I would have to burn her body in the morning but for right now, the exhaustion overwhelmed me. It was 3 am; I would have three hours to rest at best, if I could get any. I rechecked the door and motion detectors before slumping into my bed, kicking off my boots and slipping out of my dirty clothes. I pulled a clean shirt from a stack next to my bed and pulled it over; shorts were my jammies for now. Pulling my blanket up to my chin and stuffing the pillow under my head, I closed my burning eyes as my mind finally succumbed to a cocoon of restless sleep.

Chapter Six

The alarm rang through my dreams, sending the fogginess of sleep out of my brain. I slammed the clock and rubbed my face, hoping yesterday had been a dream. One of my legs was dangling out of the blanket that twisted around my body. Sitting up, I sighed in disappointment as I stared at the two empty beds beside mine. I hung my head down and felt the sting of tears behind my eyelids as I tried to breathe in slowly. I had prayed so hard that it had all just been a torturous nightmare.

Readying myself, I prepped to venture out while the day awoke. Making sure I had all my weapons and some food and water to last me the day, I unlatched the heavy steel door and ventured out into the world, locking it behind me. Kerosene and a lighter in hand, I walked over to where the girl’s corpse lay, still undisturbed.

Not like there was anyone around here to disturb a vampire’s body.

I pulled her thin body over to the end of the cement driveway and placed her head on her chest before piling up dried brush and twigs around her. It was going to burn intensely; any flesh would burned hot and strong. The sun was still beneath the tree line, shadows shortening as it ascended. I wondered briefly if the sun would even burn this particular vampire. I wasn’t going to chance her not burning. Once I was done, I lit a bunch of kindling and dropped it in the pile after dousing it with the lighter fluid.

The flames ignited quickly, licking her body with hungry fingers and burning her clothes up immediately. I watched, hoping that the smoke would not draw too much attention. Once she burned up, I would have to clean up the ashes and sweep the driveway. I sat impatiently as her thin frame was consumed, trying to keep my feelings about her at bay. At least it didn’t take long. The fire burned intensely enough to pulverize her body. Fire did well disintegrating vampire bodies, they were so combustible. I sat and pondered why it had not gone up in flames at sunrise. This was indeed new to me.

I grew impatient and stood up, pacing the walk as I waited. When the fire had died down I grabbed buckets of water from a nearby water pump and doused the embers as they continued to crackle and snap. Nothing was left of the strange vampire now. Nothing but dust and ashes to even signify she existed. A sudden shame overwhelmed me. I had killed her before she could even tell me who she was. Feral vampires didn’t speak. What, then, did that make her? Some sort of hybrid?

Shaking my head, I tried not to think about it so much, sweeping the mess of ashes and water off the driveway as quickly as I could. I had to get down into the city and search for my family again. I hated being alone, hated that my family could very well be dead now. No, I wouldn’t accept it–I knew they were still alive, I felt it inside my heart and soul. Like a fire that still blazed within, it wasn’t doused yet, like I knew it would be if our connection broke. That alone kept me focused this gloomy morning as I shoved the broom away into the garage and jumped into the van, turning the engine over and pulling out into the road towards Las Vegas.

The asphalt rolled under the car as I impatiently drove, agitated that I wasn’t already there. I wanted to run through the streets, waking the dead. I had no plan, no investigative plot to find my family. But it was no holds barred. If I had to shake up all the hives of feral vampires to find Mom and Jeremy, I would. I would kill every last one of them if I had to.

My right hand drifted down to feel the hilt of my blades where they were leaning on the passenger side seat. I had brought my short katana sword and one machete. My crossbow, along with a quiver of arrows, would be strapped to my back if I needed it. It was compact and lightweight. I was prepped for war and I intended to win. Rolling my shoulders, I cracked my neck and felt my shoulders pop as I fidgeted in the seat, watching the landscape pass by as I pulled closer to the city. The debris in the road made me furious; I had to slow down to dodge the scattered mess. I wanted to be running. I was itching to kill the wretched creatures that had taken the only two souls that mattered to me.

Screeching into the parking lot of the supermarket, I jumped out of the van, strapping sheathes and daggers to my belt. Tightening the crossbow to my back, I made sure the quiver was stuffed full and the bow loaded. Last I pulled the katana and let it slide through my belt into place. It hummed in my hand and with a decisive power. The machete strapped to my right thigh and side nicely. I stuffed two flashlights into my belt too and slammed the door to the van, taking the keys with me. I wasn’t sure if I was expecting anything more than just ferals. They didn’t leave the shadows of the buildings. But something had. Something had ventured into the parking lot to take Mom and Jeremy.

But any new hybrid vampires–if that’s what they were–would have to pull the keys off my bloody, dead body to steal my ride.

I glanced around me; the midmorning sun was already warning me that time was running out. I nodded, acknowledging its reassuring warmth, even if it was just for my own assurance. Inside, the darkness of the buildings was always cooler than the outside. I’d take the open parking lot over the insanely claustrophobic cramped insides of the infested buildings. I started forward, walking briskly toward the road where the tire track I had found the previous day had pointed.

Scanning the street in both directions, I again saw no other clues. I groaned, knowing the immense search in front of me would not be easy. If my family was alive they were probably not near this place but far from it. Standing up, I decided to head in the direction the tracks were leading me and begin searching the buildings. The tall, dead casinos loomed in the distance, the same direction as the tire tracks. It was not beyond me to fathom that they had headed that way. Whoever took them must have taken up residence near the strip of the Las Vegas Boulevard. I wasn’t sure, but what better place to start? It would take me forever to search every casino but I had a lifetime to spare.

I followed the road and made it to the Mandalay Bay’s dusty, gold-hued windows. I stared up at the beautiful brilliance of its mirrored windows that reflected the sun like laser beams down onto the street. I smiled. I was willing to bet that most of the tower rooms in the hotels were not infested; the amount of sun pouring into them would be unbearable for the ferals. It was the dark pits of the main floor casinos that worried me. The rank hallways and hidden rooms were numerous in these buildings– having been remodeled so many times–would be the most dangerous. I remembered the bowels of some of these monstrosities, the halls that led nowhere and the underground basements that went on for miles, full of stored slots, tables, chairs and then some.

I sighed, quickly slipping into the parking lot and down the sidewalks overgrown with desert sage and tumbleweeds that clogged up the way. I remembered this place in all its glory. It was heartbreaking to venture into its lost beauty and wasted neglect since the epidemic wiped everyone out. The land had quickly snarled its grip around the streets and concrete jungles of the city. I worked my way through the weeds and overgrown grasses that had survived the lack of water and the summer’s dry heat. It had been mild but not many plants had tolerated it. None of the colorful flowers in the neatly manicured displays had lived. The place had a haunted feel to it.

I gulped as I reached the main entry to the lobby of the casino. Studying my own reflection in the thick glass doors made my heart flit in anticipation. I pulled out a flashlight and my short katana sword. I hated the dark interiors; it was like walking into a swarm of snakes. I tried to slow my breathing as I pushed the first set of doors in, ready for anything with every step.

The inner doors looked undisturbed. I wondered if the ferals even used doors. Most places I had found them had the doors hanging by the hinges or torn off. These were solid thick glass doors with metal hinges. They were dusty but intact with nothing to signify vampires roaming inside. I wasn’t about to take it for granted at all, though. One mistake or let down of my guard and I might as well serve myself up for dinner.

Pausing, my courage stuck in my throat as I pondered my reflection. I looked so thin and hard, so unlike the girl that had hung out with friends and danced at parties. I looked like a military black ops chick, geared up and all. My hair pulled tight in a ponytail, black shirt and black cargo pants. Dark cool eyes stared back at me, harsh and stern. I wanted to run from the woman that glared back at me, unrecognizable from just a year ago.

I pulled the door open and pushed the thoughts to the back of my mind. No time to think about that now. No time to ever think about that. The whoosh of stale air rushed at me like a sinister whisper. Clicking the flashlight on, I scanned the area before me. Endless chairs and slots stood dusty and dormant. Particles danced in the beam of light as I swept it around every nook and cranny. Katana in hand, I felt an odd coolness as I treaded inside. This place was undisturbed. Even the long-rotted corpses of people that I occasionally stepped over had been left where they had fallen. I glanced down to the ruin of carpet that ran all along the ground. Its dust untainted but for my own footprints. I doubted anyone had come in here or used it for anything. Even the ferals had not bothered with this desolate place.

I backed out after walking down one side of the casino floor. These buildings were death traps; too many hidden doorways and rows upon rows of slots and card tables to hide under or behind. I was sweating from the state of high alert that I had to keep up. The heavy canteen bumped against my leg as I moved. I was feeling the weight of all my gear. The night of bad sleep was going to catch up to me quickly if this continued. I sighed, marking this place as abandoned and headed back out into the brilliant sunlight.

The world looked the same. Unfortunately, nothing had changed. I headed down to next casino: The Luxor. Its dark windows were streaked in mud and old rain fall that carved little dirty rivers down its slanted sides. I wondered if any of the casinos were infested. I was sure they would be. But from the looks of the last one, the heavy doors were a hindrance to the vampires. The smaller casinos were probably a safer bet for them. I sighed. Just to be sure, I’d have to check out the main casinos on this intersection which was known as the Four Corners, made from the crossing of two main streets: Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard.

Luxor was more challenging than Mandalay Bay. The interior was more tumultuous, with various levels and the inner incline of the pyramid walls. My flashlight’s range went only so far in the deep darkness. I hoped that whatever lurked on the upper levels wouldn’t jump down and surprise me. It was precarious to search this one. I sighed, trying to calm my nerves as I stepped up the stairs and onto the second floor veranda level. It was full of overturned trash cans and snack stands with litter everywhere.

As I scanned the balconies that led to the top of the pyramid, I noticed what looked like clothes and other belongings dangling off the sides of the balcony walkways above. I also saw several bodies littering the floor below them, like the people had jumped at one point and fallen to their deaths. I shuddered, turning away to search the rest of the floor. One exhibit’s display consisted of a dark hallway leading to a set of rooms. It looked vaguely familiar but the banners had long ago been torn away and nothing remained to signify what it had been.

A figure flashed into my vision. I swept the beam of light back to where I thought I had seen it and a shadow of a person stood on a riser before me. Licking my drying lips, I readied my sword as I crept closer to the figure. It did not move and I wondered if it was even alive. To die in a standing position and remain so was almost impossible. Once I was upon it and ready to strike, I baulked as I fumbled back away from it. The skin was missing and only muscles, tendons and sinew along its extremities bulged out. It was a Bodies display–preserved to show all of the inner anatomy and wired to stand in a playful position, throwing a football.

I let out a laugh. Stupid exhibits! I should have known–I had visited it once a few years ago. That I had forgotten all about it took me by surprise and I scolded myself as I tried to slow my heart rate down, dropping my blade to my side.

But my relief was short-lived. A feral vampire jumped toward me from the shadows, knocking me into the wall. Its snarls echoed in my ears and a foul odor assaulted my nostrils. My sword clanged to the floor and the flashlight spun in circles just out of my reach, lighting the place up like a disco.

Shit!

I struggled to capture my footing, not sure where the vampire had gone off to, though I could hear its growls echoing in the rooms. I pulled a dagger from my belt as I scrambled for the flashlight. As I lunged for it, my legs were seized, sending me flying forward again, smacking my knuckles on the cement floor. The pain seared up my arms but I had managed to clamp my left hand over the flashlight and turned to aim it into the creature’s face as I kicked at it frantically trying to free my legs.

It grasped with its boney, thin hands, scratching and tugging as if its life depended on it. The deep blood-red eyes glared at me as it snarled, dirty fangs glistened in the light. It winced only just a bit under the flood of the light’s beam but it was enough for me to sit up and plunge the dagger into an eye socket, sending it writhing and screeching. Blood and ichor poured from the wound as it convulsed violently. I scrambled back on my arms and up onto my feet, glancing across the floor to find my sword.

I caught sight of it not too far from me, picking it up as I turned back to the dying vampire. It hissed at me but seemed to weaken with the loss of blood. The pale grey of its skin seemed to gleam opalescent and turned whiter still as a pool of blood and other things grew under its face. I stood over its body and swung the blade down in a clean slice through the neck. The quivering creature stopped moving and all was still once more. I sighed, wiping the blade on the ragged clothes of the dead vampire. Their blood was sticky and black, reminding me of used up motor oil.