Post by Urjasz Volkova on Dec 5, 2008 10:51:03 GMT -5
Chapter 1
Urjasz stepped into the car, closing the door behind him, taking a long sigh. Pausing for a moment, he placed his hands on the steering wheel and turned the engine on. Pulling out into the road, he set off for his destination. It was a cold winter’s night, and the snow was falling around him at a casual pace. He could see ahead, but only a few hundred meters. The journey ahead would be a long one, and he wasn’t looking forward to it. On route he was supposed to pick another lycan up, some Jamaican. Earlier that day, Urjasz had been called up and told that there was a meeting in Moscow between leaders of gangs from around the world. It would be an international ordeal, with members of all sorts of species there. Urjasz had been chosen to attend, for he was deemed worthy enough to be seen with them. Representing the Polish lycans, he felt the pressure as soon as he got the call. This Jamaican must be representing his country, he thought to himself. Setting up the sat nav as he drove, the sheer scale of the trip dawned on him. He was currently on the outskirts of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, having finished a job there. He almost choked when the sat nav told him the distance. 714.23 miles, he thought to himself, slapping the wheel slightly. That distance wasn’t that too bad, but driving in the snow and winter makes it harder to drive, and he’d have to be more alert. It was at least a day’s journey, maybe two. Deciding to do it in two stops, he sent a text to the contact, telling him to let the Jamaican know he’s stopping in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. That is where to meet him, details of hotels later to be sent. Putting the phone on the seat beside him, he cracked on the radio, determined to see the journey through.
***
Donovan stepped off the plane in Minsk and immediately swore loudly. “Fucking hell man, it’s fucking freezing here!” Doing up his coat zip, he put his hands in his pockets and made his way towards the luggage lounge. As he paced across the runway, he took a look at the snowy sky, wondering why the hell did I give up the sunny Caribbean weather for this freezing ice hell, just for a fucking meeting. Feeling a slight warmth as he walked into the airport, he took his hands out his pockets and waited by the luggage convabelt. Seeing his bag, he took it from the convabelt and headed for the door. As he did, he took out his phone and called a contact. “Hey man, I’m here, now what?” Receiving instructions to wait in a nearby hotel, Donovan flicked the phone shut and hailed a taxi. Giving the location, he climbed into the car, whacking his bag into the back seats. The car set off, and he relaxed into his seat, moving to get comfortable. My ass is killing me, he thought to himself, trying to recall when in the last 24 hours he was stood up instead of on his ass. Getting settled, he looked out the window, admiring the different landscape. Perhaps it won’t be so bad, he thought, smiling to himself. Turning to the driver, he asked “Tell me now, what is there to do around here?” The driver responded by staring blankly at him, his English clearly not good enough understand Donovan’s heavy accent. Shaking his hand once in the air, Donovan resumed looking out the window. He’d never left his home islands before, even after all the centuries. Now he was here, he could never go back without wondering what else is out there. Snow was a first to him as well, though he’d seen it on the television before. But seeing and feeling it made Donovan’s old heart cry with joy. Realising he could actually still be young for his kind, he began plotting other places he’d like to travel. But as he did, every time he looked at the snow, he thought the same thing. Bring a fucking big coat.
***
The sun was setting in the distance, its light fighting its way through the snowy air. Urjasz watched it getting fader in his rear mirror, the car heading east. It felt like he was driving into the darkness, the last light behind him disappearing before his very eyes. The humans would either soon disappear to sleep, or to come out and party. Or die, he chuckled to himself. Turning his lights onto full beam, he sped up down the road. It was fortunate that the roads were fairly clear, no one wanted to brave the snow. He smiled as he passed the border sign. Poland was done, Belarus to go. Putting his foot down, the car accelerated gradually. Minsk was still a fair way to go and he wanted to get there just after midnight. The second leg of the journey could be done in the day, then rest the following night and day. The meeting was the day after tomorrow, which meant he had a night and day to spare, should he come into any trouble. Being late was a slight fear of Urjasz’, he liked to be on time, especially if he is transporting someone else. Ahead, the snow was beginning to get more dense, the fall becoming heavier. Great, just what I fucking need. Slowing down, he turned his wipers to full as well. The road began to turn, zig zagging across a dense forest. Passing cars began to become more frequent, and even the occasional lorry passed. Darkness surrounded the car suddenly, a cold breeze filling the car. Glancing at the rear mirror, he saw the sun had completely set. And out they all come, he thought, grasping the steering wheel. Looking back at the road, he swore loudly and swerved the car, a large pair of lights ripping past the side of the car, a loud squeal of wheels followed by the sound metal tearing. Urjasz’ car spun around on the slippery road several times, finally coming to a stop.
That was close, he whispered to himself, the sound of relief panting from his breath. Looking out the window, he started up the car and parked up on the side. Last thing he wanted was to be hit anyway after all that. Steeping out the car, he looked back at the way he’d come, and could only see a light glow coming from the snowy distance. Setting off on a gradual jog, he made his way towards the glow. A minute or so passed, and the glow was getting clearer. It really began to sink into Urjasz just how far he’d spun. The snow around him finally clearing, he could see a huge lorry and its load on its side by the edge of the road. Scattered around the road was pieces of metal and glass, with small fires burning on the road’s surface. Past the lorry on the other side of the road, a few hundred meters further, was half a car, the front half torn clean off. Before moving towards the car, he looked around the road at the skid marks. He could see his marks, turning and heading towards the distance he’d stopped at. At least this wasn’t his fault, he’d been driving on the right side. Getting to the side of car, he looked into it. In what remained of the driver’s seat, sat the upper half of the male driver, his legs and lower torso completely removed, sprayed across the road around the car. The seat beside it had completely gone, but its passenger had not. She was a young woman, in her mid-twenties. Lying in the back seat, it was clear she had been thrown into the back by the force of the hit. As he observed her, there was a deafening boom from behind him, and he was knocked down by a blast. Turning back as he jumped up, he saw the lorry burning fiercely, the engine torn apart by the blast. As the snow fell around it, the sounds of fire crackling and ice sizzling as it landed on the lorry echoed across the road.
Swinging back round to the car, he noticed the woman was still alive, but hurt badly. Looking at his watch, he was deciding whether to help her or not, when out the snowfall came a dark shadow, lit up by the fires around him. Urjasz peered through the snow, trying to make out the face. Around the dark outline, more shadows emerged from the forest, forming a circle around the wreckage. Urjasz sniffed the air, closing his eyes. Reopening them, his sight had changed slightly, the smells becoming part of his sight. The shadows remained black. Vampires. Knowing it was pointless to try and save her, he began walking back to his car, not looking back at the car. Behind him, he could hear her coming around, shouting out for help. The shadows moved aside for him, and shot past him straight for the car. The shouts turned to screams, mixed with the sounds of agony. Reaching his car, he got in and before setting off on his way, listened to the road. Silence.
***
Urjasz stepped into the car, closing the door behind him, taking a long sigh. Pausing for a moment, he placed his hands on the steering wheel and turned the engine on. Pulling out into the road, he set off for his destination. It was a cold winter’s night, and the snow was falling around him at a casual pace. He could see ahead, but only a few hundred meters. The journey ahead would be a long one, and he wasn’t looking forward to it. On route he was supposed to pick another lycan up, some Jamaican. Earlier that day, Urjasz had been called up and told that there was a meeting in Moscow between leaders of gangs from around the world. It would be an international ordeal, with members of all sorts of species there. Urjasz had been chosen to attend, for he was deemed worthy enough to be seen with them. Representing the Polish lycans, he felt the pressure as soon as he got the call. This Jamaican must be representing his country, he thought to himself. Setting up the sat nav as he drove, the sheer scale of the trip dawned on him. He was currently on the outskirts of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, having finished a job there. He almost choked when the sat nav told him the distance. 714.23 miles, he thought to himself, slapping the wheel slightly. That distance wasn’t that too bad, but driving in the snow and winter makes it harder to drive, and he’d have to be more alert. It was at least a day’s journey, maybe two. Deciding to do it in two stops, he sent a text to the contact, telling him to let the Jamaican know he’s stopping in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. That is where to meet him, details of hotels later to be sent. Putting the phone on the seat beside him, he cracked on the radio, determined to see the journey through.
***
Donovan stepped off the plane in Minsk and immediately swore loudly. “Fucking hell man, it’s fucking freezing here!” Doing up his coat zip, he put his hands in his pockets and made his way towards the luggage lounge. As he paced across the runway, he took a look at the snowy sky, wondering why the hell did I give up the sunny Caribbean weather for this freezing ice hell, just for a fucking meeting. Feeling a slight warmth as he walked into the airport, he took his hands out his pockets and waited by the luggage convabelt. Seeing his bag, he took it from the convabelt and headed for the door. As he did, he took out his phone and called a contact. “Hey man, I’m here, now what?” Receiving instructions to wait in a nearby hotel, Donovan flicked the phone shut and hailed a taxi. Giving the location, he climbed into the car, whacking his bag into the back seats. The car set off, and he relaxed into his seat, moving to get comfortable. My ass is killing me, he thought to himself, trying to recall when in the last 24 hours he was stood up instead of on his ass. Getting settled, he looked out the window, admiring the different landscape. Perhaps it won’t be so bad, he thought, smiling to himself. Turning to the driver, he asked “Tell me now, what is there to do around here?” The driver responded by staring blankly at him, his English clearly not good enough understand Donovan’s heavy accent. Shaking his hand once in the air, Donovan resumed looking out the window. He’d never left his home islands before, even after all the centuries. Now he was here, he could never go back without wondering what else is out there. Snow was a first to him as well, though he’d seen it on the television before. But seeing and feeling it made Donovan’s old heart cry with joy. Realising he could actually still be young for his kind, he began plotting other places he’d like to travel. But as he did, every time he looked at the snow, he thought the same thing. Bring a fucking big coat.
***
The sun was setting in the distance, its light fighting its way through the snowy air. Urjasz watched it getting fader in his rear mirror, the car heading east. It felt like he was driving into the darkness, the last light behind him disappearing before his very eyes. The humans would either soon disappear to sleep, or to come out and party. Or die, he chuckled to himself. Turning his lights onto full beam, he sped up down the road. It was fortunate that the roads were fairly clear, no one wanted to brave the snow. He smiled as he passed the border sign. Poland was done, Belarus to go. Putting his foot down, the car accelerated gradually. Minsk was still a fair way to go and he wanted to get there just after midnight. The second leg of the journey could be done in the day, then rest the following night and day. The meeting was the day after tomorrow, which meant he had a night and day to spare, should he come into any trouble. Being late was a slight fear of Urjasz’, he liked to be on time, especially if he is transporting someone else. Ahead, the snow was beginning to get more dense, the fall becoming heavier. Great, just what I fucking need. Slowing down, he turned his wipers to full as well. The road began to turn, zig zagging across a dense forest. Passing cars began to become more frequent, and even the occasional lorry passed. Darkness surrounded the car suddenly, a cold breeze filling the car. Glancing at the rear mirror, he saw the sun had completely set. And out they all come, he thought, grasping the steering wheel. Looking back at the road, he swore loudly and swerved the car, a large pair of lights ripping past the side of the car, a loud squeal of wheels followed by the sound metal tearing. Urjasz’ car spun around on the slippery road several times, finally coming to a stop.
That was close, he whispered to himself, the sound of relief panting from his breath. Looking out the window, he started up the car and parked up on the side. Last thing he wanted was to be hit anyway after all that. Steeping out the car, he looked back at the way he’d come, and could only see a light glow coming from the snowy distance. Setting off on a gradual jog, he made his way towards the glow. A minute or so passed, and the glow was getting clearer. It really began to sink into Urjasz just how far he’d spun. The snow around him finally clearing, he could see a huge lorry and its load on its side by the edge of the road. Scattered around the road was pieces of metal and glass, with small fires burning on the road’s surface. Past the lorry on the other side of the road, a few hundred meters further, was half a car, the front half torn clean off. Before moving towards the car, he looked around the road at the skid marks. He could see his marks, turning and heading towards the distance he’d stopped at. At least this wasn’t his fault, he’d been driving on the right side. Getting to the side of car, he looked into it. In what remained of the driver’s seat, sat the upper half of the male driver, his legs and lower torso completely removed, sprayed across the road around the car. The seat beside it had completely gone, but its passenger had not. She was a young woman, in her mid-twenties. Lying in the back seat, it was clear she had been thrown into the back by the force of the hit. As he observed her, there was a deafening boom from behind him, and he was knocked down by a blast. Turning back as he jumped up, he saw the lorry burning fiercely, the engine torn apart by the blast. As the snow fell around it, the sounds of fire crackling and ice sizzling as it landed on the lorry echoed across the road.
Swinging back round to the car, he noticed the woman was still alive, but hurt badly. Looking at his watch, he was deciding whether to help her or not, when out the snowfall came a dark shadow, lit up by the fires around him. Urjasz peered through the snow, trying to make out the face. Around the dark outline, more shadows emerged from the forest, forming a circle around the wreckage. Urjasz sniffed the air, closing his eyes. Reopening them, his sight had changed slightly, the smells becoming part of his sight. The shadows remained black. Vampires. Knowing it was pointless to try and save her, he began walking back to his car, not looking back at the car. Behind him, he could hear her coming around, shouting out for help. The shadows moved aside for him, and shot past him straight for the car. The shouts turned to screams, mixed with the sounds of agony. Reaching his car, he got in and before setting off on his way, listened to the road. Silence.
***
