Chapter 3

3: Ten groups of five were sent out of the Hotel of Wonders to search for any survivors.  Each group consisted of one VAMP and four members of the Untaken.  Kenn, Barney and a Collective named Mendoron were in charge of organizing the search groups.  It was important that each group had someone of petite stature to climb through windows if the need arose.  There was also a Spanish speaker in each group, as well as someone of some strength.  Whenever possible, a group would have someone who was able to pick locks.
  Sauro Laurentis led a group which also included Ben Templewhite, Mickey Thrush, Randall Switter and Glen Daniels.  They all rode together in Ben's SUV until they reached a five-story apartment building that had some lights on.  It looked as if it might have some people in it so they tried to see if they could get in.  The front door was blocked on the inside by a chair, but Ben broke the glass with a rock and they got inside.  Randall, Sauro's brother-in-law, was an Army brat who preferred to be called Randy. He was glad he didn't have to climb into any windows here.  Sauro, Ben and Mickey stood guard outside just in case any Revenant showed up.  Ben kept his ears open in the event that Randy and Glen might need some help inside the building.
  The ground floor of the building had doors marked 1, 2 and 4 only.  Randy furrowed his brows and looked at each door in rapid succession.  He pointed to each in turn and asked, "What's this one?  What's this to?  What's this for?"  Glen wasn't amused.  He resented being sent out just because he spoke Spanish.
  "Hey, let's just search the damn building so we can get the hell out of here.  Besides, I have to pee."
  "Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Race you to the top.  Hope you ain't allergic to silver."  Randy was going to take off running, but Glen was quicker.  He thought if he could beat Randy to the top, it might shut him up for a little while at least.
  Randy hadn't actually expected Glen to take up the challenge so he was taken aback by his speed.  Truth be told, Randy wasn't a very fast runner and had absolutely no sustainable stamina.  He was slow and huffing for air by the time he reached the top.  He wasn't expecting what he saw when he got to the top.  Glen was talking to an old lady sitting in a chair in front of an open apartment door.  There was a medium sized, brown dog in the hallway lying on the tiles.  Randy stooped down to let it sniff his hand, then he pet its head.
  Meanwhile, the old lady said, "I'm Ruth Verdi and you are welcome to use our bathroom.  It's the first door to the left."  Glen gladly entered the apartment, went into the indicated door and shut it behind him.
  Ruth then turned her attention to Randy.  "And what might your name be?"
  Randy was beginning to get a little nervous.  Something didn't feel quite right about this whole situation.  He didn't want to be rude so he replied, "My name is Randall."
  "How nice, dear."  Ruth smiled and placed her hands in her lap.  She paused then said, "Oh, Randall?"
  "Um, yes miss?"
  "Ruth.  You can call me Ruth, dear.  Randall, would you like an extra liver?"
  Randy's eyebrows belly danced to the tune of his confusion.  He thought she might be inviting them to dinner, but somehow that didn't seem to be what she was asking.  "How can you have an extra liver?  Wouldn't you die without your liver?"
  The smile never left her face.  "Yes, indeed, you would die without your liver," she replied.  Then she just vanished before his eyes.  Randy blinked twice and froze.  The entire building began to grow darker.  Dust and cobwebs appeared on everything.  The paint visibly started to chip and peel.
  Randy took this all in but didn't understand.  He yelled out for Glen but got no answer.  Once he was finally able to move, he went into the apartment and opened the bathroom door.  It was just a closet full of junk and Glen was nowhere to be found.  There was something glistening on the floor of the closet, but it was too dark to see.  Randy pulled out a lighter and flicked it on.  His thumb immediately let go of the light because he had seen enough.  There, in a pool of crimson, laid a bloody human liver.  All the blood drained from Randy's face.
  A dark, hooded figure appeared in the living room and looked at Randy silently.  The figure raised it's left hand, pointing to him as if in accusation.  Randy stepped out of the apartment backwards into the hallway.  Without looking where he was going, he continued to back down the hall.  He stumbled on something.  Daring to rip his gaze from the hooded figure for one split second, he looked down and saw the bones of a long-dead dog.  The hooded figure stepped out of the apartment.  By that time, Randy had made it to the staircase where he saw Glen's body which had its liver ripped out.  That was the necessary nudge Randy needed to snap into decisive action.  He bolted down the stairs faster than he ever knew he could.
  At the bottom of the staircase at the second level, he could hear Ben and Mickey talking.  Freedom was in his sight.  Before he could open his mouth or start to move toward the final flight of stairs, a door squeaked ajar to his right.  A hand reached out and grabbed him, pulling him into the apartment.  The door slammed shut.