The Ancient One

Chapter 1

  Georgia Coast, March

"Sir, there is no response from the ship," the young ensign reported.

After a long pause, the captain sighs. "Alert the ship that we are sending a boarding party."

"Aye, sir."

Half an hour later, the radio echoed the report, "Captain, there are dead bodies, but no one is alive. All of the bodies are mutilated, sir. This is really messy."

"Are there any signs of disease, or anything that warrants quarantine?" the captain asked.

"Just mutilated bodies, captain. I don't see any sign of disease or any other contaminant," the lieutenant reported.

The captain thought about it for a while, then said, "Hold tight. I'll report this to HQ and get guidance."

"Aye, sir," the lieutenant replied.

An hour later, the captain radioed his lieutenant. "Lieutenant. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're getting a...um...vacation. Enjoy your tropical getaway. CDC will be sending an investigation team ASAP. Supplies will be brought within the hour."

"Aye, sir," the lieutenant replied, his tone suggesting he was resigned to his fate.

Within days after the Coast Guard encountered the cargo ship, random findings of mutilated bodies began moving inland. The first was found near Richmond Hill, GA, followed by a string of bodies up the highway system, all headed towards Atlanta. Once in Atlanta, the trail disappeared. Police were investigating, but unable to find anything. There was only one clue that connected the crimes. Every dead body was mutilated, almost beyond recognition. In addition, and rather frightening to the investing police departments, every one of the bodies was mostly drained of blood, aside from being torn to shreds.

Within the first few weeks, there was a meeting of a government unknown to most people. At least one of them didn't like what had come to their city. Yes, they knew and were the reason no bodies had been found in the region around the city.

"Elijah, as the eldest sitting member of this council, what is your assessment of these bodies that have begun showing up?" Stillman asked.

"I've read histories of something like this. There are writings of wild porphyrics. They are like rabid animals, unable to control their impulses. They aren't even capable of rational thought. To be honest, I thought they were just legends, folk tales from the old world. We've never had a report of this in the Americas, until now. I can't be certain, but I think this is a wild porphyric, and from what I've been reading, since the first body appeared, if a wild porphyric has decided to make a nest in this area, we'll start having more and more of them. They're like a cancer. We need to find it and destroy it as fast as possible, if I'm right," Elijah said.

"If you're right," Jones said, his reply just short of disrespectful.

"I think I am," Elijah said, ignoring his tone.

"But you don't know," Jones countered.

"With the thing that did this still being unknown, no I am not certain, but what we're seeing fits the pattern of a wild porphyric. We need to put every vampire in the region on the hunt. Stop all other excursions. We must contain this as fast as possible. If I'm wrong, at least we do something positive for the human community, for a change, which ultimately benefits us," he said.

"We shouldn't waste our valuable time with this red herring," Jones said.

"Are you putting forward a motion to devote resources to this hunt, Elijah?" Stillman asked.