Chapter Text
For so long the only thing filling their ears was the wind. The only things they could see were the blurs of trees passing by. Scratchy sensations from their throat and burning feeling in their lungs with every breath. Socked feet lighter than they’d been in years thumping against the forest floor, carrying them far away. Only one thought in their mind as they raced through the forest to a place unknown. ‘Further’ ‘I need to go further’
Further away from that caravan on the roads. Further from the heavy iron shackles that had made their home on their wrists and ankles. Further from the people who bit them, bled them, showed them off on stages, beat them, and starved them. Further from the foggy stupor that had kept them an unwilling prisoner for so long. Just a bit further. It doesn’t matter how much it hurts or how tired you are, get further away.
Suddenly they burst from the trees into an open clearing with what seemed to be a settlement ahead. There. There they could rest. There they could get help. Just get there and no longer need to go further. Just one trembling step on bloodied feet at a time. They might make it. They could make it. They would make it. Until the final step left them confronted with a ruin. They made it.
This couldn’t possibly be it, could it? Were their captors right? Were they truly unable to escape this fate? ‘Okay, certainties and uncertainties. Certainty: They hadn’t made it far enough. Certainty: They are going to find him if they stay. Uncertainty: They don’t know where to go if they leave. Uncertainty: What is that sound?’ They focus and surely enough they can hear a slight murmur carried on the breeze from within the walls of the ruin. It seems their best option is to follow it.
They approach a stone tower at the center which has a few people in different manners of dress gathered nearby. They are conversing in the language they’d heard during their time in London, what was it called? ….English, or at least they’re pretty sure. They suppose themself lucky to have learnt it during his captivity, or at least the basics of it. None of the people have noticed them yet so they take a moment to observe them.
There is a woman with hair the color of fire dressed in a simple blouse and pants with a green smock layered overtop. Her boots are caked in dirt and she is animatedly waving her arms in conversation with a blonde man who has a shirt and trousers on with a dark green cape and heeled boots. Observing the two are a man and a woman both dressed in similar attire. The woman has dark red hair and is wearing a red coat with dark blue trim over a dark pink skirt and polished blue boots. The man has short cropped greying hair and he wears an identical jacket over a pair of black pants. His jacket also has some shiny doohickeys attached at his breast. Both of them have the long metal fire-sticks they have learned to fear slung across their backs.
They don’t think he can do this anymore. They’re in no state to be able to protect themself right now. They don’t want to die. Their breath picks back up. This was a terrible idea. At that moment the woman with the firey hair catches sight of them and calls out “Hello, are you also new here?” They don’t want to be here. They begin to back away from the group as they begin to approach them. They turn to run as the blonde man grabs hold of their arm and speaks; “Oi! Its rude to run away when someone’s talkin to ya.” They suppose they have no choice.
“I.. I sorry, I scared, please I… I need help.”
The man in red interjects; “Where is that accent from? I’ve never heard anything like it…. Regardless, if you require assistance Private Apo and I are both in the military and can render aid as we see fit. What is your issue?”
They don’t know what a military is… but if they’re offering help… “Bad Vampires! Died others! Chase me! Please help!” All four of them stare back at them coldly.
The blonde starts; “Well you’re a right madman aren’t you? Do we really want someone like this in this town? I mean look at him, he’s practically skin and bones, he wont even be able to pull his own weight.”
Wait what? Noooo no no no no. They didn’t mean for this! What did they say wrong? They can tell they’re still talking but they can’t make out any more as their ears begin ringing. They begin to back away again only to be grabbed under the arms on both sides by the ones in red. They attempt to get free to no avail. They begin screaming out for anyone at all to hear; “No! Stop! Help! Please!” as they drag them back through the ruin.
They see unfamiliar faces blurred by tears until they are unrecognizable as they drag him and they scream. When they reach the wall they are thrown, hard, onto the ground outside. They attempt to scramble back within the town because at least there are people there. Certainly they will be safer there. The woman in red kicks them back out and points her fire-stick at him.
This place isn’t safe.
They cant stay here.
They turn.
Upon still- bloody feet and exhausted limbs they run.
They run as far as they can.
Thet need to go further. Further than this. They have to.
They slam face first into something hard and stumble back.
What was that?
They reach forward, and their hands make contact with an invisible barrier.
They can go no further.
They hear steps behind them.
They whirl around, they will at least face their death.
As indigo eyes meet those of soft gold and calculating blue they know.
Further isn’t an option.
That’s a certainty.