Warm sunlight slid across my face, prying at my eyelids like a gentle but persistent knock. I groaned, turning away from the light, burying half my face into the pillow as I stretched my arms above my head with a yawn.
"Man… I had the strangest dream," I mumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Elves and wights… and that cute guy from the café turned out to be a vampire. Ugh, i must have been watching too much horror movies."
"But it wasn't a dream. I'm very real," a familiar voice chimed.
My eyes snapped open.
Heart racing, I jolted upright in bed. There he was.. leaning casually against the doorframe, red hair catching the morning light, those ridiculous crimson eyes glowing just faintly in the shadow of his smirk. And yes, the fangs were still there.
I glanced around wildly, recognizing the room that definitely wasn't mine. All at once, the memories came crashing back like a wave: the dark elf, the wights, the destructive energy from my hands, the barrier… Ronald.
"Damn it," I muttered, falling back onto the bed with a groan. "It wasn't a dream."
Ronald chuckled. "If it was, you're still in it. But I can assure you—it's not."
"Ugh. Shut up, Ronald." I growled.
He only smiled. "Did you sleep well?"
I sat back up and rubbed my face. "No. I had a nightmare. And apparently, I'm still living in it."
"Come on," he said, walking in and tossing something toward me. "It's not that bad. You've got the company of a devastatingly handsome vampire."
I caught it without thinking—a bright red apple. "God, I almost forgot how self-absorbed you are."
"Eat," he grinned. "You'll need your strength."
I narrowed my eyes. "Where'd you get this? I didn't see any apple trees inside the dome."
"Well, you'll be pleased to know the dome is down," he said casually. "And I called HQ. They're on their way now."
That got me moving. "Really?" I lit up, hopping off the bed and reaching for my boots. "Finally. I'm so done with being stuck here."
He watched me as I shoved my feet into the boots, then bit into the apple as I made my way toward the door.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes. "Can't a girl get some fresh air and gaze at the morning sky?"
He chuckled. "Alright. Knock yourself out."
As I walked through the trashed living room and out the cabin door, I took a deep breath of crisp forest air. The sky was bright, soft clouds streaking across a gentle blue canvas. For a moment, I just stood there, letting it soak in.
Then I walked to the same spot I'd stood the night before—where the invisible barrier had stopped me. Slowly, cautiously, I reached out…
Nothing.
No pressure. No resistance. No strange tingling in my skin.
I took a step past the treeline.
Freedom.
My lips curved into a grin as satisfaction bloomed inside me. Finally.
"You seem happy to see the barrier gone," Ronald's voice called from behind.
I turned and chuckled. "You think? Do you know how awful it was being stuck with you all night?"
"Ouch." He held his chest dramatically, feigning hurt.
I rolled my eyes and started walking again.
But I heard him move, his footsteps light and quick.
I spun to face him and let out a sigh. "I'm just going to powder my nose, geez."
"There's a bathroom in the cabin," he offered innocently.
"Yeah, and I'm not using the toilet of a guy I met yesterday."
He laughed. "So you'd rather use the bushes?"
I nodded firmly. "Yes. Nature is cleaner than a vampire's bathroom."
Ronald smirked. "Suit yourself."
I turned to leave, only to pause when I felt his eyes on me again.
"Seriously?" I asked, turning back. "Can't a girl have any privacy?"
He gave a little bow. "Of course. Carry on."
Shaking my head, I started walking deeper into the woods.
"Triss…" he called after me, "You're not planning to run away, are you?"
"Maybe if you stop treating me like a prisoner, I wouldn't want to," I shot back.
I wandered deeper, taking my time, brushing my fingers against leaves and flowers as I passed. The forest was beautiful in daylight—peaceful and quiet, almost like a painting. I'd never been much of an outdoor girl, but something about this place made me want to breathe deeper, walk slower, feel more.
Then the thought came.
There was nothing stopping me now. No barrier. No chains. No Ronald. Just trees and sky and a hundred possible directions.
I stopped.
"What if I left now?"
But then the weight of uncertainty hit me. The dark elves. The wights. That energy inside me I still didn't understand. I didn't know how to control it. I didn't even know what I was. And my best chance of survival was probably with Ronald's agency.
But at the same time, my freedom would be restricted and i might not have much control over my life anymore.
I turned, glancing back toward the path I'd come. "Go back… or run?
When I turned forward again...
"Jesus!" I jumped, stumbling back.
Ronald stood right in front of me, arms crossed, with a smug smile.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I snapped, clutching my chest. "I'm not immortal like you, knucklehead."
He raised a brow. "I just came checking to make sure you weren't having any funny ideas."
I groaned. "And what if I was actually doing my business when you showed up?"
He smirked. "Wouldn't bother me."
"You're a pervert." I clicked.
"You're a wildling." He retorted.
I shoved him lightly. "Go away, Ronald. If I wanted to run, I would've. Trust me."
"Really?" he teased. "You're saying you can leave this place right under my nose?"
"I'm saying," I replied with a grin, "You couldn't catch me if you tried."
His smirk widened. "Wanna bet?"
"Fine." I smirked. "If you catch me, I'll buy you a cup of coffee. But if i manage to get away, you'll buy me a cup of coffee."
Ronald chuckled. "Alright."
I smiled. "Then we have a deal."
He smirked. "You should start running. I'll give you a headstart."
"You're so full of yourself." I scoffed. "And that's why you're going to lose." ."
Ronald smiled. "Yeah, sure. Here, I'll even close my eyes and turn around so I won't know what direction you're headed." he said, then turned around and covered his eyes.
I didn't wait. I bolted.
The wind whipped past me as I ran in a straight direction, dodging trees and low-hanging branches. My lungs burned, my legs screamed.. but I kept going.
I would check my back constantly for Ronald, but there was never a trace of him. It was as though he wasn't even chasing.
And after five minutes, I started to believe I might've actually won.
Then he appeared.
One second the path was clear, and the next... Ronald was standing there, looking completely unbothered.
I skidded to a stop, panting. "Dammit! I told you to stop doing that."
He grinned. "I just wanted you to know that all that running was for nothing."
I narrowed my eyes. "How did you know I'd go straight? That was too obvious."
"I could hear your heartbeat from two kilometers away."
I slapped my forehead. "Dammit, sometimes I forget you're a vampire. And being a vampire gives you advantage over me."
He chuckled. "That's why I gave you a head start, love. Five full minutes. So I win, fair and square."
I smirked. "Not yet. You haven't caught me."
"I'm standing right in your path. Where are you going to run now?"
I darted sideways.
He was already there.
I tried the other side. Nope. Still there.
Again. And again.
Every time I moved, he was a step ahead. Fast. Silent. Untouchable.
"This is pointless, Triss," he said, not even winded. "Just give up. You'll run out of stamina long before I do."
"Not… until… you catch me," I panted.
He sighed and moved. One blur of motion, and he was right in front of me. I lifted my hand to push him, but he caught my wrist gently and leaned in close, face inches from mine.
"I've caught you now." he whispered.
I smirked. "Have you, though?"
And then—
Crunch.
My knee shot up, hard and fast, right between his legs.
He let out a strangled sound, releasing me as he crumpled to the ground, groaning.
I burst into laughter. "Well, well well. Would you look at that. Guess vampires don't have balls of steel. And here I thought you had no weakness. Hahaha."
He wheezed. "D-Dammit, Triss…"
"Didn't I tell you? Your arrogance would be the reason I'd win." I snickered.
"Besides, this is payback for having me go through the pain of you dying yesterday."
"I said… I was sorry…" he groaned.
I crouched and patted his head. "This is more satisfying."
I stood up and took a few steps away. "Y'know, in your current condition, I could totally run away if I wanted to. So I guess that means, I win. And you lose."
"That's… cheating," he gritted his teeth.
"No one said anything about playing fair," I grinned.
I leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Come meet me back at the cabin when you recover. I'm gonna go look for more apples. And maybe finally use that bathroom, now that I know you'll be out of commission for a bit."
I gave him a little wave and strolled off, laughing to myself while he lay on the forest floor with a crushed pride, bruised ego, and aching balls.
God, that felt good.