The place was thronged with people. The queues and shouting filled the area, another market located in the middle of the city. Which was to be quite straightforward—a distraction to one or other soul.

There were all kinds of figures and mercenaries to be discovered. Even in broad daylight, it could be found—between fraud, bittersweet scams, and rare generosity—there was a wide range. One might see them if they'd dig deep enough in the dark alleys.

A death wish.

The swift turn among the dark alleys would soon cause a bittersweet blessing of crimson red.

The streets were filled with commotion, shouting, and yearning to get the deals that were worth the most. The figures would hunt after the small animals that'd steal their sweet property. There were more scenarios to choose from than the mind could think of.

Different people were crossing and blocking the streets by the weekly big grocery shopping in the city. How disadvantages could build up just by the weekday falling on one of the weekends.

Meanwhile, the only thing from your perspective that you heard was panting. The wind was cutting the skin off your cheeks. Your legs were close to the edge of burning to fire. As the gravity began to feel like it stopped.

You ran.

You didn't feel your lungs collapse yet. No sign of stopping. Nothing else in the focus. There couldn't be another focus. You were on an important chase.

The destination of your goal— rather who it was. It happened to be someone. A creature of the shadows. A blood-sucking demon, that caved for the crimson liquid. The one thing that ran through the body, that kept it alive, the primary life force—which was blood.

The bloodsucking monster had licked the corner of its lips from the blood. Their tongues slowly consumed the drop of liquid in crimson tones.

The corpse lying there was lifeless. Just a moment ago. Your eyes had widened and captured the true torture. That body was once someone's family and this vampire would pay for it.

A level of disgust struck through you. A stabbing hatred at that moment. Your blood was boiling stronger than ever. Lightning, giving yourself the energy to chase them down to the last.

At a constant speed, you had held yourself up on the roofs to keep him in sight. Despite the struggle of gravity you got closer.

The determination, the flame to erase every last one of these creatures.

Each second, a footstep closer. A meter further to the goal. But then slowly your lungs felt heavy.

You began to run out of air.

'Not here. Not now—' you thought desperately trying to hold on.

You kept clenching to your last resort. Taking a gun out. You held it and fired. The second it let go of its trap, it was too late. An ear-damaging sound, that trapped the vampire in an uncomfortable position. He stood there trying to block the sound out with his hands. His best attempt to prevent it from crawling under his skin — but it stopped him.

That was the moment you put him in handcuffs. The cold metal left your hands and met that of the icy wrists of the vampire.

The desire deep down was burning to the truth that there was an emotional imbalance towards wanting to stab the creature badly into the chest with a pile. To drill it slowly into the center of their body and watch them be erased by the sunlight. Crumbling to ashes and wincing in pain— to scream and fear for their nonexistent lives that they sold to the dead.

You sighed, there was no such possibility. You swore an oath.

A sharp object made you wince in pain. It had gone through the top layer of your skin. Only one second of unattentiveness could lead you to your downfall "You— little shit!" you exclaimed loud, expressing your anger. That was your first mistake, to lose your cool. A misstep that would cost something more than just a scratch.

"You bloodsucking basatard!" The cursing has continued running rent free thrpugh your mind and leaving your mouth. Part of your fortune was that you had regained your posture.

They regained their strength when you hesitated. Your mind had distracted you, causing a hesitation in for a moment that slipped through your hands.

When they maliciously giggled, you felt your blood boil. The anger that built up in you was really strong.

The moment you gained consciousness about your feelings you turned them down. Coming to the conclusion you had to regulate such immense things if you wished to remain a well-trained hunter for those "demons".

All the possibilities of outcomes, but the one you wanted to achieve was a simple one: to help people at the end of the day.

As you tried jumping off the building— which in your defense in personal perception wasn't this high— you unfortunately ended up landing on the knee with blood spreading over your skin.

A sharp pain went through your leg, leaving an irritating, hurtful feeling behind. Your concentration lowered— what in the knight's name was this?

Bruising it fatal to an extent. You winced in pain when you tried to stand up. Maybe a few meters were what your body could hold manage.

You tried your best to keep your target in sight. You ran and ran as far as your legs could carry you. As much as your lungs burnt, you couldn't keep going. Your attention was extremely low.

You tried hastily sprinting through the crowds, trying to fit between the small gaps that kept the people apart. Sliding sometimes successfully through them, making your way forward. Yet one of the unpleasant things that took most strength of you was pushing one or two people mildly away.

When you tried to keep going at your pace, your lungs grew exhausted, breathing became more difficult.your mind became more and more conflicted. The whole situation was making your blood boil. Why did this have to bother you that much?

The distraction grew and grew. It developed into a whole image.

You ran, and one into a figure. You bumped softly into their back, with a small 'oof' leaving your lips. You fell backwards on your butt whilst the ground wasn't too uncomfortable and cold you were reminding yourself there was no time to lose. You couldn't let this slip. No matter how much sitting on the ground would get you to your old peace of mind.

The figure turned around, with beautiful emerald green eyes, a small nose, and soft lips filling his face. His eyelashes were moderatively long meanwhile where whereas his height seemed different, his eyes gazing upon you.

As he further observed your face, his expression softened. A smile appeared, which was charming,
but haunting. Somehow it put chills down your spine.

"Sorry.. My apologies, I'm deeply sorry." He said reaching out with his hand, your smile grew. You shook your head, "It's okay." you took his hand that he stretched out to help you. With his suport you lifted yourself off the ground. The dusty asphalt still stuck to the back of your pants.

You weren't as sharp as before about the surroundings, it felt blurry and uncertain. There wasn't a clear line-, a thread, a plan to follow.

Nothing.

Just nothing.

"You got something there" he smirked while pointing out the blanket of dusk covering your dark trousers. There was a rise of temperature in your body once you noticed what he was referring to. The light humor would be appreciated if it wasn't for this particular moment.

Your eyes immediately averted his gaze. The path in front swayed the way you planned to excuse yourself. The space to slip in between was small and limited. The moment you were standing still, you were about to run after that vampire again.

That plan was interrupted when the stranger said something. "Oh no.. you're hurt," he said. His gaze was certainly observant. You cursed mentally when he held you back, but his concern was also appreciated at the same time. But now it was the wrong time.

"I'm fine," you said affirming that you were okay. His face grew less concerned— he wasn't looking too pleased with you trying to play it off as less than it was, but enough to make him stop giving you that look.

The lips that formed a thin line, made you look less in pain. A neutral expression that masked your pain at first sight. Keeping things from other people— a true specialty.

"What's your name?" he asked you. A thin layered surprise washed over your face. You didn't know what to say, your throat turned dry. Suddenly the words you were soaked with before inside of you— were empty, nowhere to be found, and dry.

Why was such a thing happening now? You desperately wanted to speak up. The thought of making a wrong impression tortured you mentally. Where it depended for you in those moments, it usually backfired.

"I'm Venti by the way," he announced, his voice sounding warm and welcoming. While the smile resting on his face was peaceful but, comforting. He looked at you, with curiosity, "Honored to make your acquaintance." he nodded.

"I'm Y/n," you replied, "likewise, I'm honored to make your acquaintance as well," you said affirming with a grin.

The beginning of a long story to be unfolded and told.