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Foster managed a couple hours of sleep, but a feeling of agitation and the need to do something kept bringing him back to awareness. It was five in the morning, and he knew he wasn't going to be able to sleep, so he got up and got dressed. His neighbor Roddy was an early riser, so just before six, he gave him a call.
"Roddy, this is Foster. Sorry to call you so early." He began.
"No problem, I was up. What can I do for you?" Roddy is always straight to the point.
"Have you noticed anyone hanging around my apartment? I was being followed last night, so I didn't go home. I managed to shake them, and I'm staying at a motel." Foster gave him the quick version of events.
“Yeah, now that you mention it, I did notice two guys in suits outside hanging about they look serious. There’s also one who’s been pacing the hall periodically all night long. What’s this about? Why don’t you call the police?” Roddy was one of those people who kept watch on their surroundings.
“I don’t want to bring the police into this if it’s nothing, but I also don’t want to be bothered by guys in suits.” He was worried but tried to sound casual about it.
"What's going on, Foster? Tell me the truth." Roddy was astute. "Maybe I can help you."
Foster fell silent for a few seconds, deciding whether to get Roddy involved or not. But at Roddy's insistence, he crumbled and told him what had taken place. "I don't know what was wrong with that guy, but he looked monstrous, so I ran. Then others started chasing me, and I barely got away."
"The guy in the bathroom, the way you described him, sounds to me like a vampire," Roddy said the word, but Foster could not immediately process it. "Hear me out, I was a postal worker for decades, and I'll tell you what, there are things out there that no one talks about or admits, and one of those is that vampires exist."
“Vampire?” Foster was incredulous.
"Think about it, Foster. Remember what you saw." He said and paused for a moment. "What you described is something I saw more than once during my career of going house to house."
“Did they chase you?” Foster asked.
"None of them knew I saw anything. The first time was shocking, and I feared for my life like you do now. But they didn't know that I saw them, and nothing happened. After that, I was much more careful." Foster didn't know what to believe. Roddy had never lied to him, and what he saw in that bathroom did line up with what you would expect of a vampire.
“You’re telling me the honest truth?” Foster got serious.
“The honest truth.”
“They know that I saw them, and they’re after me.” Foster pointed out. “What do I do?”
"There's a group I heard about. They're a paranormal group, and they are aware of the supernatural happenings in this town. Maybe they can assist you." Roddy suggested. "They meet at that old theater on Langston, and they're there most evenings. They might be able to get out of town."
"I don't know what I'm going to do, but if I stay in Pittsburgh, Nikolas Hadden will find me. It's just a matter of time. The man has eyes everywhere, and if the man I saw was a vampire, then it is likely there are more at the Hadden Center." Foster was beginning to feel defeated.
“Be careful of him and stay clear if you can. He is not a good man.” Foster was scared for real now.
"What do you know about him. You told me it was great that I got the job at the Sienna Restaurant. Why would you say that if you knew Hadden was to be avoided?"
"He owns the building, and I never thought you'd encounter him. You're a waiter, and he's a business mogul. The chances of meeting were slim." Roddy tried to defend himself, but Foster could tell by his tone that he was feeling guilty.
“It’s okay, just bad luck.” Foster eased up on the accusations.
"Go to the theater on Langston tonight. They will help you, and until then, just stay hidden."
"I will, and if the men in suits leave, call me." Foster desperately wanted a few things from his apartment.
"I will." With that, they said goodbye, and Foster did not feel better for having made the call. The things Roddy said were outrageous but hard to deny, considering what he saw and their reaction. Foster wanted to reject the possibility for to agree would give rise to so many questions and fears. He'd lived in this town his entire life and, like Roddy, had seen things that were odd but nothing as blatant and obvious as what he'd witnessed last night.
His experiences had been in the magic realm of people performing enchantments and conjures. It was freaky to be around them, so he avoided them for the most part. The city used to be filled with their ilk magics, casters, and sorcerers, but they'd moved on over the past decade.
Foster noticed that the city had grown, and its aura had become open and airy. There was an inherent darkness around those who practiced magic, and for that reason, he was hesitant to go to them for help. He'd heard about the group down at the old theater and they were sketchy and most certainly into magics.
The vision of the man at the bar returned to his thoughts. The force of his presence was almost tangible there in the dark of the motel room. Foster reached out to the image and tried to get some sense of the man and why he kept frequenting his thoughts. There was a comfort attached to the vision, and Foster believed it was that feeling that caused him to bring the image back.
He sat on the edge of the bed and tried to come up with a plan forward, but nothing was coming together for him. He could stay at the motel for a couple more nights, and there was a thrift shop nearby where he could get a change of clothes. How far was Hadden's reach, and how far underground would he have to go to escape? The thought of going to the magics was distasteful but might be his only option.
He was abruptly brought to attention by a firm knock on his door. Panic spiked through him, and he simply sat there and stared at the door for a full minute before moving or breathing.
