“Hello?”
“Platov? This is Clayton.”
“Clayton! Where have you been? Have you seen the news?”
“Yes, and that’s why I’m calling. I know we’ve had our differences recently, but I really need your help, buddy. I desperately need some vampires if you can spare any.”
“Sorry, Clayton. After Ray and Octavus’s death by Maryl, many of my blood types fled.”
“Fled? Where?” Clayton asked in bafflement.
“Scattered about, I’m afraid. No idea.”
“I understand. Normally there would be strength in numbers, but Maryl seeks all of us together. It makes it easier for her to spill her poison down from the tainted sky.”
“True. And don’t bother calling Salvatore the Great or Silvia the Hopeful if you haven’t yet, both of them bolted after hearing the news.”
“Damn! Thanks, Platov. Be careful.”
“I will. And stay away from Maryl!”
“Will do.”
Clayton hung up, pointed, and looked at the scientists. “I’m afraid it’s just me and all of you.”
“Woah now, Clayton! Don’t look at us! We’re science people, not warriors. Unfortunately, you’re on your own.” Jack got up, and his colleagues followed. “We’re done with our mission. Going after Maryl Rosser was not part of the deal, regardless if we agreed with your vision.” Jack pointed to the green tote bag. “We took the liberty of loading the serum in your bag.” He started to walk away and then turned around. “We left you one unit of the blood of AB positive. Good luck.”
“Why are you fleeing? You were the one telling me we need to get rid of Maryl! Furthermore, where will you go?”
“Far away from Maryl’s influence,” Tiberius said clearly scared.
“That’s kind of vague, Jack. You do know she exerts vast influence around the globe, right?”
“We will take our chances. If we go with you, we will surely die. If we run away, we have a small chance,” Jack said as one by one, they left.
Clayton remained in his chair, alone and afraid. He slightly trembled as he looked at the bag that contained the serum. Clayton briefly entertained the idea of torching the serum and leaving too. But Clayton knew he couldn’t do that. He had to see it through regardless if he perished in the process!
He would feed on the one remaining bag of AB positive blood the scientists left for him, and then scout out Maryl’s abode. Clayton got up with renewed determination.
He got to the blood, started to drink from the bag when it spilled down his shirt and pants. He wiped his clothes, which made the blood smear. He took out his handkerchief he always kept in his pants pocket. When he took it out, a piece of paper fell to the floor. Clayton had forgotten he had Desiree’s number in his pocket. She was the only person he knew that he could talk to. He dialed quickly.
On the fourth ring, she answered. “Hello?”
“Hey, Desiree, it’s me, Clayton…”
“Clayton! Thank goodness you called. I am driving and almost at the institute!”
“Why?”
“Maryl struck again. This time she targeted Silvia the Hopeful and several hundred of her tribe as they were entering her hotels! I think it’s Platov and you that are left.”
“There’s Salvatore the Great that’s left too. Who knows where he and the A negatives are now!” Clayton was silent for a second. “How did she get Silvia? I heard she had scattered like the others.”
“Silvia did exactly what the others did. They thought if they were strong in numbers, it would dissuade Maryl from carrying out her plan. They were wrong. Silvia was bunkered up in her penthouse with over seven hundred members of her tribe in a few of the more lavish hotels she owned.”
“How did they carry out their insidious plan?”
“The ventilation system,” Desiree said simply.
“But Silvia and the others in the hotels would see the powder coming in through the vents.”
“Maryl modified it to a fine white powder. By the time they became aware of the problem, it was far too late. It’s odorless and tasteless, even for us.”
“Damn! Well, I am going to meet Maryl tomorrow and give her the serum.”
“What? You can’t do that!” Desiree cried.
“I have to. But don’t worry. The scientists were partially successful in altering the serum to render it useless.”
“That’s great news. But… once you give Maryl the enzymes, you’re good as dead.”
“I know, but I am not going to flee like the others. I have to make one last stand.”
There was silence on the other end for a moment.
“I know I am going to regret this, but I will come with you,” Desiree said with determination.
“I’m sure when she sees you, you will be on top of her list to eliminate, even topping me.”
“I have no one, and neither do you. Let’s take the last stand in unity, side by side, O negative by AB positive!”
“Okay, but I don’t know why you would want to.”
“I have my reasons. See you in a few minutes.”
Clayton was outside sitting on the top stairs when Desiree’s pick up screeched to a halt. She saw Clayton, waved, and zipped to the bottom step.
She leaned against the handrail and looked up at Clayton. “Gazing at the stars, I see.”
“Yes, it makes me think.”
“Think about what?” Desiree asked as she made the way up the stairs and sat beside Clayton.
“We are on the top of the food chain, yet when I stare upon the heavens, I often feel insignificant. There are trillions of galaxies that we are aware of, and within those trillions of galaxies, there are trillions of planets. We are but a speck in the universe.”
Desiree put up a finger. “Ah, but this tiny speck we live on, we dominate. We are the center of the universe!”
Clayton looked at Desiree. “I’m surprised you want to sit so near to me. I am often told by your blood types that you cannot stand the smell of my blood.”
“I’m getting used to it,” she said with a smile.
They sat
