Chapter 455 455
Chapter 455 Chapter 455
Reacting swiftly, Tom shifts his focus towards the source of the disturbance. Meanwhile, Reaves, astute and observant, is the first to discern something unusual—a black figure suspended upside down, reminiscent of a bat, near a window.
"Hold up Tom" he said to Tom who was about to dive to where the notice is coming from. The uncanny sight sets off alarm bells, and a shared understanding passes between Reaves and Tom—this could be the elusive killer they've been pursuing.
Without hesitation, Reaves takes the lead as they both start pursuing the suspect, his senses heightened by the proximity of the mysterious figure. Tom followed closely behind.
....
Abby's abrupt awakening catapults her from the realm of nightmares into the chilling reality of her own fear. The remnants of the dream cling to her, and she finds herself drenched in cold sweat.
The dream, a distorted tapestry of fear, unfolds with a vampire infiltrating her grandfather's sanctuary, sinking its fangs into the very source of her solace—Dracula.
Overwhelmed by the fear that her dream might manifest into reality, Abby's instincts kick in. Urgency propels her from her bed, her mind swirls with a torrent of emotions, the residue of the nightmare clinging to her consciousness. As she races through the dimly lit corridors, her heart pounds in sync with the urgency that propels her forward.
"It was just a dream," she reassures herself, but the lingering unease refuses to dissipate. The vivid imagery of a vampire violating the sanctity of her grandfather's bed casts a disconcerting shadow over her thoughts.
As she reaches Dracula's door, a momentary hesitation flickers in her eyes. She contemplates the gravity of her actions—would barging into his room quell the rising dread or intensify it further? With a deep breath, Abby pushes the door open, only to be met with emptiness. The room, though familiar, offers no solace.
"He must be in his lab," she thinks, hope mingling with anxiety as she hastens toward the laboratory. However, the once-familiar space, brimming with the alchemical wonders that Dracula wove, now stands eerily vacant.
Panic sets in as she searches desperately, her footsteps echoing through the silent house.
"Where could he be? What if... what if my dream wasn't just a dream?" Abby's thoughts spiral into a vortex of uncertainty.
The house which was once a haven of comfort, had now transformed into a labyrinth of anxiety. Every unopened door and unexplored corner becomes a potential hiding place or a portal to further dread. Abby grapples with the unsettling truth that maybe her grandfather, usually a steady presence, had been kidnapped by the vampire, she felt like crying.
The echoes of her grandfather's absence reverberate through the house. "Grandfather, where are you?" Abby shouted tears started dropping down her cheek.
Tears streaming down her face like the silent rainfall of her distress. The weight of uncertainty presses upon her, and in the solitude of the moment, she is adrift in a sea of emotions, too young to navigate the storm that rages within.
Suddenly, the tranquil solitude is shattered by the abrupt intrusion of two figures, they burst into the house. The suddenness startles Abby, and she contemplates fleeing, but her legs, seemingly detached from her will, anchor her in place. The figures draw nearer, and as recognition dawns, Abby's tense stance eases. One of them is Nexus, a familiar face in this unsettling moment.
Nexus, attuned to the palpable fear that clings to Abby, calls out her name in a reassuring tone.
"Abby..."
As he approaches, he sees the vulnerability etched across her face and understands the depth of her distress. In a gesture of comfort, Nexus enveloped her in a gentle embrace, he had always treated her like his younger siblings, and his hug gave Abby a sense of peace, she was like a refuge in the storm of uncertainty.
With a compassionate gaze, Nexus scans the surroundings and, sensing the absence of Dracula queries Abby about the whereabouts of her grandfather. In response, Abby, still caught in the grip of fear and uncertainty, can only shake her head, a silent admission of her lack of knowledge.
Tears still glistening in her eyes, Abby confides in Nexus, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and desperation. "I'm scared. Grandfather is missing."
Nexus, maintaining his comforting embrace, speaks with a soothing tone, "Abby, it's going to be okay. We'll find him. But first, tell me, did he mention anything about where he might be or what he was doing?"
Abby, her voice shaky, responds, "No, Nexus. He was just gone when I woke up. I had a bad dream, and now he's not here...
"No, Nexus. He was just gone when I woke up. I had a bad dream, and now he's not here. I'm scared something might have happened to him."
Nexus, maintaining his calm demeanor, offers words of reassurance, "I understand, Abby. We'll search for him together. I promise we won't rest until we find your grandfather. Now, let's check the house again. Maybe he's in his study or somewhere he usually spends time."
Nexus, with a reassuring smile, continues their conversation as they explore the house together. "Abby, Dracula is a resourceful and knowledgeable man. There might be a reason he's not here at the moment. Let's systematically check each room and think about where he could possibly be."
Abby nods, still clinging to a glimmer of hope. "You're right, Nexus. Grandfather is strong and wise. Maybe he just got caught up in something important."
As they move from room to room, Nexus remains attentive to Abby's emotions. "Abby, can you tell me more about the bad dream you had? Sometimes dreams hold clues, and understanding them might help us figure out where Dracula could be."
Abby hesitates for a moment, her eyes flickering with a mix of fear and reluctance. "It was... a vampire. In my dream, a vampire attacked Grandfather. It felt so real, Nexus, like a terrible premonition."
Nexus, though intrigued, maintains his composure. "Dreams can be mysterious, Abby. We should continue searching for your grandfather. I am sure he is safe."
The person who burst into the room with Nexus was Mike, Dracula's finesse disciple. As Abby and Nexus traverse the dimly lit corridors in search of Dracula, Mike trails behind them, his impatience simmering beneath the surface.
Mike, unable to contain his growing frustration, quickens his pace, intending to voice his discontent "Nexus, we have a reason for...". However, before he can interject, Nexus senses the tension and pivots, halting Mike with a raised hand.
"Nexus," Mike begins, his voice tinged with irritation, "we've been wandering aimlessly. We need a plan, not just blindly searching every room."