Zone Zero: Vengeance (Book 3 of 3)

Chapter 21

My pained scream fills the night air and embodies me completely. I scream so loud that people around me wince at the sound.

The image in front of me burns my eyes as I struggle to see through the blurry haze my tears are creating. Alex, lying still on the ground while Max makes his way to stand over him. Max is readying his gun to shoot Alex once more, finally ending his life.

I am motionless as I watch the scene as though it were slowed down. I want to run to Alex and tear Max apart but I can't will my legs to move. I must be in shock.

I scream until my lungs give out and that's when I feel it. An electric surge coursing through my veins. My muscles feel like they are on fire and every fibre ignites.

Suddenly, I am no longer afraid to move.

I feel the arms of two burly men latch on to my hands in hope to bind me but all the touch does is feed my fire.

I barely flick my wrists but I send the two men catapulting backwards and away from me.

I take my first few steps forward and sense every set of eyes on me, vampire and human alike. More soldiers come forward trying to take me down but I through them away like they were rag dolls.

I quicken my step just as the bullets begin to fly. I duck and dodge past the metal casings like it were nothing. No bullet even comes close to touching my skin as I race towards Alex.

The fighting around me has stopped with every vampire watching me in awe. I don't even have to look at them to know they are both impressed and frightened. None have ever seen such skill or speed, especially from someone so new to the vampire form.

I have crossed the span of 150 metres in less than 4 seconds all the while weaving through bullets meant to kill me.

Another round of bullets come flying from ahead of me, changing my focus. The bullets from straight ahead are the same silver that shot Alex.

Maxim stands directly in front of me watching my every move and trying his best to stop me. But he won't. Not now.

I have surpassed what I thought was possible and now I want vengeance. I want blood. His blood.

Max has had his eyes set to destroy me ever since that night at the ball where Alex killed his father. Even though I was not the one to take his fathers life he chose to blame me and still believes that I alone hold responsibility.

He wants me to feel loss just as he did that night. But he doesn't realise that I already have felt loss. Far more than anyone can even imagine.

I have lost my mother and father, both of my brothers have died in my arms, everyone I considered a close friend and now I stand to lose Alex. Well I say no more.

The last bullet that releases from Max's gun before I reach him flies just past my head, brushing my hair as it goes. A little too close for comfort.

I reach him in one more stride and disarm him in a nanosecond. He didn't even see it happen.

The look of bewilderment as it forms a frown on his pale face make a smile grow on my own.

I slow my steps dramatically and begin to pace a circle around him.

The shooting has stopped completely, it's just him and me while the others look on in a mixture of shock and horror.

"You think you can win this? Humans will always fight back against you bloodsuckers. You shouldn't even exist!" Max spits his words at me with a venom in his voice. He truly believes that he cannot be beaten.