Life After Death

Chapter 13

Vlad and Evelyn are talking and working on something, while I walk around. There's not much I can do to help but stay out of the way. There is a lot hidden within the room, not just the supplies used for the cure. I find a few pictures of the three living in the shop. The little girl has been one of the few children I've seen so far.

I wonder if I had a family. Well, aside from Vlad. Was I married? Did I have any children? I may have to ask Janet about that. There are a lot of things I want to ask her, actually. I put the picture down, a knot forming in my stomach. I could have family living somewhere not even knowing I'm alive or knowing that I've forgotten all about them.

I spot another picture, Evelyn, Hythe, Bug, and several faces I don't recognize are all making silly faces at the camera while holding a handmade sign reading We survived the zombie apocalypse in big letters. This must be from after the cure. I glance over at Vlad, who is still focused on his task. I realize I don't even know if he, Hythe, or even Clarity ever had families.

The three hadn't seemed romantic, so I doubt there was ever a relationship there, but perhaps they had separate relationships in the past. Of course, it's likely none of them made it. Maybe I'd have to ask Vlad about that part of his life. I want to know who he is now, not who he was in my memories. Though I still don't know that version of him, so many questions hang over my head still.

"Erina, come here for a moment, would you?" Calls Evelyn, and I place the photo down and join the other two. Vlad's single page of notes is sitting on top of a neat notebook. It seems to be a much better storage system than the scattered papers Vlad has on the basement table. 

"Do you happen to have anything belonging to Cinthia on you right now? Like a hair, or a piece of his shirt, or even blood?" Vlad asks, and I check my pockets. Nothing. Vlad lets out a long sigh. "Alright. Guess we've gotta go back to the house. I've got vials of his blood in the same room we were hidden in. Hopefully, he's left by now."

"And if not?" I ask. 

"Then we take the DNA straight from the source and run like our lives depend on it--because they will," Vlad responds, handing me a pair of scissors. "Aim for the hair, but if you must, gash his arm and get some blood on the scissors before running. And good luck."

"One of you is coming too, right?" I ask though I already know the answer.

"Sorry, we have to make sure we're alive or the cure is gone. If you die, we'll get you back, though!" Evelyn says, her words not providing any comfort. I know I'm the safest bet, but that doesn't make things any easier.

"Fine. Hopefully, I come back alive, and not undead." I say, taking the scissors and adjusting them in my hand before walking back to the cabin. I really hope Hythe has gone by now. I glance at my fancy new cane. At least I've got an alternative weapon if my life is in danger, though I'll try not to kill Hythe with it.

I enter the house and hear nothing but silence. I pivot and go into Vlads room instead of going immediately to the basement. I may as well try to grab a few things while I'm here. His room is fairly empty at a first glance, though with a little sleuthing I find a shoe box hidden beneath the bed. I feel a little bad for looking through his stuff without permission, but he also sent me on this potentially deadly mission so I call it even.

Of all things I expected to find in a hidden shoe box, shoes were not one of them. Really, he's not hiding anything in this? I remove the shoes and shake the box and finally find one piece of the puzzle that is Vlad. It's a photo. I stare at the people in it for a moment before placing it in my back pocket. I'd talk with Vlad later about who they were.

I next enter the bathroom where Hythe had always gone. It definitely is a bathroom. I find a handful of syringes filled with sickeningly black goop. This must be what kept him from turning for so long. This may be useful. I don't have much storage space, so I only take one and tangle it in my curly hair. I don't want to risk getting poked with it hanging in my pockets, and my hair proves to be pretty good at holding things.