And here we go, the rewrite to A New Child. I'm feeling pretty good with how it's turned out. Fixed my major plot holes and grammatical errors, and ready to give it a go. Reviews always welcome, as it's how I get better. More exact details on what's up on Chapter 9 (since 1-8 were already up at the time this was posted).

As always, I don't own Hellsing or any of the original characters of said series. Anything else I cite I don't own either, but I'll be adding those in as I go. This applies to the whole story, since I don't wanna have to write in in for each and every chapter. (Helps that I don't have thirty of them anymore, but I'll let you all see that for yourselves.)

On with the show!

UPDATE: I'm posting a slightly revised version of the story, making a slight alteration to Matt's appearance, a name change, some reformatting, and a few other upgrades here and there. I'll include all notes and just do a simple chapter swap. If I make another update, I will make note of it.

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From: Matt

To: Dad

Subject: Hi, Dad

Hey Dad,

I know what questions must be coming to your mind: "Where am I? How am I? What am I doing?" I'll answer them all with as much detail as I can give. I don't know yet if I'll be able to send or receive any messages after this is sent.

But before anything else, I want to say that I hope this message finds you well, and I want you to know that I miss you, Mom, Kit, Aky… Everyone. I pray I'll be able to see you again one day… but right now I don't know if that can ever happen.

So, where to begin… Well, let's sum up what we already know. I left home to come here to England for that study abroad program, the one for electrical engineering that would give me something like twelve credit hours over the summer. You knew I couldn't pass it up. The deal was almost too good to be true. I was supposed to come home a week ago. The night before my flight I hopped over to a mall near the dorm to grab some stuff for you all. That's about all you know… well, except the mall part. That was supposed to be a surprise.

Ever since the morning after I couldn't remember it all, but I'll tell you what I can. Well, I'd gone to that mall and I'd finished most of my shopping. Heh, even found a nice mask for you to put on the wall. That's when the plan of my night changed pretty far from the plan. I heard a lot of commotion further in the mall, and saw a herd of people running my way. I jumped to the side and waited for them all to pass. Then I had a rather poorly timed flash of curiosity. I went to look. Stayed close to the wall. I saw a standoff, a bunch of people, army and police types, to one side, and a lone guy on the other. Then… Everything's hazy. Next thing I can remember is lying on the floor. I've been shot… twice… I think it was the lone guy, but why he would've fired I don't remember. A young woman was above me. She was thanking me for something… She knew I was about to die. (I did too, but that's beside the point.) She gave me an offer. She could keep me from dying if I went with her. What could I say? I said yes.

Oh, she was wearing red-tint sunglasses at first, but took them off after thanking me. Her eyes were red. I think the lone guy's eyes were too. And this woman had long, pointed fangs. Dad, you're a smart guy. I think you can put two and two together.

So, to make a long story short, I'm a vampire. I know it seems ridiculous, insane even, but it's the truth. What's more, there's an organization in England tasked with ridding the world of them. I've joined them. Didn't have a lot of choice. It was sort of a "you're either with us or against us" sort of thing. I think… There's a lot about that night that's hazy now. I'm sure it was clear to me at the time… at least as clear as it could've been considering what was happening.

Still, I'm kinda lost now. I'm not certain what I'm going to do now, what they're gonna want from me. All I know is what I've become. There's one thing that makes it bearable: I don't need to get blood from living people to survive. Medical blood works just fine. Or so I've been told. I have yet to drink any… not sure what it'll make me if I do. I don't think I've lost my humanity yet, and I'm damn well not going to.

I don't envy you the task I'm asking you to do. Please find a way to tell mom, Kit, and Akira what happened. They'll let word spread that far, since I know I can trust you all, but past that we really need to keep this quiet. I'll update you if I can, let you know if I can ever come home… That is, if you'll still have me… Let me know, ok? Reply to this message. I'll read it when… and if… I can.

In case I can't, take care and fare well.

Love to everyone,

Matt