“If the deputy is so terrible, Adam, then why are you here? How can you justify working for a school that you clearly seem to have considerable doubts about?”
“It’s a good question, and to an extent, I’ve also gone through the process I’ve just described. But, there is one minor difference, I feel. The reason, in the end, that I’ve stayed on - and not joined those who live where we all should - is that I see it as a duty to try and convince those who come to this entryway into our community to join those others who’ve made the right decision to make their way into the Tunnels and not remain up here. One day, maybe when the argument is finally won and this place just becomes somewhere to prepare for the next step, I’ll happily give up my position here and go myself. In fact, I look forward to such a day, when I’ll be able to meet all the friends I’ve made through working here and that are waiting for me down there.”
“You make it sound as if it’s some sort of heavenly afterlife on earth down there. That doesn’t match the stories I’ve been told. Sure, I can’t know unless I go down there to see for myself, but the idea of living with the hunger just seems abhorrent to me. It’s different for you. For a vampire, to be cut off from blood: I fear what I would become. So, I’ll take my ‘half life’, as you call it, out there as I see no reason why I should gamble on what may be waiting for me in the Tunnels. You know, I’ve even heard stories, about how there’s no order and no structure in that place. Some even say that if you’re not careful, you can end up being banished by one of the groups down there. Then where do you go? You end up in the ancient darkness, in the passageways created hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago where there’s no blood, no light and only the occasional sound of your fellow exiles.”
“Don’t tell me you still believe those stories: there just that, no real foundation to them at all. Of course, there are still uninhabited areas down there; there needs to be space for those who are yet to come. But the idea that anyone has been exiled to the undeveloped areas is preposterous. If there is anyone in those dark corners, and I’m sure that’s not the case, it’s probably just those strange few who’ve chosen to go it alone.”
Frustrated and exhausted, Amanda started to wonder how Adam had dragged her into the conversation she was in and had no real intention of continuing. Instead, she turned her attention to her polystyrene cup and began to slowly tear the thing apart from the top. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the gentle buzzing of the lights, but Adam could not remain quiet for long.
“Have you found anything down there on your errand for the school?” said Adam.
“Look, I’m really tired here. I’m not sure I really have the energy to talk about this right now.”
“Come on Amanda, be honest with me.”
“Well, if you really must know - and if it makes you happy - then I can tell you that you’re right. I’ve not really found anything out about Brenden’s attack. It’s all just as much a mystery to me now as when I was first told about the case. God, I don’t know, I don’t even have any leads.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Do you know how many people are caught who commit these attacks? Practically none. As far as I’m concerned, the deputy has a lot to answer for when it comes to these investigations. Indeed, I have often suspected that he uses such investigations as a way to get a few poor, down on their luck ex-students, such as yourself, under his influence.”
“Please, don’t start with that again.”
Despite his desire to press the point, Adam fought with himself to stop. With a degree of effort to comfort his former student, he forced something akin to a conciliatory smile to develop across his lips, revealing the slightly too white teeth that were usually hidden beneath.
“Have you already come into contact with Milch?” asked Adam, demonstrating that he was willing to give into Amanda’s wishes by changing the topic.
“I managed to track him down just outside of the town, yes.”
“Is he still trying to track down his attacker out there?”
“I would say so.”
“That poor man. And such a shame too. He has been given such a gift in his ability to go without human blood and not pay the usual price. Oh, don’t look so surprised that I know about a former student of mine, especially when they happen to be as interesting as Johann.”
“He told me of his attack and how no one here would believe his story about what happened.”
Adam fixed Amanda with a quizzical look.
“That’s not quite right, Amanda. It was his insistence that it must have been someone from the Tunnels that none of us, even the most forgiving, could believe. There are tales about many things to do with the Tunnels, but never have I heard one before about someone escaping. There are also quite a few other holes in his theory. For instance, did this escapee just vanish after their attack on Johann? Also, if it is indeed the case
