His head started hurting and his chest was burning.

“Albern? You okay?” Nina stopped and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. He was bent over with pain.

“H…”

“What?”

“Hu…HuN..”

“…?”

“HuNgrY!” He snarled. Suddenly he stood up and towered over her. His eyes were red and black. His long tongue swayed back and forth with drool dripping from it. His sharp teeth had never looked more terrifying.

“Aaah!!” She ran away as fast as she could.

“Albern! please!”

He ran close behind her. She tried to lose him but he stayed on her heels. He jumped to bite her but she turned down an alley and he hit the brick building. He had to regain his balance which gave her enough time to turn down an alley. The alley ended not far ahead. She turned back but he was there. Blood poured like a scarlet waterfall down his forehead. He was licking it from around his lips. She was scared and tears ran down her face. She was crying so hard she could hardly breath.

“Help me!! Please someone!”

He seemed to know she couldn’t get away, he had started to walk.

“Albern! Please I need you! You have to wake up!!”

He swayed closer. Was it the injury? He suddenly stopped and turned away whimpering.

“Albern? Are you there?” She slowly and carefully walked closer. He had his against the wall and his hands were on his head. His hands and head was bleeding. He was scratching his head and pulling his hair. Trembling and whimpering he started to bang his head against the building. She gently placed her hand on his head. He quickly pulled away from her, but he wasn’t trying to hurt her. She was still scared, but she sat down next to him. He stopped hitting the building.

“Albern?”

He shifted to where he was sitting beside her. His knees were against his chest and his head was hidden behind them. She could hear him silently sobbing. He was mumbling something under his breath. She could only make out some of the words. He was calling himself a monster and other harsh comments. She reached up and stroked his curly and messy hair. He tensed for a moment but eventually relaxed. She pulled him closer so she could hug him. He rested his head on her shoulder while she petted his hair.

He may be a monster, but he was her monster. And she would always love her monster.

His head had finally stopped bleeding. She had some band aids in her bag that she had used. He was holding her hand tightly. Like she was an illusion that might disappear at any moment. They walked back to his apartment. He had apologized every breath of the way. She was just happy to be okay. She only had a little blood on her from his head.

“You better clean your cut when you get inside.”

“I will, I’m so sorry. I know you don’t really want to be around me anymore so I’ll just..”

he couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eyes.

“Do you think I care about you so little that you could scare me off? No, You’re stuck with me, Albern Raith. Till you want me to leave.” She stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. He finally looked at her. His expression was so many things at once. Sad, tired, surprised, but it settled on loving. He kissed her hand before letting go.

“See you soon then?”

“See you.”