But you don't have a choice

"Melissa, I-" You were suddenly struck by a severe headache and the ominous heat was burning you up from the inside. You collapsed before you could finish your words. Melissa and Fran held you together quickly so that you didn't hit your head on the ground.

"James!? What's happening to you?" Fran cried in a shaking tone. She touched your forehead and realized that you were having a terrible fever.

"The church... 489 California..." You whispered before you lost your voice.

"Damn it! Miss Evans, get him out of here!" Melissa threw the car key to Fran, grabbed her pistol and ran towards the staircase. She didn't even hesitate.

You felt dizzy. The world was spinning around you while you were suffering from the pain and heat. You nearly passed out when Fran put you in the car and started it.

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

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

He was explaining the situation to Fran 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 a few seconds 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 Fran 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 with 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. Fran, sitting next to the bed, immediately called for the priest and came forward to give you a warm hug.

"Oh God, James..." She was crying, "I thought I've lost you..."

"I'm alright... I'm alright..." You patted her head gently, "Sorry to get you worried."

Fran released you and wiped her tears with a smile. You sat up on the bed and looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was already 3.

"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 Miss Evans 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."

"What? How's that possible?" Fran was astonished to hear that, "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."

"Jesus Christ..." Fran covered her mouth in shock.

"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 and the police 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 thought 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..."

"Is there a way to cure the people who are turned into vampires?" Fran interrupted you and asked, "Priest Brandon, please tell me that you can help."

"I'm sorry, but those completely turned are beyond help. 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!" You shouted in disbelief, "There are dozens of them already, and there could be hundreds if not thousands when they come!"

"It's too late already, Mr. Wilson. 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 awhile and continued, "I tracked down and killed a vampire last night. He was turned by that Olivia, just a few hours ago. He was more than 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."

Fran was shivering. She never saw a vampire in person, but she knew that Jack must've been killed by a horrible monster, and she couldn't imagine what would happen if her love were turned. But she knew that you wouldn't just easily give up.

"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 can't just ignore what's happening and run away." You held your fists tightly. You looked at Fran for a moment, and the supportive smile she gave you was all that you needed to carry on.

It was at this moment that someone knocked the front door calmly. You and Fran almost jumped up, but you realized that it was still daytime and you were in a holy ground. Vampires couldn't get in, right? Brandon carefully walked towards the door, and you followed him quietly.

The door was opened. It was Melissa. Her uniform looked like it was soaked in blood and you couldn't see any expression on her face. She quietly walked inside the church and sat on a bench, staring at the floor blankly.

"Melissa...?" You came to her and gently patted her shoulder.

"I couldn't save them, James..." Melissa whispered in a crying tone, "Hugo, Peter, Jessica... Leona... Everyone... The station was lost."

Fran gasped in horror. Brandon made the sign of the cross and prayed for the lost souls. Again, you tried to comfort her, but you didn't know how. All hope seemed to be lost. It was impossible for just the four of you to prevent an outright disaster from happening.

"Could you lend me a weapon, Priest? A stake or something?" Melissa turned to Brandon. She looked dead inside.

"What... What are you gonna do?" You were worried.

"I'm going back to my parents' house, to lay them to rest." Melissa gave you a bitter smile, "In the worst-case scenario, at least I could reunite with them."

"That's suicide!" You exclaimed.

"Officer, please... Don't waste your life." Brandon tried to persuade her, too. But when he saw the despair in her eyes, he knew that it has consumed her. He sighed and handed her a wooden stake that he just sharpened last night.

"It's handy." Melissa accepted it, "I didn't even know your name."

"Brandon." The priest replied respectfully.

"Thank you, Brandon." Melissa nodded to him and got up from the bench.

"Wait, Melissa!" You tried to stop her. You tried to grabb her shoulder, but she evaded your hand by quickly stepping back.

"I know what you're thinking, James. You don't have to die with me. I have no one left, you still have Fran." Melissa kept backing to the front door and gently smiled at you and Fran, "You two take care of each other, okay?"

You, Fran and Brandon quietly watched Melissa exit the church.