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A chill crept down Amelia's spine, making her gasp and open her eyes. Dark clouds edged with red and gold from a rising sun roiled in the sky above her, foreshadowing a storm. She sat up, finding herself situated in the middle of a stone balcony, a large dilapidated building rising up on one side.
What is this? I thought I was in a hangar? Doc was with me – and the Captain too. She analyzed the stone structure in confusion, gaze drawn to the shattered glass sitting in the window frames, moss slithering up the walls, a pair of rotting wooden doors leading inside. It looked like the sort of historical building one might find on a postcard; but it was clearly deserted, and there were no signs indicating it was a tourist attraction.
Standing, Amelia felt a draft around her legs, and looking down at herself, found that she was wearing a long-sleeved nightgown. Her feet were without socks or shoes. Why am I dressed…? Her heart skipped a beat as she held the white material in her hands.
My chest… She tugged down at the nightgown's collar, only to see pale, unmarred skin where the wound had been.
Arm… Rolling up her left sleeve, she curled her fingers in a fist. There's nothing broken. My injuries are gone. Although the realization was comforting, it bothered her that she did not know why, or how.
She turned to the rim of the balcony, desperate to know what was going on. Stepping up to the barrier, she squinted into the pale light of the sun peeking over the horizon.
"Where am I?" A couple of withered trees and shrubs dotted the plain stretching before her, a dried up riverbed running close by and winding its way through the mountains on her left. Amelia rubbed her eyes in disbelief as a cold breeze blew her hair back from her face. Mouth opening and shutting without a sound, she took a second look at the building behind her. Now she noticed the narrow, slanting roof high above her, the architectural detail around the doors and on the balcony, and the absence of hinges or latches on the window frames, preventing them from being opened.
It's not an ordinary building – it's a castle, some kind of palace. But why am I here? She looked around, uncertain. There's no one… No one has come to get me. I just woke up on a balcony. I'm wearing this dreadful thing… Anxiety growing, she shut her eyes and held her head, trying to stay calm. Thrown into a foreign environment with no explanations, her subconscious had decided she was in a potentially dangerous situation.
"I'll take a look around. Someone must be here." She whispered, opening her eyes after repeating the phrase several times.
Looking around the balcony, she spotted a staircase leading down to her left. "I can start there." The other option was to explore the castle, and she wasn't too fond of entering a building that was likely structurally unsound.
At the bottom of the staircase, a stone path pointed her in the direction of a wooden bridge extending across the dried out river. Although the castle was built on level ground, the land became steep a few meters from where Amelia was standing, sinking into a three story drop until it reached the riverbed.
"I-I think I'll find another route," Amelia muttered to herself, eyeing the old bridge with distrust. Keeping the castle wall on her right, she moved away from the bridge. She hadn't seen any signs of civilization from her earlier glimpse of the landscape, but there could have been a town or a marked road on the other side. Doing her best to remain hopeful, she walked towards the back of the castle.
In a couple of minutes she found a similar sight, only there was no riverbed and the mountain range now spread out on her right.
I don't understand! Amelia huffed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. I'm in the middle of nowhere. Why are there no people, no maps telling me where I am? Why does it have to be like this? Her chest tightened painfully from the feeling of desertion. Why am I alone? The last time she had felt this isolated was at her father's funeral. There were a handful of acquaintances at the service, but no one she knew. Her mother did not attend. There were apologies in the following weeks, and a number of awkward and restrained phone calls, but in the end, she had been left alone.
Clutching at her gown as the wind stirred it, Amelia turned her head to the sky. The sunlight had become pinkish-red, the storm clouds thickening and threatening to cover the early morning sun within the next few minutes.
A raindrop suddenly splattered on her cheek. I need to find cover. She sniffed, looking around. Along the back of the castle was an archway, promising some shelter from the elements.
Her walk turned into a run as the raindrops began to fall harder, and by the time she reached the archway, the top of her gown clung to her frame and her feet wore a layer of dirt. There was a pair of doors at the end of the passage, but Amelia hesitated, thinking that since the castle was unoccupied, its halls would be dark. Upset by the thought, she moved away from the entrance to lean against the wall, watching the downpour. Maybe I am dreaming, and this is all a nightmare? Can you feel the cold and the rain in a dream?
It might have been her eyes playing tricks on her, but she imagined she could see movement in the rain. Stepping up beside an arch, she squinted to try and get a better view.
There was a figure out there.
Amelia opened her mouth, ready to call out, but held back at the last second. If no one is there, I'll look like a fool, she frowned, despite her awareness that if a person was not standing in the rain, then there would be no one to witness her mistake. Swallowing her pride, she decided to reach out.
"Hello?" The storm easily drowned out her timid call. She leaned out a little farther, a few drops of water splashing on her face. The figure moved and she pulled back, hiding herself behind the arch.
This castle may not be abandoned after all. Amelia fidgeted with her clothing, suddenly very aware of her half-soaked gown.
And then the figure walked past her and under the shelter of the archway, not even looking her way; he hadn't seen her. She forgot to breathe as she pressed herself into the stone, startled by the sudden appearance and proximity. The man's unkempt black hair draped across his shoulders and tumbled down his back, broad shoulders sagging wearily beneath the deep red cloak that settled over his frame.
In spite of her trepidation, Amelia stepped forward, only to halt when the man stopped in front of the double doors, his back to her. Unwilling to let her chance for an encounter escape, Amelia moved closer, putting her less than an arm's length away from the man.
"Excuse me." Her call was quiet for fear that she might unintentionally startle him. The man stiffened, his head lifting slightly. Silently, he turned to look at her, the action slow and almost reluctant. Red eyes met hers, several wet locks of dark hair falling across his face. Seeing his bitter expression, she began to regret approaching him; but his eyes widened in recognition, and his lips parted as though he were about to speak.
A shock of cold suddenly engulfed Amelia, and she shuddered.
Blinking, the man and the castle disappeared, replaced by a white glove withdrawing from her face.
Disoriented, Amelia tried to sit up, managing to remain propped on her elbows for a few seconds before sinking back down into a pillow.
My room… She recognized the bed sheets pulled over her and the white interior of the room that depressed her no matter how bright it made the space look.
A hand touched her shoulder, and she jerked away in surprise.
Captain… The tension left her body as she recognized the man. What am I doing here? I was…dreaming? Or am I still in a dream?
Her breathing was labored as she brought her right hand against her chest, feeling bandages pad the wounded area beneath her shirt. My injuries… they're there.
Pressing the same hand to her forehead, she felt a damp cloth on her brow. That's what felt so cold. But why give it to me when I'm sweating under these blankets? She kicked the layers off, and instantly hated herself for doing so when the outside air came in contact with her skin. Another shudder wracked her body. The blankets were pulled back over her, and she closed her eyes for a minute, waiting for the heat to return.
The Captain tended to her from beside the bed, seated in a chair from the lab. For the first time since Amelia had met him, he did not look stiff. Hunched over with his elbows resting on his knees, he seemed tired.
I haven't seen him sleep or eat, Amelia thought as she tilted her head farther in his direction, absentmindedly letting her gaze wander to his eyes.
Red. She stared, remembering her dream and the strange man who had been out in the rain. And handsome. After a few seconds, Amelia realized the feverish thought that had gone through her mind and broke eye contact him, her cheeks rosy from more than sickness.
"Excuse me." The words were hardly audible over the hiss of the rain.
Alucard blinked, the corners of his mouth tilting downwards. He recognized the voice, and it was only because he wanted to see her again, as he remembered her, that he chose to acknowledge the speaker.
But when he turned, the girl before him was not the woman he was expecting.
She was young and rather meek looking, her arms wrapped around her half-soaked frame. There was a mixture of fear and hope in her expression, reminding the vampire of the last look given to him by another woman before she was taken from him.
Time seemed to stop for a heartbeat.
A ghost of a smile formed on Alucard's face.
"Harker."
In the second it took the name to leave his lips, the girl was gone, leaving only the drone of the storm to rumble in reply.