The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters(77)

“No,” Tim whispered. “They’re dead?”

“They’re dead,” Abbie said. She was clearly exhausted.

“What are we gonna do?” Tim asked.

“The others are outside,” Abbie said. “We’re taking you all to the school. It’s got a basement that can be barricaded in case more show up before dawn.”

“Wait,” Tim said. “Who’s outside?”

“Your family and friends,” Abbie said. She thought for a moment, then added, “Most of them, anyway.” The sadness in her voice was unmistakable.

“You’re not making sense!” Tim snapped. “Who’s dead?”

“Oh dear,” Abbie said. “You thought I meant the townspeople. I’m sorry, Tim. It’s been a very long night. Most of the village is fine. The vampires are dead.”

“You killed them all?” Amber asked.

Abbie nodded.

“Holy shit,” Tim said. “How many were there?”

“I don’t know, Tim,” Abbie said. “Too many to count. Now, follow me. I’m very tired.”

“You don’t look so good, Sister,” Tim said. “Maybe you should sit down and rest for a moment.”

“I’ll rest when the sun is in the sky,” Abbie said. “Let’s go.”

She turned toward the door, took one step, then fell.

“Abbie!” Tim yelled as he ran across the room.

“Is she okay?” Amber asked.

“I think so,” Tim said as he knelt over Abbie’s unconscious body. “She’s breathing.”

“What happened to her?”

Tim shrugged. “I’m not sure. I think she fainted.”





*


Abbie woke to find herself in a hospital bed. Every inch of her body ached. She was alone in the room for several minutes before the nurses realized she was awake. Once they saw she was conscious, they began the process of checking her vitals while asking her a million questions.

After about an hour, a doctor came to see her and ultimately told her she was fine. He explained that she had simply fainted. “It was shock,” he said. “And exhaustion. You took a real beating. Emotionally and physically.”

“How long was I unconscious?” Abbie asked.

“Two days,” the doctor said.

Abbie was floored. “Two days…” She was quiet for a moment, then said, “The town… was it… I mean, did it really happen?” Abbie prayed it had been a dream.

“It happened,” the doctor said.

“Damn,” Abbie said.

The doctor nodded. “Yeah. Damn.”

“Where exactly am I?” Abbie asked.

“Welcome back to the world of the living,” a man with a deep voice and an American accent said.

Abbie tilted her head toward the voice. A powerfully built man stood in the hospital room’s doorway. He was an older man, maybe fifty. He had short gray hair and a hard face, but gentle eyes. Caring eyes.

“Who are you?” Abbie asked.

“Geoff Wallace,” the man said. “Most folks just call me Wallace.”

“Why are you in my room, Wallace?” Abbie asked. “I seriously doubt you’re a member of the staff.”

Wallace chuckled. “You’re right about that. As to why I’m in your room, I’m here to recruit you.”

“Recruit me for what?”

Wallace looked at the doctor. “Is she well enough for a one-on-one?”

“Sure,” the doctor said. “As far as I can tell, she’s fine. A few bumps and bruises, but otherwise, she’s tip-top.” The doctor looked at Abbie. “Do you have any questions before I leave?”

“I suspect,” Abbie said, pointing toward Wallace, “he will have the answers to most of the questions I have.”

The doctor smiled. “You’re probably right. Well, if you need anything, just let us know.” With a nod to Wallace, the doctor left the room.

“So,” Wallace said, “do you want to do this with a question-and-answer session or would you rather I just launch into my sales pitch? I’m fine either way.”

Abbie smiled. She liked this man. “Let’s start with my last question. Where am I?”

“We’re in the medical wing of an underground military facility,” Wallace said. “The exact location isn’t important. What is important is the fact that you’re safe.”

“What about the others?”

“They’re here, too,” Wallace said. “I suspect you’ll get a visit from that Tim kid as soon as he hears you’re awake. He’s asked about you nonstop for the past two days.”

“He’s a good boy,” Abbie said.

“I agree,” Wallace said. “He’ll make a fine soldier.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that,” Abbie said.

“Me either,” Wallace said, “but these are desperate times.”

“What happened? Those things… are they really…” Abbie was surprised to find she had trouble saying the word.

“Vampires?” Wallace said. “Yes. As for what happened… well, we’re now at war with creatures we thought were bedtime stories this time last week.”