Chapter Text
Apo's mind was racing. Vampires. They were real. Not a figment of Avid's imagination or stories told to her as a child, but real, not quite breathing beings living among her and the rest of the inhabitants of Oakhurst. Apo knew she didn't have that much time until she had to pick one of the other townsfolk, one of her friends, to be lost to the darkness forever. She could turn herself in, let herself become a creature of the night, but as Owen said, they might just kill her. And she needed to get back to Cherri, to her love.
As Apo trudged back to town, she debated the best course of action. Did she tell everyone about the vampires and risk becoming the new Avid, or worse, the vampires taking that as a threat and choosing to wipe out the whole town. Did she sacrifice herself? Or did she offer someone else up to be put on the chopping block?
"Apo!" She heard someone yell from just inside the gates. "Apo! We've been looking all over for you, after you went off alone with Owen I was worried." The town paranoiac, Avid came up to her, once again talking about the dangers of going off with just one person, although, she guessed, this time Avid was right about at least one thing. Not that Apo would ever tell him that. Unless... Avid was the most annoying of the townsfolk. Even if Scott was a vampire, he accused him with no proof and tried to convince the town that he murdered Shelby. Clearly he was unhinged. Maybe it wouldn't matter that much if he became a vampire. No, what am I on about Apo thought. She couldn't sacrifice someone. But if it was to get back to Cherri? She would do anything.
"Oh. Hi Avid."
"Hey, so Drift and Shelby just left together and I wanted to go do some consecration 'cus you know it just makes me feel so good and Abolish is staying here in town and everyone else is out so did you wanna go with me?" Avid spoke in an eager tone. This could be Apo's chance. Delay Avid long enough to get to the crypt at sundown, hand over Avid, and exit this god-forsaken place as a human.
"Oh, uh sure. I've just got to get some more food then we can go consecrating".
As Apo made her way back towards the house she and Pyro shared, she realised that she had no idea that she had no clue about any of the dynamics within the group of vampires. She was pretty sure Scott was the oldest, purely based on his attire and his general cluelessness about current events. But she had no idea whether Pyro and Owen had been vampires the whole time, or if there were more living among them. Oh god. What if Avid was already a vampire and they kill her for bringing one of their own as a sacrifice? Surely not. With all the paranoia and fear he's spread about them he wouldn't be one himself. Right? Apo just had to take the risk.
"Hey Avid? I'm ready to go"
"Well hello miss Apo, where are you and mr Avid heading off too don'cha know?" Apo turned around to see Ren approaching from the direction of his cabin on the outside of town.
"We were just heading off to go consecrate some beacons, you wanna come with us?" said Avid, coming around the corner with a a bag that smelled suspiciously like garlic.
"Why that sounds to me like a mighty fine idea now doesn't it" replied Ren. Oh no. This was bad. Apo couldn't lead both of them to the vampires, couldn't justify sacrificing two people. Surely she could convince Ren not to go, or leave him behind at some point.
"Uh Apo? You good there?" Avid asked.
"Oh huh? Um yeah I'm fine, let's head off" She replied.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avid was very conflicted. Earlier he kinda got called a monster by someone who was very clearly a vampire even if no one else could see it then the town took him back so that was good. Oh and now he's going to go consecrate. Avid loved consecrating. He was consecrating with someone he didn't really know all that well, but was excited to get to know. All he knew about Apo was that she was setting up an army post here and she didn't believe in vampires. Thats okay. He could convince her. He could convince everyone. So what happened to Elle would never happen to anyone else. Ren was also coming along. He was a strange fellow, but he did believe in some supernatural so that was a start.
Apo interrupted his thoughts.
"I think the nearest unconsecrated beacon is the crypt one"
"Oh yeah, didn't something weird happen to it earlier today?" Avid replied
"I would be careful around it then. Strange happening are going on in this town don'cha know" Ren added in his eccentric accent.
"Well if you don't want to come along that fine Ren" suggested Apo.
Ren thought about it for a moment then responded,
"Well now that I think about it, I do need to finish building my house. And I promised to go and visit the young Mr Woodhurst"
Avid was disappointed he was losing a consecrating buddy, but he still had Apo, who looked weirdly relived by this turn of events.
By the time they had arrived at the crypt it was sundown. Avid and Apo walked down the stairs and stared at the glowing red beacon in the centre of the room, and just being around it make Avid nervous. He suspected the same for Apo too, as she had and expression of worry on her face. As Avid stepped forward to touch the beacon, he heard a very familiar voice from the shadows.
"I'm impressed Apo. You actually stuck to the deal. It's so lovely seeing humans who will cooperate". Out of the shadows stepped Scott Goldsmith, the eerie red light reflecting off his too-sharp teeth that were twisted into what could only be described as a sinister grin. "And my, my, what a interesting snack you've brought. Very young and... scared". Avid pulled out the stake secured on his baldric and brandished it at the vampire standing in front of him.
"APO HELP ME"
"APO HE'S GOING TO KILL US"
When no response came from her, Avid chanced a glance over, still brandishing the deadly weapon at Scott. Apo looked away from him and just mumbled "I'm sorry Avid"
"Looks like you have no one to help you Avid. And no one to hear you scream. I've grown quite bored of your pathetic attempts to turn the town against me. So I think I'll just.. do... this...". As Scott was saying those last words, he crept forward and pounced, knocking the stake out of Avid's hands like it was childplay. Avid fought against him, but got pinned to the ground in a matter of seconds. He felt teeth peirce his flesh, and his blood be drain from his body. Avid could feel his body growing weaker, and could hear Apo groaning uncomfortably in the background, but all he could focus on was the vampire currently sucking away at his blood. After a couple of minutes of weak resistance from Avid, his vision faded to black.