Vlad dashed down the darkened halls, heart thudding so loudly he was sure everyone could hear it. He had to get to his blood stores. He had to!

But a worry kept digging at the back of his mind as he ran. 

The Grangen was tracking them by using Danny. It would find him first, bound, alone, and weak. The boy wouldn't stand a chance. 

Vlad's steps slowed as he reached a crossroads in the hallway. If he went left, he could get to his blood stores to protect himself and the others. But if he turned right, he could get Danny out of the lab before the Grangen got there. 

His heart pounded painfully as he stood frozen on the spot. He gazed into the shadows down one of the halls, tense with indecision. 

Finally Vlad took a deep breath, turned right, and immediately collided with a sprinting figure. Driven by shock and adrenaline, Vlad flung them to the ground, readying himself for a fight. 

A moment of mutual shock ensued as Danny and Vlad stared at each other. 

Then, before Vlad could do anything, Danny struck out at his legs with a powerful kick. Caught by surprise, he fell with a crash. 

Danny bolted down the dark hall, not stopping to fight or talk. 

For a moment, Vlad simply sat there. How had Danny managed to get out of the lab? And where was he-

The Memory Room. 

"Daniel stop!" Vlad cried, surging to his feet. 

Danny didn't listen. He kept up his terrified sprint as Vlad raced after him. 

"You don't understand! You're putting them in danger!"

"Shut up, SHUT UP!" Danny screamed, his hair glowing like a white flame. He hurtled around a corner and out of sight. Vlad pounded after him, wishing desperately he had a vial of Zanthid blood for speed. 

"You need to stop! There's a Grangen here that has your scent! You'll lead it right to-"

Vlad rounded the corned and skidded to a halt. 

The Grangen was here. It was massive, so huge that its head brushed the ceiling. Two wicked green eyes glowed in the darkness. Vlad felt his heart stop as he saw Danny. The Grangen had him by the throat, effortlessly cutting off his air with one huge hand. He coughed and choked for breath, glowing in deathly panic. 

Before Vlad could do anything, the monster lunged forward and grabbed him too. The powerful hand crushed his throat as it brought Danny and Vlad up to eye level.

"How disappointing," it growled mockingly. 

"I was told this would be a grand hunt, a true challenge. Unfortunately it seems that Halphas are not all that I was promised."

The hand clenched even tighter. Spots of color began popping across Vlad's vision as he struggled to draw breath into his aching lungs. 

"I was told to bring you alive... if I could," the monster grinned, flashing a mouth full of shining teeth. 

"But how would they ever find out if I decided to have a little fun?"

Vlad wheezed weakly. The world was shrinking, falling into a black tunnel. He couldn't see, couldn't breathe! His brain screamed for oxygen as the hand constricted tighter and tighter. 

A flash of light and a roar of pain. They sounded distant, far away, ethereal. He was falling... falling...

Air surged into his lungs. Vlad took a huge breath, then began coughing and wheezing uncontrollably. His vision flooded back as he clutched at his damaged throat. What had happened? Who had-

He managed to roll onto his side and see Danny. He was glowing like a bonfire and charging at the Grangen, fists alight with surging energy.