Chapter Four.
“Vampires!” Vincent scoffed to himself as he took a sip from his EAPA.
He made the unusual decision of frequenting a Windenburg bar that night after his shift had ended. He needed some well-deserved R&R after spending the last few hours sat in a cramped and stuffy interrogation room.
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He drained his drink and moved over to the dartboard. Maybe throwing sharp things at a wall would help ease this tension, he thought as he slowly rolled his shoulders to work out a knot.
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He recalled the interview he had with ‘Vampire Teen’ earlier that evening. Detective Spencer-Kim, with the Teen’s full co-operation, was able to determine that the ‘proof’ was in fact, ‘a large book full of awesome’. Whatever that meant.
Vincent couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. Did she seriously think they would believe vampires were real?
As soon as he’d finished that thought the room turned icy cold. His breath steamed in front of his face and he shivered uncontrollably. He recognised that as his cue to leave so he threw his last dart carelessly at the board and started for the door. Before reaching it, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the ghost of Officer Caliente embracing another Sim.
https://i.imgur.com/hb7dU0r.jpg
He stopped in his tracks and observed them for a brief moment. Maybe if ghosts are real could it also be possible for vampires to exist, too? He recalled the lab technician’s grisly discovery on Caliente’s body. Could the Officer’s death really be linked to vampire activity?
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He laughed at the absurdity as he strode towards the exit.
He had just cleared the pub’s threshold when his phone rang in his pocket. He checked the screen before answering it. What did Detective Spencer-Kim have to say at this hour? He groaned as he accepted her call.
“Valentine,” he grunted.
“We’ve got it,” she announced excitedly.
“Could you elaborate on that?” Asked a perplexed Vincent.
“The book, of course!” Vincent caught a hint of irritation in her voice, “officers searched her place and it showed up. Seems she’s at least telling the truth about that.”
“It’s a Winterfest miracle,” retorted Vincent dryly.
When she didn’t respond, Vincent filled the silence.
“I’ll stop by the precinct on my way home.”
***
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It seemed like a lifetime for the Evidence department to release the book but eventually, after an hour and a half on the punching bag, it was finally in his possession. Vincent decided that it was probably safer to take it home with him rather than store it in his locker.
When he arrived in the Spice District, he grabbed a quick samosa from the nearby Indian food stall and sat down at a table. With his curiosity gnawing at him he quickly finished his meal, hurried up to his apartment and gently prised open the book’s ancient cover.
He immediately regretted his decision.
https://i.imgur.com/kaJHuKF.jpg
He couldn’t put it down. He was so engrossed in its dusty, yellowed pages that he spent the vast majority of his evening trying very hard to absorb its contents. None of it made any sense but he was determined to keep reading in case, by some miracle of the Watcher, it began to. He wasn’t entirely sure how it proved the existence of vampires either but it certainly kept him entertained for a few hours.
https://i.imgur.com/iF6hMf2.jpg
Frustrated and weary, his eyelids began to droop and he finally closed the cover. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
***
Vincent awoke to the distant sound of wood creaking somewhere in his apartment. Drowsy, he tried to roll over and go back to sleep but something in the back of his mind urged him to get out of bed.
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Vincent lazily clambered out of bed. Once upright, he slowly turned around to face a shadowy figure that had appeared before him. Shivering, he tried desperately to return to his cozy slumber but the pounding in his head intensified and his ability to stand was diminishing at an alarming rate.
https://i.imgur.com/7OCvC6o.jpg
His mind turned blank and his vision started to blur. He tried hard to fight the sensation coursing through his body but he was far too powerless and he eventually succumbed to the mysterious figure.
https://i.imgur.com/uglV6Of.jpg
He felt his body relax as the figure inched closer to him. Vincent winced when he felt a sharp scratch on the left side of his neck. Then, as the figure pushed his body away, Vincent’s blurry vision instantly faded to black.
https://i.imgur.com/NzDdmfs.jpg
***
After what felt like an eternity, Vincent finally awoke dazed and disorientated. He inched his body slowly off his bedroom floor and gingerly climbed back beneath the covers. As he pulled the sheets up around his neck, he was completely unaware of the two small holes that now appeared there.
https://i.imgur.com/legM1gd.jpg
END OF PART I