Chapter 4 - There Is Fire On The Mountain

The old vampire who granted me his favor is standing right in front of my door. I must admit, I wasn't expecting him at all, and for the first time, I had this feeling that kind of agreed with Becky that I made a bad decision. I peeped out, looking to the right and left, still in bewilderment when he spoke to me.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning to you too," I replied, my voice shaking. "Please forgive my manners, what is your name? I never asked you that day," I added politely.

"Oh, my name," he said. "My name is Hendricks. Call me Hendricks," he replied.

"So, Mr. Hendricks, thank you so much for the other day. I really appreciate your help; my wife is feeling well and okay, thanks to you."

"Oh, that is good to hear," he replied maniacally.

While standing before him, I remembered that I'd read vampires don't walk in the day to avoid being burned by the sun, but again, I was wrong in my research. I didn't understand why he was able to walk in the day, so I asked him.

"How are you able to walk in the day? I thought you only walked at night," I asked softly, not wanting anyone to hear our conversation.

"Oh, that? More of the reason why I am here. Wouldn't you invite me in?" Hendricks asked.

I hesitated, not wanting to invite him in due to personal reasons. I knew if I didn't invite him in, there's no way he would come inside my house; I had to give him permission first.

"I think we are good here, don't you think?" I answered with a funny gesture.

He looked at me with disdain, then continued with what he was saying.

"From the inception of time, well, the inception of my time as a vampire, I have never walked during the day. I tried it once; I regretted it. But something happened to me ever since our last meeting. I had this confidence to do so. For the first time in many years—I mean years—I stepped into the sun, and I wasn't burned. This news marveled me. So the first thing that came to mind is to visit you."

Feeling uneasy with him around, I quickly asked him again what he wanted for his help so that I could part with him. But like before, he told me that soon, he would let me know. I really didn't want Caroline to find out what I did to cure her ailment.

I began to hear footsteps coming toward me from behind. I turned to see who it was—it was Becky.

"It was you," I said. I turned back to bid Hendricks farewell, but he was already gone. I peeped to the left and right to see if I could still see him, but he had vanished.

I shut the door behind me. Becky noticed my unease and asked me what was going on, but I did not want to give her the satisfaction of saying 'I told you so,' so I told her nothing was going on.

"Okay," she replied. "Your wife asked me to call for you; she has prepared something for both of you to eat."

"Okay," I replied. As I headed toward Caroline, I flared up again.

"Wait, you let her cook? She just got better," I yelled at Becky.

"I never wanted her to cook, but she insisted that she wants to cook for you, so I let her," Becky replied.

When she said this, I realized that's what Caroline would actually do; she is that stubborn.

"Oh, I see," I said.

We both laughed and ate the meal in peace and happiness. This actually felt good. I told Caroline that I would really like to take her for a stroll after the meal, and she was very happy to hear that.

After finishing the meal, we got dressed and left the house for the stroll I promised Caroline.

As Adam and Caroline set out on their stroll, the gentle afternoon sun bathed the quaint streets they traversed in a warm glow. Yet, despite the picturesque scene, Adam couldn't shake the lingering unease from his encounter with Hendricks. It felt as though Hendricks's presence haunted every corner, his image reflected ominously in the glass windows and passing cars, casting a shadow over their otherwise peaceful walk.

Caroline, attuned to Adam's troubled demeanor, couldn't help but sense that something was wrong. She would occasionally glance at him with furrowed brows, silently questioning his hidden worries. But Adam, determined to shield her from the truth, reassured her with lies, masking his own growing apprehension.

As they walked, Adam's heart skipped a beat when he spotted Hendricks once again, this time standing afar off in the open. Hendricks waved at him, sending a chill down Adam's spine. Caroline noticed the gesture and asked if the man was waving at him. Adam, quick to fabricate an explanation, nodded and told her that he knew him from around town, claiming that people often waved at each other in passing.

Feeling increasingly unsettled, Adam urged Caroline to return home, and she agreed without protest. However, as they made their way back, Adam couldn't shake off the feeling of being followed by Hendricks. His mind raced with worry, wondering what Hendricks might demand from him and what consequences his actions might entail. With each step, Adam's fear and anxiety grew, overshadowing the once-idyllic stroll they had set out on.

We arrived home, greeted warmly by Becky. Settling in with my wife, we indulged in more playfulness, laughter, and fun. Yet amidst the joy, my thoughts kept drifting back to Hendricks. Later, Caroline led me into the bedroom, where she showered me with kisses and affection, reminiscent of our pre-illness days.

The embrace with my wife was a comforting reminder of our love, leading to intimacy that afternoon. As Caroline drifted off to sleep, my eyes remained fixated on the ceiling, unable to shake off the feeling of unease. I quietly slipped away from her side, venturing out into the night to seek Kent, the vampire who had aided me in my quest for a cure.

Since I hadn't informed Kent of my visit and lacked his contact information, I brought along a blood bag, hoping he would detect its scent as he had before. Standing in the familiar alley where we first met, I waited, and soon enough, Kent caught wind of the blood.

Upon seeing me, Kent sensed my distress. "Why are you here?" he inquired.

"I believe I'm in trouble with Hendricks," I confessed.

"How do you know his name?" Kent questioned, pointing out that Hendricks hadn't revealed it during our previous encounter.

"He showed up at my house today," I explained.

Kent was incredulous. "Came to your house? How is that possible? He can't walk in the sun; if he did, he'd die."

"I don't know how he did it, but he was there," I replied, grappling with the implications of Hendricks's unexpected appearance.

Kent struggled to comprehend the notion of Hendricks venturing out in daylight. Lost in his thoughts, I had to call his attention back to our conversation.

"Hendricks showed up at my doorstep today," I reiterated.

"Whatever his deal is, just pray you won't regret seeking his help," Kent cautioned, his words weighted with concern.

After Kent departed, I made my way back home. As I shut the door behind me, I heard a knock. Opening it, I was met with Hendricks once again, his gaze

fixed on me as he uttered ominous words.

"I am ready to collect what you owe me."