She couldn't sleep.

Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing hadn't slept in days. Every time she tried to close her eyes, images started flashing. She saw things. It had started with waves of blood, and snapping fangs. Gradually, it built up to things that would drive men insane thinking about too hard. She hadn't even closed her eyes for a second now. Her eyes were dry from trying her hardest not to blink anymore. Even a split second could be too long now.

They had passed beyond the realms of insanity and only gotten worse. Creatures born purely of madness now squirmed and writhed through her mind. Sometimes she even saw them when her eyes were open, at the edges of her sight. Things moving in the corners of the room. Things creeping closer. She'd faced terrible creatures. Horrid vampires with incredible power. She even had one serving her command. None of it compared.

Nothing compared to these creatures.

She stayed only in her room now. She had ordered the window blocked up and paved over. When the night came, she couldn't stand seeing the darkness outside. She could see them in any dark place. They would always come. She sensed they would soon be bold enough to come out into the light. Her room was always lit now. Everything had been taken out, leaving her sitting in the room alone on the floor. There was nowhere for them to hide, light hitting every square inch, her eyes always watching. So long awake and her eyes started playing tricks on her even in the full light. Things were moving where there was nothing to move. They were always there, around her, somewhere.

"Alucard... I need you."

The door opened the moment she spoke, and a tall man stepped in. "Lady Hellsing."

"Don't call me that."

"I'll call you whatever I want."

She looked up, only really half surprised to find it was not Alucard. "Who are you?"

He knelt down in front of her, his mad eyes drilling into hers. "I am your nightmare. I am the things you see moving in the corner. The presence always in the darkness. I am in your mind, destroying who you are inch by inch until all that remains is a husk that I will consume." He stood up, looking down at her like she was a meal. "Your vampire was delicious."

Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing slowly stood up. "Stop playing with me. If you plan to eat me, just do it already. I've tired of your shadow play."

He seemed unimpressed. "You're not the first to say that. Regardless, I will comply."

His eyes flashed, and his hand reached out to her, growing and wrapping around her. She vanished in his hand, torn apart piece by piece, until nothing remained.

"...You were one of the strongest souls I've ever consumed. You were afraid, but you did not beg. You did not cower. You did not run or hide. I respect you. Goodbye."