Blood Moon: CH 3

Chapter 3

It's been a few months or so since then and they had fallen into a pattern of routine.

Ryo come and goes at night since he can't travel in daylight - he can't withstand sunlight the way he is now and Mikage goes hunting at night. It's easier for them to move under the radar. Even so, they don't meet up as often. Only once or twice a week; certainly not as often as expected. Mikage suspects that Ryo purposely feeds as infrequent as possible, no doubt out of concern for him instead.

That idiot.

At least no news of a vampire suddenly collapsing from self-imposed anemia reached him yet.

The strings of missing people are still ongoing, though the frequency of cases seems to be tapering down. Strange indeed, considering how it had been going at the rate of roughly 2 to 3 people in a week. In a way its good news, but it also put everyone on edge, worried that it may just be the calm before the storm.

That, and then there's this new thing.

Whatever this is that required him to drag himself over to the laboratory this early in the morning.

 

Rubbing his forehead, he wills the headache away.

 

He walks up to a single door located deep inside the labyrinth that made up the church's internal structure. It is a rather nondescript piece compared to the rest of the place - just a simple, heavy wooden door, one that no one else dares to come near. The researchers don't really have good reputations among the priests, though he couldn't really blame them.

The lab itself is placed underground, allowing enough space for specialised equipment and for them to carry out their job.

Walking down the staircase feels like descending into hell itself. The irony of things.

At the end of the downward spiral is a solid metal gate serving as the last barrier between the lab and the ground floor. In a glance it appears like something pulled out of a dungeon. On his arrival the gate slowly rises, permitting his passage.

 

"Oh, you're here!"

Ever so irritatingly cheerful. Seeing his face the first thing in the morning does wonders to his mood. Despite practically living in the basement, he's sure rather bright. Drugs, perhaps. Mikage for one wouldn't be surprised if that is the case.

"What was it that's so important that I have to drag myself down here to see?"

Needle sighed in return though the grin remained in place. "Won't you at least fake some interest? You're no fun."

Mikage only narrowed his eyes behind his shades, entirely unwilling to be strung along. Unbothered, he walks ahead. "Hurry up, I'm short on sleep."

Another sigh.

"I'm pretty sure you've heard of it."

"Of what?"

The conversation comes to a pause as they reached a steel door marked with the church's cross. Unlatching the door, it swings open with a loud creak.

"The rumoured 'hunter' that'd been running wild lately."

A gust of cold air blows out from the room; strong enough to bite his skin through the coat. Needle is unfazed by the below freezing temperature. He's already too used to it.

"We've finally managed to get our hands on good, hard evidence."

"No wonder you looked so damn happy in this ungodly hour."

"Call it a blessing from the heavens."

That's rich coming from a non-believer.

 

The lab room is not unoccupied. A few other researchers dressed in white lab coat are busy going back and forth between the samples and their notes. Right at the centre of the room is an examination table with the aforementioned 'hard evidence' lies in wait.

In a glance, it looks like any other dead bodies, but those who are already seasoned would be able to tell them apart easily. Unlike normal human corpse, a vampire's corpse is noticeably more wasted - skin dry and shrivelled, usually ashen grey. Fresh ones like these are hard to get since the corpse burns away under sunlight leaving only specks of dust and soot. But that's nothing new.

The injuries sustained are.

"Are these knife wounds?"

"Quick as always. From what we gathered, it seems so. Otherwise it might have been inflicted by a short sword."

"But the hunters in this region uses firearms, don't they?"

"Most of them, yes. Unlike in the eastern region where bladed weapons are more commonly used." He walks away from the table, towards one of the shelves lining the wall.

"Look at this." A tray was brought out. On the tray is a type of weapon with a distinct shape, stained with dried blood likely from the vampire.

Mikage raised an eyebrow at it. "A shuriken? Did it come together?"

"It was embedded inside the head of this guy. See, here." Indeed, there is a deep wound at the back of the corpse's head. To throw the weapon with that amount of force; whoever behind this case is undeniably dangerous. Though something seems to tug at the edge of his thought. Had he come across this somewhere before? 

"'Looks like you got something on your mind?" He glances back towards Needle to catch him with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile.

"Yeah, but I couldn't put my finger on it."

Needle simply hums in return. Mikage stared at the offending item long and hard, committing every lines and cracks to memory. It might come in handy later.

He had gone back soon after. He doesn't have much use in all these complicated stuffs, and neither had he wished to stay there any longer than necessary.

 

*

 

Night comes faster than expected, thanks to the mysterious newcomer. Whoever they are they really got everyone panicking. The higher ups that is.

 

A friend or an enemy?

 

They decided to expand their hunting ground in order to cover more areas in light of current situation. All in hope of either finding more hints to the puzzle or directly catching the troublemaker. Whichever comes first. Regardless his duty doesn’t see much change, so it's good.

Tonight is rather quiet, obviously lacking the usual howling in the distance. The wild animals in these areas are likely alarmed by the sudden increase in nocturnal human activities lately. Better avoid unnecessary interspecies conflict whenever possible. They may be born with claws and fangs, but they aren't the one who'd condone mindless killings.

Tall tree branches rustle in the cool night breeze. Crescent moon peeks out in between the passing thick clouds. The smoke from his cigarette disappears in grey wisps. Looks like there won't be much happening tonight. He turns around to retrace his path back home.

Walking slowly, he silently counts the days in his head. When was the last time he came?

Last week?

Strangely it felt much longer than that. With the amount that he takes, there's no way he can hold on for any longer. He should be coming over by now.

Is he getting worried?

Yeah, probably. It'll be a major problem if he gets shot down.

Or end up going berserk.

There's a tiny voice at the back of his head gleefully asking "Is it reaaaaally just that?". He can swear the voice sounds like Needle, complete with that too wide grin of his.

He runs his hand through his hair in frustration, 'Why the hell am I getting worked up over this guy?'

 

 

He blinked in mild surprise upon his return.

"Ah sorry. The door wasn't locked so I just excused myself in."

Speak of the devil. 

There he is sitting on his bed with a bright smile. He sure looks a lot better than Mikage had thought.

"..You're quite early tonight."

He looks sheepish at the question, spontaneously rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, it's not like I have anything else to do..I guess I'm not yet used to this."

Understandable, he did have to shift his entire schedule and routine to maintain a low profile. To his family and the villagers, he remains a missing person.

"So you still haven't seen them yet?"

"Like I can, the way I am right now." He shakes his head with a rueful expression. "What about you? You're unusually early yourself."

Shrugging his coat off, draping it over the chair. "Not much going on. Also, there are already enough people out tonight."

"Why? Don't tell me there's an attack coming or something-"

"No, not that, fortunately." He turns around to see the other man sighs in relief.

"But something did happen, right? Or else you wouldn't be wearing that kind of expression."

Ryo's eyes are directly onto him. How to say it?

"There is a case. But I'm afraid it concerns you more than me." His eyes widened a little at the remark. "There's someone else hunting down vampires around here. From how things look they didn't bother waiting for the vampires to strike first."

"-And you're telling me to be careful?" A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

"..Just watch out."

"Will do."

"You're rather calm about this." Mikage raised an eyebrow towards the other man.

"Would you believe me if I say I'm used to it?" The tone of his voice is light, like he's making some light-hearted joke. He'd say it is so if not for the sharp glint in those eyes.

Another one added in the long list of strange things.

"I'll simply take it at face value."