Enrolled in Unit III

Seeing the red haired woman turning, he took in her nonchalant expression and yet was more intimidated. Unsurely, he ran a hand through his tangled curls and shook his head, shy. He felt suddenly terribly out of place, covered in road dust and blood, being presented to this blonde man like prey, ready to be feasted on. The man descended the stairs and walked past Seras, who nodded slightly, her body stiffening as she was addressed by him. He then proceeded in walking towards him; with every step he grew more confused as the grey suite revealed female forms. A sweat drop travelled down his forehead and was brushed away by a nervous hand. His eyes took in the sheer and yet so intimidating beauty of the – now rather obvious – woman who now stopped mere inches from his face.

Never in his entry live did he feel so nervous, shaky almost. Being a notorious flirter, he was seldom taken aback by a woman, but this particular one managed to get him completely out of his wits.

"Name?" her stern voice demanded

"…"

"Seras, is he able to speak?" His peripheric vision took in a bemused expression of the vampiress as she answered:

"He was a few instances ago…in fact he did a lot of talking back then…" ..chuckle.

"So?" her voice held a threat.

Hastly, he opened his mouth, but no words would escape. Unconsciously, he coughed and voiced dryly:

"Raphael McCloud, sir – madam! Sorry….I.."

"Alright, McCloud, it was decided that you join the Hellsing Organisation, due to your…encounter tonight. The transferring process is by now completed, be aware of the fact that your former ranks won't be accepted here, currently, you are an ensigne. You will be enrolled in unit III, led by commander Feargousson. Your training will start tomorrow at 9 pm, and until that time, I advise you to sleep as much as you can." She turned, walked away, only to stop again. "And McCloud….get used to moonlight." With that, she left the scene.

Ever so slowly, his heart stopped its drowning rhythm and returned to normal speed again.

"who the hell…?"

"spare me your babbling and follow me, McCloud. I will lead you to your quarters"

"….yes, sure…" was his only reply. Holy heck, just when do I wake up??

But yet he had no time for his musing, for the red haired vampires led him towards a huge door that led through yet another long hallway. They passed several doors, all of them looking the same; black iron, heavy gates and the general air of "knock and die". He concluded that this probably should be the troops quarters and in fact he got goose bumps at the thought of living in such a dungeon. But on and on they walked, ascending a staircase, and another. After about 5 minutes of endless, rather depressing hallways, the vampiress stopped and waved a hand to her left, gesturing for him to enter the meant door. As he did so, he nodded his thanks to an uninterested redhead. He entered; the door swung close with a loud and metallic noise that sealed, it seemed, his fate. He walked around, past 3 sets of case beds, 5 of them occupied by a sleeping form. Suddenly he was aware of his shadow being cast on the floor and his head popped up; he found himself looking through a huge set of windows that allowed the moonlight to bathe the room in its colour. On the empty bed he noticed a bundle of stash with his name written on; black vest, black body armour, black army trousers, black boots, gloves, helmet, weapon belt – everything black. "it seems they want me to melt into woodwork…black woodwork…"

Suddenly feeling his drained body screaming for attention, he sank down on the empty bed, slowly removing his scattered gear. Piece after piece of his past life slowly landed on the ground, forming a small bunch of blood-soaked rubbish. He flexed his injured arm and a groan escaped his body, louder than he had wanted.

One of the sleeping forms slowly got up and revealed the sleepy face of a man who apparently just had one eye. He looked at the newbie a bit irritated but as he saw the blood soaked bandages on his arm, he longed for a bundle on his night desk and threw it, wordless but smiling, in the surprised grasp of the new-made ensign.

After tending his arm he flung himself on the bed and stared at the nightsky…"training at 9 pm…and sleep as much as you can…to hell…." He slowly drifted away into a peaceful slumber, not bothered by ghostly beings, hollow hallways or any thought of this mysterious organisation…