The Immortals

EIGHTEEN - Survival And Self-Control

It had been a while since Alice and Antonia last heard from Victor or the enigmatic newcomer - Aurelia. The silence that enveloped their lives was deafening, leaving them to wonder if the danger had truly faded or if it was merely biding its time, waiting to strike again. At Alice's repeated requests, Antonia reluctantly agreed to let her go, believing that it was best for her friend to return to her normal routine and try to find solace in the familiar.

With a sense of relief and trepidation intertwining within her, Alice stepped foot inside her home, hopeful that she could pick up where she had left off those few days ago. However, her happiness was short-lived as the weight of reality crashed down upon her. It echoed with a haunting silence that mirrored the void left by Sam's untimely death.

As Alice surveyed her surroundings, her heart became heavy with the burden of unanswered questions. The investigation into Sam's demise loomed over her like a gathering storm, threatening to unleash its fury upon her fragile existence. She knew she would soon be subjected to relentless interrogations, each question reopening the wound of her loss, dredging up memories she desperately wished to forget.

But it was not just the impending investigation that clouded her mind. Alice's disappearance during the chaos that followed Sam's death had left her with yet another puzzle to solve. She had to find a plausible explanation, a web of lies intricate enough to convince her boss that her absence was not a result of negligence. The fear of losing her job now added another layer of anxiety to her already burdened soul.

Frustration and exhaustion settled upon Alice like a suffocating shroud, threatening to drown her in a sea of despair. The once vibrant colors of her life had faded into muted shades of gray, mirroring the desolation she felt within. But amidst the chaos, a flicker of determination ignited within her. She would not let herself be consumed by the darkness that threatened to engulf her.

So, Alice started with little things to get her life back together, like household. Therefore, she began to do the dishes, to clean up the kitchen, the house and generally any mundane tasks that would distract her of whatever is going on out there.

As she got used to doing these small acts of daily living, the ache of grief ebbed away, replaced instead by the burning need to keep busy. After all, what was done was done and now she needed to focus on getting back to basics. That way she could continue moving forward rather than stagnating.

And although this simple task did not alleviate the pain, it forced her mind elsewhere other than the overwhelming emptiness she felt.

As the apartment sparkled with cleanliness, Alice found herself unable to distract her mind any longer. Determined to face the truth of the supernatural world she had been thrust into, she gathered paper sheets, made a strong cup of coffee, and settled at the kitchen table. With a pencil in hand, she began jotting down the bullet points of everything Antonia had revealed about the hidden creatures that lurked in the shadows.

Alice meticulously detailed the strengths and weaknesses of vampires, carefully noting their abilities and vulnerabilities. She delved into the lore surrounding werewolves, capturing the essence of their transformation and the moon's influence. The pages of her notebook soon became adorned with Antonia's tales of witches, too, with their magical practices, and the intricate web of spells they wove.

But it didn't stop there. Alice's determination grew as she dedicated a section of her notes to Victor and the enigmatic group of Originals.

Finally, as her eyes surveyed the vast collection of knowledge sprawled before her, Alice made a decision. No longer content with her ordinary police work, she vowed to protect the people of the town not just from everyday criminals, but from malevolent vampires, like the one who had stolen her friend's life.