Blood Hunt : Project Zero

[3] 13. Return

[Cyrene]

Unlike the first time I went here, where I needed to blend well with the people and cover my eyes. Now, a coat was enough . . . and one jump to the border, and I'm inside the district.

The last district I've been into, where I left Noir and the others. Humampas ang hangin, napaangat ang nakatakip na hood sa ulo ko, tinignan ko ang kabuoan ng bayan. Nasa taas ako ng boarder, pero walang nakapapansin sa 'kin.

You succeeded, Noir.

Seeing how everything is still in place, that people are doing their everyday lives here. I knew Noir succeeded at taming the deputy. I casually fell, head first. Before my head could splash at the ground, I fixed my posture, my feet fell first. Still, there's no impact despite the speed. I was light like a feather.

No one noticed me, not the guards, not the people around me. Kahit kaagaw-agaw pansin ang suot ko, walang ni isang tingin ang dumaan sa posisyon ko. I'm just walking casually, one step at a time. But now, with effort, with this speed, no human eye could follow me.

I continued walking. It seems like there are no visible changes in the city, but I can smell blood. Familiar ones . . . the same smell I used to smell in Kira's district. The people are still here then.

Walang nagbago sa pagkakaalala ko. Tho . . . I can see new cabins, perhaps they built some. I went to the last house I'd been to when I was here. 

The deputy's house.

Naninkit ang mga mata ko, ilang talampakan pa lang ang layo ko. Ang sangsang ng amoy ng dugo. I can feel presences there. 3 . . . no, 4 people.

Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na dumeretso. Surprisingly, as I went inside, the smell faded. Inikot ko ang tingin ko. Nakaramdam na 'ko ng presensya, alam ko na kaagad kung sino. Hindi ko inaasahan na siya ang unang makikita ko.

He seemed to be in a hurry, holding a kit when he walked past me. He wouldn't have noticed me if I didn't intentionally step forward. Namilog ang mga mata niya nang umangat ang tingin niya sa 'kin.

"M-Miss C-Cyrene?" He sounds surprised, confused even. I could hear his heartbeat, I could see how the hairs from his body stood up, and his smell changed. Up close, I can fully see his pores, his scalp.

I thought that my senses were already too enhanced when I turned into a vampire, it turns out, it's still far from what I know.

I slightly tilted my head. "Doctor."

His mouth is twitching. Nagtubig din ang ilong niya, hindi niya alam ang sasabihin. He was too astonished at the moment, I gave him time.

Almost a minute before he could say anything. "I-I . . . I couldn't believe it," he stuttered.  "Y-You're here. You're back," he says as he shakes his head.

He then looked straight at me. "We thought you're dead."

I couldn't answer, I expected his words.

"I apologize, doc." Tinignan ko ang hawak-hawak niya. "Perhaps I should fill you in as we walk?"

Natauhan siya sa sinabi ko at napatingin din sa kit na hawak-hawak niya. Nagmamadali siyang tumango at naglakad. "Please, follow me."

I did what he instructed. And just like what I've said, I filled him with information as we walked. We're walking towards the basement, it feels like this place was a little bit bigger than I remember. Despite our long steps, we're still far away from the basement stairs. It was enough for me to give him the important details, straight to the point.

I've met an elder. They took me in for a year. In exchange for a skill, I'll give them my blood.

The doctor stopped to look at me from behind. I can see pure worry and sadness on his face.