Chapter 5 - Pay Up

en Hendricks informed me he was ready to collect what I owed him, I thought to myself, "Finally, I will give you whatever you want, and we will part ways."

"So, what do you want in return for the help you've given me?" I asked eagerly.

"Not so fast," Hendricks replied. "Before I tell you what I desire, let me explain why I am asking for this particular item as my payment."

"Okay," I responded. "Say whatever you need to, but I'm convinced that today is the last day I'll be seeing you." I kept this thought to myself.

"Adam," Hendricks began, "long ago, I was turned into a vampire against my will. This transformation deprived me of many things. I lost the chance to grow old with the love of my life, and I have remained this age for so long, I can't even remember the beginning. I was also deprived of the chance to have offspring, a feeling that has eluded me."

But the thing I was deprived of the most is the chance to walk during the day. Like I told you last time, I tried walking during the day once and nearly died. I have been in the shadows since then; my only hours of movement are at night. The day became my jailer.

I never liked this fate. There was a time when I actually wanted to die because it seemed pointless to me. I would love to do what most people do during the day. I heard of another vampire who was able to walk in the sun, so I asked him how he made that possible. He told me a witch helped him.

As he mentioned the witch, I interrupted him, "Wait, there are witches?"

"If you can believe I exist, why wouldn't you believe witches do?" Hendricks asked me.

I couldn't really give him an answer, so he continued.

"As I was saying before you rudely interrupted me, I begged him to help me speak to the witch. I really wanted to walk in the day once more. He did as I asked, and on a fateful day, he took me to the witch that helped him. As the witch looked at me, she told me that my destiny does not support what my friend did to be able to walk in the day. She further explained that my destiny chose a different path for me to walk in the day."

After all was said and done, she told me I would need a shield, and this shield lies in another's blood. She explained that there is someone out there whose blood can provide me with the shield needed to walk in daylight.

It has been 300 years since she told me this. I should have given up by now, but I believe that such a person is out there.

As Hendricks continued his story, I began to wonder where he was going with this disturbing narrative.

"You see, I have given many people my blood, hoping that I would be freed through them, but it never happened. When I gave you my blood the last time, you noticed I didn't ask for anything in return. I have learned to be patient. I don't just collect anything as my price; I collect what will be of great value to me," Hendricks explained.

"This afternoon was the first time I have walked in the day for a long time," he revealed.

"Adam," he called out.

"Yes?" I replied.

"Do you see where I'm going with this?" he asked.

I thought I knew what he was implying, but I didn't want to give him any ideas, so I said, "No."

He looked at me with disappointment before finally revealing what he wanted.

"Okay, the price I will be collecting for the blood I gave you is 'Your Wife.'"

Hearing this felt like hearing my own death sentence. I didn't know what to think. Was he serious, or was this some kind of twisted joke? How could he ask for my wife as the price for the help he provided? Lost in thought, it was Hendricks himself who snapped me out of it.

"Earth to Adam," he said. "Did you hear what I just said?"

"I heard, but I'm struggling to believe you're serious," I responded.

He repeated, "The price for the blood I gave you is your wife."

Now that he had repeated himself, I realized he was indeed demanding my wife.

"How can the very thing I need your help for be the price for the blood you gave?" I asked.

"Remember, you said you would pay whatever I asked," Hendricks reminded me.

"But I never meant my wife," I replied angrily.

"Watch your tone with me," Hendricks flared up.

"Answer my question. Did you not say you would give me whatever I want for my help?" he pressed.

I did," I answered, sorrow and tears lacing my voice.

"Good. Set your house in order; I will be coming back to collect what's mine in three days' time."

I tried to reason with him, but before I could lay a hand on him, he vanished with superhuman speed.

"What have I done? Becky warned me, but I never listened. I can't lose Caroline again," I cried. "What am I going to do? This is far worse." I paced around the house, directionless.

Entering the house, the first person I saw was Becky. Seeing how troubled I was, she couldn't help but ask, "What's going on, Mr. Adam?"

The weight of my problem was evident in my voice. I was panicking. When I fina

lly spoke, the only thing I could tell Becky was, "He's coming for my wife."