The Crucivire

Chapter Eighteen: A Matter of Faith

Although Alice was about to begin the optional training she signed up for, she still had regular training, including the shooting range, more creature identification, and the course on vampires. The last thing they needed to know was what to do when a vampire captured them. While most of the training focused on avoiding that fate at any cost, they still needed to know what to do in that situation.

"When a vampire has captured you," said Agent Swann, pacing back and forth. "and has drunk of your blood, you will be under the vampire's control. If the vampire wishes to turn you into one of them, it will begin the brainwashing process, changing your name and suppressing your memories. By the end, you will have a new identity loyal to the vampire that turned you. To escape before this happens, you can carve a cross into your skin to sever the mental link.

One of the recruits Alice didn't know raised his hand.

"Can we carve a cross into our hand beforehand?" he asked. "Or get a tattoo or something?"

"Only if you want them to remove a piece of skin before they start turning you," said Swann. "So I don't recommend it. Furthermore, you will need to wait for the right opportunity to sever the link, such as when the vampire is distracted. To get to that point, you will need a way to keep your mind intact."

Alice nodded with everyone else. Of course, she already knew about the cross trick but listened intently to this. It might tell her how Arthur managed to resist the vampires as long as he did.

"The key is certain memories," said Swann. "As you know, vampires are weak to the iconography of the Christian faith. For this reason, memories heavily associated with such iconography can give the vampires problems. Memories that take place in a church or involve someone reciting scripture are good examples. Vampires cannot completely eliminate those memories while you're still human, so they will try to bury them in one's subconscious where you can't think of them. However, holding onto those memories might help you hold onto your identity long enough to affect an escape."

A few rows behind Alice, Marcia Perez raised her hand and asked, "Um, this feels like an awkward question, but...does this mean we have to be Christians to resist vampires?"

"Not necessarily," said Swann. "I once knew a hunter who wasn't a believer but was married in a church to appease his more traditional parents. That happy memory of marrying his wife was easy to hold onto, and he retained his identity long enough to escape. Ultimately, any memory associated with that iconography can help, regardless of the context of that memory.

"For this reason, we have a Chapel on level five that is open at all times. If you don't have any memories that can protect you from this, you can go there during your off time to create some memories, spend some time with your fellow hunters, play games, watch a movie, whatever you think will help. For those of you not interested in converting, don't worry. The priest and monks who run the chapel won't approach you unless you show an interest."

Thinking over what she'd heard, Alice raised her hand, "Agent Swann, if that's true, then why are vampires so susceptible to Christian iconography in the first place? Is it really the power of Jesus Christ that harms them?"

Swann smiled, "Someone always asks that question right about now. The short answer is that we're not entirely sure. Most historians agree there was a real man who preached to the Jews when they were under the control of the Roman empire, though as I'm sure you know, many will dispute whether he was the Son of God or just an ordinary man. To explain how vampires are connected to him, we need to go back to the first vampire."

Agent Swann's demeanor became deathly serious, and at the mention of this first vampire, Alice felt a chill go down her spine. Judging by the looks of the recruits on either side of her, they must have felt a chill as well.