Author's Note: Italicized text is the Beast speaking.
Seriously, I'm done contemplating. I walk about Grant Park a little longer but there really isn't much to do around here. I head into Downtown. It isn't bustling with people on the sidewalks and there is some traffic on the streets but not too much. I turn the corner and all of a sudden, it isn't all bright lights of the city anymore. This is the bad side of the streets to be. There's seems to be a scuffle going on in the alley just ahead. As I reach the brink of the edge, I see 2 individuals. One of them is white. From the looks of it, Irish actually. The other one is a tall black guy. I try to scrutinize the situation but the black guy turns around. And I see the huge pipe he's holding. Damn. He leaps at me with his raised pipe. Quick, a weapon! Ah, that trash can lid should do. I raise my shield in front of me as he continuously bashes upon it. Hah, this probably would have been a problem had I been alive but this isn't the case.
I take a swing and it connects but it doesn't do too much to the brute. He swings at me again and I defend with my shield. The pain is only superficial at worst but that's about it. As he pulls back from his latest swing, I focus the blood into my shield arm and take a powered swing at him. It connects and it did a little more then an un-powered swing but that's just it. He swings at me again and I bring up the trashcan lid. Gah! The bones in my forearm broke as I was defending. Damn. The bones can only take so much before they give way. I will the blood to mend my bones. It stings, but it's better then just broken bones. As my bones mend themselves, the guy is madly bashing my shield with his pipe. I've been here before but he's upped the speed. Upped the speed huh? I willed some blood into my legs and as soon as he pulled back, my superhuman speed kicked in and I dashed behind him before he knew it. Here's a swing to his head! Damn! It only grazed the side of his head and served only to piss him off some more. He shouts with angers as he swings again. I wasn't fast enough and it got me good in the ribs. A lot of them broke. I grab my sides and kneel down on one knee as I defend against this guy's unremorseful assault. After the last strike, he opens his mouth to reveal a pair of fangs?! He's a Kindred too? I have no time to see his aura to confirm it but this would appear to be the case. Although he's just revealed himself, his attacks seem to be slacking. I will the blood to mend my bones and then will them once more into my muscles. I leap at him from my crouched position. It didn't knock him down like I wanted to but I think I broke something in his chest. He grabs his chest and steps back a little. I was still recovering from my attack. Oh damn. I watched helplessly as the pipe furiously came closer and closer until it made contact with the side of my head.
I spun in the air and was down on all fours. It'd be easier if you just let go. What? And let that monstrosity take over? Do you have much of a choice? He's about to come back with another strike. And this one might down you permanently, Marcus. Shit. It does make a point. I've been using a lot of blood to keep up and I don't think I can much longer. I suppose it must be done. But I shall not let the Beast have complete control, rather I shall saddle it and ride its fury. Very well. I let go of myself and I feel the Beast's terrible power take over. Everything is like a sketchy shade of red and black and the only thing I see is the opposing Kindred. The Beast raises the trashcan lid and brings it down hard with one strike. The Kindred takes it to the head harder then any of my other attempts. He staggers back and has no time to recover, for another heavy strike comes down on his head. This time, he falls onto the floor. The Beast strikes his head continuously. Ok, I think it's time to stop. I almost reeled it in but it escapes my grasp. The trashcan lid at this point has become useless and the Beast had thrown it away. It curls my hand into a fist and raises it. ENOUGH! As it was about to bring down an enraged strike upon the Kindred's face, it stopped. I was in control again. God that felt weird. I was really weak from the lack of blood. I looked upon the beaten Kindred and slowly but surely, his severe wounds were healing up. There wasn't a lot of time left. I didn't know what the time was but the Sun is due up pretty soon. I looked at the guy in the corner and the Beast howled. It helped you! Why not take this one? Just this one! NO! He did nothing! He doesn't deserve anything from neither of us. It howled in agony but I silenced its whining for now. I picked up the downed Kindred and find an abandoned warehouse nearby and dump him there. I run out and find another empty one but its metal doors are locked. I try to kick it down and within 10 kicks, I made a dent in it. This won't do. I quickly take my chances and leap into the previous warehouse and subsequently bury myself in a lot of debris. That doesn't matter now. My consciousness was fading away as the sleep took me over.