I opened the door through the fingerprint recognition plate and the metallic door smoothly opened revealing a cosy room with soft warm colours of gold and autumn orange.
Michael's thinking was if you had to live in a safe-house for a possible long period of time, it should at least be welcoming.
Abby walked through the door, glad that she had been given permission to step through and was quite taken by the amount of space the safe house sported.
Abby: Very, roomy.
MJ: it needs to be. This is designed to host at least 5 people.
Abby: why only 5 people?
MJ: I asked the same thing when it was being designed. I was told any more than 5 people would be too crowded.
Abby: I thought, 3, was a crowd?
MJ: I suppose, 5, would be…I dunno. *smiles* I have nothing to add to that.
I followed in with the supplies before retrieving the 2 blood coolers. There was a reasonable sized kitchen roughly 20 x 20 feet. It had the basic amenities with a fridge-freezer, washer, sink, and dishwasher.
On the opposite side of the room facing the fridge, was the medical cabinet that was 6 feet in height with various medical supplies from syringes, medical dressing, pain killers and aspirins. I merely brought some extras as I was not sure on the amount that was stashed here since Michael and I helped set up the post.
The bottom end of the cabinet was a refrigeration unit that would keep Abby's bloody supply cool for as and when she needed it.
She watched me as I put the patches of blood into the medical fridge, almost salivating at the very prospect of getting a drink.
The rumble from her stomach, did not go unnoticed. She clutched in pain like she had gone without sustenance for some time.
Abby: I'm hungry.
I made for the glass cupboard and poured the contents of one patch into it. Not being an expert of how a vampire takes their blood, I presumed, that they could just drink from a glass.
MJ: Here. *hands glass to her* this should calm that hunger of yours for now.
She held it hesitantly for a moment, not knowing if this would work or if it would put me in a very dangerous situation.
Abby: If you're wrong about this, MJ. This could end very badly for you.
While I agree that there was a real risk that my idea could backfire, she didn't exactly have many options.
MJ: and the alternative if you don't drink it?
She nodded, completely understanding my response.
She drank slowly at first, unsure if it would satisfy her. She gained more confidence as it seemed to be satisfying the pain of hunger.
She sighed with relief after downing all of it.
Abby: *relieved* thank you. I think I should be okay for the next 3 days, or a week tops.
Interesting. The very idea that a creature like her would only need feeding every few days or so was puzzling as I figured any living creature needed to feed every day.
But this was evidently not the case.
MJ: a week, huh? You can go that, long, without feeding?
Abby: It depends on how I use my energy. If I'm doing something that requires a lot of my strength then my need for blood becomes quicker.
MJ: I get it. Kind of how a human needs water every time they're sweating.
That got her thinking. And agreed that my analogy seemed plausible.
Abby: I guess that makes sense.
She then cast her mind back to earlier when I said that 'I think you want to be saved' and it had he curious that I would make that educated guess.
Abby: You said to me earlier tonight, 'you think I want to be saved'. How did you know I wanted to be saved?
MJ: because I think you do this out of necessity. Not for pleasure. You do this just to survive. Annd, you also told me that you didn't want to kill that lady.
Abby:….you don't think I'm evil?
I thought carefully about my next answer.
MJ: you're seeking redemption. Right?
She nodded sadly.
MJ: if you were truly evil, Abby, you wouldn't feel any remorse for what you do. You said it yourself. You do this because you have to. Well. I'm giving you a life line.
She looked excited at those words.
Abby: a lifeline?
MJ: Yeah. What if you could just feed this way? No more killing. No more feeling shame or remorse.
She paused in thought. I guess she was feeling remorse for all her past deeds.
Abby: but what about all the lives I've ruined?
That thought did occur to me. She could not undo what had already been done. And there was no telling exactly how old she was.
MJ: you can't re-write what has already been written. But you can write what has yet to be written. At this point, your future is yours to control.
Her face was still sad and solemn. Even though it was more than likely that she had slain many during her existence, I could see that she wanted to redeem herself.
I walked in front of her and knelt down.
MJ: Abby, *her face still low* Abby, look at me.
She lifted her head up pessimistically not quite convinced.
MJ: Redemption, is a great thing. Because you, never, stop getting chances at it. You can, redeem yourself. If you want it, badly, enough. And how bad do you want it?
A single tear streamed for her hazel eye before looking up at my eyes.
Abby: More bad, than you could ever know. I want redemption. *tearful*
What that poor girl must have gone through all these years just to satisfy her hunger? I could only begin to imagine.
MJ: at a girl. *smiled enthusiastically* ok. There's a bathroom down the hall, last on your right, if you want to get cleaned up and pick one of the four sleeping quarters.
I started walking out of the kitchen picking up my coffee as I got into my frame of thinking for work.
Abby: what will you be doing?
MJ: work. *com-link* KITT, send me the video footage from the main street alleyway recording along with the scanner findings.
KITT: *transmitting* I'm sending the files to the lab room as we speak. The computer in there is booting up.
MJ: excellent, buddy.
I made my way to the lab room which was modest in size compared to what Maria would work with at the foundation mansion. This was about the size of a large living room in white, roughly 20 x 20 feet.
I walked in at sat at the main computer on the opposite side of the room to the doorway and began examining the findings.
Looking at the video footage was just as disturbing as seeing it in person, but the nice difference was I could shut the footage off.
MJ: how long was that guy dead by the time we got to him, KITT?
KITT: judging by his body temperature, even with the loss of blood, by the time we got to him, I estimate he had been dead no longer than 15 minutes.
15 minutes, huh? What that poor guy must have suffered as he died alone there with no one to comfort him as he took his last breath on this earth.
MJ: did you send over the Police reports from the other murders this evening?
KITT: do you want them in chronological or alphabetical order?
I could see he was trying to lighten the mood but it was really wasn't helping.
MJ: just send them over, wise-ass. *bemused*
The reports had the same MO. Victims' throats were ripped clean open with little to no trace of blood left in their system. Coroner reports put it down to animal attacks from escaped zoo animals when I had been cross referencing with local zoos and no such thing had occurred.
The attacks seemed to be forming a pattern as they only took place 5 blocks from each attack.
As to what pattern it was forming was heavily unclear at this point with the little to no information I had to go off.
I surveyed the attacks and had them highlighted on a larger monitor above. I suppose I was waiting for the answer to hit me in the face as I tend to find the pattern when I'm not looking for it.
But on this one…I was completely stumped.
I looked at the still images from the video and could see that they were not stereotypical depicted teeth marks of a vampire. Not in the sense you would see with Dracula movies. It was more like regular teeth marks but greatly extended.
I suppose that would make them somewhat able to make it look more like a cannibalistic attack as the puncture marks would be human and not animal.
More and more reports were coming in of Police warning people not to be out on the streets.
I had been staring at the monitor for nearly 4 hours at this point and I was chronically fatigued by this stage of the game.
I felt a hand place on my elbow as I worked and Abby appeared in a change of clothes wearing some black track pants and a white sweater.
Abby: find anything you're looking for?
MJ: other than the same MO and whatever pattern that's forming…no. *sigh* normally I'd see what I'm looking for. But this is not one of my regular cases.
Abby: even when I made kills back in the day, I always made the point of keeping the bodies well hidden before I would leave communities.
MJ: throw the cops off the scent?
Abby: something like that.
She could see over from my shoulder that I was fatigued and in need of rest. But being the stubborn Knight that I am, I'd rather keep pressing on.
Abby: MJ, you've been at this for 4 hours now. You must be tired?
No sooner she uttered those words, I let out a much worn out yawn.
MJ: I have no idea what you're talking about. *yawning*
She smiled knowing I was going out of my way to help her, yet at the same time felt bad that I was going through this expense on my personal well-being.
Abby: get some rest. You've done more than enough for me this evening.
And what followed next was just the usual motif I have come to expect whenever someone tells me to call it a day.
KITT: *com-link* I think you should listen to the lady, MJ.
Even though I was groggy I was annoyed that my partner was listening in.
MJ: KITT, how many times have I told you about this? I don't care for the eve's dropping.
Abby: Yeah. That's really, rude.
KITT: No respect, whatsoever.
Abby: MJ, unlike me, you're only human.
MJ: human, huh? Ever thought about being human again?
She nodded sadly.
MJ: *half smile* well it doesn't mean you can't be human, mentally. Just by helping me, you're making a difference.
Abby: *to herself* making a difference…
MJ: Yeah. *insistently*
Abby: I'd like to make a difference against the man who did this to me, 200 years ago.
O…k. I had an inkling that she was somewhat older than she appeared, but it didn't cross my mind that she was centuries old.
MJ: 200 years, huh?
The things she must have seen. Evolution of technology and civilisation.
Abby: I never asked for this.
MJ: I don't think anyone would. Being turned against your will is not something anyone would want.
Abby: It's a nightmare I can't forget, try as I might.
I worried about leaving her by herself before I went off to sleep knowing that she might be alone.
MJ: Um…are you gonna be alright whilst I sleep? You sound like you're gonna be lonely.
She beamed. Pleased that I was concerned for her.
Abby: MJ,…I've been alone for years. 12 hours is nothing for me.
Reluctantly, I yielded to the advice of rest.
MJ: Awright. See you in 10-12 hours.
I started to make my way to my quarters when she was surprised that I would purposely miss out on the day.
Abby: you're going to sleep all day?
MJ: *turns to look* we have work to do, tomorrow night.
Abby: MJ, you don't have to do that.
MJ: This is not just intentional. I've been up since this time yesterday after finishing up on an arms dealer case from Arizona and I probably will be requiring extra time to recharge.
Abby: Oh, I see. Well, can I least say, thank you, for feeding me and giving me shelter?
MJ: I welcome that.
Abby: Thank you very much. It'll make a change from sleeping rough again.
MJ: Yeah, I wouldn't recommend that. It doesn't sound too pleasing.
Abby: You're not wrong. Good night.
MJ: Good night.