The scream shattered the stillness, followed by the thundering of footsteps and panicked cries.

Riven could barely process what was happening. The village square, so quiet just moments ago, was now a storm of chaos. The winged monsters—vampires—moved like predators, their white wings cutting through the smoke as their glowing red eyes searched for prey. Villagers scrambled to flee, but the creatures were too fast. A man was impaled by a spear before Riven’s eyes, his lifeless body collapsing to the dirt.

“Riven!”

His father’s voice pulled him back to reality. Alric sprinted toward him, his hammer gripped tightly in one hand. “Get to your mother and sister! Take them to the woods!”

For a moment, Riven hesitated. His legs felt like lead, and his chest was tight, but his father’s voice snapped him into action. He turned and ran toward the forge, dodging the growing chaos around him. Flames licked at rooftops, and the air reeked of smoke and blood.

When he reached the forge, he saw his mother and sister rushing out. Lena’s face was pale, her small hands clutching the hem of her mother’s dress as they ran to meet him.

“Riven!” his mother cried, pulling Lena close as they reached him. Her voice trembled, but her grip on his arm was firm. “We have to go. Now!”

Before they could move, a shadow dropped from the sky. The vampire landed with a heavy thud, its glowing wings folding neatly behind it. Its pale face twisted into an almost playful smile as it looked at them.

“What do we have here?” it murmured, tilting its head as its red eyes scanned the three of them. “A mother and her little lambs. How quaint.”

“Run,” their mother whispered, pushing Riven and Lena behind her. Her voice wavered, but her stance was firm.

Before she could say more, Alric appeared from behind, his hammer swinging with all the force he could muster. The vampire turned just in time to catch the blow with its forearm. The hammer cracked against its skin but didn’t break it.

“Bold,” the vampire said, baring its fangs in a grin. With a single swipe of its arm, it sent Alric stumbling backward.

“Stay away from them!” Alric roared, raising his hammer again.

The vampire moved faster than Riven could see, grabbing Alric by the throat and slamming him into the ground. His father gasped, the hammer slipping from his fingers as the vampire loomed over him. “Let him go!” Riven’s mother screamed, stepping forward with Lena still clutching her.

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The vampire glanced at her, its red eyes narrowing. “So noisy.” With a flick of its wrist, it sent Alric sprawling to the side like a ragdoll.

The vampire’s gaze fell on Lena next. It moved with a blur, closing the distance in an instant. Riven’s mother tried to shield her, but the creature shoved her aside with terrifying ease.

“No!” Riven shouted, lunging forward with the small hunting knife he’d taken from the forge. He didn’t even get close. The vampire swatted him away like an insect, sending him crashing into the dirt.

The world spun around him as he struggled to get up. Pain shot through his body, but it was nothing compared to what he saw next.

The vampire had grabbed Lena by the arm, lifting her off the ground as if she weighed nothing. She screamed and kicked, tears streaming down her face as she cried out for her mother, her brother.

“Such fresh blood,” the vampire said, licking its lips.

“No! Stop!” Riven shouted, his voice breaking as he tried to move. His arms and legs trembled, but his body refused to obey.

The vampire sank its fangs into Lena’s neck.

Riven’s breath hitched. He could only watch as her struggles slowed, her small hands weakly grasping at the creature’s arms. Her hazel eyes, so full of life moments ago, now stared blankly as the color drained from her face.

“No… no… no…” Riven’s voice broke into a sob, his vision blurring with tears.. “Lena!” his mother screamed, crawling toward her daughter. She reached for the vampire, clawing at its arm, but the creature didn’t even flinch.

“Get away,” it hissed, shoving her aside. She collapsed to the ground, her hands shaking as she screamed incoherently, her voice filled with pure anguish.

“Riven, run!” Alric’s voice cut through the chaos. His father, bloodied and barely able to stand, pushed himself to his knees. “Get out of here! Now!”

“I can’t—” Riven stammered, tears streaming down his face as he tried to move. “I can’t leave you!”

“Run, boy!” Alric roared, his voice filled with desperation. “You have to live!” Riven’s legs finally moved, though it wasn’t a choice. His body acted on instinct, turning and sprinting toward the woods.

“Riven! Don’t!” his mother screamed, but her voice was drowned out by the roar of blood rushing through his ears.

He ran blindly, his vision blurred by tears. Behind him, the sounds of battle and screams echoed in the night. His father’s voice, his mother’s cries, his sister’s silence—it all blurred together into a nightmare he couldn’t escape.

The forest swallowed him as he ran. Branches tore at his arms and face, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.

His lungs burned, his legs screamed for relief, but he kept going. The image of Lena’s lifeless eyes was burned into his mind, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake it.

Finally, his body gave out. His legs buckled, and he collapsed onto the forest floor. His breaths came in shallow gasps as the darkness around him seemed to grow heavier.

“I’m sorry…” he whispered, his voice barely audible. His tears soaked the dirt beneath him as exhaustion dragged him into unconsciousness. When Riven woke, it was still dark. The air smelled of ash and blood, but something else caught his attention—a faint glow from a nearby fire.

He wasn’t alone.

A man sat nearby, his face obscured by the hood of a tattered cloak. A massive sword rested against a tree beside him, its blade etched with glowing symbols.

“Good. You’re alive,” the man said, his voice low and gruff.