I blinked. One minute, I was crossing the street, minding my own business, and now I was… here? It was a strange void, nothing but endless black stretching out in every direction. A small, awkward cough made me spin around.

"Uh, hey, man. So... you've died," a voice said.

Standing in front of me was the most unassuming guy you could imagine—scruffy brown hair, average build, wearing a hoodie and jeans. He didn't look like some kind of all-powerful being, but something about the glint in his eyes said otherwise.

"Excuse me?" I asked, frowning. "Died?"

"Yeah, you, uh, got hit by a truck. Sorry, bud. Instant death. But, hey, silver lining!" He threw his hands up like this was a game show reveal. "You get to go to the Vampire Diaries universe!"

I blinked again. *What in the world?*

"Hold on. I'm dead, and now you're telling me I'm going to some teen drama about vampires?"

"Yep!" he said with a smile that was far too cheerful for this moment. "But wait, there's more! You're not just any vampire. Oh no, my friend, you're gonna be a new True Higher Vampire, y'know, from the Universe of the Witcher. Like Regis, or Dettlaff. No true need for blood, you'll have super strength, true immortality, the whole shebang!"

I stared at him, trying to process what was happening. "So… let me get this straight. I died. You're some kind of Random Omnipotent Being—"

"Call me Rob," he interjected.

"Of course you're Rob," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. "And now I'm being sent to a world full of vampires, witches, and werewolves as some overpowered immortal?"

"Exactly!" Rob beamed, clearly pleased with himself. "It's gonna be fun. Go wild, live a little. Or, you know, live forever." He winked.

I sighed, not sure if I should be excited or terrified. "And I don't have a choice, do I?"

"Nope! You're already packed and ready. Off you go!"

Before I could protest, the void began to swirl, and everything around me vanished in a blur of colors.

"Good luck! Have fun!" Rob's voice echoed in the distance.

'Well… this is going to be interesting'.

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping, sunlight filtering through the trees and landing on my face. Blinking against the brightness, I groaned and pushed myself up. That's when I noticed.

I was naked. Completely and utterly naked.

"What the hell?" I muttered, looking around. A dense forest surrounded me—trees stretching high above, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. There wasn't a road, house, or any sign of civilization in sight.

My heart started racing. "This has to be a dream," I mumbled to myself, but the cool air on my skin, the earthy smell of the forest, and the distant rustling of animals felt way too real.

Then it hit me. Rob. The Vampire Diaries universe. Higher Vampire.

"Oh my God," I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I'm really here, aren't I?"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Panicking wasn't going to help. Instead, I needed to get my bearings.

'Okay… if I'm a Higher Vampire now, I should probably have some abilities, right?' I stood up, brushing off some dirt. "Might as well give it a shot."

I started with speed. If the stories were anything to go by, Higher Vampires were fast—ridiculously fast. I focused on a tree about fifty feet away and willed myself to move. In an instant, the world blurred around me, and I was at the tree before I even realized what had happened.

"Whoa." I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance. "Okay… that was insane."

Next was strength. There was a large rock a few yards away, probably twice the size of my head. I walked over and bent down, gripping it with both hands. I expected a struggle, but when I lifted, it felt like nothing—like I was picking up a feather. I tossed it easily into the air, watching it crash into the forest with a loud thud.

"Holy crap." I couldn't help but grin. This was real.

For the next half hour, I tested myself—sprinting between trees, leaping over large rocks, listening for the tiniest sounds in the distance. Every sense, every muscle felt heightened in ways I'd never imagined. I wasn't just faster or stronger—I was something more. Something inhuman.

But the reality of the situation soon set in. I couldn't stay in this forest forever. I needed to find civilization, clothes, and some idea of where I'd ended up.

"Alright… time to figure out where the hell I am." I looked up at the sun, still high in the sky. It looked to be just before noon, so I had plenty of daylight. With a sigh, I started walking, hoping I'd stumble across something—anything—that would give me a clue.

Hours had passed, and the novelty of my new abilities had worn off. I'd been running, jumping, and using every heightened sense I had, trying to find civilization. Three, maybe four hours had gone by, and still… nothing. No towns, no houses, not even a sign of human life.

I wasn't tired—one perk of being a Higher Vampire—but the aimlessness was getting to me. The forest seemed endless, and the silence, once peaceful, was starting to feel oppressive.

As I leapt over a fallen tree, I caught the faintest hint of something—a hum. My ears perked up, focusing in on the sound. It was distant but unmistakable: a car engine. Relief flooded through me.

I sprinted toward the noise, my feet barely touching the ground as the trees blurred past. After a few minutes, the forest thinned out, and I could see a break in the trees. Pushing through the final line of branches, I stumbled onto a road—an actual paved road.

I stood there for a moment, catching my breath. "Finally," I muttered, looking down at the empty stretch of asphalt. It was surreal, the contrast between the dense, untamed forest and this sign of modern life.

But the problem was, I had no idea where I was or what year it even was. For all I knew, this could be anywhere, and Rob hadn't exactly been generous with details.

I turned my head, listening again, and sure enough, the distant rumble of a car grew louder. 'Alright', I thought, 'time to figure out what comes next'.

As I stood on the side of the road, the low rumble of an approaching car grew louder. I turned to see an old pickup truck coming down the road, dust kicking up from the tires as it approached. It was a faded blue, clearly well-worn but still running. The kind of truck that had seen years of hard use but was somehow still hanging on.

I raised my hand in a half-hearted wave, feeling a little ridiculous standing there in the middle of the road completely naked. The truck slowed, the brakes squeaking as it came to a stop a few feet away. The driver's window rolled down, and an older man leaned out, his brow furrowed in confusion.

He looked to be in his late forties, maybe early fifties. His graying hair was tucked under a worn-out baseball cap, and his face was weathered with the lines of someone who'd spent most of his life outdoors. His eyes scanned me up and down, clearly taking in my lack of clothing.

"Well… ain't this something," he said with a rough chuckle. "You okay, son?"

I cleared my throat, shifting awkwardly. "Uh, not really. I woke up in the woods… no idea where I am."

The man raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident. "No clothes, no idea? Sounds like a wild night."

I forced a laugh, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah… something like that. Could you tell me where I am?"

He nodded, resting one arm on the window frame. "You're about ten miles outside of Mystic Falls. Quiet little town not too far from here."

Mystic Falls. 'Of course'. I bit back a groan, realizing how close I was to the start of all the chaos. "And… what year is it?"

The man blinked, surprised at the question. "It's 2009, son. Just turned into September. Why? You hit your head or something?"

I nodded slowly, piecing everything together. "Something like that. I don't remember anything before waking up today."

The man's expression softened a little, and he leaned back in his seat. "Well, hell. You don't look like a bum or anything, so I guess you're telling the truth."

I shifted on my feet, realizing I needed a name. I couldn't just wander into town as… well, myself. My mind flashed back to Rob's little "gift"—True Higher Vampire from The Witcher, right? If I was going to play this role, I might as well go all the way.

"I'm, uh… Regis. Emiel Regis Rohellec," I said after a brief pause, testing the name on my tongue. It felt right. "But you can just call me Regis."

The man looked at me, clearly confused for a moment, but then he shrugged. "Alright, Regis. Name's Hank." He glanced at the pile of leaves covering my feet. "You're gonna need more than a name if you're heading into town like that, though. I've got some spare clothes in the back of the truck. They won't be fancy, but they'll get the job done."

I exhaled in relief. "Thanks, Hank. I really appreciate it."

"No problem." Hank climbed out of the truck and made his way to the back, popping open the truck's bed. He rummaged around for a minute before pulling out a faded pair of jeans and an old flannel shirt. "These should fit you well enough."

I slipped them on quickly, grateful for something to cover up with. The jeans were a little loose, but I wasn't in a position to complain. The flannel shirt felt warm, and despite the wear and tear, it fit well enough.

"You look halfway presentable now," Hank said with a grin as he climbed back into the driver's seat. "You need a lift into town?"

"That would be great," I said, climbing into the passenger seat. The truck's interior was as worn as the outside, with cracked leather seats and a dashboard covered in dust. The radio was playing some soft country tune, barely audible over the hum of the engine.

Hank pulled the truck back onto the road, the wheels crunching against the gravel before we merged onto the asphalt. "So," he started, glancing over at me, "you don't remember anything at all?"

I shook my head, leaning back against the seat. "No. It's just… blank. I woke up in the woods, no clothes, no memories. It's like someone wiped everything clean."

Hank whistled low. "Damn. That's rough. You sure you don't want to get checked out by a doctor or something?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, no doctors. I'm fine, physically. It's just… weird, you know?"

"Yeah, I'd say so." He glanced at me again. "How old are you, anyway?"

'Good question', I thought. I hadn't considered how old I should be in this new identity. "Twenty-one, I think," I said, guessing. It felt like a safe number.

Hank nodded, not questioning it. "Twenty-one, no memory, and now you're headed to Mystic Falls. Not the kind of story you hear every day."

We drove in silence for a few minutes, the road stretching out before us. Trees lined the sides of the highway, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze. The sunlight filtering through the branches was starting to get lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the ground.

Hank cleared his throat. "Tell you what, Regis. I'll drop you off in town, buy you a fresh pair of clothes. You can't walk around in old rags forever."

"You don't have to do that," I said, surprised by his generosity.

"Nah, don't worry about it. You remind me of someone I knew, once. Plus, you look like you could use some help."

I nodded, grateful. "Thanks, Hank. You're really saving my ass today."

Hank chuckled. "Don't mention it. Mystic Falls is a small place, but folks around here look out for each other. You'll be alright."

As we drove, my thoughts started to race. Mystic Falls. 2009. About a week before everything was supposed to kick off. It was hard to wrap my head around it—being here, now, just before the madness started. But as the town slowly came into view, I knew one thing for sure: I had to be ready for whatever came next.

As the truck rumbled down the road, Hank glanced over at me, his hands relaxed on the steering wheel. "So," he began, "Mystic Falls ain't exactly the biggest place, but it's got its charm. I've lived there most of my life."

I nodded, looking out the window at the dense forest that gradually gave way to more open spaces. The sun was beginning to dip lower, casting a warm, golden light over everything. The quiet hum of the engine was almost soothing after the chaos of earlier.

"What about you?" Hank asked, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Before… well, all this. Got any memories comin' back yet?"

I shook my head. "No, still a blank slate. Feels weird. Like I should know something, but it's just not there."

Hank let out a low whistle. "That's tough. But hey, you're young. You'll figure it out. Hell, I was still trying to find myself at your age."

I smiled, but stayed quiet, trying to blend in as much as possible. The less I said, the better. I wasn't going to go into any vampire details, even if the man had been kind enough to pick me up.

Hank tapped his fingers on the wheel as we drove. "Me, I never really went far. Spent my whole life around these parts. Used to work construction—still do, in fact. A lot of odd jobs, but I've been fixing things for people, especially out in the more rural areas."

He paused as the truck passed a small, worn-down gas station. "That place used to be the hangout for all the high school kids," Hank said with a grin. "Man, I remember spending nights out there, thinking I had the whole world ahead of me."

I glanced at him. "Sounds like you've seen a lot of change."

He shrugged. "Eh, some things change, some don't. Mystic Falls is one of those places where you feel like time slows down a bit. Keeps you grounded."

As we drove closer to town, the landscape started to shift. The forest thinned out, replaced by suburban houses and small shops. It had that small-town charm, the kind of place where everyone probably knew each other. I could see a few people walking along the sidewalks, and cars parked lazily along the streets.

Hank gestured with his thumb as we passed by a large, well-maintained building. "That's the high school. Always a bunch of kids hanging around after class. Quiet now, though. Summer break and all."

I nodded, taking it in. Mystic Falls High—ground zero for where all the drama was going to start soon. It looked innocent enough now, but I knew better.

We drove on, passing a town square where a few people sat on benches, chatting. "This here's the heart of town," Hank continued. "We got the courthouse, the library, and over there, the grocery store. Not much, but it's home."

He pointed to a quaint little shop. "And if you ever need coffee, that's the best spot. Coffee's hot, and the donuts are fresh every morning. People tend to gather there, catch up on town gossip."

I mentally logged all this as Hank steered the truck toward a quieter part of town, away from the main square. "Almost there," he said, turning down a narrow street lined with old houses, each with its own picket fence and a yard that looked like it belonged in a postcard.

Eventually, we pulled up to a small, unassuming house near the edge of town. It was modest—white paint, slightly chipped, and a small porch with a couple of chairs out front. It looked well lived in but comfortable.

"Here we are," Hank said, parking the truck and climbing out. I followed, stepping onto the gravel driveway, grateful to be somewhere solid after the strange day I'd had. "It ain't much, but it'll keep you out of trouble for now."

"Thanks, Hank," I said, genuinely appreciative. "This means a lot."

Hank waved it off. "Don't mention it. Like I said, you remind me of someone I used to know." He pulled out a key and opened the front door, motioning for me to follow him inside.

The inside of the house was as unassuming as the outside—cozy, with worn furniture that had clearly been there for years. The walls were decorated with old photographs, mostly of landscapes and nature scenes, giving the place a peaceful, lived-in vibe. There was a lingering scent of wood and something faintly spicy, like cinnamon.

Hank led me to a small guest room down the hall. "You can bunk here for the night. We'll head into town tomorrow, get you some proper clothes."

I nodded, taking in the space. The room was simple, with a single bed, a small dresser, and a window overlooking the backyard. It wasn't much, but it was more than I had a few hours ago.

"By the way," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed, "do you have any family?"

Hank's face shifted slightly, his expression growing somber. He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "My wife… she passed a few years back. Cancer. We didn't have any kids, so it's just been me since then. Work keeps me busy, but other than that… I don't do much."

I frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that."

He shrugged, but there was a sadness in his eyes. "It is what it is. She was the love of my life, you know? After she passed, I didn't have much reason to spend the money I'd been saving up for a new place, so…well, I got a bit more than I need." He smiled faintly. "That's why I don't mind helping you out. Gives me something to do, someone to help."

"Still, I appreciate it," I said quietly.

Hank pushed off the doorframe and straightened up. "Well, I need to grab some groceries. You get yourself settled, and we'll head out in the morning. There's food in the fridge if you get hungry."

I nodded as Hank left, the front door closing behind him a minute later. The silence that followed was thick, almost unnerving after the conversation.

I stood up, wandering over to the small mirror hanging on the wall. My reflection stared back at me, and I took a moment to really look at myself.

The face looking back at me was different from what I expected. My features were sharp, defined, and youthful. I looked like I belonged in my early twenties, maybe even younger. There was an intensity in my eyes—something that felt both familiar and foreign. I couldn't help but think I looked like a young Emhyr var Emreis, the famed emperor from The Witcher.

I ran a hand through my hair, noticing how thick and healthy it was. My muscles were toned, my skin unblemished. This body was in peak condition, far better than I ever remembered myself looking before. It was strange to think that this was my new reality—a body that would never age, never grow weak.

With a deep breath, I stepped away from the mirror, letting the reality of it all sink in. I had a new name, a new body, and I was in a town that was about to become a hub of supernatural chaos. There was a lot to figure out, but for now, I had time. Tomorrow, I'd get some clothes, find a way to blend in, and start planning my next steps.

For now, some sleep would be nice.