Nerion slowly stirred, his eyelids fluttering open as the first rays of sunlight kissed his face. He blinked, disoriented, the warmth of the sun pulling him from the haze of unconsciousness. He whispered to himself, hoarsely, "I'm safe."
His head throbbed, and when he tried to push himself up, pain shot through his body, bringing his thoughts back to reality. His hands trembled as he touched his scalp, fingers coming away sticky with blood. His body was a patchwork of scratches, bruises, and cuts. The vampire... how did he survive? It didn't make sense. He should have been dead.
He didn't understand how he'd gotten away. Vampires were fast, and even if he'd rolled down that hill, there was no way the creature would've lost his scent. But it didn't matter now. All that mattered was getting home.
He winced as he stood, barely able to keep his balance. He couldn't walk far, not in this condition. The exhaustion was unbearable, and his body screamed for rest, but he pushed forward, step by shaky step. He needed help. Somewhere out here, someone had to be nearby—a village, a traveler, anyone. He had no choice but to find them.
After what felt like hours of stumbling through the woods, he came across a sight that took him by surprise: a beautiful girl, gathering mushrooms in a secluded glade. Her presence was so serene, so out of place in the rugged wilderness. He watched her for a moment, unsure whether to approach.
He couldn't believe his luck—someone out here, in the middle of nowhere. A chance for help. He forced himself to move toward her, his voice crackling as he called out, "Hello there, I'm sorry if I scared you," he croaked, trying to mask the pain in his voice. "Is there any village nearby?"
The girl froze, eyes wide with fear. She was ready to flee, her body tense and poised. Nerion, feeling every muscle in his body ache, struggled to remain upright. His vision blurred as he fought to keep his balance.
"I-I can't stand," he muttered, and the next thing he knew, he was falling, his body giving way under the strain. His face hit the ground hard.
The girl rushed toward him, and with surprising strength, helped him to his feet. "You're hurt," she said softly, her hands gentle but firm as she guided him. "Come with me. I'll help."
He let her lead him, not sure what to make of her kindness, or of the strange sense of calm that surrounded her. He felt weak, his body barely responding, but he had to trust her. She had the power to help him—at least, that's what he hoped.
They reached her home, a small, isolated cabin, nestled deep in the woods. There were no other buildings in sight—just trees, wild and untamed. She helped him inside, and he collapsed onto a bed, exhaustion overtaking him.
"Rest now," she said, offering him a bowl of warm food. "You need to regain your strength."
He ate, the food soothing his raw throat, but a nagging feeling began to crawl under his skin. Something was off about this place, about her. But his body was too weak to think clearly, and as much as his instincts screamed at him, he couldn't fight the pull of sleep.
"Thank you," he whispered, his eyes closing, his mind finally giving in to the desire for rest.
But then... a voice. Soft, sweet... too sweet.
He awoke with a start, his heart racing. There she was again, the girl, but this time, she was closer. Much too close. Her face was pressed against his, her breath warm against his skin. He blinked in confusion.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
She smiled, a chilling smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Giving you the best moment of your life before… you die."
In an instant, her features began to warp. Her skin stretched and cracked, her eyes bulging as her form twisted into something grotesque. The girl was gone, replaced by a foul, hideous ghoul—a creature with gnashing teeth and an eerie, unnatural presence. Nerion recoiled, pushing her away with every ounce of strength he could muster, but she was too fast.
His heart pounded in his chest. He tried to scramble out of the bed, but his body was still too weak, too slow. Panic surged through him, and he stumbled backward, only to find the door locked. No escape.
The ghoul laughed, a hollow sound that made his blood run cold. "Where do you think you're going, mortal?"
Before he could react, the creature lunged at him, grabbing him by the neck with inhuman strength. His vision blurred, his breath cut off by the force of her grip. His mind raced. What should he do? How could he survive this?
Why was this happening to him? He had just wanted to be something more than the outcast, to do something, anything to prove he wasn't useless. And yet, here he was, stuck in a nightmare, alone in the woods, facing monsters at every turn.
Tears welled in his eyes, and he couldn't stop them from falling. His body trembled, his mind spiraling. "Why is it always me?" he whispered, the words barely audible, as a sense of hopelessness overcame him.
The ghoul chuckled darkly, savoring his despair. "Oh, are we going to cry now?" she mocked, her voice dripping with malice. "This feels... refreshing. I like this feeling... FEAR."
She stepped closer, her monstrous mouth opening wide, revealing jagged teeth that gleamed with hunger. "I'm going to enjoy this," she purred.
But then something strange happened. Nerion wasn't afraid anymore.
He looked at her, eyes wide, but empty. His spirit felt numb, as if something inside him had broken. The fear that had once paralyzed him had faded. All he could think was: What was the point?
What did it all mean? Life, survival, pain—was there any meaning to it?
The ghoul stopped, tilting her head as if confused. "Why aren't you afraid anymore?" she hissed. "Where's your fear?"
Nerion stared at her, his eyes dull, his expression lifeless. "What does living even matter?" he whispered. "You live, you suffer, and then you die. What's the point?"
The ghoul recoiled in disgust. "Pathetic," she spat. "I won't waste my time on you."
With a snarl, she released him, shoving him away as if he were a ragdoll. Nerion crumpled to the ground, his body too weak to fight back, too broken to care.
"Go away, mortal," the ghoul snarled. "I don't eat those who've already died inside."
Nerion didn't move. He just lay there, staring into the nothingness.