Life After Death

Chapter 3

I would have screamed if my mouth wasn't being covered. I suppose that's the point. The door I have been pulled into shuts and everything goes dark. I struggle against my captor, trying to use the cane attached to my back as a weapon. It's unnecessary though as I'm released almost immediately. Not soon after, lights flood my vision.

The walls of the cabin are covered in a bumpy black foam. I can't even see the boarded windows. Only the floor and the ceiling aren't covered in the foam. The doors aren't either on the outside, but the one I had come through has the padding on its interior. It would have blended with the wall if not for the doorknob. Standing next to the door is a man with his hands on a switch.

Taking my chance, I jump upwards to send an attack at the man, though he sidesteps me easily as I trip over my crutches and twist my back, sending pain through my body. I curse under my breath as the stranger approaches me.

"Sorry! Sorry." The man says, holding his hands up in surrender. He isn't Vlad, but I don't know who else he could be. "It's a... force of habit. Long story. It involves a zombie apocalypse, you might have heard it before. Even after all these years, I'm a little jumpy. Anyway, the name's Hyacinth, friends call me Cinthia, you'll call me Hythe."

I look Hythe up and down, trying to figure out his deal. He's strange but other than forcefully pulling me through the door, he isn't really doing anything. I consider telling him outright my connection to Vlad but decide to wait. I'm not even sure if Vlad is here or not, or if my theories are correct. I want to wait for him personally. 

"Erina. Friends call me Erina. You'll call me Erina." I say, receiving a laugh from Hythe.

"Ha! I like this one." He says to no one in particular. "Well Erina, what're you here for?"

"Uh, I'm looking for Vlad Fiscella?" I say. I feel as if it's relatively obvious considering I'm supposedly at Vlad's house.

"Oh? Oh! You're paparazzi. Are you here to film him, take pictures, and write an article about him? Cause if so just hand me your card and he'll get back to you. And as for the little incident at the door, I'm willing to bribe you for not mentioning it. I've got this chest filled with items that you can trade for an entire apartment, that's how valuable they are. Well, they're only valuable because they're rare and also belong to me, but that doesn't matter. What'dya say?"

The man has charisma, that's for sure. He's also quite blunt. Considering I haven't seen him before nor heard his name, I'd bet he takes care of stuff behind the scenes for Vlad. It doesn't seem like the house is big enough for two people, I wonder if the basement is larger than the main floor.

"I'm not paparizzoli or whatever word you said. You see, I only recently became human again..." I start before Hythe claps his hands together loudly.

"Oh, great! Well those items are mostly meant for bribes but I suppose I can give you one as an apology anyway, you'll be wanting to live somewhere. I'll pass along your thanks to Vlad, but he's quite busy at the moment so you'll have to settle for that."

The man is getting on my nerves now, his original charm already losing its effect. He wouldn't even let me finish a sentence! I sigh before beginning again.

"I appreciate it, but I'm not here to thank him. I mean, maybe, but it's not the main reason. I've just got some information he may find useful." I say, grabbing my crutches and pushing myself off the ground.

"I can pass it along."

"NO." I say a little louder than I had meant to. I could have sworn I saw something flicker in Hythe's eyes. I instinctively take a step backward. "Sorry. Didn't mean to shout. I just really need to speak with him in person, it's important."