Artful was on the stage, performing tricks endlessly while drawing happily in the crowds applause and laugher. But something felt.. wrong. Suddenly the crowd wasn't cheering anymore, they were angry, yelling and booing at him. And in a blink everyone was dead, their corpses crying in pain. When he looked down, he was drenched in blood.. Their blood.

Artful woke up sweaty and breathless.. It was another nightmare.. The magician is used to it by now, every night he has the same nightmare over and over again. He was forced to stand up, even though the clock on his wall says it's 2AM. You know what, Artful is tired of this. He isn't much of a drinker, but today will be an exception.

Artful walked down the hallway and entered the kitchen, going through his cupboards till he found what he was looking for. A bottle of whiskey. Something he got as a gift from a family member last year as a joke. He didn't care to fetch a glass and just took a sip straight from the bottle, feeling the alcohol burn down his throat. This is how low his life has gotten..

Artful threw himself down on the singular chair he has by the dinner table, a sigh leaving his lips as he silently watched the rain pour outside in the dark night. The next swing of the whiskey tasted like freedom.

Slowly, the bottle reached closer to being half empty, and Artful felt dizziness take hold of his brain. "I'm such a loser.." That's all he could mutter, voice sounding foreign from how slurred it was getting. Now with his brain turned to mush, Artful felt kinda.. At peace.. But numb would be a better word. Slowly he let his eyes fall closed..

Creak

Artful's eyes snapped open when he heard movement from right beside him. He looked around, searching for the source of the noise, and when his eyes landed on a darker shadow than normal.. He realize he was being watching. Right there.. Behind the dinner table, was something.. Something he recognized as Pursuer. The many rounds he teamed up with the beast made it easy to recognize the predator. What is Pursuer doing in his cabin? Did he came in to hide from the rain?.

Artful's questions were answered when lightening briefly illuminated the kitchen, illuminating the hungry look in the monster's face. The hungry look directed at him.

Shit- Artful doesn't have his makeup on. He looks like just a normal guy without his make-up. He needs to go to the bathroom as fast as possible and put it on before Pursuer mauls him-

"Pursuer.. Buddy.. It's me, Artful!" Artful half shouted, too drunk to mind his volume. Pursuer had to break into his cabin at the worst possible time. "You can recognize my voice right? You rely on makeup and a mask to recognize me?!" Artful shouted again, this time out of frustration. He has to do it, now. If he doesn't get white paint on his face and his black comedy mask on, Pursuer will eat him thinking he's a civilian.

For the first time in so long.. Artful felt what his victims feel when faced with a killer.