Get Walfreid the castle

From Create Your Own Story

No, you'd better honor your promise, even if it was made under duress.

You set to work. The fact that your client is undead does create a couple problems, but you work around them as best you can. It doesn't take you long to have the documents ready.

You have plenty of time before your meeting tomorrow. You pay a visit to Hans and thank him for use of his necklace. You also ask him if you can borrow it until your stay here is done. He gives you a knowing look and agrees. He seems confused at your request to go to the castle again tomorrow, but another bill satiates him.

Next day you're in that horrible pickup again, bouncing up the trail. Your tailbone does not thank you.

Again you're faced with the beautiful ruined castle.

"Are you sure you want to go in again, miss?" Hans asks suspiciously.

"Yes" you answer. "I need to finish up something."

"You want to be picked up in two hours, right?"

"Right." You touch the crucifix and bite your lip. "I should be out by 4:00. If I'm not, don't wait for me. Thank you for your help."

He looks at you solemnly. "As you wish. Whatever you're doing in there, I wish you luck."

He drives off, leaving you alone to face the castle. You make your way uneventfully down to the dungeon. Michael and Walfreid are sitting at a table there. Michael twitches when he sees your necklace. You lay the paperwork out and explain it. Everything goes remarkably smoothly.

Finally, everything is filled out, signed, and dated. Walfreid looks up at you. "Zat is everyzink?"

"Yes", you reply. "Now I just have to submit these. Everything should be in order. If I need to contact you again, how shall I do so?"

Michael motions to you. "I still have my cell. Service here is sporadic, but I will be able to check messages."

You nod. "Everything should be wrapped up shortly."

Walfreid regards you. "Now it's time to fulfill my part of ze bargin. You are free to go, Miss Parker, so lonk as you notify us vhen everyzink is settled." He walks out of the room, leaving you and Michael alone.

You still have quite a while before four rolls around. "What are you going to do now, Michael?" you ask.

He shrugs "Oh, I don't know. I might go to the city. It'd be easier to hide there. Besides, there are plenty of young women who leave their windows open at night." He looks disturbingly pleased at the prospect.

He notices your discomfort. "I can't keep fighting it." he says softly. In the sudden silence he asks, "And what about you? What are you going to do?"

You consider for a moment. "I'm going to go home and try to forget this whole episode as best I can."

He nods. "Probably a good idea."

You say your goodbyes and then you leave. At 4:00, Hans rolls up the path. You waste no time getting in the truck. You ride back in silence. Finally, you're back at Hans' shed. You hand him his crucifix again, but you feel a bit exposed without it.

"If I were you, I'd stay away from the castle. It's a dangerous place." you volunteer.

"Aye." Hans says.

You sleep fitfully that night, and you're relieved when the bus rolls through to take you away. You fly back to the states and resume your job as normal, aside from one call to Michael to verify that everything went through okay.

You hang up the phone. You only got his machine. You expected that, though. You look out the window. It's a dreary, overcast day. A good day to be inside.

You hear footsteps outside your office, and you hurriedly turn away from the window back to your desk. The footsteps stop at your door. You hear a knock. Your boss opens up the door and sits down in a chair. "You wrapped the Furchstam case up nicely. Well done." He looks at his shoe for a second. "I know it wasn't your job, but did you figure out where Michael was while you were there? No one's heard from him since."

"No." You lie, "I don't know what's become of him."

The End.