In 18th century England some concern themselves with the colonial upstate in America, while others combat another plague, and then (to some) hide in terror from mysterious tales of monsters roaming the country side and salking the cities. Many if not all of these have been dubbed false reports and simple cases of misunderstanding and misinterpretation of actual events by suspects. Although, many are cases of mistaken identity, there is a small percentage of frightening tales that prove too true for comfort. This is where we will start the story of the Brian.
During a bitter, cold night in the city of London, very few take the harsh plunge into the icy winds of the allies and roads. However, tonight there is a full moon and some are beckoned by the sphere of glowing, white. The monsters that stalk and slither in the shadows feel the call more than the common man that foolishly takes to the street. The lunar rays entice citizens and lure them out of the safetly of their brink homes and warm woodstoves. Instead they choose to bury their bodies in layers of linen and wool.
Brian was no exception to this strange occurence. The young, black haired man was tired of being couped up in his hovel of a home. Despite the icy winds and knee high snow, with the full moon lighting up the snow in a silvery splender, how could he? No. He quickly dressed in a fine black coat and wrapped himself in a scarf and looked in his cracked mirror.
In the mirror he felt his face and he really started to see how his struggling lifestyle took its toll on his once dashing face. Every crack on the mirror and every wrinkle on his face seemed to parrell eachother.
"I have to get a shave soon. I look like I live with the wretched and dirty..." He thought to himself as his hand roamed his scratchy face. He looked around his shoddy hovel of a home. "But then again... perhaps I do." He stared blankly at the mess his small room had become. His landlord would surely evict him. Well... if he hadn't been so busy flirting with local whores, with Brian's money, maybe he would have noticed the absolute disrepair that had fallen over through the building. But in some ways the filthy room fit Brian. His life seemed to be reflected in his home better than even his cracked mirror. The building (like Brian) was once a hopefully, beautiful, entity in the city. But with the harsh economy hitting the area it had fallen apart along with Brian.
Brian shouldn't have even had to live in such squaler. His family had close ties with the royallty. His younger sister was even a candidate to marry a lords son and his father had quite a large Manor not far from the city. Brian, himself, had even been enrolled for studies in Oxford (which he only spent one year of his five year enrollment before being kicked out). Truely, he was the tragedy of his family.
This all didn't matter now, though. It was a full moon and Brian felt the call so after few more preperations he left to walk the streets and allys.
His first steps out the door were very deterring. The cold immediately sent him back to his door. But as he tried to open the door, the handle, fragile with cold, broke in his hand.
"Shit..." He whispered under his breath. He did not have the money to get his door repaired and he did not have the energy to break the door down. And what would that achieve? He would go inside to escape the cold only to let it in through an empty doorway? He was a man of at least some logic. So he began his long walk about the large city.
Brian walked for what seemed like hours and oddly enough, he hadn't seen anyone so far. He even began to wonder if he was the only one on the streets.
This of course, is an improbability. In the great city of London, Brian was but one of many full night lurkers, searching for their aesthetic, cool breaths.
He walked for hours and hours through the massive city. The great stone buildings and churches that always towered above him made him feel small in comparision but also safe. The stone and brick were signs of humaities' great achievements and strength. It was incredibly uniting to see what his species could do. There was some shame to walk among the towering structures. His family, once known for their great skill of design and grace were now left with him as the sole black sheep and last male of their name...
He was just turning back when he heard something from a nearby allyway. He stopped to listen.
Moans of pain were faintly heard in the dark ally. "Please... Somebody.... I... I.. "
Silence.
Brian was shaken from the weak voice but he felt he needed to see what pain this poor being must be enduring. He walked, causiously into the ally.
"Hello?" He could see the outline of somebody burried in the snow. But too dark to see the features of this seemingly black creature. The being made no sound so Brian stepped closer.
"Hello? Please... Help me..." Brian could now see that this was a man in a black coat. He was face down in the snow. There was no way any man could last long this way.
Brian kneeled to the man and wiped the snow off of his back.
"Grab onto me." Brian offered the man his arm and it was quickly grasped. "We need to get you out of the coldness before you pass."
With Brian's help the man was able to somewhat stand and move. He pushed much of his weight onto Brian but Brian had some strength left before he would need to scrounge the city for another meal. They began the walk to Brian's home.
It was not very long until the man regained the strength to speak as they hovelled.
"Thank you... I would have surely froze to death if you hadn't interviened... My name is Ulrich..." They both walked in silence until they reached Brian's broken door.
"So this is your place?" Brian left Ulrich on the stairs outside his home to mess with the door.
"Agh... Yes. My door is being rather difficult though." Brian sighed and let the handly go. "It appears your luck may not be as plentiful as you may have thought... I doubt that we will be able to get inside until the sun unfreezes the latch..." He looked down and leaned against the railing behind him. He tried not to show how dire the situation would be but deep down he knew there was a chance he would not survive the night.
"Hmm... Perhaps I could try?" Ulrich shifted his body to a standing position and approached the door. "If you would allow my assistance that is."
Brian moved aside and gestured for Ulrich to try the door.
Ulrich moved past him and wrapped his hand around the knob. He didn't move for a few seconds and stood completely still. He looked to have been in deep concentration. Suddenly he turned the handle and opened the door. Although it was incredibly strange to Brian how he would have the energy to fix his door but not enough to stand just a while ago.
"I think I have it." Ulrich took his hand off the door afterwards and let Brian past him, into the house.
"Thanks. Hmm... I don't know what was going on with the door." Brian lounged on a shabby sofa. "You can sleep the night. Feel free to relax and find a place to sleep."
Ulrich look around the room and could see the massive disrepair. He hoveled over to another sofa and layed back. It was clear he was uncomfortable to stay in such a disgusting place.
"Thank you for taking me in tonight. It is greatly appreciated." He said before closing his eyes.
"You're welcome. My name is Brian if you were wondering, before you fall asleep." Brian bundled up in his coat and tried to fall asleep.
This would be a long, cold night...
