The Long Haul| Alucard Tepes X Fem! Reader

I.

The sound of leaves crunching echoes through the forest as you run. You've tripped and stumbled your way through the foliage, your clothes tattered and dirty from the elements. The night has not been kind to you. You found a temporary resting spot that quickly turned into a bloodbath, with human flesh scattered among dismembered limbs and Night Creatures tearing through the area. It all happened too fast for you to fully process. Before you knew it, smiling faces morphed into horrified, screaming expressions as civilians fled for their lives. You realized it would be unwise to stay, so you didn't. Instead, here you are, rushing through the forest, the last remnants of adrenaline propelling you through the winding trees. A sound in the distance makes you turn your head, causing your heart rate to quicken even further. You can't shake the feeling that you're being followed—being hunted. You redirect your attention to the path ahead. To your horror, you realize you have veered off the trail during that brief moment of distraction. The spaces between the trees have narrowed, presenting a challenge as you attempt to navigate around them. Your foot catches on the root of a nearby tree, sending you tumbling to the ground. You wince in pain, feeling more frustration at your fall than the ache in your shins and ribcage as you hit the forest floor.

You quickly regain your footing and continue on your path, despite feeling completely lost.

"There has to be something here... There just has to be..." Your thoughts echo in your mind as you pass tree after tree, after bush. Your breathing is rapid and ragged, your throat dry from the frigid night air. You begin to slow down, your body feeling much heavier than before. It occurs to you that you have been running for so long now; it must have been at least two to three days straight. You realize you have barely eaten anything. "Not now..." you mutter angrily, trying to force your body to continue. It proves to be a fruitless effort as you drop to your knees on the forest floor, your muscles exhausted. You begin to crawl, desperate for survival, but your arms can only pull you along so far. Tears well in your eyes as the world starts to spin, much too fast for you to focus. This is it, you think to yourself as you see the world slowly fade away, a deafening ringing in your ears growing louder as you lose consciousness. Amid the blaring sound, you hear... footsteps. They approach you slowly. You accept your fate and finally lose consciousness.

There is a light. You wonder if you have moved on to the afterlife. This thought is quickly dispelled as you begin to feel sensations again. Your entire body aches, and you realize you are lying on your back on something soft, which offers little comfort to your sore muscles. As you open your eyes, you see that you are in a well-decorated room. A large oval window on the wall beside you reveals that you are very high up. You frown slightly as you attempt to sit up. You notice a peculiar taste in your mouth—it tastes like stew. You feel significantly less hungry, which is a relief, but you know you didn't just eat while you were unconscious, and this is definitely NOT your home.

"Rest." A voice calls from the doorway, causing you to jump in surprise. Standing there is a tall man with long, blonde hair, dressed in a white button-up shirt, black pants, and matching black shoes. His expression is flat, almost as if he were made of stone. "You can't possibly move in that condition," A mix of emotions washes over you as you look at him—confusion and a hint of fear, simply because he is a stranger. However, your fear is tempered by his seemingly gentle demeanor, despite his cold expression. You can't discern a single emotion on his face, but his voice lulls you into a sense of safety. As he steps into the room, you sink back into the couch, resting your head on the cushion. The man watches you cautiously as he approaches, and you realize that his eyes are the most incredible shade of gold you have ever seen. In fact, you have never encountered anyone with eyes that color before. His piercing gaze seems to freeze you in place, as if his serious expression were turning you to stone as well. All you can do is nod in response to his words, looking up at him from the couch.