Do you feel safe?, Reader's Letter

[James Bradley]

Dear other readers,

I am writing this open reader’s letter, because I am worried. I am aware that there are far more humans on this planet, than there will ever be of vampires – else the vampires could not survive – but that does not change the fact, that many people are now constantly frightened to go out at night. They fear they may die. And some, in fact many each night, die when they go out. Not because of ordinary car crashes or crime, but because of vampires. There are vampires out there who are good, or claim to be good. But there is also a considerate amount of the other kind, the ones who prefer to cause pain and death. And these are the vampires I am most worried about lately.

Am I more worried than usual? In fact I am. I have been worried for the past many years, after my aunt and uncle – and later their daughter, my cousin – were killed by vampires. Two years ago, the mother of my child also fell to her death by the hands of a vampire. I have been able to locate the killer of my cousin, but sadly, I find that there is not much to do about it. The vampire is ancient and strong; and well known by the media, as this particular vampire tends to love causing carnage from time to time. All this had and has me worried. But now it is worse, as I have read about this new supposed cure for vampirism; the T-Fav.

Of course it’s supposed to be a good thing. Vampires will be able to eat normal human foods, and they will have a heartbeat. At least according to what I read. That’s positive, and then they won’t have to feed on other human beings and risk killing them, to survive. However, there are down-sides to this supposed cure too. Apparently the cure is not going to last. These vampires may walk around as something that resembles humans, for a period of time, but then their body will fight the cure and they will become vampires as before. And live as they did before, at night, feeding on blood. I don’t see how that is much of a cure at all. On top of that, consider that ancient vampire I mentioned earlier… consider such a vampire trying the cure. I doubt such a vampire would stop killing, just because said vampire could eat human foods. If that’s been how they have lived for thousands of years, or even just centuries, they have habits, and it may be hard to learn new habits. And it’s not like the new habits will last anyhow. Ancient vampires can walk in daylight – I have experienced that first-hand, as I have met some of these vampires. But now younger vampires can do the same, with the cure.

Do you feel safe letting your children play outside, while century-old vampires who may have killed hundreds of human beings, walk around freely on the streets? Do you feel safe going shopping, knowing that a vampire may stand behind you in the queue to pay? I never felt very safe in the first place – the only reason I feel somewhat safe, is because I’ve studied vampires and I know much about their behavior. But not everyone are like that, and my young daughter, who lost her mother to a vampire, is not like that. I do not support a so-called cure for vampirism, that will let old and dangerous killers walk around in daylight, and turn them into the beasts they once were again after awhile.

Sincerely, James Bradley

Other characters may respond/react to this reader's letter in this thread, if you wish to do so.

[Sofia Knight]

Mr. Bradley,

I don't have the liberty to reveal myself in this forum but you know me. I saved something very precious to you and healed your wounds in another life. In the years since, however, we've grown apart and I am sorry to hear about your daughter and her mother... As a mother I feel your pain and concern. But as a vampire and one knowledgeable about this "cure" I cannot agree with your objections.

As it is, vampires are penned in by the night. It's a prison. Vampires may describe the night as freedom and a realm of self-governance but they're almost always deluded. A vampire's strength is limited by what they consume as a vampire's ability to travel is limited by the length of the night. Unlike humans who can penetrate the night using electricity and fire, vampires must sleep or risk their death. It's a stressful condition which makes some vampires resent humans. Here we have a species that is supposedly weaker than the other and yet they have more freedom than the dominant breed when it concerns their ability to roam and even make life. Vampires live forever and yet they cannot procreate. Even if they have children they cannot experience the joy of watching their son or daughter play in the sunlight... Do you think vampires aren't affected by this?

Even if we fail to realize it, we are all affected by our weaknesses and the rift between vampires and humans grows. Vampires forget how humanity thinks and believes. Their resentment grows into hatred and their boredom grows into a desire to play with humanity. Slights they may have faced as humans grow ever more painful and dramatic until the vampire lashes out against effigies of those who hurt them every night, killing often without remorse.

What our "cure" does is it bridges this gap if only slightly. A vampire under the cure is no more dangerous to you, Mr. Bradley, or anyone else than any other human. In fact, the vampire is most likely in pain and feeling shock when they venture into the sunlight. They are handicapped but what they can still do is observe. A vampire standing behind you at the check-out line in the market watches how you pay, how you smile, what you buy, and how you speak on your mobile with your family. A vampire at the playground watches small children play games and learn and share. A vampire in the sunlight is being reeducated and remembering what it was like to be human. It is my hope that after the "cure" has subsided those vampires will remember what they saw and how they related to humans when they were just as weak and vulnerable.

What do you have to fear, Mr. Bradley? A vampire under the cure cannot hurt you, they can only observe. Are you afraid that humanity has nothing to teach them? That it truly is as undesirable as so many vampires believe?

As a human I despised you all. Death was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. But now, just watching the children grow up, I've been persuaded to think differently. Instead of worrying about beasts roaming the streets during the day why don't you worry more about presenting a good example of humanity for the disillusioned dead that have made one last foray into the world of the living. Maybe then you wouldn't have anything to worry about at all.

S

[Marcus Aurelius]

[ Posted as a public reply in the newspaper ]

This cure is the first of its kind. All the long years I have lived, I have never seen technology and medicine come together to make anything so remarkable. Though it may be unique in that way, it is born out of the same, flawed school of thought that originated the birth of vampire hunters. That vampires must blend well and integrate seamlessly into human society.

Though I can appreciate the desire for fellowship, no true camaraderie may come about until vampires come to terms with what they are. We, for I have as much experience as any other and most cases vastly more, are no longer human. The very advent of this drug should be a stark reminder that the physiology and balances of our bodies are different. Until such time as both the vampiric and human communities come to terms with this truth, every attempt is doomed to fail.

You are close, Mr. Bradley, to thinking correctly about the problem we all are presented with. Vampires are to be feared and we are not to be seen as humans hidden beneath a curse. We are intrinsically and fundamentally different. You are right to be cautious and right to fear for the lives of your fellow kin. You do not factor in, however, that rational thought does indeed exist within the vampiric population. For you, I suggest your time and energy be spent with legislators and lawmakers, instead of inciting an angry mob of passionate humans.

To my kin, those children of the night who may be reading, I implore you to embrace and fully understand what and who you are. Gathering together and working towards that goal with those of us who have been around the longest is a positive step in the way of lasting change.

Attempting to work towards a safer and brighter future cannot be attained by masking or putting to sleep who and what vampires truly are. My name is Marcus and I am opening my doors to this initiative. Contacting the paper you now read will provide you with further contact information.