With a heavy heart, Maya had left her there again, silently vowing to return.

They were able to communicate. Elena still looked like Elena, still sounded like Elena, still responded like Elena. Although she had transformed into a different creature, Elena was still Elena.

Maya had desperately hoped that she would heal and wake up the way she was before. But now, she couldn't just write her off after she returned in the form Maya did not like.

However, now, Elena had only two options left for her: venture beyond the wall, embracing the vampire lifestyle, or surrender to death. Maya, however, wanted to open up a third path for her — a chance to remain living as she once had. All that remained was to persuade Elena to choose it.

Maya returned the next day. Following the same procedure, she opened the door and remained in the light. Elena, however, didn't acknowledge her presence. As Maya unpacked items from her bag, Elena's attention was captured—as if sensing what they were. Her icy, resentment-filled gaze met Maya's own.

"I've brought food," Maya declared, extending a plastic wrap filled with unappetizing, gelatinous, dark cubes. "It's congealed pig's blood. I'm hoping it will suffice," she said, forcing her face into a smile.

Acutely aware of the borders between light and shadows, Maya positioned the wrap so one edge touched the darkness. When Elena reached out to take the food, Maya kept her hand firmly in the light—her safe haven. As Elena retreated into the shadows, the sounds of ravenous eating reached Maya's ears. She must've been starving.

"Funny story how I got it. You're going to be so proud…" Maya said, chuckling softly as she tentatively brushed a strand of hair from her eyes.

Determined to reconnect with Elena, even if she was the only one talking, she continued:

"I went to the butcher's shop… It's obviously weird to just ask for blood, and I didn't even know about congealed blood. So I told him I wanted to surprise my friend for her birthday by cooking a traditional blood pie, and I needed some blood. He didn't even act like it was strange. Instead, he simply offered me this."

Maya hoped for some form of reaction from Elena, but her words seemed to be swallowed by the void.

"Did you know this existed? It's weird, like solid blood. Why's that even a thing you can buy?" Maya continued, trying to engage Elena in a conversation.

But Elena remained unresponsive.

"I created an elaborate backstory as a cover, and yet, no one batted an eye," Maya chuckled with a hint of nervousness. She was trying her best to normalise the unusual circumstances they found themselves in.

After a long pause, Elena's voice emerged from the darkness: "It will certainly be weird when you come back for more."

'Finally, a reaction…'

"I can just say I developed a love for blood pies," Maya joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Elena, however, remained unamused.

'Tough crowd…'

Being the only one putting in the effort was quietly pricking at Maya's heart. However, she pressed her lips together and buried the feeling.

"Anyway. I thought you'd be awfully bored, so I brought you something to draw on," Maya revealed a notepad, along with coal and chalk, carefully placing them on the floor. "I avoided pencils, because… well, you know… wood."

Elena scoffed. "Great. Only if I weren't stranded in complete darkness."

Again, Maya felt a pang of disappointment at Elena's lack of appreciation. It was as if everything they had been through had reset, and Maya had met a stranger who was to become her roommate—cold, unreadable and utterly indifferent.

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"What do I have to do to dissolve that cloud of gloom around you?"

"Leave," Elena's voice was as cold as winter frost. "And leave the door open."

Maya felt those words like a physical blow.

'I'm no warden, and she's no prisoner, so why do I feel like that's all we can be right now?'

With a reluctant sigh, Maya honoured Elena's request and departed, closing the heavy metal door with a hollow thud.

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The following day, Maya returned to the butcher's shop. The familiar face of the shop owner greeted her.

As she prepared to speak, a nervous laugh bubbled up from her, "I had a bit of an accident… I kind of, sort of, dropped the blood on the floor…" she said with regret in her voice. "I'm a bit clumsy. And besides the terrifying mess, I was left without the main ingredient for the pie."

The butcher erupted in a heartfelt laugh. His amusement was contagious, but also heightened Maya's nervousness.

"Ah, I understand," he replied with a warm smile, "My co-worker is pretty accident-prone too. I'll fetch you some more."

"Thank you," Maya expressed her gratitude.

"Not at all," the butcher replied. "I'm just glad that someone finds a use for it. It's a shame how much blood we waste, just pouring it down the drain. I often think that if we just used it to appease the vampires, they wouldn't be attacking and killing folk."

His words hung in the air as he retreated to the back of the shop, returning with two packs of the congealed blood.

Maya's anxiety peaked at his mention of vampires, making her hesitant to accept both packs. "I only need one."

"It's okay. Take two. No charge," the butcher insisted, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "They'll just go to waste otherwise. Consider it insurance against another mishap," he added with a conspiratorial wink that made Maya feel included in some secret joke.

"I suppose I could use the spare. In case I mess up the first try. I'm not much of a cook."

Maya stared down at the containers, the dark crimson mass within quivered slightly in her hands, making her stomach tighten. A twinge of guilt prickled at her conscience—perhaps she should actually attempt a blood pie recipe, if only to silence the persistent discomfort of dishonesty.

"That's the spirit!" the butcher exclaimed, his boisterous laugh filling the shop like warm honey. "If the first attempt doesn't succeed, you can always try again."

Maya never anticipated finding such a genuine wellspring of encouragement at the neighbourhood butcher shop. There was something heartwarming about the way locals in this small town embraced the students, offering kindness that felt almost familial in its sincerity.

"Though if you need some culinary advice, go down to the diner at the corner," the butcher added. "My wife's an amazing cook. She can give you some tips. Just tell her I sent you. And don't forget to bring me a piece if there's any left."

Swept up in the atmosphere, Maya replied with a soft smile, "I'll be sure to do that! …If it turns out edible."

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Just like that, for almost an entire week, Maya visited Elena daily within the confines of that basement. She would fill the silence with stories of her day, her voice echoing off the cold, hard walls.

Elena wasn't much of a contributor to these conversations, yet her demeanour slowly thawed towards Maya. Their interactions stirred memories of the nights spent in deep conversation when they first met, reminding Maya how much she needed her.

A gnawing fear lingered in the back of Maya's mind that Elena might simply be manipulating her. After all, Elena proved to be capable and quite adept at veering people toward her goals. Yearning for a renewal of their lost trust, Maya knew that testing it could put other lives in danger.

Elena didn't ask for much—all she wanted was freedom.

Elena never demanded food. Days had passed since Maya last brought her sustenance. She was at a loss to gauge the dietary needs of a vampire, and Elena remained tight-lipped on the topic, skirting around any discussion related to vampirism.

Maya contemplated, but in the end held back from making another trip to the butcher's shop in fear of arousing suspicion. Staking her hopes on finding useful information in the Book of Prima, it proved rather challenging without Elena's interest to help with translation.

Then, one day, as Maya sat by the open door, lost in conversation about the cryptic illustrations in the book which hinted at some vampiric connection, she didn't notice the protective sunlight waning outside. Normally cautious, she would leave before dusk, but today she had lost track of time.

Panic set in as she turned her gaze to Elena, knowing she had been waiting for precisely this moment.

Frozen in place by fear, Maya could only watch as Elena rose and moved towards the door.

Unlike the first time, Elena didn't hurry. Maya was left in suspense, waiting for Elena's next move.

To her surprise, Elena simply closed the door, choosing to confine herself to the darkness.

Relief washed over Maya as her heart pounded in her chest.

'Perhaps this is proof that I can trust her again.'

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