The pain was becoming unbearable; his chest felt like a bed of needles had replaced his lungs and heart. With every breath and every beat he felt the stinging, stabbing sensation of death. No not his own, not if his mutation had anything to say about it. If anything this was going to be someone else death.

*I told you child you’ll kill again…* The nameless voice echoed throughout his head as Lennox stalked through the winding paths of Central Park. I wasn’t extremely late just past sunset. The purple hue of the sky still visible as the last rays of light slunk into the darkness.

“I’m only doing this because I have to, I know what will happen if I don’t” Lennox replied as he fought through the pain and continued a normal walking pace through the park. His hopes? To find someone to eat, someone who deserved it; like a mugger or some other villainous character known to be found in these parts after dark. He’d rather be a vigilante then a murderer.

*Just as long as we are in understanding, I'd hate for something to happen to you Lenny* That voice spoke before fading into that sinister laugh.

Since she lived so close to Central Park, walking through the park had become almost a daily routine. It was a way to feel a bit freer than she was, and it was not just her bodyguard and driver who choked her, but also all her obligations. To be excellent in everything was not easy, and her many extra-curricular activities did not leave her much room to relax. Despite that, she loved them because they helped her achieve her goal of perfection.

Even in the quiet of her home she felt like everyone was expecting something from her. Her father and mother were not there, so the responsibility to impose some order fell on her. There was not much to do but prepare schedules and inform her tutor of every step she took, but that was enough to make her want to go for a walk.

The experience was extremely relaxing, and if she stayed long enough, she could see how the city changed from being bathed in natural sunlight to a big waste of electricity that looked very pretty.
Darkness had already fallen on the city, and all the lights woke up from their sleep. Buildings, restaurant, houses... each structure had lights to turn on when night fell.

And the best part of her tour, was that she did not need to follow a defined pattern, or pick a route. She just had to let her worries go, to follow each path she found.

The hunger continued to call, he could feel the sweat gathering from his brow. The voice was growing impatient and Lennox was growing desperately hungry. He had been walking for what felt like hours now with no luck in finding anyone.

*Seems like we may need to go to a more crowded place, doesn’t seem to be much luck here boy, and at this rate your bond to die by morning.*

Lennox didn’t bother respond, he was to focused on remaining in control. He had seen what the he was capable of when not in control, and refused to allow that to happen again.
The sound of footsteps caught his attention; slowly he slunk into the darkness awaiting a better view of the potential prey.

‘Please be a mugger, please be a mugger...’ He repeated over and over in his head. Refusing to take another innocent life. As the sound drew closer the hunger seemed to intense. Saliva dripping from his hand as that tongue ran across its fangs.

*Seems like your lucky day boy, she is quite cute.*
The voice chimed in as the figure of a women appeared in the distance.
*I hope she struggles, I like it when they struggle*

“That wasn’t part of the deal.” Lennox protested, but the urge seemed to be gaining more intense as she neared.

*I think you don’t have much of a choice child….*

Although it was getting a bit cold, she continued her relaxing stroll through the huge urban forest. It was a totally strange but seductive combination. The stillness of the trees and nature lived with the noise of cars and the lights of buildings. Mesmerized by the strange combination, Celeste continued, taking mental notes of everything she saw. Perhaps once she gets home she would be in a good mood to start painting something. Of course she was not an expert but a little art always managed to distract her.

With the promise of a hot meal, a little of art and a refreshing shower, the girl started to go vaguely in the direction in which she lived. Of course, she had to cross the entire park, which anyway would do. So there was no harm in getting closer to her home, so when she was tired she could reach it quickly. She was not tire, but it would not be long until all the school hours, her singing classes and the long walk ended to drain all the energy she had left.
So the girl continued her walk. Unaware that she was moving toward a deathly trap.

*That’s right, wait for her to approach, then we can snatch her from the path. Yes it’s as if I can smell her blood from here. Tell me Lennox can you taste it?*

Lennox couldn’t deny the urges creeping into his mind, his own heart thumping in his chest in anticipation.

*Yes, Lennox give into the hunger, together we can be the perfect predator.*

He would step from the shadows of the tree line, his brow dripping wet sweat and his hand salivating so much it dripped to the ground. His face tight with physical strain as he forced his will over the urge and coercing of the voice in his head.

*Don’t hesitate Lennox, kill her Now!*

“You should run…..” He would cry out to her allowing the girl a fighting chance before pureblood lust took control of his senses. His feet began to move towards her, the need to kill overwhelming any control Lennox had left. His pace quickened to a mild jog, warning the approaching girl once more before all was lost.

"Run, or I'm going to kill you..."

With each minute she remained in the park, the shadows become darker. Larger and deeper, until darkness formed a man. The noise of the leaves betrayed him, alerting her before he was visible, but she still could not manage to start running. She only achieved small steps, until she saw him and her muscles paralyzed with fear. Frozen by these tentacles of darkness that danced in the park. She just needed that glance to figure something was not quite right with him, the man probably had some kind of mental problem. It was that or he took extremely dangerous drugs. Instead of running, she found herself praying for him to not be a mutant, for him to be an ordinary man that she could hit and hurt, not one of those monstrous mutants immune to all damage as the mountain of red muscles or the woman with the purple tentacles.

The warning from the stranger was all she needed to return to reality, so her little heart began to pump blood infested with adrenaline and all her defense systems activated. She was ready to run. She was a machine prepare to escape. But still, her legs refused to move.
Perhaps the fear was dominating her, maybe she just wanted to avoid giving him the satisfaction of a hunt. Whatever it was, her legs did not move. But the man still moved toward her.
The next few seconds were a whirlwind of emotions and colors. Finally, her instincts did what her logical brain could not, her hands though hampered by fear managed to found the only thing that could save her. Her Taser.
She found the device in the bottom of her purse, hidden among other objects of minor importance. The modern device came to life immediately projecting a powerful beam of white light straight to the chest of her enemy. At the pressing of a button, the metal needles left the cartridge propelled toward its target at an incredible speed. If her aim was good, it would immediate disrupt all his muscles and would give her enough time to escape.

BANG!
The air between them filled with a light smoke as the weapon was discharged. Immediately Lennox could feel his muscles tighten causeing him to fall to the ground. His hunger would not be defeated so easily. Using the last bit of strength Lennox would grab the metal prongs and pull them from his chest. The puncture wounds from the non-lethal device would instantly begin to blood. Bllod red eyes would lock onto the small blonde female as Lennox regained his motor skills.
“That just made you a whole lot easier to kill…” Now angry with the girl for her act of defense.

“You should have ran when you had the chance.” Lennox spoke before standing and approaching the girl once again.
*Drain her slowly boy, I feel she is a lively one…* the voice commanded

“I will.” Lennox replied as the distance between them grew shorter and shorter. The girl could probably make out most of his facial features by this point, more importantly she should see the dripping saliva pooling below his hand, that tongue licking it's fangs as the kill seemed to grow close.

The triumph lasted a moment, an instant when the child allowed a divine smile to form on her lips. A smile that was more typical of an angel than a human being, so perfect was her smile of relief and triumph. The electricity went into the thin metal filament up to the teeth under his skin, then the man fell to the ground unable to control his muscles. The vision of his fall was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Once she could get home she would paint that moment of glory. She had won.

Unfortunately the man did not agree with her, the battle was far from done. Even on the floor, the man used all his strength to move his clumsy arms until he finally rip the thin small metal needles form his skin. No way. In an instant his victory collapsed followed by her smile and satisfaction, both were replaced by the same fear that had dominated her whole body earlier. The same one that kept her feet glued on the ground.

The man who had been able to resist the disruptive power of her Taser stood. And with impossibly long steps he began to move in her direction. It seemed as if each step covered a mile but at the same time the man seemed not to move at all. It was the fear that was transforming everything into a slow motion nightmare from which she could not escape.

*Look at how she fears us Lennox, unable to move in the wake of her death. Such a beautiful prey, strike her down child let us toy with this rabbit awhile.*

By now he was within arm’s reach of her, his left hand jabbing out into her torso. There was no turning back, his human will shrouded in the mist of hunger, the need to taste fresh blood. His body would do as the voice demanded anything to get to satisfy the hunger. Grabbing her by her hair he would jerk her body back upwards, the tossing her into the cover of the trees. Hiding his kill from others.

*Yes, child you learn well, perhaps next time I'll demonstrate our true potental.*

His right hand would grip her throat, as the dozens of fangs prepared to make entry. That tongue sliding along her neck searching for the best spot, that slime muscle settling where her pulse was felt strongest.

*Listen to how her life quickens with the anticipation of her own death, such a pretty little rabbit. Drink Lennox enjoy her life.*

The slow dance of death they had executed came to an end suddenly, then a second of silence that extended infinitely after the nightmare in slow motion turned into a small symphony in Allegro.The imaginary music that howled in her ears musicalized the brutal attack for a moment and then as suddenly as the music began, it disappeared. She did not hear anything else but her beating heart.

The hand of the hideous creature crossed the space between them in an instant, displaying superhuman speed. The impact left her breathless, forcing her body to twist in pain in front of the enemy, giving him a clear advantage. While she was still trying to recover, the claws of that being wrapped her beautiful hair and pulled hard enough to lift her skinny body.

The pain was so intense that she did not even thought of the possibility of fighting back. Each of her senses were so focused on the pain that she could not take any other action.Only when she felt his tongue caressing her skin, she achieved to focus long enough to try to defend herself. She shook her hands with insistence, hitting the subject with blows that seemed to cause no harm, until a miracle made her remember the precious object she was still holding.

The task that before had been a routine became a challenge, but when all seemed lost, her fingers finally extracted the empty cartridge. The piece of plastic fell from her hands, but even before it could touch the ground, the girl had started the device.

The small device in her hand buzzed like a thousands bees along with the particular whiplash of electricity. A flashing blue light bathed the whole place while a restless electric wire danced between each electrode willing to taste human flesh again.
Using all her remaining strength, she nailed the metal horns in the chest of her opponent in a desperate final attack.

He could almost feel her blood rushing into him, the kill that he so desperately craved literally at his fingertips. His palm came to rest on her neck as those dozen of fangs reared back, ready to puncture her soft flesh. He could taste the salt from her sweat on her skin; feel the rush of blood through her veins, lost so deep in his blood lust Lennox failed to notice the movements of his prey as his fangs pressed into her neck. The familiar crackling of dancing electrode would cause Lennox to pause, his eyes glancing down to see that light thrust toward his chest.

*Lennox kill her NOW!*

The voice screamed out, but the order came too late. Just as the fangs finally drew blood the Taser was slammed into his sternum with enough force to push him back, the electric shock was just an added incentive. The light danced and burned on his chest as Lennox stood there trying to withstand the pain.

“Aaargh!” Lennox cried out as he backed away, his skin smoking slightly. With his most primal instincts in control now he stared at her before releasing another beastly cry into the night sky, unwilling to feel the burn of her weapon so soon.

*Once again your weakness has delayed another kill, your pathetic!*

“She has a weapon.”

*DO not fear her boy! Or gave me excuses no kill her you spineless coward!*

Soon the electric cry from the device was drowned by the skin of her enemy, to become audible seconds later, when both combatants stepped back. Once free from the scorched skin, the laughter of the Taser rose once again in mocking tone. A non-verbal threat.
The modern device vibrated with intensity in her hands, granting her the power she needed as if it was a strange amulet loaded with energy, even so the girl stumbled unable to control her legs several times, so in the end she stood still without moving.

Something warm began to fall down her neck so the girl quickly put a hand over the viscous liquid. She expected to find an obscene amount of saliva, but instead found blood. The liquid shone with a flash of red when the ever changing light illuminated het skin, confirming her suspicion. Seconds after her brain understood what had happened, her body began to recognize the pain of the open wound that drained her strength.
The pain was sharp and strange, hard to describe in that circumstance, and although the cut was small and almost shallow, every breath seemed to break her neck, causing pain as she had never felt.

While her beautiful skin gets wet with her own blood, the girl attempted to scream, but failed. The scream for help was trapped in her throat as well as the many insults and curses she wanted to shout to the stranger. Though even when she failed repeatedly, her enemy did it. A wolfy howling that achieved to freeze her blood.

While the individual expelled his pain in a horrendous scream, her free hand found her cell in which she only needed to press a single key. Her driver replied immediately. At the first attempt she managed to speak in a thin voice full with pain and fear. "I need help."
The girl said as she watched in horror as her enemy recovered, at any time he could strike again. "Track my GPS."

Lennox watched as the girl’s legs quivered unable to take the steps needed to save her own life, her body still gripped in fear. Slowly she began reaching with her hand to survey the damage of the attack, the look of horror and shock on her face confirming what Lennox could already feel. Watching as the girl retrieved another device from her persons, a weapon he assumed until she spoke into it.

>> "I need help. Track my GPS."<<

Her words dripped with fear as they fell onto Lennox’s ears. Erasing any concern he hand for the taser, the sight and taste of blood only increasing his bravado.

*We have drawn blood child, there is no escape for her now..*

The voice echoed within his head, the taste of blood already coursing through his system. The pain from the burn wounds as well as the puncture wounds from the prongs slowly began to heal. Ecstasy rushed to his brain and through his body tickling every nerve stem, only increasing his hunger.

*There nothing better than seeing the look on ones face while killing them, and they know their helpless to stop it. Let us show her what that feels like*
The voice spoke divulging deeper into the sweet pool of sadism, twisting Lennox's mind into a deeper darkness.

"My friends says your blood taste delicious...like something special is in it." Slowly he started his advance towards his prey, eyes locked onto her own. His left hand drawing a knife from his pocket, locking the blade open with a flick of her wrist. His thumb would slide along the blade edge teasing his flesh with it's sharpness. " We think that's deserving of another taste."

His pulse rate began to synchronize with hers. Lennox watched as she succumb the effect of his bite her eyes locked onto his. Slowly he began to approach. Her terror was felt within his core, the quickening pace of her heart down to the light sheen of sweat forming onto her skin. Their nervous system and vitals linked. Pressing that blade to his wrist he drug it down digging into the flesh.

*Make her bleed Lennox...*

"With pleasure..."

The link created with the modern cellphone was still active, generating meaningless sounds and voices that the girl could barely hear. It was almost as if the man she had called was speaking in a strange language, almost alien that she was not able to decipher. Celeste knew that he was speaking to her, and the tone of his voice told her that he wanted to know something, but every word he uttered was strange to her.
She waited for a few seconds there, just listening to the strange talk through that device, but then she slowly began to forget what she was supposed to accomplish with the device. "It's not even a weapon." She thought as her hand slowly descended until the digitalized voice was no longer there.

After the first skirmish that had been quick and violent, the world had recovered much of its tranquility, and although the threat of another attack was almost solid she still could see a sudden change in speed. The world was moving at such slowness that was highly irritating. The only thing that seemed to move at the same speed, or faster, was her small heart.

Although she tried to divert her attention away from his words, she could not do it. The strength of his voice covered everything making it impossible to not listen. The sound of his voice alone caused new chills, followed by goosebumps after she understood the meaning.

While still struggling with the horror of the sentence pronounced by the man, her enemy took a new horror from his pocket. The knife danced in his hand to produce later a sharp blade that caressed his thumb with lust. Celeste was so focused on the cold blade and his hands that she could almost feel the cold caress on the skin of her own thumb, as if somehow it was testing her skin even before touching it.

Even her eyes had lost the strength to attack him with the imaginary daggers she always used, or to launch one of the many curses that never worked. Her eyes were not even strong enough to beg for her life, so she had to do it with her throat. Her vocal cords vibrated in a disorderly manner producing an unintelligible growl that after repeating several times became words. "Spare my life..." The efforts of these few words almost seemed to tear her throat, as if the effort to speak was too much for her stressed body. Celeste attempted to negotiate with the creature, but her throat closed denying her the ability to speak, leaving barely enough room to breathe.

While she was focused on the difficult task of breathing, she felt with horror as a supernatural force moved her eyes to align them with those of her enemy. His eyes exerted an impossible magnetism until her soul fell in those two abysses. He advanced towards her, but she did not even move, hypnotized or perhaps too weak from the lost blood.
Then his short knife cut both of them at the same time producing a new source of pain that made her forget all her priorities. The cut on her right wrist was so strong that she opened her hand, she drop the Taser, while her left hand dropped the phone to help its mate.
Even when she pressed hard, the blood gushed from her fingers, staining both hands with the precious liquid that should never have left her body.

“Spare my life…”the girl managed to choke out.
Her words dripped with the sound of one’s surrender, sending a euphoric chill throughout Lennox’s body. Although the sentence was short each word dripped with its own sense of hopelessness, music to the Reapers ears.

*Let us finish with the girl Lennox… no need to torture the little rabbit further*

“And I was just beginning to enjoy myself…”He replied as he continued to approach his meal.

The few feet between them seemed like a mile as Lennox grew with anticipation of her taste once more, the slow running crimson rivers that escaped from beneath her hand, only enticed his yearnings.

“Watching you bleed is like watching chocolate running off of strawberries…” Lennox spoke as he danced that blade in around in his palm, knowing she could feel it too. “You know how you watch those dessert commercials and you can taste, I mean like literally taste the chocolate on your tongue? And then you remember that that’s only the prelude to that next juicy bite?” He stood merely feet from her now, close enough to see the despair and pleading in her eyes. "That's exactly how I feel about you right now, wanting to get at that next juicy bite."

His face frowned for a quick second as he stared into her eyes.
“Don’t worry I’ll only drink my fill, but I can’t make any promises…”

Dropping the knife to the ground he reached down with his left hand grabbing a fist full of her soft gold mane roughly tugging the girl to her feet. Right hand placed firmly across her throat, just enough to allow blood and air to get to her brain. He leaned in close to her ear as those fangs bite into her neck once more. Whispering a few words of encouragement.
“…look on the bright side, it only hurts once.”