Chapter 1: Into The Darkness

Nelly

It has been a decade since our world was forever changed, leaving behind the familiar and plunging us into a new reality. The world as we once knew it has vanished, just like in the movie Planet of the Apes. Our arrogance led to our downfall, as we believed ourselves to be invincible.

I place the blame squarely on my parents, esteemed researchers who unknowingly led us into this abyss. Their noble intentions to find a cure for cancer and extend human life only resulted in catastrophe. Now, I find myself locked in a battle against the Dark Ones, fighting to protect myself and others from becoming mere possessions and sustenance for these malevolent beings.

So, thank you, Mom and Dad, for inadvertently setting us on this path of darkness. But know this - I will not rest until I have vanquished the threat that you helped create. I am Nelly, a warrior of the rebellion. We are a motley crew of brave souls, united in our mission to protect the innocent from the clutches of the Dark Ones and their ruthless leader, Vincent. We stand ready to sacrifice everything in the name of justice and freedom. Our resolve is unbreakable, our courage unwavering. The battle may be fierce, but we will not rest until the light triumphs over the darkness.

Vincent is a vampire. Who would have thought that Dracula was real? However, these are not your typical vampires. No, we are their slaves. We are either their food (quite appetizing, I know), work as servants in their homes, or even worse...their pets. The latter is the most dreadful fate.

If you become a vampire's pet, you are at their mercy. You must do whatever they desire, no matter how cruel or inhumane. The suffering can be unbearable. Some have even resorted to taking their own lives because they could not bear the torment any longer. The life of a vampire's pet is a living nightmare, a fate worse than death itself.

Vampires possess a rare ability known as Breeders. These individuals are few and far between, as most vampires are unable to conceive with humans or even with their own kind. However, some mysterious beings defy the odds. The source of their unique power remains a mystery, but there is something within them that enables them to create life where others cannot. Oh, yes, indeed. They keep their offspring to interbreed so they never exhaust their food supply. It's quite sick and twisted, isn't it? Your sole purpose is to reproduce, only to witness your offspring perish. Not for me, thank you! My parents played a role in the predicament I find myself in. After my parents discovered vampires, they conducted experiments on them and, apparently, other creatures of the night that they discovered or created. It's not just the bloodsuckers we need to be wary of, but they also enforce their own twisted version of the law. If you can even call it that.

My parents, along with others, were desperately searching for a cure to vampirism and to increase the longevity of humans. They believed they could rid the world of this illness that plagued us all. However, their efforts only served to anger the various factions until they united in rebellion. The testing on humans began. I am left in the dark about the fate of my parents. My brother Kade perished defending me during a raid a few years ago when I was just 18 years old. The uncertainty of their survival haunts me, while the memory of Kade's sacrifice weighs heavily on my heart. All I have left now is my best friend, Tara, and the few survivors we've managed to meet up with.

"Tara! Where are you?" I shout as I return to the small shack we've been calling our temporary home. I have known Tara since before the darkness consumed our world. She and I were best friends in high school, and she was at my Sweet 16 party when my parents gave me the pendant I still wear. I had focused on my studies and would have graduated early, but the darkness had other plans. Shortly after my birthday, our whole world changed.

"I'm out back," she yells back. As I walk out, I see her loading weapons.

"Hey, we're moving tonight. I heard they're closing in on our location," I informed her urgently.

"We'll be ready to go in twenty minutes, girl. I'm sick of this place," Tara declares with a sense of urgency.

I stride back to the room we've been sharing and swiftly begin packing. I carefully sheath my knives - one in my boot, another hidden under my shirt - and load my two handguns, holstering them with precision. Some may think I'm going overboard, but in reality, we can never be too prepared. When all of this chaos began, my brother and his friend Lewis trained us rigorously. They taught us how to shoot and fight hand-to-hand combat. Every day, I've dedicated myself to honing my skills, all in preparation for the day I can finally take down Vincent.

I am a wanted woman, hunted by those who seek to claim the bounty on my head. Just a month ago, I eliminated the number two vampire, and now I find myself with a target on my back. They are offering freedom to anyone who turns me in, but so far, no one has succeeded. Well, they tried - they just didn't survive long enough to speak of it. I smile with determination as I reflect on the failed attempts of those who came before us. "Ready?" Tara's voice cuts through the silence.

"Yeah. Let's go," we reply, bidding farewell to our temporary hosts and venturing out into the night. We know we must keep moving, for staying in one place too long puts us at risk of being captured. I will never truly have a home again until I can rid the world of the darkness that my parents unleashed.

As we step onto the deserted, pothole-ridden street, the darkness envelops us, creating an eerie stillness. I exchange a glance with Tara, and we both sense the ominous quiet that surrounds us. Navigating through the dimly lit alleys, we make our way towards our destination - the headquarters of the Resistance, just a mile away. It has taken us three arduous weeks to reach this point, encountering obstacles and setbacks along the way. Nothing in this world comes easy, and the shadows of my past have stolen my innocence and childhood. Now, at twenty-six, I consider myself fortunate to still be breathing and free. The road ahead is fraught with danger and uncertainty, but we press on, fueled by a burning desire to bring light to the darkness that plagues our world.

As we were walking, I felt the hair on my neck stand up. I glanced at Tara, and she had stopped dead in her tracks. Following her gaze, I saw it - a werewolf. What in the fuck! We quickly backed up and decided to go around him and kept downwind, trying to avoid any unnecessary commotion. Just as we turned to leave, the werewolf's head snapped up and he caught sight of us. Panic set in as we realized he had seen us. "Oh no!" I cursed under my breath. "Fuck! Well, here we go." Our hearts raced as we prepared for whatever was to come next.