on top of the briefcase and her hands clasped on top. She looked pointedly at Marty.
“Well Yes,” Murdoch answered, “Marty felt more comfortable here at Mansbridge, and as I have some medical training it was deemed that I could bring Marty back here for recovery. But I don’t see what this incident has to do with the BPDA, Ms Hackett.”
Hackett unclasped her hands to reach out for her teacup, and took a sip of the tea. She nodded understandingly.
“It appears that Mr Morgan was compelled to carry out his deeds by the promised love of a vampire. A vampire that it seems is also a student of yours Dr Murdoch. A Ms Merrill Young.” Hackett said reading from her notes.
“Yes, Merrill is also a college student of mine but as to being a vampire, I seriously doubt she’s a blood sucking fiend. She met Michael on a writer’s workshop; she has been deeply distressed by the incidents of last night, and has returned home.”
“Pity, I would have liked to talk to her.” Hackett turned her attention to Marty, “and what about you Mr Strickland, did you not want to return home?”
“I like it here.” He answered.
“So how long have you been in Mansbridge Mr Strickland?”
“Not all that long.”
“A year perhaps?” Hackett pulled out the pencil drawing taken just over six months ago. “This man,” she continued “was one of two people causing an incident in a local roadhouse here; he seems to look a lot like you wouldn’t you say Mr Strickland?” Marty took the piece of paper and looked it over as if he was critically appraising a work of art.
“I don’t think they’ve captured my best side.” He commented. Hackett took the piece of paper from him.
“So you admit that’s you.” She said.
“Well, probably, but back then I could have been anywhere, I was probably drunk and in a bar fight.” Marty shrugged, “what can I say? I was a troubled kid; coming to Mansbridge and being tutored by the Doc here has put me back on the straight and narrow, I’m a changed person.”
“Really, Mr Strickland.”
“I’m still not clear on what you would like from us Ms Hackett; I thought we had come to an agreement that you would not be investigating Mansbridge for vampiric activity any further.”
“That was before I had compelling evidence that vampires were residing here.” She countered.
“Forgive me, Ms Hackett, but at one time you thought the man in your drawing, Marty, was a vampire, he clearly isn’t, he’s sitting here in broad daylight. He was shot, he’s far from being immortal. And as for Merrill being a vampire, well I believe you are accepting the words of an obviously very disturbed individual.” Murdoch said.
“We’ll see,” said Hackett, again she turned her attention to Marty. “Mr Strickland, would you mind showing me your wounds? Perhaps you would be kind enough to move closer to the windows so I can see more clearly.” Marty seemed reluctant to move, but slowly got up and edged his way around Hackett’s chair and over to the huge glass windows. Hackett followed him. Marty gentle pulled off his top.
“Please, be gentle.” He said, standing her half naked in the full blaze of the midday sun. Hackett did not look pleased, she thought that by getting him to move closer to the window and exposing his skin, she would see some sign of his skin being burnt by the sun, but there was none. Perhaps the vampire was being protected by the glass. She focused on the bandage taped to his chest. She gently removed the top part, Marty winced as the taped pulled against his skin, unfortunately he wasn’t acting. Hackett surveyed the stitches, the wound was still evident although it looked older than merely a few hours, yet there was fresh blood seeping from the cut. Marty looked down as best he could at his chest. His gagging had obviously strained the stitches, providing fresh blood for Hackett to see, a lucky twist of fate it would seem. Hackett placed the bandage back in place.
“Very well Mr Strickland.” She said as she moved back to her seat. Marty pulled his top carefully over his head, wincing a little as the movement pulled at his wound; he too returned to his place.
“Do you know Ms Young, Mr Strickland?”
“I’ve seen her a few times, quiet, doesn’t go out much, but a nice girl.”
“Doesn’t go out much during the day?” Hackett pressed.
“Well Dr Murdoch tutors us in the evening; I’ve never seen her out in the daylight.” Hackett was satisfied, perhaps Marty wasn’t a vampire, but she was convinced this Merrill was.
“What are you driving at Ms Hackett?” Murdoch asked.
“My hypothesis is that this Merrill Young you tutee is actually a vampire Dr Murdoch, using Mansbridge as a cover for stalking potential prey. Do not underestimate the powers of persuasion a vampire has. She’s clearly very powerful to have convinced a man to kill his entire family in exchange for her love and to infect him with the vampire disease.”
“This Michael sounds like a nutball if you ask me.” Marty stated then, “did you say infected? Vampires can infect people? Could I be infected?” The mock panic that Marty was beginning to display tickled Murdoch.
“Now now Marty, there’s no cause for alarm here.” He said with a slight smile on his face. Marty turned to Murdoch wide-eyed.
“But, she said infected,” he turned back to Hackett, “how would I know if I was infected, and infected how?”
“Well I believe that the vampire carries a viral infection that infects the host, turning it into a vampire also. I believe this is done by the vampire biting its victim, but so far it is unclear as to whether the saliva of the vampire is enough to cause the infection or whether the victim must also drink some of the vampire’s blood.”
“Say I had been bitten, would there be a cure?” Marty asked slyly. The light dawned on Murdoch, and he could now see where Mary was going with this act, clever, he thought.
“There is no known cured for vampirism. The virus seemed to be a retrovirus inserting itself into the hosts DNA, and causing biomorphic changes, such as extreme allergies to sunlight, silver. The host also displays a slowing of the heart rate, to an almost barely detectible rate, reducing its body temperature, making the host appear dead. It possible that the host needs to be near death in order for the infection to fully take hold...” Hackett’s lecture on vampirism was cut short by an impatient Marty.
“But surely, there must be a cure if it’s an infection?” He pressed, Murdoch sat and thought; he was worried that Marty’s overzealous ways may get the better of him and arouse Hackett’s suspicions about Mansbridge further.
“Marty,” Murdoch interrupted. “It’s a beautiful day outside, why don’t you take the car and go and have some lunch somewhere, go sit out in the park or something, the fresh air will do you good.” Marty turned to him,
“But...”
“Please Marty.” Murdoch said pleasantly but forcibly, “I’d like to talk to Ms Hackett alone.” Marty got the point but he was none too happy about it. Murdoch stood up and reached into his waistcoat inside pocket, he withdrew his wallet and some keys. Murdoch removed some money and gave it and the keys to Marty. “My treat,” he said. Marty took the keys and the money with a frown on his face.
“Thanks.” He muttered. Hackett again reached into her briefcase, and withdrew a book.
“Here,” she said standing up, “My latest book, if you’re so interested in vampires I suggest you read it.” Marty took the book and smiled, and left without a word. He turned the corner out of the solarium and into the lobby carelessly he dropped the book onto one of the many sofa’s there and continued out into the sunlight.
“So do you really think that having a blood transfusion is a cure for being vamp?” Karl moved his knight forward to take Essie’s pawn.
“I think if it was that simple someone would have figured it out years ago.” Essie said staring at the chest board.
“But blood transfusions are relatively a recent invention aren’t they?”
“I think they started in the 1800’s perhaps earlier.” Essie said using her queen to take Karl’s bishop.
“Oh,” Karl said frowning; Essie couldn’t decide whether he was trying to figure out what was happening with Marty, or the game of chess they were playing. “So what do you think is going with Merrill, Marty and Drew, it looked pretty intense.”
“I think Marty and Merrill might be getting together, and Drew doesn’t like it.”
“But Drew has never wanted Merrill, and Merrill and Marty, are you serious?” Essie looked from the board to look at Karl.
“I’m serious.” She said smiling, and returned her attention back to the game.
“And Marty wants Merrill to turn human so they can be together?”
“That I’m not sure of, besides what would you gain from being human again; why would any vampire want to go back to being human?”
“I would.” Karl’s answer grabbed Essie’s attention fully. She looked him straight in the eye, “I would,” he repeated, “I could go back to my family, it’s only been a couple of years since I made vamp, I could explain everything. I wouldn’t be a threat to them and they’d be so happy to see me.”
“Karl,” Essie began, then paused, she didn’t know what to say to him. “I would miss you,” she whispered.
“You would?” Karl asked, the game forgotten to both of them. Essie nodded, “this is nice.” Karl continued.
“What’s nice?” Essie asked puzzled by the change in subject.
“This, us. We haven’t played chess for ages, we haven’t talked like this since,” he paused, “well, you know.” Essie thought back to their marriage that was annulled due to her second thoughts, to how much she had hurt Karl.
“Yeah, it is.”
“So you wouldn’t turn human?” Karl asked Essie.
“All the humans I knew have been dead a long time. I don’t have anything to go back for.” Essie said lowering her head becoming aware of how empty her life was without the experiment. Drew could have been with Sherry, but he had also made friends with the human Dillan. Merrill had Marty, and Karl had his human family. What did she have? She was of royal blood, without the experiment she would have to go back to that family; a vampire family; there was no reason to turn human. It was a long time before anything else was said; Essie lifted head and saw that Karl was looking at her intensely.
“Really?” he asked her.
ok so I couldn't fit all of part 2 on here so please continue onto part 3...
So part 2 is up. Hope you like it.
Merrill was running but moving far too slowly, more like a jog. Why were they moving so slowly? Why couldn’t they go any faster? Was this a dream? A nightmare? Everything seemed to be in a haze, like nothing was real. She felt weak; slow; useless.
“You’ll have to step away now miss.” Merrill felt a presence physically stop her from following the trolley into the room, and remained still as the door shut in her face. She peered through the window, watching the group of people surround the body on the trolley. The body which seemed so dead; and yet she knew it to be alive. So pale, and so covered in blood, he had come too in the ambulance, muttered a few words and then sunk back into unconsciousness. Merrill had ridden alone with him, holding his cold hand all the way, she couldn’t believe how close to death he was. Merrill hugged herself; unable to believe she was here. Her eyes surveyed the body on the table, the black boots, the leather trousers, and the shirt with flames on now torn and discarded on the floor, she hoped Murdoch had made the right decision, was Marty really safe in a human hospital? So lost in thought Merrill failed to realise she was joined by three others of her kind, all sharing her pain. The arm wrapping itself around her, jolted her back to reality, she looked up to see the guy that looked like he had stepped fresh out of the 1950’s, the one that had broken her heart, his focus through the little port hole window into the room beyond.
The door moved and a young nurse appeared. Merrill was mute, but the smooth voice of her comforter sailed through the air.
“Will he be ok?” Drew asked.
“It’s hard to say,” she said, the clinical tone in her voice, as she delivered what must have been a speech well practiced. “He’s lost a lot of blood; the bullet just missed his heart; I know this is a difficult time but if you know what blood type he is, it might just save his life; we’re, erm, we’re having a little trouble locating his records.” That last part was not quite so well rehearsed. The group looked at each other, uncertain what to say.
“We don’t know.” Essie piped up.
“What is your relation to him?” the nurse asked
“Family.” Drew surprised them all with his statement, “I suggest you use some of our blood for him.” The nurse shook her head.
“We need to be certain it’s a match or else we could kill him.” Some alarm started beeping inside the room and the nurse ran back inside.
Why was the heart rate monitor flat lining? There was certainly enough blood pumping out of his veins to indicate a heartbeat. So much blood but why? “Has anyone got this guy’s notes yet?” The doctor shouted out; “He seems to be a haemophiliac, he’s bleeding all over the place.” The female doctor looked at her gloves covered in bright red blood; she couldn’t see anything through the liquid. She knew the bullet was in there somewhere; she had to remove it, and close whatever arteries it appeared to have severed. The removal of a bullet so close to the heart carried with it its own risk. “Do we have a blood type yet?” A voice in the room yelled ‘no’ in answer. “nuts, I want some O negative blood, now. Clamp off the arteries, let’s get this bullet out and repair the damage as quickly as possible.”
The vampires watched the frantic movements of the humans, blood was everywhere, and yet no hunger stirred. It was the blood of one of their own, a possibility they thought they would never see so graphically, up close and personal. The sound of a racing heartbeat broke the spell they were under and they turned round to see their mentor gasping for air, as he had run from the car park, the vampires of course had run on ahead of their teacher, taking mere seconds to take the journey it had taken the human 10 minutes to run. “What’s... How...” Murdoch couldn’t get his breath.
“The bullet almost hit his heart; he’s losing blood all over the place.” Panic evident in Karl’s voice as he spoke, “I think...I think...oh god.” Karl moved away from the group, pacing, agitated.
“It’s going to be alright.” Murdoch said between deep breaths.
“How?” Drew spoke up again, “He’s in a human hospital, they can’t help him; we should have called the Elders. He’s going to die here.”
“It’s the best option we had, the Elders would have taken too long to get here, and I didn’t want to risk moving the silver bullet so close to his heart,” Murdoch reasoned, “besides I think its best they don’t know about Michael yet.”
“Oh this is crap!” Drew said letting go of Merrill and sulkily leaning against the wall. Merrill suddenly felt cold and alone, she moved back to the door and again peered through the window.
What the hell? The doctor held the bullet in the forceps, it seemed to be silver; she dropped in a tray, and set to work on repairing the damage. “Swab.” As the blood was cleared away, the doctor again found herself saying under her breath ‘what the hell?’ The arteries where the bullet had just been removed did not look as damaged as they should be, although blood still heavily flowed out. She looked at the open chest cavity, something wasn’t quite right here, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
Karl paced the room restlessly; he didn’t like being put in this room, waiting for news of Marty’s recovery. He felt trapped, useless; at least when they were outside the emergency room he could see what was happening. He tried to think positively but all he could focus on was what would happen if Marty died. As a vampire he thought he had lost the ability to connect with people, to care, but both he and the Elders had been wrong. Maybe they had lost the ability to connect with humans, to see them as more than just food, but with other vampires connections could still be made. The experiment was proof of that. Marty was part of their group, their family; how could they cope if he didn’t make it. Annoying as he was at times, and even hurtful with his taunts, Mansbridge would seem so quiet and empty without him; Marty couldn’t die, he just couldn’t.
Karl paced past Essie, as she fidgeted in the plastic chair, trying to get comfortable. She had to stop herself from reaching out to him, to catch his hand as he passed by. He looked so upset, so worried, she just wanted to comfort him. She doubted whether he would welcome her into his arms; in truth she wanted to be comforted too; not that she and Marty had ever been close, he had been so cruel taunting her on her own death bed; but she didn’t want him to die like this; no vampire should. She looked up at Karl as he passed by again, but she would not use her powers of persuasion to get him to come over and pull her into his arms, if he did that she wanted it to be real. What a mess the last few months had been, she cursed herself for not being up front from the beginning that she just wasn’t ready to make a commitment to Karl, then they could have just carried on as they were, without the whole issue of breaking both their hearts but especially Karl’s. The events of the evening made Essie realise just how much she really cared for Karl. Essie felt alone and vulnerable; she liked the dynamic of the group of vampires she lived with, it made life interesting; she was thankful that it wasn’t Karl that had been shot but if Marty wasn’t there everything would be different too and not necessarily for the better.
Drew leant with his back against the awful pale yellow walls of the ‘relatives’ room. Why had he said that, why had he told the nurse they were Marty’s family? They weren’t and they would never be, but there was that nagging thought in the back of Drew’s head asking where would he be without the other vampires, would he be so happy? No he was not happy; but he was definitely less depressed with his life than what he had been before joining the experiment. Now he had come to think about it he did feel like he was part of a family group. Karl, the older brother, giving advice on women, or to be exact human women, he was the most familiar with the current era of human world, and had helped him with Sherry. Essie the older know-it-all sister, telling Drew the truth whether he wanted to hear it or not. Merrill, a little sister, so eager to please, always studying, someone he wanted to protect. Where would Marty fit in the family dynamic, the pain in the arse that he was, Drew didn’t need to think very hard about that one, Marty was obviously the annoying little brother, a little chuckle rose within him remembering some of his antics, but he soon repressed it. Marty had calmed down from what he was when he first entered Mansbridge, he was manageable, not quite as cruel, but still the joker, still the life of the party. Drew would miss sparing with him, if he died.
Merrill watched Drew from her seat, he was deep in thought; she wanted to read his mind, see what he was thinking; or perhaps ask him to use his powers to wander through the halls and check up on Marty’s progress. She saw a small smirk spread across Drew’s face but no sooner as it appeared it disappeared. What was he thinking? Was he happy that Marty was dying? How could he be so cruel, the two of them may not have liked each other but to be happy he was dead? No she mustn’t think like that. Marty would not die; he would live; he had to live; she was just starting to... to what? Fall for him?
The door opened; expectantly the vampires looked up, hoping Murdoch was back from his talk with the police. Instead it was a middle aged man in a porter’s uniform; his middle aged spread a little larger than was healthy, an untidy beard and moustache hiding his features. He held a note pad in his hand;
“Right then, what’s the name of your friend in the emergency room?” He voice was kind, but had a tone that suggested he had seen this type of thing before. Knife, shooting victims, youth and young men, caught up in fighting gangs, where birth names were not used, and therefore no records could be found. This man was here on a mission, and that mission was to get the real name of the current John Doe fighting for his life.
“Marty Strickland.” Drew said rubbing his eyes; he was tired of these humans constantly trying to find records that didn’t exist. It was a stupid idea to bring Marty to a hospital.
“Yeah, right. Real name.” Impatience crept into the porter’s voice.
“Its Marty Strickland.” Karl joined in, also growing impatient with this pointless game; he stopped pacing and stood in the centre of the small room, with several chairs along the walls.
“You guys really think his name is Marty Strickland? It’s definitely a fake name.”
“Yeah?” asked Karl, “What makes you say that?”
“Marty,” the porter said slowly, then “Strickland.” He looked Karl in the eyes, and saw that no light was switching on there. He then looked at the other three youths in the room. Although they all looked young, there was something about them that made them seem older, much older. “Hello McFly?” The porter gestured with an open palm to the group, willing them to see his logic. He looked at the puzzled stares focused on him, and gave up. “What? Were none of you alive during the 80’s?” The porter turned and opened the door behind him, muttering to himself about the youth of today. The vampires looked at each other.
“What has the 80’s got to do with the name Marty Strickland, and who’s McFly?” Karl asked, then the penny dropped with Drew.
“Oh.” He said and moved from his post along the wall, and took the nearest seat. “Ever seen Back to the Future?” He asked Karl. Karl went to speak, but again the door opened gaining their attention. This time it was Murdoch, hopefully he had news; good news.
“First, it appears that Michael has made a full confession to attacking us, and shooting Marty; well done Essie.” Essie nodded, suppressing the shudder that grew inside her; she never wanted to enter a mind like that again. “It also appears that he killed his wife and daughter earlier today.”
“So much for vampires being the only killers in the world.” Drew muttered under his breath.
“And Marty?” Merrill stood up nervously wringing her hands.
“Marty is stable; he’s still unconscious. He lost a lot of blood; ordinarily that amount of blood lost in a human could lead to brain damage; but in Marty’s case I’ll guess we’ll just have to wait and see.” Merrill said down dejected. “Now that the bullet’s been removed I want to get Marty back to Mansbridge before dawn. I’m going to see what I can do and I want you four to return to Mansbridge and wait. I’ll call you if I need help in moving Marty, but he should be fully recovered by then.” The room door opened again, a nurse wandered thorough, looking slightly shocked.
“He’s awake,” she said, “already.”
Merrill sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair holding on to the cold and clammy hand for dear life. Marty felt very drowsy, but was slowly becoming more aware of the people in the room.
“He doesn’t seem to have sustained any brain damage, it’s really a miracle he’s alive, let alone the fact that’s he’s awake and generally coherent.” The female doctor spoke quietly to Murdoch in the doorway, “I mean he really is a fascinating case, he’s an apparent haemophiliac, and yet the progress he’s making is unbelievable, my only fear is that he could relapse.” The doctor became silent. “Don’t stay too long, you mustn’t wear him out, he still has a long road to recovery.” She closed the door behind her.
Drew watched Merrill curiously, wondering why she was holding on to Marty’s hand as tightly as she was.
“I’m so sorry Marty, this is all my fault.” Merrill said quietly. Merrill’s feeling guilty, that was all it is thought Drew, there’s nothing more going on. It’s just Merrill being nice and kind Merrill.
“It’s not your fault; it was Michael’s and mine for not moving in the right direction.” Marty said with a small smile trying hard to become the vampire they all knew him to be, he was Marty, unstoppable Marty, and Merrill had to know he was ok, even if he didn’t feel it.
Drew looked at Merrill, the smile she gave Marty, the way she brushed back some of his hair that had become stuck to his head. No it wasn’t just guilt; there was something more there, an attraction. Drew couldn’t believe his eyes, and couldn’t believe that Marty could ever feel anything towards anyone, or that Merrill had fallen for whatever lines Marty had been spinning her.
“There’s just one thing I don’t understand, how did Michael know we were vampires?” Karl asked. Marty looked guilty at Merrill, and then the others.
“I guess it might have something to do with the fact that after he drove a car into me, I almost killed him, last night.” Marty said he voice sounded dry and tired.
“Last night?” Drew asked a frown upon his face.
“Yeah he followed us from the bus station; I guess he didn’t like the car or something.”
“What? Why would he follow you, last night?”
“I thought I was the one with brain damage here? Last night after I picked up Merrill from the bus station, Michael followed us and then attacked us.” Marty spoke deliberately slowly paising every few words, partly to annoy Drew, and partly so he could form his words without slurring; Marty was having trouble getting his body to do what he wanted, but he wasn’t going to let the others know that.
“But, I thought,” Drew didn’t finish his sentence; he now knew what Essie had meant this morning, the whole not to wait up for them. Merrill had been with Marty; what had they been doing together? Somewhere deep within Drew, something hurt. He moved away from the bedside and leant against the furthest wall. Essie watched him curiously out of one eye; a slight knowing smile on her lips.
“How are you feeling Marty?” Murdoch asked as he approached the opposite bedside to where Merrill was sitting.
“Tired,” Marty said weakly “and starving.” He added. Murdoch nodded, knowing that his pupil required blood to heal.
“Ok Marty; I’m going to take the others back to Mansbridge; when I return, I’ll bring some blood, and hopefully then you’ll be strong enough to leave.” Marty nodded at his teacher, “no snacking on the humans around here ok?” Murdoch tried a bit of humour to lighten the mood. Marty used what energy he had to smirk. Even if he had wanted to snack on the human nurses he doubted he had the energy to do so. Right now a little blood pack was just what he needed.
Merrill stood up to leave; she didn’t want to leave Marty this way; she wanted to stay with him, feed him; but obedient as always she was ready to go. After only a moment’s hesitation; she bent down and gently kissed Marty’s forehead,
“Try and get some sleep.” She whispered. Marty closed his eyes, but not before steeling a glance at a grumpy Drew in the corner. Jealously was written all over his face. Marty smiled inwardly.
Marty tried in vain to open his eyes; but he couldn’t. He could hear a familiar voice calling his name, but he could not either place the owner, or motivate himself to answer it. Darkness engulfed him.
For hours Murdoch had sat by the hospital bed; his head in his hands. He had tried in vain to feed Marty with blood, but he would neither wake up nor swallow the blood in his sleep. Something was wrong; very wrong; Murdoch could sense that. For once the wise teacher had no clue about how to rectify the situation, he was at a loss, and nothing from his past experiences with vampires had prepared him for anything like this. He had grown attached to his night students, as he knew he would just like he did his human students, but to feel this helpless, unable to help one of them in their hour of need, it bothered him. Marty stirred finally opening his eyes, Murdoch stood up, so that Marty could see him without moving his head.
“Marty.” Murdoch said his voice full of concern, “Can you hear me?” Marty licked his lips they were dry and so was his throat.
“Yeah,” he croaked, slowly coming to. “Something’s wrong,” Marty continued slowly, “I feel really weak.” He tried to sit up.
“Take it easy Marty,” Murdoch tried to keep him lying down, but Marty was determined to sit up, so Murdoch helped him. Marty rubbed one eye and then the other with the back of his hand; he couldn’t believe how heavy he felt, but all he wanted to do was get back to Mansbridge; to the place that was his home, to where he felt safe.
“Can we go now, please.” Marty whispered. Murdoch went to answer, but the opening of the room door stopped him. A large overly cheerful nurse bounced in.
“Good morning sleepy head; you slept quite a while, we thought we had lost you again.” She moved forward to the window parallel to Marty’s hospital bed, “It’s a lovely day outside and a good dose of sunlight will wake you up and help you feel much better.”
Murdoch was already moving to stop the nurse from opening the curtains, that prevented the early morning light from turning his student to a pile of ashes, but he was too late. The nurse had already flung open the curtains; a stream of sunlight hit the bed, exactly where Marty sat. Murdoch heard a cry from behind him and turned to see his student bathed in full sunlight.
Marty automatically cried out as soon as he first saw the glimmer of sunlight through the curtains as they relentlessly opened. Instinctively he flung his arm up to protect his eyes from the sunlight, and tried to roll out of the bed, to the safety of the shade under the bed. The sheets were tucked in tight preventing him from fully rolling out of the bed. As Marty was half hanging out of the bed, his arm still bathed in sunlight, he realised there was no burning sensation as his body turned to ash. In fact there was no pain or sensations at all.
Murdoch stood, his mouth open, speechless. He had merely watched as Marty had tried to dive into the shadows, but had become caught in the bed sheets, but now, even in full sunlight, there was no flames, no screams of terror and pain. Just Marty, looking puzzled.
“There, that’s better.” The nurse said dusting off her hands, “Now what’s all this fuss about young man?” She moved to the opposite side of the bed, where Marty was still half hanging off, and used her full body weight to push him back on the bed. “A little sunlight never did anyone any harm.” She said sternly but cheerfully to him, and tucked the sheets in back around him. She held his wrist and felt his pulse, whilst looking at her clock pinned to her apron. “That’s better, a nice strong pulse, don’t know why the machines didn’t pick it up last night. I’ll just go fetch the doctor to look at your stitches; you might be able to go home soon.” She said as she walked out of the door.
Murdoch still hadn’t moved from his spot, and Marty sat in the
bed staring at the sunlight coming through the window, onto his face. Marty shifted his gaze to Murdoch, both simply stared at each other, their mouths open, shocked and amazed, confused, and just that little bit uneasy.
Down in the Mansbridge Academy wine cellar the other vampires sat restlessly around the central table. Essie was staring down at the latest issue of her favourite fashion magazine, but she wasn’t reading the article or looking at the pictures; Karl was curling his dumbbells, and Drew simply sat there chewing his finger nail. Merrill was pacing, fidgeting.
“Do you think Marty is ok? The sun has already come up. What if they won’t let him leave? What if they have found out what he is? What if they have called the Biomorphic Predatory Disease Agency? What if Hackett is already there with them?” The questions came tumbling out of her mouth; she was unable to stop her thoughts becoming verbal. Merrill needed reassurance that Marty would be ok.
“I’m sure everything is fine Merrill? Murdoch can handle anything that happens.” Drew said, and then added, “Why are you so concerned over Marty all of a sudden?” The question startled Merrill,
“Well, it was my fault that he was shot.” Merrill stammered the answer; she knew that must be the reason she was this worried about Marty, and yet she couldn’t suppress the memory of how his lips had felt on hers, his naked body, and the way she had felt so safe sleeping in his arms, a little voice rose up from the depths of her soul, are we sure that is the only reason we are that worried about him dear sweet Merrill? It asked her.
Drew had stood up and walked into Merrill’s path; she stopped abruptly in front of him. She looked up into his cold blue eyes, and yet the warm rush that she would have felt no longer came to her. He put his hand gently on her shoulder, and there was no feeling of excitement.
“It’s not your fault Merrill; Marty should have known better; he’ll be fine; you don’t need to worry about him.” The words were comforting, yet there was a hint of coldness about them.
The two men sat in an uneasy silence, as Murdoch drove the car. Murdoch took a quick glance at the vampire next to him, sitting in broad daylight. His mind filtered through the events of the morning when the doctor had come and checked on Marty’s wounds. They were not healed, as both Murdoch and Marty knew they should be. The doctor that had visited was still astounded by the fact that the wound was more healed than it should be; it was making the doctors and nurses anxious providing Murdoch the excuse he required to persuade the doctor to allow Marty to be released in his care. He was trying hard to make sense of the situation, and was wondering whether to inform the Elders of this development, it would mean he would have to tell them everything, and he couldn’t predict which way Vakaal, the Elder chosen to oversee the experiment, would swing on this issue; would he be lenient as Murdoch knew he could be, or would the vampire way of old be dominant and shut down the experiment and possibly kill the people involved, just as it was threaten when one of his day students, Dillan, had been bitten by Karl, only weeks ago. Would this second event in just a matter of weeks persuade them that the experiment was failing? The car turned on the Mansbridge Academy private road.
“Hey doc,” Marty spoke for the first time since they had left the hospital, Murdoch looked at Marty, his complexion rosy and healthy, “can we not tell the others about this, not just yet.”
“Of course, whatever you want.”
Drew left the others to their activities, and moved into the boy’s dorm to get some sleep or at least be alone. He opened the lid of his coffin, but became aware he was not actually alone. Drew glanced over his shoulder at the blonde vampire standing behind him. Her arms were crossed against her chest and she had that look on her face; Essie was about to embark on a lecture, full of some kind of insight on how he should be living his undead life.
“What do you want Essie?” He said without turning round, his voice showing signs of irritation.
“I think there might be a green eyed monster in the room.” She said quietly so that the others would not hear.
“Look if you’ve got something to say, just say it plain and clear Essie, I’m not in the mood for your cryptic messages of wisdom.” He turned to face her, crossing his arms across his chest as well, looking defiant and defensive.
“It’s pretty obvious you’re jealous of how close Merrill is becoming with Marty.”
“What? Give me a break. The guys a jerk, Merrill would never be interested in him. Look at the danger he put her in? And even if she were it’s got nothing to do with me.”
“Exactly.” Essie stood her ground, “Why can’t you let her be happy Drew, she finally getting over you.” Drew looked at his feet, and Essie saw everything so clearly. “But that’s the whole point isn’t it?” She continued her insightful onslaught, “you don’t want her to get over you; you like having her follow you around like a puppy dog. You don’t actually want her though do you, but you just can’t stand the thought of her wanting anyone else.” Essie shook her head at the vampire in front her, a thousand other things in her mind ready to outpour on him, but the sound of hurried footsteps coming down the secret entrance way attracted both her and Drew’s attention.
“They’re back!” Merrill called excitedly to the others.
“Quit being so selfish Drew.” Essie said as she turned on her heel and walked into the main room.
Marty walked carefully down the ramp into the darkness of the cellar, a blanket wrapped around him, to make it look like he had been hiding under it, protecting him from the sunlight, whilst Murdoch had driven him home. He looked about the room, Merrill was already running off to get, god knows what to make him more comfortable. Karl was stacking away his weights, and Drew was precariously following Essie out of the boy’s dorm. Marty thought about making a comment, but in his current condition if anything turned physical he was no match for the vampires that stood around him. He had tried to fang out in the car, but nothing came, his telekinesis and various powers had also deserted him. But he was still a vampire though, wasn’t he.
“Good to have you back mate.” Karl gently jabbed Marty in the arm, but a friendly vampire tap on the arm, was more like a full on punch to Marty right now, but he covered his pain well enough. He looked over to Merrill happily walking over to him, a blood pack in hand, she had already snipped away a corner of the packet and inserted a straw.
“Here you are Marty; this will help get your strength back.” He took it from her and muttered some form of thanks. He looked at it, no hunger was stirring in him; he watched the blood move as he gently squashed the packed in his hands. He looked up at Merrill, eagerly waiting for him to drink it. Marty smiled and lifted the pack close to his mouth, his lips gingerly moved down to the straw, where he took a little sip.
“Hmm,” he began a false smile on his lips, but as the blood hit his stomach a gag reflex kicked in, and he violently curled up in pain, as the movement pulled at his stitches, he bit down on his lip suppressing the need to yell out. Marty crouched on the floor afraid to look up at was no doubt a circle of confused and bewildered faces.
“Marty, what’s wrong?” Merrill full of concern rushed forward to his aid, her arms wrapping themselves around his huddled frame.
“Nothing, back off.” Marty growled; but it was too late; Merrill a vampire had already detected his body heat, which for their kind was absent, and worse still, she had heard his heart beating a normal human rhythm. Merrill stood up and backed away from Marty, she tried as hard as she could to suppress the horror that she now felt. Marty carefully stood up, save pulling at his stitches any further; he lifted his head, to see that Merrill was not successfully hiding her feelings. Then he glanced at the rest of the vampires, and knew that he couldn’t hide his little problem from them either. Even Karl, so new to being a vampire had detected that Marty was now different to them.
“You’re...you’re...” Merrill stuttered.
“Human?” Karl finished the sentence, a puzzled look on his face.
“I’m not a human, I’m a vampire.” Marty shouted back at him, at them. Anger and embarrassment rose up within him.
“What the hell happened?” Karl asked still bewildered.
“It would seem,” came Murdoch voice as he walked down the ramp, “that the human blood the hospital gave Marty has somehow,” Murdoch paused uncertain of which word to use, which one would be less insulting, and would result in less panic;
“Turned him into a human?” There was that word again, oh why wouldn’t Karl just shut up, Marty thought as he moved slowly to table, clutching at his chest, and finally sinking into a seat.
The vampires gathered around Murdoch with an onslaught of questions and thoughts.
“You mean there’s a cure for being vamp?” Karl asked excitement in his voice.
“Is it temporary?” Asked Merrill
“I could have been with Sherry properly.” Drew muttered.
“Surely it can’t be permanent. Who would want to be human again?” Essie said.
“I could become human again, go back to my family.” Karl started, but was cut off by Merrill;
“Have you told the Elders?”
“How come no-one has ever thought of trying this before?” Said Drew talking over all of them.
The questions merged into one another, Murdoch couldn’t keep up, and he didn’t know the answers to them either.
“Hold on, hold on a minute, one at a time.” He said his hands held up in front of him, trying to calm the evident mixture of panic and excitement. Silence fell upon the room. “Now,” Murdoch began, “I will need time to try and figure out what has happened to Marty.”
“But is he actually human now?” Drew asked his eyes wide.
“For all intense and purposes, yes, I guess he is.”
More silence, Marty couldn’t stand it. He stared at the table in front of him, not daring to look up and confirm that the others were staring at him. He could feel their eyes boring into his very soul. What if this was permanent, what would he do? It meant he didn’t belong here anymore, he’d be cast out for sure; that is if Vakaal didn’t have him executed first to protect the experiment. Marty would be on his own again, he had just started to like being here; to start feeling like he belonged somewhere, and then there was Merrill. He wasn’t ready to leave yet; he wasn’t ready to be on his own again. Then there was the chance that if he was allowed to live by the convocation, the fury would catch up with him. They knew him, and as a human he wouldn’t be able to defend himself. No this couldn’t be permanent, Marty thought, it just can’t be.
Murdoch poured the tea quietly as Marty sat opposite him, bathed in sunlight in the auditorium. Murdoch handed his pupil the china tea cup on a saucer.
“Try this; it will make you feel better.” Marty stared at Murdoch, a cold stare full of questioning, and anger. “We will figure this out.”
“Why can’t we get someone to bite me again?”
“Because we have no way of knowing what that would do to you. It may well kill you.”
“Maybe that’s the best option all around.”
Murdoch looked at his pupil; he had never before seen this side of Marty; full of resentment for his vampire life.
“Is that how you really feel, I thought you enjoyed being a vampire, you’re always so,” Murdoch searched for the right word, “energetic.”
“What else was I suppose to do with this life, I survived a quivering, I figured I might as well make the most of life, being that death and hell obviously didn’t want me. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve escaped death over the centuries?”
Murdoch looked at the ex-vampire and thought deeply; wondering whether to carry on the subject.
“And now?” He asked, “The experiment has given you a home, friends perhaps? Are you afraid that if this is permanent you will lose this sense of belonging?”
Marty stared at the doctor trying to psychoanalyse him, Marty was not in the mood for sharing, so he just shrugged. Murdoch sat back with his cup of tea, satisfied with the non-verbal answer Marty had given him. Now all he had to worry about was how long this human form would last.
Down in the cellar, Merrill flicked through all her books on vampires in search of an answer for what was happening to Marty and most importantly how they could turn him back into a vampire safely. Drew watched from behind his dorm room curtain, Karl soundly snoring in his coffin, and Essie probably doing the same, he felt certain that he and Merrill could talk alone. Merrill looked up and saw Drew emerging from his dorm; she smiled warmly at him, and then went back to reading her books.
“Hey,” Drew said softly. Merrill looked up again.
“It’s the middle of the day Drew, why are you still up?” She asked him,
“I could ask the same of you?”
“I’m trying to figure out what’s happened to Marty.”
“Hmm,” Drew rubbed his palms together and sat down next to Merrill, “So what’s the deal with you and Marty now?” He asked hesitantly.
“What do you mean?” Merrill stopped reading her book and turned to look at the vampire next to her.
“Well, you’re out together till dawn, and then you were very close to him at the hospital.” Drew trailed off suggestively. Merrill looked at Drew and thought hard about what he was asking, was he jealous? Could it be that after all this time he realised that he actually wanted her? All it required was a little bit of jealously? She fought hard with herself, resisting the urge to read his mind.
“We’re just friends, Drew, closer now but.” Merrill shrugged, not quite sure where her new closer relationship with Marty was heading herself.
“Right, so you not..?” Drew asked the leading question.
“No.” Merrill said just that little bit too quickly, and she wondered if it sounded fake.
“Good,” said Drew, he paused for a second, wondering if Merrill would have liked to have said yes, then said, “Cause you know it’s all a game to him, he doesn’t actually care for anyone but himself, I just wanted to make sure you weren’t falling for any of his lines or anything. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Merrill nodded, speechless, a turmoil of emotions inside of her. Hope and disappointment; happiness and sadness. Could Drew really want her, and that’s why he’s warning her off Marty? Is Marty really just playing a game, and has no feelings for her at all? Merrill was confused, finally the vampire that she thought was the one, seemed to be fighting for her; but a voice in the back of her mind reminded her that she had read his actions of protectiveness as something more several times before. But what about Marty, she had started to feel something deep for him. She felt guilty being here with Drew and feeling the attraction to him grow again; what if Marty was being sincere?
“And even if he was sincere about it, he’s human now, and we can’t have relationships with humans remember.” Drew’s blockades to any possible relationship between Merrill and Marty continued.
“But you were with Sherry.” Merrill answered; a slight bitter tone edged her voice.
“Yeah and look where that got us.” Drew stared at Merrill; she cast her eyes downwards, an old guilt rising up in her. Murdoch had told her that Sherry’s death was not her fault, but deep down she had wished the human girl that held Drew’s heart would die, and it wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility that when Merrill really wanted something, it happened.
“Would you have a blood transfusion to become human Merrill?” Drew asked, “Do you really want to become human again?” Merrill thought about her answer, the whole point of the experiment was for them to become more human, to control their urges of killing; but after the incidents of the last few nights, Merrill was no longer sure if that was what she wanted.
“Humans are cruel Drew, we both know that, and they can do the worse things.” Merrill paused, “I’m not sure which species is worse, at least we only kill for food.” Drew was astonished of the words that were leaving Merrill’s mouth; she had always been the most human like out of all of them. The most determined to get away from her old life to start living and the champion of the experiment. Drew became quietly confident that he would not lose Merrill to Marty, not now he was human, she would stay a vampire, stay with the experiment, even if right now she didn’t feel that it would do anything.
Marty stood in the darkness of the secret entrance to the cellar, listening intently to the conversation between Merrill and Drew. He heard the words that Merrill was saying and felt sorry that the events with Michael had shaken her to her very core. It seemed that Merrill had polarised things, humans good, vampires bad, where in truth the world is never that simple; and now that had been taken away from her. He edged closer to the doorway, to hear more of the conversation.
“Maybe,” Drew continued, “being a vampire isn’t so bad; we don’t have to belong to that world, we can have our own.” Drew placed his hand on top of Merrill’s. Merrill’s heart fluttered, her feeling for Drew re-awakening, could he really be hinting that he wanted to be with her? Merrill looked deeply into Drew’s eyes.
The cellar became silent. Marty’s imagination began to run wild, he could no longer see through the darkness of the cellar to put his mind at rest that they had just stopped talking and nothing else. All he knew was that Drew had used a line that he himself would use to try and hit on a girl, and now it had all gone quiet. Was Drew kissing Merrill? He had to know.
Marty stomping down the entrance slope broke the spell between Merrill and Drew. Merrill moved her gaze from Drew’s hypnotising eyes to look past him at the guy walking towards them. Marty did not look happy.
“Marty,” She said sounding guilty and moving herself away from Drew.
“What’s going on guys?” Marty asked pointedly.
“Nothing that concerns you.” Drew said standing up and turning round to face his rival.
“Really.” Marty stood staring directly at Drew, his arms crossed. Merrill moved so that she stood almost directly between the two men.
“Marty, you should be resting.” She said.
“I’m fine Merrill, I just don’t like the way that Drew is messing with your emotions again.” Marty decided that straight and to the point was needed here.
“You mean like you are?” Drew countered.
“Please both of you just stop this.” Merrill pleaded. Marty shook his and moved forward only steps away from his rival,
“Come on Drew admit it, you always want what you can’t have.” Marty angrily yelled at Drew.
“And you always want what others have. You’re incapable of actually caring for anyone other than yourself, Marty, turning human hasn’t changed that.” Drew taunted.
“Oh you mean like it would have helped you and Sherry.” Drew grabbed Marty’s jersey top and pulled him closer to his face, bearing his fangs he growled at him.
“Don’t you dare bring her into this.”
“You couldn’t have Sherry, she was human, but you just kept pushing,” Marty yelled at the vampire dangerously close to ripping his head off, “you could have easily have had Merrill, but you didn’t want her then, you wanted something you couldn’t or shouldn’t have had. Now that Merrill doesn’t want you, she wants me; you just have to have her, don’t you?”
“Drew, let him go, you’ll kill him!” Merrill cried out.
“You can’t have her either you’re human now, it’s against the rules remember. You don’t belong here anymore.” Drew shouted at Marty as he slowly lifted him off the ground. The collar of his top started to cut into his neck, choking him. Marty struggled but to no avail; he knew he couldn’t win a fight with Drew without his powers.
“Drew please.” Begged Merrill, as Essie and Karl emerged from their respective dorms, awoken by the noise.
“What’s going on?” Asked Essie alarmed to see Marty in Drew’s grasp, his eyes red and his fangs dangerously close to Marty’s neck.
“Hey, back off man.” Karl yelled at Drew as he grabbed at his shoulders, pulling him backwards, but Drew held on to his target.
“Why don’t you ask her who she wants to be with?” Marty choked out with what little air he had left.
“Drew, let him go!” Karl tugged at Drew’s hand clasping the neck of Marty’s top;
“You’re not worth it.” Venom evident in Drew’s whisper as he dropped Marty to the ground. Marty coughed as he choked air back into his lungs, he sat in a heap on the cold stone floor. Merrill was by his side, holding his shoulders seeing if he was alright.
“What the hell do you think you were doing?” She asked, glaring at Drew, “You could have killed him.”
“I guarantee that if you go with him Merrill, he’ll abandon you as soon as he gets bored; you’ll be making one hell of a sacrifice turning human.” Drew yelled at Merrill
“I don’t want to be human. They’re evil.” Merrill yelled back. The words stung Marty, and yet he did not know why, he wasn’t going to ask her to turn human to be with him, he was not even willing to accept that he was human.
“Well you can’t very well have a relationship with a human, you being a vampire and all; you said so yourself hundreds of times.” Drew yelled at her.
“Drew that’s not fair.” Essie interjected, “The circumstances are completely different,” she walked over to Drew, “and you know that.” She continued calmly, placing a hand on his shoulder she whispered “Stop making this about getting one over on Marty, you’ll never lose her as a friend, but you have to let her go Drew, you don’t love her like that, it’s not fair to keep her hanging on like this.” Drew thought hard, and pulled back his fangs, he pressed him lips together biting back any unkind remarks. He knew Essie was right, he knew he was jealous. Jealous of Marty being the centre of Merrill’s world and not him, Jealous of the fact that despite Marty being human, they still had a chance of making things work, where he and Sherry could not. Drew pulled away from Essie, and stalked back to his dorm, pulling the curtains across dramatically.
Marty wrestled out of Merrill’s grasp, he was angry at her, after all he had done for her, offered himself on a plate for her and she still wanted Drew. He did nothing but cause her pain, she really was a glutton for punishment. Marty stood up breathing heavily.
“I’d love to stay and chat, but a whole new sunny world is just waiting for me, and you’re not invited.” His normal grandiose style afforded him to leave without being the loser; Marty turned and headed back up the ramp and into Murdoch’s office. Essie and Karl watched, but Merrill slunk away into the safety of her dorm and coffin.
Marty got to Murdoch’s office before he felt the tears form in his eyes, but his pride would not let them flow, anger, resentment and hurt welled inside him; they had all abandoned him. He tore at the books on Murdoch’s desk throwing them aside. He kicked at the chair and instantly regretted it; the pain in his toe quelled the raging fire within him. Pressing his lips together he suppressed the scream of agony. He stood there for a moment his hands on his hips, what the hell was he going to do now? Slowly in hobbled back to the solarium where he had left Murdoch.
“Hey Doc.” Marty shouted out as he reached the doorway. He stopped dead as two faces looked up at him, one was Murdoch’s, the other was female, framed in blond hair and alarmingly familiar.
“Ahh Marty,” Dr Murdoch stood up and gestured at his guest, “this is Marianne Hackett.” Marty knew full well who she was; Marianne Hackett of the Biomorphic Predatory Disease Agency, aka the BPDA, aka vampire hunters. A small smile edged on to his lips, if only she knew that the creatures she hunted were being protected by Dr Murdoch; that he was a vampire, that she could have been killed by him or by any of the others during anyone of her visits to Mansbridge. Marty for the first time that day felt he could start a battle that he could win; he stayed close to the doorway, covered in shadow.
“Ms Hackett is a government agent specialising in rare diseases; she is somewhat of an expert, believe it or not in vampires.” Murdoch’s tone suggested that he thought the idea of vampires was ludicrous. Marty’s smile grew. Hackett stood up, “Ms Hackett, this is one of my students, Marty Strickland.” Hackett looked curiously at the student covered in dim light in the corner of the room, he looked familiar, but he definitely wasn’t a Mansbridge student, she had interviewed each and everyone of them.
“I thought all the students had left for summer vacation.” She stated in a professional tone,
“Marty is not a Mansbridge student, he comes to me for extra tuition for college.” Murdoch answered as if it was the entire truth.
“Pleased to meet you Mr Strickland,” she extended her hand in a futile effort; somehow she didn’t think this ‘student’ would come out into the light. Marty didn’t need to read minds to know what she was thinking, she was absolutely positive he was a vampire. Marty edged slowly to where the shadows ended, and paused just long enough for Hackett to drop her hand, then slowly Marty moved into the light, the look of amazement of Hackett’s face was brilliant, he hoped that the security camera had caught it.
“You must forgive him Ms Hackett, Marty is rather shy about strangers.” Murdoch only glanced at Marty, but that glance said a thousand words, it warned Marty not to continue his game of cat and mouse, but Marty wasn’t in the mood to stop playing, it had been a hard day so far and he needed a little light relief, perhaps this human thing did have its advantages. Marty had no intentions of being a shy student either.
“So what brings you to Mansbridge Ms Hackett?” He asked as he sat down at the table and poured himself a cup of tea. Marty looked at the table set out in the centre of the chairs, Murdoch really is quiet the entertainer, Marty thought as he surveyed the freshly made pot of tea and fruit pie laid out before them.
“Well,” said Hackett also sitting down, “I’m here because I have been interviewing a Mr Michael Morgan this morning.” Marty looked at Murdoch, and Murdoch right back at him; Hackett picked up her briefcase from the floor and placed it on her knee, opening it she continued. “He claimed that he killed his wife and child last night.” She paused looking at an eye witness drawing taken long ago, the image bore a striking resemblance to the ‘student’ sitting before her now, a smile grew on her lips, then was suppressed so to not to give her advantage point away. “I take it this is the same man that also shot you Mr Strickland, here last night. I’m surprised you are not still in hospital.” Hackett pulled out several files and bits of paper from her briefcase, closing it she placed the papers on top of the briefcase and her hands clasped on top. She looked pointedly at Marty.
“Well Yes,” Murdoch answered, “Marty felt more comfortable here at Mansbridge, and as I have some medical training it was deemed that I could bring Marty back here for recovery. But I don’t see what this incident has to do with the BPDA, Ms Hackett.”
Hackett unclasped her hands to reach out for her teacup, and took a sip of the tea. She nodded understandingly.
“It appears that Mr Morgan was compelled to carry out his deeds by the promised love of a vampire. A vampire that it seems is also a student of yours Dr Murdoch. A Ms Merrill Young.” Hackett said reading from her notes.
“Yes, Merrill is also a college student of mine but as to being a vampire, I seriously doubt she’s a blood sucking fiend. She met Michael on a writer’s workshop; she has been deeply distressed by the incidents of last night, and has returned home.”
“Pity, I would have liked to talk to her.” Hackett turned her attention to Marty, “and what about you Mr Strickland, did you not want to return home?”
“I like it here.” He answered.
“So how long have you been in Mansbridge Mr Strickland?”
“Not all that long.”
“A year perhaps?” Hackett pulled out the pencil drawing taken just over six months ago. “This man,” she continued “was one of two people causing an incident in a local roadhouse here; he seems to look a lot like you wouldn’t you say Mr Strickland?” Marty took the piece of paper and looked it over as if he was critically appraising a work of art.
“I don’t think they’ve captured my best side.” He commented. Hackett took the piece of paper from him.
“So you admit that’s you.” She said.
“Well, probably, but back then I could have been anywhere, I was probably drunk and in a bar fight.” Marty shrugged, “what can I say? I was a troubled kid; coming to Mansbridge and being tutored by the Doc here has put me back on the straight and narrow, I’m a changed person.”
“Really, Mr Strickland.”
“I’m still not clear on what you would like from us Ms Hackett; I thought we had come to an agreement that you would not be investigating Mansbridge for vampiric activity any further.”
“That was before I had compelling evidence that vampires were residing here.” She countered.
“Forgive me, Ms Hackett, but at one time you thought the man in your drawing, Marty, was a vampire, he clearly isn’t, he’s sitting here in broad daylight. He was shot, he’s far from being immortal. And as for Merrill being a vampire, well I believe you are accepting the words of an obviously very disturbed individual.” Murdoch said.
“We’ll see,” said Hackett, again she turned her attention to Marty. “Mr Strickland, would you mind showing me your wounds? Perhaps you would be kind enough to move closer to the windows so I can see more clearly.” Marty seemed reluctant to move, but slowly got up and edged his way around Hackett’s chair and over to the huge glass windows. Hackett followed him. Marty gentle pulled off his top.
“Please, be gentle.” He said, standing her half naked in the full blaze of the midday sun. Hackett did not look pleased, she thought that by getting him to move closer to the window and exposing his skin, she would see some sign of his skin being burnt by the sun, but there was none. Perhaps the vampire was being protected by the glass. She focused on the bandage taped to his chest. She gently removed the top part, Marty winced as the taped pulled against his skin, unfortunately he wasn’t acting. Hackett surveyed the stitches, the wound was still evident although it looked older than merely a few hours, yet there was fresh blood seeping from the cut. Marty looked down as best he could at his chest. His gagging had obviously strained the stitches, providing fresh blood for Hackett to see, a lucky twist of fate it would seem. Hackett placed the bandage back in place.
“Very well Mr Strickland.” She said as she moved back to her seat. Marty pulled his top carefully over his head, wincing a little as the movement pulled at his wound; he too returned to his place.
“Do you know Ms Young, Mr Strickland?”
“I’ve seen her a few times, quiet, doesn’t go out much, but a nice girl.”
“Doesn’t go out much during the day?” Hackett pressed.
“Well Dr Murdoch tutors us in the evening; I’ve never seen her out in the daylight.” Hackett was satisfied, perhaps Marty wasn’t a vampire, but she was convinced this Merrill was.
“What are you driving at Ms Hackett?” Murdoch asked.
“My hypothesis is that this Merrill Young you tutee is actually a vampire Dr Murdoch, using Mansbridge as a cover for stalking potential prey. Do not underestimate the powers of persuasion a vampire has. She’s clearly very powerful to have convinced a man to kill his entire family in exchange for her love and to infect him with the vampire disease.”
“This Michael sounds like a nutball if you ask me.” Marty stated then, “did you say infected? Vampires can infect people? Could I be infected?” The mock panic that Marty was beginning to display tickled Murdoch.
“Now now Marty, there’s no cause for alarm here.” He said with a slight smile on his face. Marty turned to Murdoch wide-eyed.
“But, she said infected,” he turned back to Hackett, “how would I know if I was infected, and infected how?”
“Well I believe that the vampire carries a viral infection that infects the host, turning it into a vampire also. I believe this is done by the vampire biting its victim, but so far it is unclear as to whether the saliva of the vampire is enough to cause the infection or whether the victim must also drink some of the vampire’s blood.”
“Say I had been bitten, would there be a cure?” Marty asked slyly. The light dawned on Murdoch, and he could now see where Mary was going with this act, clever, he thought.
“There is no known cured for vampirism. The virus seemed to be a retrovirus inserting itself into the hosts DNA, and causing biomorphic changes, such as extreme allergies to sunlight, silver. The host also displays a slowing of the heart rate, to an almost barely detectible rate, reducing its body temperature, making the host appear dead. It possible that the host needs to be near death in order for the infection to fully take hold...” Hackett’s lecture on vampirism was cut short by an impatient Marty.
“But surely, there must be a cure if it’s an infection?” He pressed, Murdoch sat and thought; he was worried that Marty’s overzealous ways may get the better of him and arouse Hackett’s suspicions about Mansbridge further.
“Marty,” Murdoch interrupted. “It’s a beautiful day outside, why don’t you take the car and go and have some lunch somewhere, go sit out in the park or something, the fresh air will do you good.” Marty turned to him,
“But...”
“Please Marty.” Murdoch said pleasantly but forcibly, “I’d like to talk to Ms Hackett alone.” Marty got the point but he was none too happy about it. Murdoch stood up and reached into his waistcoat inside pocket, he withdrew his wallet and some keys. Murdoch removed some money and gave it and the keys to Marty. “My treat,” he said. Marty took the keys and the money with a frown on his face.
“Thanks.” He muttered. Hackett again reached into her briefcase, and withdrew a book.
“Here,” she said standing up, “My latest book, if you’re so interested in vampires I suggest you read it.” Marty took the book and smiled, and left without a word. He turned the corner out of the solarium and into the lobby carelessly he dropped the book onto one of the many sofa’s there and continued out into the sunlight.
“So do you really think that having a blood transfusion is a cure for being vamp?” Karl moved his knight forward to take Essie’s pawn.
“I think if it was that simple someone would have figured it out years ago.” Essie said staring at the chest board.
“But blood transfusions are relatively a recent invention aren’t they?”
“I think they started in the 1800’s perhaps earlier.” Essie said using her queen to take Karl’s bishop.
“Oh,” Karl said frowning; Essie couldn’t decide whether he was trying to figure out what was happening with Marty, or the game of chess they were playing. “So what do you think is going with Merrill, Marty and Drew, it looked pretty intense.”
“I think Marty and Merrill might be getting together, and Drew doesn’t like it.”
“But Drew has never wanted Merrill, and Merrill and Marty, are you serious?” Essie looked from the board to look at Karl.
“I’m serious.” She said smiling, and returned her attention back to the game.
“And Marty wants Merrill to turn human so they can be together?”
“That I’m not sure of, besides what would you gain from being human again; why would any vampire want to go back to being human?”
“I would.” Karl’s answer grabbed Essie’s attention fully. She looked him straight in the eye, “I would,” he repeated, “I could go back to my family, it’s only been a couple of years since I made vamp, I could explain everything. I wouldn’t be a threat to them and they’d be so happy to see me.”
“Karl,” Essie began, then paused, she didn’t know what to say to him. “I would miss you,” she whispered.
“You would?” Karl asked, the game forgotten to both of them. Essie nodded, “this is nice.” Karl continued.
“What’s nice?” Essie asked puzzled by the change in subject.
“This, us. We haven’t played chess for ages, we haven’t talked like this since,” he paused, “well, you know.” Essie thought back to their marriage that was annulled due to her second thoughts, to how much she had hurt Karl.
“Yeah, it is.”
“So you wouldn’t turn human?” Karl asked Essie.
“All the humans I knew have been dead a long time. I don’t have anything to go back for.” Essie said lowering her head becoming aware of how empty her life was without the experiment. Drew could have been with Sherry, but he had also made friends with the human Dillan. Merrill had Marty, and Karl had his human family. What did she have? She was of royal blood, without the experiment she would have to go back to that family; a vampire family; there was no reason to turn human. It was a long time before anything else was said; Essie lifted head and saw that Karl was looking at her intensely.
“Really?” he asked her.
ok so I couldn't fit all of part 2 on here so please continue onto part 3...
