Ella & Vlad at the end

# 12 - night moves

Smiling, Ella enters a nicely decorated apartment, "oh thank you. Yes didn't think I'd ever see others." Viewing the eclectic collection of antique furnishings spies a familiar looking rocking chair, "oh I love these, had one, one time just like it."

Studying her approach the chair the doctor closes the door, "it's Ida's favorite."

Touching the carved armrest, Ella lightly slides a fingertip to the chair back following it up. "It really looks like it. Can't be that one, that was Romania. When I was younger and also where I was born. May I?" she asks to sit.

"Go ahead." The doctor locks the door, "I doubt it's yours. It did come from Europe so maybe same maker or knock off. It was always with my grandmother as long as I can remember. And I've got a few years on you."

Sitting in the chair it feels familiar to her but accepts the idea of made by the same person. Rocking the chair she can tell he's looking for more current information, "I came to North America, mainly California, near the end of last century. Since society crashed I've been roaming. How about you? You a local boy or end up here?"

"I see. I ended up back here." Pocketing the gun he eases into a chair across from her, "Born here, moved east for school and south as a doctor. Just looking for a place to live out life peacefully made my way back home. Seeing if family or old friends had survived. Created a collection of weary souls along the way looking for some sort of life or hope. This city was empty when forty of us arrived. As the place wasn't destroyed by anyone, and all were tired why not start a new here. Over the years we picked up more and more criss-crossing the continent just to find others to survive with. How is it you know we're not diseased like everyone else? I get this feeling from you I'll never get the full truth."

Not wanting to discuss the lycanthropy he's got her there, "sorry Doc, there's always something we don't wish to discuss. Once I was an ER nurse so I know I'm okay. With Ida and Adan their eyes told me so."

Impressed he sits back re-evaluating the young looking woman before him, "even if we are all disease free can you tell me what you want form us? Are you working for someone seeking a cure?"

Rocking away Ella studies the space struggling on what to say, "no I'm here for me. And to put you at ease, a no or told to go is okay with me. Now being completely honest here, I'd like to have a blood transfusion."

"Huh?" An unexpected response he wonders if in a dream, "a transfusion? Have you something? If you are healthy why would you want to do that? And you'd need the same blood. Ida, Adan and I aren't even the same."

She surmises they're a truly mixed family, "oh neither are yours? Thought one of them might be. Both orphaned? And you're raising them? Good show Doc. If I didn't get into why's would you consider it?"

Assuming she has some sort of blood illness he sits up putting a hand to chin, "yes perhaps. If it was necessary. Were you hoping one of us was a match to you? Ida's an O. Both were found as toddlers and brought in malnourished. I named Ida that because she was wearing an Idaho canvass potato sack. She named Adan." He does find her request bizarre.

"Oh how sad." Seeing a rare humanitarian is disgusted with herself, "here you are looking out for others while I'm only seeking longer life. I'm sorry, this seems like an idea gone wrong. I should go." She starts to get up.

"It's okay Ella." Assuredly he motions with a hand to stay seated, "all lives should matter. And it concerns you enough to stop by, late. It's not the most selfish thing I've heard. You mentioned being a nurse, what were you planning?" Not observing anything odd about her eyes, he assumes needed sleep is affecting him.

"Thank you for saying that." Hearing someone willing to at least listen Ella restrains a smile, "I was hoping over a few months to store up enough blood to do it. Of course my other problem right now I can't perform a transfusion on myself."