Another month had passed since the incident and the man had not been caught, yet authorities still said to keep an eye out. Nothing more had happened though so most people had forgotten all about it. The humid summer was slowly changing into a refreshing crisp autumn. Erin and Brigid spent a lot of time sitting out on the patio enjoying the cooler weather. Erin was out of her cast and had a splint she only had to wear when doing anything strenuous. There was a faint scar in the shape of the X that the creature had cut into her wrist. She told the police everything. She knew it wouldn't do any good but she spared no detail. Well, almost no detail. She didn't mention the fight and the blurred red figure. She had said she figured the man who attacked her thought she was dead or left her there to die and that was that and she had no idea how she ended up outside the hospital's ER.

Once Erin had been out of the hospital for a week or two she had back flashes of what she had seen when both figures had touched her. There was nothing but blood, agonized screams, and a slow dissociation from this group or clan called the vampaneze as his mind began falling into psychosis. She had seen weapons and felt strong beliefs but, again, as the creature's outlook began to change and he slipped into madness, all coherency was lost: it was just blood and twisted ritual. Brigid had said that when the ER staff found her she didn't have any markings on her face and that's when Erin remembered a wet cloth had scrubbed her face clean. She didn't know why, but it happened. What she had seen from the red figure was frustration and a sense of duty. She had seen the roofs of buildings and houses and the passing of people. Walking amongst the people looking at each one specifically without notice. Tracking inside and outside the town. Searching and finally receiving a realization of some sort and following it. That was all.

Brigid stretched out on the couch swing with her head hanging upside down.

"What are we having for dinner tonight?"

Erin looked up from her book. "I don't know. What do you want? It's going on 6:30 so if you want something specific tell me now so I can get started."

Brigid swung gently, her hair brushing the ground.

"Mmm...angel hair alfredo with capers. But not the boxed alfredo. I want the alfredo you make special." Brigid smiled.

Erin sighed. "Then you know it won't be ready until close to 8:00 so you better not be snacking from now until then."

"You can keep an eye on me then since I'm going to help. You know I'm picky about my pasta." She said rolling off the swing. "Hop to, hop to!" She clapped going into the house.

Erin set her book down on the small patio table and looked out into the garden. The sun was slowly starting to set. As she took a deep breath and looked at the reddening sky she had a flash: broken patio, pulling a red figured body onto the kitchen tile, large abdominal wound, vampire.

Erin clenched her eyes shut trying to see if he would die or not. Nothing. She forced her focus; still nothing. Erin opened her eyes and looked out at the sky once more. She knew who the red figure was, what he was, and what she owed him; she was going to do everything in her power to save him. She turned with solid determination and stepped into the kitchen. She didn't know if her sauce would be cooked by then either.