Day 5 Chapter 18

Day 5

Adelmo made his way towards the door, his mind filled with curiosity as he noticed a small note attached to it. It was from Nik, a friend of his, who seemed to have anticipated Adelmo's confusion about how he ended up back home. As it turned out, the bartender at the bar had stumbled upon Nik's business card in Adelmo's wallet and assumed they were acquainted. Intrigued, the bartender decided to give Nik a call to confirm his suspicion. To his delight, the bartender's assumption was correct, and he asked Nik if he could come to pick Adelmo up from the bar where he had passed out.

 Nik, being the considerate friend that he was, had taken the time to explain the situation to the bartender. He informed him that Adelmo wasn't in his right state of mind that day due to a blow to the head. The note concluded with Nik urging Adelmo to give him a call so he could provide further explanation. Eager to unravel the mystery, Adelmo reached for the phone and dialed Nik's number. However, to his surprise, the phone kept ringing with no response from his buddy. This struck Adelmo as odd since Nik was known for always answering his phone promptly.

Adelmo made his way to his store, battling through the horrendous traffic that seemed to have worsened in recent times. Frustration filled his mind as he muttered curses under his breath, lamenting the inconvenience caused by the congested roads. After what felt like an eternity, he finally reached his destination, stepping inside and approaching Lana, his trusted employee. Eager to catch up on any missed messages, Adelmo inquired if there were any for him.

 To his relief, Lana informed him that there was indeed a message waiting for him. It was from Nik, who had requested Adelmo to give him a call. Curiosity piqued, Adelmo asked Lana when Nik had left the message. 

With a slight pause, Lana replied, "About 45 minutes ago. Why do you ask?" 

Adelmo's mind raced as he recalled his unsuccessful attempt to reach Nik before leaving his house. 

Frustrated, he explained to Lana, "I tried calling him earlier, but he didn't answer his phone."

 Understanding the urgency of the situation, Lana suggested, "Oh, why don't you try calling him again? Maybe this time you'll have better luck getting a hold of him." 

Adelmo nodded in agreement, appreciating Lana's suggestion. 

Determined to reach Nik, he replied, "Alright, I'll give it another shot." 

With renewed hope, Adelmo dialed Nik's number, hoping that this time he would be able to establish contact and address whatever matter required his attention.

Adelmo sought out the solace of the back room, craving a moment of privacy away from the hustle and bustle of the main area. With a sense of urgency, he reached for the phone and began dialing Nik's number, hoping to catch him at a convenient time. As he waited for the phone to ring, seconds felt like minutes, and the silence was deafening. 

Frustrated, Adelmo decided to break the silence by tentatively saying, "Hello?"

Upon hearing Adelmo's voice, Nik's tone perked up with recognition, "Hello? Adelmo, is that you?" 

Adelmo confirmed his identity with a simple, "Yes, it is me." 

Nik expressed his confusion, mentioning that he had heard the dialing sound after Adelmo's call, which left him puzzled. Adelmo, equally perplexed, explained that he never heard the phone ring on his end, hence the reason for calling Nik.

 As the conversation unfolded, Nik couldn't help but think about the strange turn of events. Despite the initial confusion, they were finally able to connect and communicate. Adelmo, eager to piece together the events of the previous night, inquired about the details of his mysterious journey home. He recounted bits and pieces of his memory, from a leisurely walk to a throbbing headache, culminating in a visit to the nearest bar. Adelmo's recollection of the night was fragmented, leaving both him and Nik with more questions than answers.

 Nik turned to Adelmo and asked, "Have you any idea where you were last night?" 

Adelmo, puzzled, responded, "Honestly, I thought I was at a bar nearby my place." 

Nik shook his head and corrected him, "Actually, you were quite far from home. You were in the French Quarters." 

Adelmo's mind raced as he wondered, "How on earth did I end up there? I couldn't have been walking for that long."

Feeling bewildered, Adelmo voiced his thoughts, "So, everything I saw wasn't real then?" 

Nik nodded and replied, "No, not at all. Those people you encountered, they all believed they were vampires. It's a place filled with eccentric individuals who are so convinced of their vampiric identities that they manage to convince others too." 

Adelmo sighed, "I always suspected that, but last night felt so vivid, so genuine."

As Adelmo tried to make sense of the situation, he couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion and fascination. The idea of stumbling upon a community of self-proclaimed vampires seemed like something out of a movie. He wondered how he had been lured into their world, even if it was just for a night. The French Quarters had always been known for its vibrant and eccentric atmosphere, but this was beyond anything Adelmo had ever imagined.

Nik, noticing Adelmo's intrigue, continued to explain, "You see, they create this illusion so convincingly that even the most skeptical individuals can't help but question reality. It's like stepping into a parallel universe where the line between fact and fiction blurs." 

Adelmo nodded, still trying to process the bizarre encounter. He couldn't deny the allure of the French Quarters and its ability to transport people into a realm of fantasy, even if just for a fleeting moment.