"I'm the Beast."
Wirt put his hand forward, touching the smooth leather of the Beast's black glove.
"I'm… My name is Wirt," Wirt looked down, uncomfortable from the Beast's intense stare. The old man's weeping seemed to quiet.
"Wirt," the Beast whispered his name. Wirt shivered. Was this fear? Or was this... Wirt looked up into the Beast's captivating gaze. The Beast smiled, his tombstone teeth shining in the street light. His grip on Wirt's hand tightened, Wirt winced at the pain.
The Beast let go of Wirt's hand, grabbing a cigarette from his trench pocket.
"What brings you out at this time of night, my dear Wirt," the Beast asked, he lit his cigarette.
"I'm just trying to get home, so if you'll excuse me I-" Wirt tried to walk past the Beast, but was caught by a black gloved hand. The Beast took a drag of his cigarette.
"You seem a bit lost," the Beast's mouth poured smoke, "Perhaps I could be of service to you." He smiled dangerously.
"You leave him alone, Beast!" the old man yelled.
Suddenly, the Beast was on him, the old man hit the ground. The Beast was crouched over him, his hand on the old man's throat. Wirt was frozen in fear. The Beast's face was contorted into a crazed smile, his teeth bared. The old man was gasping for air, his hands clawing at the Beast's.
"What was that, old man," laughed the Beast, his grip tightened and the old man's face began to turn a violent red. "I wonder," the Beast mused, looking up from the old man, "How your daughter is doing. I haven't spoken to her in a while. Perhaps I should," the Beasts eyes narrowed to slits. "Is that what you want," he looked down at the old man, who was gasping for breath, his eyes wide. Tears were streaming down the old man's face; he closed his eyes in defeat.
"That what I thought," the Beast got up from the old man and walked back to Wirt. The old man sobbed and crawled deeper into the alley, he disappeared into the darkness.
Wirt's eyes brimmed with tears; he tasted bile in his throat. The Beast smiled and lit a fresh cigarette.
"How may I be of service?"
