Station Hope (Book 1): Humanities Last Stand by Thomas Bach Page B

The outlines of James and Spencer surrounded by the pitch black of night was all I could see.
    “I can't see him now,” Ivy said.
    She was twisting her neck around to look behind us. Her expression portrayed the same terror I was feeling; we all were feeling. This vampire and the regents that surrounded him were unlike anything we had ever encountered. Bullets had little effect and the King just survived a direct hit by a 4,000-pound truck. I only hoped the second impact and running over him had done more damage.
    “I think you got him big brother!” James voice sounded both afraid and joyful.
    “That was some good driving Boss.” Spencer yelled.
    “Stay down and keep your eyes open”.
    Everything got quiet, only the hum of the motor and the tires rolling over the dirt road could be heard. We all peered into the night behind us. No one breathed, no one made a sound. Our slim hopes we had killed the King were soon crushed.
    I heard Spencer's voice raised a few octaves the same moment that evil creature came back into view.
    “Holy shit! Here he comes again.”
    “No way, it can't be. Get us out of here Billy,” screamed James.
    A feeling of dread filled me, I knew we could not out run him and I was out of ideas on how to stop him. I focused on the road, maybe there was something up ahead that could help us.
    Before I realized it the Dark Prince was once again nearing our tailgate. His terrifying image once again in my rear view mirror.
    “Billy, he's right here!” screamed Spencer. “Oh my God no... Billy stop, stop the God damn truck!”
    It all happened so fast. I couldn't comprehend why Spencer wanted me to stop the truck. A quick glance in the rear view mirror told me why. To my disbelief there stood the King in the middle of the road. His right arm outstretched, his hand grasping the scruff of James’s neck. James hung there limp, his feet dangling several feet off the ground. The King had a satisfied look on his face, like a hunter showing off his prey. Opening my door I leaped from the truck with my rifle in hand and started to run towards the King. Reacting on pure instinct I never heard Ivy screaming.
    “No Billy, Stop!”
    A sudden sharp pain filled my left side. My left shoulder hit the ground hard as I realized Spencer was now on top of me.
    “No way boss, you can't. “
    “I have to save James!”
    I scrambled to my feet as Spencer grabbed hold of me. He took hold of my shoulders and turned me to face him.
    “He's gone Billy, there's nothing we can do for him.”
    “Bullshit, I screamed as I struggled to free myself, I have to try!”
    “We can't save him; we have to get out of here!”
    I was Losing it, I had to save James, I couldn't return home without him.
    “Let go of me, I have to save him!”
    “Billy!” Spencer shook me with his powerful arms. I think it was the fact that he called me Billy, he never called me by my name, that brought me back from the edge. I looked into his eyes and knew James was gone.
    “OK, Spencer,” my voice was calmer. He eased his grip, we both turned look at the King. It sickened me so to see my brother dangling from that creature’s grip. The feeling of helplessness filled me as Ivy ran up alongside of me.
    “Oh my God, how did he get James so fast?”
    “He was next to me one second and gone the next,” said Spencer.
    “It happened so fast, I'm sure there was nothing you could have done.”
    “Thanks but...I should have done something.”
    “Forget about that now,” I said with a somber voice. “What are we going to do now?”
    We stood there frozen in time as we watched the Dark Prince toy with us. He stood erect, unfazed by our efforts to destroy him. His rage filled expression had changed to one of satisfaction with a touch of arrogance. He had James and he knew there was nothing we could do about it.
    James opened his eyes and begun to squirm, just now realizing his predicament. The King held him effortlessly in the air the way a fisherman