Space Vampires

Chapter 1

Amelia was a barmaid; she had been for years and years. Her boss was on an old man, who was alright but knew how to take advantage of her and today of all days she was totally fed up of having to do the same old thing all the time.

There was a new guy who was working the shift today, because her old coworker had been killed and he left a vacancy open. Tonight, the delivery came in late and was meant to be taken over by the new guy. With every delivery, comes a whole bunch of money that needs to be counted and distributed. The largest chunk of which goes to her boss, all he did all day was just boss everyone around and mingle with his disintegrating number of clients.

She decided that her lifespan in these parts would not last long and she had been saving for a passport, she only needed 600 Gena more to make the transaction. The money was getting tight day by day as there were fewer customers and she could not see a way out. So, she grabbed the envelope and stuffed it in her bag that was in the basement. She thought to herself that she would blame it on her coworker, he had no future here anyway so what's the point.

Suddenly she heard someone coming down the stairs. She quickly reshuffled the contents in her bag in order to hide the white envelope and looked up just in time to face her boss.

"Hi Mike."

"What you doing here, the drinks won't pour themselves and we need to unpack before closing time? You know we can't run over. Where is Nick?"

"I haven't seen him. He was meant to begin the unpacking of the shipment."

"The envelope is gone, he must have taken it and run. If we don't find him / or it, you don't get paid."

"Maybe next time you will be more careful in selecting who you trust, Mike!" She put on a show.

"Get up there or maybe there won't be a next time, you lucky I chose you for this job anyway. You just a girl and girls don't belong in bars."

He tried to make her feel guilty, but it wasn't working because she knew why he gave her the job. If he had a good-looking girl working in the bar, then more men would come.

Nick had disappeared and troopers had stepped into the bar.

"Everyone back to your homes, we have spotted reapers in the 4th quadrant. You need to avoid going there. We are under attack and you are too close to the zone."

Amelia ran down to the basement to grab her bag.

Her boss Mike was still down there. "What is going on up there, I hear glasses breaking, did you tell them they have to pay for what they break. We don't get deliveries often do we?"

"Mike, there is an attack, we have to leave."

"I am too old for this; I am not leaving. I've made my peace, after they took my wife, I just have my bar."

"Mike, we might not get along too well but I urge you to please leave."

"I'm going to bolt the door and stay down here; they surely don't need an old man. I can't run, I'm a large man and there is nowhere to go."

"Alright, take care of yourself." She had a sense of urgency to get out of there.

She grabbed her bag and glanced back one more time. Mike had opened his arms cabinet and was preparing for war.

"Wait, grab this you may need it."

He threw her a taser.

"Thanks." She thought to herself, if she ever comes so close to need that then she would probably be dead.

Suddenly she bumped into Nick. "Where have you been?"

"It doesn't matter, what is going on?"

"You have to leave, they are coming."

"I know, first I want my money. Where is the old man?"

"He is downstairs, the money is gone."

"What? I need that money! This was meant to be my last job. I have to get my passport now, or I am dead."

"I am sorry Nick, but the money is gone."

She felt guilty, but it was either her or him.

"Fine. I am out of here." He ran out the back door and the whole bar stood empty.

She went through the front and could see the troops patrolling the streets scanning people, hover planes shining down the dark alleyways. The city looked like a war zone. It had looked like a warzone for as long as she can remember. Her own parents were killed by the reapers to protect her.

She ran as fast as she could with her light brown leather bag clutched in her arms, it used to be her father's school bag. It was one of the last few items she had taken from home. She used to visit her home and collect memorable items from time to time, but since the reaper attacks increased, she hadn't returned for a while, as it was in a danger zone that was no longer patrolled by the troopers.

She went into the greenhouse and began screaming.

"They are coming, Jo, where are you?"