Gerard ran for all he was worth. Even decked out in heavy armor and bearing a sword, shield and guns, the creatures he was seeing here were terrifying. It didn’t help that they all made it abundantly clear that they would kill him at any cost. Gerard finally ran out of steam and stopped for a break in a long hallway with no carpet. Simple-looking wooden double doors sat at the end of the hall. He studied them as he rested, wondering what may be behind them. “Get up and get outta my way.”, a young-sounding male voice commanded. Gerard got up and turned to face its source.
It was a young man with bright green eyes and soft features, along with a shock of blond hair. The rest of him was obscured by heavy red steel armor and an impractically massive green sword that hung from his back. “You may wanna go home, kid.”, Gerard sighed. Reluctantly, Gerard stood his ground. He couldn’t allow some random child to die here. “You’re joking, right?” The teen’s blade came down in a swift motion. Gerard yelped in shock and raised his shield. He was surprised at how little effort it took to block the blow. “I can’t let anybody die here, sorry.” With a flick of his wrist, Gerard sent the boy sailing down the hall. “Go. The fuck. Home. I don’t want to, but I will knock you out and drag your sorry ass outta here.” Gerard squared his sword and shield. The teenager caught himself in midair and landed safely on his feet. “My name…”, he said as he walked toward Gerard, “Is Zack. And I will kill the evil vampire lord that rules this place.”
At that moment, a subtle change came over Zack’s eyes and he was upon Gerard with uncanny speed. Blocking these blows was making Gerard’s arms ache, but he continued parrying clumsily until Zack got through and left a wide gash on Gerard’s cheek. Gerard leapt away, leaving behind twin streams of blood and tears. Holding his face and sobbing, he screeched in pain. “That HURT, you little asshole! What’s the big goddamn idea?!” After gawking for a few silent seconds, Zack guffawed heartily, unable to contain his mirth at the ridiculous sight of a vampire crying in pain. “Jesus, what a pussy.”, he laughed as he walked forward, “Now lemme through. The big boys have business here. Maybe you’re the one that should go home.”
Gerard felt heat coming over his face. His body shook with rage. “If I have to send you out of here on a stretcher, I will, you little punk!”, he bellowed. Zack smirked at him, watching his wound heal and an eerie red glow permeate his eyes slowly. “Now we’re getting somewhere! Come on, vampire boy, I haven’t got all day!” Gerard’s vision turned red. He felt vicious horns, an extension of his head, as they grew out and curled. Giant wings that felt like a second set of arms shot from his back and stretched across the corridor. He was flying toward Zack at impossible speed before he knew what was happening. He watch the teenager hit the ground and it took every ounce of willpower Gerard had not to drink the unconscious boy dry. He stood up and took a moment to put himself in check. “Vampire, maybe. Monster, no.”, he muttered to himself. Zack stood up slowly, giving Gerard a puzzled expression. “You’re not going to drink my blood?”, he said as he turned to walk away. Gerard shook his head, then called after him, “Am I a vampire? Maybe. A monster? Never. Now get outta here, kid, and don’t come back. There’s no evil vampire ruling the place, just a poor old schmuck under someone else’s control, and I intend to free him.” Zack stopped walking. “Even if that means you could be the demon’s next target?” Gerard looked down, unable to think of what to say. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he finally spoke up. “If that happens, you’ll help me, right?” Zack bristled, then started walking again. “If I can. If I have to kill you at that point, so be it.” Gerard didn’t take the conversation any further. His blood ran cold at the thoughts racing through his mind. “I could turn back right now…”, he said to himself in a soothing tone. After a moment’s consideration, he shook his head and continued his trek.
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