Outside the carriage come heavy footsteps, followed by a wave of restless complaints.
Yakov: You hear that? Boots. Sounds like soldiers.
Reyhan: Could it be Pyrrhos again?
Semmelweis: Pyrrhos?
Yakov: An army officer. He's working with the conductress to get us out of here.
A new name, a new problem.
Semmelweis frowns.
Semmelweis: Come on, Rubuska. Time to go.
Rubuska: Huh? Oh, right! I'm supposed to be in Aima's cabin. I better not be seen here.
Ivanushka: W-Wait! Ms. Rubuska!
Just about to leave, she turns back to face the boy.
Ivanushka: Th-Thank you for protecting us. I-I hope I can be brave like you when I grow up.
Ivanushka: You're a good vampire!
She can't help but smile as she leans down to pat his head.
Rubuska: And you're a good boy, Ivanushka.
Rubuska: Now listen, this good vampire has to go up front for a bit. But I'll be back soon with news from the other carriages.
Rubuska: No one will hurt you, you got that? Not while I'm around. Here, pinky promise.
She reaches out her right hand to Ivanushka, hooking her pinky.
So Ivanushka lifts his good hand, pinky finger locking with hers.
Their promise is sealed.
Ivanushka: I'll be waiting for you. You promised, so come back soon, Rubuska.
Rubuska: Don't worry, I will. Look, I'll take this.
She picks up the wooden stake at her feet and gives it a little shake.
Rubuska: As a token of our promise. So you better hold the fort for me until I bring it back, alright?
Corvus: Ladies and gentlemen, please bear with us while we conduct a routine check.
Annabelle: A-Are you going to take us too? Like you did with Rubuska?
Little William: You give her back right now! Or I'll ... I'll lie down right here! I-I'll be an unmovable object!
The boy flings himself to the ground, clenching his pudgy fists like a martyr ready to face his fate.
It's his final card to play, a tactic that has worked on the adults before, and one that he's counting on to work now.
Corvus: If you are set on being "un-moveable," I'd be happy to stitch you into the carpet.
Little William: ...
He swallows hard.
Little William: I-I'm not moving! Not until Rubuska's back!
Verity: Another search? Again?
Verity: I suppose you can never be too sure whether someone's transformed into a beast over lunchtime.
Aima: We're ever so sorry for the inconvenience, but this is for your safety; we just have to check whether ...
Sonya: Oh, I have something to "check" too, young lady. Namely, whether anyone on this crew actually has a brain knocking around in their heads!
Sonya: You say this is for our safety, but all you've done is stir up chaos. You ought to be ashamed!
The carriage is in chaos.
People leave their seats, crowding and shouting. The tension seems about to erupt into fresh turmoil.
Pyrrhos: That's quite enough commotion, everyone.
The officer slides his pistol back into his belt as if it were nothing more than a pen—just a tool.
In the uneasy silence, another sound breaks through.
Hrrrk ... Urrrgh ... Rkkk ...
A slow, irregular churning, like the rumbling stomach of some terrible creature.
The noise dips, then rises again into a catlike whimper.
*wail*
All eyes turn toward the pale-faced gentleman in the corner.
Arbuthnot: I ... W-What're you all starin' for?
Arbuthnot: That weren't me.
Footsteps echo.
Semmelweis strides through the gathered people at a quick pace, with Rubuska trailing close behind.
Corvus: What are you two doing here?
Semmelweis: Please, allow me through. There's something wrong.
She moves as she speaks, grabbing Arbuthnot's wrist and yanking it away.
Arbuthnot: Watch it! I told you, it weren't me.
She shoves him aside and looks at the slumped stranger hiding behind him.
Semmelweis: Who are you? I didn't see you during the registration.
Semmelweis: Can you speak, sir?
Unwell Passenger: ...
The passenger can hardly lift his face to meet hers.
His face is chalk-white. Red streaks score outward from his pupils.
Then he opens his mouth, revealing a thick, black sea of blood swirling inside.
Unwell Passenger: Chk ... Chklga—
Passengers: AAAAHHHH!
Unwell Passenger: H-Help ...
He collapses, choking on the blood, gurgling as he swallows it back down.
The investigator kneels and pries open his eyelids.
Semmelweis: An Infected?
Semmelweis: But this looks nothing like the usual symptoms. A mutation, perhaps?
Corvus: ...!
Passenger III: Hold on! Hold on! Would anyone care to explain this? What's an Infected? Infected by what?
Verity: A pinch of cold, a dash of salmonella, and a spoonful of tuberculosis—what do you think?
Verity: He's been bitten by a vampire.
Passenger III: Va-Vampire?!
Overwhelmed with shock, the passenger faints.
Passenger I: My goodness. A vampire? On this train? I figured those were just old stories.
Pyrrhos: Oh, dear. Looks like we've got an unwelcome guest aboard. Iglika, did that strange girl do this?
He looks toward Rubuska.
Pyrrhos: I overheard the children talking about some shadowless "vampire boss."
Dorothy: Oh my. I thought it was just a silly game!
Everyone turns to Rubuska in a convicting silence. Without her hat, there is no hiding those ruby eyes.
Their fears find a cause.
Passenger IV: I knew there was something wrong with her the moment she came on board. All that shouting and running about.
Passenger II: And look, she's awfully pale, too.
Rubuska: No. No, it wasn't me.
Pyrrhos: This isn't a courtroom; there's no use pleading your case. You're going to have to leave the train.
Pyrrhos: After all, we can't have a vampire wandering free on a train full of ordinary people now, can we?
Pyrrhos: You'll have to find your next bite elsewhere, kid.
Pyrrhos signals to his men.
Pyrrhos: Take her away.
Border Checkpoint Soldier I: Yes, sir.
Heavy boots stomp closer as two soldiers seize Rubuska by the arms.
Rubuska: Don't touch me, ah! Let me go! You've got it all wrong!
Little William: She said: Don't touch her!
In the next instant, several children rush from the crowd, tugging at the soldiers and shouting.
Annabelle: Please, sir, please listen! Maybe it's a mistake!
Border Checkpoint Soldier I: Hey, back off! Whose kids are these? They're interfering with a military operation!
One soldier raises his rifle in irritation.
Dorothy: They're with me! For crying out loud, you two, come back here!
Rubuska: Annabelle! This is grown-up stuff, okay? You've got to stay out of it!
The children don't budge. Annabelle clutches a coat hem, looking up at Rubuska in panic.
In all the chaos, hers is the only face sharp and clear.
Annabelle: Run, boss!
...
Mother: Run, Buska.
The air reeks of gunpowder.
No one is hurt, but a jagged dent scars the ceiling.
Border Checkpoint Soldier I: Last warning! Where are your parents?
Border Checkpoint Soldier I: Argh!
In the chaos, a small figure breaks free and hurls herself at the soldier.
Annabelle: No! Boss—Rubuska!
Rubuska locks onto his arm, her fangs sinking deep into his skin, sucking as if to drain every drop from him.
Rubuska: muffled Put it down!