Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Take a Bite Outta Crime Part 30 by Dellani Oakes




Their presence known, the vampires find that there are others in tunnels underfoot. They lose one of their party, but manage to dispatch the attackers—for now.

"Probably. They'll wait a few minutes and come at us again. We may not get as lucky next time."
"I've got an idea," Scott said. "Does a flash grenade affect you like sunlight, if you're not protected?"
Nero and the others eyed him skeptically. Kirk held up his hand before the others could lose their tempers.
"Hear him out," he said calmly. "Go on," he replied without saying yes or no.
"Because if that's the case, we can access that tunnel and set off one or two to clear the way."
"We can't...." Nero said.
"Maybe not, but I can," Scott replied.
"There could be dozens down there," Kirk said. "I don't feel right putting you in that position."
"Will it kill them or disable them?"
The vampires exchanged an anxious glance.
"Depends on proximity," Cloves replied. "Those closest will fall to dust. The others will be badly burned."
"So, if I set off more than one, I can clear the way?"
They exchanged another anxious glance.
"Perhaps, but we can't follow and protect you," Kirk said.
"I know I'm not as old as you guys, but I'm not helpless," Scott said. "And I'm not scared. Well, I am, but I can do this. If we can get in this way...."
"Give him some," Nero said.
The other vampires dug in their packs and handed the human a half dozen flash grenades. With the ones he'd been given, he had nine. They knew what Scott suspected, not even the lotion they wore could protect them from the concentrated light.
"Help me dig in," Scott said.
The vampires dug into the ground. The earth was loose where Dietrich had disappeared. They lowered Scott into the hole, standing out of blast range. Scott had pulled the pin before they dropped him. Not knowing what he was getting into, was the most terrifying thing he'd ever experienced. He suspected he was probably surrounded. In fact, he could hear and smell the vampires, brushing against one as the dropped to his feet.
"Bleeder." They hissed and growled. One grabbed his shirt, trying to bite him.
Scott dropped the flash grenade and covered his eyes with dark glasses. He felt the heat as the weapon went off. Screams and roars of pain followed. He already had two more grenades ready. Tossing one ahead and the other behind as far as he could, he dashed forward on instinct and adrenaline. More screams and wails accompanied his wild dash.
Hands grabbed at him only to fall away. Figuring he was beyond blast radius once more, he lobbed another. Moments later, he came to a steel reinforced wooden door. He couldn't hear anything beyond it, but the screams and yowls of the injured vamps masked any sound. Fumbling with the door, he eased it open. He could tell there were more vampires inside. He could hear them and smelled their damp earth scent.
Terrified, he walked through the door and was miraculously unharmed. A voice spoke to him from his right. A faint light shone through what looked like a dungeon door.
"Scott?" someone whispered.
"Tommy?" He walked toward the sound. "I found him," he reported to the others. "The tunnel is clear. I'm in an underground room."
"We're coming in," Nero said.
The screaming behind him stopped abruptly, and Scott knew his friends had killed the injured vampires.
"Don't come any closer," Tommy said. "I think they've got the room trapped. "Wait for help."
Scott reported the information to the team. Soon, he was joined by Kirk and the others.
"Are you the only one down here?" Kirk asked Tommy as he and the team checked the area for traps.
"They've got the kidnapped vamps down here too. I talked to a couple of them earlier. They're in bad shape."
"And the other human?" Nero asked.
"I think he's dead," Tommy said sadly.
Sounds of fighting echoed down the stairs. The cavalry had arrived. Someone grunted over to the side and an odd smell filled the room.
"Oh, shit," Kirk whispered.
"What?" Scott asked.
"Go to the stairs. Tommy, get to the back of your cell. And try not to breathe too much."
Doing as they were told, the two humans found it difficult to draw a breath. Eyes watering, noses running, the coughed and gagged. Scott got halfway up the stairs before he collapsed. Nero caught up with him, dragging him up the stairs. He stood guard over the downed human as he tried to get his breath back. Several minutes later, Kirk and Oded carried Tommy up the stairs, setting him to one side. Clovis brought up the rear. Once he could speak, Scott asked what had happened.
"Gas," Kirk explained. "It's hard on us, deadly to humans. I hope we got him out in time."
Tommy didn't look good. He lay, barely breathing, in the alcove at the top of the stairs. Sounds of battle raged around them as Tommy gasped for breath.
© 2019 Dellani Oakes

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Old Time Religion ~ A Love in the City Romance by Dellani Oakes – Part 51

Mrs. Bannister bustled in a couple minutes after Obi and Clive arrived. "Thank goodness you're here," she said to Clive. "...