Nightmare (Open)

[Sebastian Flambert]

With surprising power, the drops of rain pelted the dark alley ways of downtown Los Angeles, casting an ominous gloom over the rest of the city. Flashes of light, followed with the booming sound of thunder reverbated throughout the air, electrifying the scene with a dark and terrifying power. Below, two men were locked in a brutal struggle for survival, the youngest fending off the advances of a murderous behemoth of a man dressed in ragged clothes, the stench of filth and alcohol reeking from his sore-infested body.

*thwack*

A powerful blow knocked Sebastian Flambert to the ground, nearly ripping the fless off the side of his face with the sheer force of the strike. The man standing above him grinned viciously, showing the blackened enamel of his rotting teeth beneath a shaggy mess of grayish-black facial hair.

"A wise old owl lived in an oak.." cackled the man, driving the toe of a muddy boot into the sixteen-year-old boy's ribs..

Sebastian squeaked in a mixture of pain and terror, and flopped face-first into a large puddle of muddy water, staining his handsome face with the filth of the back-alley. Spitting out a mixture of blood and spittle, the boy did his best to stand up despite the splitting pain in his sides and head, wiping at a long trickle of blood pouring down the side of his face.

"The more he saw, the more he spoke!"

A wild punch, hurled with all the strength the wretch could muster, narrowly missed Sebastian Flambert, who stepped aside at the last minute. Almost instantly, his years of aikido training stepped in, the sixteen-year-old boy driving a perfectly aimed spear hand into the liver of the older man.

"Ugh!"

The man doubled over in pain, allowing Sebastian to skillfully countergrab his opponent's wrist, lock the shoulder, and hurl the reeking monster to the ground with surprising force. A loud *snap* could be heard over the roar of thunder, followed by a horrific bellow of pain that seemed to cut through the air like a blistering hot knife.

Sebastian had shattered the man's elbow in three places, and could easily see the jagged sliver of bone poke out from beneath the flesh. The man's face contorted into a hideous mask of pain and rage, frothy drool spilling down the side of his cheek.

With supernatural strength summoned through the crazed man's psychotic frenzy, he actually bent his own arm backward in his desire to get at the throat of the teenager who had inflicted such pain on his person, dislocating his shoulder in the process. Dull popping sounds and an audible ripping noise could be distinctly heard by Sebastian, who could do very little about the situation as a monstrous hand wrapped around his slender throat, lifting him up in the sky.

"Too bad... Little bird.." giggled the man, squeezing his vice-like grip tighter around Sebastian's neck. "Y-You're n-not the wise 'old owl'.."

[Ivan Demarco]

Now that the rain had let up, Ivan had the idea to take Sly for a walk/jog. Sure it meant no IPOD since those were like mini lightening poles but it was better to keep his ears open.

He had no idea how that was going to be a blessing to him.

He held an umbrella in one hand and the dog leash in the other, this was no easy feat. Ivan was able to maintain everything though, even keeping a good pace with Sly. The duo took a turn down an ally and saw what looked to be some older man beating on a younger person.

Ivan ducked behind a dumpster and hit the speed dial for 911 on his phone and was talking to a dispatcher who said help would be there shortly.

That wasn't quick enough for Ivan. He unhooked the leash but gripped the collar tightly. "LET THE BOY GO!" He yelled at the assailaint. Sly growled viciously ready to attack.

The figure turned around at the voice and tossed its victim aside like it was nothing and started toward Ivan.

Ivan let go of the collar and yelled, "Sly stomach!" The dog ran barking madly and down nose first into the person's stomach growling and barking while biting him in various areas.

Ivan found a plank of wood and ran to where the man and dog were grappling. "HEEL!" Ivan commanded the dog who stopped but stayed alert. He looked at the man. "He may not be a wise owl but a wise ass knows when to keep their trap shut!"

That distraction was enough for the man to give a kick to Ivan's stomach and try to get away only to have a sleeve ripped off by Sly who began barking again as sirens approached. "This is far from over boy!" Were his last words into the night.

Ivan went over the boy and got down next to him. "Help is coming okay? Just hold on." Sly walked over and joined them dropping the sleeve at Ivan's feet. "Good boy." He scratched the dog's head. "Sly here knows good people."

[Sebastian Flambert]

Sebastian felt the vicelike grip around his throat tighten momentarily around the base of his larynx, before easing up completely as the half-crazed monster hurled him against a steel dumpster. He struck the metal with considerable force and left a dent before collapsing in a heap on the filthy alley floor.

Barking... Sounds of struggle.. Curses..

He seemed to look at the world through rose-tinted glasses, heavy spots of crimson clouding his view. The pain at his sides were almost unbearable at this point, cutting like a red hot knife against his exposed flesh and reducing his breath rate to a series of jagged gasps.

His ribs were shattered to a pulp..

In his pain induced haze, the face of a small blonde girl seemed to appear through the rain, gleefully beckoning for Sebastian's to follow after her.

"Clara.." gasped Sebastian, reaching out pitifully towards the figure.

He ignored the burning sensation at his sides and pulled his shattered body up from the street. Wiping frantically away at the blood staining the left side of his face, the boy stumbled blindly past Ivan in his attempt to reach the girl. Within three seconds he failed completely, collapsing face-first into another puddle of collecting rainwater.

[Ivan Demarco]

"Hey hey, where you going?" Ivan asked him, unaware of the boys' hallucingetic state. He followed closely and was there as the boy went down into the puddle.

Ivan knelt down beside him as the sounds of sirens and flashing lights drew close. Ivan looked up and waved to the oncoming vehicals. "Hey, over here!!" Three officers got out of their car and walked towards Ivan, Sly and Sebastian.

"Victim, caucasion, appears to be mid teens, dark hair." One officer started to note as paramedics shortly arrived on the scene carefully moving Sebastian.

Another officer took Ivan aside. "This is routine, I need to ask a few questions and get your side of things."

"I understand sir. I'm willing to tell you everything I know."

Ivan began telling his side of everything he had seen and the fact he used Sly as a diversion. The officer was noting everything, such a grim scene for anyone to see. "The last thing he said before he fell was Clara."

"Hey Boyd, look at this." A young female officer spoke up to the one writing. "Looks like a sleeve from a shirt or coat."

"Yes, Sly ripped that off the man that was beating on the kid. I hope it helps get the person behind bars."

"There is a possible chance, but next time you see something happening don't take the law into your hands, after all it could be you as the victim." The noting officer said.

"Yes sir, I'll remember that." He nodded, knowing very well he'd still defend who ever needed it.