“You WHAT?” Rogue’s voice pitched as she paced back and forth in the kitchen.
“You wanted to know what happened! I was too tired last night, but I’m telling you now.” Harlow huffed. “What were you thinking, Harley? Four vampires in one night? You never mentioned that you made yourself some pretty nasty enemies for no bloody reason and after the stupid decision that got Robin and Shane killed. You can’t be a hypocrite like that.” Niridia chided her. “I know. It was dumb and impulsive; I didn’t think and acted out of anger and frustration. I should have been honest with you, but I didn’t think it was a problem. Clearly, I was wrong.” Harlow felt awful and it was evident in her voice. “We know how you are, lovey. But that shit…that was stupid. We could be a target now even if those two vampires got torched. And then there’s your new undead friend—you’re really popular lately.” Rogue seemed to be angrier than Niridia…or maybe it was disappointment. “I shouldn’t be in charge of anything right now. My head isn’t on right more than usual. Everything is just starting to get to me and that’s no excuse to be reckless, but the damage has been done. I just need to stay put for a while and not go out because it’s my scent they are tracking and I don’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s death.” Harlow admitted that she wasn’t having an easy time existing at the moment. “You do too much, Harlow. Too much for others, but what do you do for you? When you feel like you need some self-care, you go out and get into trouble instead. Maybe you do need to stay in for a while and take care of yourself, worry about the people here and let others worry about supply runs and hunts.” Rogue spoke honestly before she held out her hand. “You want my key, don’t you?” Harlow whined. “Yeah. Because if I don’t take it, what’s going to keep you from skipping off into forever midnight and bringing back vampires for dinner? It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I know you don’t trust yourself.” Rogue empathized with her. “At least I’m not this impulsive when it comes to other people being involved so I think that’s a positive.” Harlow joked as she fished her key from her pocket and handed it over to Rogue. “Right. Now you’re housebound, but that’s ok. You can help Niridia because she’s definitely going to need it now and I’ll take your place doing the outside stuff. You can work on integrating the new members with the old. You’ve been through a lot in the last week, my love. Take it easy, ok? We’ll make sure everything is handled.” Rogue took Harlow by the face and kissed her forehead. “Remember what happened last time you told me to take it easy, Rogue? That’s how all of this started.” Harlow laughed through tears that had welled in the corner of her eyes. Rogue gave a sad laugh in response as she caressed Harlow’s cheek and replied, “You’re right so maybe don’t take it too easy, ok? I know you like busy work so you can do inventory and maybe—listen to some music?” Harlow’s face lit up, “Music? What do you mean? Are you going to play the organ for me while I work?” “No, smartass, we found a phonograph. We were clearing out space to prepare for more bodies and found it in a locked closet in the basement. There are a few jazz albums, some classical productions and a couple others that I can’t remember. But we checked and it works rather well." Niridia added. “Music. Music is a great way to pacify the urge to get in trouble. Show me how to use it? I’ve never played with one of those things before.” Harlow felt much better knowing that she had something to stimulate her while she worked and kept herself together. “Of course, lovey. We can go now, get you all set up and then you can just relax. No hard work for you. I don’t know how to say this without sounding like I am patronizing you.” Rogue pursed her lips and exhaled through them. “I’m on punishment without being on punishment. I know you’re not treating me like a baby, you’re just keeping me out of trouble. You’re holding me accountable for my actions…isn’t that what Sister Agnes used to say?” Harlow let Rogue know there were no hard feelings and she understood. “Ugh, don’t bring up Sister Agnes, but yes. We’re helping you hold yourself accountable because we think you’re too tired to do it on your own. Maybe try and take a nap later because I know you aren’t sleeping like you should.” Niridia made a suggestion that actually sounded quite good. “I’ll sort and stack for a few hours, listen to some jazz, do lunch, and then a nap after. I really wish we could get the hot water working again because I would love an actual bath.” Harlow complained mildly as the three finished up cleaning the kitchen after breakfast and walked out into the sanctuary. “Maybe someone in this new group understands the complexity of heating and plumbing or just handiness in general. Besides you and Shane, we don’t really have anyone that knows that stuff and you don’t know anything about this specifically.” Rogue was just making a suggestion, but may have hit a nerve. “And now no Shane. I’m sure someone is good with a wrench and a hammer in this group. Or I hope at least…I’m really tired of sharing bathwater and by the time it gets to me it’s always so cold. I know that there are much bigger issues in life right now, but sometimes it’s the little things.” Harlow lamented. “And now it’s just cold all around because we don’t have the ability to heat all that water and keep everyone warm and cozy in here. It’s going to be cold for the next few months regardless.” Niridia added, waving at someone as they passed a group sitting in the front pews. Harlow caught this slight action and calculated that the wave was intended for Peter because he was the only one in the group who had a huge smile plastered on his face with darting eyes in their direction. “Niridia, already?” Harlow hissed, bringing herself close to Niridia to hide the fact that she was still watching Peter like a hawk. Niridia giggled, “Oh, Harlow, stop. We just started talking while you were rescuing the others and he’s really sweet. We have a lot in common too: we both want to move to Italy, we love German chocolate, and neither of us have had sex in over two years.” “Good grief, Niridia.” Harlow tried to hold a straight face, but her effort had Rogue laughing and soon it had engulfed all three. “Just because we’re in the apocalypse doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun.” Niridia chirped playfully. “Funny,” Harlow scoffed, “Remy said something to that effect the other night.” “Oh, did he now? No—did you two fuck?” Rogue’s face lit up with delight. “Ha, no. No, we didn’t. Not going to lie and say that it didn’t come up, because somehow it did, but nothing happened.” Rogue waved her hands in defense. “That explains it then. That’s the look of sexual tension.” Rogue clicked her tongue. Harlow raised a brow in question. “The way he’s been looking at you since we left the kitchen. The minute he saw you there was this—his body just tensed up and I bet his eyes dilated. It’s like you had him under a spell.” Rogue wiggled her eyebrows at Harlow. They had almost made it to their exit of the sanctuary when Harlow glanced back at the group where Peter sat and saw Remy, his eyes trained on her, head cocked to the side in thought. She subtly waved at him with a finger and he realized that she could see him and smiled, waving back with a flick of his hand. “Yeah, he’s smitten. But I don’t blame him. I’ve known you most of my life and I’m still smitten with you.” Rogue made kissing sounds before she planted one on Harlow’s cheek and they all started laughing again. Things felt good, like they were going in the right direction, but Harlow had this sense that something bad was looming just around the corner. (*) Harlow spent the next several days organizing all their supplies and stocks, prepping rooms, and tending to Adrianna. Niridia could have handled her, but Harlow felt responsible for some reason, and made sure to keep her neck clean and bandaged for the first day before she let it breathe. Adrianna was still unconscious and Harlow wondered if she would ever wake up. She had lost a lot of blood and the gash was pretty big, but it wasn’t fatal. It looked like it was healing and there was no sign of infection, but the woman just wouldn’t wake up and they needed her to so she could get some water and food in her. “Maybe this will help you. Music can send you on a journey, or it could ground you and bring you back to reality.” Harlow wheeled in the phonograph and positioned it next to Adrianna’s bed in the dining hall turned infirmary. She put on a record of classical music, one featuring the likes of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin, and let it play softly near Adrianna’s head. “One of us will come back and check on you in a few hours. Just try and listen the music and let it bring you back, ok?” Harlow brushed the damp hair away from Adrianna’s face and checked her temperature. She may have had a fever at one point, but it had broken now. Harlow left her to peacefully enjoy the music and headed to the kitchen to wash up and start prep for dinner when the party came back from a rushed supply run that Rogue planned last minute. They were still short on blankets and bedding as well as fresh winter clothing, and needed to go shopping. The first to enter the sanctuary was Remy and it didn’t look good. He had fresh marks on his face and his clothing was dirty and speckled with blood. Harlow gasped silently before rushing over to him to tend to his wounds. “What happened? Do you need medical aid?” Harlow asked him, taking his arm to steer him to a pew. “Ran into another group of humans and it was not pretty. Two of them got killed and a few others were most certainly injured, but several got away. We knew the blood shed was going to draw attention, so we got out of there. We did get a few blankets and stuffed our parkas with all the folded sheets we could find, though. Probably better to not go out for a bit and I think Rogue agrees with me.” Remy groaned as Harlow sat him down. “Let me take a look at your face.” Harlow started to fawn over Remy, but he grabbed her hands. “Mostly superficial, mon ami. The parties on the receiving end were not so fortunate, however. I am fine, I can assure you.” Remy lowered her hands, but still held on to them. “Just worried about you, that’s all. Everyone else ok?” Harlow diverted her concern to the others. “Banged up like me, Silver has a bad cut on his leg, but Rogue is taking him to the infirmary. Everyone is all in one piece. How’s Adrianna?” Remy answered and asked, now rubbing his thumb on the underside of Harlow’s hand as they conversed. “Everything looks great, but she just won’t wake up. I dragged the phonograph in there and put on some music, hoping I can bring her back to reality. My assumption is that the unconsciousness is not due to a medical issue, but a mental one. I think she’s traumatized, in shock, and this is how she is protecting herself.” Harlow gave her opinion, slowly removing her hands from Remy’s. “That’s a good diagnosis. The whole thing was incredibly violent and she was just trying to help the other two, but those foutu New Borns are almost impossible to deal with. It got its teeth in her and just started to tear; no etiquette, as awful as that sounds. Oscar was able to lead it away with a bloody hand and I got Adrianna out of there. I guess it got distracted by the bodies of the other two and Oscar was able to get back in the bank. I guess two humans were enough food because they took the bodies and dragged them off to God knows where.” Remy gave her the summary of what happened right before she found them. It got her thinking. “You know, it’s strange. These New Borns don’t feed like normal vampires; there’s a difference in the marks they leave behind. Older ones leave clean punctures and just drain the body to a point. But these infants aren’t clean; no etiquette like you said. I don’t know enough about vampires to tell you if all newly transformed are like that, but I feel like they’re not. There’s something specific about these. Our men were turned by an older vampire, but Shane killed Robin and he was so torn up we didn’t see that he too had a puncture on his neck and showed signs of tissue change and blood in the eyes. Both had been deliberately turned and Shane was so ravenous that he basically killed what would have been another New Born because they are just programmed to be violently psychopathic. What the hell is going on?” Harlow just word vomited her theory on the topic that had been weighing heavily on her mind for days. “I wish I could tell you. Why are they like this? Why make so many? Do vampires regularly feed of their own kind? Because there aren’t going to be any humans left at this rate. None of it makes sense to me, cher.” Remy related to her. “Harlow! Remy! She’s awake!” Rogue’s voice interrupted their conversation and caught their attention. “Adrianna?” Remy queried as he got up from the pew and Harlow helped him hobble to the infirmary. Indeed, Adrianna was awake, lying on the side that didn’t have the wound. Her eyes were open and she was just listening to the music, humming along with heavy lids. “I came in and she was just rolled on her side, eyes open and quietly humming along to Chopin.” Rogue pointed out, not sure what to do exactly. “Let me talk to her. Remy come with me.” Harlow took Remy’s hand and led him over to the cot. “Hey, Adrianna. How are you feeling?” Remy squatted down next to her. Her eyes never looked at him and stayed trained on nothing. She didn’t say anything, but she did make a throaty hum that sounded like a response. “Are you in any pain, Adrianna?” Harlow mimicked Remy, gently taking her hand to try and elicit a response. The woman’s eyes immediately shifted to Harlow as she curled her fingers around hers and squeezed. “Even though I just looked, let me lay you back and check your neck.” Harlow stood and gently shifted Adrianna to lie on her back. It looked good. No redness, no puffiness or oozing. Some crusted blood and bruising of the skin, but it was healing and healing well. “You look good. I can give you something for pain and you need to try and drink some water. We’ve got hog bones in the icebox so I’ll make you some broth since you haven’t eaten in days.” Harlow spoke with her gently, trying to make her feel at ease. Adrianna closed her eyes and took a couple deep breaths before she croaked, “Name?” “Oh, Harlow. That’s Rogue with the short hair and Niridia who I didn’t know was even in here.” Harlow pointed the two out, “And you’re now at St. Andrews.” “Everyone make it safe?” Adrianna struggled to talk. “Besides Ottis and Cameron, yes. Harlow showed up right when we needed her and got you stitched up better than I ever could.” Remy vouched for Harlow’s work. Adrianna grunted, “Eight out of ten is better than nothing.” She readjusted herself on the cot to stare out the window on the opposite wall. Clearly, she wasn’t ready for heavy conversation. “Get some rest. I’ll bring you some water and get to work on the broth.” Harlow patted Adrianna’s arm and left her to sit with Remy while she retrieved a glass of water. Poor thing had been uprooted without her knowledge and was probably struggling to readjust. She needed to get her strength back so she could meet the others and get acquainted. “Water and some morphine to help with the pain.” Harlow handed Adrianna the water and held up the syringe to show her that medication was administered through a needle. “I’m not afraid of needles, if you didn’t notice.” Adrianna’s voice sounded better after her first sip of water. Indeed, the woman was covered in tattoos, one of which was now cut down the middle due to the gash in her neck. Harlow quickly administered the medicine after cleaning a spot on the woman’s arm. When she was done, she excused herself entirely, leaving the phonograph behind with company that needed it more than she did.
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E.M. MoonStories from the World Wide Weird Archives
December 2021
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