Welcome Home

The past couple of days have been quiet around the office. Hanson continued his work looking for their next job while helping Adam learn more about the new world he was falling into. Marguerite was still sending her follow-up treatments for his Vampirism so his first lessons were in-depth on vampires and what happened to him. The medicine was a weird mix that would almost make him sick every time he had to take a dose but it worked. It was going to be a long process for him, a couple more months, of a slightly changing mixture to flush the junk out of his system. The two of them, Hanson and Adam, started getting to know one another a bit better much like how Hunter and Hanson first started.

Juliet began taking on more responsibilities around the office. She started taking some of the accounting work from Hanson on smaller projects like making sure the bills got paid, that utilities and work items were purchased and delivered, and a whole bunch of small things to get her more attuned to how the office ran behind the scenes. She began to learn that they have more than just a few of them and a secretary on their payroll as well. Their maintenance crew would now go to her if they needed parts to finish a project or preventative maintenance. She learned they have an IT person on-site who hangs out in the basement most of the day.

Hunter continued as he was, at the end keeping an eye on all the small things happening around him while working on his own projects. With so many new people out in the field he needed to come up with a way that they could more effectively work together. The most important was safety. After Ashwood, the reality is that Adam is not prepared to fully assist in the field. Almost losing him to the wisps was a wake-up call that he really needs to work on his education first. Hanson was already well ahead of that but at the same time Hunter wanted him out with them as soon as possible. With no way to predict what was next on their list, he could only hope that Hanson would be able to teach him a wide array of knowledge that could span the entire knowledge base they needed. It was a stretch to ask.

Something was still bothering him though. The end of the day would come and night would fall. Hunter would go home as he would but something felt as though it was following him. Not like the Balton incident though. It was more like something was just watching him, waiting for something. Around the office, in town, at home, wherever he went it felt like it was there. The paranoia began to get to him but he still managed to keep himself collected. His free time was consumed by trying to find out what it was. At first, he thought it may have been a wisp that followed him but that was quickly dismissed. This was very different and he was determined to figure it out but he would need some help.

The end of the day came around as the normal people began leaving for the day. Hanson took Adam home giving him his assignment to complete for tomorrow. Even though he wasn't in school he was still being given homework but this was very different from what someone his age would normally have. Juliet stuck around a little longer than normal but before she would leave she would always stop by Hunter's office to wish him a good night. She stuck her head in to find him with the TV on to a local news station doing the weather and him on his computer with his hand on his chin. He seemed to be in deep thought about something. "Goodnight, Hunter." He looked over with a small wave going back to his screen. She began to shut the door when he heard him, "Oh wait!" She leaned back in, "Yes?"

He stood up shutting off the TV while locking his computer for the night. He grabbed the light jacket he had off the floor heading her way, "I actually need your help with something if you don't mind." She stepped out of the doorway to let him close the door. With a quick lock, his office was secured. He stood up looking at her, "Can you help? Or are you busy tonight?"

"Um, can I help? What do you need?"

"That's where this gets strange. The less you know the more it helps me."

Hunter had this thing where he would confuse the hell out of you with very little effort. This was one of those moments where it seemed like he had lost his mind but something was really going on. With a little reluctance, Juliet agreed, "Uh, sure. Just don't leave me in the dark for too long. What do you need from me?"

"Honestly, you just need to spend the night at my place."

The request was simple. Far too simple for something that Hunter would need help with. She was not super sketchy of him, "Okay? This is weird. Are you ok?"

"I hope so. You in?"

"Do I have an option to say no to this?"

"You do but I would consider this a personal favor."

She was intrigued, "A personal favor you say? Well, as an independent contractor we need to discuss the terms of this job."

He let out a small chuckle, "I may have taught you too well but that is fair. I just need you to lounge around my place all evening and note anything you notice by location, time, and what happened."

"Ok, that sounds really simple but it also sounds like you really need this. So my offer is that if I do this for you then… I get… 24 hours without the collar."

That struck him to the bone. His back straightened up with his expression changing. She had a smug smile on her face. It's not often that something can shake him so badly but she also knew that he was thinking about what happened in Texas. She gave herself room for bargaining however this may have started off too strong. Hunter pursed his lips, "24 hours? After that, you're willingly take the collar again?"

No hesitation from her, "Yes."

"You'll abide by the general rules set by your people?"

Again, no pause, "Yes."

"Do I get to know what you plan to do?"

"No, I just get a day off and free reign. I have a small list of things I want to do."

That may be what killed her deal. He seemed to be struggling with the idea of her running around unsupervised for that long. Hunter was clearly uneasy about this, "If I have to come after you again it will not be like before, but you have a deal." He put out his hand to form their verbal contract. She seemed just flabbergasted that he agreed with very little negotiation. Before she began questioning she shook his hand with a smile on her face. The two walked out to the empty lobby going through the front glass doors. Hunter made sure that the doors were all locked before they went around the corner to the parking garage. Hunter led the way up the stairs to the third floor. There are a couple dozen cars still around. Hunter walked to the far end in the back corner to a deep black-looking vehicle. The lights flash as the car begins to start from the key fob in Hunter's hand.

As he opens the door he looks back to see Juliet staring at him. "What's wrong?" She begins walking forward again, "This is your car?"

"Yea."

"You own a car?"

"Well, almost. Another year and it'll be paid off."

"I didn't think you drove."

"I don't like to but I do."

He took his seat putting the keys back in his pocket. Juliet took her spot in the passenger seat sitting on the rich leather. "Oh my god, this is a luxury car."

It was a wryly smile, "I try to be comfortable."

Hunter dropped the car into reverse pulling out of his spot. With a quick shift, he started rolling forward towards the exit. With one roar from the engine, the two hit the main street heading to Juliet's place. She lives not far from work. Hanson was smart to put her up in a place that was close enough she could walk if needed. Typically Hanson would pick her up in the morning but tonight Hunter was the one to take her home. They rolled into the parking lot stopping in front of the apartment. With her key in hand, she unlocked the security door to her building. Hunter followed her up the stairs to the second floor, down the long hall, and to her apartment. She fought with the key a bit but she got the deadbolt unlocked. Walking into her apartment is pretty plain. She has a small TV, a kitchen with default appliances, a small couch, a table with a computer, and a small modem for cable and internet. Looking back the other way there is a side hallway to her bedroom and a bathroom. It can't be more than 800 square feet so everything is rather cramped. There are a few extra things littered around the apartment such as a few pictures, small pieces of furniture such as lamps, and an end table. It's not a bad place though. It looks well lived in.

She drops her keys in the bowl near the door in the kitchen. Walking through she reaches the small table with the modem and computer putting her coat up on the back of the chair. Walking around through the small living room she passes by the front door again down the small hallway to her room. Hunter steps in keeping near the door leaning against the small section of the wall that separates the kitchen from the living room area. He continues to look around finding a few small things here and there. She has a few books by her computer that look like Hanson gave to her to read up on. They're in a spot where the title is obscured. "This doesn't seem like too bad of a place."

From the back bedroom through the shuffling she could hear her, "It's really not a bad place. The neighbors are a bit weird though." She comes around the corner with different clothes that look a bit comfier than her work outfit. She has a small bag over her shoulder with what can only be guessed as an overnight bag. Hunter makes his way back to the hallway while Juliet follows, locking the door behind them. They head back out into the parking lot as an older man walks past them, "Oh dear, is this your boyfriend?"

"No, Mr. Dillin, this is my boss."

"Working hard for a promotion?"

Her face turned slightly red, "No! We're working!"

"Well, don't have too much fun. You better take care of her, young man."

Hunter didn't skip a beat, "I'll make sure she's in good hands." The older man let out a light chuckle as he headed inside. Looking back at Juliet she was very red-faced at this point. It was something totally different for her. They both took their seats in Hunter's car as the engine started up. They got back to the main road heading out of town to where Hunter resided. They passed the city limits sign heading further west to the smaller town. They passed through the center of town turning north to the outskirts. Hunter pulled over to a side road heading further into nowhere. He rolled to a stop by a gate connected to a fence that seemed to stretch for a while up and down the road. The remote signal opened the gate allowing the two inside. They rolled slowly up the concrete road leading to a decent-sized house. Pulling up to the garage on the side it changed from a small house to an almost mansion-sized building. Two floors above ground could be seen while the land around the place looked expansive. Juliet stepped out of the car heading outside into the crisp air, "I would have figured you to be a connected garage person."

"I have it separated to allow side parking."

She peered around to see the driveway continue further back, "Oh, look at that."

The two walk up to the main door where Hunter grabs the key. With a quick flip, the lock gives and the door opens. Shutting the door behind them Juliet is taken aback by the size of the house. "Holy shit! You live here?"

"Yes."

"How did you afford this place?"

"Work has been well for Hanson and me. If you keep up the pace you're at it should be another year or so if you save properly to build your own place.'

"You built this place?"

"Well bought the land, got the permits, had a contractor build it, but yea."

Her mouth was gaping, "Oh wow!"

The entryway was enough to knock her back. Looking to the left she could see a massive dining room with a table long enough to sit 20 or more people. To the right a living area with a sink in the center with a couch that could fit the same surrounding a fireplace and a massive TV against the brick wall. Hunter hung up his coat on a rack on the wall putting his boots on the floor below them. Juliet hangs up her smaller coat with her shoes next to him. As he walks around she sees a staircase from the living area upstairs. Around the corner is an open area leading to a large glass window with a sliding door to the yard and the extra parking behind the house. The bottom floor goes into a giant loop all leading to the kitchen where there are cabinets and appliances lining the far wall leaving plenty of room for people to walk through and mingle.

Going to the kitchen Hunter reaches up to one of the cabinets in the corner pulling out a familiar bottle and a glass. "What did I say about drinking?!"

He leaned back with the bottle in hand, "I'm not at work! I'm not on the clock! I'm in my home and I always have one!"

"You said you were going to stop."

"I said I was going to slow down."

"...You only get one."

"It's going to be a large one then."

With his glass full he took his seat in the corner of the couch in the living room grabbing the remote from a small table behind him. The TV flipped up to a music channel that was playing slow and some classical music. Juliet took a seat opposite of him. He leaned his head back against the top of the couch with his drink in his hand. Every so often he would take a sip and then go back to his resting position. It was a solid hour of this as the sun went down behind the hills. Juliet did what she was told to do to just keep an eye on the house. She began to nod off as the time went by until Huner finally moved from his spot. The song ended where before the next one began he shut the TV off. With his drink finished he placed the glass in the sink reaching into the fridge and pulling out a couple of things.

Juliet stayed on the couch continuing to doze off. The house was warm to her so it was comfortable enough that she could fall asleep on the couch with ease. She hears the metal clanging together in the kitchen as Hunter is moving around the pots and pans. She hears him place something down then reach for something else. The constant noise made her curious enough to get off the couch and see what he was doing. As she rounded the corner he was working with the cutting table near the sink. He threw a piece of meat into one of the pans he had. The heat was already on so it began to sizzle immediately upon hitting the metal. While the meat sizzled he cut it up and threw the assorted vegetables in with it. With a little extra heat on the pan, his meal was completed in a short time. With a plate in each hand, he walked towards the dining hall where he placed one on the head chair with the other a few seats down, "Food's up!"

He prepped and cooked a simple dish for the two of them that was easy enough that they would be able to enjoy some time together before Juliet had to do her part of the job. For a simple dish, it was really good. The first bite was a lot more than she expected prompting her to devour the rest. She finished well before Hunter did, giving her time to go back and pick the few leftover vegetables for herself. Once they were both finished the plates were put into the dishwasher along with the pans used to cook. With a couple button presses, the machine began whirling up. Hunter took a seat back on the couch flipping the TV back on to a national news station while Juliet took her spot on the opposite side. She looked around and there really only seemed to be the two of them, "Do you do this every day when you get home?"

"Pretty much, get home, relax, eat, get caught up on whatever else is happening, then bed."

"Seems like a pretty boring routine."

"Some people would see it as such but it's what I am accustomed to. It rounds out my day."

"Do you ever do anything else?"

"Not during the week. Weekends are a bit different but there's a lot that can change depending on what we do."

"You really do keep busy don't you?"

"I try to some degree. Right now though, it's easygoing."

The two ended up talking more than watching the news. Juliet had a lot of questions about Hunter's lifestyle such as why he lives so far out of nowhere. The house was extravagant for just him but he explained that doing the business that he does there are people who come to visit either talk about work or past happenings. It's almost a second office for him that he sleeps in. There are some nice pieces of furniture around but there doesn't seem to be a lot. There is a lot of open space all the way around. The chime indicates that it is nine o'clock. Hunter stands up heading towards the stairs. He heads up with Juliet following him. The upstairs opens up to almost a whole nother floor with walls with a door to different rooms. As they hit the top step Hunter points to the door to their immediate right, "That's the guest room. If you get too tired just sleep in there. The bathroom is across the hall." He continues forward to the double door opening them to a much wider space.

The room is massive! It's right on top of the dining room matching the size. There is a larger than a king-size bed on the far wall to the left with a dresser. A small section of the room is jutted in with another set of doors. From the look of it, that's his closet. Next to that is another door that she is unaware of where that would go to. There is a hamper near the outside of it with a few things of clothes piled in. Hunter addresses her as he moves about the room doing miscellaneous odds and ends, "Simply put, I need you to just keep an ear out for anything that may seem strange to you. Noises or what have you. Record them till about two or three then you can sleep in tomorrow before I take you home."

"This seems rather simple."

"I'm hoping it is."

"Is there anything specific I need to look out for?"

"I'm not going to say only because I want you to keep an ear out for anything and everything. Tomorrow I can look over your notes."

"Well, that seems fair…"

"I thought so, anywho, I'm going to shower before I head to bed so please close the door on your way out."

She turns around slowly pulling the doors together. Before they click she gets a look at him as he removes his shirt. His back is scarred with cuts with a mix of what looks like bullet wounds and teeth marks. The door clicks as she steps back trying to hold onto her stomach. From the way he acts, you would never know. He keeps them hidden so well. From what she could tell, most were well taken care of however a few looked like they were not before they got bad. A few extra bumps here and there but most looked sunken in. The more she thought about it the sicker she felt herself get.

She could hear the water running from the pipes in the walls. She sat on the couch listening to the water running slowly feeling herself drift off. This was going to be a long night if she was already tired. Her mind began to wander for a few minutes until she heard the door upstairs open up. Hunter came walking down in green sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt. He wandered around the corner into the kitchen rummaging around something. She heard glass tink against glass then nothing for a short while. There was more rummaging before Hunter walked back around to head up the stairs. He got to the top to turn back around and head down, "Not used to people being here. Goodnight, Juliet."

"Goodnight. What was that though?"

"What was what?"

"You in the kitchen."

"Oh, water before bed."

"That didn't sound like water."

"Firewater before bed."

"Dammit, Hunter!"

"What's done is done! Can't stop it now."

"Fine, go to sleep."

He felt that he had won with the smirk on his face. Having a drink before bed was a real sign that he may have a problem but Juliet was beginning to lose her push to help clean him up. She heard his door shut leaving her in the silence of his home. There were only a few lights on with just enough light to give anyone in the dark an idea of where to go. She wandered around the main floor in a circle from the living room, to the kitchen, to the dining room, around the corner to the entryway, then back to the living room again keeping her ears and eyes open for anything that may be considered strange. She wandered around for a short while before succumbing to boredom. She still needed to find a piece of paper and a writing utensil to keep her notes. She forgot to ask and it was too late to ask Hunter. She gave herself a small mission looking around the kitchen and the living area with no luck. The few drawers in the dining area had nothing either but there had to be something that had what she was looking for. Up the stairs, she went into the guest bedroom. There was a very simple bed, a dresser, a closet, and a TV stand with a flat-screen TV on it. Looking through the drawers yielded nothing. They were all empty.

If he worked from home on occasion then he would have to have a place dedicated as an office, right? Looking around she guessed what door could possibly be what she would need. The door to her left from the guest room was the laundry room. Across the hall was the bathroom. The door past that was his small office. The desk was massive. It spanned along the wall and around the corner ending just before the window. There was a smaller desk across from it against the inside wall that had a glass of pens and pencils. Rummaging around the drawers she found a small blank notepad. It looked like it was missing a few pages but would work for what she wanted it to. Trying to make as few sounds as possible she headed back down the stairs where she sat down turning on the TV to as low as it could go where she could still hear it.

If she was going to stay awake she would have to do something to entertain herself while she struggled with the urge to sleep. Looking through the TV guide she found an old show she used to watch. She flipped to it instantly remembering the episode. It was halfway through but still in a good spot for her to enjoy. The heat kicked on rumbling a couple of the vents and catching her attention. "Well, he asked for anything and everything." She jotted down the time with the note that the furnace kicked on. She noted the time that it kicked off as there was a loud thump when it did. Her show ended, starting another episode. Whatever Hunter wanted her to listen for was not happening.

It was almost midnight before she really started struggling to stay awake. She had heard a few noises here and there that she could not identify but they weren't constant. She managed to make it to three before she finally could not do it anymore. She lumbered herself upstairs heading towards the guest bedroom until something out of place caught her eye. Hunter's door was slightly ajar. She was certain that she heard it shut all the way and never heard him get up. Was this a test? She slowly walked up to the door. Looking inside there was no light other than the dim glow through the windows. She peered in trying to make out shapes but there just wasn't enough light. She turned back to the wall where a switch was located, almost blinding herself. The extra light flooded into the room. It wasn't enough to fully illuminate it yet it was enough to see. There didn't seem to be anything out of place. She kept her eyes inside as she turned out the hallway light.

The click of the switch launched her heart into her throat. Her eyes widened as her voice cracked to a gurgling pitch. Something was casting a shadow against the dim light in the window. From the little bit of light, there was, it appeared to be inside. She hit the hallway light throwing the open door against the wall and slamming her elbow into the doorknob of the other closed door. With a frantic search, she found the light inside the room bringing light to everything. Looking around there was no one there except a very panicked Hunter. With a pistol in his hand, he quickly looked over the room to find only Juliet. "What's wrong? What happened?"

She has lost control. She shrieked, "Did you see it?!"

"Woah, see what?"

"The thing! The thing in the window?!"

"What thing in the window?"

Hunter got up from bed walking over to the window near the headboard and near the foot of the bed. Looking out both he only saw what was outside. The few garden lights provide light to a path and the darkness beyond that. Turning back to Juliet she seemed to be getting slightly better but still very rattled, "It was there! I saw it."

He grabbed her shoulders trying to steady her, "Juliet, I need you to breathe and tell me what you saw."

"It was just a black figure. I think it was watching you."

"Ok, anything else?"

"I turned on the light and it was gone. Do you think it was a ghost?"

"Ghosts are not a thing. I think it may have just been you being tired and seeing things."

"No! No! It was there! It wasn't there then it just showed up!"

"Juliet, shh, shh, listen to me, ok?" She could only nod. "Take a deep breath and try to relax."

She did as she was told. She was still shaking but the crying had stopped. Her voice returned to almost normal, it was still a little higher, but her body seemed to be more in her control. "Better?" She nodded "yes" while still staring out the window. "Good, come with me to the kitchen so we can get an ice pack for your elbow."

She didn't even notice that it was already beginning to bruise. She slammed herself into the door hard enough that she hit the bone to where it was swelling with a dark purple. Hunter wrapped a light blue ice pack with a towel placing it on the counter before her. "Either rest your arm or hold it in place." She did as she was told, slowly lowering her arm down to the counter to rest. He took a seat on a small stool across from her looking rather tired. "Now that you've calmed down a bit, what was it that you saw?" She let out a deep sigh, "It was a shadow figure inside your room looking over your bed at you. It appeared when I shut off the hallway light and disappeared when I turned on your bedroom light."

"Just appeared and gone. Nothing else?"

"It didn't move, it didn't waiver, it just stared at you."

He blinked a couple times, "That's mildly unsettling."

"Mildly?! I almost died and it wasn't even looking at me!"

Hunter put up a hand trying to get her to calm down a bit, "Ok, ok, I get it. C'mon, let's go take a look." Hunter stood up waddling his way around the table to the stairs. Juliet was extremely hesitant to go back upstairs but she followed. They got upstairs towards the door to Hunter's room. He turned off the bedroom light standing out in the hallway with that light on. "Where was it standing?" She pointed to the spot on the floor by the window opposite them. With his eyes locked on the spot, he flipped off the hallway light. Nothing changed. Nothing moved, nothing flickered. Everything was as it should have been but just dark.

Hunter turned back to Juliet in the hall with his hand heading towards the light. With a smile on his face, he attempted to resolve her fears, "I think we're fine but thank you for keeping an eye out." She looked past him at the spot again where there was nothing there. She moved back to her spot before him with a deep sigh, "Yea… Maybe it's just because I'm tired that I think Iiii-ahhHhhHHAa!" The hallway flipped on Hunter's finger. The black hand that had reached around him disappeared with the light. The color from Juliet's face drained as she stared past Hunter's head into his room. He seemed confused looking back into the darkness with nothing there.

Juliet sputtered out a few fragments of words before she got herself together enough to say "I'm going to sleep with the light on." She fumbled her way back to her room flipping the light before she walked in. She left the door open letting the hallway light come in as well. Hunter just shrugged her off heading into his room and turning on the light. He walked into the bathroom turning on the water in one of the sinks. He moved over to the other slamming both hands on the counter, lurching himself forward, throwing up. He looked up in the mirror to see that his color had gone as well. The hair on his arms began to stand on end. His skin became covered in goosebumps as his eyes slowly turned bloodshot. He saw the hand as well and knew very well that it was reaching for him. It was going to be a very sleepless night for the both of them.