TRAILER TRASH VAMPIRES

Chapter 26 - Here Comes The Cavalry

Outside the General Hardware Store, a single light shines from inside. Betty sits on the counter, crying. Roger is loading his guns. Creepy Guy rocks in a rocking chair. And Leonard paces back and forth, about to come out of his skin, torn between "crossing over" and helping the team.

"I'm really sorry, Miss Betty," Creepy Guy says quietly.

Betty looks at Creepy Guy with tears in her eyes.

"I'm NOT going to lose my little girl. But, I am gonna put that son-of-a-bitch down!"

"I'm trying to--offer my help," Leonard says between deep gasps for air. "You've got it...if you want it."

"I'll take it," she says.

"That goes for all of us," Richard chimes in.

Betty looks at him and smiles. "What the hell is happening?"

Leonard says, "You know about the massacre."

She nods.

"And the curse?"

She frowns, distracted by her grief.

He continues, "The gold represents the blood money from centuries of Saxon vampires." He stops to catch his breath, scratching at his body like he was covered with ants.

"Wherever the gold came to rest, the ground would be cursed," he adds. "The guardian built the town on the graves of the slaughtered men, women and children."

"Thus, the name...Barren."

Leonard nods. "On account no one lived. The gold's being guarded until the Baron returns for it."

"That Biker Trash does all the dirty work by keeping Big Dick and June fed," Roger interjects. "But we've got the best way to kill 'em."

He holds out his hand to reveal a handful of silver balls.

"Silver? I thought that was folklore."

"I think you've seen the folklore. Now, see the special weapon needed to fire them."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you what," he keeps going, "You only want to hit 'em once, 'cuz you'll drive a truck through the hole this bitch'll make."

"Where is that weapon?"

Roger pulls the black powder gun down from the rack on the wall and hands it to Betty.

"Savanna was the only person who's ever gotten close to finding that gold?" Betty asks.

Roger shakes his head.

"Nah; there have been thousands. Many ended up like Dick. Others, like--your sister, were lucky. Only problem was, while she'd run out of town with some of the gold, she didn't find the source of the gold."

Leonard steps forward. "And Big Dick was waiting for you to show up, knowing that YOU would lead him right to it."

"Now your daughter's the ace up his sleeve," Roger adds, patting her shoulder. She forces a smile.

"You're gonna have to take him down before the moon goes full, or your daughter and anybody else he's bit or fed on will turn into one of them."

He looks at the floor, takes a deep breath and adds, "Including me."

"Over. My. Dead. Body," Betty snarls.

Outside the Hardware Store, Big Dick leans against his squad car, picking his teeth with a toothpick. He looks in the back seat of his squad car where Sissy lies. He stares back at the store with an amused look.

"Shiiiiit," He says to the night, "It's all over but the cryin', now."

From high overhead, Big Dick and a group of bikers, one by one, disappear, until only Big Dick remains.