The scourge has started to take hold of Yharnam but the church and citizens are fighting back. Young hunter, Auna, sets out on her first hunt to prove herself against the beasts that plague her city. However, she finds that not everything is black a...
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It Was Just A Dream
Waking from the dream, Auna felt the strange sensation of coming alive again. This time she was groggier than before feeling the depth of sleep lingering. She thought that she would still find Ludwig sleeping next to her but the bed was empty, sheets pulled back from his departure. She sat up slowly, holding the covers close while shielding herself from the cold air. A sudden movement in the corner of the room jolted her to his presence.
"You scared me," she gasped, seeing Ludwig sitting a short distance away with an intent stare. He was still naked from their tryst but unlike her was wide awake.
"Sorry, I sometimes have that effect," he said cooly.
"What were you doing?" she breathed.
"Just watching you sleep. I haven't been able to sleep through the night since my first hunt. Seeing you, helps me to remember what it felt like," he said and walked over to her. He kissed her gently on the forehead and then presented another cup of regenerative blood like the day prior. "Here, drink up to collect your strength."
Auna took the drink cautiously. The memories of her dream were still in a haze but she felt a warning in her heart about the dark liquid before her. She didn't drink immediately but studied Ludwig's face until he ushered it towards her lips. Still, the taste made her stomach twirl but she was able to get down a few gulps before needing a break.
"I was thinking that perhaps you will come with me to Byrgenwerth. You could then go to the Research Hall from there," Auna offered, setting the cup down on the table next to the bed.
"Leave?" he said with an amused smile. "We're not leaving."
"What?" she asked quickly.
His arm wrapped around her back and pulled her close to him. "You will stay here with me so that I won't be alone." His words were filled with earnest, as he leaned to kiss her.
She allowed this only for a moment before pushing him away. "I'm not going to stay here Ludwig. I am still on my first hunt."
"You said it yourself, you do not want to be alone. So, why not stay here with me and we wouldn't have to worry about being lonely again. I could train you." The church hunter locked his hand around her arm to keep her from evacuating the bed. He attempted again at another kiss but she resisted. His grip becoming tighter and tighter as she struggled.
"Ludwig, let go," she stated as calmly as possible, leaning her spine onto the bed to create more space between them.
"We could hunt here until there are no souls left. It could be our paradise," his voice was becoming excitable and frantic, as he climbed on top of her, eyes wild.
"You're hurting me," was all she could manage feeling fear overtake. Her vision became swirled like oil on the surface of water.
"We wouldn't have to worry about the church anymore. We could just infect ourselves and receive the strength of the ancient ones. We would be unstoppable," he continued, unmoved by her complaint, as he lowered himself over her with incredible weight.
"That is insane. Let go," she gasped feeling his body push her further into the down mattress. With one final bit of strength, she kicked her knee up towards his groin causing him to wail and roll away. Immediately, she ran to her hunter gear and threw on her trousers, vest, and coat while he screamed in agony on the bed. Her trick weapon was close as well, the saw spear heavy in her hand.
His feral eyes landed on her and through a drool-filled mouth, he yelled, "You are not fucking leaving, neither of us is leaving. You will just be killed by the giants if you step outside that door."
Auna held the saw blade in front of her for protection. "My clothes are free from infected blood. They will let me pass."
A chilling laugh reverberated through the room. Standing up with a sinister smile he approached. "That is not why they attacked you. They were trying to keep you away from here. Keep you away from someone that was infected."
"You?" she said with a sickening realization. Her eyes began to blur and waves of nausea crashed against her stomach. "What is wrong with me?" She fell to her knees, unable to hold up the blade any longer.
"It made me sick at first. Weeks of excruciating pain, I thought I would go mad. Then I could see everything clearly. I was stronger with it and I could do anything, kill anything or anyone." He was now kneeling in front of her, holding her so that she didn't fall.
"What did you do?" The words were weakening with every breath.
"To you? I gave you my blood, ashen though it may be," he said pointing to the cup still on the table. "Don't worry, I will be with you through the pain. We will be together."
"I need my vials..."
"You need to stop fighting this. They all fought it, all of my hunters which is why they are gone now. Your vials wouldn't work anyway. The infection is already too deep. Now, let's get you to bed. You need your rest though I fear you won't get any for a long while." He tried to lift her to her feet but she fell back on the floor as pain coursed through her. Her hand still searched for the blood vials though they were not in her bag. He must have taken them. All was lost, it seemed, as she realized that at any moment she would go mad and eventually turn into the beasts that she had been hunting. But her hand found something lingering in the pocket of her father's hunting coat. It was a blood vial with parchment paper wrapped around it. She didn't know if it would work but it was her only option. With all her strength she jabbed the needle into her right thigh with a scream. Fire shot through her, different than any vial she had taken before.
"What is this?" he asked, picking up the vial and examining it. There was a long silence as Auna squirmed in pain until finally, Ludwig began to shake with anger. "What have you done?"
With incredible strength, he pulled her into the air and held her above him. His eyes were wild with anger. "Where did you get that vial?" He threw her to the ground with a thud and began to pace, murmuring to himself. "Was it her? Was it that fucking doll?!"
