I watched him as he turned, his hand still in mine. The feeling was alien. Cold. I hadn't touched a man in years. Let alone ever touched a vampire.

I felt the familiar route towards home, I wanted to head towards it, my breath catching. I wanted to forget this ever happened but somehow my body obeyed him as he walked down a side street right before my apartment. I think back to the files, the wall of information. Had this all lead to this?

The light tug on my arm urgent, as we crept once more in the shadows. Spotting the familiar faces of the officers from earlier further down the street this time. I turn my gaze towards him, an idea blinked into my thoughts as he muttered to himself.

"I can keep you safe" I paused, the absurdity of that sentence when it crossed my lips, also seemed alien. "From them, the police officers I mean" My body relaxing, to show no hint of my plan.

I observed him as he took in the police officers. I frowned. I shook my head. The feeling in weightlessness still there, the hollow pit of my stomach only grew. "You tranced them and now they might be rabid in amongst the public?" My tone laced with venom, not exactly being quiet. My thoughts went to his concern over me being killed by them but thought nothing else of it as a fog weighed heavy in my mind.

I went quiet wondering what he meant by the debt owed. I pulled back on his hand to try and stop him to turn to face me in the alleyway. It hurt, I winced, as his grip felt like a vice, as his cold hand still laced through my fingers. We stopped dead as I gazed at him again.

I could feel my thoughts clouding over again as he looked back at me. "How...do I see you?" I repeated. Shaking my head. My plan all but a mere memory fading into nothingness. I try to repeat it to myself in my head. I catch him staring momentarily before I open my mouth "Bea..." I start, shake my head. "You've done nothing but threaten me into being your snack" My thoughts clearing briefly to bite out. "I don't even know your name, but I guess that's not the point if you intend to kill me" I say, my tone harsh. "Not to mention whatever this is?" I hissed at him, raising my hand laced with his. The moment of clarity had lead to anger. "All I want to do is to go home" My face softening, my voice went quiet, looking back down the alley at the street my apartment sits on.

I studied him, his gaze unrelenting. His hand tugged at mine now, drawing me close again. My heart dropped, realising I would never be free. If only I could get my plan to work. My heart caught in my mouth as he was mere inches away. His voice a whisper. Entrancing.

With every word I noticed the vampire's subtle unease.

I paused "My safety...?" The words barely scraping past my lips. My mind confused.

I looked up the alleyway back towards the way we came, looking for the police officers. No sign of them.

Frustration rose in my throat as he didn't answer any of my questions. But the way he asked me to calm down, was that pleading?

I clenched myself trying to force myself to become calmer. I closed my eyes momentarily. My hand now clamy in his grip. My heart steadying itself. Opening them again to see how close he was in front of me.

I tried not to let it spike again. Calm... Not that I had any inclination of what was going on, why we were hiding like this or the level of threat he had made for himself... for us.

I whispered "Look... I'm sorry about talking but I know London like the back of my hand, I grew up here, I work here. We can get away from them" I gripped his hand back and started to lead the way, down the next alleyway, away from the street my home was on. I felt a wave of sorrow as I realised I'd probably never see that flat again. All my belongings. My board. My beloved board of information. I closed my eyes, to remember it all. My thoughts becoming clearer now.

We approached an intersection between the row of flats to houses. I took him further away from the police officers.

It wasn't long before we reached a busy street. I looked up and down, just ordinary people walked along, carrying on about their day.

I felt my stomach tighten as it rumbled. I was getting hungry. It must be lunchtime by now. I look back to the vampire with a raised eyebrow in question. Where next?

4 Little Pines Ranch said:

(SORRY FOR ABSOLUTLY JUST DYING ON YA- had a power outage, been naturally inactive and super busy, will reply soon!!!!!!!//

(Happy Thanksgiving :D)

I felt the grip on my hand tighten as he pulled me forward, close into his side. Like he didn't want to lose me in the vast crowd of people. I looked around keeping an eye for those police officer's encase they appeared. I need this plan to work. I thought, looking for any other means.

I looked up as I felt his gaze on me and then I turned back to the sea of strangers we were now moving through. I didn't bother trying to attract anyone's attention because I didn't want anyone to suffer at the hands of this... this vampire. What if he was the one in my case file? Could it have been him or something else entirely?

Before long they found the market from yesterday. The wafting scents of crossiants, coffee and other tangiables made my mouth water. I looked back at the vampire. Did he live near here? The sudden recognisation on his face of this place. I swallowed, realising we were probably close, I needed to act now to attempt my plan.

I looked up and looked around. Monday. I thought. Would any police officers be doing patrol through here at this hour? I looked around and suddenly a flash of high-vis of the police's familiar uniform. It wasn't the same officers from earlier but I recognised them all the same. I pulled at the vampire's grip hard in their direction.

"Hey guys!" I called out, hoping they'd see us. I know I said no more today but this is my last chance for my plan to work.