The Crucivire

Chapter Six: Hunter and Prey

Outside the study, Alice turned left to where the vampire had fled. Down the hall, in the light of the flashlight taped to her gun, she saw the bathroom door facing her where the hall made an L turn to the right. Absentmindedly, Alice noted that she could hear Aunt Betty and Penny putting the bookcase up again. Alice didn't know what else they'd use to block the door but hoped it would be enough.

Getting an idea, Alice pulled out the pistol tucked into her belt and aimed it at the roof. She figured that if the sound hurt the vampire's ears, then the ensuing shriek might give Alice an idea of where the Vampire was hiding.

She shot the roof, the bang ringing in her ears. However, no sound from the vampire answered her, just empty silence. So either the vampire was far enough away that it didn't hurt as much, it had enough walls between them to muffle the sound, or it was trying very hard to stay quiet so Alice couldn't track it. Whatever the case, Alice would have to find this vampire the hard way.

Alice put the pistol back into her belt, feeling the wooden stake she also had there and then raised her rifle. She moved forward slowly, towards the bathroom door. When she got there, she held her gun with one hand, placed her hand on the doorknob, and kept an eye down the hall. Bracing herself, Alice quickly threw the door open and aimed her gun inside. All she saw with the flashlight was a bathtub, a toilet, and other ordinary things for a bathroom. Even the shower curtain was drawn back, revealing an empty bathtub.

Alice turned. There were two bedrooms to her right, one more bedroom to her left, and the living room before her, with the couch, the television, and the coffee table barely visible in the darkness ahead. Alice moved to the next room and once again carefully reached for the doorknob before throwing it open. Aiming her gun inside, she saw a bed, a chest of drawers, and an open closet. She carefully made sure to check the corner around the door. Even without vampires, the corner around the door was always a problem, but Alice saw nothing. She also knelt to check under the bed but again saw nothing.

She quickly stood looked down the hall, still waiting for a vampire to jump out at any moment. She could practically hear her heart beating and feel sweat dripping down her face. Looking forward, she didn't see anything in the living room, so she looked to the bedrooms. The final two rooms faced each other, and Alice would have to open them one at a time. If she chose the wrong one, that would leave her open to an attack from behind. Left or right?

Alice ultimately chose the left side. She still had garlic powder on her shoulders and wrists, so hopefully, if the vampire attacked from behind, that would throw it off. Even So, Alice decided the rifle wasn't the best weapon here. The pistol wouldn't penetrate as much, but it would be easier to move back and forth between the two doors. For a moment, Alice wished she'd thought to bring a rifle strap but was too late for that now.

She held the rifle with one hand, aimed low, and kept her pistol up with her right hand, ready to aim it in either direction. Then, slowly, Alice turned the doorknob and began to open the door.

The door behind her burst open.

Alice turned and fired her pistol, just barely getting two shots off as the vampire tackled her, shrieking as her rifle clattered to Alice's left. Alice hit the floor, her hands pinned by the vampire as it loomed over her, fangs bared, its legs trapping Alice's closed. Blood dripped onto Alice's face from a bullet wound in the vampire's cheek as Alice froze, her face contorted with fear.

The vampire leaned down to bite, and Alice thought it was all over, but then the vampire lifted its head. The monster started breathing through its nose violently as if it was in pain, its head thrashing violently from side to side, and Alice realized that the garlic had done its job.