I moved stealthily across the church, my eyes scanning the grounds to make sure I wasn't being watched. I had learned how to drive from my friend Alex, who had taught me the basics in his old Toyota Corolla. It had been a few years since I'd last gotten behind the wheel, but I hoped my rusty skills would be enough to get me to Dorothy's castle.
I approached Father Michael's car, a sleek black sedan that seemed to gleam in the morning light. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I reached into my pocket and grasped the keys I had snatched from his office.
I unlocked the car and slid into the driver's seat, feeling a sense of familiarity wash over me as I adjusted the mirrors and seat. I put the key in the ignition and turned it, the engine roaring to life beneath me.
I put the car in gear and began to slowly make my way across the church, trying to avoid drawing attention to myself. I kept a close eye on the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see Father Michael or one of the other priests chasing after me.
As I reached the entrance to the church, I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I was really doing the right thing. But then I thought of Dorothy, trapped in her castle and facing who-knew-what dangers, and I knew I had to keep going.
I put my foot down on the accelerator and sped out of the church grounds, the wind rushing past me as I made my way towards the castle. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, but I was determined to save Dorothy, no matter what it took.
As I burst through the castle doors, I called out to Dorothy, my voice echoing off the stone walls. "Dorothy! Dorothy, where are you?"
I ran deeper into the castle, my footsteps pounding on the floor. And then, suddenly, I saw her. She was standing in the great hall, her back against the wall, her eyes flashing with anger and tears streaming down her face.
I rushed towards her, my arms open wide, relief washing over me. "Dorothy, thank God I found you!"
But instead of embracing me, she pushed me away, her hands on my chest, her fingers digging into my skin. "Why are you here, Gabriel?" she demanded, her voice shaking with emotion. "Why can't you just listen? Why are you so naive?"
I was taken aback by her anger, confused by the pain in her eyes. "Dorothy, what's going on? I came to save you, to help you escape."
But she just laughed, a bitter, mocking sound. "Escape? You think you can save me? You're just going to get us both killed!"
I was starting to get frustrated, feeling like I was missing something important. "Dorothy, please, just tell me what's going on. Why are you so upset?"
But she just shook her head, tears flowing down her face like rivers. "You don't understand, Gabriel. You never understand. You're just going to get us both killed, just like last time."
And with that, she turned and ran, leaving me standing alone in the great hall, feeling confused and helpless. What was going on? What had I done wrong? And what did she mean by "last time"?
"They're here," Dorothy whispered, her voice trembling as she gazed out the castle window.
My heart skipped a beat as I followed her gaze, my eyes scanning the landscape below. That's when I saw them - a group of shadowy figures gathered outside the castle walls, their weapons and armor glinting in the sunlight.
"Who's here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
Dorothy's eyes remained fixed on the scene outside, her expression a mix of fear and dread. "The hunters," she whispered back, her voice laced with a sense of foreboding. "They've found me again."
My mind raced with memories of the past, of the stories Dorothy had told me about the hunters who had terrorized her for centuries. I knew that they were ruthless, determined to rid the world of vampires like Dorothy.
I could see the fear in her eyes, the panic that came with being trapped and helpless. Her gaze was fixed on the hunters, her body tense and rigid, as if she was preparing for the worst.
I knew I had to act fast, to protect her from these monsters. But how? I was just one person against a group of heavily armed hunters. I didn't stand a chance.
Or did I?
I looked around the castle, my mind racing with possibilities. I knew I had to come up with a plan, and fast, if I was going to save Dorothy from these hunters. I spotted a few potential weapons - a heavy candelabra, a rusty old sword, a shield hanging on the wall. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
I turned back to Dorothy, my heart pounding in my chest. "We need to get out of here," I whispered urgently. "Now."
"Stop being a fool, Gabriel!" Dorothy shouted, her voice echoing off the castle walls. I was taken aback by her outburst, my confusion deepening. What was she talking about? What had I done wrong?
But before I could ask any questions, she continued, her words spilling out in a rush. "I know you don't remember all about your past life with me, but this is exactly what happened the last time. You brought them here, Gabriel. You led them straight to our doorstep."
I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs. What was she talking about? I didn't remember much about my past life with her, let alone leading hunters to her doorstep unintentionally.
But Dorothy just kept talking, her words painting a vivid picture in my mind. "They don't know the location of this castle, Gabriel. They've never been able to find it. But they must have done the same thing they did last time - set up a bait for you to fall into."
I felt a chill run down my spine as I realized what she was saying. The hunters had used me as a pawn in their game, manipulating me into leading them to Dorothy. And I had fallen for it, just like I had last time.
But why? Why would I do such a thing? And what had happened in our past life together that made Dorothy so certain that I would fall for the same trick again?
I looked at her, my eyes searching for answers. But Dorothy just shook her head, her eyes filled with a deep sadness. "You don't remember, Gabriel. You don't remember any of it."