15. When I went in search of clues at the power plant, I was still pretty wired up from the game. I vamped out and nearly leapt out to attack a couple of workers as they passed by my hiding place. I had to force myself to calm down and remember what I was there for. I found the clues I sought -- a truncheon and an hourglass -- lying in plain view on the floor. For the objects not to have been picked up by anyone else, I figured that they had to have been placed there fairly recently. However, I knew I wouldn't find any sign of Rita nearby. The woman was good, and I was enjoying the hell out of playing this game with her.

16. I went back to the precinct with new clues in hand, assured that this time, I would be taken seriously by the others. But once again, my theory about the game was shot down. I tried my best to explain to Captain Reese that the clues I was being led to in the game would eventually lead me to a real piece of evidence in the murder case. Unfortunately, the captain still wasn't buying any of it, and without using the actual words, he more or less called me nuts. Seeing that I was on my own with this, I returned home and picked up the game again.

17. This time, I went up against a man whose strengths matched my own. We fought hand to hand at first, then he became armed with a battle-ax, intent on decapitating me. I managed to grab the weapon from him, and it was he who ended up loosing his head. Going to the location in the game, I found two more clues -- a jackknife and a noose. I slipped the game gear back on to find out where to go next, and was greeted by Rita. She told me that I had one level left to play but that I couldn't get there until I figured out the clues. It was an anagram, a game within a game. I had 58 minutes left to solve the murder.

18. I decided to call Tracy and tell her about the last two clues I found. I knew she didn't believe that I was really on to something, but I did feel that Linda was leaning towards my way of thinking and I hoped that Tracy would pass the information on to her. To my surprise, Tracy had come to the conclusion that I was right all along and that the names of the objects I'd found was indeed part of an anagram. It Made me feel better that my partner was on my side again. After I finished talking to Tracy, I took out my notepad and began to decipher the clues. What I came up with that made the most sense, was St. John, the city's most prominent church. The sun was already up by the time I arrived. I got a little singed on my way inside, but I knew I had to follow this through. This would be my only chance to catch the killer.

19. When I got inside, I put the game gear on once more and stepped back into the virtual world. Rita stood near the alter waiting for me. She was impressed that I had made it so far, but pointed out that I still had to find the murder weapon. She told me that it was hidden somewhere in the church, but since I was a vampire in the game, searching might be a little difficult for me. I knew that the real Rita was nearby. I could smell her distinctive scent and hear her heart beating excitedly, but I was so wrapped up in the virtual world that I didn't realize the danger I was in until it was too late.

20. Virtual Rita suddenly held a crossbow in her hands, and as she declared herself the winner of the game, she shot me in the chest with a wooden arrow. It's scary how real it felt. I actually sensed the painful penetration into my heart. When I pulled off the virtual reality glasses, I saw the real Rita coming towards me with a gun in her hand. It was not an arrow I had felt; it was a bullet. She stood over me, gloating her achievement at pulling off the perfect crime.

21. Rita admitted that the gun she held was the murder weapon used to kill her business partner. Then, with cold-hearted malice, she fired several more shots into my body. The bullets caused enough damage to leave me temporary stunned, giving me the appearance of death. As Rita went back over to the alter to collect all trace of her presence, I came to, extremely pissed and vamped out. I was on her in a flash. It was my turn to gloat. I told her that if she's going to play a game, she should know who she's playing with.

22. I was thisclose to sinking my fangs into her throat. Oh, I wanted to so badly. I wanted to taste her warm, evil blood and feel her life drain away. I wanted to snap her pretty little neck and leave her in a bloodless heap on the church floor. Those thoughts danced dangerously around in my head and they frightened me. I admit I enjoyed killing in the virtual world, but that wasn't who I wanted to be in the real world. I forced myself out of vamp mode and turned her around to look at me. I hypnotized her into forgetting that she ever saw me in such a way. The timing was perfect, because a second later, it seems like half the police force showed up. Apparently Tracy, Captain Reese and Linda had put their heads together and figured out what the clues meant and came ready to make an arrest. I handed over the murder weapon and a deflated Rita who had just met her match in the vampire games department.

23. Natalie visited me at the loft later that evening. I, of course, apologized to her for the way I acted earlier when I was a bit obsessed with the game, and she discussed her concerns about me keeping it. She realized that I had enjoyed the virtual killing and drinking of blood, and she was afraid that it might become addictive if I continued to play with it. I didn't bother to explain to her that the game was useless without the programming needed to run it and that Rita would be taking that knowledge to prison with her. Still, I suppose it wouldn't be impossible for the woman to get her hands on a computer in prison at some point. The idea of going up against her once again, although rather intriguing, is probably not a good idea. So when Natalie was looking at the fireplace and suggesting we get rid of the game wear, I had no true objections. Rita had already made a full confession in an attempt to plea-bargain her way to a lesser jail sentence, so as evidence, the gear was no longer needed.

Tossing the virtual glasses into the fire seemed to make Natalie feel more secure. I guess in a way, it made me feel a little better too. It had been somewhat frightening how I had allowed that game to rob me of my control. I tell myself that I still want to be human again, but my actions of late, betray me. I feel the dark side calling to me more and more, and I fear that someday soon, I may very well answer it.

The End