Dr. Kessler began typing on the machine, deactivating it. As soon as he did, the undead finally went offline, collapsing limp to the ground. The green core released what was inside it. Wisps of green light, souls, filled the core before dissipating into the air.
Mark's hair stood on end. He didn't like what he felt. His body trembled slightly. The sensation was very cold and very warm at the same time. Familiar and yet not familiar.
"Souls," Vampirella said, watching them leave the room. "This must be where he kept the souls of the undead. That way he could keep resurrecting them."
Mark wasn't surprised to hear it. But he decided he wanted to know more. He pried for more information from Dr. Kessler.
"What did you use to create this kind of tech?" Mark asked.
Dr. Kessler didn't answer. He was still under Vampirella's command. She noticed and helped with the questioning. Her eyes glowed as she spoke seductively. "Honey, answer his question."
"A combination of Mayan Death Magic and Quantum Technology," Dr. Kessler answered.
Mark was shocked to hear Quantum Technology come out of his mouth. He immediately asked, "Where are your notes on this?"
"In my bedroom."
Mark made a mental note of that. Quantum Technology and Mayan Death Magic. Both could be useful to him.
"Do you have a way to revive yourself from the dead?"
"No."
Mark felt a wave of relief. He didn't want to face this guy again. It would be annoying if Dr. Kessler could keep summoning weak undead endlessly, and there was always the chance he could summon something stronger.
Mark asked his final question about the basement. "In your basement, there are humans you used for your undead army and experiments. Am I wrong?"
"Yes."
"Not again," Vampirella muttered, shocked by the confirmation. Mark had already prepared himself for this answer. He looked at Vampirella and nodded, signaling that he was done with his questions. With that, Vampirella released Dr. Kessler from her hypnosis.
Dr. Kessler finally came to. He saw Vampirella and Mark staring at him. Then, out of nowhere, Mark grabbed him by the hair and began dragging him away.
"You can go save the people in the basement. Let me handle this animal," Mark said. His expression had instantly changed, becoming serious and cold.
"Please, Vampirella! Take me away from this demon! Please, I'm begging you!" Dr. Kessler pleaded with all the voice he had left. He was terrified of what Mark was going to do to him. The toilet dunking had already shown him exactly what Mark was capable of.
Vampirella watched with concern. Mark was still so young, and yet he could make that kind of expression. They went their separate ways. Vampirella headed to the basement while Mark dragged the old man off to face what was coming.
When Vampirella descended into the basement, she found a massive space underneath the clinic. There were people everywhere, locked in cages like animals. They all had bruises of some kind. Their lips were dry and cracked. Some of them were clearly sick.
"This is even worse than the Red House," Vampirella muttered, taking in the condition of the people trapped in the cages.
The people began thanking Vampirella for freeing them. They were smiling now that freedom had finally come. Some of them even bowed, overwhelmed with gratitude.
"Thank you for saving us."
Vampirella smiled and accepted their thanks, but she made sure to add, "There was also a hero helping me. He's handling the one who captured you. Don't worry about him catching you again."
Hearing that, the people felt a wave of relief and joy. They had never been this happy in their entire lives.
After Vampirella helped the last of them leave the building, she began to wonder where Mark had taken Dr. Kessler and what he had done to the old man. She made her way to the doctor's bedroom. When she entered, she found Mark sitting calmly with his legs crossed, reading through the notes Dr. Kessler had left behind on Mayan Death Magic and Quantum Technology. He was confirming their contents.
"Oh, what made you come here?" Mark greeted her as if nothing had happened, though he did so with a smile.
"Are you really asking me that?" Vampirella asked, unable to believe what she was hearing.
"My bad." Mark closed the book. He gathered the notes, the Mayan Death Magic book, and the Quantum Technology book. All of them had been written by Dr. Kessler, except for the Mayan Death Magic book, which had only been translated by him.
"What did you do to Dr. Kessler?" Vampirella asked, genuinely curious.
"You don't need to know. He and his collaborators experienced the same pain," Mark said, hiding what he was feeling after what he had done to the three of them. He thought to himself, 'They were just as disgusting as Kessler. If only the others weren't the same, they might have survived.'
Vampirella could see the toll it was taking on him, even though Mark was hiding it well. She could tell he was affected by what he had done to the perpetrators.
"I'm going to leave. Here." Mark handed her a piece of paper with a phone number on it. "Call me if you need my help."
Vampirella took it, surprised by the gesture. She smiled and kept it safe. But before Mark could finally leave, she spoke. "We haven't had the chance to introduce ourselves properly. You can call me Vampirella."
Mark noted the name. He began to introduce himself in return. "I'm..." But he struggled to give a name. He didn't want to use his real one, and he hadn't picked a superhero name yet. In the end, he simply said, "I don't have a name yet. So call me whatever you like."
Vampirella chuckled, perfectly understanding why he gave that answer. She began to tease him. "Alright, cutie-pie. Don't be mad now. You gave me permission."
"I won't," Mark said, smiling beneath his mask.
As their playful moment wound down, Vampirella placed her hand on Mark's arm and massaged it softly. "Don't be too hard on yourself, okay, cutie-pie? You're still young."
"I understand," Mark said. He knew where she was coming from. What he had done to those three people was the first time he had ever tortured anyone.
'She must have seen my expression.'
"Stay strong, okay, cutie-pie?" Vampirella patted Mark's arm and began walking away, her hips swaying gently. She turned back to look at him and blew him an air kiss. "Take care."
Mark could only wave, carefully avoiding looking at her body.