Marvel: Awakening the Universe.

Chapter 258 The New York Vampire's Scheme (A 5K-word Chapter!)
The electrocardiogram monitor showed a straight line.

Ding--

George looked at the image on the electrocardiogram monitor and seemed to remember something, so he unconsciously placed one hand on his chest.

His heart stopped beating.

But he is still alive.

obviously.

From this moment on, George was no longer Sheriff George of the 21st Precinct, but the vampire sheriff George of the 21st Precinct.

Gwen glanced at Hawke instinctively.

Hawke, meeting Gwen's gaze, nodded slightly.

Gwen gasped instantly, then looked at George, who was sitting on the bed, clutching his chest, looking somewhat dazed.

"dad--"

"Boom!"

The ward door was pushed open by the night shift doctor, who was panting heavily.

then……

The night shift doctor looked at Hawke and Gwen standing there, then at George sitting on the bed, staring at him with a blank look in his eyes, and finally at the monitoring equipment that kept alarming. His lips twitched.

next second.

He didn't say anything, but went straight to the monitoring equipment, canceled the alarm, turned off the machine, and then turned to walk towards the door. When he reached the door, he turned back and said with a somewhat speechless expression, "Is holding your breath fun? We're very busy."

Say it.

The night shift doctor turned away, ignoring the two police officers who had rushed over, and walked out with a somewhat grim expression.

The two officers who arrived at the scene breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that George was unharmed. Then one of the officers looked at Hawke.

"Mr. Phoenix."

"I'm."

“There’s a lady downstairs named Catherine Pierce. She said you asked her to come over.”

"Correct."

Hawke's eyes lit up, and he nodded: "Has she arrived?"

The officer nodded, then grabbed his walkie-talkie and, while turning and leaving the room with his partner, contacted his colleagues who had already placed the area under complete lockdown.

After receiving the message, the police officer downstairs walked over to Katherine Pierce, who was standing not far away outside the police line.

"You can go up now."

"Thank you."

Catherine smiled, said thank you, and then walked into the hospital building under the watchful eyes of the police officers.

soon.

Elevator arrives.

Ding!
After Catherine stepped out of the elevator, she barely looked for her room. Following the lingering scent of vampires, including the scent of a recently transformed vampire, she easily found herself in George Stacy's ward.

The two police officers at the door exchanged a glance and opened the door.

Catherine thanked him again and went inside. She immediately saw George, the newborn vampire, sitting on the hospital bed with a somewhat ashen expression.

Then she immediately shifted her gaze to Hawke, who was standing not far away.

"Mr. Phoenix."

"Hawk."

Hawke smiled and said, "You and Gwen are friends, so you're my friend too. Have you found the Sun Ring?"

He didn't know whether Catherine's encounter with Gwen was accidental or intentional.

Hawke doesn't need to know.

Again.

Judging by actions, not intentions, regardless of what Catherine's motives were in approaching Gwen, at least for now, Gwen doesn't dislike Catherine and has even brought her into her shopping group.

and so……

Gwen's friend is his friend.

Catherine nodded and took a sun ring out of her pocket.

Just as she was about to speak, Gwen hugged Catherine and said, "Thank you."

Gwen was wondering why Hawke had called Catherine here, but after hearing about the Sun Ring, she understood. After hugging Catherine, she took the Sun Ring from her hand and ran to the bedside.

Just as Gwen thought the sun ring was a bit small, it automatically expanded the size the moment it touched George's finger, and then fit him perfectly on his finger.

next moment.

George, who had been sitting motionless on the bed like a petrified statue, suddenly snapped back to his senses with a rapid contraction of his pupils and looked down once more at the palm of his hand resting on his chest.

Very simple.

Because he felt his heartbeat again, which had just stopped, but now it was beating again.

The "Sunlight Ring," forged by a witch's magic, not only allows vampires to walk in the daylight but also restores their heartbeat and body temperature to be indistinguishable from those of a normal human.

After all, this was during the era of the Holy Inquisition.

Witches will be burned at the stake.

Vampires can also be burned at the stake, which is why witches and vampires band together.

George looked at the sunburst ring on the finger of his left hand, which was bringing his heart back to a beat.

"This is……"

"This is a sun ring."

Gwen explained, "Dad, once you wear this ring, you won't be afraid of the sunlight anymore, and Mom and the others won't notice that you've become a vampire."

George looked up at Gwen.

Gwen looked at George with a tense expression and a hint of pleading in her eyes.

Eyes facing each other.

Hawke watched this scene, then looked at Catherine beside him and whispered, "The Crimson Apocalypse seems to be an organization that worships vampires. Have you heard of it?"

Catherine was slightly stunned.

"A Crimson Apocalypse?"

"Correct."

"No."

Catherine shook her head: "But finding them isn't difficult."

She had been to New York City and was very familiar with it, but that was in the last century.

This time when Catherine came to New York City, she was not as eccentric as she was when she came to New York City in the last century.

After all, Hawke lives in New York City.

During her time in New York City, she spent most of her time gathering the assets she had accumulated over the centuries in various parts of the Union. After selling off a significant portion of her assets, she also purchased a property near Palm Street.

This way, she'd be closer to Hawke, and if the progenitor Klaus were to attack without any regard for morality, she could immediately seek refuge with Hawke.

Catherine really didn't understand the Blood Apocalypse Hawke was talking about.

But it's okay.

Although she hadn't done much in New York City during this time, she still knew some of the vampire gathering places.

So if this Crimson Apocalypse is related to the vampires of New York City...

Catherine said she would find it soon.

And this is an opportunity.

A smart girl knows how to take the initiative.

and so……

After Catherine finished speaking, she looked directly at Hawke and said, "I'll let you know as soon as I find it?"

Hawke glanced at Gwen, who was still staring at George, who remained silent, and nodded.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Catherine smiled and glanced at Gwen, but instead of greeting her, she turned and left the ward.

After Catherine left the ward, Hawke coughed, attracting Gwen's attention, as he looked at George, who seemed somewhat despondent.

"Gwen."

"Ok?"

"Later we'll go to Howard and Simon's school, get them expelled, and then send them to public school."

"Um... ah?"

Gwen blinked, looking at Hawke who had suddenly said that.

George also looked up at Hawke at that moment.

Hawke, hands in his pockets, looked at Gwen and continued, "Oh, and that apartment where Helen, Simon, and Howard are living now, remember to contact the real estate agent first thing tomorrow morning, so it won't be auctioned off by the court next year because we can't pay the property taxes."

Gwen's eyes initially looked confused, but she quickly realized what was happening and cooperated with Hawke's performance.

“How could we not be able to pay the property tax next year? Dad’s salary and the police station’s subsidies can easily cover the cost.”

"We only get paid if we're alive, what if George doesn't want to live anymore?"

"...If you can't speak properly, then don't speak. How could Dad not want to live?"

Gwen rolled her eyes at Hawke upon hearing this, and couldn't help but say, then looked at George, who was sitting on the edge of the bed watching Hawke: "Right, Dad?"

George didn't speak, he just looked at Hawke.

"Look."

He didn't say anything.

"So, sell the houses as soon as possible, use the money to help Helen with her retirement, and if Howard and Simon really can't make it, they can just go into the foster care system."

"Anyway, I won't take care of it."

"If you insist on taking care of me, I might even have to seriously reconsider whether we should get married."

"after all……"

"A woman who prioritizes her brother's needs over his own is terrifying."

"..."

Hawke ignored George's gaze and continued speaking, his expression genuinely showing fear when he mentioned the "brother-supporting demon." After all, it was the truth.

Well known.

A woman who prioritizes her brother's needs over her own is truly terrifying.

at this time.

George spoke, his voice as deep and serious as ever.

"Hawk, you don't need to provoke me."

"Excited?"

Hawke was slightly taken aback, looked at George who had spoken, and said with a smile, "I didn't provoke you. You don't even plan to support your own family, so why should I rush to take on the responsibilities that should belong to you?"

George said expressionlessly, "You won't have to pay for it."

Gwen, standing to the side, watched George nervously.

"dad……"

"Do not worry."

George snapped out of his daze, smiled at Gwen, and then, under Gwen's gaze, ripped off the various medical cables stuck to his body. He then got off the hospital bed, hugged Gwen who was watching him nervously, and moved gently, his voice soft.

"How could I possibly abandon you and Mom?"

"father!"

Gwen hugged George tightly, looked at Hawke, and gave him a big thumbs-up with her expressive emerald eyes.

Hawke smiled.

at this time.

The ward door was pushed open again, and a police officer who had been guarding the door walked in, holding his phone. He then looked at George, who was already out of bed and holding his daughter, and said, "Sheriff, someone who calls himself Ben Urik is looking for you. He says he's a friend of yours."

George raised an eyebrow, trying to answer the phone, but suddenly realized something and froze in place.

Seeing this, Hawke took the phone from the officer, gestured to the officer, and after the officer left, put the phone on speakerphone and placed it in front of George.

George glanced at Hawke, who had just said he would die one second and break up with his daughter the next, then looked at the phone in Hawke's hand. After organizing his thoughts, he spoke in a deep voice.

“I am George Stacy.”

"Sheriff Stacy, that's great, it seems you've recovered."

The voice on the other end of the phone was young, but there was an incongruous hint of old age in it, giving the feeling that it was an old man speaking in a very young voice—a strange sensation.

George frowned.

"Who are you, and where are you?"

“I am… Heh, Sheriff Stacy. We’re all in the same boat now, don’t you know who we are?”

"……vampire!"

George's voice was low and tinged with anger: "You turned Ben into a vampire too?"

The person on the other end of the phone chuckled.

"Yes, we are vampires."

"There's nothing we can do; it's just that Sheriff Stacy keeps chasing us."

"You wanted the murderer, we gave you the murderer, but you're still not satisfied. Well then, we have no choice but to grant your wish."

"Ben Ulrik is much smarter than you."

"But only a little bit."

"Although he was investigating very discreetly, we knew about it a long time ago. However, he never thought of contacting anyone, so we didn't bother with him."

"Until now."

“You’re giving us a real headache, Sheriff Stacy.”

"but……"

“We admire you and even want to befriend you, so rest assured, Ben Ulric has not become a vampire.”

The man on the other end of the phone spoke in a low voice, then changed the subject: "However, although he didn't become a vampire, whether he lives or dies depends on you, Sheriff Stacy."

George's face was grim, and he didn't waste any words.

"What do you want?"

"Of course we want to be your friends, Sheriff Stacy. Don't be angry. Becoming a vampire is something many people in your department crave but can't have, and yet we've given it to you so easily."

This is the truth.

Why do vampire legends persist and even enjoy a large market in Hollywood?

It's simply because the people like it.

one more time.

Although becoming a vampire has many side effects, once you avoid those side effects, the most important thing is to enjoy the benefits of never aging and having an infinite lifespan.

and so……

There are far more people who like, admire, or even wish to join the ranks of vampires than those who hate and want to eliminate them.

So from a certain perspective, the vampire on the other end of the phone wasn't wrong.

For most humans, becoming a vampire is a blessing, and they readily bestowed this blessing upon George.

but……

George is not one of the majority.

Most of them are the type of people who see immortality as a pursuit, while George is the type who sees immortality as a curse.

George was a Catholic.

He pursued justice partly because he upheld his professional ethics, and partly because he believed that if he upheld justice, he would return to heaven after his death.

There, he will become an angel with Helen, eternally following God.

result……

He turned into a vampire.

This guy thinks he can go to heaven? Dream on! He should just go to hell, and be a VIP there.

George was devastated.

He really did have suicidal thoughts just now.

But it wasn't Hawke who enlightened him.

Rather, it's because suicide is also a sin, a sin that leads to hell even after death.

The most important thing.

He saw Gwen's anxious, pleading gaze, and then heard that bastard Hawke say that he would break up with his precious daughter if he dared to die. Only then did he finally give up the idea of ​​suicide.

George now has only one thought in his mind.

Perhaps this is a test from God for him.

Yes.

test.

God made such a devout believer into the most despicable vampire not because he did anything wrong, but as a test for him.

If God didn't let him die, it means it wasn't his time to die yet.

That being the case.

Then let's find all these vampires hiding in the dark corners of New York City, find them one by one, and then, in the name of God, completely destroy this group of evil vampires.

George's eyes flickered, then he looked at the phone in Hawke's hand: "Okay, we're friends now, you can release Ben."

The vampire on the other end of the phone laughed heartily.

“Sheriff Stacy, that’s not how you do things, my friend. We have given you unprecedented power, and in return, you should give us something in return.”

"What do you want?"

"This turmoil started with you, and it should end with you as well. I am deeply sorry for your wife's death, but you will personally put a period to this unfortunate death. Someone will come to turn themselves in. After you have personally closed this case, we can meet."

"..."

As George listened to the vampire's words, his eyes narrowed, and he was almost about to lose control when the door opened.

Helen, who had just returned from the operating room, walked in and, seeing George already out of bed, instinctively opened her mouth.

Seeing this, George looked at Helen with her mouth agape and shouted.

"it is good!"

"Oh!"

"..."

Hawke raised an eyebrow, looking at the phone that George had slapped to pieces in his palm.

at the same time.

Helen's voice followed immediately.

"Thank you so much!"

"George, you're injured..."

"I'm all right."

George looked at Helen, who was standing in front of him with a shocked expression and was trying to pull him onto the bed with both hands. He quickly spoke up, then his gaze swept over Helen's body, finally settling on a very familiar bullet hole in the chest of Helena's coat.

"What is this...?"

"This one……"

Helen, seeing her husband's gaze fixed on the bullet hole in her chest, realized what was happening and took out a bullet from her pocket that "should" have fallen from her body.

George carefully controlled the power he seemed to be unfamiliar with, took the bullet from Helen's hand, and then looked at Helen.

"This is……"

"I am not sure as well."

Helen shook her head, looking confused.

"I felt someone enter the room, shoot me in the chest, and then I died."

"but……"

"It feels like I've been resurrected."

"..."

(End of this chapter)