Go to the church

"Melissa, could you... take me to the church on California Street?" You were breathing heavily and felt the sweat dropping from your forehead.

"The church? Are you sure? You friend is in the central hospital." The sergeant looked at you with confusion.

"Please... I'm afraid I don't have much time..." You nearly passed out when the car started.

You arrived at the church at around 1 p.m.. Your condition deteriorated fast in just an hour and you felt so weak that you almost couldn't walk on your own. Melissa worriedly carried you to the door and knocked anxiously. Several seconds later, a mid-aged man wearing in black answered the door. He seemed to be shocked to see you.

"Hurry! Get him inside!" After the initial hesitation he helped Melissa with carrying you. His voice sounds familiar, you thought.

He was explaining the situation to Melissa on the way, but you couldn't hear the words clearly now. You were brought in a room and laid on a bed. The heat in your body was spreading so fast that you felt like you're burning. You twitched and slightly groaned in pain. The man left for half a minute and returned with a cup of water - at least you thought it was water - in his hands. He carefully poured the water in your mouth while Melissa held you down.

As soon as the cool water flowed through your throat, you felt like there were thousands of knives stabbing you at the same time. You screamed in the **** pain and immediately fell ****.

You slowly opened your eyes. The light was still hurting them but you already felt better. The heat and the pain were gone. Melissa, sitting next to the bed, breathed a sigh of relief and called for the priest.

"Congratulations, Mr. Wilson." The man from before came in the room with a smile, "I didn't think you're going to make it."

"Brandon, right? I recognize your voice. Thank you." You walked towards him and shook hands with him, "Could you please explain what's going on?"

"Just like what I've mentioned to Sergeant Ashton here before, you've drunk vampire blood and you're turning into one." Brandon spoke calmly, "Normally the time required for a victim to turn varies from minutes to hours, a day tops, based on how much they've drunk and how much blood they've lost prior. You lasted for nearly two days. It's a miracle."

"So why am I not one of them now? Is it because of that cup of water you made me drink?"

"Yes. It's holy water. It can cleanse the vampire blood in your body before you turn." Brandon continued to explain and led you outside, "It works only in the church. That's why I must ask you to come here."

"That's... not what most people would believe..." Melissa frowned in disbelief, "Are you saying that the holy water loses its blessings outside the church?"

"The blessing expires in 3 minutes outside the church. Since the moment the veil of corruption began to lift, all divine blessings on subjects will diminish quickly outside the holy ground." Brandon helplessly shook his head, "I can perform a ritual to bless the water outside, if necessary, but it takes about 10 minutes and I can't be disturbed."

"The veil of corruption? What is that?" You wondered.

"It's just a myth. We don't know what exactly happened, but after some point of time in the past, all kinds of monsters became real and came to our world. Vampires are just one of them."

"Oh, my god..." Melissa gasped for some air.

"So, Mr. Wilson. I have some questions, too, if you don't mind." Brandon led you to another room where he usually lived, "A vampire sneaked into the city about a week ago. He was responsible for the cases you two were investigating. I killed him when he was feeding on a victim, and I'm sure he hasn't turned any fledgling yet. So, where did that vampire who bit you come from?"

"The police found some blood on the last victim." You turned to Melissa for a second and continued, "It's probably from when you killed the vampire, but we didn't know back then. So I asked Olivia to examine the blood sample. And... Olivia told me that there was a voice in her head telling her to drink it..."

"That... that's impossible..." Brandon was shocked, "A drop of vampire blood couldn't do that..."

"Okay, I know you guys like mysteries, puzzles or something, but we have a much more urgent matter." Melissa interrupted you, "There are dozens of vampire in the city trapped by the sunlight for now, but nor for long! We need to do something!"

"I've contacted Vatican and asked for reinforcement last night. Elite vampire hunters of the United States will be coming tonight and taking over my position." Brandon began to pack his things, "Let the professionals do their work."

"Tonight? It will be too late!" Melissa yelled at him, "Do you know how many people they can turn once they get out!?"

"It's too late already, Sergeant Ashton. Vampires are the most terrifying monsters I've fought in my life. Let me tell you something, if you don't know what I mean." Brandon looked at you for a while and continued, "I tracked down and killed a vampire last night. He was turned by that Olivia, just a few hours ago. He was roughly 60 years old as a human, but once he turned, he became strong, fast and ferocious. Before I got to him, two good souls were already lost."

Melissa just quietly listened. She didn't say one word but you could feel her fury. She had lost someone she cared to the vampires, too. She knew what Brandon meant and every word he said just made her suffer again.

"That's only one vampire, and you're talking about dozens of them. So... My suggestions?" Brandon sighed, "Leave the city with your loved ones, while you still can. I'm leaving tonight, you're welcomed to come with me."

"I'm not leaving all those innocent people behind. I can't." Melissa turned to you with a determined look on her face, "James, go get your friend and get the hell out of the city. Good luck."

You held your fists tightly.