The governor leaned on his chair, his finger tapping on the desk as his eyes to Sheriff Bourbon. The governor's face wasn't happy at all after Bourbon's telling him the real incident that involved Mr. Gallowhall and Mr. Miller murderer cases.
The governor doesn't care that Gallowhill is dead but he only cares for Miller murderer. He and Miller have been close acquaintances since they were young.
As the governor found out he was dead, he directly called the sheriff's office. And here he is now, Sheriff Bourbon facing the governor.
"Do I look like an idiot, Sheriff?" Bourbon's shake head no. "You think I will believe what you say to me. A vampire killed my friend!"
"Governor, sir. We have already done two or three times autopsy on both bodies. Their blood drained by something unusual, I mean what kind of human will drain another human blood for what".
"The cult of course, Sheriff! This town belongs to you. You must know there will always be a cult out there. The cult will sacrifice human blood for their worship of the demon, a satanic ritual. Don't you know that".
Sheriff Bourbon sighs, "I know that. But the thing is, there is no such thing as a cult in my town, sir. Like I told you, our chief medical examiner does the autopsy so many times on the body and he hasn't found anything that involves the cult. All it was, what he found were two dots marks on their neck".
"Nothing else beside those dots?"
"No, sir. I try to deny the statement but I can't say where we could find this creature in this 21st century. It doesn't exist and is a myth. A legendary story where the folks told to scare the children". said Sheriff Bourbon.
He really does want the governor to believe what he said and face the truth that his friend died because the dracula had drained their blood. And the governor was too proud of what he was.
"Look, sir. I know he is your old friend, the crime scene didn't prove anything, if truly this creature exists among us I'll make sure we will hunt that thing down and kill it!"
"By what, bullet? I don't think so, Sheriff! I want you to find this creature whatever it takes, do you understand?"
Sheriff Bourbon nodded his head, and the governor spoke back. "And does not mean I believe what you say. Dracula. Vampire. It's stupid!"
"We will catch that creature, sir. I cannot promise but I will. This creature wasn't a human thing and we are human not capable of fighting it. We will do what we can".
The governor leaned closer to him, smirking. "Then do what you can!"
Van Helsing once again brought India to get him a company on his side. He drove the car toward the building where he said that he inherited it from his family.
As the car entered the main gates, her mouth fell open as the place was huge and a big acre of land far away from the busy city just for this building stood alone without being disturbed by the unknown visitors.
That is what the building stands for. Keeping the patient away from the outsider. Her eyes caught a sign after the car passed the main gates. She turned to him.
"Nevermore's Spring State Hospital? what does that mean by that".
Van Helsing looked at the signs. "Oh that. I don't want my patients to feel abandoned or crazy even if they are. I just want them to feel love where they deserve to belong".
"Uh-huh!"
"Counseling, India. As the matter fact is part of the routine session between the doctors and the patients. In one room. Sometimes they turn violent, suddenly and almost kill one of my doctors and nurses".
He smiled, "I am happy that you are here with me, India". parked the car. "Come out now, I will show you around and you will be excited to meet them". Van Helsing cracked the back of his bones then walked.
"This place is amazing, Professor". said India behind him.
Look over his shoulder. "Of course. I asked the gardener Mr. Foreman, a very handy man I never met and he even helped me to build this water fountain for my patients. We have gazebos too". he pointed out. "Beautiful isn't it?"
"I just say that".
"I know. Our family generations want to keep our family name on those signs but I declined it, it's too clichéd".
India nod agrees with his word. She realized something. "Professor, if it is true, did your family really hunt the vampire in real life".
"What?"
"Vampire. Dracula. You carried Van Helsing's last name, the famous Van Helsing who killed monsters like Dracula".
He stops walking, slowly he turns on his back. Smile. "Indeed, yes. My great great great parents did. And never been told in public if they had that monster of its own or not".
"So Dracula is real? it wasn't a myth neither folks story they were telling to scare the children. How did they do it?"
Shrug, he spoke. "I don't know. I am a doctor not a dracula hunter. Our family never spoke about it. Since when do you care about this dracula, India?"
"I should've known that, probably one of your patients could be the dracula slaves. No one knows, right? secretly the dracula existed among us".
Van Helsing chuckled then nodded his head. "Probably. This is the 21st century, I don't believe it exists. If it does... I won't be here as your professor".
She smiled, he spoke again. "Let's get inside. It's about time for lunch, you can ask them a question if you like, if their mind is insane".
She noticed him pulling three or five different flowers from the garden and went inside the building without a word. He met one of his nurses, didn't she bother what the adult had been talking about.
"Come India". She is now following him out to the back of the building. Another majestic garden like Heaven she couldn't describe how amazing and beautiful this place was.
Her jaw dropped again. He stood beside her with a smile. "Impressed more?"
"I think this is... a mansion where rich people live. How is it possible you decorated this place like Heaven, Professor".
He didn't say anything, as he approached one of the patients who sat on the bench. He greet her.
"Imogene". The young woman looks up at him, then she smiles as she recognizes him. "You made my eyes blinded when I saw you, here's for you".
Van Helsing handed the young woman flowers he picked from the garden earlier. He continued.
"How are you doing, child? something changes, your hair, your makeup. How wonderful!"
The young woman said. "Miss Bee makes me look pretty today. Am I pretty, doctor?" asked her.
"Always". he patted her hand. "I've been told by Miss Bee that you are sick this lately. Why? Does the food taste bad? or something I can make you happy".
She shook head, "I had a nightmare!"
"Shh-shh. It's just a nightmare child, I promise you that tonight you will have good dreams. Mr. Bunny will always protect you no matter what".
The young woman sighs with relief. She walked towards the garden not far from him and India.
"What was that, Professor?" asked India. "Why do you sound so seductive!"
He turned to India, and smiled. "This is how you approach your patient, India. Comfort your patient, give them a new light, a new spirit so then they can forget the past of their life".
"Alright!"
"She is Imogene Buckingham. Born on July, 7 1995. Nevada. She was sixteen as I met her for the first time as my youngest patient in my hospital. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham".
"What happened to her?"
She heard him sigh, "World is cruel, India. The law is cruel. She one of the rape victims, traumatised if a men approached or get closer to her even me. Because she thinks that we are the men trying to hurt her.
"She was found the next morning, by the campers inside the wood, which means the evil itself really wanted her to die but she didn't. Bruised, blood, pain, they aimed at her head. They brought her to hospital and everything is change".
India patted her chest, cried. Her lips numb after hearing this. "That's awful!"
"It is. With her damaged emotions, the hospital transfers her to my hospital with the agreement by her family, every weekend they come visit her".
"She is younger and older than me. She doesn't deserve this!"
"Asked the judge then India. They didn't try to help her". sighs again. "Took a year for her and she is slowly recovering".
He breathed. "She had a child from the rape that night".
"Oh my lord! get out of here. Where is her baby then?"
"Her family took it and accepted the baby as their grandson". India smiles, relieved. "Her parents don't want her to be separated from her baby, but she will know her son as her little brother, not a child of hers".
Her eyes to Imogene, "Because I told her parents that. It will be more dangerous if she finds out that boy was hers".
"Oh my god!"
"Oh there he is!" Van Helsing points at Buckingham's family with a boy on side. "Weekend already? I don't think so. That boy, she named him Lukas. Well, of course everything must lie if you want to live".
"Does he know who she is to him?"
He nodded, yes. "He knows the woman he visits is his mother. He didn't tell but gladly they never separated".
"How old is that boy?"
"Ten, eleven perhaps".
Buckingham's family approached Van Helsing and India with a smile. They greet each other.
"Hello Lukas". said Van Helsing.
"Hello Doctor. How's my mother?" the boy asked.
"Well, she's great as usual, just having a little nightmare, she told me today. She's gonna be fine, Lukas".
His eyes to Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham. "The proceeding?"
"That is why we are here, doctor. The judges put him in jail for the rest of his life. Isn't fair, we want him to die!"
Van Helsing just smiled and nodded. The boy said, "I hate him, even though he's my father. I didn't ask to be born".
"No. You didn't. But god wants you to, because you will protect your mother no matter what. Don't you forget that, Lukas. She needs you".
The boy nodded, then walked toward his mother. Van Helsing watched the boy leave. He introduced.
"This is my student. India Greene. One day she will become a doctor just like me, I am her mentor".
Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham nod, smile, congratulate her. "I am sorry for Imogene".
"Don't be my dear. She is safe now. No one can hurt her anymore". Mrs. Buckingham smiled sweetly. "I wish my daughter had a normal life like you, India. She never got that chance as this evil ruined her already".
She can't comment on that. She hopes and prays that one day Imogene will have that chance of her own. She is a strong woman even though she is already hurt from the inside.