Over a month passed, and Abel had survived his ordeal. He was still not fully recovered, his body still replenishing the blood he had lost. But day by day, he was regaining his strength again.

‘What did he do to you?’ Carrie asked him one day, as they sat upon a bench at the edge of the camp, facing the great fence before them, beyond with was free and open land.

‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Abel replied in a flat voice.

Carrie turned away mournfully.

It was late in the night, the humans who had been imprisoned alongside Abel had all been put to work building for the vampires, roads and homes and vampire schools and vampire hospitals and banks and offices and everything. There was much work to be done, and the humans worked long and hard. But they were cared for, and treated well, unless they caused trouble by intent.

Abel was excluded from any labour, and spent his entire time imprisoned in the farm itself, never allowed to leave the gates as the others were. When the humans went out to work, they were always supervised by groups of vampires, in case they attempted escape, in case they planned attack. Humans were not allowed to gather in groups of more than three for this very reason, but in the time they had been imprisoned, nothing had happened.

Day by day Abel watched the others come and go as they went to and from their work, always remaining behind. He grew tired and listless. Sometimes he would talk briefly to some of the vampires, and they would respond. He had on occasion been brought books to read, out of kindness. But most nights, he sat alone, thinking. His skin, as had the skin of his companions, like the vampires, was slowly becoming paler though lack of sunlight.

‘I want the sun’ Abel had mumbled to himself more than once when he was alone. ‘…I want the sun….’

Now he sat with Carrie. The young man had spoken to him often, had visited him often, and Abel found comfort in that.

‘What….?’ Carrie began uncertainly. ‘What was he like?’

Abel knew Carrie was referring to the vampire that had attacked him. He breathed a slow breath before he answered.

‘Childish’ Abel replied. ‘He was very childish.’

Carrie blinked with surprise at this. It was clearly not the answer he was expecting.

‘He…’ Abel continued, bowing his head. ‘He seemed so happy to see me…’

Abel remained silent for a moment, as he remembered that night.

‘He…. smelt me…. he came so close.’ He broke off then, hand going unconsciously to the flesh around his neck and shoulder, touching the scars there, and faint indentations in his skin that Cid had caused him. The permeant markings were ugly.

Abel wore the same clothes as all the other humans now, the white loose-fitting clothes, the top that ran across the shoulders, with the sleeves that left the forearms bare. At first, he had felt cold wearing them, the nights crisp. But he had gotten used to the sensation.

‘I was frightened’ Abel began to laugh, his tone a little crazy, unable to stop himself. ‘I have faced armies in battle, fought hand to hand with these monsters when I had lost my weapons…but even then I had my men to back me up…but this time….’ He broke off again, falling silent for a few moments before continuing. ‘I was alone’ he hissed, ‘on their territory, in their home. I was trapped in a room alone with a vampire, defenceless, unable to even use my bare hands.’ He balled his fists then, cracking his knuckles. ‘That felt the worst of all…. I had to allow myself to be prepared for their enjoyment…like a piece of meat…. I would rather had died fighting but I …. It felt….’ Abel’s hand went to his head then, and he stared with eyes wide and teary down at his lap. ‘It felt like I had been raped…...I felt so violated…’

‘We have to be strong’ Carrie spoke firmly then, speaking sharply.

His tone snapped Abel back to who he was, bringing him back under control.

‘I’m sorry’ Abel breathed. ‘I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…’

‘It’s ok’ Carrie said forcing a smile. ‘I understand. You…inspired me’ he spoke suddenly. ‘I feel like I’ve learned a lot from you but….’ He sighed. ‘We are all still only human.’

Abel turned towards him, staring at him intently.

‘Human’ Abel mumbled. ‘We are still strong…’