Chapter 4 Descent into Darkness

Blaire stood under the hot water of her shower, trying to wash away the overwhelming feeling of desolation that had settled over her. The events of the gala and her encounter with Alexei had left her feeling lost and confused. She couldn't believe that everything she had learned about vampires was a lie, and yet, the evidence was undeniable. Her once shabby apartment now felt even more desolate, as if all the knowledge she had gathered had turned to dust.

She wrapped herself in a towel and lay down on her mattress, hoping that a nap would bring some respite from the nightmares and visions that haunted her. But as soon as she closed her eyes, the horrors of the gala returned, each faceless figure taking on a menacing form. The images blurred into each other, and she felt her stomach churn with sickness.

Unable to find peace even in sleep, Blaire woke up in a cold sweat, the echoes of her nightmares still fresh in her mind. She tried to eat some ramen, but her stomach rebelled, and she couldn't keep anything down. Her gaze fell on the books, the walls plastered with articles and information that now felt like twisted lies.

Was any of it real? Was she losing her mind?

She turned on the news then, streaming it from her laptop as she dried her hair. Staring t the screen she opened a bottle of water to see article after article about a Mass Shooting at the Gala. This made her blood run cold. She read more and more, accounts of the event which were all falsehoods.

Pulling up a video she watched a Gala-goer talking to the press, sobbing about what she had witnessed. She was on camera, she was human, and no, she didn't seem like she was acting or lying. Whatever this woman saw, she really believed she saw what she was describing.

Her attachment to reality started to shift as she continued following link after link. Audibly repeating, "No, no, this is wrong." after every single article.

She picked up her phone and dialed her friend, in a panic. One of the only she had left in the last two years who bothered to talk to her at all. Two rings. Three. Kim picked up on the fourth. Blaire exhaled a sigh of relief, "Kim." She exhaled.

"Hey Blaire! It's been a minute! How are you?" The familiar voice chimed in on the phone.

Blaire didn't wait for pleasantries, "Have you seen what happened to Marty Schultz?" She interjected. There was a pause. A length of time as if Kim was preparing for the onslaught of theories and strange thoughts to come. Blaire hardly noticed as she said, "It's not what happened, Kim, I was there."

"Wait, you were there? Are you okay?" Skepticism had fled from her words, replaced by concern.

"Yes. I'm fine. I was there. I went to investigate The Domovoi Group because they are linked to the charities Julia was involved in and I know that's where she met Jared who...."

Kim cut Blaire off, "Blaire. Not this again."

"Kim, please listen..."

"Blaire, I know you've been obsessed with this, but you can't seriously believe you were at a vampire gala linked to Julia's death, can you?" Kim's voice was filled with sympathy, but also a touch of exasperation.

"I know it sounds crazy, but I swear it's true. I saw them, Kim. I saw the vampires, and they were... they were feeding on people," Blaire stammered, trying to put her chaotic thoughts into coherent words.

"You're saying that these vampires killed a politician and covered it up to look like a mass shooting. Yes. You sound crazy."

Blaire stopped and tried again, "Listen, I was there, I can send you a copy of the invitation. I was there. I got footage of them, except they don't appear on cameras. I didn't know that, but I had a mirror, and I caught their clothes. God, and Kim, I met a vampire. He said they're covering it up because...."

Kim interrupted again, concern washing over her voice, "Blaire, have you been taking your medication?"

"I..." Blaire stopped cold and glanced at her pill bottles. Several still full, she merely picked up the prescription. She lied, "I stopped taking them just few days ago," Blaire admitted reluctantly. "I thought I didn't need it anymore, that I was finally onto something real."

"Blaire, you know how important it is for you to take your medication. It helps you stay grounded, focused, and it prevents these... delusions from taking over," Kim said gently. "I know how much you want to believe in all of this, but you can't let it consume you like this."

"I saw them, Kim. I know what I saw," Blaire insisted, her voice wavering with emotion. "I can't be the only one who knows what happened. Maybe there's leaked footage, or... I need to talk to some of the guest."

"No." The answer was simple and stern, "Blaire, who you need to talk to is a therapist." Kim said, trying to reason with her friend. "A professional, who can help you sort through all of this."

"I don't need therapy, I need answers," Blaire said, her frustration rising. "I need to figure out what's really going on before more people get hurt."

Kim pleaded. "You need help, and there's no shame in that. Please, for your own sake, talk to someone who can guide you through this. Even if this is real, think for a minute. You saw people get eaten by vampires, and cover it up? If you saw that, you need to talk to someone. And Blaire, you need your medication..."

Blaire sighed, feeling torn between her desire for the truth and her friend's concern. "Okay, okay, I'll talk to someone," she finally relented. "But you have to promise me you'll look into this too, just in case."

"I promise, Blaire," Kim said sincerely. "I'll keep an eye on the news and see if there's anything unusual, but you need to take care of yourself first."

After their goodbyes, Blaire spent hours reading articles about the gala and the shooting, hoping to find some evidence that would confirm her experiences. The more she read, the more confused and overwhelmed she felt. None of it made sense, and she was left feeling even more isolated.

As she continued to scour through the news, her eyes fell on a familiar name among the victims – Marty Scultz. She had assumed that the vampires had wanted him elected, but it seemed she was wrong about that too. She was wrong about everything.

Feeling defeated and exhausted, Blaire glanced to her counter in her small apartment and noticed an object that hadn't been there before – a cellphone with a post-it note attached. Written on it was a single word, "Alexei." It was the only lead she had, and despite her doubts, she knew she had to follow it.

Taking a deep breath, she dialed the number and listened to Alexei's voice on the other end. She left a message, explaining that she wanted to learn more and help stop the House of Adze. Hours went by, and she paced back and forth in her small apartment, ignoring calls from her worried family. Kim must have told them.

Blaire paced wear on the floor in that small apartment, her anxiety growing with every passing moment. The room felt suffocating, with its bare walls and the lone mattress on the floor. The cluttered desk held her laptop and research materials, but it also showcased more medication bottles she had been prescribed. She stared at them, contemplating whether she should take them or not.

"Maybe Kim is right," she whispered to herself, picking up the bottles and swallowing her doubts along with the pills. She couldn't afford to lose herself in her pursuit of the truth. The medication was her lifeline, keeping her grounded in reality.

With the medication packed in her purse, she sat on the worn-out couch, her eyes glued to her laptop screen as she continued to read articles about the gala and the shooting. The events were surreal, and the more she dug, the more she found discrepancies that fueled her uncertainty.

An hour turned into two, and her anxiety only grew, pulling her further into a spiral of panic and disarray. The phone finally rang, jolting her out of her anxious thoughts. It was Alexei.

"Blaire, that was quick. I got your message," his voice came through the line, smooth and confident.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, "I want to help. I need to know more, but I need assurances, Alexei. Assurances for me and my family's safety."

He chuckled softly, his voice resonating like a low purr, "I knew you'd say yes. I can promise you that you'll be safe, and your family will remain untouched by all of this."

Blaire hesitated for a moment, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. She had stumbled into a dangerous world, and she needed to be sure that she wasn't putting her loved ones in harm's way.

"You have my word, Blaire," Alexei continued. "We're not monsters, and we don't harm innocent people. Your family will be safe as long as you keep your involvement discreet."

She closed her eyes, trying to find the strength to go forward with this decision. "Okay, I'll come. But I need more information, and I need to know exactly what you're planning to do about the House of Adze."

Alexei's voice became serious, "I can tell you some things, but we need to meet in person for a full discussion. There are things that can't be said over the phone."

Blaire took a deep breath, pushing aside her fears, "Alright, I need to bring some essentials, my tools, my laptop, and clothes."

"You can bring what you need. But remember, pack light. Leave everything else behind," Alexei instructed.

As she hung up the phone, Blaire's heart raced again.. She packed her essentials, and ultimately every last bottle of medication. She left then with that and the bare necessities. The tools of her investigative trade were tucked safely away, along with her laptop and a few changes of clothes.

Outside her apartment building, she found a fancy car waiting for her. The sight was unexpected, but she realized that the reach of the vampires was extensive, and this was their way of ensuring she would come willingly.

Taking a deep breath, Blaire stepped into the car, her heart pounding in her chest. The driver nodded at her, and the car smoothly merged into the flow of traffic. The city lights flickered past, but her thoughts were far away, preoccupied with the uncertain path she had chosen.

As the car drove on, Blaire couldn't help but feel a mix of fear and determination. She was stepping into the unknown, drawn to a world she had never imagined existed. But she had to know the truth, even if it meant risking everything she held dear.

In the distance, the city lights gave way to darkness, and she felt herself venturing into a realm where secrets and shadows reigned. There was no turning back now, and Blaire knew that her life was about to change in ways she could never have foreseen.