Disclaimer:
I do not own Dark Souls, nor the rest of the Soulsborne series. FromSoftware and its respective president, Hidetaka Miyazaki, are the only ones that lay claim to such a lofty franchise.

Without further ado, here is my first fanfic. I do hope you enjoy.

Speech: "Yo."
Thoughts: 'Damn, I screwed up.'
Memories: 'Oh my. Am I burning?'

The first sensation which registered into my already sluggish mind was the mismatched array of colors blinding my sight. Next came the feeling of being encased in stone as my limbs barely register the commands given to them. This was the first day at the Undead Asylum, adjusting to my body.

The following day was composed the same as the previous one. Becoming fully accustomed to my body was a rather joyous occasion. That was until all hope had bled out of me. Both in the literal and figurative sense. It was my fault the entire Asylum had been painted red.

Being the only Undead who still retained blood within my decayed flesh made me quite the outcast. Even amongst my kind. My experience here only led to one conclusion;

Hope was an illusion only the foolish would cling to. The few who remained sane to this day should simply surrender and waste away, it was what I'm currently attempting. However, despite my adamant refusal to admit it…

I could not go Hollow. It is an impossibility given how Undead live. No matter how many times I had made the attempt to let go of everything, to lose my sanity, my very subconscious seems to resist.

'Why does it resist anyway? 'Tis ridiculous to even remain lucid! How much longer until the end of the world anyway? How long will it take until I cease to be? Oh, if only I no longer existed. It would be a blessing.'

Clutching a peculiar doll, my dried flesh still shivered against the frigid sensation of stone.

A heavy sigh escaped my parted lips. Before I could return to my meaningless thoughts, the groaning of rusted metal greeted my ears. Tilting my head back, my eyes were transfixed on the knight above. He was free. He managed to reach freedom. And this, in turn, gave birth to an uncharacteristic urge to rebel against my fate. To live my life as I see fit.

"H..H.." I attempted to speak. To question how he had escaped. I needed to know. Too much time had passed with every failed attempt, I couldn't help my need to know.

Before I could make another attempt at speaking, lamentably, he interrupted me. "You're no Hollow, eh? Thank goodness… Here is this key I found for your cell. I will meet you properly further inside. Stay alive, will you?"

Without any further prompt, a corpse was promptly dumped into the vacuous space in front of me. Even after jumping a little my body made due to the temporary fright, I silently thanked the gods for the smallest of miracles. Although… Were it not for the unsavory decay of my flesh, I would have most likely emitted a high-pitched squeal at what, I guess, could be considered as being spooked. And I didn't need an individual to consider me to be a dainty maiden.

Pushing my thoughts aside, I inched my way to the body and looted the key which was lodged through its chest. A rather unique method to kill, certainly. Rather commendable if I were to say so myself.

My right arm extended out, my hand closing on the means to my escape.

' Held by chains and gagged by cloth, as I am currently unable to tear the bastard limb from limb, I could only glare through my crimson locks of hair at the bloody god who sacrificed my family. For what, I did not know. However, he had to pay. He will be subjected to the worst form of torture imaginable. It was the only thing he deserved. And as I was branded because of him, as I became an Undead, I could only curse his name and his kin. Gwyn. I will make you pay. And if not me, someone will.'

I came to with a jolt. Just what was that? A memory? A hallucination? A shiver ran down my spine.

Whatever the case, despite the now bizarre fear of hollowing settling over my shoulders, I set off. Opening my cell and traversing the hall was rather simplistic. Killing the Hollows that did not have any hostile intent was merely a bonus as their souls, although meager, empowered me.

It was a rather strange sensation too. Not too dissimilar to bathing one's self and having your attention drift away. Strange, yet pleasant to the utmost degree.

I had to wonder. Just how will it feel if I were to take millions of souls?

After the umpteenth madman was felled to my hands via a swift shove down the stairs with multiple sickening cracks to my satisfaction, I glared down at the misshapen shape that remained. Absorbing its soul was thrice as satisfying given the ball of iron it almost hit me with.

Going back down the stairs, I gingerly slipped into the small hole in the wall only to freeze in place.

The sight which greeted me left me paralyzed. The sight before me left me without a word to say. And what could I have done? I couldn't believe what I was seeing. And no matter how many times I vehemently denied it, there was nothing that could change reality.

My savior was dying.

"You can't die now. You can't." A raspy, dry voice shakily escaped my parted lips. It sounded a little too harsh to my ears despite the attempt to speak quietly. Even so, the desperation within my chest could not be mistaken for anything else.

From what I can see, even turning his gaze my way must have taken a large effort on his part.

"You are a godsend, to come at this moment… I'm done for, I'm afraid… My insides are damaged… I'll die soon, then lose my sanity. Hah hah… Hear me out, will you?"

That was enough. I may not have left anything behind once arriving in this gods forsaken prison, but I Could not. Will not to leave him to die.

Kneeling, I gently slipped my arm across his back and lifted him to his feet in the most considerable manner I could muster as I ignored every sound of protest he made.

"Please, do not give up. It may be hypocritical of me to say this… But you must live for me. As I will live on your behalf. Let us try our best as we think of one another." While I was thankful for the excess of mindless Undead I slaughtered and their souls for easing my ability to speak, I sounded desperate. It was a desperate attempt to attempt to stave off insanity in this manner anyway. And yet… His silent nod gave me a reassurance that we may continue down our path to the future. Together as comrades.

Once arriving at the bonfire not far from the shortcut nearby, I carefully lowered the man in my arms as the warmth of the Flame washed over us. It was an indescribable sensation. I had not felt this serene in the many decades I was sure that must have passed me by. This bonfire felt as if it were my shelter. No, that did not convey my thoughts properly. It is my home.

"I am Oscar of Astora. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" The knight broke through my thoughts only to cause another to replace it with another.

What is my name? If I were to have any right to such a thing, there was only one thought which appeared in the forefront of my mind. The appearance of lava and fire.

"I do not remember. However, I ask you to call me Láng."

Well, that was a rather unspectacular cliffhanger. Could have been better too. As for the pacing, it fits rather well for someone desperate to be free. Don't you think so? And considering certain locations and enemies from the game, the pace would differ between decent and steady for specific circumstances. And then there's enemies like Ornstein and Smough who would practically drive her to desperation. Maybe. Can't go on and spoil everything, can I~?

In any case, the next chapter will be up in a few days. Take care!