Chapter 13:

Things That Go Bump in The Night

The Guardian of Hope (Sigma Version)


A pair of hooves echoed throughout the quiet, foggy street. Its sudden grunts unnerved Kenneth while walking in the dead of night. Reports of unusual activity and disappearances occurred in the unassuming neighborhood throughout the past few days; Information about these incidents was kept from the public. Though some encountered these creatures prowling along the residential area, they were dismissed. The most notable thing about these creatures was their putrid scent.

a peculiar air on the desolate outskirts; The darkness contrasted the dim lights fading from the abyss. He raised his flashlight through the thicket, wondering what lay beyond.

“Spooky,” he uttered.

“Dad?” Billy whispered.

Kenneth shook, turning to see his son standing with his rifle in hand.

“What’re you doing out here, kid?”

“I saw you turn away from home. I—I thought it was odd, so I followed.”

“It’s not safe around here. Turn back.”

“If I want to be a guard, then it’s my duty, right?”

Dear God, I’m encouraging overtime, Kenneth thought.

“C’mon, da—”

“Alright, stay close.”

They continued down the foggy street with a creeping dread. The young man followed his father’s cues, clutching his rifle with his finger by the trigger. A crashing echoed from a nearby abandoned building, sending chills down the old guard’s spine. Billy saw his father’s startled gaze when he glanced toward the third floor.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” he asked.

“It’s not too late to turn back, Billy,” his father looked over his shoulder.

“No, I’m going to see this through.”

Kenneth sighed, accepting his son’s decision. Posting his mare by a building closer to the neighborhood, they entered the building’s lobby entrance. Their flashlights illuminated the rundown interior; The lobby served as the center point, connecting to an entire complex spanning blocks. It could be a hotbed for squatters to hide, but even that was rare. The old man took a deep breath before trying to open the door. Kenneth managed to get the door open after tinkering with the door handle.

“Stick close,” he suggested, meeting his son’s nod. “I don’t know what we’ll find here.”

They entered a foggy room, seeing remnants of the decaying rental office. Molded furniture, yellowing pictures, and peeling wallpaper marked a long absence of humanity. Its corridors were clear of obstruction. The musky smell lingered, overlaying the mold that further populated the air down the hall. Kenneth gave his son the mask from his pocket while opting to use a multi-colored bandana given by his late wife.

“Who would be in a place like this?” Billy asked.

“You got me,” he answered, pointing his flashlight-mounted shotgun through the thicket. “We can’t stay for too long. Mold ain’t the only problem in this kind of environment.”

“Eh, what’s the other problem?”

“Asbestos.”

The father-son pair continued toward the courtyard; The expansive area connected to the other buildings with a large pool laid in the center. The green water filled to the top by centuries after centuries of rain, serving as a hotbed for mosquitoes. Billy sifted through the scattered furniture, the broken wooden chairs, upturned tables, and skeletal remains of animals that occupied the apartment complex. Something collapsed on the other side of the pool area.

The young man fumbled his rifle, guiding his flashlight, trembling to the sudden sound. The visual was hampered by the lingering fog as what was there scurried away from the scene. Kenneth’s shotgun traced the gentle taps before the glass shattered to their left.

“Get it together,” he muttered. “We ain’t alone.”

The young man nodded, kneeling down to retrieve his rifle as a burst of footsteps approached. Something knocked him into the pool before retreating into the thick layer.

“Billy!” Kenneth shouted, aiming his shotgun in the general direction.

Kenneth glimpsed a necrotic hunch back shoulder in the fog’s visual protection. His son splashed before clinging to the pool’s deep end as the old guard tried to hone on the creature. It circled around them as though to confuse him. Hoping he wouldn’t strike his son, he closed his eyes, firing a single shot into the fog. The thud of the pellets sent the creature squirming into the distance. Billy gasped for air while his father helped him out of the sewage water. His son collapsed onto his knees, coughing out the dirty water.

“Yuck,” his son said. “W—What the hell was that?”

“I don’t know kiddo,” he answered.

“Could you tell me what’s going on?”

Kenneth cleared his throat after seeing his son’s meek scowl. The chaos that filled the air returned to its haunting silence after the pool water’s ripples settled.

“We’ve been getting reports of strange happenings,” he answered. “At first, I thought it was just burglaries, but people said they were being attacked by—Something.”

“Something?” Billy winced, meeting his father’s nod.

“After seeing what I just saw, I don’t know what that something is.”

Billy’s attention averted, looking along the abandoned apartment balconies. Some were collapsed with remnants on the ground, while others were perfectly intact. His father looked at their feet, finding traces of curdled chunks of flesh. It came with a strange, putrid smell like the reports detailed.

“So, what now?” he asked.

“We keep going,” Kenneth answered, turning to see his son’s nervous grimace. “It’s wounded.”

“What if there are more of those things in there?”

The old guard scoffed, contrasting the mood.

“C’mon! We got a job to do, kid! OT, baby!”

“Yikes. Don’t ever say that again.”

His father chuckled as he continued toward the building. The double door nearest to the shattered glass was left wide open. They glanced at one another before the old guard entered with his shotgun raised. He controlled his breathing the further he went into the abyss. Kenneth listened closely to his surroundings, awaiting an inevitable attack.

This thing might be testing us, he thought.

Billy kept a close eye behind them, widening his flashlight’s lens. The light shook as he clenched its ridges, expecting something to emerge. They arrived at a partially destroyed stairwell, broken at its second-floor platform. Kenneth shone his light upward, seeing the steep incline.

“Aw, hell,” Kenneth muttered.

“What?” His son asked.

“Give me a boost, will you?”

“Shouldn’t I be going first?”

“You’re still shook. And my shotgun got a flashlight. Anything jumps in the way turns to meat sauce.”

“You need to work on your jokes, dad.”

“C’mon, man.”

His son helped him reach the lowest ledge of the destroyed staircase. He struggled to get a good hold as he pulled himself up. He slung his shotgun over his shoulder while carefully hugging along the wall. Kenneth stumbled forward on the final step before facing the hallway’s decrepit walls. He took a deep breath, honing into the environment.

“You alright?” his son’s voice echoed.

“Yeah!” he responded.

The old guard turned around to reach down to get him. Billy’s flashlight revealed a glimpse of the creature standing above his father. Before he could speak, he was snatched from the darkness. His son panicked while Kenneth fended off the creature’s menacing overbite. The old guard struggled to reach for the trigger, keeping calm as the creature tried to take a bite out of him. A bright flash went off, followed by a thunderous blast. The pellets ripped flesh from the creature’s arm, knocking them apart from the uncontrolled recoil.

Kenneth scrambled as his son called from below. The creature slammed against the wall in pain while the old guard watched. The mounted flashlight of his shotgun gave him a better view of the elusive creature. His hands trembled to the ghoulish sight of the beast. Its deceptively scrawny frame was tarnished with red stains and hanging flesh, while its sunken orange eyes remained upon the old guard. The vampire dodged his hesitant shotgun blast as it retreated into the nearby room.

Shit, he thought.

“Dad!” his son’s voice finally resonated.

“I’m good, kid,” he answered, standing up with the aid of his shotgun.

“W—What was that?”

“Something I’ve gotta handle.”

“What?”

“Get on outta here! It’s too dangerous to stay around.”

He raised his shotgun, aiming it down the hallway. He was left with a creeping silence after his son’s plea. Upon entering the room, he saw traces of blood on the dirty carpet. The room was full of old furniture, which fared better than the furniture in the lobby. His nerves racked, not knowing when the creature would pounce; He knew it was as powerful as the stories said. A single swipe would rip limbs from the unsuspecting prey. Kenneth was fortunate it didn’t kill him outright.

“Last time I’m going to the bar late at night again,” he muttered nervously.

When he looked at the adjacent door, seeing all the broken-in doors spanning through several rooms. A sudden crash prompted him to look down both ends. Another sound scraped within the many rooms as he continued toward the source. A gulp followed as he steadied his hand. His eyes readjusted to the darker edges of the flashlight, turning it off in hopes of drawing it out.

As he stood in the darkness, his eyes adjusted to the moonlight for guidance. With his breathing muted and his mind focused he heard its crawls emerging from one of the rooms. He aimed his shotgun with the utmost silence. His hands trembled upon seeing the lanky figure as its orange eyes glowed from the glaring moonlight. Its wheezing marked its hunger as it clenched its sharp rows of teeth.

Kenneth allowed it to take a few more steps before firing at it. He landed a shot that sent it stumbling in pain before it swung its massive claws at him. The old guard stumbled onto his back, sending dull pain throughout his spine. With the shotgun slung, it was hard for it to get knocked out of his possession. Not once did he let the beast out of his sight as it approached with fury.

Fuck, he thought.

He delved into the nearest room, dodging the massive talons. Its frantic pacing and ferocious hunger overtook its self-preservation as it tried everything to reach the fledgling guard. Slamming through each door gave Kenneth time to map his surroundings. The old guard ducked another devastating swipe, lodging its sturdy talons into the worn walls. Kenneth tumbled onto his back again, struggling to aim his shotgun. Its distorted cries echoed throughout the abandoned apartment floor.

The vampire recuperated, grabbing the tired guard by the collar. He dropped his shotgun onto the ground as it jerked him violently. He closed his eyes from its lifeless eyes, awaiting the inevitable. As the vampire bared its fangs, a sudden clink struck the side of its head. The bullet struck the back of its head, sending it into a horrifying, ear-piercing squeal.

Billy watched the monstrous silhouette stumble toward the open window before leaping out. Then silence reigned once more. The young man stood in shock, wondering what he had just seen. Kenneth rattled as he sat up as his son turned on his flashlight, finding his father covered in sweat and blood. He was both relieved and upset that his son put himself in harm’s way.

“I thought I told you to go,” he grunted.

“And leave you behind?” Billy answered. “I just saved you.”

“You did. But, if things would’ve gone south, we’d both be dead.”

“But, it didn’t.”

His father walked toward the window, looking down at the street. The moonlight cast upon smudged blood on the pavement. Kenneth leaned forward as his son cautiously joined him

“Was that—” he asked. “A vampire?”

“Yeah, it sure as hell was.”

“I shot it in the head. There’s no way-”

“Don’t be too hard. You were shooting in the dark. Chances are, the bullets skimmed the back of its head.”

“No way.”

“It got lucky.”

“So, what now?”

Kenneth turned toward his son with the same typical tiredness. It was the first time a vampire had been confirmed in Gardenia after nearly 50 years. He couldn’t help but think about the old investigations he read.

“Let’s go,” he patted his son’s shoulder.

“Where?” Billy asked.

“The precinct. There’s something I’ve gotta look at.”

 A few hours passed as the sun broke the mountainous horizon. Kenneth and Billy emerged over the southeastern hill outside of Gardenia. Someone discovered bodies near the vast field by the Hollows. There was a long-extinguished campfire, along with two bodies. Kenneth looked upon them regrettably as they hopped off their horses. Billy’s eyes welled upon absorbing the horrific sight. His father sympathized with his pain, bowing his head upon the victims.

 “Beth?” Billy uttered.

The old guard kneeled down to examine the body of a young blonde woman who worked at the hospital. He saw the puncture wounds on her neck, confirming his hunch. The skin seemed lightly charred, meaning there was a chance she could turn. He walked over to the other body to find the same. The townsfolk were wise enough to stay away from this area at night.

“Yup, they got him,” he concluded.

 Billy then took out a small polaroid camera to take a few pictures. His father gathered the bodies together and poured some gasoline he brought along in case his suspicion was correct. As Billy took the photos, he stopped as he observed his father’s attempt to light a match.

 “What are you doing?” he lowered his camera.

 “There’s still a chance these could turn,” Kenneth lit his match. “We can’t take that chance.”

 His son didn’t argue while watching him drop the match on the bodies. They could see the bodies convulse as the fire consumed them, letting out a whimper as they perished. Billy turned away, though his father seemed unphased by the grim scene.

 Once the bodies were charred, they rode away as sorrow permeated the duo. Their families could never see them again. It was all to negate the chance of infection since once vampirism spread, it was impossible to stop. They arrived at the entrance of the town, exhausted from the long-winding night.

 “So, what are we going to do?” Billy asked.

Kenneth glimpsed his son through the side of his eye.

 “Well, there’s only one person who might be able to help us.”



This chapter was a newer piece written after the initial drafts.
The RE2 Remake's "Center of Desire" played in the background, giving it its atmosphere...
Hopefully, the feeling transferred into it!
Leave a like and comment about what you think! :D
Thanks for reading!

TSpasov
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