Better off Undead

Chapter 60: The Quiet Dark

She stared at him with anger, shock, and betrayal in her eyes. "How... could... you?" she demanded.

The stick had been so small and unobtrusive that even the vampire that had searched him earlier hadn't noticed it. Eli had even forgotten about it until just before she had led him away.

"Our world... it would have been fair. It would have been... perfect," she said, and then coughed up small bits of blood. The black bile ran over her lip and down her chin.

"Maybe," Eli said. "Maybe not. Like I said, you're not so different. And like they say, the devil you know. Right?"

She moved her mouth as though wanting to reply, but no sound came out. The light, what little there was, was fading from her eyes.

Eli turned, and pushed her from the ledge. He stood there a moment, watching her body fall down the cliff side. He felt the slightest bit victorious, but mostly he just felt heartbroken. Her logic would forever ring inside of him, he knew, and he would never be sure if he had made the right choice in this moment.

"NOOOOOOO!"

Eli turned to see the two guards suddenly lurch into action. Their hands were like claws, stretching out for him. Their fangs flickered evilly in the moonlight. He had no weapons left, no means whatsoever to defend himself, and he knew it. He was ready. Ready for it all to finally, finally be over. He stretched out his arms, closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and waited for the end.

They never made it.

A gagging sound brought Eli's head back down. His eyes snapped open to see the two creatures down on their hands and knees. Their bodies were writhing and convulsing as they vomited up a thick, black bile. Their faces were drawn taught in a frightening rictus of pain.

After a moment, it was all over. They knelt there, chests heaving, bodies rocking from the forceful exertion of the excretions. For a long moment, nobody moved, and then almost as one the two guards sat back on their heels.

Eli's mouth fell open. He raised a shaky, unsteady hand and pointed to one of the guards.

"You... your face..." he said.

The guard froze, meeting Eli's gaze. Slowly, he willed his body into motion, raising his hands up before his face.

They looked like normal, human hands.

He turned and looked at the other guard, who met his gaze.

They couldn't believe it. Eli couldn't believe. This was the entire theory behind everything for him. This was why he had come all the way out here, why he had risked life and limb, why he had betrayed his closest friends. Yet, even seeing it with his own two eyes he couldn't believe it.

It had worked. They were human again.

One of the guards starting laughing. It began as just a weak, throaty chuckle, and then developed into a full guffaw. Within moments, the other guard had caught the infection, and seconds later all three of them were laughing hysterically.

The first guard's laughter suddenly caught in his throat. His eyes bulged out of out his skull and his face grew taught. Veins popped up on the skin, showing visibly even to Eli. He made some choking noises and grabbed at his throat. His face turned red, and the redness seemed to be spreading down and across his entire body.

Almost immediately the other guard started reacting the same, and Eli stood there, horrified as he watched the process unfold before him. Their skin was darkening and wrinkling. Their hair was growing rapidly, turning white, and thinning. Their hands shriveled up until they were again like claws. But not the dangerous, wicked fingernail tipped claws they had as vampires. These claws looked weak, fragile.