"Yo, Obie!"

She jolted up.

"Shit." Obie grumbled, recognizing she cried herself to sleep.

Logan's voice annoyed Obie like an alarm clock after pulling an all-nighter. "There's something I got to show you."

"Alright. Give me a minute." Obie rubbed her eyes, which was a bad idea, because dirt sunk in between her eyelids.

It was irresponsible for her to fall asleep outside. Anything could have happened. The country was infested with blood sucking creatures, who can fly or jump really high. Sleeping outdoors was calling for a death sentence.

The VBV must have kept her safe from the scarce infected population this night.

She caressed her hollow cheek and then, her thin arm. On those regions, there was heat lingering upon her mahogany colored skin. They were remnants of someone's touch that Obie didn't want to go away. Despite the cold and icy water chilling her body, Obie held onto the sense of the warming caress in her mind to keep her muscles from trembling.

She sensed a familiar smell, a familiar presence.

Tying the beautiful scent and her memories in joint trust, Obie deduced who was responsible.

The vampire.

For the fourth time, the vampire touched her directly.

She guessed the VBV wasn't indestructible after all.

Normally, Obie would have been pissed.

She would have yelled up and down about how stupid she was.

She would have pinched herself and perhaps, believed she was still napping.

She would have sworn to kill the son of a bitch.

The thought of having to deal with the vampire again and her father's treachery would have driven Obie off the edge.

Yet, in opposing her natural responses, Obie was conflicted.

Don't get her wrong. She had every right to slap the vampire silly because his blood was affecting her in an unnatural manner.

Then, again, Obie didn't feel the need to get angry.

After her father's discovery, she inquired who was the real victim?

Obie was prey to the infected. The young girl suffered greatly during the chase of escaping their voracious behavior and brutal assaults. Their predatory nature automatically positioned Obie as a victim, who was always on the defense.

On the other hand, Obie's father was responsible. In the past, the vampire was feasibly a teenage boy with hopes of receiving complete immunity through a vaccine. Osier Holloway turned his hope into an unforgiving nightmare, because the boy transformed into a blood sucker with the main prerogative to kill.

But even with her father's influence, he constantly saved Obie.

He was a vampire, who opposed the nature her father developed for ultimate destruction........ not forgetting he ripped people apart to keep her alive.

At this point, she genuinely thought it was ignorant to hunt the vampire down and kill him. The harm he was committing wasn't done unto her, but for her.

That being said, Obie preferred the vampire to keep his distance. Feeding her its blood was unacceptable. He can't keep doing it. Plus, it's weird. Really weird.

No one wanted a stalker. Imagine having a vampire stalker with intelligence.

She shook her head.

Logan believed finding the cure was significant to the two bootlegged American governments. Imagine if they hear the vaccine created a vampire, who coexisted with his human intellect. There would be an entirely new war.

"Are you coming?!"

"Yeah." Obie looked over in the distance, wondering the vampire's location. He was near. "I'm coming."

After Obie's speculation, she grabbed the VBV and met Logan in the basement.

"What have you done?" Obie gawked.

Burrito was on her heels.

Obie picked her up and cradled her.

The basement was a disaster. For one man, he certainly tore the room apart like he was an army. Initially, Obie wanted to curse him out like her mother would have done. Michelle Holloway was particular about hygiene and messiness. She spazzed out on her father so many times that Obie was scared to leave a single thing out of place.

He limped over a pile of her father's Star War collections. "So your father really named you after the largest fictional enterprise."

She flinched as he stepped on her father's beloved Chewbacca poster.

"He could have named you 'Layla'" Logan said. "After the princess. Instead, he named his daughter after a male Jedi who died before his time."

"What do you want?" Obie held Burrito closer, disturbed.

Noticing her apprehension, Logan held his tongue and commanded the flexible organ to verbalize words that didn't make him want to put his foot in his mouth. "I can't find anything."

"How long have I been asleep?" She said in confusion.

"You weren't up there for that long. By the way, it's not really a good idea to sleep outside."

She sent him a "No Duh" gaze.

"Just saying."

"Anyways, if you haven't been looking long enough, obviously you're not going to find anything." She sat.

"I've been searching for information for years. I know how to look thoroughly, efficiently and quickly. I had to learn how to get in and get out. I don't have the luxury of time in the outside world, where I'm being chased by either Suckers or bad people." He explained. "Nonetheless, I need your help."

She caressed B's back, reflecting upon the soft touches she felt during her small nap. Her arms' hairs lifted in remembering the comforting feeling.

Stop it! Obie thought.

Obie snapped out of it and caught up to the conversation before Logan questioned her again. "That's weird."

"What's weird?"

"What you said. It's strange how've you been chased by vampires for years, but they can barely stand you." Obie paused. His eyes prompting Obie to continue. "At the market, the vampires were acting strange around you."

He tried to respond.

"I know. I know. You got hundreds of vampire bites to prove me wrong. But, those vampires preferred to come after me until you split your wrist. Every vampire kept scrunching their noses like you're made out of onions."

Logan shrugged and looked away. "I probably smell like crap."

"True, but that's not it." She leaned forward. "I'm talking about your blood."

"I didn't call you down to talk about me."

"Well I'm curious."

"Curiosity killed the pussycat."

"Did you just threaten and call me a pussy in one sentence?" Obie snorted in disbelief.

"Only you would think that." He rolled his eyes. "I'm trying to say curiosity leads you to things you may not want to know or is not your business."

"Aren't you the one who insisted I should question more?"

"With the right questions." Logan searched through her father's CD collection.

"How about another deal?" Obie announced.

"You don't have anything I want."

"Why did you call me down here, then?"

He stopped looking.

Obie cuffed the back of her ears. "Huh? I can't hear you."

"I think your father is hiding a specific room." Logan revealed.

"A room?"

"Yes. See this wall." He pointed out the main wall, far out in the basement. "It's hollow. Not as strong as the others. There is space behind it."

She listened.

"There's a hole in the bottom too." Thanks to Burrito. She bit through the region and out came the blanket with the black pills and hospital tag. "Air is coming out. Might be coming from a vent or a window."

"Can't be a window. I know every inch of my house. Inside and out."

"Just like you knew your father?" He muffled.

Obie stiffened and stood up, prepared to leave or else she'll blow up. She had enough shame to establish permanent guilt on her conscience. Logan's was certainly not required and in bad taste, "I'm out. Good luck on finding out yourself."

"Wait." He said as she was about to turn and run up the steps.

Obie paused, looking behind her shoulder.

"That was uncalled for."

"But you meant it."

He shifted uncomfortably. "The Sanctuary ordered me to look for traces of your father's work for years. I was put undercover in a place I hated and forced to create a new life. The minute I did, I found his daughter, kidnapped her, lost my best friend-"

Best friend? She thought back to the picture, where Sam illustrated intimate gestures towards Logan.

"-got chewed up by a bunch of Suckers, been asleep for three days straight, trying to heal and arguing with a teenager. I'm stressed the fuck out and in pain. I'm suspicious, because you didn't know a thing about your dad after knowing him all your life. I'm also confused because I'm trying to understand why would your father and mother take the vaccine, knowing it would turn them. Wouldn't they turn you too? So yeah, I'm pretty irritated."

Obie folded her arms against her flat chest. A part of her wanted to tell him to kiss her ass. The other part desired to sympathize and empathize with Logan.

Ever since last week, Obie could barely hold on to her post-apocalyptic morals.

At last, she said. "I wanna know why vampires act weird around you."

"Fine." He bit out. "I need you to think about how to get through the other side."

"I don't know. I guess a hammer would work." Obie turned and regretfully, walked down the steps. She missed her opportunity to escape the man cave. Every second inside of the room was like swimming every second in a sea of culpability with a large wave of grief hitting her when she tried to reach shore.

Logan said. "That would be the obvious choice but no. It can be easier than smashing the wall down."

"A mysterious button?"

He said. "Exactly."

She tucked her lips in with an unwanted memory popping in her head. Her father was a mystery man, who enjoyed panic rooms and solving riddles on a boring Saturday afternoon. Whenever they attended an amusement park, he fought to visit a Maze because illusions were thrilling trickeries for smart people to unlock. "Seems like him."

"Why do you say that?" He cautiously probed.

Obie shrugged, shooing the fleeting memory to a far distance. "I just know."

"Do we got a deal?"

"Yup." Obie sat on the couch, afraid to lounge into the soft cushions because the feeling would be ruined with the present disgust over her dad's actions. She let Burrito go. "You first. I need time to think."

"But you're going to be busy listening."

"I mastered the art of listening and thinking at the same time. It's how I learned to be nosy."

He chuckled and winced, clearly in pain.

Obie sighed. "Sit down."

"Why should I?"

"Because you're not okay. You're not done healing whatsoever. So sit."

"Didn't know you cared."

"I don't. You have to save your energy so you don't pass out. I need my car fixed. I'm not trying to delay my travels so I need you to relax."

He frowned. "How sweet."

"Like salt." She murmured. "Now start."

He began, "What do you know about the vaccine?"

"Anything I could find out." She said. "The vaccine was generated by scientists. The vaccine was created from multiple dead, dangerous microorganisms that provoked the deadliest diseases around the world. As far as I know, I don't know how my father changed that. Yet, speaking from a perspective without knowing my dad's truth, the vaccine was designed for O blood types. Specifically, O positive. O blood types are known to be very special. They are the firsts to run out in hospitals because they are in high demand. They have better immune systems and well-developed skills in digesting fat and protein. They were chosen for the vaccine. Majority of the population are O positive, so majority of the population are vampires. Besides the ones like me who didn't take it"

He looked at Obie in amazement. "Do you remember why O positives were in high demand?"

She nodded. "O positive was the most used blood type in any hospital, because of its compatibility to certain red blood cells. O negatives can donate to any person with a different blood type. Difference with O positive is it's only compatible to other positives like B+, A+, O+, and AB+. The blood type is critical for trauma events in emergency rooms."

A smile threatened to turn up the corners of his lips. He parted his thick lips but then closed them to disregard what he truly wanted to say. "At least, I don't have to go through the details with you. Most people don't know what a blood type is."

"What does this have to do with anything?"

"Blood type means everything."

He said the statement before on the roof.

"I'm going to try to explain it the best I can. The doctors had to dumb it down for the rest of us to understand, but I think you'll get the basis." He continued. "If O positive have red blood cells compatible to positive red blood cells, what are they not compatible to?"

"All the negatives."

"Right. O+ cannot receive or donate to B-, A-, AB-. With the exception, it can receive from O- but cannot donate to people who are O-."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Suckers used to have an O positive blood type. Recent doctors discovered their blood type turned into an evolved form of O positive. The vaccine somehow shifted not only their blood type, but working parts of the brain; the parts involved in appetite and impulse. Since Suckers' food source is our blood, they lean towards those who are compatible to their blood type."

"Meaning they feed specifically on people with other positives." She concluded.

"It's more complicated than that. In a normal world, O+ can receive from O+ and O-. They can only give to B+, A+, O+, and AB+. The alteration in their blood type makes Suckers more acceptable to drink every blood type."

"I won't lie to you. I'm confused."

He stopped and tried to formulate the right words.

"Okay. Let me figure this out." Obie tried to help. "I think we both get how O positive works. Who it can give to and who it can receive from, right?"

"Yes."

"Let's talk about the present. O positive has evolved within the vampire population due to the vaccine. It's the same but different. Normally, O positives can't receive from any other blood type except O+ and O-. But the vaccine made it possible for Suckers to receive from every single blood type. So they can drink basically from everyone without a problem"

"Yes."

"How does that explain why they act weird towards you? This actually explains the opposite. The vampires should want to drink from you as much as me."

"Not true nor proven. The key word is 'acceptable'. Suckers can drink from anyone but not want everyone. The ones they most desire are the ones they are most compatible with."

"O positive and O negative?"

"Exactly, but O positive is number 1. That's why you're hunted so easily over anyone else. The ones they least desire are the ones they could never receive from."

"That's everyone else."

"It can donate to the other positives. These ones don't taste bad nor good."

"Okay. So, since O positives weren't compatible with the negative blood types at all..."

"People like me are the most unappetizing blood type of all. I'm AB-"

Obie had to sit back. "I'm going to need to summarize this. The vampires think people like me are the most delicious because we're O+ like them. I'm basically a juicy steak or fried chicken. Next, there is O-. They taste great but not as amazing. They are basically like salmon. Third, there are the positive blood types...A+, B+, AB+... because they can at least receive a donation from O+. They taste like...let's say grilled chicken. Then, there are people like you who they are absolutely not compatible with. Can't receive or donate to. The negatives don't taste good at all, but they'll drink from you if they are hungry enough."

"I guess that's the range. Yes."

"Negative blood types basically taste like unseasoned chicken. That's what you're trying to tell me."

"What? In a sense. I guess." He said in irritation.

"Even Burrito would think twice before eating you, because your blood taste that bad."

He glared. "I'm not entertaining this. You got the point."

"Well aren't you lucky."

"I am. Now can you help me?"

"I have one last question." She said quickly before he could stop her. "Have your doctors investigated transfusions?"

He raised his eyebrow. "Why do you want to know?"

"Can't you tell I love science?"

"No but it's seems like you know a lot about it."

"My parents didn't want to raise a dummy."

He stared at her, debating.

Obie said a half truth. "I feel like it's important to know if I can get infected or not."

Logan twisted his lips to the side. "Doc says no one can get infected by vampires. It's a matter of survival of the fittest. If you haven't directly swallowed the vaccine, you should be fine."

Obie wondered, your doctor would shit his lab coat once he finds out that's some bull. Or...."Are you sure your doc wasn't lying?"

"No." He said defensively.

"I think he's either lying or the results are unfounded."

"What are you talking about?"

"Scientists study every aspect of their experiment. Nothing can be left unstudied or open for challenge. If so, the research can be rejected by the committee and not accredited. No doctor would study the effects of blood types against vampire DNA without studying blood transfusion."

"My Doc is not looking for an award. He's looking for the cure."

"You think your 'doc' didn't think maybe a specific blood type was the cure? Or they can work with negative blood types to combat against the infected to prolong their survival? Your Doc knows the truth or he's not good enough to dive deep into the problem."

"For a girl who doesn't know a thing, you seem to know everything. Especially about people you don't know."

"I was born into a family of science. I knew my dad was a researcher but not a maniac. My mom was part of the science community too. It's hard not to know science when growing up with two wizards."

He didn't say anything for two long minutes. Logan was contemplating about Obie. She can tell. He was either weirded out by Obie's conclusions or thought she was sketchy. Whether he decided to commit to one thought or not, he couldn't tell Obie she was wrong. "I don't know."

"About."

"About the Doc's answer to your question." He admitted. "The person who probably knows best was your father or the other scientists."

Uncle George. Dr. Devon Darby. Dr. Liam Brock. "Yeah. I agree with you."

"Your father's tape was the only one I found."

"Out of the 400 he made?! I can see you've been very productive."

"Whatever." His cheeks reddened in embarrassment. "Maybe the rest are behind this wall."

She stuck to the topic. "Your people didn't find anything where he worked either?"

He itched his scalp beneath his mini Afro. "The CDC is infested. Plus when an undercover team went there, they found nothing. Wait, why am I telling you this?"

"Because you want to prove you're not the one incompetent." She said, bluntly.

Obie was unconvinced about their investigation in the CDC. She was planning to go to the facility to find out if she was turning into a vampire. She was focused on finding Dr. Brock's office, but now