Dreading of finding out

I'm lying in bed, in the mansion. I feel like I've been dreaming, but... I can't remember what it was. It just feels like there is a gritty residue in the depths of my heart. I put my hand up to block the moonlight. My hand feels so heavy...for some reason. The next day, we are going to the location where Frankenstein is said to have been performing research to create homunculus'. Luckily for us, the collection of Frankenstein's works we obtained at the Family Gathering had information on the research facility.

"...Hm, what's this?" Van Helsing asked.

"Did you find something?" Lupin asked.

"Yes. It's about the facility Frankenstein was using. We're in luck...with this we can go directly there." Van Helsing said.

"Ho, well, well. All the trouble you went through to win that certainly seems worth it." Doreen said.

Using the documents, we were able to determine the location of the laboratory.

Pretorius' secrets...

Things we had no clue about until now. Soon we'll have answers to so many questions.

I should be happy. But, why? A feeling of dread, as thick and sticky as mud, slowly fills my chest. This feeling has been keeping me from sleeping, and that night I aimlessly head to the garden instead of going to bed. The sky above is bright with stars, and a soft night breeze brushes my cheek. The night is so peaceful, and yet my heart is so restless.

"That's quite a dark expression you have there."

I look up to find Doreen standing nearby with her usual grateful, soft smile. "Did I look...that sad?"

"Yes, quite. It was like you were the protagonist of a tragedy, mourning the end of the world."

"Is it that bad?"

"At least, it seemed that way to me. Is something bothering you? You can tell me what's on your mind." Doreen's voice is kind, and she takes a seat next to me.

"Nothing's bothering me. I was just thinking, tomorrow's the day. Tomorrow, we'll know everything... And for some reason, that's making my heart ache." This inexplicable pressure in my chest is making me anxious. I hug my arms tight around myself without realising what I'm doing.

"Tomorrow... You're right. We will be heading for the secret laboratory of the infamous Victor Frankenstein..." Doreen says. "There's no telling what's waiting for us there."

"Yes..." What meaning does a place like that hold for me? I feel happiness, and anticipation... But mixed in with these emotions is a tiny bit of fear.

The fear of knowing. The fear of discovering something.

"I understand why you would be nervous. But, Mister Caleb, perhaps you could think of it this way." Doreen says. "We might find something, but then we might not. We may learn the whole truth, or find nothing at all. Will this place hold any useful information...? We might go there, just to discover the place is filled with junk."

"What are you saying?"

"That worrying about it isn't going to change anything. That's all." Doreen says. "But, there is no reason for you to be scared. You won't be going there alone."

"I'm not alone..."

"That's right. Don't you have several friends whom you can rely on and trust?" Strangely Doreen's words give my heart some energy.

"...Friends." I say. "Are you going to come, too?"

"If you wish. Myself, you, Lupin, Van Helsing, Victoria, and Nemo..." Doreen says. "I think...I like all of you. I would like to see what answers you arrive at with my own eyes."

"You think you like us? I mean, you're talking about your own feelings, but... you 'think'?"

"Ah...I see. Ahah, yes, that may have been a poor choice of words. I often have difficulty determining what my own emotions are. Affection, admiration, well... How can I explains it? Ahah, it really is strange. I'm trying to talk about myself, but I can't even tell how I'm feeling." For a moment Doreen looks sad as she says this.

I shake my head gently. "No, it's fine. I understand how you feel, a little bit. Sometimes I can't tell how I'm feeling, either."

"Haha, it's very comforting to know that, Mister Caleb." The calm sky is vast and silent. The sounds of the night are cold and lonely. They make me cool down again. "I guess what I mean to say... It's not that easy to switch gears."

"Yeah..." Everything about me will be revealed. Could that mean that I'll be proven to be some kind of bizarre monster? When I think of this, it makes me afraid of tomorrow... I'm afraid to find out too much.

Doreen subtly narrows her eyes and stares at me. "Everything is likely to change tomorrow. We will be heading down a path to the truth. And that will surely change the relationships between us." It's always hard to tell what Doreen is thinking, and now is no exception.

I wonder what thoughts are going on behind that sculpture-like face at this moment. I feel her body pressing against mine as she positions herself on top.

She undoes my zip. Her eyes lock onto mine, filled with a mix of desire and uncertainty. She hesitates for a moment before slowly lowering herself onto my member, gasping softly as she feels me fill her up. She leans in closer and whispers into my ear, "I want this as much as you do, Caleb." She kisses my neck tenderly, her breath hot against my skin.

I feel her hips begin to move against mine in a slow, sensual rhythm. Her skin is smooth and cool beneath my hands as I run them up and down her back, enjoying the sensation of being so close to her. I pull off her shirt.

As she rides me, she looks deep into my eyes, their intensity boring into my soul. I feel her weight pressing down on me as she continues to move her hips in a sensual rhythm. She seems to be enjoying herself, lost in the moment. She unhooks her bra and tosses it away.

I can't help but notice the way her breasts sway gently with each movement. I begin to kiss her neck, feeling her warm skin against mine.

Her breathing becomes deeper and more laboured as she continues to ride me.

I reach up to cup one of her breasts in my hand, feeling the softness of her skin beneath my fingers.

She moans softly in response, her hips moving even faster against yours.

The night sky is dark and quiet as I make love to Doreen. The cool air seems to heighten the intensity of my senses, and every touch, every movement feels amplified. I can feel her body pressed against mine, her breathing becoming deeper and more laboured. "Doreen... I'm close," I whisper, my voice hoarse with desire.

She looks down at me, her eyes dark and smouldering.

"Do you want me to finish with you?" She asks softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nod, feeling the sensation building within me. As I nod, Doreen begins to move her hips faster, grinding against me in a sensual rhythm. My breath becomes ragged as I near my climax. I can feel the heat of her body against mine, and the friction between my skin is almost unbearable.

Suddenly, Doreen's grip around me tightens, and she lets out a long, low moan.

I feel her muscles contract as I climax, her body shuddering against mine. You can't help but be swept away by the intensity of the moment. We lie there together, panting heavily as our hearts race. The cool night air surrounds us like a blanket, and the only sound is the gentle rustling of leaves in the trees nearby.

Doreen looks at me, a content smile on her face. "That was incredible." She thinks for a moment, then smiles her usual smile. "Now then, it's late. You should **** yourself to sleep, knowing what awaits tomorrow."

I obediently follow Doreen's suggestion and return to the mansion with her.