The Vampire Hunter

Chapter 2

Matthias awoke in a bed that was unfamiliar to him, feeling a sharp pain in his upper torso as he attempted to sit up. The memories of that fateful night came flooding back, and he realized the devastating loss he had suffered. Overwhelmed by physical and emotional pain, he laid back down, closing his eyes tightly, and silently wept, trying to suppress his anguish. Glancing around the room, he recognized that he was in the inn. Lost in his thoughts, he noticed the door open slightly, revealing a woman dressed in a barmaid's attire. She seemed to notify someone outside the room of his awakening.

Moments later, the door swung open, and Corov hurriedly entered, his footsteps echoing in the room. "Matt!" he exclaimed, rushing to Matthias's side and taking a seat on a nearby chair. "I'm relieved to see you awake," he added, genuine concern etched on his face.

"Why am I here?" Matthias weakly questioned. "Adam... Bonnie... Where are they?" he asked, attempting to rise from the bed while wiping tears from his eyes.

"We..." Corov paused briefly, gathering his thoughts. "We buried them in the backyard of your house," he replied, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Not a single word escaped Matthias's lips. He sat there, his expression blank and filled with a mixture of grief and rage.

"What happened?" Corov inquired, his concern evident.

"Someone... Someone broke into our home, Corov. There were three individuals dressed in red leather," Matthias recounted. "Did you see them? Has anyone passed through here who seemed out of place, like they were from another world? They couldn't have escaped!" Matthias exclaimed, his face contorting with pain as he struggled to sit up. "They were just here last night. Perhaps they've fled to another town, I don't know!" Matthias shouted, consumed by anger, before collapsing back onto the bed in sheer agony.

"Matthias... It's been a week. You've been asleep for a week," Corov revealed, his voice filled with sadness.

"A week?!" Matthias was taken aback, his shock evident in his eyes. Ignoring the pain still coursing through his body, he immediately rose from the bed.

"Matt! You can't be on your feet right now," Corov pleaded, his voice filled with concern. "You need to rest," he insisted.

"No. Every moment of rest is a moment wasted. I cannot allow that monster to escape!" Matthias replied angrily, his determination burning within him.

"I understand your anger, believe me," Corov said, trying to reason with him. "We will find them, but for now, you must focus on healing. Rest is essential," he implored, placing his hands on Matthias's shoulders, attempting to emphasize his point. "In your current condition, you can't even walk properly," he added.

"I'll rest as I walk," Matthias declared resolutely, stepping towards the door. "I will find the man responsible, and they will pay," he vowed. Corov recognized the unyielding determination in Matthias's eyes and knew that further persuasion would be futile. Matthias had always been like this, unyielding and single-minded once he set his sights on something. Corov remembered the cheerful, joyful boy Matthias used to be, always smiling. But now, in this moment, he saw a transformed man. Matthias was no longer the same. Something inside him had died, replaced by a burning desire for vengeance.

Despite his bandaged injuries, Matthias eventually reached his home. Making his way to the backyard, he gazed upon the two freshly dug graves, each adorned with a simple wooden cross. Kneeling between them, he spoke softly, his voice filled with sorrow.