The streets were deserted, silent, bar the sound of heavy footsteps, thundering down the empty streets.

A boy, to call him otherwise would be a lie, skidded around the corner of the palace, almost falling as he ran. His breath was harsh, escaping in ragged pants, his eyes wild and wide with fear.

He sprinted, threw himself down the flight of stairs, stumbling, rolling, managing to land on his feet with an agility that would not be expected.

Behind him, a sickly pale figure streaked from around the corner, leaping to the wall and springing forwards, covering the awkward corner in half the time the boy did.

It roared, teeth bared between pale lips, and continued to charge.

The boy looked back at its haunting cry, forcing down a scream of panic, saving his air for running, turning down another flight of stairs, skidding along the central bannister in the desperate hope it would give him a second on the hunting monster.

It leapt once, twice, it had covered the stairs that had cost him so much precious time. He could feel the charged air about it, tugging the hair at the back of his neck.

Terror gave him the last burst of energy he could afford. His legs stretched, sending him flying ahead of the monster once more. He didn't have to out distance it, just keep it off long enough.

However long long enough was.

One, two, he felt the crackle ease away and his legs and lungs burnt with the effort but he kept going anyway. Three, four, five, he couldn't feel it anymore, pressing in behind him.

Six, seven...

Then, it crashed into him, sending him tumbling to the pavement. He crumpled under the weight, knees skidding along the stone, leather gloves tearing as his hands scraped and were knocked out from under him.

It rolled him over, grinning insanely. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't do anything but stare up at the pale face and those bottomless pits of eyes.

It was true. Stare into the abyss, and it stares back into you. He could feel it, twitching, worming into him, his heart crawling into his throat, a vile taste that was too sweet and too metallic spreading, like a poison.

He choked as that mouth, lips invisible against skin, bent closer and he did all he could.

He screamed and blacked out.