I do not own Hellsing. (Except Tilly)
Slime coated the cold stones.
My breath came in short pants as the grimy water seemed to cling to me and drag me down, the rounded walls becoming smaller and smaller.
Freedom was as far away as the moon, which soon disappeared as I submerged.
The muffled peace of underwater surrounded me.
I jerked awake. My sheets were tangled around my legs. Sweat was pouring down my body. I couldn't get enough oxygen; suddenly the barracks were far too small.
I got up and pulled my boots on, without grabbing my coat I walked out into the night.
The chill air was a relief on my hot skin, the open space chasing away the nightmare and the uneasiness.
"If you are not careful, you'll get eaten."
I jumped and pulled out the knife at my side.
Sir Integra gave me an amused look as she puffed on her fine cigar.
"It's nice to know that exhaustion doesn't dull your reflexes, but you should have heard me coming."
"Is everything a goddamn test to you?" I sheathed my knife and stood beside her.
She didn't answer.
"What are you doing out here Tilly?"
"Why are you?"
She raised an eyebrow, but continued to look at the sky.
"The barracks got a bit cramped is all."
We stood there in silence.
"There is a battle coming soon Tilly, I suggest you savor your uneasiness, before it turns into full blown terror."
I looked where Sir Integra had her eyes fixed, and I saw fire rising from the distance. And soon screams of ghouls and humans alike tore through my mind.
I put my hands over my ears.
"Make it stop!"
She only stood there, completely still. The ash of her cigar falling to the ground the only motion.
"MAKE IT STOP!"
"TILLY!"
My eyes flew open and they met the cold blues of Sir Integra.
Matthew was right behind her.
"I don't know what came over her ma'am! She just began screaming!"
I felt a cool hand on my forehead.
"Tilly? Are you completely mad?"
It seemed a simple enough question.
"What the fuck do you think? I've stayed here all this time haven't I?"
She smirked.
"You watch your language, now get up or you'll be training without breakfast."
She left the barracks, leaving behind the scent of expensive tobacco.
I threw my legs over the side of my cot, my head in my hands.
"Are you gonna be alright?"
I looked up at Matthew, he looked like he was going to piss himself, or shoot me, precisely in that order.
I shrugged.
"Don't get too close, you might catch the crazy."
I got up and put on my coat, not bothering with anything else I left Matthew behind.
I didn't know if Sir Integra would find any meaning in my dream, but the screams haunted me. I had to put them to rest. Somehow.
I reminisced about the first time I had stood in front of the giant oak door of Sir Integra's study. I laughed as I remembered how I had thought Sir Integra was a man, though she did have a tendency towards the masculine, there was a maliciousness and presence that was very distinctly female.
I was just about to knock, when I heard Pip's voice. What was he doing here? Shouldn't he be stuffing his face with the rest of the men?
"Sir Integra you are being unreasonable! If there is an attack coming from Millennium I want Tilly out of here as soon as possible! She's had her fun training, but you can't actually intend to let her fight!"
I heard an annoyed intake of breath.
"As I said before, she made her choice; she could have turned her back on us at any time and jumped ship, but . . ."
She paused, and I heard slight whisperings.
"Well I can see I won't convince you, why don't you let Tilly do it herself?"
The door opened silently, and Integra and Pip stared at me.
She motioned me inside.
"Well Tilly? Prove to your brother that you can do this. Alucard!"
"Yes Master?"
"Please help with the demonstration."
Oh shit.
I grabbed the lamp on the table by the door, broke it at the neck and held it up to Alucard.
"Come anywhere near me you toothy bastard and I will shove this places you never knew you had!"
Laughter rumbled throughout the room.
"That should be enough to convince you Mr. Bernadotte. Your sister has a hate for inhuman creatures that nearly rivals my own."
I lowered my makeshift weapon, but I didn't take my eyes off of Alucard. Why the hell was I being put through this now?
"But-"
"I took over this organization when I was only thirteen, the same age as Tilly. If I hear any more opposition from you, I would be happy to give you a room down in Alucard's cellar."
Pip's face turned red, and I could hear his teeth grind from where I stood.
"Then you will have a child's blood on your hands!"
Pip grabbed my arm, forcing me to drop the broken lamp. He dragged me out of the study before I had processed enough of what had just happened to wrench myself out of his grip.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"First thing in the morning I am putting you on the first boat out of the country."
"The hell you are! I won't just leave all of you!"
Pip turned to me with a desperate look; he got down on his knees and grabbed my shoulders.
"Do you not understand you could die? You are thirteen years old! I won't have your blood spilt because of me!"
I put my hands on his shoulders and shoved him away.
"You don't get it! This is so much bigger than my life or your life! This is about humanity itself! And I will not run away on some damned ship because I might get a few scratches!"
I kept my grip on his shoulders, my fingers tightening.
"I am not afraid Pip! I've told you this a thousand times before and I will say it again! Death does not scare me!"
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Want to know what I am scared of?"
I felt him nod.
"Being completely and utterly alone, if I lost you or you sent me away I would cry like a baby."
I pulled away and, looked into the face of my older brother. He had always been so big and strong. He annoyed me to no end with his bad jokes and constant smoking.
But now he had a sad look in his eyes. He may as well have already been at my funeral.
"I will never forgive you if you die petite tireuer."
I smirked at him.
"You know me better than that."
He smiled.
"Let's make a deal Tilly, if either of us dies in this, we have to promise whoever is alive has to stay that way until it is over."
He took off his glove and spit in his hand.
"But until then,"
He held out his saliva covered hand.
"Promise me that you will survive."
I looked into his face, took off my own glove and hacked the biggest loogie I could in my hand.
"If you promise to survive."
He laughed, and grabbed my hand tightly.
"Consider it a deal."
And we shook.
I was walking back to the barracks after dinner when a horrible sound pierced my ears.
The distant shrill ground itself into my mind, and caused me to shiver in my bones.
The red alarm screamed it's warning to every edge of the Hellsing estate.
It had begun.
To be continued . . .
