The courtyard was a scene from a nightmare. Screams echoed from every corner as shadows moved with unnatural speed, lunging at anyone in sight. Dyego clutched the broom tightly, though it felt useless against the monsters advancing on all sides.
Sophie moved like water—swift, precise, instinct guiding her every step. She intercepted a creature that leapt toward a smaller child, spinning the broom to knock it off balance. Its hiss cut through the air as it scrambled back into the shadows.
"Dyego! Watch the alley!" she shouted.
He turned just in time to see another figure emerge—pale, eyes burning like embers. It moved differently than the others, more deliberate, almost intelligent. Dyego's stomach turned as he realized these weren't just mindless predators—they were organized.
A sudden, sharp shriek drew his attention. One of the creatures had bitten an orphan, dragging them toward the alley. Dyego froze, horrified, but Sophie's hand slammed against his shoulder.
"Move! NOW!" she yelled.
Instinct took over. They sprinted toward the back gate, weaving around overturned tables and splintered furniture. Behind them, the sound of tearing, screaming, and the wet smack of fangs against flesh filled the courtyard. Dyego's chest burned as adrenaline surged, his fear sharpening every sense.
Sophie swung again, this time knocking a creature into a wall. The thing stumbled, leaving behind a trail of dark, viscous blood. Dyego gagged, feeling bile rise, but Sophie didn't stop. She grabbed his hand and pulled him forward.
"Dyego, keep running!"
They reached a side door leading to the narrow streets behind the orphanage. Dyego glanced back. The building was in flames—or at least smoke and splintered wood—casting shadows across the courtyard. The creatures were everywhere, relentless. Some dragged their prey into the alleys, others hovered near broken windows, eyes glowing.
Dyego couldn't stop staring at the first child who had been bitten. The vampire sank its fangs into the child's neck, and Dyego swore he saw the life drain away, replaced with a strange, hollow glow in the child's eyes. Something unnatural was happening. The air smelled coppery, heavy with blood.
He swallowed hard and looked at Sophie. She was pale, but her eyes burned with determination. "We… we survived this," she said, voice shaky but firm.
Dyego nodded. "We have to… for the others…" He swallowed, realizing he didn't know if "the others" even existed anymore. Most were likely gone.
They ran for what felt like hours, the distant wails of the orphanage fading behind them. By the time they stopped in a shadowed alley, gasping for breath, the reality sank in. The orphanage was gone. Every familiar corner, every childhood memory, burned or destroyed.
Dyego sank to the ground, head in his hands. "We… we're the only ones left…"
Sophie crouched beside him, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "No," she whispered. "We're survivors. And we'll make sure it never happens to anyone else."
Her words struck him like a hammer. She wasn't just strong—she was unbreakable. And somehow, he knew that whatever came next, they would face it together.
But as they looked back at the smoldering remains, the shadows of the vampires lingered—watching, waiting. Dyego's stomach twisted.
This was no random attack. This was only the beginning.