R. Valentine
The plague didn't spread like the old Hollywood movie scenes. There were no neat epidemic maps or calculations, and soon there was no Army, Navy or Air Force left to guide us with direction and show us the way. The infection didn't spread like rolling waves or wildfire—there weren't enough people left for that—but the infection was strong, and in the first days it spread quickly and with-it taking thousands of the remaining few. Life on our planet was dying and both species wanted to survive, so when the Vampires offered humans a solution, we readily and greedily signed on the proverbial dotted line. Neither party aware of the oversight they were making. A world without humans meant a world without blood, so while they created “I-M”, we formed the receiving lines—and for a time blood became the new currency. It wasn't mandatory; it was optional, but thousands of us lined up anyway. Ageless immortality had been packaged neatly in a little vial. It kept the humans’ human and the Vampires fed. The serum made us stronger, healthier and closely immortal without changing the person into one of them. For some immortality seemed a small price to pay to ensure the survival of the human race, so in exchange, a regular blood donation was traded indefinitely, which gave the opportunity for both species to live to see another day. For the humans, it gave us an infinite amount of time to rebuild and learn from our mistakes; and with enhanced health, strength and durability to survive mother nature, it meant we were less subjective to the power and the force of her will. We would no longer die because of human frailty and disease. Sickness would no longer affect those who had taken the vaccine and our wounds would more easily heal. The vampire's gain was that of the sun, and with the creation of “I-M”, they were no longer left to live in the shadows. Our blood was the key to their survival, so when our population dwindled, so did their food supply. The inoculation was an antidote
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