“Haze! Don’t be late tomorrow, aye?” A tall man yelled after him.

It was after closing time, and Haze was rushing out of the bar. He was obviously in a hurry. His eyes darted back to the tall man- that was Mr. Wallice, the guy who runs the bar and the hotel. He sometimes rented out a room if he needed to bathe. Haze nodded, quietly making his way back to the alley. 

Rubbing his eyes, he walked along the wall, dazed and tired. Spacing out, he automatically knew where to walk to. But before he reached where he needed to be, he was shoved up against the wall and pinned. He felt a piece of metal up against his throat, and he looked up.

“Ooh, look who we have here! Mr. Prettyboy, was it?” A man said. The assaulter was dressed in an all black suit with no identifying components other than a red symbol that vaguely represented a lock, like one commonly found in a door. Except this time it was warped and seemed to radiate a sort of negativity. The man pressed the knife further into his neck, breaking skin. “Y’know, it’d be such a shame to not have yer head attached to this body of yours, hm?" said the suited man, a cackle sounding at the end of his sentence. Haze's skin crawled, wondering why he was even a target in the first place. He then noticed with a shock that the man's skin was ghastly white, paler than him. It wasn't just a matter of race, no, but it was as if he was a ghost.

Haze halted his breath. He scouted the area, making sure there was no one else. He caught sight of a dark figure perched on top of a building, ready to jump.

Tearing up, he tried to negotiate.

“W-what’re you wanting from me? My week’s paycheck? A lock of hair?” He inquired, looking up with his pleading gold eyes. His voice cracked.

The theif tapped Haze’s forehead, looking deep in thought. Crouching down to level his eyes with Haze, what came out of his mouth next shook him to his core.

“You."

Haze gulped, starting to shake. “Pardon?”

“Did ya not hear me before, dimwit? I said you.”

“But why me? I mean, I have no money, no inheritance, nothi-” He began to say, being cut off abruptly. He felt hands grasp his face, forcing Haze to look at him.

“B’cause those is the orders," he rasped. Haze attempted to wrench his face away from his attacker, but to no avail. 

Haze resorted to the last option he had. He fell limp, confusing the man holding him to the wall. Taking the opportunity that was presented, he squirmed suddenly and twisted, kicked him right in the stomach, and was freed from his grasp. Haze sprinted, leaving his pursuers in the dust. He knew this alley like the back of his hand, so it didn’t take long for him to outrun them. 

Or, that's what he thought.

The "thing" perched on the top of the maze-like alley's concrete walls let out a horrifying screech, so high-pitched it made Haze drop to his knees and cover his ears. He gasped and felt blood drip down his nose. In and out of consciousness, he tried his best to crawl to a safe spot. He came to a stop as a large thud was heard before him. All Haze could gather from this creature was that it was like a bird, but there was no way it was just a bird. It had large, creeping eyes hid beneath a hood and a hooked beak. Its legs were thin but strong. A horrible smell came from the abomination as it creeped closer towards Haze, as if it were stalking its prey.

Haze gulped, unknowing of what to expect next. Capture, torture, death...? Surely the duo that pursued him couldn't be wanting him as a friend.

The creature crept forward more before glancing at Haze. It clicked its tongue, once, twice, three times. The thing then crouched down towards Haze and tapped his head. Immediately the bird-like beast recoiled and squawked, letting out a blood-curdling wail. It was as if the deepest, darkest pits of hell were somehow embedded in the thing.

Haze took this opportunity to regain his footing and run past this scene, wanting to forget everything that had just happened. What was that? He finally turned a corner and regained his breath. Haze looked around and found everything to be silent, just as everything should be.

Haze’s heart just about ripped out of his chest, and when he thought that he was in the clear, he heard a commotion around the corner behind him.