Running, running, running.

That was all the man could think. He had to run. Run as fast as he could, he had to get away.

The solid stone pathways of Castle town thundered beneath his feet. His steps in time with his racing heart. He didn't know how long he'd been running, nor where he was going. He only knew that he had to keep moving, moving meant he was still alive, moving meant he was safe.

Staying still was dangerous.

Staying still meant death.

His breath puffed out in ragged white clouds, mixing with the dark cold night. Each intake of winter air froze his lungs. His muscles cried out in pain and still he kept moving. He had to get away from that..that THING!

Truthfully he had no idea what it was. He had been planning to spend the night drinking away his hard earned money. Comfortable in the knowledge that he would wake safely with a hangover the next morning. Laughs had been shared and drinks had been spilled, songs had been cried out at the tops of his lungs and the stale warmth of the tavern had sunk into his bones, banishing any thought of cold from his days.

That had been then. This was now.

Now he was struggling against the wind as it blew through his coat. All warmth had abandoned him leaving only the cold sting of fear. He checked over his shoulder, terrified that he would see it gaining on him. Terror stilled his heart as a flash of red eyes shot from the darkness.

Adrenaline had kept him moving. The need to stay alive had kept his muscles working despite how they begged for rest, begged for his simple straw mattress, begged to stop and lie down and not get up till the morning. But now, seeing how close those soulless red eyes were, his body finally froze.

Like ice he stood still. His mind and heart still racing at the speed of light. If only he had stayed in the tavern. He had stepped out to feel the refreshing sting of winter, he hadn't expected to come face to face with… with this demon.

It stepped forward out of the darkness, a set of silver fangs curled in a deathly grin.

He was going to die. Oh Gracious Goddesses he was going to die! This demon was going to kill him, and it was going to enjoy every second of it.

"What do you want from me?!" the man bagged, sobs threatening to bubble up from his throat, sore from endless running. "Why are you doing this?!"

The creature only smiled wider, a shape beginning to emerge from the shadows. The shape of a man.

A man praised throughout the land for his noble deeds.

"No...no it's can't be-" The man's words were cut off as a ghostly black arrow sprouted from his shoulder, pinning him to the wooden shop front behind him. The pain was immense, a strangled scream tore itself from his lips. The creature only smiled wider.

It stepped forward slowly, intent on drawing out his pain for as long as it could. The bow and arrow clutched in between it's shadowy grasp melted into the darkness, and in their place, the silver steel of a sword blade materialized. The creature gazed almost lovingly at the weapon in its left hand.

Fear flooded the man's senses as he stared at the blade. The sharp point now aimed at his throat.

"Please" he begged "Please let me live! I'll do anything, I'll give you anything" A frown seemed to pass over the demon's face, it's soulless red eyes becoming angry. It leveled the blade at his shoulder. The metallic smell of blood rose through the air and the man watched in horror as the blade cleanly sliced through his shoulder

"This is only the beginning"