A thermometer sat in my mouth, Alex decided to stay with me in Mai's small office while I was having my blood pressure taken. Everett stayed as long as he could before leaving earlier.
I could tell Mai was aching to talk to me, but couldn't since everyone was being super helpful since the time I came back to the compound.
No one remembered Chara at this point, no maid replaced her presence and I lamented the loss of her companionship as she was always there for me no matter what. Mai takes the thermometer out of my mouth jotting something in her notebook.
"Christian, can we talk later?" Mai asks.
"Of course, thank you, Mai," I replied happily.
"Alex, make sure you talk to Everett." Mai states, "Christian get some rest."
"Right…"
We exit the nurse's office, Alex escorts me back to my room and he sits down on the extra chair placed in my room kicking his leg up.
"We never thought you would be found again." Alex explains, "But…"
"But?"
"Saniya contacted us…" Alex says.
"She didn't treat me horribly I suppose." I point out.
"You were in horrible condition only days ago due to the pseudo effects! Christian whoever did that to you I am truly sorry you went through it." Alex argues.
"I know…"
"Don't defend her Christian, but I have a question." Alex answers.
"Yes, Alex?"
"What do you want me to do?" Alex asks.
"What do you mean?" I am confused.
"Do you want me to finish the job?" Alex adds.
"I don't know yet Alex…"
"I want you to feel comfortable when I turn you." Alex clarifies.
"You should really turn him, Alex," Colton said.
"Shut up!" I yell.
"Colton, must you do that?" Alex responds nervously.
"I am the best version of the idiot here." Colton grins.
"That's enough, I am going to rest!" Alex shouts.
"Rest well Alex."
"I will be back later alright?" Alex affirms.
I waited till Alex had left, going the other way back down to the nurse's office to find she was no longer there.
"Christian? Are you up already?"
"Alice?" I ask.
"I came here to get a band-aid." Alice laughs.
"Oh, Mai wanted to talk about my pseudo fangs I think!"
"Are you still in pain?" Alice questions.
Alice shows me how they retract flicking them lightly, pseudo fangs stay in place until the adrenaline wears off. I was fascinated by the difference.
"When did you get bitten?"
She acts anxiously rubbing her arm, she was suddenly uncomfortable about being asked about them. I wondered why, I patted her on the back.
"It's okay, I am going back to my room now."
"Wait, Christian!" Alice shouts.
"Yes?"
"This whole thing is my fault," Alice exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter whose fault it is anymore."
"Oh, the hot nurse babe ain't here!" Colton states.
"What the fuck Colton!" I yell.
"Are you that lonely Christian?" Alice asks.
"What are you talking about?"
"You keep him out instead of internalizing him…" Alice explains.
"It's none of your business." I snap.
"Christian…"
"Just mind Colton for now Alice please."
Alice retrieves her bandaids promptly, taking off without saying any more, Colton chases after her. I sat down in Mai's seat waiting for her to come back.
Getting bored I rock the chair back and forth becoming impatient leaning all the way I bang my head off the wall. Sitting up in the chair I realize how silly I am just waiting to hear back from Saniya.
I am also not very sure what I should be doing? Should I be getting close to Alice and Alex? Everything was confusing and unclear to me.
Dominique felt like a brother, he is hardly as bad as everyone thinks.
"You know I can hear your thoughts?" Colton voices.
"And I care why?"
"You like being treated that way I see…" Colton replies.
"I am going, don't wait for me!" I shout.
My body is paralyzed, I wasn't able to move. Colton stood there motionless coming at me from behind. He twirled my hair in between his fingers.
"You don't need Mai, you are waiting to wait till the void moon and take the sword," Colton explains.
"How do you know this?"
"She talked to me often, she favored my attention."
"I see…what do I do after?" I ask.
"You will know, but for now you have a long time here Christian," Colton notes.
Colton motions pulling on something, I feel a tug on my neck. The metal restraint has appeared again squeezing my larynx. He only snickers.
"Do you really think you were free from her Christian?"
"No…but I also didn't ask her to be free." I answer.
He surrenders with the look of shock on his face, the metal plate around my neck fades back into my skin. I let out a small groan, gently rubbing the spot.
"You act as I would betray her…" I glare at him.
"I see…you accepted her chains…here she was expecting you to be happy." Colton specified.
"Being away from Chara is torture, Colton…"
"You are doing this for her if anything Christian."
"I will take the dusksong for Chara and cure her curse," I admit.
"Good boy Christian, make Saniya proud."
"Right…"
Waving my hand away Colton fades away from my sight, I was slowly able to feel new changes happening inside myself.
"I should accept the turning, I am not doing the pseudo fangs again."
About to leave the nurse's office I run into Mai, she is speechless to see me in her post waiting for her. She was carrying a large sheaf of paper in her hands.
I gladly take them from her walking her to her desk setting them down, she smirks propping her heeled shoe against the table.
"Do you miss home already lover boy?" Mai asks.
"I would rather be home than here Mai…"
"Good, keep your eye on the prize and you will be home in no time."
"Thank you, Mai, I will see you later…" I said.
"See you later Christian."
Waving I observed the empty halls, nothing was stuffy like Saniya's little cottage that I had grown accustomed to despite the small amount of time I spent in it.
Step by step I scrutinize each door I walk by glancing at the paneling and pattern on the doors. Sometimes the residents would customize with nameplates of stuffed toys or plants outside.
Alice had belonged here from the very start, I never belonged anywhere even when I worked a nine to five job. That's when it hit me…
Why does Alice work with me in the first place? How did she get that job when I never recalled at any point how she got the job.
Did she take college or did she use some spell or some vampire spell to immerse herself into my environment or why does she live near me?
Has my life been watched by her till something happened?
A spurt of energy has me running down the halls, I gawk around trying to figure out which door to knock on. I was confused about being new.
I had only existed here for a short time frame before Dominique pushed me off the top of the steep drop from above. I wanted to come back and be what Gavyn wanted of me.
But that's not what happened…frozen to the spot I realize how lost I am here. I was also still exhausted from pseudo coming in, but I was tired of resting.
Traversing the halls I come upon the main office where Everett handles his business, I turn the doorknob to find it is locked after twisting it several times. I knocked as hard as I could before giving up.
"Is anyone awake?" I yell.
No one answers, disheartened I look to the double doors where I first glimpsed at the redness of the sky. The emptiness was suffocating me here.
"Christian, you are out here?"
"Alice?" I ask.
"I thought I heard someone shout." She smiles.
Images of the 'other Alice' instantly flashed before my eyes, her features near-identical. I felt blinded by the radiance of the void peering deep inside of me. Have I also been bewitched?
Afraid to look at her I take my hand shielding her from my vision as though the sun caught me from above glaring into my eyes. Alice moves my arms attempting to peek at my face. Tears rolled down my cheek the more I thought of Chara being overtaken by the abyss's effects.
"Christian…are you crying?" Alice requests to know.
Quickly wiping my tears, rubbing away the lamentation on my sleeve I turn as though nothing happened. I become a stone to my conviction to save Chara.
"N-no…it's okay I want to talk to you, Alice."
"Let's talk, I feel like I owe you that much." Alice agrees.
"Can you still eat food?" I wondered.
"No…no, I can't, I tried and I threw up."
"I see…I guess I will just prepare for myself then. I say forlornly.