In the hellish world you called home, thousands had vanished over the centuries—some dragged away into the night, never to be seen again, others found pale and lifeless, their bodies drained of every last drop of blood. No one could stop the slaughter. The killers were far too strong.

They were not human. They were something far worse—vampires.

As you tended to your garden, the rhythmic patter of water against the soil was your only solace. You could only dream of wandering beyond the tree line, of stepping into the dense forests that surrounded you without the ever-present fear of being snatched away into a gruesome fate of your own. A quiet sigh slipped past your lips as you straightened once more, the weight of reality pressing against you.

Then, you froze.

Cold fingers coiled around your waist, their touch light yet unyielding.

“Do not scream now, my dear,” a voice murmured at your ear, smooth as silk. “Fret not.”