Chapter 23:

-The Walking Death-

The people stared at the strange young man on the street. Chalk-pale and the eyes easily blue and his body completely trembling, they thought he would collapse every moment. Michael felt himself like he seemingly looked like and he didn't have any idea where he should go. In this moment, he only thought of Melissa, the young girl, that had reminded him so very much of Selene and he had spared her...because of love and this love began to be kindled again in him, almost burned that it already hurt.He had to see her…although he broke a promise or rather an oath but maybe she could help him. He went up the stairs which led to the front door and he rang. It last a while, until somebody opened the door... and he had hoped that it wouldn't be her mother.

"Michael? Is it you?" she asked him quite confused.

"Good day, Misses Keoh. I'm sorry, if I bombard you simply so, but is Melissa here?"

"You don't, on the contrary, I'm rather surprised. Melissa said that you left the city, but Papperlapapp, come in, you don't look well." she asked him in and accompanied him into the living room. "Please, sit down. I will bring you a tea. Melissa should be back soon."

"If I bother you or detain from something... I can go also again."

"How as you look like, I don't let you go." she smiled at him. He replied her smiling. It wasn't right for him to be here, after all what he had done to Melissa. He looked from one wall to the other, so he could view the pictures and photos. He liked this place. It radiated a warmth and life, what he had known no more long ago. Misses Keoh returned with one cup of tea and sat beside him. He thanked and took straight away a sip.

"You should go to a doctor. What actually drives you in your condition to leave the house?" she was too careful and he wishes, he could tell her what was wrong with him... if he had known it himself.

"Ironically I'm a doctor."

"Then, you should know better that it wasn't the brainiest."

"Fresh air is good for every patient, believe me."

"Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"I can't..."

"I would be glad and certainly also Melissa and besides you should spare yourself."

"Then... love too."

As they talked somewhat farther about it, what it gave for dinner and also about Melissa, they could hear the door and an exhausted Melissa went upstairs without realizing the two.But she came as usual after she had changed the clothes downward in order to help her mother with preparing dinner if she was once at home.

"Hey mum..." she stopped as she saw the guest sitting in the living room beside her mother. "Hey, Michael."

"Hey." he tried not to look at her directly, whoever knows what she now saw, instead he drank his tea further

"Mum what is he doing here?"

"He wanted to talk to you and I invited him for dinner."

"Well great."

"I believe, it's better, if I go. Many thanks misses Keoh." he gave her the empty cup and got up. He threw Melissa only a fleeting look to, as he went past her. As he wanted to open the door, he simply collapsed. His legs gave in. Misses Keoh ran to him and helped him again up on his feet. Melissa stood only there and couldn't believe what she saw. She didn't know Michael like this, if it was really Michael.

"We can eat somewhat later, Michael should rest first. I will bring him medicine and more tea."

"All right, bring him in my bedroom; I only get some warm water and a wash rag."

Misses Keoh showed him where Melissa's room was and removed him the jacket, so that he could lie down. She went down the stairway into the kitchen again where she gathered the matters for Michael. Meanwhile, Melissa entered for her bedroom, with the bowl in the hand and shut the door.

"Why are you here?" she sat down on a chair beside the bed and touched his forehead, in order to measure the temperature, but it didn't astonish her as she felt only cold.

"I didn't know where to go."

"And why aren't you with your sister and son?"

"I didn't want to be a burden on them."

"Then, you decided, to be a burden on me instead." she didn't show any feelings for Michael, probably she still couldn't forgive him, but he didn't want it either. It knocked at the door and her mother stepped in with a thermo jug and a glass with a dissolving pill.

"Here is tea and a lemonade tablet against the fever." she put the jug on the small night table and gave him the glass. "Drink it."

"Thank you very much."

"Mum... could you leave us alone for a second... please."

"All right, I will take care then about dinner."

"That's lovely." Melissa gave her a kiss on the cheek. As they were alone again, she was more than curious, what was wrong with Michael. He put the glass aside.

"You seem to be not so talkative today how I have you in memory. What's wrong? It's only strange that one like you drinks tea and says yes to an invitation for dinner."

„Have you any experience in medicine?"

"What should this question?"

"Or others question, do you have any access to a laboratory? I'd like to examine something... my blood, to be exactly."

"You can go to the doctor for it…he would do it for free."

"I feels shit and somebody is on my heel... he wants to kill me and probably also does it."

"I thought that nothing and nobody could kill you."

Michael took off the T-shirt and crusted sores appeared on his breast also like at his neck, as he put his hair aside.

"Those are almost one month old and didn't heal. I want to know what's happening within me, for it I need a blood-test."

"Ah God! Who did this to you?"

"Family, if one can name it so. The son of the first... hybrid and my ancestor, but he is a vampire."

"I believe you could use our laboratory, a friend of me is the boss there and if you are a doctor, it should be no problem. Drink the lemonade tablet and come downstairs, if you feel after it."

"Melissa... I... am scared for them, that I love."

"You will be soon on your feet again; you are a fighter from nature. Not only physically even if it's about feelings. If you think I forgot or stopped to love you, then, you were wrong. I still love you however I can't forget what you withhold me."

"You wouldn't have let me close to you anymore, would you?" he smiled.

"Well possibly. I will go to have a look whether I can help my mum and if we can eat, if it's right for you. You can stay here for the night. I will prepare this guest room for you."

"Melissa...may I use the bathroom?"

"Sure, I'll bring you immediately a bathrobe."

"Thank you."

She smiled left him alone. Her mother already was hard-working with cooking and it smelled marvelously of fresh vegetables, mash potato and after steak on delicious gravy with onions.

"Mum, could you fry the steak for Michael somewhat less long, he doesn't like it completely through, the same for me."

"I could never get used to it that your father liked it rather bloody too...this is disgusting.

"Thank you." she gave her a fast kiss on the cheek and grinned. "I still bring Michael a bathrobe shortly. He'd like to get fresh still shortly or rather would like to heat up."

"Dinner is ready approximately in a half hour. He needs not to hasten himself, that poor boy."

"Yes yes, then, I can still prepare the guest room for him. We will go to the doctor tomorrow. I will accompany him."

"I will hope this."

Melissa went into the hallway and got there some fresh bed-linen, a bathrobe and a towel from the wardrobe and brought it to Michael, then, she went into the room next door, tidied up a bit and made the be.