Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters of Vampire Knight. I only own my OC's.
Engulfed in darkness, and surrounded by thick trees, I could see nothing but the faint glow of the moon peering above. The celestial body was hiding behind the leaves as it observed me from afar, glimmering in joy upon seeing my suffering. But I paid no mind and continued to focus on my desire to escape from the thorns of reality.
Heavy footsteps, running desperately, trying to maneuver through the darkness
Haggard breathing, hungry for air.
Heart thundering, ready to jump out of one's chest.
Beads of sweat rolling down, like falling rain.
All in which are mine. I've been running for what seemed like forever, not even knowing where I was headed to as I blindly allotted whatever faith I had left on my pair of feet that somehow had manage to function despite my current state of mind.
I felt exhausted—no, that would be an understatement. My body was similar to that of a used up rag—faded out designs, thread poking out in all sorts of places, and left behind to mold in the creases between the washing machine and the wall—long forgotten.
I was just tired of everything. So done with life. But did I even initiate it? What is life to begin with? Did I start life as soon as I was born to this crazy world? Or was there more to it than simply breathing and counting the number of birthdays? I don't know. I was too busy running to even think—too busy running for my life.
How ironic.
I question the meaning of life—yet here I am, desperately grabbing onto the thin thread of hope.
I wonder what brought me to this situation? My clothes were tattered, I didn't have shoes on, and as for my destination—everything was just a big question mark. I was running blind. My mind ceased to function hours ago, and as of now, all I could do was rely on my survival instincts—something I didn't dream of doing months ago. What did I ever do to deserve this? Before I could finish that thought, I let out a cuss as I tripped on a rock, of course not noticing that it was there, seemingly as I can't see anything.
Great.
I couldn't count how many times I've kissed the floor, or rolled on the uneven ground—which left my body to be black and blue all over. It would've probably be on the Guinness World Records if I had counted more properly. Although that should be the least of my worries.
I picked myself up as soon as I slammed onto a tree, but it seems like I twisted my ankle from the horrid fall and I quickly fell back to the ground as quickly as I tried to get myself back up. I groaned in pain.
My ears perked at the sounds of growing footsteps behind me, and adrenaline rushed through my veins as it drew closer. I struggled to run—walk—crawl! I did whatever I could do to distance myself away from... that thing. But reality was brutally harsh, and I couldn't move, not even an inch, despite all my efforts to. I was petrified with fear. I felt weak, meek, hopeless, powerless—I should stay positive.
I tried using words of comfort by telling myself that everything was alright, that everything was going to be fine but... deep down, I knew. I knew that I was telling myself lies— that I was running away from reality. But, for once, I just wanted to believe that everything was truly alright. So much for staying positive.
"It's here..." I said, in a whisper, sensing its presence a few inches behind me. I dared not to look back, and could only close my eyes, as I waited—waited for all of this to be over. But as time passed on, it merely continued to stay in the same position; hot breath against my sickly white neck, as if waiting for me to run and chase me once more. Like a sick game. And I didn't know what to do, so I ran. Ran like it wanted me to as terror displayed over my pale and rather disheveled face, but my legs failed to realize the danger I was in and before I even had the chance to distance myself from that thing, I fell. Not just because of my twisted ankle, but also from exhaustion—from all the pointless running. It was inevitable to escape fate, and I certainly learned that the hard way; cheating death was like trying to make hell freeze over, and to think I even had a chance... I'm so naive to even have thought of that. I chuckled to myself, a depreciating smile making its way to my chapped lips.
I hung my head low in defeat, hot tears that I've been trying to hold back since the moment I ran, came running down like a broken faucet. Only, then, did I allow myself to feel weak, breaking the strong front I usually find myself doing—unconsciously and consciously—and to finally accept the reality that I've been neglecting this whole time. I clenched the moist soil, which my tears fell on, as I asked the moon that shone through all the darkness, the witness of my fall and despair, with much hatred.
"Why… why me?"
I woke up drenched in cold sweat, and eyes blurred with tears. I couldn't remember the dream, but for some reason, I felt extremely terrified as my heart continued to pound thunderously against my chest. I stared at the ceiling for a while, trying to collect myself before swinging my legs to the side of the bed, placing my feet on the carpeted floor. I wiped the thin sheet of sweat that gathered on my forehead, and blinked the tears away—wondering why I was such in a state. Although I quickly dismissed the thought as one of my 'nightly episodes'. The dreamland never liked me, but if you asked for my opinion, the feelings were pretty mutual. Nightmares were normal, well definitely not to the average person, but for me, it was something I had to grow accustomed to, starting from a young age. But despite that, it was not an easy task to handle. Not all nightmares were the same, others were somewhat heart-friendly-ish and some were just downright terrible. Those type of nightmares were the hardest ones to handle. And this is where my trusty sleeping pills come in. Though they weren't 100% liable, per se, at least they made going to bed more tolerable. Unfortunately, I just ran out of them yesterday and I forgot to buy some today after work. As important as they are, forgetfulness was one difficult obstacle that was not easy to triumph over despite my seventeen years of living on this planet. If I'm having memory troubles now, I wonder how it's going to be like when I turn old and crusty?
I sighed upon hearing the grandfather clock by the living room, a floor below me, chime, signaling that it was midnight. I guess I'll be staying up tonight. I grumbled as I rolled off the bed, heading downstairs toward the kitchen; the old wooden floor boards, which I never had noticed until today, creaked at my every step. Thereof adding to my list of things that irritated me the most on this particular night. I started counting to ten, just like I always do to calm myself, in order to refrain my balled fist from punching—I mean, letting it accidentally slam into the worn down walls with much force.
Creeeeak
I froze at the sound of the front door creaking open. An intruder? Fantastic. Just fantastic. That's what I totally need right now, and it's as if my list of annoying things weren't already long enough.
I stealthily moved around the dark, using the intruder's unawareness to my advantage, as I progressed from the kitchen to the living room, where I was hiding behind a sofa, just far enough from the intruder's field of view but relatively near enough to see his movements. It was too dim to see his face, but I'm certain the silhouette was of a man's.
As soon as he got close to my hiding spot, I pounced on him and knocked him to the ground, quickly grabbing his arm and pinning him down onto the floor. Just to be extra sure that the intruder had no means of escape, I situated myself on top of his back, although that probably didn't do much since I wasn't really that heavy to begin with, but I felt safe knowing that I would have the upper hand if ever he tried to fight back.
"Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?" I whispered into his ear, my cold voice resounding in the silence. I slightly tightened my hold on his arm, in a threatening manner, making him wince from the pain.
"My name's Ivan Orlovsky—" he winced once again, "I have no ill intentions, whatsoever, though as bad as it may seem for me to be entering a girl's house in the middle of the night, I just wanted to visit my cute model," he mildly chuckled at his own words.
"Ivan?" I stumbled as I hurriedly withdraw myself from his back.
"I'm really sorry... I didn't know—uh—that it was you," I mumbled and caressed the back of my neck whilst avoiding eye contact, guilty of what I've just done. But Ivan just shook his head in a forgiving way, despite all the troubles I've caused. Well it was in my self-defense, so I'm partial to blame. Plus I just woke up! I could barely think straight. I thought to myself, as if trying to lessen the guilt.
"It's alright, it was my fault for not turning the lights on," he smiles, finally switching it on; his face coming into view.
He was a young man around his late 20's, wearing a plain white shirt and blue faded jeans. Ivan is a tall man like his father, standing at six feet tall. He also had light blonde hair like his mother. But unlike his mother, who had nice straight hair, his hair was always in a mess and looked as if he had never brushed it for days. Nevertheless, he actually still looked quite attractive in it. In addition, he had cerulean eyes that looked like the ocean's blue. You could stare at it for only seconds and it would be as if you were drowning, unable to resurface and rid your eyes from his.
"You couldn't sleep?" he asked, and in reply I could only shake my head 'no'.
I returned him with another question, "How about you? Why are you out so late—well, technically, early in the morning," I eyed him suspiciously. Ivan usually calls, or texts, me before coming to my house, but I don't remember taking any calls earlier in the evening so it struck me as weird when he came in the way he did—in the middle of the night.
"Hmm... yeah about that," he smiled nervously as he paused, thinking of what to say next, his facial expression degrading by the second. He opened and closed his mouth for a while as if trying to correct his sentence before the words had a chance to actually form, but in the end, he finally opted to say, "We're going to Japan! Yay..." he said as he awkwardly raise, and shook, both his hands in a sign of celebration. I stared at him, unable to know how to respond or react.
"No." I said, after a minute's pause, as I paced back to the kitchen. Ivan followed suit and trotted behind. Japan? Out of all places… why Japan? Can't this day get any crappier as it is.
"Please? This job pays really well, and I mean, really well!" He grabbed my wrist, which made my movements halt to a stop.
I sighed, "By no, I also really mean no." I nudged his hand away and turned to face him with pleading eyes. "You know I don't care about money, Ivan, so please, just this once, or at least not yet. I'm not ready to go back to that place." I was one who was most unlikely to refuse Ivan's requests, be it regarding my modeling career or just any regular day, despite whatever absurd things he requested for, so anyone that was close to me would faint out of shock if they ever heard about this. With a sigh, Ivan hesitantly answered 'fine', unable to go against my pleas.
"Thank you," I said in relief, but all the while smiling with utmost sincerity and gratitude.
When I was about to open the refrigerator door, Ivan called out and made me stopped in my tracks, "Oh by the way, here are some sleeping pills. Good thing I carry around one because knowing you, you probably forgot to buy some." Ivan handed a pill and, without a second thought, I accepted it.
"Shut up! I had tons of things that lingered on my mind on the way home to work, and I just happen to dismiss all thoughts of buying one." I hissed as I grabbed a glass of water, but my eyes were laughing along to his chuckles. After a few exchange of words, Ivan looked at the time and bit his lips as he urged me to go to sleep, reminding me that I had work tomorrow early in the morning. "Thanks by the way," I motioned the pill, slightly smiling, before dousing it with a glass of water. I placed the glass down, and not soon after that, I immediately felt drowsiness set in.
Ivan caught me in his arms before I could even as much as touch the floor. He didn't want to resort into doing such methods, but he knew it had to be done. Ivan carefully carried my motionless body in his arms and proceeded to lay me down on the bed as he walked towards the closet to pack my things. After he was done with packing, he glanced at me, who was very much unaware of the events that were about to unfold; sleeping comfortably and completely defenseless, like an innocent new-born baby. He whispered a small apology before proceeding to carry me in his arms as he walked towards his car along with my belongings.
The car engine roared and the wheels reeled as it moved to its destination with much speed. Not once did it stop or look back to the empty house. It just continued to go on farther, undeviating.
No, don't go.
It said in a sorrowful voice but behind its facade, I knew it was laughing at me; a cackle that mocked my whole being. And as I thought I was gone for, its smile indicated otherwise. Thereof the chase started once again, except this time, I wasn't running. But instead, it was the one walking away, and no, I wasn't chasing it either. Despite the confused look on my face, it continued to walk away in a deathly slow pace as fear dawned over me once again, leaving me to wonder what it was going to do next.
After what seemed like an eternity, relief washed over me, thinking that I was safe but, alas, it only lasted for a few brief seconds before it was replaced with a renewed terror when it suddenly began to speak.
"I'll find you, and I'll chase after you again. So just wait for me, because I'm definitely coming back for you, my dear Akane..."
It was quite a distance away from where I lay, but I could still see its smile; sharp teeth glistening under the moon's light, as if the stage light only focused on its sickening wide smile. It disappeared into the darkness, and now the stage light was on me, flickering, until I, too, was swallowed into the abyss.
A/N: Hey there! This is my first fanfiction here (huzzah!) so please go easy on me~ I'm also sorry for any grammatical errors if you come across one! OTL But I hope you like the prologue! :'D it'd be nice if you'd leave a review and express your views (see what I did there? No? Oh okay…) on this chapter, It'll help me a lot! And by the way, I love me some constructive criticism and it'd be nice if you left me one~
