Hellsing: Resurrection (WIP)

Chapter 5: The Stray and The Shadows

Max's improvement was subtle but noticeable. His dark coat, though still rough and patchy from mange, didn't seem as brittle as before. His legs moved with new steadiness, and the way he circled Seras's room was with a bit more curiosity. The limp from the day before was barely noticeable, replaced by cautious but lively steps. He paused at the edge of her bed, sniffing it tentatively, as if debating whether he could climb up.

Seras sat on the floor, her back against the cold stone walls, quietly observing the dog's every movement. "You're tough," she whispered, a grin playing at the edges of her lips. She ran a hand through her hair before leaning forward to call him over. Max hesitated for a moment, his eyes meeting hers, then padded over, his claws softly tapping the floor.

Reaching down, Seras rubbed the side of his neck, fingers sinking into the scruffy fur. "Still scruffy, but better," she murmured as he leaned into her touch, his tail slowly wagging. His body trembled a little, the excitement almost too much for him.

She scratched under his chin, noticing that the flaky skin was beginning to heal, though there were still raw patches that would need more time. "You're really starting to come around, aren't you?" she said softly, and Max's tail thumped the ground a few times in response.

The room was dim, with only the faintest hint of light coming from the hallway outside the slightly ajar door. Seras's eyes glowed faintly in the dark as she thought about the days ahead. How long could she keep this up? How long until someone else in the manor noticed the dog? She knew Alucard was aware-his disapproving voice still lingered in her mind from the night before. But for now, Max seemed content, circling her once before collapsing into a gentle heap at her side, resting his head on her knee.

She let out a deep sigh, patting his back gently. "Guess we'll take this one day at a time, yeah?"

Seras leaned her head back against the stone wall, staring at the ceiling while the rhythmic rise and fall of Max's breathing filled the quiet room. The once sickly stray seemed to trust her now, his large frame pressed warmly against her leg. Despite the grime and the rough patches of fur, there was something endearing about the way he sought her out for comfort.

As her hand continued to stroke his back, she began to think about the next steps. Max was clearly healing, but his recovery was far from over. The vet had said it would take time, and while his immediate discomfort had eased, Seras knew the real challenge would be keeping him hidden long enough for him to be fully healthy.

The early morning stillness was broken by a faint sound from the hallway. Seras's head turned slightly, her senses heightened. Footsteps? She tensed for a moment, only to relax when the sound faded into the distance. Just one of the guards doing rounds, she thought. Max stirred a little at the noise but didn't wake up.

"I wonder what they'd think of you," Seras whispered to the dog, gently running her fingers along his ears. The guards, if they knew, might not be as tolerant of a stray dog taking up residence in the manor's sublevels. Still, she found it almost amusing to think about how Max-a mangy, once-ill stray-had found a home here, even temporarily.

Max let out a low, contented huff in his sleep, his body twitching slightly as though chasing something in a dream. Seras smiled down at him. "You're lucky I found you," she muttered, shifting her weight slightly to stretch her legs without disturbing him.

The hours stretched on, and though she didn't require much sleep, her body relaxed as the peace of the moment washed over her. She closed her eyes, not to rest but to think. Max's quiet presence was a strange comfort in the cold isolation of her underground room.

But peace, in Hellsing, never lasted long. Seras knew it, even in these rare moments of quiet. Max, sensing something in her stillness, stirred and lifted his head, glancing toward the door as though he too could sense the shift.