DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, NOTHING… although I suppose I should apologize to fantail…

CHAPTER 4: THE CREATURE IN THE SHADOW

Ayame was a very beautiful girl; she had sharp Asian features and high cheekbones which gave her an aura of royalty. She was wearing a schoolgirls uniform about 3 sizes too small and although she wore much make-up, she didn't need it. She stood just slightly above average height, and she always seemed to be smiling. Her long, raven dark hair was flowing down to her waist. She was the kind of girl who always got her way.

The trip to the subway entrance took about half an hour more than it usually would, due to roads being blocked by flaming vehicles or too many of the creatures lurching down towards them. No-one talked as they traveled through the streets and alleys.

James scouted ahead despite the complaints from Sebastian being left alone with 'the girl'.

"I have a name you know!" she said after James had disappeared into the station.

"I know…" Sebastian stated with slight discomfort

"What IS your problem?"

"YOU!"

His sudden outburst startled Ayame. Lost for words she sulked in silence.

"I'm sorry, I just have… there was an incident, and during that incident I came to dislike people of um… your stature"

"What? What the hell are you talking about?"

"nevermind"

"No, I want to know"

Sebastian clenched his fists.

"Just leave it will you!"

James appeared from the corner

"Coast is clear guys, lets move out!"

He noticed the air of argument

"Are you two okay?"

"We're FINE!" they both said in unison

They looked at each other like two raccoons locked in mortal combat and stalked down into the subway.

The subway was just as bad as the streets, bodies laying on the ground clutching each other in terror, but here it was worse, because it was dark. Only the dim red emergency lights held back the shadow.

"Is there something wrong here?" Sebastian asked, looking around the station floor

"Yeah, the ten O'clock ain't here yet." Stated James

"No, I mean the bodies."

Ayame looked closer at the one of the carcasses

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't think these people were bit to death, look at there wounds."

He turned his torch on to a large gash across the chest of one of the dead

Ayame backed away

"Oh, god! I think I'm going to throw up"

James started poking the body

"Well, it's definitely not living impaired"

Sebastian stared at the wound

"What could of done this?"

"Maybe someone just panicked and started slashing at anything that moved…" James stated loudly, trying to cover the sound of Ayame regurgitating her last meal.

"I hope so… Maybe we should try another route."

"NEVER!" Boomed James "I have worked TOO HARD on this plan for us to change it now!"

"Okay! I'm sorry, we'll go through the tunnel, but I think we will have to walk."

Something clanged in the distance.

Ayame straightened up, wiped her mouth and said "ugh. Can we leave now, I've really had enough of this"

Something blurred in the shadows. It was watching them. It was stalking them. It blade like fingers clanged together. It was hungry. It wanted food. And they were its prey.

Nuke umbrella: Thanks for your review! All my characters are based on my friends, which kind of scares me considering the way James is acting… speaking of James, he uses Kotaro which is a specialized ninja knife used by the iga clan of Ninja which is larger than a Kunai but smaller than a Wakazashi and unfortunately I can't give James a sword, they are just too big and clumsy for a Ninja! (who do most of their killing indoors, and need to kill quickly)