As Leo's first word escaped his lips, he could already hear the streetwalker begin to run. The damn thing had no hesitation either, as Leo could hear the monster's feet slammed into the floor. The streetwalker had gone into a full sprint, directly towards him. There was a loud crash as it ran through a wall as Leo reached the stairwell.
The stairs had no light unlike the southern stairwell and was completely enclosed without a single window or broken wall to provide any light. Cursing Leo hoped onto the stair's railing and slid down. If he could see, he would have simply jumped the staircase onto the level below, but without the ability to see, landing could just as easily doom him.
The rails didn't disappoint as his speed was fairly decent as Leo reached the first landing. It was also much safer than trying to run down the stairs. Just as jumping down was a massive risk, so was running down the stairs normally. Worried that the monster wouldn't continue to chase him down the stairs Leo yelled once more.
"Hey, you disgusting freak I'm down here! You better hurry up or I'm going to get away!"
Leo could hear the streetwalker scream an ungodly and horrific sound as it grew closer. Realizing that he had very little time remaining, Leo continued to move, hoping to reach somewhere with any light quickly.
If he was going to have any chance of escaping, being able to see was absolutely necessary. Getting off the railing as it hit the second floor, Leo switched to the next railing that led to the first floor. He was lucky so far, the rails were still intact, and he was able to slide down with little issue.
The streetwalker crashed into the railing of the staircase on the third floor, and for a moment there was no more noise from it. Then Leo heard a loud thud as the creature hit the landing between the third and second floor. It must have broken the railings in its madness and simply fallen down.
For a split second there was silence, and Leo began to hope that the fall dealt with the streetwalker. That hope was short-lived however, as he heard its ear-piercing screech once more as it ran down the stairs. Leo rushed to get off of the railing to ride the last bit down to the first floor as the noise of its heavy footsteps became louder.
Leo's heart raced as he hit the end of the railing and fell onto the floor. Scrambling up, the clumsy noises of the streetwalker falling down the stairs could be heard. It must have tripped in its rush to chase Leo, and the stairs punished its uncoordinated movements.
On one hand, it was good to hear that the monster was harmed further, but also falling might actually be faster for it to go down the stairs.
"Can you even walk normally? All I hear is you crashing into things and being a clumsy fool!" Leo screamed as he got up from the ground.
The streetwalker could be heard clawing at the ground as it stood up to resume the chase. Leo could just imagine how the noise sounded to Tom still up on the third floor. Looking around quickly to gather his bearing, he saw a faint light passing through an open door to his right.
He immediately turned and ran towards the room, hoping to make it before the streetwalker got onto this floor. The horrible scratching against the floor continued, and Leo could have sworn he felt the ceiling shake. Pushing his confusion aside, Leo was almost at the door.
Then the building shook and turning his head as he ran, Leo could make out a massive cloud of dust and debris falling from the ceiling. His eyes widened in panic as he saw the streetwalker land on the ground. For the second time in his life, Leo saw a streetwalker.
In the dust and low light, Leo could only make out a vague outline, but the streetwalker's monstrous appearance could not be denied. For now, Leo could only make out the disproportionately long arms, and crooked limbs that defied reason. Its back was arched and as it stood up from the fall, the creature bellowed out a roar as it locked eyes with Leo.
Leo could feel his heart stop for a brief moment, and the blood running through his body felt cold as the streetwalker stared. Then in began to move.
Leo rushed past the open door into the light and saw that the windows were destroyed long ago, letting the cold night air chill him to the bone. Paying it no mind, he continued to run, as the streetwalker was chasing him down. As it entered the moonlight Leo finally understood why he had been hearing a strange scraping sound whenever the creature ran.
Its arms bore incredibly long nails, that resembled claws more than they did actual fingers, and when it ran, the streetwalker would flail its arms back and forth, causing these nails to scratch against the floor.
The grotesque visage of the streetwalker crossed fully into the street as it neared Leo, its pitch-black mask in clear view. Leo could see the remnants of bloody clothing draped over the creature's body, but they were too tattered to pay much attention to.
Leo stopped running and stood his ground in the middle of the street, the pure mask on his face whispering sweet nothings into his ear. This creature was nothing more than a beast, how could it ever hope to compare to Leo's abilities. Leo was whole, a human. In fact, he was more than human!
Trying to drown out the mask's influence over his mind Leo stared at the streetwalker as it finally raised its arms. Unaware of the danger, or rather under the masks control; Leo's body lurched forward, shocking both the streetwalker and Leo himself.
The wild flailing of the streetwalkers left arm missed its intended target and swiped at the air harmlessly. Leo could feel the hatred of the streetwalker bearing down on his soul, only protected by the strange power of the mask.
Leo grit his teeth and as the streetwalker raised its right arm, Leo took another step and swung his fist. Connecting directly with the streetwalker's chest, the creature buckled and was sent backwards a few feet. Falling to the ground under the force of Leo's fist the hatred in its eyes turned to confusion.
Scrambling back up it swiped at Leo once more, and with its unnaturally long arms, it found purchase on Leo's left leg.
Leo could feel the flesh of his leg being torn apart by the cruel strength of the streetwalker. He glanced at his leg briefly and saw the flesh was completely removed, revealing the pale bone underneath. The pain hit him a moment later and as he took a step his body began to reel as he fell to the ground, kneeling on his right leg.
The mask was quiet for once, and Leo felt his blood flowing out of the grievous wound on his leg. The pain clouded his mind, but he knew this was not the time to tend his wound. Leo looked up as he tried to return to his feet and saw that the streetwalker had finished standing.
Its chest was crushed, and Leo could tell it was having trouble breathing, and the streetwalker howled in pain as it hobbled towards Leo. Struggling to his feet, Leo could tell that if he didn't avoid this next attack, his life would be over.
The creature got within reach and its right arm thrusted forwards towards Leo's chest. It seemed as though the streetwalker wanted revenge.
As the claws closed the distance and Leo felt death approaching. Time slowed to a crawl, and Leo felt his heart beating rapidly. A moment of clarity passed over Leo, and he every drop of blood in his body seemed to react to the terror of the prospect of the end. Leo raised his hand between his chest and the terrible claw of the streetwalker...
... And the blood oozing from his leg responded. Seemingly rejecting every principle of logic, the blood formed a wall between Leo and the streetwalker.
Leo's eyes widened in shock as he saw the red substance respond to his desperate attempt at protecting himself.
Then the streetwalker's claw touched the bloody wall, and Leo could see the red wall flex. But it remained unbroken.
The streetwalker roared in frustration, its left arm swiped as it continued forwards. Leo leaned back to avoid the strike but lost his balance and fell onto his back. As he fell the blood dropped to the ground, inert.
In its wake, Leo could see the streetwalker's right hand was crushed and mangled. Broken fingers flailed about as it raised its right arm to continue attacking the young man wearing a white mask.
Desperate, Leo tried to call upon whatever power over his blood that he had used before but couldn't feel the connection. Leo rolled to the side in his panic, avoiding the strike narrowly.
Cursing the mask, Leo tried to stand up. Pain shot through his body as his left leg moved. Pushing through, he got to his feet just as the streetwalker dropped its shoulder and crashed into Leo's body.
Leo flew through the air, the wind knocked out of him as he saw the pale skin of the creature moving towards him once more.
Unable to catch his breath, Leo landed on his feet gasping for air; but the streetwalker gave him no time as its deadly claws lunged forwards once more.
Leo could feel his body move under the mask's influence once more, sidestepping the attack. Realizing the opportunity this movement brought him, he brought down his right fist on the extended arm.
Feeling the bones crack under the force of his punch, a madness entered Leo's eyes as he brought his left fist up into the face of the streetwalker. The momentum of the lunge had left the right side of the creature's face exposed and Leo's fist found purchase.
It felt like he was punching concrete as he made contact with the streetwalker's temple. Then all of the resistance that he had felt turned to nothing as the streetwalker's body stumbled sideways. Looking on in astonishment, Leo saw the black mask that the streetwalker wore was cracked.
Before Leo could press his advantage, the streetwalker screamed at him before swiping it's claws once more. Taking a step back, Leo dodged the glancing attack. The two stood there in the street, looking at each other with an intense hatred.
So much for just trying to distract it and running away...