Alex Van Helsing Voice of the Undead - By Jason Henderson Page 0,50

Alex didn’t hear, distracted. He was searching Minhi’s eyes for a signal, some remembrance of the nightmare they had shared.

“You look awful,” Paul said. “You should eat something before you blow away.”

“I didn’t get much sleep,” Alex said.

“You’re telling me,” Paul responded. For a moment Alex wondered if he was aware, if somehow Minhi had already told him. Paul continued, “Those sheets are driving me insane. I feel like we’re in some kind of hospital.”

Alex shrugged, looked back at Minhi. “How about you?”

“Me?” Minhi stopped, mid-chew. She gestured with her toast. “I swear you can hear the snoring coming all the way from Boys Town, but that might just be Vienna.”

Alex blinked. Vienna frowned with worry. “Alex, what’s wrong?”

“It’s, uh . . .”—he looked at Minhi again—“do you have a sec? I wanted to ask you about something.” He felt himself making a face that was obvious and huge, and she put down her toast.

“I’m gonna get some more juice,” she said slowly.

Paul watched them go with interest but then went back to talking to Sid.

Alex walked with her. “So?” he said. They reached the serving table where an orange juice dispenser sat next to a neat stack of glasses.

“So?” she repeated.

“So, what are we gonna say? How are we gonna do this?”

Minhi thrust her glass under the dispenser, her narrow face showing confusion and a hint of irritation. “What are you talking about?”

“Did you already tell Paul? Listen, Vienna might be compromised. I mean, you know, she might be in on it.”

“You’re acting really weird, Alex,” she said, and she poured him some orange juice.

Alex took the glass, staring at her. It was impossible to imagine that she didn’t remember a thing. “You walked back with me. You were awake.”

“What?” Minhi looked back at their table and for a moment he felt sure she was going to drop the facade; surely this was a ruse because she had already figured out that certain people couldn’t be trusted. “I don’t know what you’re trying to say or do, but I don’t like it.”

Alex’s heart sank with realization. He had to try once more. “You don’t remember any of it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Minhi said, and her eyes looked a little sad. “And it’s really kind of getting upsetting.”

“Okay,” he said. “It’s just . . .” What was there to say? She had erased the whole thing. The same vocal virus that had woken up the girls had also erased the entire event once they went back to sleep. He was certain of it; she wasn’t faking.

They got back to the table and Alex sat down with his orange juice.

“Look at this,” Paul said, gesturing at him. “A breakfast consisting entirely of liquid. I think maybe you’re a vampire.”

Alex dutifully smiled, but he caught Vienna’s eye. She looked concerned, as though she had been watching them the whole time. “I was just asking Minhi if maybe we can do something to celebrate Sid’s newfound celebrity,” Alex said as another girl tapped Sid on the shoulder and gave him the thumbs-up.

“There’s another reading this weekend,” Paul said brightly. “You got a new one, then?”

“There’s something new,” Sid said. “This one is about music.”

“Oooh, sounds cool,” Paul said, clearly proud of his friend’s accomplishments. “If it’s already written, maybe we can all hang out tonight. The ball’s not till tomorrow.”

“Perfect,” said Alex. Perfect, except that Sid was passing along a spell. He was Typhoid Sid.

“These stories you do are like music,” Vienna said, smiling. “But as a Spaniard I’m waiting for one about the tango.”

Everyone in the room started to jostle and rise, and Minhi looked at her watch. It was time for class. Alex realized on top of everything else, he was hungry after all. But it had to wait.

They began carrying their trays to the front of the dining hall, and Alex came up next to Vienna. “Vienna.”

“Alex,” she replied, almost officiously, responding to the tone he’d taken.

“Can we talk?” he said.

Vienna stopped and put down her tray, turning to him brightly. “Absolutely.”

Alex nodded good-bye to the others, and he and Vienna walked out of the dining hall in silence. He saw Paul throw him the thumbs-up and Alex rolled his eyes. They got out into the hall and he stopped by a tall window near a door. “I need you to do something.”

“I have already given up a sleeve,” Vienna said, laughing.

“I need you to take off your scarf.”

Vienna maintained her cheerful grin. “Never, it’s my air