The Recruiters by Dara Nelson

learned that I had to find a way to do it myself, because, despite what they say, we have the right to be happy. We have the right to not be lonely. We have the right to be complete.” He looked back at me and smiled, then went on as the heads continued to nod their agreement. “So, together, Sarah and I found the way to do it ourselves. We were caught. We were punished, she more than I. And then they offered us an alternative to death. An offer that allowed us to live and be together, or so we thought. We have seen in the months since that they have captured three of the five people who helped us to our discovery. Captured and probably killed. If they’re killing all who helped us, then it really could only mean that once they capture them all, we will be next.”
    “ But why?” someone called.
    “ Because they don’t want anyone to know their other secret,” he said.
    “ Secret? What secret? The change process? Our population should be controlled. We don’t want another Jonas,” said several voices.
    I looked back at Carlos and saw him squeeze his eyes shut. I still hadn’t heard the story of Jonas and what he had done to Carlos.
    Matt shook his head. “Not the change process, but what they do during the change process to ensure our obedience.” I heard several gasps and a few “I knew it’s.”
    Matt nodded. “I know many of you who have been angry or upset with the Elders over the years.” More nods. “Yet if you ever think about confronting them or complaining to them, what happens?”
    “ Pain,” many said, “Unbearable pain.”
    Matt nodded again. “And that,” he said, “is their dirty secret. That’s something they do to us during the change to keep us loyal. To keep us from rebelling against them. To keep us from thinking for ourselves.”
    A chorus of, “That’s wrong,” followed.
    “ Yes, it is wrong,” Matt said. “It’s wrong and it should be stopped. I agree that our population should be controlled, but not our freedom.”
    Emphatic nods and several stood and said, “Yes!” I saw several grabbing their heads. “But how can we do anything about it?” one said. “This pain is agonizing.”
    Matt smiled and looked at me, making me blush. “I used to have that pain too.” he said. “But I don’t anymore. We’ve figured out a way to disable it.” Surprised faces surrounded us. “I’m not going to lie to you. This will not be easy. It will be a battle, a fierce battle. Do not feel that you are obligated to do this. But no matter what you decide to do, we,” he gestured to the three of us, “will fight this battle. We will fight for us. We will fight for you. We will fight for what’s right.” He stopped then and pulled me into his arms. I closed my eyes and waited while holding my breath.
    “ What will you do if you win?” a voice said.
    “ When we win,” Matt said, “we will form a government. A democratic government. With elected officials and term limits and no corruption and no more fear,” he said.
    “ What should we do if they try to contact us?” someone asked.
    “ Let them,” Matt said then he held up his hands as they started to protest. “I know you are all strong enough to concentrate on what you were doing before you came here and you will be able to hide what you are doing now. They have to believe everything is normal.” Many heads nodded. I heard murmurs through the crowd.
    Finally, I heard Bahiti’s voice. She stood and said, “I will fight with you.”
    The vampire next to her stood up, “I too will fight,” he said as my heart began to have hope.
    “ Me too,” said one across the circle.
    A group of six stood up. “We will fight,” they said together. One by one, and in groups they stood. Nodding their heads. Raising their fists. Vowing to stand with us and fight. Not one. Not just a few. But every last one of them.
    I looked around the circle and counted thirty two female vampires, the rest were male. “Oh boy,” I said as I