Vanished Without A Trace

A young woman trailed slowly behind the others, taking in her surroundings, glad to finally be free of the wretched ship of which she had been confined to for the last 10 days. A man fell into step beside her, and they chatted quietly, seeming greatly enthused by the idea-of which they had come here for-of trekking into the jungle in search of a new, or perhaps very rare, species. Though it was very quite possible that they-and the other six people coming along on the journey-would not find anything they were determined to try for the sake of science, at they very least. They had docked in Säo Luís, Brazil, coming in from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia.
When they had first been offered the chance to do this, they couldn’t believe their luck of being chosen right out of the blue, with almost no reason or explanation why, and yet here they were; already having finished the long journey on the sea.
The man-whom is known as William McGill-suddenly started gesturing with his hands to the woman beside him, who laughed. He is about 23 years old, has sandy brown hair, which is long enough to sometimes hang limp over his deep green eyes, and has a pale skin hinting at a darker tone, and nearly perfect, angular features.
He smiled at her then, and when he smiled his eyes crinkled up at the corners and his eyebrows shot up, which made her laugh even harder.
Autumn Summers, which is the woman’s name and almost everyone admits how peculiar it is, has deep, dark brown-almost black-hair, that differs between wavy and straight and goes down to her mid back, and sea blue-green eyes, is about 23 years old, with the same strange pale skin tone and features.
“Will,” she remarked, still recovering from the laugh and speaking with only the slightest of French accents. “Don’t you think we should be catching up with the others?” By the others, she, of course, meant the other six people who are also on the voyage with them. Their names are: Violetta O’Shea, Gerald Joàuy, Charlie Brough, Paten Anderson, Eric Rosewood and Benjamen Scott.
William looked around mockingly, pretending to need to scout for them. “I can’t seem to see them anywhere. Are you sure they’re really still with us? Oh, I bet they have abandoned us,” he hung his head sadly, feigning disappointment. “Come on, let’s just go back to the boat.”
She smacked him half-heartedly, and he grinned. “Ugh, don’t talk like that.” Autumn said. “You know, for someone your age, you can sometimes act so extremely out of it.”
“Yes, more than you think.” he said solemnly, then winked. “Autumn, it’s one of my best qualities. But I do agree with you, let’s go catch up.”
They sped up closer to the others, who were already immersed in their own conversation.
“...going to do this, exactly? We’re going to need to have water and food and medicine, clothes, etcetera ” Benjamen exclaimed. Benjamen was the oldest in the group, at age 33, and has short, cropped red hair, with a face full of freckles, which also included a dry sense of humor in his case, and blue-gray hazel eyes.
“Ben, we’ve already discussed this, remember?” the man named Eric said. “The captain’s just out giving the order now. I suspect we’ll have people coming to us in the hour.... Or by morning at the very least.”
Eric had just turned 24 at the beginning of the week. He had his hair cropped so short it was almost just a black buzz. He had dark brown eyes and skin, and when he looked at you, it was like his eyes were boring into your skull, analyzing your every move.1


“Are you sure they’ll be able to find us?” a young woman said. Her name was Violetta. “What if they get dragged off by-y jaguars or... or faeries or s-something.” she was shivering in fear at the very thought.
Violetta, the youngest in the group at just age 19, was very superstitious. She had luscious blond hair that fell in wavy curls to her shoulders, brown hazel eyes and has sun-tanned skin so deep it hints at an olive tone.
“Yes, I can just see the headline now-‘Men Get Devoured By Faeries’. Charlie said, snorting.
Charlie, whom is 31, has brown shaggy hair that reaches down to chin length on his face, with bright blue eyes. His eyes were always flecked with light and had a smile that never really left his eyes.
The conversation quieted down and the group walked off the dock. They looked around in silence, taking in the wonders around them, sweating immensely though. Just when they reached the place they were planning on staying for the night at, two men appeared at the end of the walk-way, coming towards them carrying and pushing immense loads, it was a wonder they didn’t fall over.
“I wonder who they are....” Paten mused quietly.
Paten was a little bit small for her age, 22, a slightly mousy look, brown eyes and brown hair that barely reached her chin and that had blond streaks from being in the sun too much.
The men started hurrying now, clearly eager to get the load off their backs.
“Pleas... pleasure to meet... y-you.” One of the men stammered, gasping from running. He had an accent that pulled up and slurred together in strange places. He shook hand with William.
“And you, sir.” he replied.
“What are your names?” Gerald asked. Gerald was 21, with green eyes and short blond hair. He was very tall and stood out over the rest.
“My name is Ash DuVall and this is my friend: ‘Paoul’ Stanton.”
“Pa-oul? How do you spell it?” Autumn asked intrigues by the strange name.
“P. A. U .L. ” the man named ‘Paoul’ said.
Eric laughed. “Wouldn’t that just be ‘Paul’?”
“It’s ‘Paoul’.” he said, his eyes blazing with his mouth sat into a tight line. The two men, Paul and Eric, stared each other off, neither of them budging.
“So,” said Autumn, trying to break the tension. “Let’s go inside. Thank-you very much for your services.” She nodded at the two men.
Ash made a noise in the back of his throat. “We would like to be joining you, if you don’t mind.” His eyes darted quickly to Eric and back.
“Oh?” Autumn raised and eyebrow, considering. “Well, I don’t see a problem with that.” she turned to the others, raising both her eyebrows as if daring one of them to object. No one did.
“Great.” William clapped his hands together and then yawned. “Well, I’m just going to go to bed now, any of you want to join me?”
He, and the rest of the group then followed him inside the building of where they were supposed to stay.
The two men paused, looked around and checked the door to make sure there was no one in hearing range.
“Are you sure you need me here, I’m sure you can get along just fine.” Paul said nervously, still sweeping the area with his eyes.2

“No, you must come, you’re help will be needed.” Ash said, looking him in the eye.
“Are you positive you want to do this?”
He looked around quickly once more, picked up the items he was carrying before, and nodded.
***
Everyone woke up early due to the blinding sun, but seemed rested enough.
They had just a quick and quiet breakfast: already eager to get to the jungle and start the search.
A ride pulled up in front of the cabin they were at. It would be needed to get to an area of jungle. It wasn’t like there was one right in their back yard.
After about an hour they arrived at a trail, that the driver told them would eventually pass a forest of which they could enter.
The team gathered up their things and set out onto the trail. It was only about a forty minute walk, but by which then the sun had risen higher about half-way through and they were sweating from head-to-toe and were ever so grateful when they were finally in the shadows.
“Glad that’s over, now we can cool down.” Gerald remarked.
The team walked on in silence over the course of the next few hours, observing, listening and looking.
It wasn’t until after lunch, though, that they heard something different than the constant chirping and cawing around them.
There was a whooshing noise and a creature suddenly swung overhead to another tree, along with a high pitched keening that seemed to issue from it. Another creature swung overhead. Ash pulled a dart out of his pocket, put it in a tube and blew. The creature fell down to the forest floor.
“Woah.” Charlie said, staring at the creature.
“When were you planning on telling us you had that?” Eric said. “And just how many more do you have on you?”
“I was planning on telling you when the time was right, and-I do not think you need to know just exactly how many I have of these.” Ash smiled and took out another dart and waved it in his hand.
Eric just glowered at him.
More of the unknown species swung overhead, and Ash kept blowing the mysterious darts. Ash had gotten eight down when the last flew by overhead.
“Impossible.” Paten breathed, staring at the creatures in wonder.
“Exquisite.” William said.
“Marvelous.” said Autumn.
A long moment passed as they all just stared in wonder at the creatures lying below them.
“Well,” Benjamen said, snapping everyone back into awareness. “We’re going to have to secure these creatures in crates, unless we want them to escape.”
They all went to get crates to hold the creatures.
The creatures themselves were not unlike most in appearance. Four legs, hair on the body, two eyes one nose and mouth-but yet they were also so different. On each of the four legs there was a wing, and the colour in the eyes was a deep purple that clashed with it’s red hair that ran all over it’s body.
Just as they were getting the last one in, it stirred awake and bit Paten just as she closed the door.3

4

“Ow!” she screamed, jumping away. “That thing just bit me!”
The group hurried over toward her.
“Where exactly did you get bit?” William asked, his words flowing quickly. “And just how deeply?”
“On my finger shallow, I think.” she said, wincing as he prodded her fingertip.
“Well, I can’t see anything that could cause an infection, so I think you’ll be fine.”
“Thanks, Will.” she replied.
Violetta and Eric, the people whom Paten was closest to, stayed to chat with her while the others all went to set up their tents and build a fire.
Later, after they had all eaten dinner, William went to bed with Autumn following closely at his heels. He lay down and she plopped down beside him.
“Did you have a medical degree you’ve never told me about?” she inquired playfully.
“Yes, and it has helped me save many lives and bring world peace.” he teased.
“Will,” she leaned forward, suddenly serious. “When can we-”
He cut her off. “Soon,” he deliberated for a second. “In fact, my dear, I’d say we can start tonight. We’re far enough away from any civilization. But, we start small.”
“Why? Why not start big and spectacular?” she protested.
“Because,” he was looking her directly in the eyes now. “We don’t want another ‘incident’ like last time, do we?”
***
The crew woke up again to another bright and sunny day. Their moods were high, glad to be making a difference in the name of science, although they still were not sure of the reason why they were chosen to come here. They were walking around sleepily, gathering things for observing and chewing their breakfast.
“Are we going to be able to name it? Because I mean; after all, we discovered it.” Violetta said.
“Well, I’d say so.” Benjamen mused. “But I think we ought to find out more about it before we consider naming it.”
“We could call it something really cool, like: Red Tree-Bat.” Charlie said enthusiastically.
“Reddish-swinger!” Paul joked.
Charlie and Paul continued to make up names while the others went back to what they were doing before.
It was only until late in the afternoon, though, until the commotion started.
“Help! Someone-get over here quickly!” a yell came suddenly from the area where they kept the creatures.
Everyone quickly ran over through the narrow path to the clearing where the creatures were kept. As soon as they got there, they looked around in shock. They couldn’t believe their eyes, two of the creatures, which had just been caught yesterday, lay dead on the ground. Dead! The other six still slept soundly, as if it were possible that they had not seen, or heard their fellow’s death.
“Who did this?” Autumn asked in horror. No one could really comprehend at first that these creatures could really be dead.
Eric crouched forward, examining. “You know,...” he trailed off slowly, unsure. “I don’t recall ever seeing much of our new ‘friends’ last night, and... come to think of it... I think I saw one of them going towards this way in the morning.
“Now, now, Eric. Let’s be rational about this.” Ben said. “Do you really suppose-”
“I don’t recall seeing them much either!” Gerald said, interrupting Benjamen.
“Yeah! So: where exactly were you two last night?” Eric said, angry now.
“Out for a walk.” Paul said.
“In our tents,” said Ash at the same time. They both gave each other a quick look of frustration.
William let out a long sigh, exasperated. “Where were you, really?”
Ash let out a sigh of his own and said, “Here. With the creatures.”
“Doing just what, exactly?” Ben said, he himself angering despite what he had said just a moment ago.
“We can’t tell you,” he said quietly. “You wouldn’t believe us.”
“Try us.” Ben crossed his arms, but Ash just shook his head quietly and shot a look at Paul that could mean only one thing: don’t tell.
Violetta was glaring now, starting to side with the accusing men. “So, you were trying to sabotage our creatures.” It wasn’t a question.
Paul started forward. “No! We wouldn’t-”
“Shut-up.” Ben snapped. “The obvious evidence and multiple eye witnesses show that you were here and did something.” The others nodded their heads in agreement except Autumn.
She stepped forward timidly. “Guys,” she said quietly, eyes darting to each of their faces quickly. “Do you really think they did this? Maybe they were just here to protect the creatures.” Ash shot a quick glance at her, and his face darkened.
“Preposterous!” Eric said, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand.
“Do you two have anything to say for yourselves?” Charlie said.
They both remained silent, expressionless.
“Gerald, Eric.” William said, looking at them and jerking his head towards Paul and Ash to tell them to stay and guard the two accused. They understood and nodded back as the rest of the group converged forward.
“What should we do with them?” William said thoughtfully. “I say they should be punished for their crime.”
“But not harmed.” Paten said quietly. No one paid her any mind.
“I say we send them back.” Autumn said.
“How can you think that? You just want to send then back?” Charlie said, no hint of his usual smile showing in his eyes and his voice threatening to go louder. “I mean: do you want them to have no punishment for this?”
“No-of course not.” she argued.
“Then what are you saying?” he shot back.
“Charlie!” Paten hissed, looking nervously to the side at the other two.
“Right.” he said, looking sideways at her, then turned back to face Autumn. “Well?”
She hesitated, looking to William who was just staring expressionless at her. “Well, it just seems... cruel... to do something to them that would hurt them.”
Her words stopped them short at that, and they stood pondering, but her tone also made them suspicious: it sounded exactly like lines produced by a skilled actor.
“I think that we still have to do something, though. We can’t just let them get away with this.” Gerald said in a low menacing voice.
“What do you think, William?” Paten asked suddenly.
William quickly composed his features as the other’s all turned to look at him. They didn’t get a chance to see the expression that was on his face before.
He pondered for a moment. “I think we should all sleep on it. It’s getting late.
They all looked up, startled, only to see that the sky was darkening quickly.
The others-now realizing that they were actually tired-nodded and shuffled off.
Just as Autumn was about to follow the others, William tapped her shoulder and she looked around at him. He raised an eyebrow at her, and she grinned as she understood.
***
The tent rustled slightly as it was carefully pushed open. It was windy tonight, so most slight sounds could not be heard anyways. It was late in the night, almost everyone was sleeping soundly.
Autumn stood in front of the tent: the shine of the moon making her illuminate. She was very still for a moment, listening for any reaction from the person inside. When she could hear none, she stepped forward and opened the flap of the tent.
She looked inside at Ben, who was sleeping soundly and stalked forward silently and stopped when she reached near his head and crouched down.
His eyes flickered open suddenly, and she fell back in surprise, her hand landing on his leg which omitted a loud crack. Just as he was about to yell out in pain, she shoved her hand over his mouth. His limbs flailed uselessly, trying and failing to make contact with her.
Ben was staring at Autumn with wide eyes, as if he could not grasp the fact that she was really here: about to finish him off.
She smiled slowly and licked her lips in anticipation. He gulped, but couldn’t seem to be able to tear his eyes from her.
Her head bent forward and paused at his neck. He did not wonder at her hesitation: knowing that he would probably be dead in moments anyways. If only there was a way to warn the others.
The hesitation was quick, though, and he felt a sharp pain in his neck. The pain only lasted for a few minutes as his vision turned white and exhaled his last breath as his spirt left his body.
***
The group stood silently as the last of the dirt was put back over the holes. They has just found the bodies of Benjamen and Paul this morning. They would have brought them back to civilization and had a funeral there, but they were too far out into the jungle to go back now. They had let Ash go about unpunished for what they thought he did after the event of the two men being found dead. Ash had refused to tell them anything except the fact that he did not kill Paul because he said that he did not think they would believe him yet. They did not argue with him. The rest of the time passed without much happening, until the fourteenth day they had been out in the jungle.
Everyone was sleeping for it was deep into the night and probably around one in the morning.
It was a windy night again, but not blowing as hard, and you could still hear the other wildlife outside.
There was a slight rustle and suddenly William and Autumn were standing in the middle of the small cluster of tents. They held themselves differently with a feline predator posture. Their eyes were glowing, which only added to how strange they were looking. They also had a bit of blood on each of their lips-along with some read hair stuck to their fingertips. They glanced at each other and smiled. How narrow-minded these human could be! They didn’t even guess at the possibility of what they were.
William motioned for Autumn to go in the tent that was closest to her and after she nodded and darted in he went to the one beside him.
Just as he was ducking in, as if the person had known he was coming, a scream blasted into the silent night. William looked to see who it was, and wished he would have been more cautious with picking a tent.
It was Ash.
The group was rushing out of their tents as they were woken by Ash’s scream. There was another scream that could have meant only one thing: they had found Autumn.
William rushed out of his tent at the same time Autumn ran out of hers, with blood on her hands.
Ash staggered out of his tent as the rest of the small group of humans huddled together and watched.
“Vampires.” he spit out the word as if it were something vile and nasty, glaring at the two abnormal creatures staring on in stony silence.
“Oh my god!” Charlie said, coming out of the tent Autumn had just come out from. “Paten’s dead!”
Violetta gasped, and then started screaming and crying in shock. Gerald shook her, and she started to quiet down with tears streaming down her face. She dropped down to her knees, and no one understood what she was doing at first, but then it became apparent that she was praying and saying the ‘Our Father’ and ‘Hail Mary’ over and over again as if she had already given up. Well: who knew? She was a Catholic!
“So, is it true?” Charlie asked in a low voice, even though he knew he already knew the answer.
Autumn threw back her head and laughed as William came beside her and put his arm around her waist. Her laugh was not the warm, bubbly laugh they had all heard before. It was a cold, cruel laugh that came from her mouth now.
William answered, chortling along with her, “Of course we are! Really, you humans amaze us sometimes. I can’t believe you didn’t even wonder what had killed your friends!”
“Yes, but then-they aren’t anything special, so I guess it isn’t such a surprise.”
“But-” Eric said, showing fear and insecurity. “But I mean, we got chosen to come here and search!”
Autumn started laughing so hard that she almost fell over. “You think that you were chosen for a science experiment? That you’re special enough to do this? Please!”
“Then...” Charlie said, trailing off. “What are you saying?”
“You’re here because we picked you specifically. We just wanted some easy prey.” Autumn said, eyes dancing dangerously.
“Speaking of prey...” William murmured looking at her and then turned towards the four humans.
Quickly and so suddenly it was startling to watch, the two vampires flashed over to Violetta and Gerald and smashed their skulls to the ground with a sickening crunch. Charlie’s stomach flipped, as the sound made his stomach woozy.
The vampires, whom at the moment were too preoccupied with the blood to notice the others retreat into the forest. It seemed only moments later that they could hear the snarls coming from the monsters behind them whom were quickly gaining advance with their fast speed.
Ash suddenly dropped to his knees, and Charlie slowed, thinking something was wrong. It wasn’t until he heard Ash’s voice that he kept on running at full speed.
“No! Run Charlie! RUN!” he screamed, and Charlie looked back only to see that the others had caught up to him.
Charlie guessed it was Ash’s way of trying to save him from the same fate the others had suffered before him. He vaguely wondered how many others had died before him with the same fate. He was only human though, and miles and miles away from any civilization. He had already known as soon as he had started running that this was a wasted effort. But at least he had died trying. His eyes teared up as he thought of his family back home. He would never get to see them again, never get to say good-bye.... It will just be like he had vanished without a trace, as he was sure William and Autumn wouldn’t bother to state their deaths to the public.
He heard those two catching up to him and ran harder: still trying. A tiny flame of hope burst inside him, but was quickly dimmed as he felt two sets of hands grab his arms.
In the few seconds before he died: he did not fear death, in fact he welcomed it. He did not think of how sorry he felt for himself, he did not think of how he had run from Ash when he had died trying to save him. Instead, a face of a woman filled his mind.
Her face burst through his mind, as though she was really there with him, though he knew this could not be possible even if he was safe back at home. She had died four years ago when she had gone on a trip to Manitoba. She had gotten caught in a robbery in the wrong place at the wrong time.
But he was not sad, as he knew he would be seeing her again soon.
Her face was what filled his mind. As he died, he smiled slightly in spite of himself. His last thought was: Clary, I love you. I’m coming for you. as his vision went white and un-seeing and he took a last breath.