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“It’s nothing,” I said, releasing Karl’s shoulder. Now it was my turn to look away. I felt I should have done more for Karl. Money was a poor substitute for my gratitude. “I’ll see you when this is all over, okay?”

“Yes, sir. If there’s anything I can do in the meantime, please call me.”

“Don’t worry. It may not seem like it, but I can take care of myself,” I said. Karl nodded, and I watched him retreat down the hall.

I left the apartment that night, determined to see for myself what things were like. The streets were deserted except for a few intrepid delivery drivers, some police officers, and a handful of people walking their dogs. Dogs had never liked me much, so I avoided them. I also managed to steer clear of the cops, who would have questioned why I was out during curfew. The lockdown was strictly enforced. Hunting was clearly out of the question unless I wanted to resort to breaking and entering, which I didn’t.

Eventually, I wandered back to my apartment and settled in for the evening. My phone rang, and it was Nathaniel checking in.

“How are you feeling with the world burning down around you?” he asked, with false drama. “But seriously, how have you been holding up? Are you finding enough to eat?”

“I’m fine,” I replied. “It’s depressingly boring outside. I went for a walk, and nothing is open.”

“That’s why I’m calling, actually,” he said. “We’re leaving. Anna and I have decided to leave the city and head south. There’s a lodge in the Oregon mountains.” He paused briefly, and I wondered if Anna was nearby. “We want you to come with us,” he finished.

“Leave? That seems a bit drastic, don’t you think?” I didn’t like the idea of fleeing the city. I’d weathered much over the years and would weather this, too. I expected this kind of overreaction from a younger vampire, but Nathaniel was nearly ninety.

“No, we don’t. This city is dying. Soon, there won’t be any uninfected left, and we’ll starve. It’s increasingly hard to find an untainted source of blood. I can’t imagine how you’ll feed yourself if you stay here. I’ve sequestered my staff, but they’re all frightened. The blood suppliers have vanished. The resources here are scarce. There’s a better chance for us if we move our household to a less populated area.”

“I don’t think it’s that desperate. This will burn itself out. These diseases always do. Ask Anna about the Spanish flu. People were convinced it would be worse than it turned out to be. Humans always exaggerate these situations. I admit, this one seems particularly severe right now. But it’s risky to head to a new town and leave everything we’ve built behind. Besides, what will you do if that new place is just as infected as this one?”

“The lodge we’re going to is fairly isolated. I’ve been talking with some friends who are going there, too, and we think it’s time to safeguard our food supplies. We’ll all bring our staff once we’re sure they’re healthy. They’ll keep us fed until this is over.” He paused again, waiting for my reaction. I didn’t have one. I was too stunned by what he was suggesting. “Please come with us,” he said finally. “You can bring your man, Kevin.”

“Karl,” I said.

“Right, Karl. You can bring Karl and anyone else you want, but come with us. I know you’re uncomfortable with how we do things, but if you want to survive, you’ll have to change. I don’t want to leave you here alone.”

“Then don’t,” I said. “Stay here and wait this out with me. This will be over sooner than you think.”

“I hope you’re right, but I think you’re mistaken about this, Vincent.” He took a deep breath, and I could feel his frustration through the phone line. “I’m going. If you don’t come with us, I’ll only worry about you. We’ll be fine as long as we stick together. You know how important that is, especially when things get tough.” His words cut into me.

I recognized the wisdom in Nathaniel’s suggestion. I understood I shouldn’t be alone and that I had to approach feeding differently. However, I wasn’t about to flee to some vampire commune in the middle of nowhere. Leaving a city I’d called home for a long time was always difficult for me, and I wasn’t ready to do that yet.

“I don’t know,” I said, turning to look out the window. Was it my imagination, or were there fewer lights on than usual? “I wish you well, my friends, but I’m staying here. I understand your concerns. But I’ve been through these situations before, and I’ll wait this one out here in the comfort of my home. I’ll be ready to welcome you back when you return.”

“I tried,” Nathaniel said, sighing. “I don’t feel right leaving you, but you’re giving me no choice. I’ll send you the location if you change your mind. And I’ll be in touch by phone. It’s not far. I could come back quickly if you need me.”

“When are you leaving?” I asked.

“We go tomorrow night,” he replied. “We still have a few things to pack. We’ll head out as soon as we wake tomorrow evening.”

“So soon? Don’t you want to wait just a little longer?”

“There’s no need,” he said. “We’ve made up our minds.”

“You’ll be back soon. You’ll see. Just please, be careful.”

“Again, I hope you’re right, old man, but if not, come to us. We’ll watch for you.”

I wished him well, and we hung up.

Nathaniel texted after he left the city, letting me know he’d had Karl stash a case of bagged blood in the fridge at my apartment “just in case.” I thanked him for his thoughtfulness, but I still didn’t think it would come to that.

Over the next few days, I tried my own version of a lockdown. Everyone I knew had abandoned the city, and even Karl was no longer around to distract me. I stayed in and occupied myself with books and whatever I could find on television, which wasn’t much. I explored parts of my home I’d rarely seen before. After some trial and error, I even figured out how to use the washing machine and dryer. But after a little while, the large apartment began to feel too small and suffocating. I spent many of my evenings pacing like a caged animal, gazing out at the city lights that grew fewer each night.

One evening, after nearly two weeks without a meal, I decided it was time to venture out. I wasn’t sure how long I could go without eating, since I’d never needed to find out. And I wasn’t quite ready to dip into what was in the fridge. However, the news wasn’t changing, and the talking heads were growing increasingly morbid. I needed a distraction, and I was hungry.

No one was out on the streets; I hadn’t expected them to be. But clear evidence of unrest remained. Several shops I passed were burned out, and many broken windows were covered with plywood. I walked past several of my favorite clubs, all dark and shuttered. I would have to work harder than usual that evening. As distasteful as it was, I knew I had to break into someone’s house if I expected a warm meal.