Hunter's Moon

Chapter 27

            Running into the stadium, Matthew, Robert, and Taylor kept their crossbows up and ready, eyes peeled for any type of movement. They had found none in the parking lot or the main concourse levels. Empty concession kiosks lined their path to the stands. When they got to the field, they stopped short at what they saw.

            The entire field was covered in coarse brown tarps. There were countless mounds underneath the tarps. Their approximate size made Matthew very nervous. Off to one side were two figures standing on the sidelines, both completely covered in dark, heavy garments. Shaking and kneeling on the fifty yard line was Juli; she looked to be on the edge of exhaustion.

            “Are we too late?” Matthew asked, wanting nothing more than to move in and stop this madness from continuing.

            Robert closed his eyes, straining to concentrate on the aura-scape. As soon as he felt it come into view he gasped, “It's nearly completed. She's practically completed the entire ritual. This is something that not even Mei would have tried alone.”

            “Okay,” said Taylor, “how do we stop it?”

            Robert started down the steps. Matthew and Juli followed suit. “Kill her?” Robert asked.

            Matthew and Taylor replied in unison, “WHAT!?!”

            “I'm not saying I want to do it,” Robert replied as he started taking the steps two at a time. “But I have to be honest. I'm out of my depth here. That is one sure fire way to stop the completion of the ritual.”

            “We find another way,” Matthew insisted.

            “They've seen us,” Taylor said, and pointed at the two figures standing on the sidelines.

            The figures were still standing in the same spot, but were calling to someone hidden back in one of the field entrances.

            Robert, Matthew, and Taylor started moving again. They jumped down the wall from the stands to the field and ran along the sidelines from the end zone toward the two figures.

            Out of an entrance, three new vampires emerged. They also were fully covered from head to toe.

            “Remember, head shots are best.” Robert said, and then stopped and fired a bolt at the oncoming threat.

            The bolt went wide, but it forced the vampires to realize that these newcomers were not some pushovers that could be easily taken down. Two of the three vampires veered off to the side in an effort to flank the trio of hunters.

            “Got lefty,” Matthew said, strafing to his left, keeping one of the vampires from being successful in their flanking attempt.

            Robert and Taylor positioned themselves back-to-back and watched as the other two vampires circled them. The vampires closed in to about thirty feet and cautiously watched their prey. “They're just biding their time. They know it's just a waiting game. If the ritual finishes, we're doomed.”

            Taylor held the crossbow high and aimed; the vampire wasn't participating nicely. She pulled the trigger and the bolt flew past the vampire's face and got caught on its scarf. The vampire was yanked off balance as the bolt pulled the scarf end with him in it.

            In the moment of surprise, Taylor cocked another bolt and fired, hoping she could get the vampire with the second shot. The bolt sliced cleanly into the vampire's head and it dropped, truly dead.