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The new moon allows for the stars to become countless, and while the darkness it pointless it provides you some comfort as you and your fellow Hunters press on towards the Night Gala. You feel the thrumming of the music through the ground. You can only imagine what is happening in there. Vampires are known for their hedonistic tendencies. Mikal, your partner for this hunt, gestures you to the right. Only at the last second do you see why, the steel tips of a bear trap glimmer through the leaves.
You nod your thanks before falling in line behind him. There is a gap in the wall that one of the scouts found earlier. Mikal and yourself along with four others will be the first in the courtyard. If nothing has changed from the Night Galas before then there would be not a soul or soulless outside of the mansion walls.
As you break through the tree line you see the mansion for the first time. Rumors are that it belongs to the First others claim that it is an old Family that owns it.
A magnesium flare is shot through the air seconds before the fireworks erupt. The colors paint an ominous red onto the white marble and the thundering explosions make it hard to think. Mikal breaks into a jog and you follow him. The other groups have already broken through the hole. You see a hint of movement in the direction you’ve been told to go.
Do you [[shout a warning]], [[follow them quietly]], [[head the opposite direction]]?
The second you see the movement you call out towards the group ahead of you. Mikal turns towards you with a finger pressed towards his lips. You jump back when the blur lands right behind him. Pale hands wrap around his throat. Before you can see what Mikal’s fate is something crashes into your side. You sprawl back, uncertain of what exactly struck you.
Do you [[attempt to run away]] or [[survey the situation]]?You shake your head. It was likely a trick of the light from the fireworks. If it is something you would prefer not to distract anyone. The ground is soft beneath your feet and you are careful to keep your steps light. Your heart rate increases the nearer you draw to the building. Each shadow seems to be breathing and your hand automatically slides down to the stake at your side.
The hair on the back of your neck stands. You wheel around with the stake pointing outward. It jabs deep into the chest of the newborn. Seconds later the wind carries the ash away. You grin to yourself, but a scream startles you out of your momentary victory. Another of the hunters you were grouped with is being dropped to the ground.
Mikal backpedals towards you. His hands also covered in ash. You step towards him.
“Holy water?” He asks you.
You reach into the pouch on the side of your belt and toss him one of the two vials.
“Lose yours already?”
“The dammed thing got a lucky blow in.”
As you move to help the others, two more vampires drop behind you. You share a look with Mikal and toss your stakes towards them. They land dead center of the chest of the Vampires. You see more appear on the roofs. Clearly, they were expecting you.
Do you ask Mikal to [[retreat]] or [[try and fight]]?
You decide that the best option is to break off from the group and circle if it is a Vampire.
Do you [[let Mikal know]] or [[break off in secret]]?
You decide that your best course of action is to retreat before the Vampires notice you.
You turn and sprint towards the tree line again. Ignoring the calls of your fellow Hunters, which soon turn to screams.
The tree line is only a few meters away. You hesitate.
Of course you could go back, the other Hunters won’t be happy with your momentary lack of courage, but if you leave, then there will never be a chance for you to return to the fray.
Do you [[return]] or [[vanish into the forest]]?
“Let’s stand our ground,” you say.
Mikal nods and tosses a vial towards one of the Vampires. It shrieks in pain and you rush forward. A second stake finds a way into your hand you jab it in towards the chest. It knocks the stake out of your hands. You jump back and roll over your head. Mikal rushes forward past you and succeeds in turning the Vampire to ash.
Another one jumps towards him. This one gets a crossbow bolt to the sternum and knocks backward. You toss your last vial of holy water to it. It shrieks in pain and grabs at its face. You turn your head in the direction of the crossbow bolt. The other hunters must have heard the skirmish and rushed over. The raid of the Night Gala is a bust.
You grit your teeth and twist away from the claws of another newborn. It screeches and a bolt pokes through the chest before turning to ash.
“We need to fall back,” Jayce yells.
Mikal grabs your arm and pulls you back. You curse. If Jayce is calling a retreat, then you know the mission has failed.
Do you [[ignore the order]] or [[comply]]?
You scramble to get to your feet. The ground sinks under you but finally your feet are under you and you’re sprinting away. Years of training keep you from stumbling over the uneven terrain, but arms wrap around you. They’re cold and you thrash as the grip tightens. A vampire has [[captured]] you!Quickly you roll over to your side. At first glance you see six vampires all flitting around the hunters. Mikal is no where is to be seen. The other hunters appear to be holding their ground, but as you slowly rise to your feet, dark jeans fill you vision, you look up and see far too pale skin and red eyes. Your hand flits to your side and pulls out a stake.
You grip it and attempt to shove it through the vampire’s heart. Its reactions are faster, and it grips your wrist. You lash out with your foot but that doesn’t seem to affect the vampire. In fact it seems to be amused by your struggle.
It easily maneuvers you over its shoulder and you lift your knees into its chest. Again it doesn’t budge, and you make your knees sore.
Somehow, you’ve managed to get [[captured]] by a vampire.
The Vampire tosses you over its shoulder as though you weight nothing. Its shoulder digs uncomfortably into your stomach. There is some sound of combat echoing around the empty space of the mansion courtyard. You lift your head just enough to gain your bearings.
You see the marbled path in the Vampire walks on. It takes you a moment but you realize that you are being taken into the mansion.
Do you [[remain still]] or [[attempt to escape]]?You quietly call Mikal’s name. Eventually he turns to face you and you gesture with your head, the direction you’re going. The lack of light makes it difficult for you to see what his expression is. You wait for a minute and then break off hoping that he understood what you meant. There is a hedge wall between the mansion and the route you were taking. Stepping lightly you fall parallel to the group of hunters. As you walk you keep your eyes moving across the grounds, whatever movement you say must have been a trick of the light or an overly cautious mind.
The hedge wall ends in a few meters and you prepare to rejoin the group. Your hand sliding down to the stake when your hair stands on end.
Something wraps around your throat; you hear fighting. Mikal curses your name and within seconds all you know is blackness.
Would you like to try [[The Approach]] again?You decide if there is something watching you, you would rather maintain some element of surprise. Vampires can hear and smell your blood, but occasionally they forget to rely on their sight as well. Quickly you dodge around the hedge wall, keeping low to the ground. Your hand doesn’t pull the stake from the holster, but it remains near it.
Whatever you saw must have been a trick or it is long gone now. You sigh in relief. The mission hasn’t been compromised yet. There is still a chance to clear a good portion on the den before dawn.
A figure drops in front of you. Your hand automatically pulls the stake from its holster, but it gets knocked aside moments before you can plunge it into the thing’s chest. It grips your throat tightly.
“Hm,” it growls.
The unearthly voice makes you shudder and you weakly grab at its wrist trying to pull it from you.
“Not quite bright enough to be worth it.”
For a moment you are confused and then everything goes black.
Would you like to try [[The Approach]] again?
Retreating means letting the Vampires win. Mikal looks at you, and when you only stamp your foot down. He follows and remains. You’ve only held on for a few minutes before Jayce’s lieutenant forces you to [[comply]] by gripping you by your collars and dragging you to the tree line.Jayce leads the surviving Hunters back through the forest. Every couple of minutes you hear the solid thwack of a crossbow covering the retreat.
<<if visited("ignore the order")>>
You curse the lieutenant as much as you thank him. If you had remained, then it was likely going to be your funeral too. Or worse. They were going to turn you into one of those leeches.
<<endif>> The forest seems sadder now, and you don’t know what to do to lighten the mood.
Mikal reaches out and squeezes your shoulder. He smiles sadly before dropping his arm. No one else from your squad is walking with you. This was a disaster.
Thankfully the forest is thinning out and you can just make out the hum of the SUV engines you arrived it. You’re defeated but not dead.
Jayce allows others to pass before stopping you. Mikal hesitates, but you wave him on.
<<if visited("ignore the order")>>
“Stupid thing you did, trying to take on a horde of Vampires, by yourself.”
You smile sheepishly.
<<endif>> “Your group got the closest, did you see anything?”
You assume she means something other than Vampires attacking.
Do you [[tell her they knew]] or say you [[saw nothing unusual]]?
You decide that it’s better to remain still. For some reason the Vampire has decided to spare you and you are at its mercy. Angering it may not be the best idea.
You enter the [[mansion]]
You don’t know what happens in the mansion, but you do know that it is filled with Vampires. Vampires like Hunters as much as Hunters like Vampires. The mansion is likely filled with the worst Vampires in the country.
Taking a deep breath you raise your knees into the Vampire's chest. It holds you tightly and you are unable to break free from its hold.
Unwillingly you enter the [[mansion]].
You have had enough of being man handled by Vampires for one life time. Your curiosity has gotten the better of you. No Hunter has been able to reach the inside of the mansion, and admittedly, you’re curious.
The Vampire on the chair stands up, setting the wine to the side. It appears that in life it was male. Undeath has drawn the cheeks in and it stares at you with deep golden eyes. This is a very old Vampire.
You swallow and wish desperately for something to defend yourself with.
“This is the one you choose?”
The Vampire behind you must give an affirmation, because the Vampire in front of you grins wide enough that you see the fangs poking out widely.
“Well, brave little Hunter, would you like the kiss of undeath?”
“What?” You wonder if you’ve misunderstood the question.
“Do you want to become a Vampire?”
Do you [[accept]], [[decline]], or [[ask questions]]?The moment you’re set on the ground you push past the Vampire that was holding you. It seems too surprised to respond and you book it down the thankfully straight hallway. Abruptly it ends leaving you two choices and likely angry Vampires behind you.
[[left]] or [[right]]?The question is a surprise. You had thought they brought you in here for something other than that. You’ve been trained to hate and kill Vampires and yet… there’s a temptation there you’ve never felt. The power they wield is incredible, greater than any Hunter.
<<if visited("ask questions")>>
“Have you satisfied your curiosity?” The Elder Vampire asks.
“I have,” you say.
It is a lot of information to wrap your head around. Most of it makes your stomach turn. Knowing what could be. You would be lying if you said you weren’t curious.
“And what is your answer?”
<<endif>>
"I do.”<<if visited("hear the offer")>>
"All this trouble, and you were going to say yes. Why not do so immediately?" The Elder Vampire sighs.
Well. That has to be an accomplisment. Getting a Vampire to sigh. Guess it proves your old instructor right. You are one of the most infuriating people on this planet.
<<endif>>
An murmur spreads through the Vampires. The Elder Vampire nods and steps forward lifting another full wine glass from a servant you hadn’t noticed until now.
[[next->Awakened]] Yeah, no. There is no way you’re going to become a Vampire of all things.
“No thanks.”
With its offer of “kindness” thrown back in its face you expect the Elder to kill you now. Instead it nods.
<<if visited("hear the offer")>>
"I don't know why you had me waste my breath," The elder Vampire says.
"Do Vampires breathe?" You ask.
<<endif>>
“Typical, you’re [[free to go]]."
“Will it hurt?” Is the first question you can think of.
A Vampire? You? It sounds impossible.
“The Turning won’t.” It answers.
“You’re offering me this, just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“Why?”
“We can always you strong fighters.”
You nod. It makes sense.
“And if I accept this… what will happen to me?”
The Vampire shrugs, “you’ll be a Vampire. You’ll be expected to live up to the tests we give you, and once you do that, you’re free to do as you wish.”
You snort, “just like that?”
The Vampire grins, “just like that.”
It might be strange, but the slow cadence the way the Vampire says the phrase makes your hair stand on end.
"I have no more paitence, what is your choice, human?"
Do you [[accept]] or [[decline]] the offer?
The Vampire hands you the full glass. You look at it, and you grimace. Its thicker than wine.
“Drink, my child.”
You shudder at the nickname. This may have been your choice, but everything the Hunters have ever said run through your head. For a moment you pause. Is this your choice? You don’t feel charmed.
“And when you awaken, what shall we welcome you as?”
<<textbox "$name" "Type your name here" autofocus>><<button "Enter">><<replace "#name">>$name, you have been chosen<</replace>><</button>>
<span id="name"></span>
[[next]]Well, that was certainly not the response you expected. Slowly you stand, half expecting this to be a trick. No Vampires move to attack you.
You don't believe your luck. You really can leave.
For a moment you hesitate. What would it like to be a Vampire?
You shake your head and head out of the Mansion
[[On second thought]]
No. You want nothing to do with the leaches, you [[leave]].After a few more turns, you manage to reach a door that leads outside. You glance back and to your surprise, no vampires have followed you.
You pray that the [[SUVs]] are still beyond the tree line.
<<if visited("right")>>
Well, it seems your gamble paid off. Einstein said doing the same thing over and over again is insanity. This time insanity worked.
<<endif>>You turn right, because right is right, right?
As you run down the hallway you see a large door, slightly ajar. You sprint through it and end up in an arguably worse position. The room is filled with Vampires. Literally a table is full of them. You try to ignore what is one the table.
The Vampires chasing you catch up to you. They look at you expectantly.
Well, you’re caught, do you [[peacefully]] return to custody?
Or decide to press your luck again and [[take off->left]]?
You're marched back to the room you were in before. One less candle is lit and it makes the room that much more ominous. The Elder Vampire remains sitting on his throne.
It informs you that the believe that you will [[decline]] their offer and set you free.
Or do you [[hear the offer]]?
The mansion is grand and gloomy. The Vampire takes you to a main room lit only by line of candles on the far wall.
<<if visited("attempt to escape")>>
As the Vampire sets you down, it rubs at it's chest. At least you made it uncomfortable.
<<endif>>You glace around now that the world is right side up. There is a large throne in front of you and a Vampire sits there, swirling a glass of wine. Or... you hope that it's wine.
Do you [[observe]] the Vampires or take a chance and [[make a run for it]]?Addmittedly, there is a morbid curiosity.
"Wait, what were you offering?"
The Elder Vampire offers a sickly sweet smile, "I was offering to turn you."
Turn you? As in turn into a Vampire? You take a step back. Well. Out of everything... you thought perhaps they were going to ask you to be a blood bank body or how you wanted to die. Maybe even what side, you wanted to be served with.
Clearly, it expects you to answer.
Do you [[accept]] or [[decline]] the offer?"$name, what a fitting name."
You look down at the glass and back at the Vampire. You doubt they would take too kindly for you to reject their kindness now.
This is the choice you’ve made. No point in dwelling on it now. You raise the glass to your lips and drink.
The feeling and taste is perhaps the worse thing you’ve ever put in your mouth. Nothing changes for a moment. No surge of dark power or a crazy bloodlust. Perhaps the greatest change is that you’re cold. It is bizarre.
[[The candles have gone out too ->Day One]]
The room you awaken in is strange. You also don’t feel rested. Your body aches and there is a perpetual feeling of cold. When you stand, you’re shaking and your throat is completely dry.
It is then when you remember what you have decided. Your stomach churns uneasily. You move cautiously towards the mirror. To your surprise, you see yourself. Red eyes stare back at you and your cheeks have sunken in. You lift your lip and drop it when you see sharp fangs curl towards your bottom lip.
There is no doubt now. You’re undeniably a Vampire.
"Wait, I accept your offer."
The words are strange to your ears. Perhaps a Vampire did charm you. You shake your head clearing your thoughts. Maybe you had always been hoping for this since joining the Hunters. They do have the highest Turn rate of all Humans after all.
The Vampire stares at you confused, but then a slow smile creeps over its face.
"[[Of course->Awakened]]," it says.Hopefully, the other hunters haven't left yet and you can still make it to the [[SUVs]] they have parked on the other side of the treeline.You curse yourself for your cowardice and return to the fray. The Vampires have pushed the hunters back to the tree line. You see none of your other group and you’re more than aware of what that means.
At least the other Hunters won’t know of your cowardice. Or they shouldn’t.
The Hunter leader Jayce is screaming at the top of her lungs for a retreat. Someone must have tipped them off on tonight’s raid.
You [[fall back->comply]] with the surviving Hunters
You know this is an unwinnable battle. Its best that more Hunters survive than die. Maybe in the future you can reconcile with them. Until then, its best to lay low.“I think they were prepared.”
Jayce blinks, “they knew?”
You nod, “they were on the roof tops.”
You’ve never seen Jayce this visibly upset. You may have just lost a dozen Hunters, but it’s the news that they knew. You swallow, unsure if that is good leadership or not. You aren’t paid to know that.
You aren’t paid at all, not really. But that is another issue.
“We must have a mole,” Jayce waves you towards the SUVs, “go on. Thank you for telling me.”
Its strange. Why did she not ask Mikal?
“Hunter, I don’t think I’ve ever worked a mission before. How do they call you?”
<<textbox "$name" "Type your name here" autofocus>><<button "Enter">><<replace "#name">>$name is what my friends call me<</replace>><</button>>
<span id="name"></span>
Jayce appears to lose interest in you.
You head to the [[SUVs]]
You think briefly about the Vampires on the roof. Its weird, but who knows what is normal for leeches?
“Nothing, ma’am.”
Jayce bites her cheek, “then its bad luck.”
You start to walk to the SUVs.
“Hey, you, what do they call you?”
<<textbox "$name" "Type your name here" autofocus>><<button "Enter">><<replace "#name">>$name is what my friends call me<</replace>><</button>>
<span id="name"></span>
You get into the [[SUV->SUVs]] you saw Mikal climb into
<<if visited("left")>>
You rush to the SUVs. Jayce is the last person to have entered one. She looks up and readies a crossbow.
“No wait! I’m Human! I’m a Hunter!”
“Why did you retreat so late?” She asks.
“Uh. The Vampires caught me?”
Jayce stares at you.
You quickly explain the situation.
<<endif>>
<<if visited("leave")>>
You rush to the SUVs. Jayce is the last person to have entered one. She looks up and readies a crossbow.
“No wait! I’m Human! I’m a Hunter!”
“Why did you retreat so late?” She asks.
“Uh. The Vampires caught me?”
Jayce stares at you.
You quickly explain the situation.
<<endif>>
<<if visited("hear the offer")>>
“They want to turn Hunters!”
“Turn us?” Jayce sounds positively disgusted.
You shrug, you don’t get it either.
<<endif>>
The other Hunters stare at you as you enter. Jealous you got a chance with Jayce. Admittedly, you wish it was under different circumstances. This night was a disaster and it raises more questions than it answers. You pray that any of your squad made it through the raid.
For now its best to head back to the base and rest. You’re going to have nightmares. You can feel it.