31. Batricia Nocturna ~ Queen of the Bats
Doctor Batricia Nocturna, one of the youngest specialists in exotic wildlife, is on an expedition in a previously unexplored area of a rather dark and treacherous jungle, when she becomes separated from her companions. One of the other members of the expedition, jealous of Dr. Nocturna, reports that she saw the girl being devoured by a giant python. Consequently, the group stops searching and returns home, leaving Dr. Nocturna alone in the jungle.
She wanders for days and becomes sick and delirious with fever. Stumbling into a clearing she comes upon an ancient stone temple where she is suddenly attacked by a swarm of vicious vampire bats.
Some time later, she awakens to find herself inside the temple, being tended to by an old woman. The toothless old hag tells Batricia that since the bites of the bats did not kill her, she must be "the chosen one". "Long have I waited for my replacement as the guardian of this holy shrine", the old woman says. "Now that you are here, I may go on to my final rest."
As time passes and Batricia slowly recovers, the old woman teaches Batricia how to communicate with and control the bats. But Batricia has no plans on staying in the jungle for the rest of her life. As soon as she has her health back and has figured out a way to escape, she flees and heads back to civilization. The old woman's voice echoes in her ears" " You cannot escape your destiny!"
When she returns home, she discovers to her surprise that she has been gone for twenty years! Time stood still in the jungle and she has not aged. She also learns that the other members of the expedition who abandoned her have gone on to successful careers, all based on research stolen from her! No one believes she is who she says she is and she is threatened with confinement in a lunatic asylum!
She goes into hiding and plots revenge on those who wronged her - and on society in general. In no time at all, she embarks on a career of criminal mischief and murder using her remarkable ability to communicate with and control an army of deadly vampire bats!
