EVOLUTION Vol.2

DAVE, THE CANNIBAL AND THE VAMPIRE

You have been captured by cannibals.

How do you try to convince them not to eat you?

If that fails, how do you attempt to get away?

*

Dave had been lost in the jungle for days, surviving on meagre rations of food and water. Just when he thought he was going to die of hunger, he stumbled upon a small village. But the inhabitants were not friendly - they were cannibals. As soon as Dave was caught, he tried to reason with the cannibals. "Please, don't eat me. I have a family waiting for me back home. I'm just a lost traveller. I mean you no harm," he pleaded.

The cannibals didn't seem to care. One of them grabbed Dave by the hair and lifted him up so that he was face-to-face with the leader of the tribe. The leader was a large, imposing man with a menacing look in his eyes.

"Why should we spare your life?" the leader asked, his voice booming.

Dave knew he had to come up with something fast. "I can help you," he said. "I'm a trained chef. I can cook delicious meals for you every day. You won't have to hunt or forage for food anymore."

The leader seemed intrigued. "You can cook?" he asked.

Dave nodded eagerly. "Yes, I can cook anything you want. Just please, spare my life."

The leader conferred with his tribe for a few moments before finally nodding. "Very well," he said. "You can stay here and cook for us. But one false move, and you'll be our dinner."

Dave breathed a sigh of relief. He knew he had narrowly escaped death. Over the next few days, he cooked for the tribe, using his knowledge of spices and flavours to create dishes that even the cannibals had never tasted before.

But Dave was always on edge. He knew that at any moment, the cannibals could turn on him and eat him. So, he began to plan his escape.

One night, when the cannibals were asleep, Dave crept out of his hut and made his way to the edge of the village. He knew that the jungle was dangerous, but he'd rather take his chances out there than stay with the cannibals any longer.

As he was about to step into the jungle, he heard a noise behind him. He turned around to see the leader of the cannibals standing there, his arms folded across his chest.

"Where do you think you're going?" the leader asked.

Dave knew he had to think fast. "I was just going to get some fresh herbs for tomorrow's meal," he said, holding up an empty basket.

The leader eyed him suspiciously before nodding. "Very well. But if you try to run away again, we will find you."

Dave nodded and hurried off into the jungle. He knew he had to keep moving if he wanted to get away. For days, he wandered through the dense foliage, surviving on berries and wild fruit.

Finally, he stumbled upon a group of travellers who were making their way through the jungle. They were shocked to see him - he was thin, dirty, and covered in scratches and bug bites.

But Dave didn't care. He was just happy to be alive. As he told them his story, he knew he would never forget the fear he felt when he was captured by cannibals. But he also knew he would never take his freedom for granted again.

Dave had managed to escape the village of cannibals, but he knew that he was not safe yet. He had been running for days, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and the cannibals who were chasing him.

As he stumbled through the forest, exhausted and starving, he heard a rustling in the bushes. His heart racing, he prepared himself for another attack.

But instead of cannibals, a group of people emerged from the trees. They were dressed in black robes and had a pale, almost ethereal look about them.

"Who are you?" Dave asked, his voice trembling.

"Vampires," one of them replied, a hint of amusement in their voice.

Dave was surprised - he had heard stories of vampires, but he had never met one before. He had always thought that they were creatures of myth and legend. The vampires could sense Dave's fear and confusion, and they quickly put him at ease. They offered him food, water, and a place to rest, and Dave gratefully accepted. As he ate and drank, Dave felt a sense of relief wash over him. He was safe - or so he thought.

Over the next few days, Dave learned more about the vampires and their way of life. They told him about their powers, their history, and their complex social hierarchy. Dave found himself drawn to their world. He was fascinated by their strength and agility, and he enjoyed learning about their customs and traditions. But as time went on, he began to realize that there was more to the vampires than he had initially thought. They were secretive and ruthless, and they seemed to be constantly watching him. One night, as he was sitting alone in his room, he heard a knock at the door. When he opened it, he was confronted by a group of vampires who were clearly unhappy with him.

"We don't like strangers in our midst," one of them growled. "Especially ones who have been running from cannibals."

Dave tried to explain that he had no intention of causing trouble, but the vampires were not interested in his excuses. They told him that he had to leave, and they gave him an ultimatum - either he left voluntarily, or they would make him leave by force.

Dave realized that he had made a mistake in trusting the vampires. He had thought that they were his saviours, but now he saw that they were just as dangerous as the cannibals.

With a heavy heart, he left the vampire coven and set off into the forest once again. He knew that he was still being hunted by the cannibals, but he also knew that he could not stay with the vampires.

Dave ran through the forest, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the cannibals' footsteps getting closer and closer, and he knew that he was running out of time.

Just as he thought he could run no further; he spotted a light in the distance. It was a town! Dave summoned all his strength and sprinted towards it.

As he got closer, he could see that it was a proper town with houses, shops, and people going about their daily lives. Dave felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had made it to safety! He stumbled into the town, panting and sweating. People stopped and stared at him, surprised to see a stranger in their midst.

"Help!" Dave gasped. "I need your help. There are cannibals chasing me."

The townspeople were shocked and alarmed by Dave's words, but they quickly sprang into action. They led him to the local sheriff's office, where he was given food, water, and a warm bed to rest in.

Dave told the sheriff about his ordeal - how he had been captured by cannibals and how he had managed to escape. The sheriff listened to his story with a grave expression, nodding his head sympathetically.

"Don't worry, son," the sheriff said. "We'll take care of you. We'll keep you safe."

Over the next few days, Dave stayed in the town, recovering from his ordeal. The townspeople were kind to him, offering him food and shelter, and Dave felt grateful for their hospitality.

But even as he enjoyed the safety and security of the town, he couldn't shake the memory of the cannibals who had chased him. He knew that they were still out there, somewhere, and he couldn't rest until he was sure that he was safe from them.

One day, as he was walking through the town, he saw a familiar face. It was one of the cannibals who had captured him! Dave froze in terror, but the cannibal didn't seem to recognize him.

Dave ran to the sheriff's office and told him what he had seen. The sheriff quickly rallied a group of townspeople, and they set off to capture the cannibal.

After a tense pursuit, they managed to capture the cannibal. With the cannibal behind bars, Dave finally felt a sense of peace. He knew that he was safe now, and he could finally put his ordeal behind him.

As he prepared to leave the town and continue on his journey, Dave couldn't help but feel grateful for the kindness and generosity of the people who had saved him. He vowed to always remember their kindness and to pay it forward in whatever way he could.

Then, the message came that the cannibal had escaped. Dave got out of town as fast as he could.

© 3 May 2023