Third entry: In Marquette

Music: AFI, This Celluloid Dream
3:52PM, August 16, 2007

I would have written this morning, except when I got back to Arcadia it was all I could do to get the laptop out and plugged in. I was so tired, after two days with hardly any sleep and so much travel-- and having to really hurry to get back before sunrise. Writing was out of the question. But it felt so good to sleep, somewhere dark and quiet and not too hot. I could have slept much longer, I think, except Theresa was bored and woke me up, and it was hotter inside by the time she woke me up so I couldn't fall asleep again. Even with no windows, some of the heat from outside gets in.

(Longer entry, today.)

For the record, I'm staying at a hostel named Arcadia, at least for now. The man at the front desk is a vampire, too! Not like me, not a Strigoi. Probably a Faryngael-- Jared said those are usually good-looking, and he's definitely that. He was very nice to me. It's tempting to stay here, but I know I shouldn't. There are other guests here who would not like seeing me, and they might see me even if I'm careful. And, well, Theresa could very easily decide to make trouble, and I promised Val I would leave if there was trouble.

Val is the other vampire. I wonder if that's short for something?

I haven't seen any of the dead cats, apparently things have been cleaned up pretty well. Val told me about them, though, and they seem much stranger than the news let on. Maybe Neil's thought that they were demons or bewitched really is true. Val said they were all identical, and they all just-- died, all at once, overnight. He brought up the demon thing, too.

Last night was pretty productive. I didn't find anything, but I've got the town mapped out in my head, which was what I was going for my first night. There are a couple places that might be all right to hide out in for a while. There's a big abandoned building on the corner of Fisher and Altamont, it looks like some kind of school or hotel, maybe. But it's all boarded up and falling apart, and big enough that I'm sure a few rooms are livable, probably on the lower stories. Maybe there will be one without windows. I'll have to give it another look. I doubt it will be as nice as Arcadia, but it could be safer.

I've made a couple friends of local cats who are willing to help me look for any bodies that might be left in the woods. That's another task for the next couple nights. I wish I had some way of contacting people who actually interacted with them. Maybe I should ask Val? But I don't want to bother him. Maybe if I don't turn up anything.

There was someone early this morning who saw me, down by the lake in one of the parks. Her name is Dierdra, and unsurprisingly, I frightened her. More than once. We talked for a good half-hour, though, which was... different. And kind of nice. Except for when she kept trying to guess what I am, and I told her, and it frightened her again. That was so stupid of me. But I don't think well on my feet like that. I couldn't think of anything else to say but the truth. I don't think she's going to tell anyone, though. She was trying so hard to be brave, and sweet, when I think she's more in the habit of being afraid. Skittish. Like me, only more quietly and less stammer-y. I doubt I'll see her again, but I hope she does all right and finds friends.

What was strangest, though, was that she dove right into the water when she saw me. And I think the water moved, came up around her and helped her hide from me. It sounds crazy, but I really think it did. I guess it's just another thing that shouldn't be possible but maybe is. I wonder what else there is out there, if there are vampires, ghosts, demon-cats, and girls that water moves for?

I have another couple hours until sunset. I might as well get some programming done while I'm stuck in here. Hopefully I will have more good news tomorrow.