He was running again, running from him. His feet pounded on the pavement, the shock of each thud reverberating up his legs, through his femur, shaking the sockets in his hips.
He was coming.
His pulse throbbed in time with his strides, sent racing through his body by his thumping heart.
He was coming.
Turning sharply up a side street, he tried to lose his pursuer. His breath came in short sharp gasps, his lungs desperate to supply oxygen to his body.
He was still coming.

Wincing, he felt the painful stab of a stitch begin in his side. He tried to ignore the pain, but he ached all over. His abused muscles strained to do what his brain told them. But they were so tired. So tired.
Tears began to form in the corners of his eyes. He was going to lose.
Brisk footsteps coming up from behind gave him a sudden adrenaline rush. Sharp, sweet adrenalin. It felt like an injection of some lovely drug.
Embracing his pain, his speed picked up impossibly.

The midnight air rushed noisily against his body, sneaking in and out of his clothes. It whipped his hair into his eyes, stole the sweat from his face and neck, numbed his nose and fingers.
Determination set his features. He wouldn't lose, not this time.
Darting down side streets, running an evasive race, he did his best to lose him.
But it wasn't enough.
His muscles burned acidly as he began to tire.
'No! Not yet. He's coming!'
A loud sob caught in his throat as the realisation that he couldn't win hit him. He couldn't win. Not now, not ever.

His pace slowed, becoming erratic, he turned down another alley in a last ditch attempt to escape. Careening into a wall, his feet left the ground. He fell hard, the pavement kissing his palms and ripping them raw.
Sitting up, he tried to catch his breath as his heart bounced against his ribs. He sighed, waiting for the inevitable: him.

He stood there, resplendent in black silk and leather, barely panting, his cheeks not even flushed. "Dylan."
Dylan's lips trembled at the way he spoke that name. It sent fear pulsing through his body. "Aloysius, I'm sorry. I thought I could do better. I tried-"
Silencing him, Aloysius crouched. A gentle bony finger pressed softly against Dylan's lips. "Shh, young one. You've done fine."
Dylan's eyes widened, disbelieving. Was this just another mind game? His heart skipped a beat.
"Don't look at me like that, love. You did well, honestly." Aloysius smiled crookedly, but sincerely. "Come now, show me your hands.

Silent, child-like, Dylan presented his hands for inspection.
Tsking at the gravel embedded in the palms, Aloysius gazed sympathetically at Dylan. "You mustn't hurt yourself like this. Not yet."
Watching him draw his hands to his lips, Dylan shuddered as Aloysius began to lick his wounds.
Having cleaned the blood and dirt from Dylan's palms, leaving them slick and cool with spit, Aloysius leaned into him. "I could fix it forever you know, it's what you want. It's what you've been working for, isn't it?"
"Yes." Dylan smiled, relieved and satisfied.

Aloysius swept him up, pulling him to his feet, pressing a deep blood-tinged kiss to his lips.
Breaking away, Aloysius ran a hand through the long scraps of hair framing Dylan's face. He grinned, flashing his fangs as his eyes glittered wickedly. "You want it?"
"Yes." Dylan smiled back, meeting Aloysius' wildness with his own.
Trailing a finger from Dylan's ear to his chin, Aloysius noted the blood running hot through his carotid artery. He was ready.

Aloysius' gaze flashed passionate fire as he spoke in a voice thick and feral, "Then run, mortal".
Blood and adrenalin pumping, refreshed and anew, Dylan took off.
Shaking his hair over his shoulders, Aloysius growled into the night. "Run for your life!"
Dylan's feet slapped the pavement, stinging exquisitely. He smiled at the pain, loving the way it shot up his legs. The sound of approaching footsteps speeding up behind him tore a raw manic laugh from his throat. He wasn't going to lose this time at all. This time he would reach his goal. With Aloysius in close pursuit, Dylan ran for his life. Each step brought him closer to forever.