Blood Sacrifice: They Rise Ii

By Sherrie Pollard

Friends David and Timothy find themselves in a bitter battle for success, but one opts to take the quick route. Ethics and morals are challenged during a test to see how far one will go in an attempt to seek money, power, and fame. It is soon discovered that everything is not always what it appears to be, and his decision will take him down a path far more sinister than he ever imagined.
This sequel to They Rise introduces Jasmine, the lone surviving zombie who becomes part of a plan that would guarantee the nourishment she desperately needs by becoming a mole in the world of entertainment, with the plan of introducing any and all willing participants to her newfound world ruled by the Dark One.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483678832

Sherrie Pollard

Sherrie Pollard resides in Los Angeles, California, where she is raising her four children. She is currently a student at California State University Long Beach, pursuing a degree in Psychology.

Book preview

Blood Sacrifice

They Rise II

Sherrie Pollard

Copyright © 2013 by Sherrie Pollard.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2013913910

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 08/12/2013

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Contents

IN THE BEGINNING

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

\TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-EIGHT

TWENTY-NINE

THIRTY

THIRTY-ONE

THIRTY-TWO

THIRTY-THREE

THIRTY-FOUR

THIRY-FIVE

THIRTY-SIX

THIRTY-SEVEN

THIRTY-EIGHT

THIRTY-NINE

FORTY

FORTY-ONE

FORTY-TWO

FORTY-THREE

THE HOURGLASS

To my children;

Cole, Adrianna, Olivia, and Drea.

Never be afraid to follow your dreams.

IN THE BEGINNING

T he spacecraft drifted throughout the deepest regions of the universe that had once been filled with stars, supernovas, black holes, and the other ingredients that were once contained in its recipe; but now it was eerily still, except for an occasional thrust. It had been void of any interplanetary movement and had been for quite some time.

Have you ever seen it this dark?

No, I haven’t. Captain Scott gazed out of the window, his reflection posted onto a black canvas of darkness that appeared to be sinking into the dismal abyss beyond. He firmly placed his hands along the windowsill as he felt the craft suddenly began to teeter back and forth, a feeling that had become all too familiar. As he looked down into the darkness past the windowsill, he tried hard to avoid the feeling one gets while looking over the edge of a cliff; fearing that an invisible entity was going to reach up and meet his stare with a welcoming embrace, he secured his footing until the craft began to settle.

Lieutenant James swiftly moved next to Captain Scott, both now looking out of the window, staring deep into the still ocean of darkness, and replied, Yes, I did. Lieutenant James struggled to look through the black barrier that lined the spacecraft, searching for the slightest speckle of light. I wonder if that was the last one.

Pulling himself away from the window, with eyes shifting from the floor becoming affixed on his shoes, then legs, and slowly making their way upward toward his arms, he looked at his fingertips; and with the look of someone who just had their first taste of LSD, he was mesmerized by a feeling he had never felt before. Do you feel that, Captain?

As the craft floated throughout the shadowy darkness that was all that remained outside, it started to become apparent that the last of the remaining stars had collapsed along with the last explosion of the planets, creating the blanket of gloom that enveloped the craft and soon began to mirror the emotions being felt deep within the members of its crew. The activity among the children had ceased, and the others roamed about, not recognizing the change that had begun to occur.

Captain Scott slowly backed away from the window, acting as if someone had just pulled a gun on him, soon firing, causing him to search his torso and limbs, anticipating the signs of an entrance wound. His eyes traveled along his extended arm, and he watched as it reached out toward the darkness on the other side of the window, but it was as if nothing seemed to be reaching out to nothing. He calmly replied, Yes. Yes, I do. He then cocked his head quizzically, trying to grasp the exact emotion he was feeling, and stated, "Or should I say, I don’t feel that."

Although the changes were subtle, eventually, they too became completely void and hollowed, like the lurking dim that was seen outside of the craft. They thought about their continued existence, wondering how long they could drift throughout outer space, as it seemed inevitable that their demise would soon follow.

So what are we going to do now, Captain?

Captain Scott returned his glance toward the window, uncertain of the answer, but was even more surprised by how indifferent he felt about the question.

I’m not sure what we’re going to do. He placed his hand on his chest, then moved it to his forehead. He wasn’t sure if he was in shock or if he just didn’t care for some reason. He had no emotion regarding the subject.

I think we will just have to wait and see what happens. He turned and stared at his crew and saw no expressions of disbelief, discontent, or discernment, but all appeared to show the same type of insensitivity to the situation, which one could easily assume that every member was in a state of shock, but it was obviously something else. There was something dark and ominous looming among the members.

He turned and spoke to those that were present in the room, Everyone, come follow me.

The captain and his team ventured out into the spacecraft to inform the community of the circumstances. Everyone assembled on the bottom floor, men and women, children and their pets, and each and everyone stared up at the captain with dark, soulless eyes, seeming to ask for nothing.

I’m sure everyone is wondering what’s going on outside. It seems as though the last planet has exploded.

There was silence throughout the craft.

We’re really not sure how long we will be able to survive, considering our rations are limited, and there are no signals from any connection points. The captain awaited questions, but none were asked. He then continued, We will simply plan out our meals, limit our intake, and hope for the best.

Hope, a very familiar word that the captain remembered was associated with a type of feeling. He knew the use of the word was appropriate but could no longer understand why. It wasn’t that he didn’t have hope, he just couldn’t feel hope.

No one could understand what was happening, but they somehow realized that it had to do with the disappearance of the planets. It was almost as if they too had disappeared. Just not in the physical sense.

Once upon a time, each planet represented an emotion, and each controlled the mood of man, a foolish philosophy to many, but now one to be believed, only a little too late. As their life force was now completely extinguished, the force that was once known as that little light within had vanished. The only satisfactory things remaining to do were to eat, sleep, and think about the possibility of some unknown planet still remaining somewhere out in the distance, one on which they could once again inhabit and escape the imprisonment of the spacecraft.

Captain Scott returned to the hull, positioning himself once more in front of the window, where his eyes were again fixed on the darkness, searching for any sign of light or even the smallest particle of space matter, but he saw nothing. He thought to himself, Is this the end? Are we going to wander through space for whatever time is remaining? His tall, slender build turned to take a seat at the panel, where he sat expressionless, pondering the statement man will destroy himself and wondering if this is what it meant.

For millions of years, humans had traveled throughout space, invading planets, draining them of all of their resources, only having to move onto the next one. But now nothing was left. They had taken all that they could from each planet and were now left with the possibility of having to roam what was left of the universe, without any foreseeable future.

There has to be more than this. Captain Scott made a slight turn following the voice, only to see Lieutenant James staring out of the window as well. If we did just experience the big bang, then maybe we too will experience a new beginning. Captain Scott stared at Lieutenant James; that familiar word hope began to enter his mind.

I hope you’re right, Lieutenant, and if so, then all we have to do is wait.

Lieutenant James then asked another question, one that neither could answer, but one that he couldn’t refrain from asking nonetheless, But for how long?

Captain Scott slowly turned to face the window, peering out into the darkness; only it appeared to have grown darker than it was before.

Weeks had gone by with no change being detected outside of the spacecraft and the crew were unable to contact any members aboard other ships. Most importantly, no one had even noticed that they had gone without food for so long. It wasn’t until little Leigha had asked Captain Scott, Are you hungry yet, Daddy? that he realized something was dreadfully wrong. He had yet to experience even the slightest churn within his stomach or even that faint feeling one usually gets when they’ve gone without food for a while.

Leigha was the youngest member in their space community. Even at the age of ten, it wasn’t unusual for the craft to be free of newborns or tiny children since reproduction is usually halted during the quest to discover a new planet. The survival of the community relied on the consistent distribution of food rations designated for each family the spacecraft housed, and adding new members while in flight would be detrimental to those aboard.

Captain Scott looked at his daughter, who appeared to grow weak right before his eyes. He walked rather hurriedly through the halls of the ship, finally reaching the food cabin that contained thousands of packets of compressed meals, manufactured in such a way as to ensure that each member would have enough to eat for at least ten years.

He unwrapped the tiny packet and placed it onto the convection belt and watched as it moved through the valve, changing shape and forming into a complete meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a dinner roll. As the meal rolled onto a plate at the end of the valve, the steam from the food crept up toward the captain’s nose, and the aroma fell on deadened senses. Captain Scott could smell the food, but there was no reaction strong enough to entice him to partake in a meal with his daughter. He grabbed the plate and quickly walked back down the hall and handed it to Leigha.

I don’t think I want this, Daddy. Leigha looked up at her father with uncertainty, almost as if she had forgotten what to do with food.

You need to eat, Leigha. You’re becoming weak. Just eat. His words were as plain as the food, and even though the hunger Leigha felt hadn’t subsided, she knew that what was being handed to her was something she did not want.

She picked up a forkful of mashed potatoes and began to eat. Slowly, almost cautiously, she grabbed the dinner roll and took a small bite. Captain Scott stated his contentment, Very good. You need to eat, honey. Leigha looked up at her father, forced a slight smile, and then returned to her plate. As each swallow became more and more difficult to force, Leigha finally placed her fork alongside the edge of the plate. Trying hard to keep down the food she had just consumed, her mouth began to water, and the contents of her stomach began to churn violently, resulting in a volcanic-like eruption that spewed vomit several feet into the distance.

Leigha! Captain Scott yelled out. He walked toward his daughter, but she quickly placed her hand over her mouth and turned to run down the hallway.

Fear was what Captain Scott realized he was still capable of feeling. A deeply rooted feeling that made him feel alive, which was quite comforting. His pace quickened as he followed Leigha into the bathroom, where he witnessed the food being rejected by her body once again. The sounds of footsteps quickly approaching from behind caught his attention.

Captain Scott turned around. Quick, get some help. He placed his hands on Leigha’s shoulders and guided her toward the sink. He reached into the cabinet, grabbed a facecloth, and placed it underneath the stream of cold water. Leigha looked up at her father, revealing to him the fear that she too felt. It was in her eyes. And it was then that he noticed the discoloration. Her once deep-brown eyes had changed to light brown, and her warm skin was becoming cold and pale.

Can someone please get the nurse? Captain Scott looked back into his daughter’s eyes. Leigha, I’m going to take you to the nurses’ station where you can lie down and get examined, OK? Leigha nodded and proceeded out the door, followed by her father. With one hand on her shoulder, Captain Scott could feel her beginning to tremble, and as she began to stumble with each step, he swiftly scooped her up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way. As he walked into the nurses’ station, fear blanketed him once more. He looked into Nurse Chapman’s eyes and simply stated, I think she’s dying.

Nurse Chapman tried to prop Leigha up on the table but was met with resistance. The more she tried, the more Leigha would slump to the side, her energy quickly diminishing. Nurse Chapman commenced to lay Leigha on her back to begin the examination. She began checking her vital signs, occasionally glancing at Captain Scott. She too began to feel the comfort of fear as she placed the stethoscope over Leigha’s chest, across her stomach, and then back to her chest again. She then reached for the ophthalmoscope and looked into Leigha’s eyes. She looked up at Captain Scott. Her pupils aren’t dilating or retracting. This really is not possible if she is alive.

A grimace came upon Leigha’s face as she reached for her stomach. She began clutching it tightly, squirming as she began to cry out in pain. Captain Scott stared down at his daughter, frightened, watching as her ghostly image moved no more. The color of her light brown pupils were now completely white.

I’m sorry, Captain Scott. She’s gone.

Captain Scott’s eyes reached for the words that rolled off the tongue of Nurse Chapman, desperately wanting to examine their meaning. I don’t understand. She was fine less than an hour ago. What could have happened?

I don’t know, sir. Nurse Chapman placed the ophthalmoscope onto the counter. Was she exposed to something out of the ordinary? Any chemical substances? Maybe there’s a leak somewhere.

Captain Scott looked into and beyond the eyes of Nurse Chapman, shrugged his shoulders, and he returned his floating glance upon Leigha.

I’ll have the maintenance crew check the craft for any spills or anything unusual. Nurse Chapman exited the nurses’ station in search of the maintenance crew, leaving Captain Scott to be alone with his daughter. Lieutenant James walked into the room and hesitantly placed his hand on Captain Scott’s shoulder. Should we prepare for the space burial?

Not just yet. I think we should run some tests to see what we’re dealing with. The whole community could have been exposed.

Lieutenant James nodded his head and exited the room. As he walked down the hallway, he heard two other children tell their mothers that they were hungry. It had also donned on him that he hadn’t eaten in weeks either.

The two mothers entered the food station to prepare meals for their sons. The same sensations Captain Scott felt in preparing the meal for his daughter, they felt, which was absolutely nothing. The appearance of the food was neither pleasing nor displeasing. Its aroma was neither tantalizing nor repugnant. Their senses appealed to none of it, and they didn’t bother to question why.

Here you go, boys. Take these plates into the dining hall and return them when you’re finished.

Yes, ma’am, the eldest of the boys respectfully acknowledged his mother’s request.

As the boys walked down the hallway, the mothers walked into the nurses’ station as Captain Scott pulled a sheet over his daughter’s face. Is there anything we can do, Captain?

No, I think all we can do now is wait for the results of the blood tests.

Well, Nurse Chapman has gathered the maintenance crew, and they’re beginning to inspect the craft. I find it hard to believe that it was some type of viral or bacterial infection. We have been aboard Journey for over five years now. Nothing like this has ever happened.

Five years. It’s been six years since her mother passed away. It seems just like yesterday. Captain Scott continued to look at the form lying underneath the sheet. I can’t believe she’s gone. I just can’t understand what went wrong. She was fine before she ate.

One of the mothers looked at the other and then questioned Captain Scott, Are you saying you think it was the food?

I’m not sure. I just know she was fine up until that point.

The two mothers stared at each other and then turned at the sound of one of the community members walking quickly down the hallway. Captain Scott… we have a situation in the dining hall. Both mothers turned and began to run down the hallway with Captain Scott close behind. They entered into the dining hall, stunned at the sight before them. Both sons vomiting violently, tears in their eyes, and clinching their stomachs as their bodies continued to reject the food.

OK, everyone… we need to place the craft on quarantine until we can determine exactly what it is we’re dealing with.

Captain Scott ran into the hull and proceeded to make the announcement over the intercom, Everyone, can I have your attention please. We have just encountered a situation with two more children in the dining hall. I don’t wish to alarm anyone, but until we reach a determination, I would advise against eating anything from the food station. We must have everything checked and tested before any more food is to be distributed. Captain Scott turned to Lieutenant James, as if asking for his approval, and then stated, I would also like for everyone to check their temperatures, the temperatures of their children, and if there is any sign of fever, please report to me immediately.

Captain Scott and Lieutenant James turned toward the doorway of the hull and watched as both the children’s fathers carried their sons into the nurses’ station. They gazed at the form that lay beneath the sheet of the first bed, and as the fathers placed their sons on the second and third beds, the same symptoms Leigha exhibited were now being displayed in the boys. The pale skin, the discoloration of the pupils, and suddenly the pain set in. The boys squirmed and grabbed their abdomens as they curled into fetal positions. It wasn’t long before the fathers were pulling the sheets over the faces of their children, with the mothers watching fearfully. Everyone turned to the captain and the lieutenant as they walked into the station. All captivated by the one and only emotion that they were still able to feel—fear.

ONE

S o what brings you here?

Jasmine stared at Mr. Shaunacy for a moment and then replied, I had nowhere else to go.

Jasmine had tried to be careful for months following the vaccination that ended the zombie epidemic. At least it almost ended it. She was the sole survivor, her immunity to the vaccination had left her wandering the streets of Los Angeles, her hunger growing, causing her to resort to feeding off the homeless population, with the hopes that no one would notice that the unnoticeable ones were missing. But now authorities were on to her due to her inability to logically think of a way to completely discard the remains, and she needed to find a place of refuge.

Mr. Shaunacy was bewildered by the appearance of Jasmine. She reminded him of the Elders. Her pupils were starting to fade, and her expression was vacant. Occasionally, she would clinch at her stomach and bend forward in pain. He had seen this many times before.

Mr. Shaunacy stared at her curiously then asked, Can I get you something to eat?

Jasmine raised her head and looked into his eyes, although by now her hazel eyes had turned grey, and the color in her sunken cheeks began to fade as well.

Well, I’m not sure if you know exactly what it is that I need.

Somewhat startled, Mr. Shaunacy said, I will be right back. Don’t move.

He made his way into the kitchen and pulled a container from the refrigerator. Its contents resembled macaroni and cheese, only covered in a thick, red sauce. He placed a few spoonfuls on a plate, unsure if this type of meal was what she needed, but at the same time he was certain. He returned to the parlor. I think I have what you need.

Jasmine looked at the plate, giving the only expression she was capable of, which was eager delight. She quickly accepted the offering, and as she began to feast on the tiny morsels, her eyes began to change to their original color, and her strength too was returning. She swallowed the last piece of flesh and asked, How did you know?

Mr. Shaunacy sat down behind his desk, still unable to take his eyes off her, responded to her question with his own question, How did you know about us?

Jasmine sat the plate on top of the desk. Feeling renewed and full of strength, she stood up and walked toward the fireplace. She ran her fingers along the mantelpiece; her eyes roamed his office as she studied the elaborate details. Well, in my profession, you hear things. People wanting a better way of life, contemplating joining your organization.

What is your profession? Mr. Shaunacy asked curiously.

I am a prostitute, she replied casually. Well, I was a prostitute.

So is that why you’re here? You want a better way of life?

Jasmine continued to wander around the room, picking up pictures, glancing at them, and placing them back down. She walked toward a scented candle that was placed on the bookcase next to Mr. Shaunacy’s desk. She pulled it toward her nose, inhaled deeply, and sat it