Venn's steps slowed. He recognized the group in front of him. Four guys, two with brown hair, one with copper, one with almost white blonde. Scythe and his friends.

This wasn't the first time he'd run into them. He'd been attacked by them several times before. It hadn't been anything more than a handful of bruises. He was having a bad day, however, and didn't want to deal with them. He turned to find a different way home.

"Hey Dracula!" Scythe called from down the street. "Where you going old man?"

Venn didn't look back as he walked away. "You've got the wrong person, kid! I'm no Dracula!"

Footsteps behind him.

Before he could react and start running, the copper haired guy grabbed Venn's arms and held him tightly. Venn twisted and struggled like an angry snake. "Can't you boys find a different target?"

Scythe stepped right up to Venn, looking him straight in the eye. "Indeed we could. But we need to keep the demon on heel."

A few flakes of snow started to fall as Copper twisted one of Venn's arms. Venn grit his teeth and made no sound.

The punches came a second later. Scythe and the other two guys all started pounding on Venn. This wasn't like the other times, and Venn started to panic.

Before long, Venn felt nothing but pain in his chest and head. His legs hurt a bit, though not nearly as bad. His arms were twisted painfully behind him as Copper held him up.

Snow was falling so thick it was impossible to see more than a few feet. A few inches had already gathered on the ground around them.

"Look at him," Brown 1 taunted. "Won't even put up a fight." He grabbed Venn's chin and forced him to look up.

Fast as lightning, Venn twisted his head. He lashed out with snapping teeth and caught the hand that had been holding his chin. Brown 1 screamed and yanked his hand away.

Venn spat out the small chunk of flesh that had been torn free. The blood still lingered, thick and salty. Venn coughed and did his best to spit it all out when he realized he didn't mind the taste.

Brown 2 drew a knife. Scythe didn't stop him as he advanced on Venn. Venn shivered and struggled weakly. He was dizzy, couldn't see straight, and in serious pain. He coughed and some blood ran down his chin. He couldn't tell if it was his.

Scythe stood back and watched as Brown 2 polished the knife dramatically. Venn let his head hang and closed his eyes. They were going to kill him.

Among the already seemingly endless pain, Venn felt the knife like fire as it was buried in his belly. He screamed as the knife was pulled out and stabbed in again. It was yanked out once again and Venn was released. He fell to the snow limply.

Footsteps retreated and Venn lay there. He didn't want to move. He wanted to let the snow cover him and let death drag him away. A shudder ran through him and the snow around him reflected a greenish light.

A thought flashed through Venn's sluggish brain. Reed. Reed's house came before Venn's from this direction. Reed could help.

With great difficulty, Venn forced himself to his feet. He ignored his pain, as always, and stumbled down the street a quickly as he could. He was barely conscious when he reached the door to Reed's house. He was shivering constantly and snow had almost totally covered him, most of it stained red.

The door was locked. Venn tried to pound on the door, but barely managed a normal knock. He slumped against the doorframe, listening to the footsteps.

"Who's there?" Reed called.

"Venn..." Venn gasped sharply as he flickered. Green other light flashed around him.

Reed unlocked the door and opened it. "What are you doing out there in this- oh my gosh." The door jerked open all the way. Reed put an arm under Venn's shoulders and dragged him inside.

Snow swirled around them before Reed kicked the door closed. Venn shuddered. The sudden warmth making him aware of how cold he was. He was barely conscious enough to register being dragged into the living room. He felt himself being laid on something soft.

Venn's shirt was cut away, his wounds somewhat cleaned and bandaged as good as Reed could manage. A heating pad and several blankets were piled on top of him.

Reed hurried to the phone and dialed 911. When the phone was answered, Reed looked over at Venn. "Hey, my best friend just showed up at my door and it looks like he was attacked. He's beat up pretty badly and he was stabbed twice in the stomach." He managed to keep his voice level, despite the fact that Venn was flickering.

The conversation continued, but Venn couldn't focus on it. A small grey and white kitten jumped up onto the couch. He padded over to Venn's head and peered down into his face with curious green eyes. Venn smiled at the kitten.

The kitten started purring. He clambered over Venn and curled up in the space between his neck and the couch. Venn's eyes drifted closed for a moment, but he forced them open again.

Reed hung up the phone, then called someone else. Venn heard nothing of this second conversation. He groaned quietly as he shifted his weight. It was getting harder to stay conscious.

A minute later, after locking the doors,  Reed came over to Venn and knelt down. Concern was clear in his eyes. "Jiffy... come here." He reached for the kitten, who meowed a complaint.

Venn looked at Reed. "He can stay..."

Reed pulled back. "Okay... Zip should be here in a few minutes. The ambulance might not be able to get here for a few hours. Just hang in there. You'll make it."

Venn started to respond, but coughed instead. He made a quiet sound of pain as all of his injuries protested the jerking motion. His vision went completely black for a moment before it returned. "We... we'll see... I've lost a lot of blood."

"When did this happen?" Reed adjusted the blankets. He made sure Venn's arms stayed free so he wouldnt panic.

Venn tried to think. His mind was slower than syrup. "It... it had just started snowing."

Reed paled. "It's been snowing for almost half an hour."

"That... that would explain it..." Venn murmured. His eyes drifted closed again.

Reed nudged his shoulder. "Hey. Don't fall asleep on me."

Venn forced his eyes open to look at Reed. "I may be broken," he whispered. "But I'm not done."

Reed shook Venn gently as Venn's eyes closed. "Venn... Venn, please..." Reed felt desperate. What if Venn really was going to die?

Venn didn't respond. A long breath left him and Reed had to look closely to see that he was still breathing.

Someone knocked politely.

"DON'T KNOCK, ZIP! JUST OPEN THE DOOR!" Reed shouted.

The response he got was muffled beyond understanding through the door accompanied by a more urgent pounding.

Reed jumped to his feet, remembering that he had locked the door. He mentally berated himself as he hurried to the door and unlocked it.

It swung open a couple seconds later and a cloud of snow flew through the door. Zip stomped inside, covered in so much snow he looked like a small monster. He carried a large bag almost as big as he was tall. He slammed the door quickly, but there was still a fine dusting of snow on the carpet. 

Snow fell from Zip in large clumps as he pulled off his jacket. Even after he had removed his boots and jacket he was covered in snow. He was shivering slightly, but didn't acknowledge it.

Reed blinked. "How on earth are you that covered in snow?"

Zip straightened himself up and glared at Reed. "Well you TALL people wouldn't know my pain. It does not take long to get snow fricking everywhere when it's snowing this hard and it's over your boots. Do you even know how deep it is right now?"

Reed shook his head slowly. "I was... more focused on Venn."

Zip paused, then scooped up his bag. "Right. Sorry. Living room?"

He was already walking before Reed could give him an answer, leaving a trail of snow behind him. The moment Zip stepped into the room, he became extremely calm. The switch was visible. He went from shivering and in a hurry to efficient and collected.

Reed didn't say anything as Zip set to work inspecting Venn's wound. The moment the bandage was pulled away, Zip sat back on his heels. He ran a hand through his hair and looked between Venn and Reed. 

Reed frowned, shifting nervously and edging a bit closer. "What? What is it?"

Zip took a deep breath and started digging in his bag quickly. "He isn't going to make it like this. He's lost too much blood. He-"

Reed's heart sank. "He's going to die again?" he interrupted.

Zip glanced up, his calm demeanor broken for a second as he glared. "If you let me finish..." Reed fell silent and Zip nodded in satisfaction. "Good. He's lost too much  blood to survive much longer like this. It's a miracle he's lasted this long actually." He pulled out a clear tube and a small knife. "The two of you should have the same blood type, since you're both technically made of ectoplasm. So... I need to cut both of you and run this tube across. I don't have the equipment to do it properly..."

Venn coughed slightly. "No..."

Reed sat down next to Venn. "Do it."

Venn grew agitated. He attempted to sit up, despite the intense pain. "No. Reed... don't..."

Zip looked between the two uncertainly.

Reed faintly knew why Zip was hesitating. It had something to do with emergency personnel not being able to do anything without permission. He looked at Zip with an intense gaze. "If you don't do it, I will."

That got Zip moving. He shook his head. "No. No I'll do it."

Venn twisted away as Zip reached out with the knife. He hissed a bit like a cat. "No!"

Reed glared at Venn. "I am not going to let you die again. Not when I can save you. I will force this on you if you keep this up."

Venn jerked away from the knife again. The motion was clumsy and pulled at his wound. More blood seeped out. "Reed, please... don't hurt yourself just to save-"

Reed put one hand over Venn's mouth firmly. He shifted back just enough that Venn's right arm was pinned down before reaching over and holding Venn's other arm down.

Venn's eyes widened in panic. He looked up at Reed and Reed felt Venn's pulse in his wrist speed up.

"It'll be okay, Venn," Zip said calmly. "You'll be fine, I promise."

Venn made a small noise as Zip moved the knife again. A tremor ran through him. Zip grimaced. "I'm sorry."

Venn closed his eyes tightly as the knife cut into his arm. He whimpered quietly, his mind jumping back to all of his memories of helplessness and torture.

Reed was silent as Zip quickly made an identical cut to Venn's on Reed's arm. A second later, Zip slowly pushed one end of the tube into Reed's arm. Reed inhaled through clenched teeth. Zip pushed the tube into Venn's arm before quickly putting tape over it.

Zip held down Venn's hands and looked at Reed. "Keep that arm up. It needs to drain down."

Reed used the back of the couch to help hold his arm up. Very, very slowly, Venn's breathing started to improve. It didn't change much, but it was clear he was less in danger of death.

Reed wasn't sure how long he sat there. He felt a bit dizzy and light headed. Zip gently released Venn and pulled the tube out of the two. "That's all I dare do. Hopefully it lasts."

Reed removed his hand from Venn's mouth. Venn immediately called him several very colorful names in several languages. It was clear his heart wasn't in it though. He trailed off, focusing more on staying awake.

Zip pulled out a small syringe and quickly gave Venn the shot. Venn shifted a bit. After a minute, his eyes slid closed and Zip leaned back.

Nobody said anything. Venn would survive.