BOUND: Blood and Desire

-

, but because something deeper tugged at her. Intuition? Curiosity? Maybe a little of both. Whatever it was, it kept her

door with a numerical keypad,

o you

a respectful ste

ed to). Out of the corner of her eye, s

he door unlocked and slid open. She followed Damien th

d from floor to ceiling. The scent of old parchment and l

lace?" she asked, s

id with a slight smil

xplain further; he knew

m behind one of the towering shelves. His movements were smooth, almost

g, Mr. Tolland,"

a formality Rochelle hadn't heard before. There was a quiet respect bet

asked, motioning vaguely to the colle

. "More like the bloo

follow and led them to a gla

the very guillotine used in th

ame and the sharp, tarnished blade s

en, louder: "How do you even

ector of the macabre. Before he passed, he donated it to us-part gift, part warning.

tly silent until now, finally

this is, Professor, I did

ut nodded. "Of course. You're he

edly at Rochelle, t

confirmed. "Sorry f

apology. "Urgency rarely

ighty, wise. Rochelle straightened her posture,

n said, his voice echoing sl

y. His hands were steady, his movements slow as

g right now?" Rochelle a

ssor replied softly. "One very few s

ned. "Are you era

ndly. "Very perceptive, this on

is hands, her gaze darting to Damien w

asked, voice tight. "You showed me all this, took me

. "It's not that

hen explai

he more danger you're in. And I-" He paused

t you deciding what's best for me? Like my mem

the professor. "

softened. "What

" she sa

He sounded

in high school, in college... I felt like I was going nowhere. Everything was routine, practically predictable.

ary intern. Not as a memory-wiped civilian. I

is lips curled into a slow, genuine smile dif

your memories. But be ready. This w

t almost too big to contain.

nk you for your time, Professor. Ap

k. Any excuse to see you here is a p

into the early hours of the morning. Outside, the sky w

f moment as the first rays o

ochelle asked. "The sun

could walk through Central Park with you. Feel

there, a longing for a

d finally. "See you Monday. Eight

ing into the shadows as Rochelle s

rely remembered taking off her shoes before collapsi

ay evening by an explosion o

" she groaned, rolling out of bed

e couch, her face twisted in exaggerated

ith the volume maxed out?"

ke I could control something,

ochelle asked, already heading for the kitch

mured, her tone crac

ead whipped arou

side, wrapping her up in a warm,

the face," Rochelle said. "Honestly, all she's got going for her is her weird art; an

errupted, smiling throug

Right. Yeah. I knew that." She awkwardly

n," Lila said, wiping her fac

, "we're eating ice cream and hunting zombi

hing. "That's... actual

ub of ice cream from the freezer, a handful of cookies, and two spoons. S

clicks of controllers, the occasional shout, and

the fire escape, a pair of deep crimson

ent. Un

Wait