The year is 2025. Technology had reached remarkable heights, with artificial intelligence just a fingertip away. Yet, even in this hyper-connected world, there were cities that remained hidden—secluded places on the outskirts of civilization, often dismissed as unreachable or uninhabitable.
One such place was nestled deep within the Himalayas, the town of Silverfork. Locked within towering mountain ranges, Silverfork thrived in a small sunlit valley where the sunlight touched the earth just as it would anywhere else, and the moonlight sparkled like crystal on the grass.
It was the Silverfork family who had discovered this pocket of land centuries ago and built the town from the ground up. Over time, lost travelers who wandered through the harsh Himalayan terrain stumbled upon the valley, and some chose to stay. The Silverforks welcomed them with open arms.
Jack Silverfork was the first and only son of the town's founder and long-time mayor, Mr. Silverfork, his Mother died when he was just a baby. When Jack received news overseas that his father had passed away, he made immediate arrangements to return home. He arrived just in time for the funeral.
The very next day, the town held an election for a new mayor but everyone already knew who it would be. It had always been the Silverforks, and the townsfolk were content to keep it that way. With his father gone, Jack was the last remaining member of the Silverfork bloodline.
He was elected mayor without contest. That day, he completed the paperwork and delivered the ceremonial speeches like a seasoned professional. But when night came, Jack found himself sitting quietly outside his father's house, alone, lost in thought.
He sat on his father's old wooden chair, a joint in hand, smoking as he gazed at the full moon above. The night in Silverfork was peaceful, and the moonlight danced on the grass like glistening diamonds. Jack took a long breath, letting the calm settle in—until he heard footsteps.
One set came from the left side of the house. Another from the right.
He looked left, then right, unsure which direction to focus on. When he looked forward again, a man was suddenly standing directly in front of him.
The man was smiling.
Startled, Jack froze. He hadn't seen where the man came from. He quickly looked left and right again and saw two more figures approaching from either side.
The man before him stepped closer and gently patted Jack on the shoulder.
"Don't be afraid," the man said. "We're only here to talk business."
There was something unsettling in his voice chilly, yet confident.
"My name is Quinn Driscoll, and the men to your left and right are Durban and Kwada. My sister Amanda and her friend Cynthia are not with us right now, but they'll join us soon enough."
Jack remained seated, unable to move. It was as if the chair held him in place.
"What do you people want?" he asked.
Quinn smiled wider, and Jack felt his stomach twist. Behind that smile were two sharp, pointed canine teeth. His eyes glowed a dark green.
Jack looked at Durban and Kwada and to his shock both of them were smiling too. Their teeth were sharp as well, though their eyes were a lighter shade of green.
Jack's breathing grew shallow, his body tight with fear. He told himself it was just the panic taking over.
"We are vampires," Quinn said calmly.
"That's impossible," Jack replied. "Vampires don't exist."
"Oh, but we very much do, Mr. Silverfork," Quinn answered. "In fact, your great-great-grandfather knew us quite well…"
Before he could continue, more footsteps echoed in the distance. Everyone turned toward the sound. Two women were approaching the house. They looked to be in their early thirties.
"Ah, there they are," Quinn said with delight. "Perfect timing. Just in time for our little history lesson."
He motioned toward the newcomers.
"That's my sister Amanda, and her friend Cynthia. The ones I mentioned earlier."
Jack noticed Amanda had striking blue eyes. Cynthia's eyes, like Durban and Kwada's, were light green.
"Now, where were we?" Quinn continued. "Ah, yes. Over four hundred years ago, your ancestor Markfield Silverfork stumbled upon this land. We were already living here. This valley was our refuge, far from the eyes of the world. We hadn't seen a human in decades, so we were quite curious when he arrived."
Jack listened, silently.
"Markfield told us he was an explorer, searching for wonders unknown. We hadn't had blood in a long time… and we considered making him our next meal. But then he made us a tempting offer."
Quinn's expression turned nostalgic.
"He said, 'Why kill me now, when I can bring you more?' We asked what he meant. He explained that the land we had could support farming, that a city could be built here. He promised to bring us people in exchange for his life."
"At first, we thought he was bluffing. But as it turns out, people get lost in the Himalayas all the time tourists mostly, cut off by the mountains and brutal weather. Rescue missions often fail. Most of them die of hunger or exposure. Markfield found those people before nature did… and brought them to us."
"He began building a settlement. Day after day, he'd return with three or four more lost souls. In time, it began to look like a village. He named it Silverfork. In just three years, it became a thriving town, filled with people from around the world. Each brought their own knowledge some knew how to harvest technology, others how to build homes or make medicine."
"In twenty years, the town flourished."
Jack remained quiet, processing the story.
Quinn's tone shifted.
"But we told Markfield we had preferences. We craved the blood of the innocent. The more innocent the soul, the sweeter the taste. So we made a pact, one that has been renewed every year since."
"We asked for five healthy, fertile young women each year. Each woman was to bear a child. Once the child was born, the baby was ours. A newborn's blood is pure untainted by sin."
Jack blinked. His skin had gone cold.
"The women could choose to renew their contract after giving birth," Quinn added. "If not, they were free to leave. The townspeople were never told the truth. When the mayor collected the infants, he told the mothers it was a sacrifice to the gods of the Himalayas meant to keep everyone safe."
"And now," Quinn said, "we come to you. It's time to renew the contract."
Jack's heart was pounding.
"Why didn't my father or grandfather ever mention this?" he asked.
"A good question," Quinn said. "Unfortunately, all the previous girls terminated their contracts last year. Your father was in the process of selecting new ones when he tragically passed away."
He gestured to Durban.
"Now it's your turn."
Durban stepped forward, pulling out five printed documents and handing them to Jack. His hands trembled as he took them.
"And what if I refuse?" Jack asked.
Amanda stepped closer, her voice soft but firm.
"Then you would become the Silverfork who ended a legacy four hundred years in the making. The town your ancestors built would begin to wither. Please Jack, don't be a fool. Do as your father and his fathers did before you."
"We'll be back in a week," Quinn said, smiling once more. "Until then… tata."
The five vampires turned and walked away into the night. Jack remained in his father's old chair, frozen, watching them disappear into the darkness.