"Two shots of vodka, bartender." A calm voice rang out and in response, the bartender, a gruff but affable man nodded and poured two generous shots of vodka. Sarah tossed them back, enjoying the familiar burn as the liquor collided with her throat.
As she signaled the bartender for another round, a man slid unto the stool beside her. He was meticulously dressed, his plain black suit tailored to perfection, and his eyes gleamed with an abnormal intensity in the dim light of the bar. The suit adorned his lean physique, complete with a crisp white shirt and a black tie. Atop his head, a black fedora hat rested, its brim pulled low over his eyes. His hair, a wild tangle of white locks, framed his chiseled features. "Mind if I join you?" He questioned, his voice low and smooth as silk.
The moment Sarah laid her gaze on the stranger, she took in a deep breath, for she was shocked by his wild beauty. In response to his question, she raised an eyebrow, but nodded curtly "Not at all."
"My gratitude is yours," he said, his eyes shining with appreciation as he settled unto the stool beside Sarah. "I'm Adam, by the way."
"Sarah." She replied, her voice a little softer than before, and her curious gaze more intense.
The bartender, sensing an opportunity to make small talk, chimed in, "What can I get you, Adam? You look like a man who appreciates a good whiskey, or am I wrong?"
Adam smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I do indeed. But for now, I'll just have a glass of water, thank you." The bartender didn't think much about it, and offered him a glass of water.
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Water? You come into a bar and order water? Are you being serious right now or you're just pulling his legs?"
Adam chuckled. "I'm not here to savor the alluring taste of liquor, Sarah. I'm here to observe."
"Observe?" Sarah repeated, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean? Can you further explain?"
Adam leaned in, his voice taking on a conspirational tone. "I mean that I'm interested in human behavior. I find it fascinating to watch people interact, to see how they respond to different situations."
Sarah's eyes narrowed. "You're a psychologist or something?"
Adam laughed. "No, nothing like that. I just appreciate the complexity of human nature, it's indeed very fascinating to behold."
Sarah studied him for a moment, trying to read between the lines. There was something that didn't quite add up, something that made her feel like he was hiding something. "So, what do you do for a living?" She asked, trying to sound casual.
Adam smiled again, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm a consultant. I help people with problems. There's rarely a problem that I can't solve."
Sarah's eyes locked onto his, searching for any sign of deception. But, Adam's expression was infuriatingly bland. "What kind of problems?" She pressed, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Adam leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The kind that requires discretion. The kind that can't be solved by conventional means."
Sarah's mind was racing now, trying to piece together the fragments of information Adam was providing. She had a feeling that he was hiding something big, something that could potentially blow her mind. But, some part of her ignored it, perhaps due to the influence of the liquor. "So, Adam, what do you like to do for fun?"
Adam's smile was enigmatic. "I enjoy collecting rare books, attending musical concerts, and practicing martial arts."
Sarah's eyebrows shot up. "Martial arts? Which style do you practice?"
"I'm proficient in several styles, but my favorite is Kyoshin Karate." Adam replied, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "There's something about the full-contact aspect that appeals to me."
Sarah's eyes widened. "You're a thrill seeker, aren't you?"
Adam chuckled. "I suppose you could say that. But I also appreciate the discipline and focus required to master a martial art."
Sarah nodded thoughtfully. "I can see that. I've always been fascinated by people who can balance creativity with discipline."
Adam's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze intense. "I think that's what makes life interesting— finding the balance between structure and spontaneity."
Sarah felt a shiver run down her spine as Adam's eyes seemed to bore into her soul. She averted his gaze, trying to break the spell. "So, you're really not drinking liquor tonight?"
Adam shook his head. "No, I'm not. I'm just here to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere."
Sarah smiled wryly. "And the company?"
Adam's gaze collided with hers. "Yes, the company is definitely a bonus."
Sarah felt a flutter in her chest, although it only lasted for a few seconds. "So, what do you do for a living, Sarah?" Adam questioned, his voice low and smooth.
Sarah hesistated for a moment before responding. "I'm a freelance writer. I write articles and stories for various publications."
Adam's eyes lit up with interest. "A writer, huh? I've always been fascinated by people who can create entire worlds with just words."
Sarah smiled, feeling a sense of pride. "It's not always easy, but it's definitely rewarding."
Adam nodded thoughtfully. "I can imagine. There's something about bringing ideas to life that's very satisfying."
Sarah's eyes narrowed. "You sound like you have experience with that."
Adam's smile was widened. "Let's just say I've dabbled in various creative pursuits."
Sarah's curiosity was piqued. She wanted to know more about Adam's past, but she wasn't sure of how to ask. As they continued to converse, Sarah found herself more at ease with Adam. There was something about him that made her feel like she could trust him, like he was someone who truly understood her.
But as the night wore on, Sarah glanced at her watch and realized it was getting late. "I should probably get going, Adam." She said, standing up.
Adam nodded understandingly. "Of course, Sarah. It was great talking to you. Can we swap digits?" He asked, smiling.
Sarah smiled back and nodded. "Sure." They swapped phones and typed in their respective numbers. As they retrieved their phones, their fingers made a collision, and Sarah felt a tingling sensation.
"Thanks." Adam said, smiling. "I'll talk to you soon. We have a lot to discuss."
Sarah smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm looking forward to it." She said, tucking her phone into her pocket.
As they said their goodbyes, Sarah turned and walked out of the bar, leaving Adam behind. The cool night air enveloped her as she walked to her car. She had parked it in a dimly lit alleyway, but she wasn't too concerned— she had her trusty gun in her purse, just in case.
As she approached the car, she noticed a man lurking in the shadows. He was tall and imposing, there was an odd thing about his eyes, they looked as if they were glowing.
Sarah's instincts kicked in, and she quickly reached into her purse and grasped her gun. She didn't point it at the man, but she was ready to use it if necessary. "Can I help you?" She asked, trying to sound calm.
The man didn't respond. Instead, he began to move towards her, his eyes fixed on her. Sarah's heart began to pound as she realized she was in danger. She slowly backed away from the man, her gun ready to perform some action.
But as she tried to make a run for it, the man's pace increased and she couldn't keep up with his movement. She got thrown off her feet and her face collided with the rocky ground, casting a hint of dizziness upon her. She shook her head and finally caught sight of the man that towered over her body.
Without thinking much, she hurriedly aimed the gun at his chest and pulled the trigger. "BANG!" A sound rang out instantly, and a smoke was regurgitated by the gun within Sarah's grasp. The ejected bullet whizzed past the air and hit the attacker squarely on his chest, creating a sizzling hole on his shirt.
He retreated and pulled some distance away from her but his facial expression remained unfaltered. He resumed his advance, but she didn't plan to let him do so. "BANG!" "BANG!" She pulled the trigger twice and two bullets hit his chest one more time, creating two more holes on his shirt.
Blood oozed out of the wounded flesh, he staggered backwards, feeling a bit enervated. She tried pulling her trigger once more but she had run out of her bullets. What human would be shot thrice and wouldn't slump to the ground? She literally thought he donned a bulletproof vest.
That thought was ripped into pieces when she sighted claws jutting out of his fingers, and fangs sprouting from his mouth. His eyes became blacker, with veins protruding from his face. She was starting to feel panicked, her mind racing with thoughts of escape.
That's when she remembered Adam's number in her phone. She quickly dialed it with her free hand, hoping against hope that he would answer.
"Adam, it's Sarah." She whispered urgently. "I'm being attacked by a strange man. I don't know what he wants, but I need your help."
Adam's voice rang out, calm and steady. "Don't panic. Where are you, Sarah?"
Sarah glanced around hurriedly, trying to get her bearings. "I'm in the alleyway off Main Street, please hurry." The call was ended, and she hoped he could appear instantly.
The man's wounded flesh started healing up, further solidifying the hint that he was no human. He moved towards her and she couldn't discern his blurry figure. Very soon, her legs were being dragged and her whole body danced to the tune of the motion.
She screamed and yanked her legs away from his grasp, but she couldn't rival his monstrous strength. She broke into tears, and finally he halted his actions. He was already about to rip her simple clothing, she was beginning to understand his motive, despite the confusion.
Sarah closed her eyes, preparing for the worst. But just as his claws were about to make contact with her cloth, the wind howled, it seemed like the wind was screaming. Fog swarmed into the alleyway, leaving the dangerous man curious, and in turn inhibiting him from making further actions.
Sarah snapped her eyes open, since her attacker halted his actions. She also noticed the oddity in the environment— the fog. The monster had halted the advance of his claws, and gazed deep into the heart of the fog. In it was a man clad in a plain black suit, with a black fedora hat resting on his head of wild white locks.