1. TRAGEDY

Gripping my mom's hand tightly as we run through the dense forest, the only sound being made is the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath our feet. I was only five years old, but I knew we were running for our lives.

"Mommy, what's happening?" I asked my voice trembling with fear.

"We have to get away from them, sweetie," she replies, her voice firm but laced with worry.

"They are not human, and they want to hurt us."I looked up at her, seeing the fear in her eyes. I do not understand what is happening, but I know I have to trust her.

As we ran, I caught a glimpse of the monsters behind us. Their eyes are glowing red in the dark, and their sharp teeth seem to be constantly bare in a snarl.

"Mommy, I'm scared," I whispered my eyes welling up with tears.

"I know, baby," she says squeezing my hand. "But we have to keep running. We will be safe soon." We continue to run my eyes scanning the chaotic scene before me. We have been escaping from our village, trying to run away from the monsters that had attacked us. But my father is nowhere to be seen.

"Mom! Mom, where's Dad?" I cry out, tugging on her hand.

"I don't know, sweetie! But We have to keep moving!" she replies with a weak voice.

 My father has always been the strong one, the one who protects us, and Without him, we feel lost and vulnerable.

"Mom, we have to find him!" I plead, trying to pull her back. But she kept running, her grip on my hand tightening.

 "We can't, baby! We have to get out of here, now!"I stumble after her, and the sounds of our village grow even fainter. I can hear the monsters shouting as their footsteps keep getting closer.

Suddenly, my mom stops and turns to me. 

"Listen, Niko! I want you to hide, okay? I'll come back for you, I promise!"

I nodded with tears flowing from my eyes. "But where's Dad?"

My mom hesitated her face filling with worry. "I don't know, baby. But we will find him, I promise. Now hide, and don't come out until I come back for you!" with that she pushes me into a nearby cave and disappears into the darkness, leaving me alone and scared.

Hiding in the cave my mom's words keep echoing in my mind. "Hide, and don't come out until I come back for you!" my mind wanders back to the events that led us here. I remember the warm evening, just a few hours ago, when we were all sitting in our cozy home enjoying a fine dinner together.

 My mom, my dad, and I were laughing and chatting, savoring the delicious food and each other's company.

"Try some of this stew, Niko," my mom said, passing me a steaming bowl of stew. "Your father had made it himself."

I take a bite, and the flavors explode in my mouth. "Mmm, Dad, this is amazing! Thank you. "My dad smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Glad you like it, kiddo."

But then, a very loud scream pierces through the evening air, making us all jump up. It had come from outside somewhere in the village.

"What was that?" Asked my mom.

My dad gets up with a serious expression. "I will go check it out," he said, but before he could even reach the door, another scream echoed through our village, followed by the sound of shattering glass and crunching of wood.

"It's happening," whispered my mom, her voice trembling. "The monsters have come."

And with that chaos erupted. Our door was busted open, and the creatures poure in, their red eyes glowing in the dark.

My dad fought them off, trying to protect us, but there were too many. And that's when my mom grabbed me by my hand and we ran, escaping into the night, leaving my dad behind.

Now, as I hid in the cave, I could not shake off the feeling of guilt and fear. Where is my dad? I he still alive? And what about my mom? Will she come back for me? I wait for what felt like an eternity my heart racing with every snap of a twig and rustle of the leaves. I had to hold back tears while hoping against hope that my mom would come back for me. And just then I heard her screams.

"Run, Niko! Run!" she yells with a voice full of terror.

I looked up, and my heart stopped. My mom is being held by the neck; her feet are dangling in the air. The monster's fangs are sinking deep into her neck, and her eyes are wide with fear.

"Run!" she screams again, her voice fading.

I tried to run, but my legs felt like lead. As I stumbled over and looked back, I saw the monster's eyes on me. I ran into a tree, and everything went black.

When I open my eyes again, I am lying in a small cottage, surrounded by strange people. 

"Welcome, child," an old lady says smiling at me. "You are safe now."I try to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washes over me.

"Where...where's my mom?" I stammered.

The old woman's expression turns somber. "I'm so sorry, child, but We found you alone in the forest. We didn't see your mom."

I felt a lump form in my throat. "Sh sh, she told me to run. She said she would come back for me."

A man who has a scar above his eyebrow speaks up. "We will help you find her, child. But first, you need to rest."

I nodded feeling as tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I know I have to be strong for my mom's sake. But the memory of her screams and the monster's fangs will haunt me forever.

PRESENT TIME

"Niko, go to the village market and collect our monthly food," Thorne said, handing me a worn-out leather pouch containing a few silver coins.

"Ok, Dad," I replied, tucking the pouch into my belt. Fifteen years had passed since that fateful night. I am now 20 years old, and my name is Nikolas, but it was shortened to Niko by the villagers. My adopted father, Thorne had taken me in and raised me as his own.

As I walked to the market, the sun cast a warm glow over the village. I exchanged greetings with familiar faces, and the smell of freshly baked bread moved through the air, making my stomach growl with hunger.

At the market, I collected our monthly supply of flour, vegetables, and a few pieces of salted meat. I also stopped by the blacksmith's stall to pick up a new axe head for Thorne.

Turning around to leave the market I saw my best friend Luca coming out from his home, a warm smile on his face. I walked towards him and we exchanged a hearty handshake.

"Hey, Niko! What brings you here?" Luca asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Just picking up some supplies for Thorne," I replied, nodding towards the pouch of food at my side. "What about you? What's new?"

Luca leans in, his voice taking on a low tone. "I heard rumors about the Vampire King. They say he's getting more and more deranged by the day."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of rumors?"

"That he's locked himself away in his castle, surrounded by his loyal guards," Luca said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Some say he's lost his mind, while others claim he's plotting something big."

I snorted. "I wouldn't put it past him. He's always been a heartless monster."

Luca nodded in agreement. "I know. I still remember the night our village was attacked. If it wasn't for Thorne taking you in..."

I clapped Luca on the back, trying to shake off the dark memories. "Let's not dwell on the past, my friend. We have each other, and that's all that matters."

Luca smiled, but his eyes still held a hint of worry. "You are right, Niko. But be careful, okay? The vampires are getting bolder by the day. We don't know what they are capable of."

I nodded, my grip on my axe tightening. "Don't worry, Luca. I can take care of myself."

Walking away from Luca's house, I heard a melodious voice calling out to me. "Niko!"

I turned around, and my eyes landed on a vision of loveliness, Amanda was one of my many admirers, and standing before me, her bright blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. Her long, golden hair is styled down on her back like a river of sunset waves, and her full lips are curved into a radiant smile.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction. I was, after all, a very handsome man, with a face that many said was even more beautiful than that of a woman. My chiseled features, piercing green eyes, and strong jawline made me the object of desire for many a maiden in the village.

"Niko, I have been looking all over for you," Amanda said, her voice soft and flirtatious. "I was hoping to catch a glimpse of you at the market today."

I smiled, my lips curling upwards in a charming smile. "And now that you have found me, what do you plan to do with me?" I asked, my voice low and teasing.

Amanda giggles, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. "Oh, Niko, you are as charming as ever. I was hoping to persuade you to walk me home. The forest can be so frightening at this time of the day."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her request. "And what makes you think I'm the right man for the task?" I asked, my voice laced with amusement.

 "Because, Niko, I know that you are the only one who can keep me safe." Amanda teased me back.

As I walked Amanda to her home, the sunlight casting a warm glow over the village, she turned to me with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"When will you be coming to take my hand for marriage, Niko?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of playful teasing.

I laughed a deep, rumbling sound because Amanda knew as well as I did that marriage was a luxury that only a few of us could afford. Every year, the newly turned 20-year-olds are sent to the Vampire King's palace, either as slaves or blood banks. And only a few survived.

"Ah, Amanda, you know as well as I do that marriage is a distant dream for us," I said. " And besides, I'm not sure I would make a good husband. I am more likely to get myself killed than provide for a family."

. "That's exactly why I want to marry you, Niko. You're brave, strong, and kind. And I know that together, we could face whatever the Vampire King throws our way."

I sighed, feeling guilty. Amanda deserved a better man than a man like me, not a man who is most likely to be sent to his death in the daytime.

"Amanda, I don't know what to say," I stammered, feeling like a coward.

Amanda's face fell, but she quickly recovered, a bright smile plastered on her face. "Say you will think about it, Niko. That is all I ask."

I nodded, feeling like I was trapped in a web of my own making. "I will think about it, Amanda. I promise." Reaching her doorstep, Amanda leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. "I will hold you to that promise, Niko. And who knows? Maybe we will find a way to escape the Vampire King's clutches and build a life together."

But as we parted ways, I could not shake off the feeling that something was off. The vampires were indeed getting bolder, and I had a feeling that our quiet village was about to be thrust into the midst of their dark world.

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