Hellspawn (Magpie)

Magpie's shoulders sank as they read a note taped to their front door.

Sorry Maggie, I'll be out for tonight! I gotta talk to some security specialists… I don't want any of my tenants getting murdered XP! There’s so much work I gotta do to lock this place down! If anyone dies I'll have a nasty lawsuit on my paws, lol

P.S, Can you please record the new episode of “Twilight Dancers” for me owo?

Your friend (and landlord,) Cumulus

Magpie bit their tongue to keep from crying out in frustration. It wasn't Cumulus's fault, he couldn't have known they'd get home late and already be so frightened tonight. It was just painfully unfortunate… His work would keep everyone who lived here safer though, so that thought brought them a little comfort.

They entered the building and turned around to close the door behind them, but noticed something off. Their welcome mat had been placed with the letters facing the wrong direction. Their heartbeat began to pound in their chest as they ducked down and checked under the rug, only to find the spare house key missing.

Fuck- they’d completely forgotten to put that away once things became more dangerous. Of course rationally they should've known that was a dumb place to have a key, but it didn’t really feel like it mattered before! At least in this area, you weren’t likely to get targeted unless you did something specifically to piss someone off, and they didn’t have any enemies they could think of. Maybe their roommate Cumulus did, being a landlord and all, but Magpie’s pride blinded them to sparing that possibility any thought. They assumed they could protect the both of them if it ever came down to it.

Maybe… maybe Cumulus took it and forgot to mention that in the note! They decided that simply had to be the truth, but a gnawing feeling in their gut knew better. 

Cumulus wouldn't have placed the mat back wrong. 

Only a stranger would make that mistake.

Their apartment was well-lit, and that fact helped them feel a little bit better. They gunned it to the kitchen and looked over their supply of knives. They just picked the biggest one and held it close, in a desperate attempt to have something to defend themself. Glancing around, they couldn't spot even the smallest hint that someone was in the apartment… everything was exactly where it should be.

Someone careless enough to not put the mat back correctly wouldn't be this stealthy, right…?

Right. They shook their head and murmured, “Siiiilly me… hahaaa…” The noise they made was more of a strangled croak than a true laugh, but it didn't matter, because there should be no one there to hear their pitiful display.

The TV would be playing that show Cumulus asked them to record in a few minutes. They walked over to it and got their recording software set up. It was a bit old fashioned to be doing things like this, but they didn't mind! Old tech has its charms, and it'd be a waste to not use the knowledge they have regarding it whenever possible.

Plopping down onto the couch, they breathed a huge sigh and let all the tension leave their muscles. They shouldn't be this tired already, but… the day had been long and exhausting, so maybe it'd be alright to rest up a bit early. The couch was a perfectly lovely place to do so- Magpie was content to curl up into a little ball and use the television like a white noise machine and a nightlight combined all in one.

Magpie drifted off into a light slumber, snoring softly but otherwise quiet as a remil. The knife they'd grabbed for self defense lay on the coffee table in-front of the couch.

They couldn't hear when something began to stir, coming from their bedroom.

Footsteps approached the couch, an unfamiliar hand reached out, their clawed fingers ghosting across Magpie’s exposed neck.

Though the touch was feather-light, Magpie jolted awake, sitting upright and kicking with all their might in a frenzied panic. All they managed to do is use their hooves to propel them off the couch and onto the hardwood floor. Their gaze darted around, scanning for what had touched them- and then they saw him.

The stranger had piercing red eyes, in them a sadistic delight shined. The corners of his lips curled up in a devilish smile, showing off sharp canine teeth that were stained with muted red. He opened his mouth to speak, “Hello there, “Maggie”... I saw that you noticed my little hint! That was very clever of you, dear… but just not quite clever enough to save you, hm?”

Magpie felt a shiver go down their spine at the man’s voice. It was strangely melodic and in any other situation they might find it comforting and endearing; but right now, it was the most horrible sound in the world.

They scrambled to grab their knife and immediately pointed it in his direction, a look of malice and fury present on their face. The man simply laughed and smiled as if whatever they'd done was cute, making the blood boil in their veins.

All he said in reply to a blade pointed in his direction was, “You're welcome to give that a try if you wish.”

It was infuriating how confident he was- Magpie snarled and lunged forward, trying to drive their knife into his torso. He grabbed onto their wrist with a strength they couldn’t have anticipated, halting them right in their tracks. With their other hand they slashed at his face, catching skin with sharp claws. A few pin-points of blood began to well up, but… no, no- that can’t be right. Their claws should've done much more- that damage could be bested by a furdin!

The man grinned again- he was always smiling- and he hummed softly. “You sure are a fighter! Your skills will be much better put to use as a part of my horde…”

Magpie thrashed and kicked to try and break free, but even with just one hand he had them in an iron hold. With his other hand, he pried the knife out from their grasp and tossed it a few feet away- there was no hope of them reaching it without getting out first, which didn't seem possible, as much as they loathed to admit it.

Even still, they didn't give up- they continued to struggle and fight like hellfire, even as their calves, core muscles, and thighs began to burn from how hard they were pulling backwards.

The man grabbed onto their shoulder and dug in with his nails slightly- not hard enough to draw blood, but giving them a clear warning to stop moving so much.

Magpie didn't listen.

They yanked in the opposite direction, hard- the man didn't seem to be expecting that, as they slipped right out of his grasp. A burning pain shot through them as his nails dug into their skin, but they didn't care- adrenaline pushed them onwards. 

They bolted as fast as they could, but their shaky, tired legs weren't as reliable as they'd hoped. Their knees buckled for just a moment and they were nearly sent sprawling out onto the floor; they caught themself, but that tiny slip-up had been enough for the man to catch them, grabbing onto the jacket tied around their waist.

“You are a surprising little creature, I will admit… but that is quite enough.” With a wave of his hand, Magpie felt their head go foggy. Their limbs felt so heavy all of a sudden, and it took all their strength to limp back to the couch so that they wouldn't pass out on the floor.

They expected everything to go black and for them to fall asleep, but they didn't- they were still very, very awake and acutely aware of their rapidly beating heart, just unable to do anything about it.

The stranger laughed and loomed over them for a second. In one quick motion, he lunged at them and sunk his teeth into their neck, displaying a level of practiced precision that made their blood run cold. Whatever he was doing, it was simply routine to him- for all their strength and their spite, they feared they were going to be just another kill for this strange monster.

As he drank the blood from them, two thoughts tore their mind in different directions; at the back of their head a voice screamed for them to continue fighting back, but a strange sense of calm washed over them. 

That part clearly won, their eyes fluttered closed and their heartbeat slowed down pitifully. 

They didn't even notice when everything went dark.