This is it. The end of my meaningless life. Nothing to show for, no one will probably even remember me, was all Elliot could think before being thrown roughly against a brick wall. He looked around wildly for an exit. Unfortunately there were about five of the men, too many to run.

“Please, I don’t want any trouble, please… please,” he pleaded desperately. They only laughed as the biggest one stalked closer to him.

“That’s cute,” he sneered. “Look at the livestock crying for help.”

“Uh Cash, let’s just end this quick,” A much smaller but still gruff looking fellow said, “don’t wanna get caught out here with a body.”

“Shut it! I’m the boss out here, and if I want to have a little fun before dinner, I will.”

The big burly man grabbed Elliot by his throat, holding him in place against the wall. Slowly, he started squeezing tighter and tighter until Elliot’s eyes began burning with tears and his ears were ringing. Not too clear if it was from the choking or the realization that his life would end at any moment. He flailed at the man trying to hit him as hard as he could to no avail. 

"Heh, I love it when they struggle," a gross look of satisfaction crossed Cash's face.

The goons laughed circling him like vultures. He could just barely hear them conversing amongst themselves as he slowly began fading away.

Gale was right, he’s always right. I should’ve listened to him, should've been less stubborn, and now I’m going to die for it. Just when he thought the end was nigh and the sound became silent, the burly man was abruptly thrown to the side.

“What the fuck?!” One of the goons screeched. 

Elliot sputtered, desperately grasping for air and coughing uncontrollably. He slid down the brick wall feeling a bit dazed and confused, unsure of the scene happening before him. Bodies were being tossed everywhere and everyone was moving at the speed of light. He could faintly hear punches going back and forth. The lackeys were knocked down one by one while they lay in the alley way, until finally there were only two standing. One mysterious fellow in a black and grey hoodie and the big leader presumably named Cash. 

Cash spit blood, wiping down his grimy beard with his hand, “Get the hell outta here, I ain’t playing around today, kid.”

“Neither am I,” The mysterious man said rather calmly, “and don’t call me kid.” 

“Fine Leo, you want an ass beating today? You’re gettin’ it.” Cash put his fists up and prepped for the upcoming tussle.

Elliot noticed a dagger slide out from Leo’s sleeve into his hand.

“I don’t think so…”  As quick as lightning, Leo was already on the other side of Cash.

The burly man screamed out in pain, “AH! YOU LITTLE SHIT!” He fell to the ground grasping his right achilles tendon.

“Are we done here?” Leo’s voice echoed darkly in the alley.

“No way in hell,” Cash scowled looking in Elliots direction, “that’s still my dinner.” 

“Fine, if you insist.” Leo grabbed the man’s arm, and an undesirable crunch could be heard as he snapped it in half over his knee effortlessly.

“You can have that for dinner.”

Cash cried out in agony. Elliot couldn’t stand the sight before him, seeing the bone protruding from the dangling flesh as blood spurt out from the broken limb. He gagged, turning over to puke up his lunch for the day.

“Go home, all of you,'' he signaled to the groaning bodies around him.

Elliot, who was still lying helpless on the ground, watched as the men began leaving. Cash left with them, groaning in pain but not before giving Elliot and Leo one last glance. When they were finally alone Leo offered out his hand to Elliot, who refused to accept it at first, unsure if he was just traded as being one vampire's dinner to another's snack. Noticing how reluctant the guy was, Leo retracted his hand respectfully.

“Are you okay?” His voice was soothing and a little raspy. 

Am I okay? I was almost murdered by one of your kind not two minutes ago. Elliot was so shaken and upset that he didn’t really want to answer the man, especially since he couldn't quite see his face in the dark. 

Then Leo pulled back his hoodie to reveal hazel eyes, black messy hair, and a single lip piercing.

Oh no, he’s hot. Elliot’s cheeks flushed pink. But despite this man's attractive demeanor it didn’t excuse the fact that he was still one of them. Sure, he did save Elliot but who’s to say he didn’t just do that to enslave the helpless man as a blood bank? He’s never heard of vamps just randomly helping people in trouble. But he has heard of them using humans for blood in exchange for giving protection from other vamps. And Elliot was not going to be anyone's slave.

He picked himself up from the ground and leaned against the wall.

“What do you want?” Elliot asked softly, trying not to strain his already damaged windpipes.

“What?” Leo seemed taken back by the question.

Elliot, not sure if the man heard him, tried to speak more clearly, “What do you want from me?” 

“Is it my blood? Because I really don’t feel like giving any away right now-”

“Stop.”

Elliot immediately clamped his mouth shut. The vampire wasn’t being aggressive, but that didn’t stop him from feeling intimidated by his constant stare.

“I don’t want anything other than your permission to escort you home.”

Leo once again reached out and offered his hand even though Elliot was already on his feet. Confused but accepting defeat, he reached forward only to lose his footing and stumble, awkwardly grasping the man's chest instead. When he tried to stand on his own, the dizziness only got worse. Leo noticed him struggle and clutched him tightly in his arms.

“Hey relax, can you tell me where you live?”

“East Avenue,” Elliot mumbled. He felt himself being hoisted bridle style, into the man's arms.

As embarrassed as the smaller man felt, he was far too weak to protest. He could feel the wind in his hair as he leaned more into the stranger's chest. It felt like a roller-coaster ride almost. Elliot could feel his stomach drop from time to time as they made another dash to somewhere. Finally they paused in an alley way just below his apartment building.

"We're on East Avenue street, now where is your apartment building?"

Elliot only pointed up.

"Floor?" Leo questioned gently, clearly trying not to scare him.

"Third," Elliot said breathlessly. He was currently trying his hardest not to pass out as the man climbed effortlessly up the fire escape.

"Hey, stay with me."

When they finally quit moving Leo asked, "Is this your apartment?"

Elliot gave a quick nod before climbing out of the man's grasp. He struggled but eventually slid open the dirty looking window.

"Thanks," Elliot mumbled quietly, looking back at the man who was staring quite intensely.

"Mind if I know your name?"

The smaller man just shrugged his shoulders, "It's Elliot," he replied lamely.

"Leo," the man said, although Elliot had already assumed as much since he seemed to be well known by his attacker.

"Look, I don't mean to sound creepy but I might need to watch over you for the next few days." The vampire slowly walked closer to Elliot making him nervously back away.

Leo stopped walking, noticing how uncomfortable the man seemed.

"And why… why is that?" Elliot stuttered.

"Because those men might come after you again and they'll be even more brutal next time."

"Next time?" Elliot placed his fingertips on his throat and trembled.

"I won’t let there be a next time," Leo stated sternly.

“Just relax and get some rest.”

Elliot nodded and slowly crawled into the window. He turned around to ask more questions but Leo was already gone.

Tiredness hit Elliot like a brick as he climbed into bed and let the darkness of the room wash over him. Leo is protecting me. Was his final thought before succumbing to a peaceful sleep.