Created (Book 1 of the Created) Read Free Page A

the excavation proceeded. Soon, a small opening began to form until
there was sufficient room to conceal myself. Grabbing nearby broken limbs and
vegetation, I slid into my makeshift cave pulling the items into the opening to
help hide my location.
                 Feeling
only slightly more secure than when I was sitting in the open, I tried to rest.
The soft of the moss on the back of a large rock I was using as a pillow, and
the coziness of my newly constructed cave, did little to ease my concerns of
dying or stop me from thinking about the men I had left behind to die. My mind
wound not stop racing. The thoughts plagued me. All the
mistakes.
                The
sleep did not creep up on me but instead hit me swiftly and hard. I was not
given time to fight back as I fell quickly into a nightmare about sitting nude
among my schoolmates in a crowded Advanced Placement United States history
class.

Chapter 2

 
                I opened my eyes to a world still at
night. I had no idea that I had been asleep except for a minimally refreshed
feeling. How long, I didn't know.
                Gently, I parted my makeshift door
to see if I could determine how much longer I must remain hidden. I was
startled by a sound. In the distance, I could hear the soft destruction of
items under foot.  
                Just as gently, I closed the
opening. Terrified, I dared not to move. My heart thrummed against my chest. Heavy
footsteps neared. By the distinct lopping sound each was making, I realized
there were at least three.
                I
had no way to defend myself against one - now there was three.  
                Pushing far back into my den, I
prayed they wouldn't find me, but I was certain my fate would be the same as my
mentor, Senator Hatcher, and his friends.
                 The
uneven footfalls stopped. I knew the vampires were close from the stench of rot
and decay emitted from each of their bodies. The smell was horrible. I wanted
to gag badly, but I knew it would spell my death if I did.
                A
large snort was issued by one of the vampires then another; the sounds of heavy
sniffing permeated the air. All of a sudden, a vampire leapt onto the old log
with a resounding thud causing the semi hollow structure to bend and shift.
                I
felt my dwelling shudder and tilt, pinning my right ankle between the wood and
a partially hidden large rock. The ankle throbbed and swelled but I tried to
sequester my scream of pain. Trapped, I heard the vampire playfully dig its
claws into the frail bark, peeling away a thin layer.
                They
were not guessing; the creatures knew where I was hiding, and I was surrounded
with no promise of escape.
                I
pondered how they knew then I realized my stupidity. Of course, they could
smell me.
                The
vampire on the log continued to toy with me by cutting into the flesh of the
dead tree removing bits and chunks. I could hear the scratching and knew it was
only a matter of time before he was clear of the tree and my den revealed
                A
throaty deep growl arose from the left side of the tree only to be answered
with a monstrous roar from my tormentor. The growl became an apologetic whimper
in response.
                Undeterred,
the vampire continued its methodical progress on the tree.
                I
tried to work my foot free stealthily at first, but what was the use of hiding
it when they already knew where I was located.
                Eventually,
I was able to dislodge my ankle from the confinement. If I was going to die, I
was going to die like a man. Maybe just maybe, I thought, I might be able to
take one out with me as I went down.
                Grabbing
the bowling ball sized rock I had used as a crude pillow from under my head, I readied myself by taking deep breaths.