Memphis Vampire Hunter

By David Brown

 

 

Chapter 1

 

     Memphis, TN, warehouse district. 

     Zack Anderson walked a group of students through the final run of the tai chi form they have been studying.  The movements were slow and deliberate.  Zack focused on the flowing energy in the room with each movement.  The training room is a large open space on the second floor of what use to be a warehouse.  The floor is padded and blue.  The walls on two sides are a tan-ish brown color with occasional pictures and paintings of Chinese temples.  Zack teaches the same Shao Lin kung fu and tai chi his grandfather began teaching him when he was seven. 

     At the end of the form, the class stood for a moment in meditation.  The room is filled with incense and shortness of breath.  Zack opened his eyes. 

     “Great class everyone,” Zack said with a smile.  “Remember to practice the steps we worked on tonight for next week’s class.  Have a great week and drive home safe.” 

     The class breaks apart amid various different conversations.  Zack picked up a towel and wiped off his face.  As the last of the class departs, Wendy Stark approached Zack. 

     “Hey Zack.  How was class?”

     “Good.  They are coming along.  What’s up?”

     “I was wondering if you were going to make it to the show tonight?” Wendy asked as they walk into Zack’s office.  Wendy is the owner and operator of the nightclub that takes up the majority of the first floor of Zack’s warehouse.  Zack inherited the building from his grandfather two years ago when he was 22.  At the time Zack had just finished college and was working with his grandfather as a full time instructor at his kung fu school.  Zack had been a part time instructor while going to college at the University of Memphis.  Upon graduation, Zack took over as the full time instructor at the school while his grandfather prepared for retirement.  Six months later, Zack’s grandfather died and the school and old warehouse was passed on to him. 

     “Who’s playing?” Zack asked as he threw his towel on his desk and collapsed in his chair. 

     “The Staggers from Dallas,” Wendy said as she sat down on the couch.  Besides the desk and couch, Zack’s office is occupied with two bookcases filled with books on martial arts, history, and a healthy collection of science fiction and fantasy novels, a television, a third bookcase filled with DVD’s and VHS tapes including the Star Wars Trilogy, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, kung fu and tai chi training tapes, the entire Bruce Lee catalog, and Zack’s favorite film, Nosferatu, a stereo system, and a CD rack with CD’s by The Staggers, The Meteors, Bad Religion, Tiger Army, Social Distortion, AC/DC, Bill Monroe, The Stray Cats, Hank Williams, The GC5, Mad Sin, and many others.  

     “Really?  Cool.  What time and who else is on the bill?” Zack asked.  The Staggers were one of his favorite bands.  They played a mix of punk and rockabilly with lyrics about monsters and scary movies.  

     “The Staggers will go on at 11PM.  The opening band is The Roustabouts from Oklahoma City they will start at 9,” Wendy replied.  She leaned back on the couch and looked around the room.  “I really like what you have done with the place.”

     Zack looks around the room at the pictures of his grandfather on the wall along side the Johnny Cash, Eraserhead, and Misfits posters and sighs.  “Yeah…I’ve finally started to move some of his old stuff out of here.  It’s been hard.  I miss him.” 

     “I know you do,” Wendy said as she stood up, “but you are doing the right thing.  He would want you to move on and make this place your home now.  Besides, you put together that great memorial in the school’s front office.  He would be proud.  I’ll see you downstairs?” Wendy asked as she turned to leave. 

     “I’ll be there.  I need to work on a few things here, but I won’t miss the show,” Zack said with a smile. 

     “Good.  I’ll see you there.  Don’t take too long getting ready, it’s nearly 8 as it is,” Wendy said with a smile as she walked out of Zack’s office. 

     Zack and Wendy met in high school and bonded over music, movies, and their general status as outsiders.  After high school they both went to the University of Memphis where they played together in the short-lived psychobilly band, Memphis Train Wreck.  While playing in the band, Wendy was often frustrated at the lack of places for their band to play locally.  The majority of clubs that catered to live music were blues clubs and refused to let Memphis Train Wreck perform because they were not a blues band.  The few clubs that did allow bands like MTW to play were generally run by jerks or only open for a few months at a time.  It was during this time that she came up with the idea to open a club in Memphis that specialized in punk, psychobilly, ska, indie rock, oi, and alternative music.  Now here only problem was to find a location. 

     When Zack started working part time for his grandfather, Wendy visited the kung fu school.  The school itself took up the entire second floor of the warehouse and only a small part of the first floor (this part served as the front office).  The rest of the first floor was empty and unused.  One night after one of Zack’s classes, she asked him for a tour of the rest of the first floor.  Zack and his grandfather took Wendy through the unused section of the first floor.  To get to the unused section, they had to go outside and around to the old loading station of the warehouse.  This portion of the building looked upon one of the districts side streets and ended into the parking lot used by the school.  The entire building took up an entire, albeit small, block.  The entrance for the school faced north with the parking lot on the west and the loading dock on the south.  The loading dock was on the far east end of the south side of the building, while the old warehouse employee entrance was on the west end.  The three entered through the employee entrance into the large empty space.  The floor was covered in dust and after 20 yards or so stairs took them down to the warehouse floor (about three feet down).  The loading dock was at the same level as the employee entrance and was connected to the entrance by a walk way and group of stock room.  Wendy saw total potential in the room.  This was where she wanted to open her club.  After the tour, she and Zack were driving home and she told him about her idea. 

     “Do you think your grandfather would let me use the empty part of the warehouse for a club?” she asked Zack.

     Zack looked over at Wendy and said, “I’m don’t know.  Are you really sure you want to do this?  I mean running a club is hard work.” 

     “I’m sure.  This is something I really want to do.  Besides I’ve been taking all of those business classes and doing research on running nightclubs.  I know I can do it,” Wendy responded.

     “Well…I can’t see the harm in asking.”

     “YES!” Wendy shrieked, threw her arms around Zack’s neck, and kissed his cheek.

     “Now you know my grandfather, you better be prepared to show him you know what you are doing and that you have a plan,” Zack said. 

     “I will.  I promise,” Wendy said beaming.   

     The next day Wendy approached Zack’s grandfather about the prospect of turning the first floor of his warehouse into a club.  She showed him research, graphs, and used the success of Memphis Train Wreck as examples in her presentation.  Zack’s grandfather agreed under the condition that the club would not open until Wendy graduated and that she had to have excellent grades.  That gave Wendy two years to prepare.  Slowly all three of them worked on renovating the warehouse into a club and one month after graduation, The Warehouse opened its doors and Memphis Tran Wreck played their last show. 

 

     After finishing some paperwork, Zack got ready and left his office for the show.  Dressed in a pair of blue jeans (rolled up at the bottom), a black t-shirt, and a pair of skate shoes, Zack stopped at the mirror to check his almost pompadour style flat top hair. 

     The Staggers played until 1AM to the delight of the audience and closed the show with a cover of the Hank William’s classic “I Saw the Light.”  The crowd was good sized for a band whose following had grown and waned over the years.  The crowd was fairly typical for The Warehouse, a mix of punks, skinheads, greasers, and goths ranging in age from 14 to 40. 

     By the end of the show Zack was exhausted.  He took his leave of the band, Wendy, and a few of his friends and started walking home.  Zack lived in an apartment a few blocks down the road.  It wasn’t the nicest place in the world, but the rent was cheap and it was close to work.  The apartment was a loft in a converted warehouse.  The outside of the building was old and plain, but the inside was well accommodated and spacious, with plenty of room for training and working out. 

     As Zack approached his building, he heard what he thought was a struggle around the corner. 

     That’s odd, Zack thought.  This is normally a calm neighborhood. 

     Putting his keys back into his pocket, Zack walked to the corner.

     “Is everything okay…what the?”  Zack stared in shock as his neighbor, Mr. Ellington, was trying to fight off what Zack can only think is a deranged madman.  Immediately Zack ran to the struggle and pulled the assailant off Mr. Ellington.  The attacker fell to the ground and then jumped to his feet.  He looked at Zack and Mr. Ellington, snarled, and ran off. 

     “What the hell was that?” asked Mr. Ellington. 

     “I have no idea,” replied Zack.  “Let’s get you inside.  Are you okay?” 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

     The next day, Zack woke up early and took his car to the University of Memphis to visit an old friend and professor. 

    

     “Why hello Zack, what brings you by?”

     “Hi Professor Rose.” 

     “Please Zack, call me Lynn.  You haven’t been in my class for years.  Come in, come in.”  Lynn Rose is a professor of religious studies and was Zack’s professor and councilor while he attended the university. 

     Zack entered the room and sat down in a chair in front of Lynn’s desk. 

     “Can I get you anything?” she asked.

     “No thank you.”

     “Okay.  What is on your mind?  You look spooked.”

     “I saw something last night, something that I cannot explain.”  Zack proceeded to explain to Lynn the events of the night before.  “And when he looked up at us…he didn’t look human.  I didn’t know who else to turn to,” Zack said as he leaned forward in his chair resting his elbows on his knees and putting his head in his hands. 

     Lynn took a deep breath and let out a slow sigh.  “I’m glad you did.  I think I know what you saw, but I will need to do a bit of research to make sure.  Why don’t you swing by my house after your last class tonight and we’ll see if we can’t figure this thing out together, okay?” 

     “Sure.  My last class gets out at 7PM.  I can be there at 8,” Zack replied. 

     “Excellent.  I will see you then,” Lynn replied with a smile.  “Tonight we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

 

     After his last class, Zack changed and left for Lynn’s house.  Lynn lived in one of the historical neighborhoods near the warehouse district, not three miles away from Zack’s school.  It was a clear and cool night, the sky full of stars and a half moon. 

     As Zack walked through the streets of the warehouse district towards Lynn’s neighborhood, he heard a scream from an alley.  Zack stopped, looked around and then after hearing a second scream, ran into the alley.  Before him, he saw three men standing over a terrified homeless person. 

     “Is there a problem here gentlemen?” Zack asked. 

     The three look at each other, look at Zack, and smile. 

     “C’mon, leave him alone.” 

     Zack walked towards the three and suddenly their faces changed.  Where three men were seconds ago, Zack now stood before three demons.  Their eyes were yellow and teeth extended into sharp fangs.  The three snarled at Zack and one lunged for him.  Zack pivoted on his right foot and used the monster’s own weight and momentum against him, throwing him across the alley into a group of crates.  As Zack turned back around, the second monster punched him in the face.  Zack fell to one knee, amazed by the attacker’s strength.  The monster threw a second punch at Zack and again hit him in the face.  Now on both of his knees, Zack shook his head to clear the stars that were forming in his vision.  Laughing, Zack’s attacker walked behind him.  Now on his hands and knees, Zack cleared his thoughts and began his meditation breathing.  When he sensed his attacker directly behind him, Zack jumped onto his hands while kicking straight behind him with both feet.  His attacker was thrown back against the wall.  Getting to his feet, Zack sensed an attack from his right just in time to block the incoming punch with his left hand while simultaneously kicking the monsters feet out from under him and striking his chest with his right arm.  The monster fell hard to the ground. 

     At that moment, Zack’s first attacker got up from the mess of broken wooden crates and jumped onto Zack’s back.  The two struggled while Zack moved them to the other side if the alley.  Once at the wall on the other side of the alley, Zack, with monster in tow on his back, slammed into the wall.  The first attempted only stunned the monster slightly. 

     While proceeding to slam the monster into the wall, Lynn walked by the alley’s entrance and upon seeing the struggle, ran in.  Looking at the situation with shocked horror, Lynn ran to the remains of the crates and grabbed a piece of wood that had a sharp, pointed end. 

     After the sixth slam into the wall, the monster finally released his grip on Zack and fell to the ground.  At that moment Lynn tossed the piece of wood to Zack. 

     “Zack!  Here,” she cried.

     Startled to hear Lynn’s voice, Zack completely missed the piece of wood and it fell to his feet in front of him. 

     “Lynn, get out of here,” Zack replied as he kicked his fallen attacker in the face to keep him down. 

     “Use the stick.” 

     “What stick?” Zack asked looking confused. 

     “In front of you,” Lynn replied pointing at his feet. 

     Picking up the stick looking exasperated, Zack asked, “what the hell am I suppose to do with this?” 

     Shaking her head in equal confusion Lyn replied, “aim for the heart?”

     At the moment the downed attacked got to his feet, grabbed Zack by the shoulder, and spun him around. 

     This is insane, Zack thought as he blocked an incoming punch and thrust the piece of sharp wood into the monster’s chest.  Staggering backwards, the monster gave Zack a terrified look just as his body turned into dust. 

     “The hell?”  Zack stammered.  In the confusion, the second monster that Zack had mule kicked into the far wall, jumped onto Zack’s back knocking them both over.  Both jumped to their feet and the monster lunged for Zack.  Grabbing his left arm, Zack used the monster’s own momentum against him and smashed him face first into the brick wall of the adjacent building.  Upon impact, Zack drove the piece of wood through the monster’s back and it turned into dust.  The third monster stared at Zack in shocked disbelief and then ran down the alley.  Before Zack was able to pursue, Lynn ran up to him and held him back.

     “Let him go,” she said. 

     “What the hell is going on Lynn?”

     Ignoring the question, Lynn went to the homeless person, “Are you okay?” 

     Shaking his head, “I think so.  What was that?”

     “You need to get out of here,” Lynn stated.  Reaching into her pocket, she hands the man $20.00, “Go get something to eat…in a different part of town preferably.” 

     “Thank you,” the man said and then looked to Zack, “and thank you for saving my life.”  The homeless man gathered his few belongings and left the alley. 

     Breathing hard Zack looked at Lynn, “What the hell is going on?”

     “Not here,” she replied.  “We need to get you someplace safe.”

    

 

Chapter 3

 

 

     Lynn Rose and Zack Anderson quickly walked to Lynn’s house, constantly looking over their shoulders the entire way.  Once at her house, the two ran inside and Lynn locked the front door.   

     Zack sat down on the long couch in Lynn’s office.  The walls of the room were covered in African, Jamaican, Indian, Asian, and Native American art and bookshelves were filed with books on ancient religions, anthropology, history, psychology, and a handful of novels.  Breathing heavy, Zack sat and rested while Lynn went to the kitchen.  Returning with two classes of water, Lynn handed one to Zack and pulled a chair next to the couch. 

     “What the hell just happened Lynn?” Zack asked.  “What were those things?”

     “Vampires,” Lynn replied. 

     “Va…vampires,” Zack sputtered while talking a drink of water. 

     “Vampires,” Lynn replied flatly.

     “But that’s not possible.  Vampires aren’t real.  They..they’re…that’s…how?”  Zack asked looking bewildered. 

     “I don’t know, but I do know that they are very dangerous and you are lucky to be alive,” Lynn replied. 

     “How is this possible?  How many are there?  Should we go to the police?”

     “No!” Lynn snapped.  “The only thing we can do is to pretend this never happened.  You have to stay away from these things Zack.  Promise me that you will stay away.”

     “Why,” Zack asked.  This request bothered Zack, but he wasn’t sure why.  There was something else going on here.  Something Lynn wasn’t telling him. 

     “Please, for me.  Promise that you will stay away from those things,” Lynn pleaded. 

     “Okay,” Zack responded, but still had misgivings about the entire situation.  Lynn knew more than she was letting on, he thought. 

     “Thank you,” Lynn said with a sigh.  “Now let’s get you home.  I think I’ll drive if you don’t mind.” 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

     Zack Anderson ended the last class of the day in normal fashion.  He had thought a lot about his encounter with the vampires and the warnings of his old professor in the days that had followed.  Lynn Rose had been very persistent in her desire for Zack to stay away from the vampires…too persistent he thought. 

     How did she know so much? Zack thought as he gathered his things and closed down the studio.  He headed downstairs and out onto the street when he stopped dead in his tracks. 

     “Hello, Zack.”

     Zack’s face turned to a look of horror.  In front of him stood a vampire holding one of his students by the back of his neck. 

     “Help,” Peter Stevenson whimpered. 

     “Let him go,” Zack stated.

     “Now why should I do that?  You killed one of mine, why should I not return the favor?” the vampire responded. 

     Peter started to cry and Zack moved towards the vampire.  When he was almost upon him, a group of five other vampires stepped out of hiding and grabbed Zack.  Holding him tight, Zack could not move against the vampires. 

     “Now here is your warning,” the vampire holding Peter said.  “Interfere with us again and others will share this ones fate.”  Smiling the vampire bite down into Peter’s neck and began to drink.  Zack fought against the vampires but there were too many and they were too strong. 

     “No!” Zack cried as the vampire drank the life out of his student. 

     After he was finished, the vampire dropped Peter and starred into Zack’s eyes.  “Now you know what will happen to your friends and family if you do not do as you have been told.  Have a nice day.”  The vampire motioned to the others to let Zack go and began to walk off. 

     Once free, Zack ran over to Peter and checked his pulse.  Somehow he was alive but barely.  Frantically Zack pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called 911. 

 

     Zack was in the ER waiting room with Peter’s parents when Lynn arrived. 

     “How is he?” she asked. 

     “Not good,” Zack said as he stood up and walked with Lynn to another part of the waiting room.  “He lost nearly all of the blood in his body.  The doctors are trying to give him transfusions but they said that they were not sure if it would work.  Peter’s parents are in shock.”  Zack and Lynn turned to see the doctor come out of the operation room with a sad look on his face.  Zack went over to be with Peter’s parents.  Lynn followed by stayed behind out of respect.  She was here for Zack and did not know Peter’s parents. 

     “I’m so sorry,” the doctor said as Peter’s mother burst into tears.  “The blood loss was just too great.  We tried everything in our power to save him.”

     “Thank you doctor,” Mr. Stevenson said while holding his wife.  The two distraught parents sat down and held each other.  Zack stood still, unable to bring himself to move or even think.  I should have been able to save him.

     Mrs. Stevenson looked up at Zack.  “Thank you for trying to save our son.  He loved your classes and thought very highly of you,” she trailed off as the tears welled up again. 

     “I’m sorry I couldn’t have saved him.”

     “You did all you could Zack,” said Mr. Stevenson. 

     “Why would someone do this?  He was just a boy,” Mrs. Stevenson cried.  Mr. Stevenson held his wife and then the two stood and walked to the nurse’s station to see what they needed to do from there. 

     Zack stood in silence knowing why this had happened.  It was because of him. 

 

 

Chapter 5 

 

     The funeral for Peter Stevenson was three days later.  It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and Zack stood with Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson throughout the gravesite service.  Those gathered included Peter’s friends from school, fellow students from Zack’s school, and family members.  Lynn Rose was also in attendance.  

     “This is a sad day for all who knew Peter,” the priest stated solemnly.  “To die at such a young age is a tragedy, but he will live on in our memories.  Peter was a kind boy with a good heart.  He will be missed.  May God watch over you soul Peter.”  The priest crossed himself and the casket was lowered into the grave.  Once completely lowered, the priest picked up a handful of dirt and tossed it onto the casket in the grave.  “Ashes to ashes.  Dust to dust.”  The priest led a prayer and then concluded the service.

 

     After the service, those gathered slowly began to leave after giving their condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson.  Zack waited for nearly everyone to leave before he approached Peter’s parents.

     “Oh Zack,” Mrs. Stevenson said as she hugged him.  “Thank you for coming.” 

     “I wouldn’t miss this.  We all needed to say good-bye,” Zack paused.  “Peter was a good kid.  I’m so sorry.”

     Mr. Stevenson took Zack’s hand and held it for a long moment.  “Thank you for everything you have done,” he said and then they turned and walked with the priest to their car.  Zack watched them leave and then turned to the grave. 

      He stood at the gravesite in deep thought when Lynn Rose came up next to him.  They stood in silence for a long moment when Zack finally broke it. 

     “He died because of me,” Zack said barely above a whisper. 

     “No…” Lynn began to respond but stopped when Zack raised his hand and shook his head.

     “Yes it was,” he said.  The two continued to stand in the afternoon sun.  “He will not have died for nothing.” 

     “Go home Zack,” Lynn said. 

     “How can you tell me to go home when this kid died because of me?” Zack burst.  “I’m sorry Lynn.  It’s not you.  I know I should go home.  I’ve cancelled tonight’s classes and Wendy is busy at the club.” 

     “You need some rest,” Lynn stated putting her hand on Zack’s shoulder.  “Go home and get some.  Please.”

     “What do I do Lynn?  Peter’s death will not be in vein.”

     “After you have gotten some rest, then we will talk.”  

 

 

Chapter 6

 

     Zack Anderson finished his last evening class and packed up his things.  Earlier in the day he had told Wendy that he had some things to attend to after class and would not be going to the club. 

     “Are you sure Zack?” Wendy asked.  “You really need to relax, especially with everything you have been through lately.”

     “No, this is something I need to get done,” Zack said.  “Don’t worry, I’m okay.” 

     “Are you sure?”

     “I’m sure,” Zack said with a smile.  “Now get going, you have a club to run.”

     “Okay, but I’m not through with you yet Zack,” Wendy said with a wary smile as she left Zack’s office. 

     The day’s classes had been long and Zack was ready to learn more about vampires. 

 

     “Hello Zack,” Lynn Rose said to Zack while he stood on the porch of her house.  “Come on in.”

     Zack walked into Lynn’s house, remembering the last time he was here.  The night he killed those vampires.  The night that led to Peter’s death. 

     Lynn led Zack to her office and asked him to take a seat.  Ignoring the couch, Zack sat at the chair in front of her desk.  Lynn walked to one of the bookcases, removed a very old looking book, and brought it to her desk.  Sitting the book in front of Zack, she walked around the desk and sat down. 

     “What is this?” Zack asked. 

     “Take a look,” Lynn responded. 

     With a sigh, Zack looked over the book.  There was no name or title printed on the front.  Zack opened the book and found the pages tattered and browned with age.  He flipped through a few pages and looked at Lynn with a combination of shock, frustration, and trepidation. 

     “The language is Sumerian.  This is one of the oldest texts dealing with vampires, demons, and other supernatural entities and phenomena.”  Lynn folded her hands and leaned against her desk, “Vampires have existed since the beginning.  Their exact origins are not known, even in the oldest of texts.  Vampires feed off of humans to stay “alive.”  Much of what you see in the movies has at least some basis in reality.  They are the undead, but they are more than that.  A vampire is a human transformed into a demon, yet it isn’t completely either.  Vampires have very human and demon aspects yet exist somewhere in-between.” 

     Zack stared at the book and continued to thumb through pages, stopping at the occasion map or drawing. 

     Taking a deep breath, Lynn continued.  “Vampires are stronger and faster than humans.  All of their senses have greatly enhanced acuteness.  Some vampires develop telepathic abilities while others practice magic and other just enjoy killing.” 

     Zack closed the book and looked at Lynn with stark determination, “How do I kill them?” 

     “It’s not that easy Zack.  Vampires are much stronger and faster than we are.  They can-“

     Zack held up his hand cutting her off.  “I know they can be killed.  You showed me how.  Remember?  So besides the sharp piece of wood to the heart, how else do I kill them?”

     Shaking her head Lynn began, “I never wanted this for you.” 

     “Never wanted what?”  Zack shouted as he jumped to his feet and began to pace the room.  “Never wanted me to save some poor homeless guy from a savage death?  Never wanted me to watch as one of my students is slowly killed in front of me?  Christ, who would want that?”

     “I’m sorry Zack,” Lynn said  “This is a long road that you are about to start down and it is not one that you can easily get off of once you have started.” 

     “What are you talking about?” Zack said.  “I just want to take out Peter’s murderer and since you said we cannot go to the police…” Zack stopped mid-sentence and collapsed into the couch putting his head in his hands while resting his elbows on his knees. 

     Slowly Lynn walked around her desk and sat next to Zack on the couch. 

     “I’m sorry Lynn.  I know this is not your fault,” Zack said.

     “It’s okay.  This is not easy and besides at some point you needed to yell at someone.  I am good for that,” Lynn said with a small smile while placing a hand on Zack’s shoulder. 

     Zack looked up at her and said, “Please tell me everything that you know about these things and how I can stop them.  I need to do this.” 

     “Are you sure?” Lynn asked.  “Once you start, they will never stop coming.” 

     Zack shook his head yes. 

     “Okay.  Get up.  We are going for a drive.” 

 

     Lynn Rose drove Zack through Memphis to the cities oldest Catholic church. 

     “What are we doing here?”  Zack asked. 

     “You’ll see,” Lynn responded as she got out of her car.  “Follow me.”

     Shaking his head Zack followed Lynn and the two walked into the church.   

    

     “Do you believe in God Zack?” Lynn asked.

     “I guess so.  Why do you ask?” he replied.

     “Vampires are a dark power.  They are demons made into flesh.  Humanity twisted through the fires of hell to spend eternity walking the night and living on blood.