- Leo -
SCREEEEEEECH!
The truck halted violently, throwing Leo against the cold, unforgiving metal wall. Sharp pain exploded in his shoulder, tearing a silent cry from his lips and stealing his breath. Around him, the terrified cries of the other kids blended with the harsh, metallic groan of the vehicle settling into stillness. The rusted chains around his wrists and ankles rattled ominously, tightening their cruel grip.
What the hell…? Where are we?
Leo's mind spun wildly, searching desperately for answers in the chaos, but finding only a void of fear. He blinked rapidly, his vision swimming as panic clawed at the edge of his thoughts. Why us? What do they want from us?
A sudden creak echoed through the air, deep and metallic, sending chills racing down Leo's spine.
Creeeeaaaak…
The heavy back doors swung slowly open, flooding the cramped interior with blinding white light and frigid air. Leo squinted against the sudden brightness, dread pooling in his stomach.
And then he saw them.
Two figures stood silhouetted against the harsh glow, their presence heavy and unnatural. Leo's eyes widened, a cold terror gripping his heart.
Their hoods were down, fully revealing their faces for the first time.
The one on the left had long, pale-blond hair cascading around his shoulders, gleaming unnaturally. His blood-red eyes seemed to burn, sharp and hungry, his pointed ears twitching slightly, as if picking up every terrified heartbeat from within the truck. Beside him, the second figure stood rigidly, his blond hair tied back into a neat, low ponytail. His expression was cold, sculpted from ice, void of any humanity.
The girl was right…
Leo's stomach churned violently, bile rising in his throat. They really are vampires.
The vampire with the ponytail stepped forward slightly, his voice slicing through the frozen air like a blade. "Out. Now."
No one moved. Leo's body refused to obey, paralyzed by pure, unfiltered fear. The silence stretched unbearably, broken only by the ragged breathing and quiet whimpers of the prisoners.
Impatience flared across the vampire's face. Without another word, he grabbed the chain that bound them together and yanked violently.
Leo gasped as the chains bit deeper into his flesh, tearing him forward and sending him tumbling helplessly from the truck like a discarded doll.
Thud!
He crashed heavily onto the icy ground, face-first, tasting blood and dirt. Pain shot through him again, sharper this time, his hands scraping raw against the frozen earth. He pushed himself up weakly, head spinning, and froze.
Before him rose an enormous castle, dark and foreboding, its towering spires clawing aggressively at the gray sky. Shadows moved and danced along its ancient walls, whispering of horrors hidden deep within.
What… what is this place?
His breath caught in his throat. This castle shouldn't even be here… How is this possible?
"Move, humans," the vampire snarled, pulling sharply on the chains again, forcing the dazed children onto their feet.
Leo stumbled forward, heart pounding like a war drum, the sound echoing in his skull as they approached the castle's massive doors, which slowly groaned open like the hungry jaws of a beast.
Creeeeaaaak…
Inside, the darkness seemed endless—a vast hall filled with shadows. But as his eyes adjusted, Leo saw clearly: countless children, some his age, others younger, their expressions haunted and hollow, eyes wide with the same terror he felt.
Then, in a sudden blur of speed, the vampire moved. One moment he was ahead, the next, he was gone—a swift gust of cold air left in his wake. Leo heard a metallic clink and looked down just as the chains around them fell away, clattering lifelessly to the stone floor.
Silence returned, heavy and suffocating.
What do they want with us? What are they going to do?
Leo's thoughts spiraled, desperate for answers, only to find more questions drowning him in uncertainty.
From the shadows around the hall, countless eyes gleamed crimson, watching hungrily from every corner. Leo felt their predatory gaze crawling over him, evaluating, judging.
His skin crawled as a cold sweat clung to him, breath hitching in uneven bursts.
And then—
"Leo... Leo!"
The sudden voice shattered the silence like glass, but before he could react—
—a memory flickered.
He was lying on the grass in his backyard. Warm sunlight filtered through the trees. The air smelled like fresh-cut grass and Mom's curry. Ryo was there, laughing over some dumb joke, and Milo was throwing pebbles into the pond. No chains. No shadows. Just... peace.
Why does that feel so far away?
"Leo! Hey, Leo!"
Leo turned sharply, the memory vanishing like smoke.
"Ryo?"
Relief surged through him, and he found himself moving before he could even think, stumbling toward the familiar face in this nightmarish place. "Are you… are you okay?"
Ryo gave him a look filled with bitter irony. "Do I look okay, Leo?"
Leo opened his mouth, then quickly shut it again, embarrassment briefly cutting through his fear. Stupid question. Of course, he's not okay. None of us are.
He wanted to say something comforting, but his words felt hollow, useless. Finally, his voice dropped to a shaky whisper, "Do you have any idea what they want? Why would they take so many of us?"
Ryo shook his head slowly, his expression darkening further. "No clue. I've been here for hours, Leo. They're just watching us. Waiting."
"Waiting?"
Leo felt his gut tighten like a knot. "Waiting for what?"
"I don't know," Ryo replied, voice low and bitter. "But look around. They're watching us like livestock."
Livestock…
The word sank into Leo like a stone in water. Is that really all we are now? Animals waiting for slaughter?
He clenched his fists, forcing back the tremble threatening to escape. "Let's just… sit down," he finally managed, voice raw.
Together, they sank against one of the towering stone pillars, the cold biting through their skin and soul alike. Around them, silence and shadows reigned, broken only by soft sobs and quiet whimpers.
Time lost all meaning in that darkness. Seconds stretched into eternities, minutes into lifetimes. Leo's mind drifted helplessly, the same unanswered questions repeating endlessly, tormenting him.
What do they want with us? How do we survive this?
Then, with a sudden, ominous groan, the massive doors opened again, interrupting his thoughts. Leo and Ryo turned, hearts clenching, as another group of terrified children was shoved roughly into the hall.
Leo saw Ryo suddenly stiffen beside him, eyes locked intensely onto someone within the new group. "Leo," Ryo whispered urgently. "I see Milo."
Leo's breath caught in his chest, eyes darting through the terrified faces until finally settling on the familiar one approaching them, pale and shaken.
He barely had time to feel relief before Milo collapsed to the floor, gasping desperately for air.
"Milo!" Leo shouted, leaping to his feet and dropping to his knees beside the boy, panic tightening around his chest like a vice.
Milo was struggling for air, his breaths shallow and rapid. His face was pale—too pale—and sweat clung to his forehead like dew on glass.
"Where is it?!" Ryo was already on the ground beside them, rummaging through Milo's jacket with trembling hands. "Where's your inhaler?!"
Milo weakly lifted a hand and pointed to his side pocket. Ryo grabbed the small device and shoved it into Milo's hands. The boy took it, barely able to raise it to his mouth.
Come on… come on… please…
Milo took one puff—then another. A few excruciating seconds passed, until finally, his chest began to rise more steadily. The color returned faintly to his cheeks, though his hands still shook.
"You okay?" Leo asked, barely able to hide the tremor in his voice.
Milo nodded weakly. "Yeah… better now," he whispered, his voice so soft it was barely audible.
Leo exhaled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding and reached out, squeezing Milo's shoulder. "You're safe. We're here."
Even as the words left his lips, they felt like lies.
Safe? In this place?
The blood in Leo's veins felt like ice, thick and unmoving. No one here is safe.
They sat in silence for a while, huddled together against the pillar. The cold stone at their backs, the stillness of the hall, the low whispers of fear… everything pressed in, slow and suffocating.
Leo's mind refused to stay still. It kept replaying what he'd seen—the vampires, their glowing eyes, the castle that shouldn't exist. Milo's near collapse had only added another layer of terror to an already unbearable nightmare.
And then, everything shifted.
The atmosphere grew dense. The air, already heavy, suddenly felt sharp and unnatural—like the walls themselves were holding their breath.
Something's coming…
A figure stepped out from the far shadows.
Leo froze.
He wasn't like the others.
This vampire was tall, his dark clothing trimmed with crimson accents that shimmered faintly under the torchlight. His presence radiated authority—and something else. Something colder. He didn't walk—he glided. Effortless. Dominant. His shadow didn't quite match his movement, lagging half a second behind, like it belonged to something else.
And every eye in the hall turned to him.
His gaze alone was enough to silence the room. The whispers died. The sobs stopped.
When he spoke, his voice was calm—but every word cut like ice.
"Form two lines. Now."
Nobody moved.
Not because they didn't understand. But because they were paralyzed by the fear that had just stepped into the room.
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Then, without a single word, another vampire emerged from the shadows, as if summoned by thought alone. He wore a plain dark coat, unlike the crimson-trimmed figure above. He walked slowly, deliberately, to the front row of children.
And grabbed a boy. A small one—barely fourteen.
"No—!" someone cried.
But it was too late.
Shhk!
The vampire plunged his hand into the boy's stomach with terrifying ease. Blood sprayed across the stone floor. There was no scream—only silence. The boy's body went limp before he even hit the ground.
Thud!
Leo's stomach twisted violently. A bitter taste coated his tongue.
"If you don't want to end up like this," the vampire in the crimson-trimmed coat said coldly, his voice echoing off the walls, "move."
And this time—they moved.
The fear was absolute. No one dared hesitate again.
Leo stood on shaking legs, grabbing Milo by the arm. Ryo followed close behind as the three of them joined the shuffling line that began to form, each child terrified, each one waiting for the unknown.
The line crawled forward.
At the front of the room, vampires sat behind a long, dark table. Each of them held strange devices—something like guns, but with glass vials attached. They gleamed faintly in the dim light, their purpose unclear… but the air reeked of something clinical. Calculated. The scent stung Leo's nose—like alcohol and iron.
Leo's breath grew sharp and uneven as he approached. The boy in front of him stepped up.
A vampire grabbed the boy's arm, pressed the device against his skin—click—and the vial began to fill with blood.
The vampire examined it for a moment.
"Move forward."
Leo tensed.
Then it was his turn.
He stepped forward, and cold hands seized his arm.
Stay calm. Don't resist. Don't give them an excuse.
The device pressed against his skin. A brief, stinging pain. The vial began to fill.
Leo stared at the blood inside, pulse hammering like a storm.
They're not just collecting samples… They're searching for something.
The vampire studied his vial for a moment… then nodded. "Move forward."
Leo let out a shaky breath and turned to watch the others.
Ryo stepped up next, jaw clenched tight. The vampire barely glanced at him as the device drained the vial. After a pause, the same cold nod—"Move forward."
Relief flashed in Leo's chest for a second—at least Ryo was safe.
Then it was Milo's turn.
The same process began—device to arm, blood in vial.
But this time… something changed.
The vampire examining Milo's blood didn't speak.
Instead, he made a silent gesture with his hand.
Wait…
Leo's eyes widened as two vampires emerged instantly from the shadows, grabbing Milo from both sides.
"Wait! No!" Leo tried to step forward, but Ryo grabbed him, holding him back.
Milo looked at them, confused. Frightened.
"Leo…?"
Then he was gone.
Dragged away into the dark.
That was the last time Leo ever saw him.
Leo stood frozen, the image of Milo being dragged away burned into his mind.
Why him? What did they see in his blood?
His fists trembled. Why couldn't I stop them?
But there was no time to think. The line moved forward, and he had to move with it—or risk ending up like the boy before.
They were herded through a tall archway, down a long, narrow corridor lit by dim torches clinging to the stone walls. The flickering light painted moving shadows on every face, every surface. It felt like the darkness itself was watching.
Ryo stayed close beside Leo, silent, his face pale and unreadable.
Leo's feet felt heavier with each step.
Please don't let this be another nightmare. Please… wake up…
But it wasn't a dream.
They entered another enormous hall—much colder, much quieter.
And then Leo saw it.
Rows upon rows of metal beds stretched across the chamber. On each one lay a child, motionless, their limbs limp and pale. Tubes extended from their arms, thick and coiling, like veins made of glass and black wires. Blood flowed from them, glowing red under the dim light, all of it collecting into massive containers that pulsed faintly in the corners of the room.
Leo's breath caught in his throat.
No…
His legs refused to move.
He wanted to scream.
He wanted to run.
But a vampire behind him gave him a brutal shove.
Thud!
Leo collapsed onto the cold, stone floor, scraping his knees and hands. Before he could rise, a voice hissed behind him.
"Find a bed, livestock."
Then a glob of spit landed beside his face.
Ryo rushed to his side, reaching a hand down. "Come on," he said quietly.
Leo looked up at him for a long second. He didn't take the hand.
For a second, he almost wished the vampire had finished him right there. At least then, it would've ended.
No. Not now. I don't need help. Not when they're doing this to us. Not after what they did to Milo. To my parents. To all these kids…
His hands clenched into fists, knuckles white. I swear… I'll make them pay for all of it.
But then—he forced himself to stop.
No. Not now. This isn't the time for rage. First, I need to understand. I need answers. What are they really after? Why now? Why us?
He let out a slow breath, forcing the tension out of his shoulders. Then looked back at Ryo.
"…Sorry," he muttered. "I didn't mean to snap."
Ryo gave a small nod, crouching beside him. "I get it. Really. You're frustrated. It's okay."
They rose together, silent.
Around them, the other kids moved in silence, broken and terrified, each one picking a bed like prisoners choosing the cell they'd die in.
They exchanged a glance—and without a word, searched for beds side by side.
Leo's body moved without permission. Like he was watching from somewhere else. A puppet pulled by invisible strings.
He found an empty bed and sat down.
The moment his back touched the cold metal—
CLANK!
Chains shot out from the sides, snapping around his wrists and ankles with brutal precision.
Click. Click. Click.
He jerked instinctively, but it was no use.
And then came the tubes.
Slick, black cables slithered forward like living things, wrapping around his arms, locking onto his veins.
Psshk.
Pain bloomed in his skin as the needles plunged in, and a chilling sensation rushed through him as the blood began to flow.
Leo gasped, his strength already slipping away, as if the tubes were stealing not just his blood—but his will.
His body grew colder with every passing second.
The lights dimmed.
His vision blurred.
They're not just draining us…
They're draining who we are.
He stared at the ceiling, eyes wide and unblinking, as the edges of the world began to fade.
Faces flashed in his mind—Ryo. Milo. His parents. That day in the street.
I can't… I can't lose myself here…
But the darkness didn't care.
It swallowed him whole.
And everything went black.