Episode 9

White mist drifted across his line of sight as a distant voice whispered, “This is not your time.”

He struggled internally for movement as sensation returned. His eyes opened slowly and the reflex of swallowing was rather painful.

“Welcome back,” the doctor said. “We really thought that we had lost you.”

Ben tried to speak, but the thick plastic tube extending down his soft throat prevented it.

“I think that you are out of the woods now. We managed to repair most of the damage.”

Ben nodded gratefully as pain ripped through his damaged frame.

“You should try to relax. We can take you off life support within the hour.”

Ben closed his eyes, quietly wondering how long he had been here.
When he next opened his eyes, the detective was staring down at him.

“At least you are still breathing Ben. Going for a night walk was rather stupid don’t you think?”

Ben tried to nod but his body refused to respond.

“My superiors accepted the report concerning the hunter. As for your editor, he published your photos. The body remains undiscovered.”

Ben managed to smile at that good piece of news, the breathing tube notwithstanding.

Harris sat by his side for over an hour before the doctor returned.

“Sorry sir, but we have to put him out again. Our patients don’t
like it when the tube is removed.”

The detective nodded and left slowly as the essential medical procedure was carried out.

Ben felt a sudden chocking sensation, followed by a violent gasp for air as his body reeled under the onslaught. The orderlies held him down until the respiratory system returned to some sort of normality.
As his body calmed, a familiar figure came into view.

“Is it alright to talk to him?”

An orderly nodded and the professor sat quietly. His thin frame was almost drowned by the grey suit, as the elderly Xentoph gazed down upon the stricken reporter.

“I was that fixed point,” Ben managed to gasp.

“I understand Ben. Though your solution was a little too drastic.”

Ben laughed painfully and whispered, “I assure you that it was not intended.”

The grey haired professor gazed across at the closed window and asked, “What makes you think about fixed points in time?”

Ben tried to rise but the pain was far too great.

“I recently knocked over a darkly clad figure who vanished. Then I saw myself driving the car that rammed me. Surely, that was meant to be. A fixed point in time?”

The gent understood but disagreed.

“You are still alive my boy. What you saw was surely an event still to come. Perhaps you were not the person you rammed.”

“I saw the driver clearly. It was me. I would swear that in court.”

“You probably would Ben but look at it this way. Were you wearing dark clothes?”

The reporter thought back and shook his head slowly.

“Then that settles it. You certainly did ram someone but obviously it was not you.”

Ben absorbed this piece of intelligence and began to wonder.

“Who else vanishes then?”

Professor Xentoph shook his head.

“I have no idea my friend, but the answer may be located in your past.”

Ben tried to think back but his damaged body needed the rest. He felt his senses failing as darkness enclosed him once more.

The elderly gent wandered off, leaving the reporter to rest once more.

When Ben surfaced from that terrifying darkness, a full moon had risen over the memorial hospital on Dere Street, and a dark figure had wandered in.

Dressed with a distinctive black cloak and flooded with human blood he sat beside the stricken reporter.

“Don’t I know you?”

The creature smiled with satisfaction that this mortal was aware of him.

“Does Trayhas ring any bells Ben?”

The reporter smiled.

“Were you the gent I rammed?”

Trayhas nodded slowly.

“Why do you think I vanished?”

“I saw myself driving though.”

“Simply a panic stricken reaction my friend. You should trust me.”

“Trust a cold blooded killer like you?”

“I allowed you to live didn’t I?”

“You certainly did but for what purpose?”

“You are the only mortal who has encountered me who is still breathing. Does that not say something to you?”

“Only that you enjoy human pain.”

Trayhas had expected such a reaction, but had more important matters to discuss.

“Are you aware of the threat to this Canadian backwater?”

“What threat Trayhas? What with you, an alien, and a damn yeti, I’ve seen quite a few ta.”

The vampire raised his eyebrows at the alien reference and decided to ignore it. He reasoned that it was drug induced. Ben knew better of course.

“Someone worse than myself has arrived in your pleasant town my friend.”

Ben closed his eyes momentarily.

“Please, not count Dracula.”

Trayhas shook his head in a fashion that intrigued the faithful reporter.

“He exists?”

Trayhas nodded but refused to explain his reason. Then he leaned forward and in a deep, but quiet voice whispered, “Dreamer.”

“Who the hell is she?”

“A former lover of mine of course.”

“Of course Trayhas.”

“You seem to doubt the veracity of my warning.”

“Come on. Dreamer? A rather crazy name if you ask me.”

Trayhas glared at him, fingers closing around his painful throat.

“Do not mock me my friend. She is death incarnate. Your happy backwater is about to descend into the bowels of hell!”

Ben shook off those cold fingers and said, “What do you expect me to do about it?”

“Why, help me of course.”

Ben laughed so much that he actually curled up in pain.

“Here I lie smashed a bit, and you expect me to help you. Who do you
think I am?”

Trayhas glared at him coldly.

“A philosophical argument is not required my friend. As a matter of fact you have no choice in the matter.”

Ben suddenly realised what he meant and tried to pull his head back. Trayhas threw off the sheets and lifted him easily into his cold, un-dead arms.

“You are coming with me.”

Ben passed out as the vampire dissolved into a cloud of mist.

Cool. You could make a movie out of this. Or a book

Not allowed to advertise my dear...Had 2nd warning...It should be a movie!