CHAPTER 3: The Trail in the Darkness

CHAPTER 3: The Trail in the Darkness

The rain in Berlin fell like a gray blanket, washing the streets but not the secrets they hid. Fénix and Marcus advanced with their umbrellas tilted against the downpour, their boots splashing in the puddles.

"So now what, genius?" asked Marcus, scrutinizing the dark facades. "No trail, no clues… or are you going to sniff the air like a bloodhound again?"

Fénix was already doing it. His nostrils flared as he caught a metallic scent beneath the smell of wet earth.

"Always the same, Marcus," he murmured. "Vampires smell of old blood and sulfur. And that trail…" he pointed to an alley infested with garbage, "…reeks of rot."

The fencing at the end of the passageway was bent, as if something had knocked it down. Marcus tried to climb it, but the mud slipped through his hands.

"Damn it!" he spat, sliding down for the third time.

Fénix didn't waste time. With a supernatural leap, he cleared the fence and landed on the other side. Marcus followed, cursing under his breath.

"It got away!" Fénix shouted, kicking a puddle.

Marcus pointed to an open manhole, from which a icy vapor emanated.

"Not so fast. It went down there."

Fénix smiled, drawing his Matilda.

"Perfect. A hunt in the sewers. Just what I needed to top off the day."

The tunnel smelled of death. The beam of their flashlights revealed grimy walls and fleeing rats. The silence was worse than the stench.

Until a crunch broke it.

In a corner, crouched over something shapeless, was she: sallow skin, soaked bangs, and jaws unhinged mid-feast. The decapitated head of her victim lay to the side, its glassy eyes reflecting the light.

"Hey, beautiful!" Fénix clicked the safety off his pistol. "Time to digest some lead!"

The vampiress turned her neck with an unnatural crack. Her yellow eyes glowed before she launched herself like lightning.

Fénix fired. Missed.

The impact threw her against him, her claws sinking into his shoulders. They rolled on the ground, mixing with the filth, until Marcus appeared brandishing a broken piece of pipe.

"Get away!"

The silver pierced the vampiress's chest like a knife through butter. A heart-wrenching howl filled the tunnel as her flesh sizzled. Marcus screamed: the burns were devouring his palms.

Fénix got up, watching the monster disintegrate into ashes.

"Good shot," he puffed, offering a hand to Marcus. "Though now you smell like a barbecue."

Marcus showed him his blistered hands.

"Thanks, idiot. And that?"—he pointed to a bracelet on the ground.

Fénix picked up the hospital bracelet next to the remains.

"Patient #27". This is bigger than a hungry vampiress…"

"Alright, time to head back to EnidCorp and deliver the report," said Fénix, walking towards the sewer exit.

Once at EnidCorp, Fénix and Marcus delivered the report to Enid, the CEO of EnidCorp.

Enid read the report under the soft light of her office.

"Impressive," she murmured, tracing the edge of the paper with her nails. "Though I'm concerned about the Antigen part."

Fénix shifted in his chair.

"Do you know something?"

"Not enough," she admitted, sliding an invitation toward him. "But I admit they did an impressive job."

With a final smile, Enid bid Fénix farewell as he left the office.

Fénix was in his room, which was illuminated only by the faint light of a desk lamp. That day's mission had been arduous, and exhaustion was felt in every muscle of his body. Still, there was something in the air that kept him alert. Perhaps it was the adrenaline or the simple fact that he knew he needed his second dose of the silver nitrate antidote. He got up with a mix of resignation and routine, heading to the small medical kit he kept by his bed.

With a sigh, he took out the syringe and the vial of antidote, preparing the injection. As he did, he began talking to himself, his tone full of sarcasm.

"Oh, the pleasure of injecting this again. Nothing like the sweet relief of the antidote to remind me how thrilling it was to face a vampiress who seemed more like a macabre art piece than a living being," said Fénix, injecting the liquid into his arm.

He looked at the syringe with disdain before disposing of it in the proper container. The substance was beginning to take effect, and a feeling of relief spread through his body. He sat on the bed, giving his arm a slight massage.

"Today was quite overwhelming, but exciting. Although, honestly, nothing compares to when I was in Marius's army. That was organized chaos. Here, at least, we have some order... or something like it," murmured Fénix as he lay back on the bed, remembering old times with a mix of nostalgia and irony.

Suddenly, a slight sliding sound under the door interrupted his thoughts. Fénix got up, and upon opening the door, found a letter. He picked it up and, with a curious grimace, began to read it.

Dear Fénix,

I hope you are well after today's mission. I've been thinking that after such an intense day, you could use some rest. I would love for you to join me for dinner tonight in my office. It will be an opportunity to relax, talk a bit, and enjoy a good meal.

It's nothing formal, just a dinner between old friends. I would love to catch up and, perhaps, discuss a bit more about how you are adapting to your new environment at Enid Corp. I'm sure there is much to tell, and personally, I think we could enjoy a pleasant evening.

I hope to see you tonight.

With affection,

Enid Drakewood

Fénix wrinkled the letter as he read it, not quite catching the subtle hints Enid had included. The invitation was clear, but the casual tone and details didn't seem to stand out to him. He stared at the paper for a few moments, trying to decipher if there was a hidden message.