A young waiter stood silhouetted against the bars back light, he picked up a tray laden with drinks and started to make his way around the club's outer edges. The Dance floor in the center of the building was alive with dancers and colored lights and the music was so loud it was nearly deafening. Sure you had to shout to be heard but the club has simplified that by asking people to write thier orders out on paper, this also saved some trouble for the waiters

Raphael was a bouncer here, despite the clubs exciting atmosphere the owner didn't exactly want to be put out of business by badly executed illegal dealings. Raphael would sit at the bar every night ordering drinks and asking them to be put on his tab, Sometimes he would go out and dance. But that was his way of keeping people from suspecting him as an authority figure.

Tonight was no different, Raphael was sitting at the bar ordering drinks. He didn't drink alcohol but the bartender knew that and made sure all of his drinks were virgin.
But this Dark haired average looking bouncer had a bit of a secret, aside from being a sort of undercover bouncer he was was also not entirely human. There was no physical evidence of this fact but there had been a few people who had described him as "Ethereal". Young drunken women whom he'd walked home when they were having a rough night, sometimes young men as well. They said they had woken up to him sitting on thier couch reading the paper. When Asked if anything had happened he had just shook his head and left.

Fatima had not wanted to go clubbing. Her loud friends, Amy and Jessica, used the promise of charming young men and great dance music to lure Fatima into agreement. Although she found herself regretting doing so, she hadn't much choice after giving her consent two nights prior to now. Frantically, she'd tried to make herself presentable to suit the occasion, being by nature a shy and awkward girl.

She had dark, wavy hair, piled up into a messy bun, and wide hazel eyes; and on the small size, both in height and frame. Her clothing was simply a lacy white skirt and an empire-waist red shirt. Her boots were black and the heels none too tall, since she never felt the need to compensate for her height. As soon as they were ushered into the club, the blast of color and strobe lights caused her to squint her eyes, shielding her face with her arm. There was a vibration in the air and floor from too-loud music and a buzz of chattering regulars.

Her friends grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in a B-line towards the dance floor, while inwardly she panicked. She'd never danced in public before. Seedy middle-aged men already started making eyes at her. But there was underlying, sinister feeling coming from the darkness on the far side of the room that Fatima could not place. She disregarded it as her nervousness.

Raphael stood up from his seat at the bar, it was about time he made some rounds, one of the other bouncers slid into his seat. They had a sort of rotation schedule that they all followed, though they often mixed it up to throw people off.

The Brown haired man walked down the aisles of tables heading towards the bathrooms in silence. He was tall and broad shouldered with enough muscle that many people didn't try to mess with him. As Always Raphael was dressed like any other club rat, a loose shirt, nice pants and nice shoes.

He watched the girls that had just came in, they were rather young. It was always difficult with the younger crowd a lot of the time they had fake ID's and it was hard to convince them you were on their side when you chased them out for ordering alcohol. The other issue was the perverts on the floor, but that was pretty much a given.

Fatima had managed to wriggle out of Amy and Jessica's grasp, at least for five minutes. She had excused herself to the ladies' room. She hurried past a group of howling men making crude comments about the length of her skirt, which she knew was too long for their taste. But she wasn't that type of girl. In the restroom, she wove around a vomiting young woman--probably in her late 20s, trying her best to ignore the smell and the nausea setting in from it. Fatima had a quick look in the mirror, cursing her mousiness. If middle-eastern girls were supposed to be lush and exotic, she clearly was missing these qualities. Others would argue, but to her own eyes, she saw nothing of worth in herself except for a keen intellect that no one in this club ws likely to know.

She turned from the mirror and placed a hand on the swinging door, stepping out just in time to see what she could only describe as... A vision.

A remarkable young man, at least five years older than her. Probably the most exquisite person she had ever seen in her life. He just... radiated goodness, and she couldn't understand why. He strolled past, his eyes intent on something beyond the crowd. She felt her legs carrying her after him. She simply could not help herself as she drifted some ten feet behind him.

Raphael slowed to a stop and walked to one of the walls around the floor leaning on the wall a bit watching the people dancing on the floor his eyes scouring the dancers quietly watching for any odd behavior.

Since he'd passed the restrooms he had had the sneaking suspicion he was being followed, it really wasn't the first time some one had tailed him around the club. The problem was determining how best to react to it. He could ignore it and hope it went away or he could acknowledge it. After all it could just be his boss acting stupid and testing them.

Reaching a decision he glanced over his shoulder discreetly, enough that he could make eye contact with the other person without really taking his eyes off the floor.

Fatima's heart almost stopped. The young man had noticed her tailing him, and he had turned his gaze towards her, leaning unaffectedly and perfectly against the wall. Her insides screamed with nervousness, her stomach did flips, and her mouth went dry. Instantly she averted her eyes, a hot flush passing across her olive skin. She clasped her hands together and tried to distract herself with something, anything in the club.

She focused on the music, but the tempo of the quick techno music mirrored the rhythm of her own heart drumming in her chest. Although suddenly, another emotion took over. That sinister presence from the other side of the club was drawing closer. She felt something watching her, a stare burning into her back. And it wasn't the young man's...

Raphael stood straight an eye brow raised as his eyes darted towards one of the edges of the club and then back to the girl.

Now that he looked at her a bit more closely, he couldn't help but notice just how out of place she looked here. She wasn't like the other women that graced this place with their company. The women in their short skirts and low tops.
This fact alone alarmed him a bit, He'd felt it since he'd started working here, there were other non humans here. It hadn't surprised him really, this kind of place was like a buffet for demons. An innocent looking girl like her must look like some sort of amazing treat to them.

"hey" He called to Fatima, he dawned his best club rat person and walked over to her smiling, "my my whats a little thing like you doing here?

She forgot the crawling sensation up her back for a minute, and went rigid. The perfect man was standing beside her, to her right. She dared not look at him, becuse she could feel her face burning again. Instead, she floundered for words. How not to sound idiotic to him. C'mon, Fatima, use that wit!

"Like anyone else, I came here to dance."

It came our harsher than she intended. In fact, she nearly winced after having spoken from the rudeness of her tone.

"Sorry, that sounded bad. I mean, my friends brought me here," she blurted, her words coming out a tad too rushed to be comfortable. "Girl's night out and all. Actually, I should probably be getting back to them. I said I'd go to the bathroom and it's been a while, so, they are probably worried."

She checked out Amy and Jessica in the centre of the pulsating crowd, completely lost in their dancing and seemingly flirting with two sleazy guys.

"...Or not."

Raphael smirked, it was sort of adorable how nervous she was. He wasn't really accustomed to nervous women. The ones that generally came here were always really confidant or sure of themselves.

Shrugging a bit he looked out at her friends "Looks like your girls are preoccupied" He said with a chuckle as he leaned on the wall again "Don't blame them...But if your 'here to dance' like you said....I'll dance with you" He said grinning a bit.

He watched her a bit waiting for her reaction a smile on his face.

Fatima's hands shot up, and she started waving them frantically in front of her.

"No, no, that's not a good idea! I can only do weird traditional Lebanese dances! I'm no good at this sort of thing!"

His eyes flickered playfully. She froze, captivated by him. He was looking at her full on now, smirking mischeviously. She had such a close view of him, without a profile view from far away or a sidewards glance... Her desire to run away from him faded.

"Well, I guess I could try..." Fatima breathed, extending a hand timidly...

CRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAASHHHH!

A table flew across the club and shattered the windows up front of the building. People started to scatter like cockroaches, yelps and screams sounding in all directions. Three people were suddenly flung off there feet like ragdolls, soaring over Fatima and the young man's head and colliding with a sickening crack against the wall. She pivoted, facing the cause of the commotion, and was horrified.

What was seeminingly human was not. A man, in dirty clothes was dragging himself, bent inhumanly towards the ground. His gate was a slow stagger, and his path freed from the fleeing masses of club regulars running towards the exits. He swung himself upright, his limbs grotesquely elongated and his eyes a glowing red.

"Fatima Mu'awiya... Fatima Mu'awiya..."

He started to cackle maniacally, his mouth spreading into a crocodile-like grin filled with razor-sharp teeth, as he lunged at the two of them.

When the people had slammed against the wall Raphael had immediately wrapped an arm around her pulling her towards him a little. It was simply a conditioned response.

When the demon had revealed it's self though something clicked in his head he braced him self a little ready to run if necessary, bringing Fatima with him of course. There was no way he could just leave some one like that.

Then the beast had lunged.

In that split second Raphael pulled Fatima to the floor with him shielding her without needing to be asked or even prompted.
"We need to leave!" He hissed in her ear softly as crouched beside her a deeply worried look in his eyes as he quickly tried to process the situation.
His only hope was really that the Demon would do something stupid that would give them some sort of opening.

Fatima's mind raced, processing all sorts of things at once. There was a freaky creature that knew her name, chaos was breaking throughout the club, things where broken, people died, screaming, loud noises, the warmth of the man protecting her... And one more realization that caused her to panic.

"Wait, no! Amy and Jessica! My friends!"

She wrenched herself from his grasp, taking a few quickened steps towards the crowd. The thing, whatever it was, howled and lumbered, sweeping a massive hand out to grab her. Her five years as a track star allowed her to evade it and weave through the mass of people squeezing through the door. She hoped the man was all right, fleetingly, but her concern for her friends' well-being and getting out of there were her top priority.

The monster did not cease its pursuit. Rather, it threw aside person after person, much akin to Godzilla tromping through the streets of Tokyo. Fatima cried out and ran as fast as she could. Despite its awkward body and limp, it was gaining on her.

When She had escaped his safety Raphael just swore and stood up, he tried to run after her but was cut off by the chaotic throng of people. He shoved his way through the crowd.

His mind was racing, he couldn't just let that thing have her so easily. But He had to find a way to help her with out blowing his cover. There had to be some way....

That's when he remembered there was a back door. He turned around and ran towards the back of the club running against the flow of people he wrenched up the little lift able counter at the bar.
"Fatima!" He screamed over the noise waving wildly trying everything he could think of to get her attention "Fa-Ti-MA!"

((OOC: I have to go to bed now I'll be back on tomarrow))

((Ooc: Me too, actually. XD This is fun so far, though! Thanks for everything!))

Finally, it caught up to her. Its long arms raked down a row of people; the only thing between it and her. The heel of Fatima's right boot caught on some broken glass and she tripped. She fell on the glass. It sliced open both palms of her hands and her blood ran. The scent of her blood sent the thing into a frenzy. It cackled and clawed at her. She scrambled frantically to keep out of its reach, backing up against the wall.

It was then she heard the young man's voice over the chaos. He was standing behind the bar counter, waving his arms over his head as though to flag her down. How would she get to him?! The creature bent forward, making a scooping motion with her arms. In that instant she raced under its legs, sprinting toward the bar counter and the man.

Unfortunately, Fatima couldn't slow down in time, and in order to avoid crashing into the counter, she flung herself over it. Naturally, she landed on top of the young man.

Raphael caught her in his arms stumbling against the back of the bar. The shelves gave way sending bottles of wine, gin and vodka crashing to the ground. The pungent smell of alcohol flooded his nose.

"Back door!" Was all he said to Fatima as he grabbed her wrist and yanked her through the door way to the kitchen. Doing his best to avoid her recent injuries.

He looked back over his shoulder, he knew it wouldn't give up if they just went outside, but if he could just find some sort of sanctuary he might be able to loose it.

Fatima, though wincing at his firm grip on her wrist and somewhat violent yank along into the kitchen, went with the young man without arguing. He was risking himself to get her to safety after all! It pleased her, although she didn't have much time to dwell on it, as there was more shattering behind them as the creature clawed its way through more bottles of alcohol.

Not to mention her clothes were besotted with alcohol, dirt, and her own blood. Since her hair was in her face, she'd assumed she'd lost her hair tie somewhere along the way. She vaguely wondered if she'd die tonight.

"WHO ARE YOU?!"she yelled, above the din of smashing pots and pans of the creature stomping through the kitchen just as they broke through the back door.

Might as well ask, if she wasn't going to last another hour.

"R-Raphael" He managed to gasp as he pulled her through the maze of stoves "Raphael Davis" He'd picked that name a long time ago because of how normal and unique it sounded at the same time.

A domino effect caused a rack of dishes and food to come crashing down in front of them. Raphael took a few steps back and then spotted the door.

It was only twenty feet away now, so close and yet still so dangerously far away. He looked back at the beast that was chasing them and then at Fatima. He was panting now, he cursed his human body and his need to stay hidden. If he could only just find some way to slow the creature down.

Then it dawned on him there was a trick even humans could do to ward of demons, a really basic one. He licked his index finger and drew the sign of the cross in saliva on the wall beside him before running towards the door.
It wasn't the best way to preform that but it would give them time to escape at least.

The creature, apparently fed up with running, literally leapt across the expanse of the kitchen, tearing through objects like paper. Raphael (what a lovely name) had seized Fatima again, after doing something strange on the wall. She didn't pause for very long to try and comprehend it, as they were already off making a break for the door. But when the beast came up to where they had just left, it made a howling sound of agony and dropped to the floor, writhing.

Fatima had enough time to see this happen. Suddenly they reached the back door, which Raphael threw ajar. They were in the crisp, night air now. The sky was clear and black, juxtaposed with towering skyscrapers. They continue to run, the shrieks of the creature gradually fading the further away they got.

Some blocks away, Fatima could not longer feel her legs. With heavy panting, she had to stop. She collapsed by an alleyway, next to an array of trashcans, dumpsters, and old newspaper.

"E-Enough," she pleaded. "I can't go any farther..."

Her eyes were watering. What had just happened?! There weren't supposed to be monsters! They didn't exist! Why was it after her at all?!!

She began to mop at her eyes. "I-I don't understand what's going on..."

Raphael paused breathing heavily "C-can we get some...some where safe first?" He panted looking down at her a worried look in his eyes.

The monster wouldn't give up he knew that, and that really bothered him but she was exhausted and he couldn't bring himself to force her to run anymore. Raphael leaned down his hands under her arms.

"Come on get up...Its better to walk after all that running anyway" He said in a soft reassuring voice as he tried to lift her to her feet a little "I'm just as terrified as you are..." That part was a lie but he knew it was what she needed to hear "But you can't just stop like this...he might come after us again...and your still bleeding."

"But where can we go?" Fatima moaned, unable to bring herself to her feet. She was too tired, too upset. "My house is on the other side of town. Amy drove us here..."

Her brows furrowed. That's right, her friends. She'd been separated from them again...

"My friends... Oh, God, I hope they're all right... Raphael, thank you for saving me, but I've got to find them. I've caused you enough trouble already."

Fatima stumbled onto her feet, her knees wobbling a little. But she knew she had to get home, call her friends. Get her cuts dressed up before they got infected. She was covered with her own blood. The cuts weren't too serious, but the nature of them caused her to bleed heavily. She was starting to feel light-headed.

Raphael could only shake his head and smile a confused smile, he followed her a bit waiting for the moment she'd realize she couldn't walk home alone.

"Your friends are probably much safer than you" He said as he walked behind her his eyes watching her feet, watching for any misstep.

He wasn't sure why she had been specifically targeted, it could have just been her innocence was just so much stronger than the others in the club. He'd learned how to mask his but he couldn't expect her too.

"Let me walk you home at least" He offered walking alongside her and offering his arm.

Fatima limped a little. She was determined to get as far as she could, but her vision started to blur a little. The excitement and the running, and the fear paired with the blood loss had wrecked her energy for the moment. She sighed deeply.

"You're right, I can't do this right now. Is there a bus stop nearby? My house is too far to walk to..."

She was not, however, to tired to blush at the offering of his arm. At first she hesistated, but Fatima conceded, and took his arm.

"Thank you so much for looking out for me. I can't imagine why. Going up against...that... Not many people would do anything but run away."

Raphael looked at her and sighed, "Chivalry is dead I suppose." He muttered mostly to himself as he adjusted his hold on her arm a little so it didn't seem so forceful.

Chewing his lip he looked around a look of deep though on his features as he scanned the area, "There's a Bus stop just down the road a ways, There was one out front of the club...but I don't really want to be heading back that way" He said softly.

He looked over at Fatima worried about her well being, was it really that odd to try and help people like that? It didn't really matter, there was no way he could live with himself if he'd left her there in an effort to preserve himself.

Fatima could feel herself lulling off, so she tried to keep up conversation as they walked in the direction of the bus stop. She faintly hoped that the demon would not follow them, but they would be okay if a bus came within the next five minutes or so. Most of the people from the club had already evacuated the premises. The streets themselves were unbearably still, dark, and quiet.

"Raphael Davis," she said. Her voice was low, little more than a mumble. She didn't have energy for much else, so she hoped he could understand. "You're like an angel. Thanks... Are you from around here? I figured we could talk a little to pass the time, walking, whatever."

She smiled a little to herself. It was funny how a crisis made it much easier to talk to a person she would otherwise be terribly nervous around.

At the Mention of 'Angel' he just smiled and nodded,"I Get that a lot" He said.

When she asked him where he was from he wasn't sure how to answer that, He felt he owed it to her to be honest. But He knew he couldn't tell the whole truth, so he elected to just tell her most of it, the bits that didn't give him away.

"I live a little ways across town, Its not to bad a commute on the bus" He gave a slight shrug, "Its just a small condo nothing to talk about really" He said softly as they walked.