Introducing, Mr. Magnus.

Joseph had been running for a while now, his opponent was certainly quick, but not to much quicker than himself. Though certainly more powerful. He did not know why he decided to try hunting down a vampire. He guessed he was simply bored. Not exactly a good sign for him he imagined, if he was hunting and killing something purely for entertainment. But ah well, it's not like the thing was alive, or indeed worthy of it's undeath. Joseph breathing heavy turned to see in the darkness a shape quickly catching up to him. He stopped and at the last minute struck his staff on the ground and activated a rune underneath it. The vampire stopped dead in it's tracks against the walls of the pentagram which surrounded Joseph. Smiling as it pulled out a pistol, however Joseph had this covered as well, as he immediately possessed the gun. The vampire took aim and fired only to have his gun jerk to the left, and while he was not strong enough to take the gun from him his aim was terrible and he had a better chance of getting struck by lightning than hitting Joseph. Growling again the creature saw Joseph pull out his own shot gun and start taking shots at him. The first one missed mostly but the second and third were direct hits, the last one knocking the blasted creature of it's feet. Joseph ran to the edge of his circle his arm swinging useless by his side and finished the thing off with a blast to its skull. A low level vampire like this wouldn't be able to regenerate. Joseph looked around and while the are was quite empty he was sure it wouldn't remain that way for long. He needed to leave and fast. Getting rid of his pentagram he quickly started running again to his car only twenty feet away now, fifteen, ten, seven. However at this distance something happened to him. He felt and intense pressure on the side of his neck and hear fabric tearing as he was hauled bodily in to the air and then thrown. Joseph rolled on the ground a few times before he came to stop. Looking up only to see another pale face smile at him. He groaned even before the punch came sending him on the floor once more and to his back. He knew the creature was holding back, but still, that definitely might have broken something. THe vampire picked him up by his jacket as easily as if he was a sack of feathers. Josephs eyes were closed now and he was barely breathing. The vampire wondered if he had hit him to hard for a moment. But as Joseph's eyes opened he knew something was wrong. The vampire took another strike at him, this time turning his hand in to a spear, intending to rip out something from his chest, a lung sounded good to him. HOwever Joseph was able to twist in time to avoid being impaled. The vampire was for a moment stunned before making a gruesome expression and trying again this time with his foot. He was only to receive a silver shell from Joseph's shotgun however. Placed within his ribs hopefully, a kill, but if not he could still get away. THe vampire fell back in pain holding his side as Joseph beaten and bloody made his way to his car. The runes to enhance his speed and reaction as well as time working wonderfully for him so far. He knew that this vampire was still probably beyond his own abilities however, even with this limited time enhancement. As such he got in to his car and with his fuzzy vision he fumbled for his key with his bloodied hand. He finally found it and placed it in to the hole after about three tries. He started his car and gave a cheer of excitement as he put his foot on the gas, though this was short lived as the vampire he had wounded got up and in but a few moments latched on to the roof of his car. Joseph pushed the gas trying to accelerate as fast as he could, shooting his gun with a normal round in to the roof, too late however. The vampire had already crawled down to his windshield and in split second shattered it. Smiling once more like the maniacs they all were he opened his mouth wide and ripped apart Josephs shotgun as he was about to take another shot directly at his head. Joseph ignited his staff and hoped to by another second for himself by blinding the creature, his increased speed going to wear off soon. The vampire closed his eyes and reared his head back as the light dazed him for a moment, but soon adjusted to it. He opened his eyes once more and now furious he intended to finish this pathetic human dabbling in the supernatural. As he pulled his fist back Joseph braced himself for impact, but not against the vampire. Swiftly Joseph jerked the wheel and crashed his car in to the brick wall of a bank. Throwing the vampire back and smashing his legs to a mere paste at the same time. The vampire wounded and dazed from many injuries howled out in pain, Joseph when he opened his eyes looked around him for a moment forgetting where he was and what he was doing. The deployed air bag quickly reminded him. Joseph knew that his shotgun lay in pieces and that it would be of no use to him. He pulled out his pistol with great struggle from his side and fired off a few shots in to the bag to deflate it. He next turned his attention to the howling writhing creature in front of him. Shooting off the rest of his rounds in to him. The creature finally stopped moving and Joseph hoped that he was dead. As the numerous cuts from glass and injuries he'd received while fighting finally took their toll on him, and he fell unconscious.  

When he awoke he would find himself in a hospital and under arrest for the murder of those two vampires, as well as driving without a license, destruction of public property, carrying guns without a permit, and was an assumed satanist due to his book on rune magic. He didn't know how he was going to get out of this one. Telling them that he was only doing all of this to kill vampires and that he was really from an ancient line of rune smiths that could manipulate magical energies through symbols would probably just got him thrown in to the looney house. Certainly another place he didn't care to be.

Joseph groaned, partly in pain. That crash had hit him pretty hard, and from what he gathered he had broken his left wrist. Possibly, a rib, and definitely bruised most everything else. How he would escape from this eluded him. But he would have to find a way, jail wouldn't solve any problems for him. He just needed his stuff, and his car, he could probably make out of this from there. The car though...

Joseph's mind was taken back to the split second his eyes widened in fear as his car drove into...a wall maybe? There was a flash of light, blinding, but, he knew that was probably just him hitting his head on something. An explosion maybe? No...the air bag. Ugh. That hit him pretty hard. But it might have been the only reason he survived.

There was no way that his car was in any shape to drive, much less likely could he hide a classic car with massive damage that had already been noted by the law enforcement.  He would have to leave it behind, that pained him. But there was no way he could drive it now. Cut your losses he told himself. Better your car than your total freedom.

Joseph took note of his surroundings. Doctor, policeman on guard, and no other patients. At least in this room, that was doable if not good. He was in a small one room from what he gathered. Though there was an empty bed in here, probably didn't want to store anyone in a room with a "suspect" of murder. All suspicion gone really, he imagined since he hadn't undergone trial though he couldn't technically be labeled a convict.

The doctor would leave, but the guard was here to stay, more might come but he doubted it. He was bruised up disarmed, and likely drugged. Not to mention without most of his runes...

He looked at the guard after the doctor left the room, trying to size him up, difficult, with all the pain, swimming thoughts, maybe a bruised brain, etc.  He went over different ways to get the information he wanted. Groaning again he asked the guard some questions; giving up trying to play the innocent.

"Those mafioso rats go down to eh? i know I'm f*cked but you could at least tell me if I've done your job for you, cleaning up the slime like that."

Joseph had no idea if these vampires actually had ties to organized crime. But he was sure that they wouldn't get much on these ancient undead creatures in their databanks, and he thought that maybe this guard would jump at this opportunity to "piece things together" about this strange murder. Possibly making his tongue a little slippery, letting a little more than he wanted to go.

The guard his eyes opening just a bit more responded to him.

"Their dead alright, no need for you to pull this bullsh*t though. Your entitled in your rights to know exactly what your being held for. Including the difference between manslaughter, assault, and what your being held for murder. Two specifically. Your stuff, impound, all of it. Your car? Shop, possibly scrap, be a shame to get rid of it though. Might just auction it off after we get it fixed up, use the funds to support the station. Who knows. Did I answer your questions?"

The guards manner was cool and calm, and though he was just a standard police officer he was very confident, and clearly competent.  Joseph sighed and in a defeated tone he responded.

"Yes. Sorry about this by the way, nothing personal."

The guard frowned. Cocking his head to the side not noticing the chair that raised behind him, and then without warning it struck at the side of his temple. His eyes went crossed and he fell down from there. Joseph got out of his bed, noticing that he was dressed only in his jeans and his T shirt. Everything else being gone.

He came over to the cop and fighting through the pain of his broken bone he took his over shirt, his badge, boots, and everything else he needed to dress up as an officer of the law himself. Putting them on he released the rune on the chair and felt the pins and needles run through his arm as it regained color and feeling.

Joseph put the officer in his bed and laid him on his side, then raised the blanket up to cover most of his head. He didn't know how long this would buy him, maybe only a half hour. But he calmly walked out of the room shielding his face with his hat as he did so. Then as he rounded the corner he put it on his head, and walked towards the exit. He didn't expect anyone would know for a certainty what he or the police officer had looked like coming in here, and that there was only one in the building.

Joseph breathed a little easier as he got out the doors, and looked for the officer's car. He almost thought to take it, he had the keys. But he'd stick out like a sore thumb if he did. Curse it this was harder than he thought it would be.

Choosing a car at random, a large hulking rusted brown suburban. He tried using his rune again on the lock of the car. He felt his arm go cold and numb, and his control for it disappear. But then, he felt the new presence. Like a new finger, appear, connected to his mind by the ethereal threads that felt so much like those of flesh and bone that if you closed your eyes you could almost swear they were. He "pulled" or rather, moved the lock upwards. unlocking the drivers door. That done he smiled and released the rune, feeling his arm come back to him he opened the door and placed one hand on the wheel. The other, he set down on the arm rest. Summoning his invaluable rune once more on the ignition. Turning the key slot with it and hearing the engine fire up he released it.

He put his foot on the gas and when his other arm was ready placed that on the wheel too. Driving out of this place casually.

Joseph pulled over at a gas station and looked at one of their maps. He ditched the cop outfit, would draw to much attention. Looking at this map, he saw where the police station was located. He wanted to get his things from there...but how? Normal key like locks wouldn't be a problem for him, but the cops themselves were.

He bit his lip as he paid for the map and some other supplies(he had taken the cops money when he robbed him). He would have to do this the old fashion way. Well, not really. The old fashion way would have been inscribing a few runes on some ancient scrolls. All he needed was his notebook and his pencil, his rune could do the rest of what he needed.

Joseph breathed deeply as he parked outside the station. Amazed that the police hadn't caught on to him already, and sure that they would have to soon enough. He would be tracked pretty easy via the car he stole. But he could worry about after he just had his equipment. He felt almost lost without it.

He stepped out of the car, his paper taped on to his chest, and a ski mask over his face. He scribed the runes he felt he could sacrifice on his staff. Two lights, and two times. He smiled as he released these runes. Slowly, ever so slowly it would come to him. The thrill almost like a drug, the strain wouldn't come until afterwords, as such now was almost pure bliss.

Bliss with the power that filled his veins, with the freedom from his human bonds, from being a prisoner to the whiles of society, fear of going to prison, getting shot, getting hurt, these all left him. The only thing that remained as he opened his second eye, now changed like the first, was the power. The power and with that, the joy.

Joseph surveyed his surroundings and noticed that there were a few cars that had been following him for quite a while now, they even parked near him. A ways away sure, but this time it was they who made a mistake, and had looked suspicious. Three or so cars Joseph saw, 6 of them then.

Joseph figured they were probably waiting in their for him too. Maybe trap him from the inside and the out. Joseph ran up to the doors and was through them before the cops could even get out of their cars. As he did this his rune of light flashed blinding the men inside who held their guns in their hands.

Joseph knew that he would have a while before they could even see and he grabbed one of them on his way out of this room, and in to the bathroom. Pulling them in with him and shoving his gun under his throat and placing his finger over the trigger. For a bit things slowed down, as Joseph made them. He asked a simple question and was almost ready to kill if he didn't receive an answer.

"Where are my things? Where's the impound?"

The officer chocked out.

"Down the hall, to the left!"

Joseph let him go but kept the gun as he sped out of the bathroom and seeing the cops out there rubbing their eyes he knew their vision was clearing, he also knew that he would have one blast of light, and then maybe a minute or two before his vision left him.

Letting his runes power go he stormed down the hall, shot the lock on the door kicked it open, and recovered his staff, his book, and his other possessions including his own weapons. When this was done, Joseph felt himself slowing down, he glanced at his staff and saw that there was 8 runes left. 3 lights, and 5 protections. The lights would come in handy, the supernatural protection? Doubtable.

Joseph used the very last of his "gas" to blind them once more with his staff, and then storm out of the building, the cops from the outside just now coming in, and having avoided the flashing lights they tried to shoot at him with their guns. Joseph avoided the original rounds about 10 of them by moving to the side, at this speed he could almost dodge the bullets after they were shot. He shoved the end of the staff into one of their face and as he dropped the lights flashed again. He sprinted down the stairs and fell as he slowed down, the sudden change in speed throwing him off. Shoulder first he rolled over on to his feet and then now breathless with a splitting headache he entered his car again driving off as fast as he could.

Joseph had his things, but a broken body, and had expended his most valuable runes. With just one left that could help him out of this situation. The cops had the advantage now, all his aces in the whole had been used up. Hopefully no one had photographed his face while he was out, as even though there were  cameras in the station his mask and the lights should have more than covered him. It was his only hop that they had thought his wounds so sever they brought him to the hospital before doing any legal things with him while he was out. But the hospital had cameras didn't it....curse it all. Joseph stormed through the traffic and though he was able to avoid the other, albeit just barely he wanted to just fall over and let go of his consciousness. He needed a place to rest.

Joseph got out of his car as he cleared traffic. The cops all probably a little mentally off their game, and certainly hardly in any shape to chase him. That would only last so long though...

Joseph rammed his knife in to the pedal in order to "road house" the car, and let it drive off a long distance until it flew off a dock he saw in the distance. Taking out a bit of one of the boats nearby, hopefully that would throw them off. No one else around he slipped in to a man hole in the ground lifting it with his rune, then latching on to the ladder below he placed it back over his head and once his arm came back he began the climb down. Joseph groaned loudly as he touched the floor, pain threatening to topple him right then and there. He couldn't let that happen he had to get out of here.

Joseph walked down as far as his feet would carry him, which was another two hours on the cement walkways of the sewer before he would finally fall to his knees and let darkness overtake him at least for the night.

Day? Or was it night? It was so dark, he couldn't see. He was so thirsty too. He just needed some water, some blasted water. His head felt like it had been split by a hammer, his stomach was hollow and in knots and his spirits much in the same way. His wrist was on fire, the only thing saving him there had been the cast that did not lot it move.

Water though...just need some water. His throat was so dry, he could hardly breath, or swallow without pain. Joseph moved his right hand the only thing he felt like he could move. He drew it across the cold skin of his dry face. He inhaled through his nose as his hand rested on his forehead trying to soothe just a bit of his pain. He gagged, that smell!

He had forgotten that he took refuge in the sewer after his break out from that hospital. Joseph before he knew it was on his knees leaning over the edge of the walk way his right hand supporting him and the left crooked against his gut as he gagged, and then wretched awfully.

He cried out quietly as he slowly fell back to lean against the wall. His breathing heavy, so heavy. The cold damp air tainted with the awful stench of this place slowly fading in to the background of his mind. His retching had been both good and bad, his mouth though filled with the disgusting taste of vomit had been at least exposed to moisture. His breathing was easier, easy as it could be in this place at least. His stomach would feel worse here very soon but for the moment what he had been feeling moments ago had vanished, his body must have been wanting to puke for a while now.

But his head....oh his head! It had only gotten worse, and he didn't even think that would have been possible...the pain was so intense, like his skull was a cracked bell, and every heart beat was like the hammer of this bell pounding against his ruined cranium.

"This is hell..."

Joseph said as a matter of fact. He knew he needed to get up, he knew he needed to, but even if he had the ability, he would need light....and light was his enemy right now.

What could he even do if he did get up...walk outside and get shot down by a laser guided bullet? Sure. That would be just great. Just what he friken needed...He didn't even have his car. How he wanted that back, or maybe just pain killers come to think of it he'd probably trade in his right hand for that.

But still what else could he do?

He closed his eyes as he let go of his mental barrier on his last rune for light, feeling it quickly deteriorate and seeing his light burst forth from it. He closed his eyes and only opened them after a long while of breathing and getting used to the horrid from this light, added on to what he had already been suffering.

His head didn't get worse, but his burnt as they were exposed to this bright light; seeing now that his hands and feet were visibly shaking he wondered if he would even be able to get up off this cold stone floor.

Joseph had to muscle through the pain, he grunted and breathed heavy again as he forced himself to slowly crawl his way up the wall. He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall for another minute before he mustered the strength to start walking again. Walking where? He didn't actually know, but it was a start.