You were running.
Your legs began to ache, your left side hurting and heart pounding. Sweat ran down your face, your breathing was anything but steady, but you would not stop running, lest he would catch up.

He wasn't even tired.
There was a wide grin plastered on his face, still there each time you glanced over your shoulder. He was naturally fast, so maybe he wasn't even running. You never saw his eyes. As many times as you looked at that dammned face, he'd be smiling, and his eyes were not to be seen.

Your hair got in your eyes, and you brushed it away desperately. Your vision wasn't to be blocked, lest he found another way to catch you.
You crossed a small stream, not thinking much.
The footsteps behind you stopped.

You slowed slightly, and turned.
He had stopped, the smile finally gone. You stopped too, and drew only a small bit closer.
He spoke, a deep and smooth voice leaving him. " I see you've got me a bit stuck. Congratulations, I had forgotten about this one." His seemed dull, lifeless, as if the man was some sort of robot.

" W.. what do you mean?"
He chuckled, sending you shivers. " I bet you don't even know the first thing about fae.. poor, poor child.."
".. Fae.. fairies..?" You whispered, quite shakily.
He nodded. " So, you've heard of the basic concept?"
" I thought fairies were good..."
" And I thought people like you had learned to watch what you said."

He sat down. When you stared at him, you still couldn't understand. What was he doing now? Why wasn't he chasing you like before? How could he be a fairy?
As if knowing your thoughts, he gave a long sigh.
" Do you have a mood ring on you?"
"... Yes, from a friend. You.. do you want it?"
" Point it at me, and look through it. Maybe it'll shed a bit of light on what you've found."
You nod, nervously pulling it from your pocket. Through the small plastic, you gaze through it.

The monster inside grinned at you.

...
You had been walking home from the library, wearing your heavy backpack, and holding a few books. It was a long day, and you growing tired. You had to study, college finals were coming up very soon.
You passed a group of people who were crowding an alleyway. One wore a toad-like mask, and held a guitar, strumming at it and singing with quite a wonderful voice.
A girl, bangs too long to see out of properly, danced to his sound, giggling. She glanced at you, and smiled.
" Why, hello, ducky! Want to dance?"
You shook your head no, but she didn't seem to take it as an answer. She grabbed one of your hands, and twirled you around.
You dropped your books to the ground as she did this. You pulled away from her grasp, frowning.
" I said no, sorry. Maybe another time."
" Alright! We'll dance soon enough, I'm sure of it."
You rolled your eyes and went to pick up your books.

They were gone.
You paused. Alright, so maybe someone swiped them.
You tapped the masked man. He stopped playing. His voice was slightly muffled by the mask, but you could still hear him pretty clearly.
" What might you need?"
" I'm sorry to interrupt... someone has taken my library books, I need to get them back."
" Ah! Well, look no further. The man back there has them."
He gestured to a fellow in a baseball uniform. Indeed, he had your books, and had staring reading one. An Edgar Allan Poe story. His baseball cap shielded his eyes from your view, but he was reading relatively quick.
" Alright, thank you."
" Hey, wait." He stopped you just as you turned to talk to the man. " Quick question. I bet you're in college... what's your major?"
" Uh.... English. Why ask?"
" Ah. He loves sweet words, as vain as a cat for them. Be careful, and if all goes well, I might be seeing you soon."

As you approached, he closed the book. He gave you a half-hearted smile.
" This must be yours."
" Yes, it is. May I have it back?"
" Of course. You have a fine taste in literature." He handed the books back.
" Oh... thank you!"
" May I have your name?"
" Oh... uh... well, it's-"
The masked man butted in quickly. " Say, you look a bit tired. Might want to get going."
" Ah... yeah, thank you. You two are...?"
" You may call me Zach."
" I go by..." It took the man a moment. " ... Michael."
" It was very nice to meet you two."

You squeezed out of the group of people, and back onto the sidewalk near the streets.
" Hey, wait!"
You turned around. The man, Michael, followed after you.
" ...Yes?"
" It's dangerous, being alone. May I walk you to... wherever?"
" Yeah, but not the whole way..."

Soon, the road surrounded by houses turned to road surrounded by forest.
You two didn't talk too much, but you noticed something in the aura of the forest. You walked through this place daily, yet it was silent.
Fireflies usually lit the place up around this time of year, but it was dark.
He spoke.
" So you have something of iron on you?"
" I... wouldn't think so."
A grin spread on his face. " Good."
He placed a hand on your shoulder.

You tried to move it. His grip was rock solid, your efforts did little to nothing.
" Hey... u..uh... I'm a bit uncomfortable."
" That happens. Don't worry, I have no intentions of harming you yet."
" Er... wait, WHAT??"
He chuckled. " Oh, you heard me. Brutal honesty. "
Finally, you backed up enough to get his hand off of you.
" I... I'm going to go.... d-don't follow."
He said nothing, face toward the ground.

You silently walked foward, listening closely. You'd glance over your shoulder to look at him, but he wouldn't move.
About when you felt a bit safer, you looked back.
He was grinning wide, looking like a madman. He began to laugh, disrupting the silence.
You sped up.
He started after you.
You ran.
He ran.
....

The monster inside grinned at you.
It looked nothing like him, more of some kind of lizard. Deep, dark eyes, horrible sharp teeth, and reminded of you of maybe a goose.
" Are you satisfied?"
"... No... no way... you.. you must be a demon.." You dropped the ring.
" Oh, I've heard this all too much.." The man who smiled at you had no resemblance to the beast, other than the outfit. " I've told you. I'm one of the fae."
" W... why me?"
" You seem to have a unique way with words... I'm a sucker for that kinda stuff. No doubt Zach might have warned you about something similar, the musician has had it with me stealing him away."
" I.. I'm not the first?"
" Oh, not in the slightest."
"... Goodbye." You clutched your books close to your chest, shuddering.

" I never got your name. May I have it...?"

".... Y/N. "

".... Perfect. I'll see you later."

" W-what?"

" You gave me your name. I own you now. Prepare, I enjoy poetry and a killer body, so I'll have a whole day to decide what I like most about you."

" W... what if you don't like anything...?"

" Eh. I also enjoy human flesh, and heavens knows you'll do quite nicely..."

".. I..."

" Oh, don't worry. I'll find you easily. See you, my love!"

1282 words

Sorry about not being too active today. I've, surprisingly, got a life!! And a whole lot of boredom!!
Take this.
I'd kill for a trickster fae Batter to steal Zacharie just for some dope music/poetry.