30 Nights [BangChan]

16

The Utilidor's cold walls seemed to press in on Chris as he fumbled with the walkie-talkie, his mind a whirlwind of fear and frustration. Static hissed and crackled from the device, each burst a sharp reminder of the silence that had fallen between him and Emma. The thought of her out there, alone, gnawed at him like a relentless beast, and every attempt to reach her felt like a punch to his gut.

"Come on, Emma," he whispered, his voice tight with desperation. "Please answer me."

But the walkie talkie remained stubbornly silent.

Chris's hands trembled as he adjusted the frequency, his mind wandering to the days when everything was simple before the darkness had swallowed their town whole. Back then, he and Emma had been more than just colleagues; they had been each other's anchors in a world that often felt too heavy to bear. He remembered the quiet moments they shared, stolen between shifts.

There was that one afternoon when they had escaped to the lake just outside of town. The sun had been warm on their skin, the water cool and inviting as they floated together, side by side, with nothing but the sound of birds and the rustle of leaves to break the silence.

They had talked for hours, about everything and nothing, their laughter mingling with the breeze as they splashed each other playfully.

Even then, Chris had known how much he needed her, how much her presence had become a part of him. And now, with every second that passed without hearing her voice, that need grew into something almost unbearable.

His thoughts drifted to the nights they had spent together, tucked away in the cozy warmth of her cabin. They would sit by the fire, Emma curled up against him, her head resting on his shoulder as they talked about their dreams and fears.

He loved those moments, the way she would look at him with those bright, unwavering eyes, her smile lighting up even the darkest corners of his heart.

"Emma," he muttered under his breath, squeezing the walkie talkie as if he could will it to work by sheer force of determination. "I can't lose you. Not now."

He thought of all the times they had stood side by side, facing the challenges of their jobs with the same fierce determination. Whether it was putting out a raging fire or maintaining order in a town that seemed to attract trouble, they had always had each other's backs. They had been a team, a force to be reckoned with. And now, more than ever, Chris needed that strength, that unbreakable bond, to pull him through.

But all that answered his desperate calls was static. Each crackle seemed louder, more mocking, until it filled his ears and his heart with a heavy, sinking dread. The silence that followed was deafening, pressing in on him from all sides.

Suddenly, the Utilidor's heavy door creaked open, and Carl stumbled inside, his breath ragged from exertion. Chris barely had time to register his friend's presence before he noticed something far more sinister, something that made his blood run cold.

A shadow slithered through the doorway behind Carl, moving with an unnatural grace that sent chills down Chris's spine. He knew immediately what it was a vampire, one that had followed them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Close the door!" Chris shouted, but it was too late. The vampire lunged forward, its eyes glowing with hunger as it launched itself at the group of survivors.

Panic erupted as the survivors scrambled to defend themselves, the echoes of their terrified cries bouncing off the Utilidor’s walls. Chris dropped the walkie talkie, his focus snapping back to the immediate danger as he drew his weapon. But even as he took aim, his thoughts were still with Emma out there, somewhere, needing him just as much as he needed her.

The vampire snarled, its fangs gleaming in the dim light as it closed in on its prey. Chris fired, but the creature moved too fast, dodging his shots with terrifying ease. The others grabbed whatever they could like pipes, wrenches, anything that might keep the monster at bay.

"Everyone grab something" Chris shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We have to fight it off!"

But the vampire was relentless, its movements a blur as it tore through the group, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Chris's mind raced as he searched for a way to turn the tide. His heart pounded in his chest, every beat a reminder of how much he stood to lose not just his life, but Emma, the woman who had become his world.

As the vampire attacked, Chris knew they were running out of time. With a final burst of determination, he steeled himself for the fight of his life, knowing that whatever happened next, he had to survive if not for himself, then for Emma.