This morning, Barnabas found me on the floor of the secret room in the mausoleum. The coffin was open and torn apart. What happened last night? Did I kill somebody again? Barnabas said, no, I killed no one, that our plan worked and I remained in the room all night. Thank God!
We went back to my cottage to work out the next plan. He asked me what would happen tonight. I explained that I didn’t know. It all depends. If the moon is still within its cycle of fullness, he was going to have to lock me in the mausoleum. He’s got to stop me from killing someone again. He’s got to stop…
Someone was in the cottage. It was Julia Hoffman, wearing black gloves, the telephone up to her ear. She said she I got up at dawn and came here to wait for you. I asked why? She told me not to be alarmed; she knew my secret. I asked Barnabas if he knew about this and he said he had planned to tell me today.
Who else knows? How did he know she didn’t tell somebody? Barnabas said no one and Julia added that she hadn’t told anyone and didn’t intend to. You mean she’s willing to help me, too? Like Barnabas, she said she’s willing to try; however, she said I should know she made the decision very reluctantly.
She was against Barnabas helping me, thinking it’s a very dangerous thing to do. She’s right. Right or wrong, though, they made their decisions and intend to follow it through. But how? What were we going to do?
Assuming the transformation might happen again, Barnabas said first of all we had to wait one more night before we could do anything. When Julia said she didn’t understand, Barnabas explained he realized the phase I go through isn’t always the same. It could be anywhere from one to four nights.
It has never lasted more than four nights, but I live in constant fear that it might. Julia asked if I had any idea at all how this happened to me and when did it start? Thankfully I didn’t have to repeat my story because Barnabas told her I had shared me whole history with him and he would talk to her on the way back to Collinwood.
I told them how grateful I was for what they’re trying to do for me. I just wished I could be optimistic about the possible results. Barnabas said I had every reason to be optimistic. By being confined at the mausoleum, at least I didn’t hurt anybody. We’d been able to contain my violence and that was a big step forward. I agreed. Julia added that tomorrow we would take the next step. She’s going to start with a series of tests, blood chemistry, to see if there’s anything that relates to the transformation.
Alone at last, I poured a drink out of my crystal decanter and sat down. Then there was a knock at the door…
It was David, looking surprised. I told him I was all right… why wouldn’t I be? He seemed slightly dazed and I asked what was the matter with him? He said nothing, but he was taking a hike through the woods and thought he saw someone sneaking out of here. I told him he saw someone, Barnabas and Julie, but I didn’t think they were sneaking. They were just here visiting me.
He questioned, “So early in the morning?” Why not? I asked what he was doing up so early. He said he always gets up this early and asked didn’t I know that? Well, no, I didn’t happen to know that.
He stepped right in and commented that I had gotten the place looking pretty nice. I replied that I didn’t do a thing to it. It’d been like this ever since I moved in. He said he was glad Carolyn talked me into moving in here. It’s good for Amy to have me around. Yeah, I hope.
Changing subjects like he tends to do, David commented that I liked Carolyn. Well, sure. But not “like.” He meant I was serious about her. I started to tell him to wait just a minute, but he continued that she’s serious about me, too. He said he can always tell about those things with her.
I told him to hold on and that I’d make him a deal. He’s not going to pry into my affairs, and I won’t pry into his. He agreed yet turned right around and asked if it was true I might come and work here on the estate. Wow, he really learns fast, doesn’t he?
I hadn’t told anyone, much less had time to think about it myself. He said it was something he’d find out sooner rather than later anyway. I guess he was right. Carolyn has offered me a job, and I haven’t decided yet whether or not to take it. I may.
If there were no other questions from the judge, I asked how he would like a soda? I’d stock him full of soda to give him some energy for his hike back through the woods. I topped off my own drink and said I didn’t mean to be rude, but once he drank the soda, he had to split because I had to get some sleep.
He asked if I didn’t just wake up? I told him no, I was up all night. He asked why. I exclaimed that he was just going to keep asking me questions, wasn’t he? He apologized and said he forgot about our deal… then he asked why I was up all night!
I said I couldn’t sleep. He asked why not. I just couldn’t seem to do it somehow. He asked if I was worried about something? He suggested maybe I should see a doctor, that they’re always talking about how important sleep is.
I pointed out that he had finished his soda. He acknowledged and said that must mean he had to go. If he stayed, how was I going to get any sleep? He said it was nice to talk to me; I concurred. He thanked me for the soda, and I told him to take it easy. He finally left and I came into the bedroom where I now lay on the bed hoping to get some rest…
Classic Horrors Club 
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