Ayanna's hand was bleeding heavily. As the blood dripped onto the floor, Marcus's eyes widened with excitement.
"This is it! She's the one I've been looking for all this time… and you knew it all along!"he shouted.
He glared furiously at Dr. Patel before charging toward Ayanna. The moment he reached her, Dr. Patel lunged forward and drove a syringe deep into the side of his neck. Ayanna gasped in shock.
Marcus roared with rage and swung a brutal punch into Dr. Patel's stomach. The impact sent her flying across the room. She slammed hard against the wall before crashing to the floor, striking her head and lying there in pain. Marcus immediately grabbed Ayanna and began forcing her out of the hospital bed.
"You're coming with me… one way or another."
As he untied the restraints to lift her onto his shoulder, Ayanna saw her only chance. She quickly pulled out her knife and drove it deep into his thigh.
"Fuck!" Marcus screamed.
Enraged, he backhanded her across the face with tremendous force. Ayanna was thrown across the room, landing beside Dr. Patel. Marcus yanked the knife from his leg and stood over them.
"Please… don't do this, Marcus," Dr. Patel pleaded.
"This is my only ticket, Doc. You know that, Her blood is the cure. I don't care what happens to everyone else. I only need her."Marcus replied, breathing heavily.
Ayanna stared at him in disbelief.
"What the fuck is he talking about?" she demanded, looking at Dr. Patel. Marcus laughed.
"You didn't know? Your blood is incredibly rare. It's the cure for vampirism. She kept that secret from you because she wanted to use you for herself."
"He's lying, Ayanna! I never told you because I wanted to protect you from people exactly like him."Dr. Patel cried.
"Shut up!" Ayanna shouted, overwhelmed. She looked at both of them with tears of anger.
"I don't believe either of you… so just let me go."
"You're not going anywhere," Marcus said coldly as he pointed his pistol directly at her.
"I believe she is. And no one's stopping her."Everyone turned. Zero stepped into the room with Emma standing beside him. Ayanna's eyes filled with disbelief.
"Zero… my God… you're alive!" Marcus spun around and raised his gun. Before he could pull the trigger, Zero exploded forward with unbelievable speed.
His kick smashed into Marcus's chest, launching him backward. In one smooth motion, Zero slashed deeply across Marcus's injured thigh, reopening the wound.
Marcus crashed into the bed but quickly struggled back to his feet.
"You've become stronger, Zero, is that a proper way to say hi to your old friend?" Marcus growled as he drew both of his swords. Zero smiled
"You're not my friend" Marcus smiled
"Let's see if you're fast enough to beat me." Marcus charged. Zero sidestepped effortlessly, drove another powerful kick into Marcus's ribs, then grabbed a nearby chair and smashed it across Marcus's head with tremendous force. The chair shattered. Marcus collapsed unconscious. Without hesitation, Ayanna ran to Zero and threw her arms around him.
"I can't believe it… How? What happened? Alex said you—" She couldn't finish. Zero gently kissed her.
Ayanna immediately kissed him back, unable to hide her emotions.
"I missed you too, And I'm glad you're alive."Zero whispered with a smile. Emma interrupted.
"Guys, we have to move now. The vampires are coming." Zero turned toward Dr. Patel.
"Hey, Doc. Nice to see you're still alive. Come on we'll catch up outside." As they prepared to leave, Ayanna looked around nervously.
"Where are we going now? This was the only place we were safe." Zero smiled.
"Your brother is here… and he's waiting for you. He just went to get Zara and Ben. We'll meet everyone outside." Ayanna froze.
"My… brother?" Tears immediately rolled down her cheeks. Zero then noticed the blood soaking her hand and dripping onto the floor.
"Doc… would you please bandage her wound?"
Dr. Patel reached for the medical supplies. Ayanna gently stopped her.
"I can bandage it myself." She quickly wrapped the wound tightly before looking back at Zero.
"Please… take me to my brother." Together, they hurried outside. Dr. Patel left the bags of blood behind as she followed them.
A few moments later… Marcus slowly opened his eyes. His face twisted with fury.
"No…" He dragged himself across the floor toward the abandoned blood bags.
"I won't let you escape that easily." He smashed every blood bottle one after another. The blood pooled across the floor, mixing together with the blood Ayanna had lost earlier. Without hesitation, Marcus dropped to his knees and drank as much of the blood as he could.
Meanwhile… Milan, Nadia, and Layla finally reached the house. The front door was locked. Layla desperately tried opening it while Milan cut down every vampire that approached.
"It's locked!" Layla shouted.
"Are you sure they're inside?" Nadia asked anxiously.
Without saying a word, Milan stepped forward and delivered one devastating kick. The entire door exploded inward. They rushed inside. The house was silent.
Layla immediately began searching every room while calling Zara's name. Hidden upstairs, Zara heard the familiar voice. She knew it was her Layla. She and Ben quickly came out of hiding. The moment Zara saw Nadia standing there, her eyes filled with tears.
"Mother!"She ran straight into her arms. Nadia dropped to her knees and hugged her daughter tighter than ever before, tears streaming down her face.
"My baby… are you alright? Did anyone hurt you?"
"No, Mom, I'm so happy you came back for me. You kept your promise."Zara replied with a smile.
Layla hugged Ben tightly, comforting him.
"We have to move," Milan said urgently. Nadia held Zara's hand.
"I need you to stay close to me and run, okay?"
Zara nodded. Milan lifted Ben into his arms, and together they sprinted toward the plantation.
They raced through crowds of vampires. The creatures immediately began chasing them. Just as they were about to be surrounded… Nutaila suddenly appeared. Sliding across the ground with both swords drawn, she cut down the incoming vampires in a blur of steel.
"Wow…" Zara whispered in amazement. Nutaila turned toward them.
"Keep moving!"
"Is she your friend, Mom?" Zara asked while running.
"Yes," Nadia replied.
"You'll meet her properly later."
They finally reached the plantation and waited for the others. Several minutes later, Raven and Scarlet arrived.
"You guys okay?" Scarlet asked. Everyone nodded.
Zara looked at Scarlet with amazement. Scarlet and Raven unsheathed their swords and stood guard.
A moment later, Nutaila joined them landed down in the middle with style.
"Show off!" Raven shouted Nutaila smiled at her
"What about Zero and the others?" she asked.
"We're still waiting," Scarlet answered. Milan scanned the surroundings uneasily.
"We need to leave this place soon. Something feels very wrong." Even more vampires were pouring into the compound. Then… Zero, Ayanna, Dr. Patel, and Emma finally appeared. The instant Ayanna stepped into the plantation, both Scarlet and Nutaila sensed something powerful within her. Ayanna, however, saw only one person. Her brother. She ran into Milan's arms and hugged him as tightly as she could. Both of them cried tears of joy.
"My God…" Milan laughed through his tears.
"Look how much you've grown. I can't believe this."
Ayanna smiled.
"I'm more impressed seeing you alive, dear brother."
She looked at the swords on his back.
"So… are you a samurai now?"
Milan laughed. Before he could answer, he noticed Dr. Patel standing behind Ayanna. He walked over to her.
"Thank you, Doc… for keeping my sister alive. I owe you." Ayanna remained silent. She still wasn't sure who to believe. Nearby, Scarlet and Nutaila continued staring at her. Ayanna finally noticed.
"Who are they? Why are they looking at me like that?"
Nutaila stepped forward.
"You're—"
"We have to go," Milan interrupted immediately.
"We'll introduce everyone later. This place is about to collapse." Everyone agreed. Then Ayanna suddenly remembered.
"Wait… Ivory!" Everyone stopped.
"She's locked inside the underground cells with Lucy."
"More survivors?" Milan asked.
"Please, brother. I promised Ivory I'd come back for her." Milan looked at the blood soaking through her bandage.
"You're bleeding badly. Just tell me where they are. I'll bring them."Ayanna shook her head.
"No. I have to go myself." Milan sighed.
"Fine. Then I'm coming with you."
"I'm coming too," Nutaila and Scarlet said simultaneously.Everyone looked at them.
"No," Milan replied firmly.
"You two help everyone escape these walls."
Dr. Patel stepped forward.
"The transport vans are still here—the same ones they used to bring us from the hospital. I know exactly where they're parked, but Marcus ordered guards to prepare them."
Milan nodded.
"Good. New plan." He looked around.
"Everyone head for the vans. Ayanna and I will rescue Ivory and Lucy, then meet you there." Everyone agreed.
"Let's move."
Before leaving, Ayanna hugged Zero once more.
"Thank you… for bringing my brother back to me. Zero smiled and kissed her in front of everyone.
"Be careful," he whispered.
"I'll be waiting." He handed her both of his knives.
Ayanna accepted them with a grateful smile. Milan noticed the exchange but said nothing.
"We'll be back soon," he told Scarlet before following his sister.
The two disappeared into the growing horde of vampires, fighting their way toward Ivory's house. Scarlet and Nutaila drew their swords.
"Lead the way, Doc," Nutaila said. Together, they sprinted toward the waiting vans.
Inside Ivory's house, Milan and Ayanna hurried toward the hidden basement.
"So…" Milan smiled.
"You and Zero have something going on now?" Ayanna laughed softly.
"A lot has happened since the hospital, brother. I'll tell you everything later." She glanced at him.
"What about you? How did you become a hunter… or should I call you a samurai?" Milan chuckled.
"A lot happened after you left too.I'll tell you later. Ayanna smiled.
"We're here." They reached the basement door. Milan kicked it open with one powerful strike.
Inside, Ivory lay unconscious on the floor while Lucy remained tied to the bed.
Ayanna rushed to Ivory's side.
"Hey… Ivory… wake up." Ivory slowly opened her eyes.
She looked pale, exhausted, and terribly weak after going days without food or water.
"Ayanna…You… you came back…"
"We'll talk later," Ayanna said gently.
"Can you stand?" Ivory nodded weakly.
She tried to rise but nearly collapsed. Ayanna caught her and helped her to her feet.
Meanwhile, Milan lifted Lucy into his arms.Together, the four of them hurried toward the exit.
Outside… The streets were now completely overrun.
An endless wave of vampires was already heading straight toward them.
Dr. Patel and the others finally reached the transport vans parked inside the hutch within the restricted area. Six armed guards stood beside the vehicles, waiting for Marcus.
The moment they spotted the group, every guard sprang to their feet and raised their rifles.
"Stop right there! Hands where we can see them!" one of the guards shouted. Everyone immediately froze.
"Guys, it's me, Dr.—" Dr. Patel began.
"We know exactly who you are, Doc," another guard interrupted coldly.
"Stay where you are. Where's Marcus?"
Nutaila quietly observed every guard, studying their movements.
"Maybe I should just kill them all," she whispered. Scarlet heard her.
"No," Scarlet replied softly.
"Stay still."
Dr. Patel forced herself to remain calm.
"Marcus went to his house to retrieve something. He'll be here shortly. He told us to come ahead." The guards exchanged suspicious looks before cocking their rifles.
"Nice try, Doc," one of them sneered.
"Our orders are to kill every human."
Without another warning… The guards opened fire.
Gunfire echoed throughout the compound. Bullets rained toward the group from every direction.
Dr. Patel, Emma, Ivory, Zara, Ben, and Layla squeezed their eyes shut, expecting death.
Then… Silence. The guards slowly lowered their rifles in disbelief. Every single bullet had missed. Not one person had been hit.
The survivors looked at one another in complete confusion.
"What…?" Emma whispered.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind the guards.
"You guys are so selfish." Every guard spun around. Nutaila was standing behind them. Without hesitation, they fired again.Nutaila's eyes suddenly turned pitch black.
To everyone's horror… She disappeared. One by one, the guards screamed as dark shadows beneath their feet came alive. Nutaila emerged from one shadow after another, striking with impossible speed.
She moved through darkness itself, cutting each guard down before vanishing again.
Within seconds… Every guard lay dead. The compound fell silent. Emma stared at Nutaila in complete disbelief.
"Who the hell is she?" She looked around at the others.
"Who the hell are you people? Where did you all come from?"
"We'll explain later," Zero replied calmly as he climbed into the driver's seat of the nearest van.
"Hurry. We have to leave now." He started the engine.
Everyone quickly climbed inside. Just before the doors closed… Nutaila suddenly appeared in the back seat beside everyone. Those who had never seen her abilities nearly jumped in fright.
"My God…" Layla gasped.
"Are you people monsters or something?" Nutaila smiled slightly.
"We're vampire hunters." She nodded toward Scarlet.
"My name is Nutaila… and that's my sister, Scarlet." The van fell completely silent. Only Zara continued smiling as she stared at Nutaila with admiration.
Moments later, Zero suddenly slammed on the brakes.
Ahead of them stood Ayanna, Milan, and Ivory.Zero immediately opened the rear doors They quickly climbed inside. Ayanna sat beside Zero while Milan gently laid Lucy down across the back seats.
Dr. Patel immediately examined her.
"Is she still alive?" Layla asked nervously.
"Yes," Dr. Patel answered.
"But we have to wake her."
"How?" Emma asked.
"We don't have any medical equipment."
Raven, Nadia, Scarlet, and Nutaila all turned toward Milan.
"What?" Milan asked.
"You know exactly what," Nadia replied.
"Please help her." Milan looked at Dr. Patel, Layla, and Emma.
"Please, Milan," Nutaila added.
"Why me?" Milan sighed.
"Don't you have healing powers?"
"I heal wounds," Nutaila explained.
"But Lucy isn't injured. She's trapped in some kind of coma."
She looked directly into Milan's eyes.
"I can't enter someone's dreams…But you can. You can reach wherever her mind has gone… and bring her back." Everyone looked at Milan.
"You people actually have powers?" Zara asked in amazement. Nadia gently covered her daughter's mouth.
"If you really can help her…" Emma pleaded.
"Please." Milan sighed.
"I'm already helping all of you by saving your lives from these damn vampires."
Nevertheless, he leaned against the side of the van and slowly closed his eyes, preparing to enter Lucy's mind. The van was only moments away from the main gate. Just as Milan reached out mentally…
BOOM!
Something enormous crashed down directly in front of the gate.The entire ground shook violently. Zero slammed on the brakes. Everyone was thrown forward. Ayanna struck the dashboard with a painful thud.
"Shit! You're a terrible driver!"she yelled.
Zero ignored the complaint. His eyes remained fixed ahead. Standing before the gate was a towering creature.
Its body had become horribly twisted—a monstrous fusion of vampire and human. It let out an earth-shaking roar.
"What the hell is that?" Raven asked. Dr. Patel's face turned pale.
"That's Marcus."Everyone looked at her.
"My God…He drank every bottle of blood… including the blood mixed with Ayanna's. He transformed himself into the monster he always wanted to become."
Ayanna glared at her.
"Can you please keep my fucking name out of your mouth, Doc?" Scarlet and Nutaila immediately looked at Dr. Patel.
"What exactly do you mean? How much do you know about Ayanna's blood?"Scarlet demanded.
"That isn't important right now," Milan interrupted as he slowly stepped out of the van.
"We have a bigger problem." He shut the door behind him and faced the monster.
"So…You must be Marcus. My name is Milan.Ayanna's brother. I've heard a lot about you. I believe you've heard about me too But let me make one thing perfectly clear. No one hurts my sister…and lives to see another day."He slowly drew his sword.
Marcus snarled.
"I'm going to kill you.And then I'll take her. She's special. I need her alive. she's mine"
Scarlet and Nutaila exchanged worried glances.
The secret about Ayanna's blood was spreading. That made everything far more dangerous. Milan charged.
The instant he reached Marcus—
Marcus punched him square in the chest. The impact launched Milan through the air.
He crashed into the steel frame protecting the van's windshield before falling heavily onto the ground.
Everyone gasped. Milan slowly climbed back to his feet. Zero rolled down the driver's window.
"You know… We could still run."
Milan noticed dozens of vampires rushing toward them. Zero saw them too.
"It's now or never." Ayanna reached for the door handle. Zero immediately locked every door.
"What are you doing?Open it! Now!" She pounded on the door.
"Go," Milan ordered. Without hesitation…
Zero stepped on the accelerator. The van sped toward the gate. Marcus charged after it.
He raised both monstrous arms, preparing to smash the vehicle.
At the very last second— Milan appeared directly in front of him. With incredible force, he slammed an iron support beam into Marcus's body. Marcus was hurled backward. The van raced through the gate and escaped the compound.Milan remained behind.
"Stop!We have to go back!"Ayanna shouted.
"My brother needs help!" Zero kept driving.
"Trust me, babe.Your brother doesn't need help. He'll catch up with us." Ayanna stared at him before looking toward Scarlet, Nutaila, Raven, and Nadia.
All of them remained strangely calm.
"What do you all know that you're hiding from us?"
Before anyone could answer…
A massive explosion erupted behind them. The entire camp disappeared beneath a towering wall of fire.
The earth trembled beneath the blast. Zero brought the van to a stop Everyone looked back. The camp was burning. When they turned forward again…
Someone was standing in the middle of the road.
Milan.His clothes were torn. His entire body radiated overwhelming power. His eyes had become completely dark crimson. Ayanna stared in horror.
"Brother…?" Milan slowly looked up. A cruel smile spread across his face. Nutaila shook her head.
"No…That's not your brother." She tightened her grip on her sword.
"That's the Vessel." Ayanna felt her heart sink.
The Vessel raised one enormous fist and swung toward the van.
"Reverse!" Raven shouted. Zero slammed the van into reverse just in time. The fist smashed into the ground.
The impact shattered the earth, sending rocks and dust flying everywhere. Everyone screamed. Zero accelerated away.
"Scarlet!"
"Nutaila! It's your turn!" Zero shouted The Vessel vanished. A split second later…
He appeared directly in front of the moving van. Nutaila looked toward Scarlet. Without hesitation Scarlet leaped from the vehicle. Her entire body erupted with brilliant blue light. Both of her swords glowed with radiant blue energy. She stood between the van and the Vessel.
Ayanna stared through the window.
"You people have a lot of explaining to do later!"
The Vessel ripped an entire tree from the ground and hurled it toward the van. Scarlet raised one glowing blade. The tree stopped in midair. With a powerful swing, she sent it flying back.
The Vessel effortlessly dodged and landed on top of the tree. Scarlet never looked away from him.
"Go!" she shouted. Zero pressed the accelerator.
The van sped into the distance… Leaving Scarlet alone to face the Vessel.