I walked through the elevator doors and down the hall. The distinct medical smell was one I'd always hated. When I entered Tim's room I found him talking with his wife.
Maria was a beautiful woman with long, sleek, straight black hair and a rectangular face. She had olive skin that was heavily tattooed. Their infant rested against her chest as she held his hand. She only let him go to stand and walk to me. She pulled me into a side hug and kissed my cheek. Riley, the baby, grabbed my necklace and so I stayed too close to her as we talked.
"I'm so happy you're alright."
"Me, too. I hope you and Tim are doing okay."
"We're fine. The surgery was the longest few hours of my life."
"I'm sorry."
"It's the job."
I didn't have the best poker face outside of work and within it was mediocre at best. There was no way for her to know that I was an idiot to call him. That proof wasn't worth his life.
"I'm going to get lunch. Are you hungry?"
"No, thank you."
She nodded and left. I sunk into the chair beside Tim.
His eyes were bloodshot and weighed down with thick, purple bags. His lips were chapped. His gaze had darkened since Maria left. I didn't know if it was that he blamed me or he simply didn't need to mask his emotions around someone that had seen the same thing that he did.
"I'm sorry, Tim," I said, too cowardly to look at him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"No," I leaned forward, now forcing myself to look at him despite the rock expanding in my guts, "You shouldn't have been there. I shouldn't have called you."
"She would have killed you."
I didn't know why I told him the truth. I just felt this hatred for myself as I witnessed what I'd done to him, "I know how to kill them."
"How?"
I grabbed the dagger, "I needed proof. It was selfish."
"I need to know what we're up against. I wouldn't have believed you otherwise. I needed to see what she was capable of."
"Well, hopefully we wont see more of them."
"Do you think there's more out there?" He asked, almost intrigued, before he sobered, "Wait, the man. Do you know him?"
"Kind of. I've only spoken to him a couple times."
"We need to get information from him."
"Legally he doesn't exist."
He grimaced as he sat up. I reached out to hold onto his shoulder. I could hear the air flow from him as he relaxed.
"What injuries do you have?" I asked.
"Bruised spine, internal bleeding. All the fun ones."
"Lucky you."
"I'm buying a lotto ticket after this."
I smiled, "How's the pain?"
"Better. I have a high tolerance."
"Oh, I know."
He laughed. I'd met him in the academy. We were like siblings back then after an altercation. These two guys were mocking me because I was small. I shoulder say smaller. He came up to them and told them off. It resulted in him getting his ass kicked but while one was beating him up I knocked out the other and kicked out the knees of the guy attacking Tim. They were expelled. Tim had a busted lip, a black eye, and a new friend. We'd grown apart until we found ourselves in the same precinct. Dad thought we'd make good partners because of our history and he was right.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Do you believe in vampires?"
"No."
"That's all I can think about. Their teeth are like blades. I saw her trying to bite your throat. We've dealt with everything in such a short amount of time and I've been terrified for my family before but this is so different. What do I do knowing they're out there? Are we just... toys for them?"
I leaned closer to him and wrapped my hand around his elbow. He looked up at me with the tortured gaze of a kicked puppy.
"They're gone. I know it's hard to believe but they're gone."
"How do you know they're gone? There's clearly at least one of them still out there. At least he seems to be good. Is he?"
"I don't know."
"Could he be in love? Does he owe you for something?"
"The ladder, probably. Or he's insane."
"I don't know. After he'd killed the woman... he looked crazed but... not like other killers."
"Oh?"
"They look hollow. He didn't. He was ready to kill an army for you. He knows you."
"You should get some sleep. This whole thing is taking up too much space in your mind."
"I know it's the same for you."
"No. I'm ready for the next case."
"You don't have to lie to me."
"I'm not," I said, moving my hand to cup his shoulder, "Some cases don't ever feel like they have an ending. Remember last summer?"
He rolled his eyes, "I wish I didn't."
"Exactly. Maybe these things are supernatural. Maybe they're on amphetamines and they happen to think they're vampires. We may never know."
"I've known you for ten years. You don't believe that."
My shoulders fell, "I know."
"You're right, though."
"I always am," I said, ruffling his hair and standing, "Maria should be back soon. I should leave you two alone."
"She's been anxious. You should visit her. Don't call, she won't want to burden you."
"Anything for you two."
I turned and left. As I walked down the hall I saw Maria exit the elevator. She stopped me on her way back to Tim's room. She held a parfait, Tim's favorite treat.
"Hey, I'm just heading out."
"Be safe tonight."
"I always am."
Before I left she hugged me again and patted my back. Her hold was always extra tight at times like this. Despite the heartbreak that came with knowing such a doll had such an anxious heart her hugs were comforting.
My body felt heavy the way back to my car. Then exhaustion settled over me. I didn't remember the drive home as I was lost in my thoughts. I came back to myself when I saw Vernon's truck. I felt shame at my disappointment. It was only during times of stress I felt this way.
I climbed out of the car and floated into my home. Vernon was cooking. Immediately I walked into my bedroom to grab clothes for a shower but I froze in my tracks.
Standing outside was a man of average height with dark red eyes and salt and pepper hair. His textured flesh looked like bleach. He wore all black including a hood that shielded his face from everyone but those standing directly before him.
I shut the bedroom and took slow, tentative steps toward him. I threw the window open and stepped back. He didn't move. I snatched my dagger from the sheath and he only responded with a smile.
Those hollow eyes that Tim reminded me of stared through me, as dead as the bodies I knew he'd torn asunder.
"What are you doing here?"
He stretched his grin to form deep dimples and crow's feet beside his eyes but he remained silent. I debated climbing through the window but it would leave me vulnerable.
"Alexander..." The deep rumble came from Atrox.
The man turned his head and I took the chance to grab the ledge and tumble out of the window. He grabbed me as I landed but I kicked him in the face and used my momentum to lift me to my feet again. I stood in a fighting stance with my blade held high. He took several steps back.
From the corner of my eye I watched Atrox come forward. I held out my arm to stop him and he obeyed.
"We'd been looking for you, Maxine."
Atrox barred his teeth and hissed. The sound shook my bones.
"Why?" I asked.
"So forgetful."
"Leave while you still have your head," Atrox growled, "You can tell your family what I did to Elizabeth."
"They know."
"Why me?" I demanded.
"Let me kill him."
"Such an obedient dog."
"Stop playing games," I spat, "And don't talk to him like that."
"There's so few of you left. You must be savored."
"What do you mean?"
He only widened his grin somehow even further, his pale gums exposing. He wasn't going to give me answers and so I lunged for him, my fist connecting with his jaw but his fist suddenly sending me flying into the fence.
I heard a snap and as I was standing again I watched as Atrox bent to take Alexander's throat in his teeth. Alexander didn't struggle as he was beheaded. Blood poured and splattered over the grass. Atrox was repeatedly sprayed until the head was fully severed. When he stood he took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his face. His hands shook. When his eyes met mine I read shame in his expression. His steps toward me were hesitant, almost unwilling. When he came to me he cupped my cheek and tilted my head up to look at him. I could feel what he felt and suddenly he became all too real. I could see him standing before me and looking at someone in the dark and without the knowledge they needed to survive but unable to attain that knowledge without being made a target.
"Are you alright?"
"He didn't hurt me too bad."
"I'll protect you."
"I know."
He pushed my hair behind my ear and stepped back, breaking the spell, "Take your shower. I'll take away the body."
"Wait... why didn't he fight you?"
"He's an exile. They're sent on missions they know they won't survive."