The Crucivire

Chapter Twenty Two: A Bold Plan

"Plan b?" asked Gary. "What's plan b?"

"Dangerous," said Alice gravely. "But the only plan I have right now."

Alice turned to the vampire in the room, "Jacqueline, vampires sleep during the day, right?"

"That's right," said Jacqueline from her glass cage. "The best time for a human to escape a vampire is during the day when you can flee into the sun...if you can stay awake longer than the vampire, that is."

"I've already thought of that," said Gary. "There are vampires everywhere, and those elder vampires can force us to sleep with just a thought. Besides, they have human thralls completely under their control that could follow us into the sun."

"I know," said Alice. "But humans completely under the control of a vampire will subconsciously fear the same things a vampire can. The sun won't hurt them, but it will disorient them more than someone with free will, so you still have a chance to escape.

"As for staying awake, Jacqueline is an elder vampire. She can wake you up easily."

"I could," said the vampire reluctantly. "But not without the other elders noticing."

Though this was a mental world, Alice instinctively took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what she was about to suggest.

"That means someone would have to distract them, wouldn't it?"

Penny and Gary seemed confused, but Jacqueline's eyes grew wide.

"Oh," said Jacqueline. "That is bold."

"What?" asked Penny. "What are you saying?"

Alice turned to look at them, "I'm going to leave Jacqueline's mindscape and distract the elder vampires while you get away."

Penny seemed conflicted, but Gary shook his head and said, "Alice, you can't. It's too dangerous."

"He's not wrong, Alice," said Jacqueline. "I managed to get you away from Victor before. If you deliberately seek him out, I can't guarantee with one hundred percent certainty that I'll be able to protect you again."

"Yeah," said Alice, nodding. "I didn't think this would be easy, but we're out of time." She looked at Gary. "What's your name?"

"Wil..." he almost said before he corrected himself. "Gary."

Alice looked at him grimly, and even Gary looked away.

"I know what happens when they get control of your mind," said Alice. "I was bitten before, and I can see what it's doing to you. Penny's balancing on the edge of losing herself, and you're not far behind."

Both Penny and Gary looked down, dejected. That just made Alice more determined.

"Look at it this way," said Alice. "We still can't find the vampires' hideout, and the Night Hunters can't deal with them until that happens. If you and Penny escape, we can retrace your steps and find them. It might just be the thing we need to save this city."

Gary thought for a moment, then nodded reluctantly. Penny, on the other hand, looked frightened.

"What if it doesn't work?" she asked. "What if they catch us? They'll...they'll..."

"Penny," said Alice, walking over and looking her in the eye. "I know you're scared, but I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you can escape. I'll distract the elders, and when Jacqueline wakes you up, find a knife and cut a cross into your skin to sever the vampire's connection, then make your way out of that mansion. Once you're in the sunlight, you run as fast as you can."