That morning the sun shone brightly.
Delia received a call from someone claiming to be the manager of the Everette Museum.
His voice sounded…
old.
Male.
But his voice was firm and authoritative.
The man asked her to come to the museum today for an interview.
While walking toward the Everette Museum, Delia occasionally looked behind her.
Her instinct told her that someone was following her.
Alexander.
Without Delia knowing, the vampire was harboring growing anxiety.
He said he would not come, but…
Actually…
He was stalking her.
It only took Delia 15 minutes to reach the Everette Museum.
A cold draft struck her as she opened the glass door of the museum lobby.
Indeed, it was cloudy outside.
But this cold was different.
Not the cold of air temperature or AC.
It was a shivering cold, piercing, penetrating down to the bones.
“Miss Delia?” Delia turned.
An old man smiled warmly at her.
“Let me introduce myself, I’m Robin.
You can call me Mr.
Robin, or just Robin, either is fine.” Delia smiled and shook the old man’s hand.
“Please, this way,” Robin invited.
Delia followed his lead.
Robin apparently conducted the interview while giving Delia a tour of the rather large museum.
The grand room’s aura grew increasingly shrouded in mystery.
Especially in the sarcophagus section, and the chests containing mummies from Egypt or other countries.
“So, Miss Delia…” “Just Delia,” the girl corrected.
The old curator named Robin smiled.
“Very well, Delia…” he said, pausing.
He stared at a sarcophagus decorated with colorful stones, protected behind a glass wall as high as the museum’s ceiling.
“I am very interested in the CV you sent yesterday.
Smart, perfect research scores, and you’re persistent,” Robin said, turning to Delia.
“However, there is one thing I want to know from you,” Robin stared at her, waiting.
“Why did you choose Anthropology as your major?” Delia cleared her throat, flustered.
Should she tell him?
“My parents…” Delia began.
“Aaaah…
Hereditary talent,” Robin concluded.
“They were tomb researchers.
And…
They both passed away after researching an ancient tomb of unknown origin,” Delia recounted, her face suddenly gloomy.
In the corner of the museum, a pair of blood-red eyes also grew sad.
Alexander.
He only found out today about Delia’s parents.
“Sorry to hear that,” Robin whispered, bowing his head while touching his chest.
“If I may ask, what was the cause?” Robin asked then.
“Ammonia gas.
It turned out the tomb contained traps.
My parents died from ammonia poisoning and passed away at the scene.
The tomb was difficult for the SAR team to enter because the cave was filled with ammonia.
Only after two hours were their bodies secured,” Delia continued, staring blankly at the sarcophagus before her.
“And you…
Were you not traumatized by that incident at all?” Robin asked carefully.
Delia nodded.
“I even planned to join them in heaven, Mr.
Robin,” Delia replied, looking at the man.
“But I thought my parents would be sad.
So, I continued their dream.” “Good!
The fate of life and death belongs to God.
We may grieve, but…
The living must continue living,” Robin advised wisely.
In his hiding place, Alexander murmured, “Etiam mortui reviviscere possunt, ut res suas intermissas peragant.” (Even the dead can rise again, to continue their unfinished business.) Delia and Robin continued their journey exploring the museum.
A fleeting shadow followed her steps.
Stalking.
In silence, without the sound of footsteps.
Alexander stopped briefly in front of a chest containing a mummy.
His nose sniffed until it nearly touched the protective glass.
“A concubine’s mummy, still safe.
No evil energy,” Alexander whispered.
He flashed, moving from one ancient object to another.
He treated them all the same.
Sniffed, analyzed, then sighed deeply.
His nose was getting tired from sniffing dozens of antiques!
“Everything seems safe.
Then, why won’t this bad feeling go away?” Alexander asked himself.
He disappeared again behind the wall separating the adjacent hallway.
Eavesdropping again on Delia and Robin’s conversation.
“This is the data on the objects in this museum,” Robin said, handing a thick folder to Delia.
“Study it at home.
I’m sure you’re capable,” he said again.
“Huh?
So…” Delia gasped.
“You’re accepted to work here, Miss Delia,” Robin replied.
His warm smile returned.
“Seriously?!
Oh, sorry…
I mean…” “Start next Monday.
Come at eight in the morning.
Monday to Friday, you work from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Then you can go home.
Unless there’s a big event or VIP guests, I’ll ask you to work overtime,” Robin explained at length.
“Saturday?” Delia asked, confirming.
“Depends.
If there’s still work, you work from 8 AM to 12 PM.
Public holidays are off, including Sundays,” Robin explained further.
“Thank you, Mr.
Robin!” Delia shouted happily.
“You’re welcome, Miss Delia.
Welcome to our museum team,” Robin said, patting Delia’s shoulder.
Delia was allowed to go home.
She chose to take a detour while her eyes scanned the museum back and forth.
Memorizing room by room, including the toilets, archives, and the special research room for historical objects.
As Delia was looking around with cheerful steps, she jerked.
“Huh?!” Instantly she turned around.
There was only an empty, silent hallway.
Slowly she stepped toward it.
Empty.
But earlier, she felt like someone was watching her.
Meanwhile, on the other, darker side, Alexander breathed a sigh of relief (that is, if vampires need to breathe, hehehe).
“That was close!” Alexander muttered.
He continued following Delia’s steps, who was now a little scared because she saw something staring at her from behind.
Delia turned around.
Alexander disappeared, hidden.
Delia walked again, tap tap tap, as if there were soft footsteps following a few meters behind her.
Delia looked back again.
Empty.
“Catch me if you can,” Alexander whispered, holding back his laughter.
This vampire was indeed a bit mischievous and cheeky!
Delia quickened her pace.
A little scared.
But…
Ah, she did not know!!
When he knew Delia was about to go home, Alexander darted like lightning ahead of the girl.
Alexander did not want Delia to know he had followed her.
So, he would pretend to be sitting nicely in the apartment before Delia arrived.
It took Alexander less than a minute to reach the apartment.
Meanwhile, Delia, as she opened the glass door of the museum lobby, a forklift blocked her way at the entrance.
“Delia!
Thank goodness you haven’t left yet!” Robin shouted from inside the museum.
Delia stepped back to give way for the forklift to enter.
“That’s a mummy chest.
Its identity is still unknown,” Robin explained cheerfully.
“Your first day of work will be a tough one for you,” Robin regretted.
“Oh, no, Mr.
Robin!
You’re wrong!
I’m actually very excited, mwahahaha!” Delia laughed loudly and shrilly, causing some hanging decorations in the museum to tilt.
“Oh, wonderful!
I can’t wait to see your skills, Delia.
See you Monday!” Robin joked, also proud to see Delia’s enthusiasm.
“See you…!” Delia waved her hand before leaving the Everette Museum.
With cheerful steps, she made her journey home.
The clouds grew thicker.
She had to hurry before the rain fell.