As Alex stepped inside the rundown house, the musty smell of old wood and dampness hit him. His eyes swiftly adjusted to the darkness, revealing an old man sitting on a worn-out chair, engrossed in watching an ancient television set. The soft glow from the screen played on the lines etched on the man's weathered face. The scarred man who had led Alex here hovered in the doorway, observing the interaction between the two.
Alex approached cautiously, his heart pounding with anticipation and nervousness. The old man turned his gaze towards him, his eyes widening in surprise as he recognized the resemblance.
Alex stood there couple of seconds awkwardly as the old man looked him up and down with wide eyes. He finally mustered his courage and spoke, "Hello sir, I'm Alex. I believe you knew my father, Sol."
The old man's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions – surprise, recognition, and maybe a tinge of sadness. "Sol's son," he muttered as if the words brought back a flood of memories. "Please, have a seat," he gestured towards a dusty, worn-out chair.
As he settled into the chair, Alex noticed the frailty in the old man's hands as he fidgeted with the remote control, turning off the television. The room fell into silence, and Alex took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm here because I want to know about my father, about his past."
Samuel, the old man, looked at Alex with a contemplative expression. He seemed to be immersed in deep thought and maintained the same expression,his eyes never leaving Alex. "Sol was a remarkable man," he began after a couple of seconds, his voice tinged with a mix of admiration and nostalgia. "We used to work together at a government-funded research facility. Our goal was to delve into the mysteries of the supernatural – specifically, the creation of a Sanguine."
Alex's eyes widened in shock at the mention of Sanguine – the same term his father had used in the letter. He tried to hide his surprise, urging Samuel to continue. The old man leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant as he recounted the past.
"One day, something went wrong. Our research subject, the very creature we were studying, went berserk after a series of failed experiments. It unleashed its fury upon everyone in the facility," Samuel's voice grew sombre, and he paused briefly before continuing. "Only Sol and I managed to escape, and we were able to do so because of his unique abilities as a vampire."
The revelation left Alex in shock. The thought of his father being embroiled in such dangerous and mysterious research was beyond anything he had imagined. It also hinted at a connection to the mysterious force and the disappearances plaguing New Haven city. But he knew better than to let his emotions show. Instead, he thanked Samuel for the information and bid him farewell.
As Alex stepped out of the rundown house, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The truth he had uncovered about his father's past was overwhelming, and it left him with more questions than answers. He couldn't help but wonder if there was a connection between the failed experiments, the mysterious force his father had warned about, and the disappearance of the people.
And the experiments had failed but why did his father leave him with pure-blooded ghoul's blood to become a sanguine? Alex didn't want to go down that line of thinking.
Resolute and determined, Alex knew he had to find more clues, piece together the puzzle of his father's past, and uncover the truth about the force that had threatened the balance of their world.
With each step he took on the way back to the train station, his thoughts churned, and a newfound sense of purpose burned within him. The journey back to New Haven city felt shorter than before, the landscape blurring as his mind was consumed by the revelations he had learned.
As he boarded the maglev train back to the city, he couldn't shake off the lingering unease and curiosity. The world around him seemed to fade away, leaving him alone with the weight of his father's secrets and the responsibility that now rested on his shoulders.
The train sped through the landscape, the rhythmic hum of the engine echoing in his ears.