"Wouldn't it be nice if we accept the things that don't make sense...?" He said as he reads out a bloodied note. It's crumpled with dirt stains all over the paper.
"I wonder if they'll even accept this. But I did find it on the same wreckage." He sighs before pausing and looking at the news playing on the TV.
"Hey, Alex!" A man calls out behind him.
"Y-yes?!" Alex yells before turning around while still holding out an awkward pose. The man then pats him on his shoulder before laughing.
"Calm down, man. That explosion really gave you a shellshock, huh?" The man said as he comforts Alex with another pat on the shoulder. He sits down next to him as he orders the bartender one cold alcohol. "You see, Alex, those morons at the headquarters just want to keep squeezing us to death. I know you know that. But if we don't do what we're told, well... there won't be a place for us anymore. So, they want me to tell you they need one more quota filled in Hernan. You know, if you want to quit and save up, I can give you bus money to Lenova." He said with constant slow pauses, seemingly wanting to get over things already.
Alex smiles in response, looking down on the camera that he's holding. "I-i can handle it, I guess. Things haven't really been doing me anything if I just stay in the city anyways." He pauses before he sighs. "What's the stuff, Shane?"
Shane looks away, nodding slightly before looking at what's in front of him. "Something's up in Hernan, they say. All the rest of the commissions are filled with the remaining guys they have. You're the only one they got for this."
Alex nods before responding with a simple "I got it." They then take a slow pause. Alex notices that Shane hasn't taken his time to drink the alcohol he ordered.
"So, you'll be heading to Old Yore?" Alex asked to release the awkward tension around the two.
"You know, Alex. Some day... I want to be an architect. Building stuff for people to live in and all." He laughs before finally taking his drink. He then looks into Alex's eyes. "What about you?"
"I don't know."
Alex leaves the bar as he sets out into the rainy night. He walks to a bus that's heading exactly to Hernan. He sits down on a spot near the window as he looks out on the rainy night. It's dark, as the road being shined by the bus's light seems to be the only thing Alex can see. He then grabs his phone and puts on his earphones.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another wonderful night at the Wilfred Joans Show, and tonight is a special day because we have a very special guest that will keep us company for the night, and it's none other than... Gwendolyn Dietrich!" The audience claps as Alex responds with faint, awkward laughter. It then cuts to Gwendolyn entering the stage. Her appearance completely makes everything around her oblivious. With her bright, appropriate clothes and shining blonde hair, she got everyone's complete attention. She then sits down as she lets out a gentle smile for the viewers to see.
"So, Gwendolyn, there has been a recent accident following the explosion of a police department in Vandolin. Is it true that this was caused by vampires?" The host says with a serious tone and expression as he lays his hand on the table.
"First off, I'll let all of you know that nobody was hurt. Thankfully, we were able to get there before things could worsen. We have no definitive proof that this could be the work of vampires. It's just our recent history with New Yore Mafias has taken a toll after they try to vandalize one of the DGA (Detective Guild Agency) departments. But, we will assure you: we'll handle it." She said before smiling at the audience with a comforting smile. Alex smiles back before looking at a notification.
Gwen
Got your disbursement? I heard from one of the agents that news outlets have been paying shit to their workers. If you need any help, please, I'm here for you.
Alex sighs before typing...
"I can take care of myself. I've been thinking about visiting Papa. He still lives on Jeffrey, right?"
After a while, Alex got a response.
Gwen
Uncle Hugo? Yeah, if I remember correctly, just ask anyone there where the Penn Household is. I'll be visiting too. I haven't seen you in almost a year, y'know.
Alex then types out another response. This time, he seemed hesitant to fill out his words.
"I'll keep that in mind. Talk to you later then."
Afterwards, Alex sighs before readjusting for a more comfortable position, opting to listen to a song as the bus sets out to Hernan.
A bearded man sits next to Alex. He notices it while lowering down his volume before putting it back up after a long pause. Afterwards, the man pokes at Alex's shoulder as he then takes it off. Alex then responds with a curious "Hmm?" to which the man proceeds to point at Alex's safety buckle, which has empty slots for a Protective Spray.
"You know, Noel County is a dangerous place to set foot in without proper protection. How'd you reckon a way out of a vampire encounter if you don't got a protection spray?" The man said with an honest tone, seemingly concerned for Alex.
"Oh. I must've dropped it back at Vandolin. That explosion really shook me off." Alex said as he shrugged it off with awkward laughter.
The man nods seemingly with disappointment before giving one spray for Alex. "I have a spare one you could use. That should keep you comfortable for the rest of your way down to wherever you're going. Remember, kid, it's a dangerous world we live in." The man said as he looked straight at Alex. Alex then responds with a simple thank you.
After what felt like a long sleep, Alex wakes up to the bus arriving at Jeffrey. He hastily makes his way outside before thanking the bus driver. He looks at the town map next to the bus stop as he figures out where his father lives by memory.
"Hmm... Valentine St... That should be the corre- huh...?" He notices a drop of water on his hand as he looks up at the sky. "Been a while." He said as he proceeded to run in the direction that would lead him to his father's house.
"Pa... It's me... Alex!" He said after knocking at the door a few times. Not for long; a weak voice tells Alex to come in. It seemed unfamiliar to him. He opens the door and walks into an open room where he sees his father lying in bed.
"Aha... About time you needed that heart-to-heart, Alex?" His father, Hugo, then laughs as hard coughs follow.
Alex sits on the lower bed, looking down before facing his father. "Gwen told me about... Y'know... your sickness. Sorry it took me this long to check on you."
"It's okay, son. I knew you just wanted to do right by making your own path. But do tell me: When will you realize that you really do need Gwen's help?"
"I..." Alex pauses for a while before looking down. "You always taught me that life means so much more when you have it all under your control. I'm tired of gaining things for doing nothing. And—"
"And you want people to know what you're capable of. Ain't that right, son?" Hugo looks at Alex straight in the eyes as he holds his hand. "You want validation so much. But I know all of this is hurting you more than it needs to. I'm telling you, son. When you're down, you can always rely on someone pulling you back up. Someone who loves and cares for you."
Alex looks with silence as Hugo shifts his eyes towards the window where a streetlight is visible.
"It won't be long 'til I leave. I want to make sure I spend my last time knowing I raise you a strong boy. I always see it when I... looked into your eyes... Back then..."
"Pa? Pa, are you okay?" Alex said as he holds Hugo's hand with both of his, kneeling down on the floor.
"I'm sorry I couldn't raise you right, Alex. I'm not your real family. She is..." With that, Hugo closes his eyes.
"No. No... No!!" Alex immediately grabs his phone and calls emergency services. "Help! I need an ambulance! My father! I think he fainted!"
Not long after, an ambulance is called onto the scene, with Alex still sitting on the bed Hugo was lying on. A police officer walks. "You're his son, right? Sorry you had to see all this. We'll identify the cause of his illness once we take him to the nearest hospital. For the meantime, would you like a ride to the hospital as well? To... y'know... be there for him."
"I'll be staying here." Alex said without even looking at the officer, as his eyes shifted on the same window his uncle was looking moments before fainting. The officer then nods before leaving the house.
"F***ck..." Alex rubs his forehead before looking at his phone. Moments later, he puts his phone against his ear.
"Hey, Shane. It's me. Uuh... Tell HQ I won't be doing the job. If they fire me, that's fine, I guess. I need to take care of... Family business. And hey, if we were to ever meet again. Do tell me some stuff about architectures and all. Alright... Hit me up when you get this." Alex sighs before putting his phone in bed as he proceeds to lay down. "What the f**k..."
Not long after, he stands up before grabbing his backpack and then pulling out a scalpel. It has faint bloodstain on the edge of the blade. He then goes to the bathroom as he cleans it. He looks into the mirror. "My name is Alex Kirby. And I am strong."
A few hours later...
"Hey, Paula, the hell are you doing outside this late?" A man says as he approaches a nonchalant girl out in the streets.
"Figure I need a smoke break after all the shit I've been through. And of course, you and your goons kept insisting me on this big "jackpot" of yours you call a commission. A day after Gordon was severely injured." Paula said as she raises her leg on top of another, sitting on a car hood.
"Trust me... Ned is never wrong when it comes to scouting. We're gonna hit the big one. Don't stress on it. Go Hoovers, right? They say when you have an Alberney girl hunting with you, luck will always be by your side. Is that true?"
"Don't believe anything people say, Kai." Paula then throws her cigarette away as she looks up at the sky.
"Just think about it. See you tomorrow." The man walks away with Paula left alone. With her ready to go inside her apartment, she notices sounds behind her. She looks to see Alex walking to a trash can as he throws away a bunch of stuff.
"Pretty late for you to be throwing out the trash." Paula said followed by Alex's audible shock. She then approaches Alex as she looks at the trash can. "What's all this?"
"Oh... I-i-it's a... It's... It's stuff. I'm kind of a journalist. I've been wandering through Lenova documenting a lot of stuff. B-but... I want to leave... It's a complicated story..." As Alex starts to yap, Paula notices the bloodied note, her expression immediately changes. She grabs the note.
"Where'd you find this?" She then looks at Alex.
"Oh... That. It's my recent finding. It's... All the way back in Vandolin."
"Vandolin...?" Paula said as she looks closely at the note. "Right on... I actually needed this. Thanks." Paula said before smiling at Alex. She then walks away before Alex calls her out.
"Wait...! Where... Wh-what are you going to do with that?"
"Sigh Well... Since you brought me this... I'm a vampire hunter. I hunt and kill vampires for money. And I think these notes lead to something big." Paula finishes her explanation with an awkward silence before she walks away again. She is then stopped after Alex says...
"Can I come with you?"