Chasing Time

Chapter 7

Gun shot firing. Soldiers shouting. It was mid-day when they started attacking. Vampires don't die because of daylight. It was just a damn myth. They just have poor eyesight under the sun or with bright lights. Twelve high noon was the perfect time to attack. They had the element of surprise after all, and most of the civilians are now inside the EVAC CAMP. We wouldn't expect them in broad daylight. Killing us is just as easy as picking daisies.

That was the irony of being just humans. We have our guns, they have their super speed and killer teeth. We just run around panicking, squealing, and raging like wild pigs! That happens to civilians during their panic attacks. They run everywhere making it even harder for us to manage the situation. But who wouldn't dread their imminent death? Not everyone can think in the midst of chaos. Noone is able to move when you are face to face with the thing that would claim your life. Everyone is somehow afraid of dying.

We are their food supply and judging by the way they took advantage of our weaknesses, they are gathering as many humans as they can. They are needing humans to survive. They are doing everything in their power to secure a source to feed themselves. We will never let that happen.

As gunshot upon gunshot were heard, civilians became aware of what was happening. They started looking around like haunted animals. "They're going to kill us all!" Shrieked a panicking civilian then like a chain reaction, everyone got scared.

"We're gonna die!" Shouted by yet another one. That's when all hell broke loose! Like rats running from wild cats inside a big box, they felt trapped. They started straying from the line, wanting to enter the evacuation Helicopter first. Shouting and screaming was heard.

Me and the others started assisting women with young children. Hauling them inside the next departing Helicopter. In our area, four teams were recalled back into the military. The team that I handled, and the one which Xed led, were one of them. Each team has five to six members. We were considered as the cream of the crop during our graduation. Most of us, now professionals, had to give up our careers to serve the military. No one expressed their regrets though. If it's to save our families, we will definitely put our lives on the line. Too bad, Xed was not here. He would have been a big help. He was a great leader. His team was the best of us. He was the highest ranked among all who graduated that year. It was a loss on our end that he was not with us now.

Chaos was everywhere. It spread like wildfire. And it was really getting out of hand. "Civilians are raging and stampeding" I heard the communicator croak. "We really need those planes, Sir!" I was connected on the open channel hearing all the conversation. I am not worried with the people inside the EVAC CAMP, they are surrounded with armed men and those planes are bound to arrive soon. What worries me are those who didn't make it inside.

"Hey Queencie, what time is it? What time was the scheduled pick up for the kids?" I asked, pressing our private communication line while looking at Queencie who was giving an old lady a hand whilst walking the flatform towards the helicopter.

She quickly looked at the wrist watch and gave me an alarming look. "They're supposed to be here an hour ago." She answered. We started surveying the surrounding area. We were in charge of evacuation from the east region of our city. The orphanage is on the far east so they should be in our vicinity.

It was making me a bit worried. They were supposedly with a minitary convoy. Of course Alfonse is one of the VIPs since his father is the provincial governor. "Theyr's not here." Noelle confirmed to us as she an all the way though the boundery of our responsible vicinity. "Jed also informed me that they haven't seen any convoy arriving from the east since high noon."

"Those Vamps started attacking the EVAC CAMP at high noon. Fran, I think the kids are in trouble." Queencie said with a worried expression on her face.

"Should you ask about them? I'm worried." Chealsea finally spoke on our intercom. Chealsea never really talk much. She is an air and rescue pilot in our fire department. Her dad is the Air Force Cop Commander of our region.

I just nodded and pressed the center channel button, "This is R.Major General Franchette VillaAlguiria. Permission to speak sir?" I asked the intercom.

My communicator croaked with static, "Shoot, baby doll." Answered the Camp Commander. He is in charge of the whole evacuation plan of our city.

"What happened to the fifth convoy party from the far east, sir?" I inquired. It's the convoy which escorts the kids from the orphanage. I was the one who set tem up so I know the route and the time of their pick up.

"Sorry baby doll..." the communicator got silenced for a while only static could be heard. I know everyone was holding their breath, especially my team. "I'm afraid they're gone."

"What? What do you mean by gone? How?" I asked, shuttered, I didn't even bother with the proper address to my superior. All I knew was the kids I cared for are in danger. I was in charge of getting them to safety. Why haven't I stayed with them until they got into the EVAC CAMP?

"Ambush at Alice bridge. They're taken back to the orphanage." He said grimly. "We tracked them down via satellite imaging when their communication was cut off upon entering the area. I believe they are being held hostage inside or worse. They could be slaughtered already."

I was clenching my fist, my knuckles all white from the tension. They took our kids. Rage was starting to bobble inside my gut. One way or another we will get our kids back. They are our future. I will never let anything happen to them.

"Permission for search and rescue Sir. I would go alone if I had to." Hoping that he'll let me. I would never allow any of those kids to be food for those things. I will gut them first if they even try to touch a single hair to any of them.

"Granted, but the R. Alpha team can handle that search and rescue." He said. "I know you won't abandon those kids, especially since one of your teammates is one of the hostages. Mushka Sagas is one of your team, am I not correct?"

"Mushka? Yes Sir, she is one of us.' I paused, realizing that Mushka will never let any of those bats touch the kids. "She's with them...they'll be safe at least for now." I said, sighing. "Thank you Sir."