Chapter 3 - My Desperation Has Finally Paid Off

"What happened to my wife?" I asked. Becky couldn't provide a clear answer; she seemed to evade the question.

Seeing Becky with tears rolling down her cheeks, I could only fear the worst.

The outcome I dreaded seemed to have unfolded. The atmosphere felt suffocating. In despair, I shouted, "Can't believe all my efforts were in vain!"

"Your wife is totally okay, Mr. Adam," Becky finally said, breaking her silence.

Her words brought an abrupt halt to my distress. "What did you say?" I pressed Becky for confirmation.

"Your wife is perfectly fine. I don't know how else to say it, sir, but she's as if nothing ever happened to her. She's back on her feet."

This was exactly the news I yearned for, yet hearing it, I struggled to grasp its reality.

I dashed from my study to the room where Caroline had been confined since her illness began.

It felt like I was flying rather than running, propelled by a surge of joy so intense it felt unnatural. In what seemed like less than five seconds, I reached her room.

Entering, I saw the bed empty—a sight that filled me with relief. "My efforts have finally paid off," I whispered to myself.

Venturing further, I found Caroline by the window, basking in the fresh air.

"Caroline," I called out, my voice laced with emotion. She turned to face me, and I was in awe.

You should see the joy that filled my heart, it cannot be matched by anything the world could offer. The day I get to see my darling Caroline again. 

There she stood, my wife, vibrant after months of intensive care. My heart swelled with delight.

Approaching her, I admired her beauty, incomparable even to a thousand roses. "Oh, Caroline, my dear wife, how I've longed to embrace you each passing day."

I couldn't control myself; I kissed her. The feeling that had eluded me returned. It's so good to have my wife back, I thought to myself.

"Are you feeling alright?" I asked. "I am perfectly fine," she replied, her voice as refreshing as a gentle breeze.

"Your voice," I marveled. "What about my voice?" Caroline inquired. "I nearly forgot its sweet sound," I confessed.

I told Becky that something should be prepared for her, and she did just that. As she ate for the first time in many months, I couldn't help but stare at her, like a dog looking at its owner after a long day of being alone.She even asked me to stop looking at her like that, but the truth is, I couldn't even if I tried.

There was so much I wanted to say, but I suggested she rest more to regain your strength. "Adam, I am perfectly fine," my wife insisted.

Ensuring her well-being was paramount, I escorted her to her room, I urged her to rest. I waited beside her till she fell asleep for the first time. I laid her down on the bed. Watching her rest felt incredibly soothing and fulfilling. "I'll be back later, my dear."

As I stepped out, Becky approached me. "Mr. Adam," she called out. "Yes, Becky?" I responded.

"I'm so happy for your wife's recovery. Seeing you smile again is truly heartwarming," she expressed. Grateful for her support, I asked her to keep an eye on Caroline while I was away.

"But there is something that I don't quite understand, sir," Becky said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I have never seen anything like that before. I knew how critical your wife was before you came back. Seeing her this well is something. Don't get me wrong, sir, I want your wife to be well, but her recovery does not seem ordinary."

I knew what I had done to ensure my wife was okay, but I couldn't tell Becky. I just waved the word with something else. I knew she suspected something, but I could not tell her what I did; she might not understand.

"Whatever happened to her that caused her to be okay, I am happy because my wife is back," I replied Becky. In my mind I knew what I did to make sure she was okay. 

I told Becky again "to watch after Caroline for me while I am gone. 

To everyone listening to this, Don't judge me. I sought help where I shouldn't have. Everyone at one time has done what we are not proud of. I am glad this worked out well and nobody was hurt."

I headed out to see Kent. I made him a promise I would supply him with so much blood so that he wouldn't have to kill again. I had already made an arrangement with one of my friends to supply many blood bags from the hospital blood bank.

I drove down the same alley where we encountered each other last time, but he wasn't there. "Oh, I made a mistake of not asking for how to contact him," I said to myself. I waited a little, and as I turned to leave, Kent was behind me.

"Oh," I exclaimed. "How long have you been standing there?" I asked.

"Just got here," he replied. "Wait, how do you know I am here?" I asked further.

"I can smell the blood in the truck a mile away."

"So here is the blood as promised," I said with a sense of fulfillment.

"Thanks," Kent replied. "So how is your wife?" Kent asked.

"Oh, Caroline is fine."

"Okay, I just hope it's worth it," Kent said.

I didn't know what to say to that, literally speaking. I finally left Kent and went back home. Upon getting home, I was welcomed by Becky, but I noticed her countenance was not the same as before I left.

I would have imagined the worst, but I could tell this was not a sad kind of face. This was like an "explain yourself" kind of face.

I moved closer to Becky, and she showed me the empty bottle that contained the blood I used for Caroline. The only word that followed was, "Mr. Adam, what have you done?" Becky asked me.

I looked at the bottle as if I were seeing it for the first time. "What is that, Becky?" I asked, but she didn't buy the lie.

"Mr. Adam, do you have any idea what you have done?" she pressed.

"Becky, I still don't know what you are talking about," I replied, trying to lie my way out of it.

"A while ago, I was surprised by the way your wife recovered quickly. How strange it was to be healed that fast, knowing the nature of her sickness. So, this is what you did," narrated Becky.

"I still don't know what you're talking about," I tried to double down on the lie.

"You still don't know what I am talking about," she asked with a demanding tone. "Take a look at this bottle I found where your wife used to be while she was unwell. Take a look at the inscription at the bottom of this bottle," she said.

I squinted my eyes to look. "So what about it?" I asked.

"I once heard of a monster that carried this inscription. People seek his healing for his blood, but the disturbing part of his help is this: the price he collects for his blood is way too expensive to bear."

"Mr. Adam, whatever you did is not going to be worth it after all. Death and sorrow follow where he goes."

"Becky, don't you think you are making a huge deal out of this?" I asked.

"Fine, I admit I sought help from a vampire to save my wife," I said, hearing this, she gasped.

"What am I supposed to do? The only person I care about in the world is about to die. If it were you, what would you have done?" I asked.

That question gripped Becky, and she couldn't reply. "Yes, that's what I thought," I said.

I stormed out of her presence to go and see my wife once again. I never felt any shame for what I did. I was proud of myself.

I entered Caroline's room and felt an unusual chill. "What is the meaning of this?" I asked myself. "Why is it so cold in here?" I looked at Caroline; she was asleep. I was a bit troubled, and I didn't know what to do.

"Yeah, I'm not leaving your side," I said to myself. "I'll be here with you, my love." I sat beside her, and moments later, I fell asleep.

While I slept, something strange happened. I had a dream. I saw the old vampire whose blood I took, trying to kill me. This couldn't be right; why would he try to kill me? I saw myself running from him, and everywhere I went, he hunted me like a predator hunts its prey.

I woke up from my sleep in fear. "Thank God it was just a dream," I panicked.

It was my panic that woke Caroline up. "Something is bothering you," she said. "What is it?" she asked.

"Don't worry about anything right now, my wife. Whatever you want to know, I'll tell you in the morning," I replied.

"Okay," she replied.

We both went back to sleep. I reflected within myself. Could everyone be right, and I have made a bad decision? Can me trying to save my wife be this dangerous in the long run?

For the first time in many months, I felt the warmth of my wife again. I wished we could both sleep like this forever. I wondered why the morning came so fast. It was the ray of sun that woke me up. I couldn't see Caroline beside me. She had left the room already. I got up as well to go look for her.

On my way, I heard the doorbell. I went to check who was there. You wouldn't believe the person I was staring at in the face.