‘The Battle in the Civic Hall’

Thanks to Angela Blyth for this brief excerpt and an escape from reality.
Angela is known for her Saddleworth Vampire Series of books and appearing at the Saddleworth Literary Festival soon. Warning – Not for the feint-hearted! 

Image courtesy of Dark Grail

Jake had his eye on Liz, and she was hitting him up the head with her instrument case, which was full of weapons, so was heavy and noisy. He just kept on coming back at her. Andy came behind him. His weapon was from Ian’s shop. He imagined it was for chopping meat, but it was a cross between a machete and an axe. Andy brought it back, aiming at Jake and then it whistled forwards with a thwack across Jakes upper arms. It cut straight through half his arm and partway through the bone. If Andy could aim it right, he could take that right off in the next chop. This he did, which made him extremely happy. The vampire didn’t seem to notice. Then he did the same on Jake’s neck. The first whack made Jake swivel round at him, his head cocked to one side. The green-black blood ran down from the top of where his arm used to be, staining the side of his uniform. Jake’s mouth opened and shut mechanically, getting slower and slower, like a wind-up toy, coming to a stop. Andy had to hit him from a different direction to take off his head, but he managed after three tries.

Wee Renee had decided to take on Sophie and Janet Woodall. She had her machete in one hand and the long metal knife sharpener she had taken from Ian’s shop the other day, in the other. Her eyes switched quickly in between each of them as they advanced. She stepped back, as they moved forward. Wee Renee knew it wouldn’t be long though before she would have to attack as they had nearly backed her into a corner. Laura saw this going on and picked up her sharpened sticks. Sue still had the smoking gun in her hands, and they both strode confidently over to this ambush.

‘I think you’ll find someone behind you,’ Pat shouted at them. Janet and Sophie turned around to see Andy, Laura, Sue and Pat behind them, each holding their weapons. This was the distraction Wee Renee needed, and she was determined to get both of them. She shoved the rod-shaped sharpener, between her knees for a moment. Took her machete in both hands and slammed it straight through Janet’s back. The vampire was quite a few inches taller than her, and she cut crossways diagonally under the ribs, the machete getting stuck, but Janet did fall to the floor. Wee Renee leaned over her wiggling the machete out, then hit her again, at an angle in the abdomen making a V shape. The large triangle of flesh slipped down, the black insides exposed. Something in there was pumping the matter out quite freely, over the carpet. Other tubes, just trickled Janet’s issue out gently. She seemed to deflate, her eyes sinking into her head. Janet’s hands twitched. Pat kicked her in the open V of her body. This seemed to rupture something, and an almighty flood of more liquid substance flooded out. Pat looked down at her black lace-up shoes. ‘Ruined,’ She said.

Sophie watched all this with utter amazement, facing the new threats. Her back was to Wee Renee, then she started to snarl knowing her time was close too.
Wee Renee, grabbed the sharpening rod, which was still between her thighs. She jumped high into the air, and with a war cry, she brought the rod straight down through the top of the vampire’s head. Sophie dropped. Wee Renee put her foot on Sophie’s head to hold it, while she yanked the rod back out. Wee Renee jumped up and down, pushing on the head and trying to wriggle it out but it wasn’t budging. She then picked up the machete again.
‘I enjoyed that. It was a wee bit exciting, wasn’t it? Next!’

Author: Jude Gidney - Editor

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