"Yes?" Ardyn looked up from his desk to see the face of a nervous, pale, young man. He froze at the sight of him but relaxed when he quickly realized it was not who he thought it was. Dark haired, blue eyed, the visage before him was still one he found rather familiar.
Well, isn't that interesting, Ardyn thought to himself.
"Uh, hi," the dark-haired man awkwardly responded. He looked exhausted, dark bags beneath bloodshot blue eyes. "I was told you could help me... Please, could you help me?"
"And what, may I ask, did you require my aid for? And you could at least do me the honor of introducing yourself before making demands of me," Ardyn sighed at the lack of manners. He supposed he could forgive his guest, looking as frightened as he did.
"Oh, sorry. My name is Noctis," Noctis quickly amended.
"Noctis...?" Ardyn urged, curious of his family name. Would it be what he expected?
"Noctis Lucis Caelum," the young man confirmed Ardyn's guess.
Ardyn smiled, "it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Noctis. As you must know already, I am Ardyn Izunia. Now please tell me what has you so afraid?"
The young man swallowed, as if embarrassed. He mumbled something.
"You have to speak up. I did not even hear a word of that," Ardyn tutted. Children these days.
"I think someone is following me," the younger man said, louder this time.
"A stalker? Well, I believe the police would be better suited for such a thing? Why come to me?" Ardyn asked. He of course knew there was more to it but he enjoyed playing around, especially with people like this young man.
"Not a... Not a stalker. It's more of a something... A monster. It follows me. Sometimes it looks like me... But it doesn't look right. Before you ask, I know it's not my reflection. It always appears from the darkness. When not looking human, all I can make out is its bright golden eyes... And its teeth." Noctis shuddered at the memory of those long sharp teeth glinting from a non-human mouth from inside the darkness. "I swear it's around all the time even when I can't see it. I can almost feel it. It's been weeks. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I'm constantly terrified."
Looks like him? Ardyn already had a guess of what it might be. And who.
"No one else sees it," Noctis continued, "or maybe, it only ever lets me see it. I don't know what to do. I know I'm not crazy. I looked you up. They said you hunt monsters. Please. Help me," the boy looked so desperate. There were tears forming in his eyes.
"Well Noctis, you are in luck. I can in fact help and I believe I may even know what has been stalking you," Ardyn grinned, teeth flashing. This was going to be fun.
**********
Get out and wait.
Noctis jumped in his seat when Ardyn's text arrived. He was easily startled thanks to his mounting fear and anxiety. He didn't know if this was a good idea but he had no choice. The man swallowed nervously and did as Ardyn ordered. He would trust him. The young man prayed he would be free of the creature that stalked him after this night.
Noctis opened his car door and stepped out into the light of the setting sun. He'd driven outside the city at Ardyn's behest and now stood In the center of a parking lot for an abandoned building. It was so decrepit that Noctis couldn't even recognize what it used to be. There were trees surrounding the parking lot on either side.
The amber eyed hunter said he was already here, lying in wait. Noctis's presence was required to lure the creature here where Ardyn promised to take care of everything for him.
