The SUV ground to a halt at the mouth of a creepy forest where they usually filmed horror movies. Jason craned his neck to get a better view. A low-hanging mist blanketed the darkened forest. Before Jason could get a better look, the door opened and Ludwick yanked him out of the car. He stumbled, nearly plowing headfirst into the dirt path.

He struggled to his feet and wiped off his dirty hands while coloring Ludwick's ears with a cuss word or two that made the vamp laugh uncontrollably. His laughter echoed out into the silent forest. It was spooky. A chill crawled over Jason's shoulders. No owls hooted or insects chirped, only a dead silence. The cold air nipped at Jason. Hell, it was cold.

Ludwick pushed Jason toward the group of prisoners.

The cries and whispering of his fellow captives drew his attention. The guards hauled them to the center of the gathering. A dozen vampires formed a half moon, cutting off all exits. The only way they could escape was if they ran into the forest, but his common sense warned him not to go into the woods.

"Welcome, ladies and gents, to Amber Creek. A small town of about a thousand residents." A creepy smile crept across Alaric's face as he stared at his prisoners. "Or shall I say, was the town of about a thousand souls before the town blew up, killing all the townspeople in one night."

The breath in Jason's lungs froze.

"Since then the town has been deserted—"

"Did they find out what happened to the people?" asked Jason before he could stop himself. But he had to know.

Alaric began pacing back-and-forth along the line of vampires. "No, they didn't. Not even a half a dozen formal investigations delivered any answers."

"Not any ordinary answers, right?"

It must have been a rogue attack, or a feral pack of vamps who descended on their helpless prey in a thirty days of nights fashion.

"It wasn't vampires or werewolves who attacked them, my pet." Alaric answered Jason's thoughts with a grin.

"Then what was it?"

Alaric stepped up to Jason and grabbed him by the chin. "You'll soon find out." Alaric released his chin and then addressed the entire group. "Now, this is what will happen. You are free to go."

Jason's head nearly popped off his shoulders. It must be a trap. Jason glanced back into the creepy woods. It must be. What was in the forest?

"What's the catch?" Jason said. "You're not doing this out of the kindness of your heart. You have none."

Another round of laughter met his insult; the bloodsuckers found his snide remarks funny. What a bunch of cunts. If Jason had a shotgun, he would have blown each of their heads off.

"The catch is simple. You have to go through the forest to get to safety. On the other side of the woods is a freeway with a lot of opportunity to catch a ride."

"And you think we're dumb enough to believe that? The moment we step into the forest, you'll hunt us down in a game of blood hunting."

Blood hunting was a favorite pastime of vampires around the world, where they abducted humans and released them in isolated environments, only to hunt them down and kill them. Barbaric. Jason must have known how this night would have ended up. His bloodless head was going to end up as a trophy on Alaric's study wall.

After the words, blood hunting escaped my lips, the prisoners became frantic. Just like the idiotic jock in a slasher movie, they panicked and ran off into the forest. The vamps cheered and roared as the idiots disappeared into the forest to get away from their captors.

"Thank you, my dear pet. You just did me a favor."

Fuck! Jason groaned.

"Now it's your turn," Alaric said.

Jason remained rooted to the spot. "Piss off! If you want to kill me, do so. I'm not about to run off like a moron. There's no way a human can outrun a vampire and you know it."

Alaric flitted toward Jason and slammed him into the nearest tree. The tree's bark cut into his back. A burning pain flashed across Jason's back. Yet again, Alaric's hands found his neck. Vamps really loved necks.

"Don't test my patients, Jason." Venom coated his name. "You will run through the forest and make your way to the other side. If you're lucky, you'll live through this silly game and see your friends again. Only if you're willing to be a good little boy." Alaric lightly slapped him on the cheek. "Now go."

***

Jason cursed aloud while he ran through the dark forest. He had no intention of playing Alaric's game; he wanted to defy the ass, but the collar around his neck forced him into the forest. It was only a matter of time before one of those fuckers found him and drained him of all of his blood. Out of the darkness, the shriek of a man impaled his sundered soul. Jason stumbled over a tree root and hit the forest floor hard. Another set of cries echoed out into the forest.

The killing had started.

Pushing his pain into the recesses of his mind, Jason jumped to his feet and started running again. Every shout and cry for help from his fellow prisoners spurred Jason on to run faster. After he broke out into a clearing, he stumbled to a halt. The ruins of a dead town stood before him. A scarred reminder of a terrible night.

Jason quickly made his way through the fractured streets and overgrown buildings. He wanted to get as far away as he could from the place. A menacing presence hung over the ruins. Whispers echoed around in his mind, freaking the skin off his body. His feet picked up pace until a shadow flashed across the street in front of him.

Jason stopped in the middle of the street. His heart hammered inside of his chest. Chains rattled out of the darkness.

Chains? Jason shook his head and perked his ears. There! This time it sounded as if a couple of chains hit against another, accompanied by heavy footsteps.

He wasn't alone!

Another flash of black whipped off to his right. Just as he began to sprint, something hit him from the side. Jason crashed into a burned-out vehicle, knocking the wind out of his lungs.

He groaned and staggered to his feet, rubbing his sore back. An ear-splitting shriek at his back caused him to stumble away from the car. Then another came from his right, seconds later, one from his left. The shriek wasn't human, vampire, or werewolf. It wasn't from this world. Whatever it was, it was playing with him.

"Another soul given," a whisper echoed out of the shadows.

Jason gasped, whipping his head toward the voice, but he saw no one.

"Another soul devoured." The whisper turned to a growl. "But still I hunger!" A thunderous voice boomed out.

Jason bolted down the street just in time to see the burned-out car smash into the nearest building off to his right. Foolishly, Jason looked back to see a horror on two massive legs chasing after him. A creature made of brimstone and smoke thundered behind him. It was massive, with two glowing eyes and two horns on its head. Glowing red chains covered its mass, clinging to every step it took.

Tears fell down Jason's cheeks as the creature gained on him. Fuck, Alaric! He knew the creature was here. The demon! He was about to die at the hands of the hellspawn and there was no way he could get away. Most likely all the prisoners were already dead, sacrificed to this creature. For what? Jason didn't have time to think of a reasonable explanation before the abomination grabbed him from behind and slung him into a tree with a backbreaking force.

Jason couldn't move. Hell, he couldn't even feel his legs. His upper abdomen screamed out in agony. He must have broken his back. Jason stared up at his doom as it stomped up to him. Its hooves caused tremors with every step. The creature's claws wrapped around his chest and picked his broken body up. Jason couldn't fight a demon. Plumes of smoke filled Jason's lungs as the creature snorted, causing him to sputter and cough. The behemoth's head leaned over and took a whiff of Jason.

"And so... it has come." The demon's voice rumbled out. "My salvation and freedom lies in the bosom of a pitiful human." Its claws tightened around Jason's broken chest. He cried out in pain. The metallic taste of blood filled Jason's mouth.

"Kill me," Jason whispered, staring into the creature's glowing red eyes.

Just then, out of the corner of both of their eyes, a young girl stumbled out of the ruins, crying. Her white dress was ripped and bloodied. She quickly choked on her sobs when her teary blue eyes landed on them.

No, no, no, no! He didn't want to see the little girl die. She had so much to live for, but the demon had other ideas. It started moving toward her with hunger in its eyes. Instead of running, the little girl dropped to her knees and curled into a ball.

"No!" Jason punched the hellspawn in the face, burning his fist in the process. "Fuck!" Jason punched it yet again. "Don't you dare! Kill me and devour me! But let her live, you pathetic fuck!" Jason wanted to punch the demon in the face again, but the flesh covering his hand was already charred to a crisp.

The demon halted his steps and looked at Jason with interest. "You give your life to me in exchange for hers?"

Jason glanced over at the shivering child. He nodded eagerly. Rather his than hers.

"Say it," said the creature. Its sulfuric breath fanned Jason's face. He gagged at the foul smell.

"I give my life to you for hers," Jason pleaded. He didn't have a life left. At least the girl had a fighting chance.

"Open wide."

What? Jason's brows furrowed at the demon's demand.

The demon recognized his confusion. "Open your mouth, human." His voice graveled out.

Oh, Goddess. The creature was about to suck out his soul. Finding no way out of his fate, Jason reluctantly opened his mouth. The demon smiled, exposing its jagged teeth.

What happened next took Jason by surprise and changed his life forever.