A Continous Pursuit

"I managed to sneak through this narrow street," I whisper to myself as I peek into the main road. "But am I going to make it through this one?"

The guards have already flooded the streets, patrolling in every direction. The shops and the market are closing, with merchants clearing their stalls and removing their signs in a hurry. It's only about one past noon, but the blinds on the windows are drawn, like it's already nightfall.

Suddenly, the loud, sluggish clanging of the city bell can be heard, filling the streets with its noise. The guards start shouting.

"Hurry up, citizens, the curfew has been announced! All citizens must go and stay home until the threat has been eliminated! Those not complying with the law will be arrested on suspicion of vampiric behaviour! I repeat..."

I pull my head back into the alley, pressing against the wall with my whole body.

This is bad. Really bad! They are already suspicious of me. But if they see me outside after the curfew has been announced...

I take a peek back outside again. Two pairs of patrolling guards are about to turn, leaving a blind spot. This is my chance! I leap forward, my footsteps as light as I can make them on the cobblestone to avoid making any sound. My heart pounds in my ears, louder than the city bell. I rush into the alleyway on the other side of the street, taking a peek at the turning guards.

I did it! I turn forward, slamming into a wall of leather and iron.

"Ouch," I stagger back, noticing a guard standing in front of me.

I messed up! I stand with my body petrified, my nerves at their limit. The guard grabs my shoulder, staring down at me with a menacing glance. I clench my teeth, shaking.

"Hey, citizen!" he says, "This area is dangerous. You shouldn't be walking here alone."

Eh? Guess he doesn't know I am under chase...

"I... Uh," I stammer, my mind racing as I try to come up with the explanation. "I'm on my way back to the inn I'm staying in."

The guard lets go of my shoulder.

"I see," he says, standing aside. "The curfew has been announced. Head home, now! There are rumors that the reason behind the total curfew is that a vampire is lurking in this town..."

Rumors, huh?!

"Stay safe, citizen!" the guard said, showing me the way.

I nod my head and start running forward.

What a luck!

"Hey, did you see a young man walking around here?" I hear a faint but familiar voice in the distance. "He's wearing a brown leather tunic with a cape."

I come to a halt, my body freezing. My head shakes as I turn it.

It's the guard from the square. He's talking to the one I just passed.

"Young man with a leather tunic and a cape?" the guard I talk to says. "Yeah, he came this way just a moment ago."

I hastily look around, seeking a place where I could hide.

"You let him go? He's a suspect!" the guard from the square says angrily, pushing the other aside. "After him, now!"

Shit, they won't leave me alone! I must run! 

And so I start running, giving it my all.

"Hey, kid! You're under arrest for suspicion of vampiric activity!" the pursuing guard shouts.

It's not too far away! I take a sharp turn onto the street where the inn is.

"Running away is useless! The guards will find you eventually!" the guard shouts from the top of his lungs as he rapidly approaches me.

I notice the sign of the inn not too far. I'm almost there! 

But as I look more closely, my eyes are met with another pair of patrolling guards coming towards me. 

I must speed up! I slap my legs as I start to sprint. 

"Don't let me down, legs! I didn't skip leg day for a reason!"

I can feel my heart pounding in my throat as I reach the entrance of the inn. I burst through the door of the inn, my leg hurting as I step inside. I quickly look around to find my room.

How am I going to explain this to Sylvienne?!

I tear the door open with a loud noise, panting with a sore throat, drenched in sweat. The elf is resting in the bed, looking at me with her eyes wide and a worried expression on her face.

"Kaito?" She mumbles in confusion. "What happened?"

I collapse to my knees, gasping. I must hide somewhere! As I lower my body, I notice that there's some space under the bed. That will do it.

"K-kaito?!" Sylvienne says as she sits up in bed, "What's going on?"

"I must hide!" I say, still gasping as I look up at her. 

I quickly crawl under the bed, squeezing myself under it. Just as I do, I hear a loud bang on the door.

"We know you're here somewhere!" the guard shouts furiously. "Open up or we're breaking in!"

"What do I do?" Sylvienne whispers.

Suddenly, an idea flashes through her mind. She takes off her pajama dress with a swift movement, grabbing her towel and wrapping it around herself, covering her body. She tosses her clothes aside and messes up her hair to pretend she's mid-change. Sylvienne then marches forward angrily, opening the door ajar.

I cover my mouth with my hand so they don't hear me panting.

"Jeez... I am trying to change!" Sylvienne snaps, peeking through the gap, frowning at the guards angrily. "What do you want?"

From under the bed, I can see her bare feet shaking.

Are you the one scared?! I was being pursued!

"W-we are terribly sorry, Miss!" the front guard stammers. "We're pursuing a young man on the suspicion of vampiric behaviour... We've seen him entering this inn. D-did you see them?"

Vampiric behaviour? Sylvienne thinks to herself.

The elf crosses her arms over her chest, leaning forward, revealing her pointy elf ears.

"It's one thing to be disturbed while I'm getting dressed," Sylvienne asks with a denying voice. "But do you think I'd keep a vampire in this room?"

"O-of course not, Miss!" the guard says awkwardly.

"We're sorry to have bothered you!" the ones behind him say in synchron.

Sylvienne loosens her angry look.

"They probably used this inn to get to the other street through the rear door," she suggests. "If you go that way, you might still be able to catch them. Now..." she shouts, GET OUT!"

"Yes, Miss!" the front guard says and turns to his comrades. "You heard that right!"

Sylvienne shuts the door with a bang. She jumps back onto her bed with a loud sigh.

"Care to explain?"

I crawl out from under the bed carefully, wiping the dust off as I stand up.

"Someone was murdered in front of the Resident Office," I start explaining. "It was done by a vampire... They sealed off the area, but I ran away with another person, so they started pursuing me."

"So you didn't comply with the authorities?" Sylvienne asks apologetically. "You realize you could get into serious trouble."

"Well, I did get into trouble..." I admit awkwardly. "But I couldn't leave you alone while you're sick."

Sylvienne's angry expression disappears.

"You ran away because of... Me?" she says, her face turning red as she lies down.

"Yeah..." I nod. "I wanted to get you the sweets you asked for, too. But they had already announced the curfew, and I was being pursued. I'm sorry."

"D-don't apologize," the elf pulls the cover on herself. "Now if you won't mind..." she says, looking at her clothes suggestively.

"R-right! Of course!" I say, turning away.

I exit the room with a loud sigh.

"Jeez, I barely made it," I say, leaning on my knees, my legs shaking. "But I am glad I did."

Suddenly, I hear the inn's front door open.

No way... More guards?!

I am about to fall into despair when a man in black clothing steps in. It's—

"Lucien?!"