The road to Lauren's house was a jagged, unforgiving stretch of dirt, winding through the countryside in a way that made travel arduous, even for the fleetest of feet. Darius was practically flying down the path, his breath ragged, heart pounding against his ribs. His mind was a chaotic storm of fear and desperation, knowing that every second counted. Lauren and her family could be in danger, and if he didn't make it in time... he didn't even want to think about what might happen.
He had already been running for over thirty minutes and was only halfway there. His ankle throbbed painfully from a fall earlier, the sharp stones and uneven ground having sent him crashing down. But there was no time to stop, no time to nurse his wound. Gritting his teeth, he pressed on, his hand clutching a knife so tightly his knuckles were white. The blade was a paltry weapon, but it was all he had.
The river that separated his family's farm from Lauren's loomed ahead, but luck was with him—the water was shallow. Limping through the cold stream, he forced his injured leg to keep moving. Every step sent a jolt of pain up his body, but Lauren's safety was all that mattered. If she was in pain, if she was suffering, he had to get there faster. His heart twisted at the thought.
"Please, Lauren, be okay," he whispered to himself, pushing his body beyond its limits.
As he finally caught sight of the large estate in the distance, the blood drained from his face. The lights were still on, but that didn't bring him any comfort. The gates to the property were wide open, the iron bars twisted and broken, as if someone—or something—had forced their way in. His stomach clenched as fear turned into cold, numbing dread.
He dashed across the sprawling yard, ignoring the agony in his ankle as he crossed the long stretch of field between the gate and the house. He shouted Lauren's name, his voice cracking with desperation, but the only answer was silence. The front door hung open, swaying in the faint breeze. His heart thudded in his chest as he approached the house, the knife trembling in his grip.
"Lauren!" he screamed again, but there was no reply.
Suddenly, before he could even react, something struck him from behind, and the world went black.
A dull, throbbing pain brought him back to consciousness. His head was pounding, and the taste of blood filled his mouth. He blinked, his vision blurry, barely able to make out the dimly lit room around him. Someone was shaking him, frantically calling his name.
"Darius! Darius, wake up!"
It was Lauren. She was tied up next to him, her face streaked with tears. His heart lurched with relief at the sight of her, but it was short-lived as he realized he was bound as well.
"Lauren!" he gasped, trying to move but finding his wrists tied tightly behind him. "What happened? Who did this to you?"
Lauren's sobs intensified, her voice barely audible. "He... he killed them. He killed my family. All of them."
Before Darius could ask more, the door creaked open, and a figure stepped into the room. His blood ran cold at the sight. The man was tall, pale, with long white hair that framed a cruel, angular face. His eyes were a deep, unnatural red, glowing with malevolence, and his fingers were tipped with long, razor-sharp nails. He wore a dark, tailored suit, clean and immaculate, despite the horror that Darius was sure had taken place.
"Ah, the intruder awakens," the man said, his voice dripping with mockery.
"Who the hell are you?" Darius demanded, his voice shaking with fury.
The man gave a theatrical bow, as if he were some kind of twisted performer. "Nosfaru von Gilm, at your service."
"Did you... did you massacre my family?!" Darius's voice cracked with grief and rage, but Nosfaru only chuckled.
"Oh, you're from the other farm? Apologies for the oversight. I tend to get distracted by... delicious things." His gaze shifted to Lauren, and in a blur of motion, faster than Darius could comprehend, Nosfaru was beside her. He lifted her effortlessly by the throat, her legs kicking helplessly in the air.
"Lauren!" Darius shouted, thrashing against his bonds. "You bastard! Let her go!"
"Something delectable indeed," Nosfaru said, his voice calm as he ignored their pleas. His hand caressed Lauren's stomach in a way that made Darius's blood turn to ice.
Lauren, choking, managed to force out a sob. "Darius... I'm so sorry. I didn't get to tell you... I'm pregnant."
Time stopped. The words hit Darius like a sledgehammer, his mind reeling with the weight of them. But before he could even process what she'd said, Nosfaru let out a chilling laugh.
"Ah yes, the scent of new life. That's what drew me here."
With horrifying precision, Nosfaru sank his fangs into Lauren's neck, draining her life force with every agonizing second. Darius screamed in helpless rage as he watched the love of his life convulse in pain, her cries echoing in the small room. And then, with a swift, brutal movement, Nosfaru's hand plunged into her stomach, tearing out the unborn child in a grotesque display of cruelty.
"No!" Darius roared, breaking free of his restraints with sheer willpower. He lunged at Nosfaru, but the vampire was too fast. In an instant, he had Darius by the throat, lifting him off the ground as though he weighed nothing.
"She was pregnant, you monster!" Darius screamed, struggling to break free as Nosfaru's grip tightened.
"All the more enjoyable," Nosfaru whispered with a smirk, his fangs glistening with Lauren's blood.
Darius thrashed, landing punch after punch against Nosfaru's chest, but the vampire didn't even flinch. He merely laughed, the sound deep and menacing, reverberating through the room.
"You're not the first to call me an animal," Nosfaru said, his voice dripping with sadistic amusement. Then, with a final, vicious bite, he sank his fangs into Darius's neck.
As darkness began to overtake him, Nosfaru tossed Darius's limp body beside Lauren's.
"At least you'll die together," Nosfaru whispered, stepping over their bodies as he left the room, leaving only silence and death behind him.