prozny:
Henryk watched the human step away to do as he was told, a simple command that set up a more manageable scenario. He covered Trip’s bill so the bartender wouldn’t wait for his return, just in case, and found his way through the crowd of strangers after his prey. It was a crisp cold night. Winter crept up on them little by little, Henryk was looking forwards to that. There was something about it that felt natural, almost nostalgic; a familiarity he could appreciate anywhere.
There he was, that mess of a creature. He matched the scene, half covered in shadows. It couldn’t be easy for a human to live in Ashbourne, he wondered if that explained the boy’s behavior. “That stuff’s gonna kill you,” Henryk smiled at him, but it was the smile of someone who kept a secret. His intentions were far from worried. He neared him with relaxed steps, hands shoved in pockets. Seemingly harmless. “Isn’t there enough things in this town trying to kill us?” He wanted to show him what, exactly, would love to bury its teeth into his flesh, but first he wanted to find out what he thought about Ashbourne. The excuses human weaved and wore to protect themselves from reality.
Trip worked at his lighter, his hands were cold and his jacket was far too thin for the time of year-- the tips of his fingers trembled before the Bic managed to produce a flame that glowed bright enough to touch to the end of the cigarette. He inhaled deeply, letting the curls of smoke warm him from the inside. He glanced over accusingly at the phrase, it was one that he’d heard a hundred times before. “Something has to.”
He exhaled and the world turned bluish in the smoke, creating a veil between them. Henryk crossed through it with ease, pointed features gleamed through, even in the low light. Trip did his best to not feel anxious. He tried to keep his tone cool, glancing over with a feigned disinterest. “Did you think that you’re going to live forever?”
