Authors Note:
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"To escape this dreadful Hunter's Dream, halt the source of the spreading scourge of beasts, lest the night carry on forever."
As vague as Gehrman's statement was, that became Bell's mission. After putting on what Gehrman called a hunter's outfit, he prayed at a gravestone and he found himself in what appeared to be a medical room of some kind. Gone was the safety of the hunter's dream as Bell was now plunged into a completely new atmosphere. In an effort to calm himself down, Bell took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Calm down Bell, calm down. Gehrman said in order to escape this dream I just have to slay a few beasts. Think of this as a sneak peek as to what the adventurer's life is like.
Once Bell calmed down, he found a note that was right next to where he awoke.
Seek Paleblood to transcend the hunt.
At the time, Bell didn't know what to think about the note but stored it in the back of his mind.
The young boy walked down the steps of the medical room and he was immediately attacked by a monstrous beast that was quite easily the scariest thing he has ever encountered. Bell, in a panic, dropped his saw cleaver and was immediately feasted upon by the beast.
That was Bell's first death and definitely would not be the last.
After Bell's third attempt at trying and failing to defeat the beast, Gehrnam offered to teach Bel how to properly use the saw cleaver and hunters pistol. Bell was amazed that the crude looking saw cleaver was actually a transformable weapon.
After Gehrman's lessons, Bell became proficient with the saw cleaver and was finally able to kill the beast when he cleaved it right between the eyes. Blood and brain matter splattered Bell's face, causing him to bend over and empty his stomach acids all over the floor.
When he recovered, the young hunter walked out of the medical clinic and was greeted with a metropolis with architecture that he has never seen before. After admiring the massive buildings, he spotted what appeared to be people walking around. Bell was ecstatic! He approached them with a smile on his face, happy to see another human.
He was greeted with screams of fury and an axe embedded into his collar bone. Thus far, this was the most painful death Bell had experienced. Unlike the other deaths where they happened in an instant or only lasted a couple of seconds, Bell succumbed to death by drowning in his own blood.
Bell tried to talk to them again but was ruthlessly attacked a second time. Bell, somewhat expecting the same response, dodged the clumsy attacks but couldn't bring himself to fight back. He was here to hunt beasts, not people. The thought of killing someone made Bell want to curl up into a ball and disappear. So instead, he desperately ran and climbed up a ladder he spotted out of the corner of his eye. Once he climbed the ladder, he spotted a lantern that gave off a strange but familiar feeling, a feeling that reminded him of the dream. Bell placed his hand on top of the lantern and was suddenly transported back to the dream.
After returning to his previous destination, Bell heard the distinct sound of another person coughing and walked toward the source of the coughing. That was where he met Gilbert and found his first real clue. Gilbert told him that his best chance to end the scourge of beasts was to talk to the healing church across the bridge. Bell thanked the man and continued on his journey.
And experienced his fourth death. Another madman, hiding behind a stack of boxes, ambushed Bell and plunged a rusty knife into Bell's abdomen. The blood crazed man dragged the blade across Bell's body, causing his entrails to fall all over the floor, before kicking Bell off a ledge and plunging him to his death.
After this, Bell hysterically confronted Gehrman and begged for a more thorough explanation of the hunt. His goal was to hunt beasts! Not people!
That was when he learned that a majority of the townsfolk wen't insane because of the hunt. Blinded by insanity, they attack without discrimination. After learning this, Bell was still hesitant to kill them but was finally convinced when Gehrman stated there was nothing else he could do but put them to rest.
And that's what he did the next time he encountered the madman. The shock Bell experienced from actually killing a person caused him to collapse to the ground and hyperventilate. He just murdered a person. The only thing that prevented Bell from falling into the pits of despair was Gehrman's words. They are too far gone. Killing them is an act of mercy. You are doing them a favor.
After recovering from his mental breakdown, Bell continued on his hunt.
He soon encountered Eileen the Crow, who looked like the embodiment of death itself. She wore a cape of feathers reminiscent of a crow and a large wooden mask with a massive beak at the front. Although she was terrifying to say the least, she was actually a kind but cautious person. She noticed that Bell was an outsider and new to the hunt so she offered to train Bell, which he enthusiastically accepted.
The training was brutal and agonizing. Eileen held nothing back and sparred with Bell as if it was a fight to the death. Her blades of Mercy were unforgiving as the blades sliced into Bell's skin. Eileen noticed that although Bell knew how to use the Saw Cleaver, his instincts were inconsistent and his movements were clumsy. The young boy before her screamed 'newbie.' After multiple spars, Eileen was satisfied and sent Bell on his merry way, who thanked her profusely.
With Gehrman's training and Eileen's death matches, Bell felt competent enough that he actually felt like a hunter until he met his end at the hands of an abomination located on the Great Bridge. The abomination was known as the Cleric Beast. The beast was a massive creature with twisted, horrific horns, matted fur, and a malnourished figure. Despite its almost skeletal figure, the beast was incredibly fast and before Bell knew it, the monster grabbed him and literally ripped him in half.
After this brutal death, Bell, who was about to experience another mental breakdown, heard a soft angelic voice.
"Hello, good hunter."
Bell turned his head and was taken aback by the fact that the previously lifeless doll was now standing at the base of the hill. Bell found himself entranced by the doll's beauty. Despite not being human, the doll was the most beautiful being he had encountered in this horrible dream.
"I am a doll, here in this dream to look after you."
Bell, realizing he was staring at her, blushed before somewhat regaining his composure.
"H-Hello! M-My name is Bell Cranel!"
The doll tilted her head to the side and stared at him for a prolonged period of time before speaking again.
"Honourable hunter, pursue the echoes of blood and I will channel them into your strength. You will hunt beasts and I will be here for you, to embolden your sickly spirit."
The doll motioned for Bell to give her his hand and he complied.
"Very well, now shut your eyes."
Bell shut his eyes and suddenly hit with a flood of memories that were foreign to him. All the blood he spilt during the hunt resurfaced as memories but disappeared in a flash.
Bell suddenly felt a little stronger because of it.
"Farewell, good hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world."
Bell wandered around Central Yharnam until he encountered a young voice calling out to him from a window.
The voice belonged to an adorable little girl named Caroline who had chestnut colored hair and eyes and a bright red ribbon that rested on top of her head. The girl called out to the young hunter, hoping that he could look for Viola, her mother who went out searching for her husband. Bell enthusiastically agreed, eager to help the girl.
After becoming stronger and slaying the Cleric Beast, there was nothing in Central Yharnam that posed a threat to him. Bell's skills as a hunter were competent enough that the only opponent that made Bell struggle immensely besides the Cleric Beast was… Caroline's father, Father Gasgoigne, who had gone mad because of the hunt. Bell tried to reason with him but after realizing that he was too far gone, made it his mission to put Caroline's father to rest and after many deaths, he succeeded. After that chaotic battle, Bell spotted the carcass of a woman at the end of the now destroyed cemetery. His worst fears came to fruition when he discovered the corpse of Viola, who was staring lifelessly into the sky. He didn't know how he was going to tell Caroline.
After burying Viola's body, Bell ascended to Oedon Chapel where he met an eccentric but nice fellow. The chapel dweller told him that the chapel had incense that wards off the beasts and told Bell to send any survivors that he finds to Oedon Chapel. Upon hearing this, Bell immediately headed back to Central Yharnam, cleared out the great bridge that lead to Oedon Chapel and informed two people of this. The old lady that he previously found and Caroline.
Bell decided he would tell Caroline the fate of her parents once they made it to Oedon Chapel. When he told Caroline of the safe haven, she said something to Bell that he would never forget.
"Yes okay, thank you very much mister hunter! I love you almost as much as mum, dad, and grandad!"
Bell, hearing this, felt a surge of joy flow through him and tears of happiness went down his cheeks.
"M-Mister hunter… why are you crying? Are you alright? If it was because of what I said, I am very sorry-"
"No! Please don't apologize! I… I'm crying because what you said made me feel extremely happy!" Bell said with his first smile since he was brought to this horrible dream.
Other than Gilbert, every single civilian who hasn't lost their mind yet didn't want anything to do with Bell. Some insulted him because he was an outsider while others even wished death upon him so hearing the little girl's kind words was amazing and refreshing.
The little girl smiled back at Bell. "I'm glad what I said makes you feel that way because it is nothing but the truth! Oh I know! You're almost like family to me now so you can be my big brother!"
Bell let out a chuckle. "Sure that sounds great. I can take you to Oedon Chapel right now."
"Are you sure? I can make it there by myself and you have your hunt going on."
Bell shook his heard adamantly with a serious countenance. "Yes. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. It's too dangerous out here."
After a couple of seconds, Caroline nodded her head. "Okay good hunter I'll be right out."
After a couple of minutes, the little girl crawled out of the now opened window. Bell smiled at her and held out his hand.
"Alright before we go, I want you to hold my hand and never let go okay? I need to know where you are at all times."
"Okay mister hunter!" As the two made their way towards the bridge, Bell, for the first time since entering the dream, felt a semblance of peace. He couldn't help it. The cheerfulness of the girl was contagious to the point that Bell had a smile on his face the entire time. Although he knew the girl's cheerfulness was going to disappear once they arrived at Oedon Chapel, he would relish in this temporary state of happiness.
However, that temporary state came crashing down when they arrived at the bridge. Bell's eyes widened in horror as he spotted a mob of beasts sprinting their way towards Bell and Caroline.
'I made sure to completely clear the bridge! How!? How could this have happened!?'
Although Bell was skilled with the saw cleaver, he wasn't confident he could take on the beasts and protect her at the same time. Bell, out of the corner of his eye, spotted a ladder that led down into the sewers and instructed the girl to go down the ladder. A mistake that he would regret for the rest of his life.
After decapitating the last beast, Bell slid down the ladder and frantically called out Caroline's name. What responded to Bell was not the little girl's pleasant voice, but a loud oink.
Bell's heart was hammering in his chest as he slowly turned his head toward the source of the sound where spotted a massive pig that rivaled the sizes of beasts he had previously killed.
"No… please god no," Bell whispered in trepidation as soon as he noticed that the pig was chewing on something.
His worst nightmare was confirmed when the pig spat out a familiar red ribbon.
The world around Bell started to collapse as he focused on the bloody red ribbon with a pale face and mouth agape.
This was his fault.
He didn't thoroughly clear the sewer and because of that, a poor innocent girl suffered what was most likely a prolonged brutal death.
However, an idea surfaced in his head that he couldn't help but cling to. Everytime he died, all the beasts he killed never failed to respawn. Could this apply to the girl too?
Bell, in his desperation to rectify his mistake, dragged the saw cleaver across his neck with no hesitation.
Unfortunately, Bell's efforts were in vain because once he respawned and made his way back to the sewer, all he saw was the same red ribbon on the ground next to the monstrous pig.
Bell, for the first time in his life, felt pure unadulterated rage towards another living creature and leapt at the pig with a ferocity reminiscent of the same beasts he preys upon. The screams and squeals of the pig was music to Bell's ears as he hacked and slashed. Bell finally stopped when the pig was no longer recognizable, looking like thick red paste that littered the sewer floor.
But that wasn't enough for Bell. Bell, for some reason, felt an incredible thirst to spill blood and that is exactly what he did. His mind was in a haze as he unleashed himself upon Central Yharnam and slaughtered everything in his past without mercy.
It was after crushing the last beast under his boot did the buzzing Bell's ears stopped. Bell looked around at his unfamiliar surroundings and grimaced at the mess that was under his right boot. After a couple of moments, Bell remembered his horrible mistake.
All the blood Bell spilled did little to heal his broken heart and diminishing mental state. He tried to bottle up the immense guilt he felt until the doll asked a simple question.
"Good hunter, does something trouble you?"
When those words left the doll's mouth, Bell broke down and brought the doll into a desperate hug. Bell's hysterical cries could be heard throughout the dream as he clung to the doll like a lifeline, mumbling incoherent apologies to a person the doll did not know. It did not matter to the doll though. Her purpose was to serve the good hunter and that is exactly what she was going to do. So she gently embraced him and ran her hand through his hair in a comforting manner. The soothing act worked to calm down Bell as his cries slowly devolved into light sniffs.
After resting his head in her lap for who knows how long, Bell rose to his feet and apologized to the doll for his display but the doll just shook her head and told Bell to come to her whenever he needed comfort. Bell thanked her and walked back to the gravestone to continue his dreadful hunt.