I stumble backward as it flaps into the air. With an unearthly scream it comes at me, twists around my flailing limbs as I swing wildly, try to fend it off. Dogging my steps it puts the pressure on and then, much like a scratching claws of a cat, catches me on the wrist.

Pain lances up my forearm and bicep and dark purple and white veins spider web a few inches from where it has torn tiny furrows into my skin.

Brian Status: HP 11 / 12 Stun: 16 / 17 (22) Mana: 0 / 7 (10)

Vitality: 13 / 13 (15)

Stat Drain: Maximum Mana Pool reduced by: 3 points

Stat Drain: Maximum Vitality reduced by: 2 points

Stat Drain: Maximum Stun reduced by: 5 points

(Passive) Parkour: Fail!

Slick tile and the shock of pain take my feet from beneath me and I crash onto my backside. My stomach heaves like I'm going to throw up. Shards of glass bite into my skin as, limbs flailing, I scramble back, overturning my tinkering kits in my haste. Metallic ring ting ting sound effects echo off the walls as tools and tiny parts are scattered, bouncing across the floor.

In desperation my hand searches the ground around me for anything to defend myself with, firing off a silent 'Oh save me, Jebus!' in my head.

(Passive) Perception: Partial Success/Fail!

The Homer Simpson-like prayer is answered and my fingers find something metallic. Bolstered by finding a weapon I whip it around. Ready to stand my ground, bravely brandishing... an inch long miniature screwdriver.

I pause. Then wave my pathetic weapon at the hissing creature in an attempt to keep it at bay.

It stops. Momentarily cocks head to one side, regards me quizzically its confusion clear. Flapping in place the grim pixie's hesitation lasts only a moment. Undeterred it's mouth stretches up in that same horrific smile. Like a miniature take on a Japanese horror movie, ghost monster, more oily black saliva dribbles over it lips and down its chin and it dives toward me as if it was some kind of terrifying jerky stop-motion animated bat from hell.

"Too Tall! Get back!"

Kryst darts in front of me, but appears to stumble in midair. Like Superman exposed to kryptonite Kryst clutches her stomach, lands clumsily, and retches in a series of dry heaves.

The small Bizzaro world, evil fairy reorients, her attention solely focused on Kryst. Animal like the tiny creature comes at her, slashing haphazardly. No form. Messy. All rage and fury.

Kryst gathers herself, feet shifting under her into a solid stance. She slaps the vicious attacks aside easily, but even though she is successful in her blocking each time the creature makes contact there is an almost infinitesimal spark at the point where their limbs meet. Kryst staggers a little more under each blow while the little nightmare fairy looks to grow stronger.

Kryst's once near luminous hair, dulls further, her skin turning sallow before my eyes.

Deduction: Success!

Knowledge Skill: Powers, Abilities and Magical Effects - Available for purchase.

I've been a comics fan long enough to recognize what is happening in an instant. Like the powers of the X-men's sexy southern belle, Rogue or the, growing ever more monstrous through the years, Superman villain, Parasite, it's as if the evil twisted fairy is leaching the very life from my small Kung-fu companion.

The nightmare fairy lowers her shoulder and bursts upward into Kryst abdomen sending her sprawling to the ground.

"Kryst!" Mini screwdriver in hand I get to a knee ready to engage the creature but Cinnamon is already there. Eyes narrowed Cinnamon spins around launching a vicious series of kicks. Like I'm watching a real life Chun-Li Hyakuretsukyaku, lightning kick attack her shapely leg flashes, blurring so fast the air shimmers and seems to ignite with both light and after images.

Cinnamon Special Attack: Kuani Chain Whip Kick!

With the creature being so tiny, nearly half the size of Kryst, it easily evades, dodging away from a series of blows that sends one of the dried up 'toilet paper' plants crashing aside. More kicks shatter tiles on the wall and floor. Bursts of dust and debris fly through the air.

(Passive) Perception: Fail!

For a moment, in the turbulence of destruction, I lose sight of the nightmare fairy. Cinnamon's head and ears whip around searching when suddenly she cries out. Her hands go to her naked side, swatting at the creature latched there; biting and slashing with tiny hook clawed hands.

It retreats from Cinnamon's flailing fists. Diving low to the floor it spins between her legs, bee lining toward Kryst again who is struggling to stand on the ground underneath the sink.

The little creature is fast. Though its main defense seems to be its small size. Trying to hit it was like swinging at a large aggressive hornet or perhaps a more comparable description, a bat amped up on crystal meth that was also emitting steady pulses of radiation.

Watching its movements I wait till its committed to the charge toward Kryst and already poised to spring I leap forward to intercept. Not bothering with the tiny screwdriver tool I drop it and instead spread my palm as wide as possible and handball slap the creature like it owes me money.

Instead of the satisfying flesh on flesh sting that I'd been prepared for, fiery agony blossoms in my hand like I'd seized hold of a salt crusted, gasoline immolated cactus and not simply spanked a goth freak show inspired Tinkerbell.

Brian Status: HP 11 / 12 Stun: 14 / 15 (22) Mana: 0 / 6 (10)

Vitality: 11 / 11 (15)

Stat Drain: Maximum Mana Pool reduced by: 1 points

Stat Drain: Maximum Vitality reduced by: 2 points

Stat Drain: Maximum Stun reduced by: 2 points

"MotherShiFlucker!" I howl, completely screwing up the curse in my agony. The move does give us all some breathing room however, as the creature is ragdoll tossed through the air. Unfortunately it's smokey oil tar wings beat a sickly rhythm, and it catches itself before it can collide with the wall at the far end of the bathroom.

I scoop Kryst up with my non-throbbing hand.

"Don't let... touch... Drains mana... life energy." Kryst wheezes.

"Yeah, I got you." I fan my hand hoping that the pain will dim. It doesn't. My stomach is doing flip flops and my head is spinning. Nausea grips my guts and I feel like him having a hard time catching my breath. This isn't going to work.

Not only was this thing hard to hit but when we did it really friggin hurt! Consequently only made ourselves weaker. I glance to each of us. Naked. Without weapons. This was a battle of attrition we were quickly losing.

My hand feels like I've palmed the underside of a jellyfish and I see blisters and white and dark purple veins have puffed up on and under the skin. Touching this thing anymore was out of the question, but my gun was still in pieces and my sword was in the other room. I cast about for my dagger and a knife shaped object frothing at the bottom of the bathtub catches my eye.

Gasping for air I look to Kryst and Cinnamon and find them doing the same, the bunny girl is holding her hip, a dark veined spider web bruise clearly visible under her fingers as well. The evil creature may be small but I'm scared of even getting close, let alone touch it. There is a soaking wet towel on the floor at my feet.

"Cinni. I'll got an idea. If we keep it distracted, think you can get to my dagger?" I motion to the bath.

Cinnamon glances into the water, gives me a quick nod and a "Mmhm" of affirmation.

"Good." I bend down and pick the soaking towel up at the edges. "Seems this thing has a real mad on for you, Kryst." I grin. "Guess it can't be all bad, eh?"

"J-jerk." Kryst struggles to her feet, a smirk on her weary face. Setting her shoulders her wings flicker as she pushes herself. The strain of effort clearly written in her trembling limbs. "I'll... bait the hook. Don't screw up."

With my nod Kryst takes off, straight at the other fairy who like a funhouse mirror reflection responds with the same. Playing a fae version of chicken they speed at each other. At the last moment Kryst rolls to the side, jinks in a tight arc. Behind me Cinnamon darts over to the pool and I hear her splash into the water.

Like a bat chasing a dragonfly they tear around the room. Even weakened Kryst is a much more maneuverable flyer and the evil fairy has to ignore everything else just to keep up. Kryst reverses direction and I see my opportunity as the creature flaps it's tar and smoke membraned wings clumsily to slow for the turn.

I spin the wet towel by the ends in my hand and throw it out like a net, twirling with a flick of the wrist. It arcs beautifully, spreading out and landing over the creature with a wet sloping sound, sticking to the ground. The towel bulges, shifts slightly but doesn't move much as the nasty thing struggles underneath of it.

Using the momentary respite I take a Recovery. My shortness of breath lessens a tad but besides that small bit of relief I barely feel any different. Whatever leaching effect this thing has afflicted us with it seemed taking a quick breather wasn't enough to nullify it.

Brian Status: HP 11 / 12 Stun: 15 / 15 (22) Mana: 0 / 6 (10)

Vitality: 11 / 11 (15)

The centre of the towel darkens, the cloth rotting and dissolving before our eyes. I barely have time to cry a "Look out!" before the weakened cloth tears and the tiny monster flaps free once more.

The evil fairy's eyes lock onto Kryst who is on the floor behind me, gulping down breaths of air. The short flight having severely strained what little endurance she had in reserve. Like a shark tasting blood in the water the nasty creature moves in for the kill.

Turning I snatch a towel from the rack wall and slap the end into a puddle. Swirling the cloth about I'm instantly transported back to my high school locker room.

The damp end of the towel snaps out. A whip-crack splits the air followed by a screech of pain. A huge welt rises on the horrid creature's hip and lower back and it twists in the air, darting about in an attempt to make itself a harder target.

“You wanna piece? Come get some, fern gully!” I shout, waving the towel to attract it attention I place myself directly in front of Kryst. Knowing it can't get to the fairy without going through me it sneers angrily and reorients. Darting back and forth. Searching for a weakness in my defense. It's attention is now squarely on me.

The towel whip cracks the air again. A miss, it seizes on the opportunity and hawk like swoops in for an attack. I side step, retreating. Barely duck under the slashing claws and roll back up to my feet. I glance over my shoulder to see Cinnamon, bare breasted, slow motion burst out of the water. Spraying sparkling droplets like she is in the theme song opening to an anime

Pulling the towel back I'm already coiling it with a helicopter swirl motion of my wrist, tightening the material in preparation for another follow-up attack. It dives. I attempt to backpedal again, but my shoulder collides with the wall behind me and I'm stuck. Too close! My towel whip's rendered useless.

"Oh shi-ARrgG!" Pain shoots up my neck as it scratches me again.

Brian Status: HP 10 / 12 Stun: 13 / 14 (22) Mana: 0 / 4 (10)

Vitality: 8 / 8 (15)

Stat Drain: Maximum Mana Pool reduced by: 2 points

Stat Drain: Maximum Vitality reduced by: 3 points

Stat Drain: Maximum Stun reduced by: 1 points

That same feeling of foul sickness grips my stomach but I'm better prepared this time for the sudden belly heaving shock. Without looking down I slap both hands together and grip the now tightly wound, folded towel and swing it like a short length of knotted rope.

Re-Action Triggered! - Special Ability: Pistol Whip!

It slams into the thing and though I doubt I injure it much the blow does send in careening away. This time it does slam into the opposite wall. It sticks there for a moment, and even tumbles down a foot or so like a gross, tar coated, wall-crawler toy. I thank my lucky stars for the recent purchase of my new Special Ability and that whatever game-rule laws govern this world allowed its situational use.

The creature shakes its head and I recognize the look of stunned shakiness on its face as it attempts to gather it's wits. The blow obviously doing more than I initially thought. For a scant second I think will have the opportunity to capitalise on the brief interruption in its manic attacks.

No such luck. It recovers faster than I would've thought possible and erupts into movement. Flying at my bare chest.

"Brian!" Cinnamon shouts. The dagger is spinning toward me tossed by her deft hand. Twisting to side step the deadly talons of the fairy I snatch the blade from the air.

The sharp edge sings as I twist, slashing.

An erie inhuman shriek pierces my eardrums and the evil creature tumbles to the floor, a vicious gash running from thigh to shoulder. One wing flops around, like a dying insect. curling and crawling about on its own.

Pinpricks of red in its black eyes pulse with rabid madness. Pain, desperation and hunger twisted into insanity drives it forward. It's single remaining wing flings the creature from the ground its near fatal wound spraying black blood.

Arms reaching, jaw overextended, lips pulled back exposing black gums and its thorn like teeth searching for my throat. I try to dodge but I'm too late, with its missing wing its movement is to erratic to predict. Time crawls, my Lightning Reflexes allowing me to see every ghastly detail in slow motion.

The first small gear slams into its side, where the kidney would be.

The second embeds itself midway through his chest.

A face that is transforming from fury to shock takes the third and final thin metal wheel. Slicing through the jaw it sends the top of its head and its long greasy hair over my shoulder as it body slaps, painlessly into my chest.

Stunned, my eyes wide I glance to Cinnamon standing in the thigh high water. A glistening naked, playboy bunny goddess. Hand still extended from her pinpoint accuracy hurling of the tiny shuriken like cogs that lie scattered on the tile about the edge of the tub.

Then with a wet sucking sound the creature stuck to my chest falls, plopping onto the ground at my feet.