LIFERS Chapter Ten

Jill backed up to the desk and sat on its edge. ‘Like I said, if what he says holds any truth, it would explain a lot. And before you tell me I’m talking seven kinds of bullshit, I received an A-star for the coursework I did on the subject in high school just a couple of years back.’

She crossed her feet, folded her arms, then continued.

‘Chupacabra is an old Spanish word, which, loosely translated, means “Goat sucker”. It’s thought to be a mythical creature even though dozens of people claim to have seen it, but so far no physical evidence has ever been found, other than the aftermath of its attacks. The first of which occurred in Puerto Rico in 1995 when eight sheep were discovered with puncture wounds in the chest area, and all completely drained of blood. After that, the Puerto Ricans didn’t use the word Chupacabra; instead they used, “El Vampiro” or “The Vampire”. Two years later…’

Gregg tuned-out, considering the words he just heard. ‘Hold on a minute,’ he said. ‘Did you say vampire?’

‘Yes.’

‘And are you suggesting I’m one?

A nod.

‘And you’re serious?’ he said, then turned to Hal, who, wearing a wry smile, also nodded.

‘Oh, she’s serious, hot-shot. Don’t you doubt that, one iota.’

On hearing the triple click of the 3.57’s hammer, Gregg turned to see Jill pointing it at his head, its barrel shaking in her hands.

‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ he said.

‘Does it look like I’m kidding? Put your gun on the floor and kick it into the rain,’ she said, nodding to the open cell.

Gregg had no idea if she knew how to use a gun or not, and like all revolvers, the 3.57 Magnum doesn’t have a safety, so he had to keep her calm. ‘Jill, put the gun away and listen to me.’

She pushed her arms forward. ‘Do it now,’ she said.

‘Okay, okay. I’ll do it, just take your finger off the trigger. That’s all I ask.’

‘Don’t you listen to him, missy. Just shoot for the head; it’s the only way to be sure.’

She ignored him. ‘Do it, Gregg.’

Gregg raised his left hand and placed his gun on the floor with his right. He flicked out his foot and knocked it toward the shallow puddle in the centre of the cell, hoping it would either land short or overshoot, it didn’t.

‘I’m on your side, Jill. I’m not what he said I am, and I’m certainly not what you think I am. And if I really wanted to hurt you wouldn’t I have done it by now?’

‘Maybe,’ she said. ‘But if you’re not what I think you are, how do you explain your broken bones all of a sudden not broken? They don’t repair themselves that quickly, Gregg.’

‘That, I can’t explain, but it doesn’t make me a God-damn vampire for Christ’s sake. And these people were out in bright sunlight yesterday, so if they’re vampires wouldn’t that have had an affect on them?’

Jill lowered the gun a shade but kept it on him. ‘Okay, so sunlight doesn’t affect them, what if … what if the rain does? It burned you. Maybe nature has devised herself another method of killing you fuckers.’

Hal clapped his hands in appraisal. ‘My, my, you deserve that A-star, missy.’

‘Call me that one more time and I’ll shoot you in the head,’ she told him.

Hal backed up, sat on the bench.

Gregg turned to him. ‘So you’re saying that rain will kill you?’

Hal never answered.

Gregg thought back to when they first turned on him. He wasn’t bitten, or at least he doesn’t remember being bitten. But he does remember being lucid enough to know they injected him with something. He rubbed the area at the base of his skull.

‘What was in that injection you stuck me with?’

‘Don’t know what’s in it and never wanted to, just know it makes you one of us,’ Hal said. ‘We wanted to turn you and fasten you to the floor there. And then have the rain wash you clean away. But somehow, and I’ve been meanin’ to ask Young Billy ‘bout this, you escaped.’

Gregg went over to one of the windows, still protesting. ‘See, I have a reflection, vampires don’t, and I don’t have a craving for blood. So now will you believe me?’

‘Right now I don’t know what to believe.’

‘You don’t have a craving yet,’ Hal told him. ‘But you will. You used to get thirsty for water and now that exact same thirst will be for blood; you can’t live without it and you won’t be able to ignore it, neither. And if you try drinkin’ water you’ll just burn out ya throat.’

‘I won’t be doing any of that, I can assure you.’

‘Yeah, that’s what I said. In fact, that’s what most of us said. But sooner or later you’ll crumble just like the rest of us. So, hot-shot, why don’t you do us both a nice big favour and cut to the chase, huh? Take the gun off that stupid bitch and get me the fuck outta here. I’ll even share her with you, how’sat?’

Gregg ignored him as he looked at the rain coming through the hatch, thunder booming in the near distance. ‘Is that why there’s no one else here? Because of the rain?’

Again Hal didn’t answer his question.

Gregg started to pace, the gun in Jill’s hands mimicking his progress. ‘What do you mean?’ she said.

‘There’s a massive storm going to hit town any time now,’ he said, looking back at Hal. ‘But as far as these are concerned it’s not going to bring rain, it’s bringing hydrochloric acid.’ He looked back to Jill. ‘Has anyone else been here tonight?’

‘Someone called Billy,’ she said, ‘and a woman, Ella. She’s the one who told him to shackle you to the floor.’

‘And now it’s raining they’re keeping away.’

‘So?’

‘They’re keeping away because what you said about them is right. The rain does kill them.’

He noticed her guard down, along with her aim, the heavy gun starting to take its toll on her outstretched arms. With about eight feet between them, it was a gap he needed to shorten.

‘Jill, we’ve got to get out of here while we can. And we have to get Vicky some medical attention,’ he said, knowing Vicky’s plight would distract her most; he stepped closer. ‘You have to trust me, Jill.’ Then another foot evaporated between them. ‘Like I said, I’m on your...’ He rushed forward knocking her on her ass and the gun from her grip.

‘Hey,’ she yelled.

Gregg picked up the gun. ‘Sorry about that,’ he said, helping Jill to her feet and putting the gun in her hand. ’Right then, if you’re going to shoot me you better get it over with.’ He put the barrel to his forehead. ‘Right here, just like the man said.’

Jill sighed, lowered the gun. ‘Okay, now what?’