[indent][b][color=BDB76B][sub][sup][h3]E L W O O D  D O W D[/h3][/sup][/sub][/color][/b][/indent][hr][indent][indent][i][sup]Downtown New Lilith[/sup][/i][/indent][/indent]
Images of bloody teeth tearing through flesh skipped through Elwood's mind. Frantic, frenzied hands pulling and ripping skin, snapping bones between fingers to suck at the marrow. Fangs gnawing at tendons, snapping ligaments at the join to access better meat. His belly wailing for more, and more, and more, lapping up every oozing chunk of muscle without being sated. Gnashing and cleaving and clawing anything within reach, chunks of viscera swallowed without being chewed, a mad and feverish hysteria of feeding and feasting, never enough, always needing more, more, [i]more [b]feed me more[/b][/i]-

A sharp pain ricocheted from Elwood's cheek to his opposite temple, a red sting quickly fading as the delirious fantasy subsided, its manufacturer retreating back to his core. Elwood's vision focused, the overwhelming darkness fleeing back into the corners as light reinstated itself from the ceiling and the lamps dotted around the room. He was in the front hallway of his mother's home, and stood before him was his grandmother, hand poised for another assault. He jerked his head sharply, unconsciously checking for blood and carcasses as his torso tensed up. He couldn't remember what he had been doing.

[color=A0522D]"Elwood Dowd, your eyes were going in front of your own grandma."[/color] Maw-Maw announced, her tone more of outrage and disappointment than of fear and disgust. 

[color=BDB76B]"I'm...I'm sorry, Maw-Maw."[/color] Elwood said, bringing his hands up to run through his hair and down his face, rubbing his eyes as he did so. [color=BDB76B]"I...[i]it[/i] was hungry."[/color]
[color=A0522D]"I know, Elwood. You haven't eaten today, have you?"[/color] She asked, walking away from Elwood as she stepped through the open double doors to his side, where the hallway connected to the combination kitchen and den. The TV blared a news report, mostly about the rain and the resulting crime, and both of them ignored it as Maw-Maw opened the fridge.
[color=BDB76B]"No, Maw-Maw."[/color] Elwood said, his hand clenching as the Hunger growled again, deep in his belly.
[color=A0522D]"And you didn't eat yesterday either, did you?"[/color] Maw-Maw asked, returning from the fridge with a cold sandwich atop a ceramic plate, unwrapping the clingfilm as she walked. Between the thick slices of bread were turkey and sausage, and she scooped a bottle of mustard up as she passed the counter.
[color=BDB76B]"No, Maw-Maw."[/color] He admitted, shamed in his own misguided self-medication. The Hunger frightened him, and as it railed against his stomach his appetite grew and shrunk simultaneously, juggling primal instinct and acute fear.
[color=A0522D]"Then you're a damn fool. I know you're frightened that eating will draw it out - but it [i]is[/i] hunger. Here,"[/color] she thrust the plate against his stomach, and he took it as she lifted the top slice of bread and slapped down a healthy dollop of mustard, [color=A0522D]"and don't think you're leaving this house until that plate is clean."[/color]

Elwood did as he was told, and while he felt the Hunger flare as he fed it, he also felt its hold loosen slightly. He smiled weakly as he handed the plate back, and Maw-Maw smiled as she set it on the side for a moment before pulling Elwood into a tight embrace.

[color=A0522D]"It's not [i]you[/i], Elwood. Remember that."[/color] She said, and Elwood hugged her back. [color=A0522D]"[i]You[/i] are the bit that's [i]resisting[/i]. That's what makes you a Maliceet."[/color]
[color=BDB76B]"I know, Maw-Maw."[/color] He replied, and they pulled away from each other, Maw-Maw picking the plate back up as she moved back towards the kitchen. Elwood heard the ceramic clattering in the sink, and the tap running soon after, a welcome aquatic hiss that countered the constant tapping of the rainfall. Elwood looked at the clock above the front door, and then rushed to put his boots on. 
[color=BDB76B]"I have to go, Maw-Maw. I'm going to be late."[/color] He called out to her.
[color=A0522D]"Don't you dare leave without your coat!"[/color] She called back.

[center][sup][sub][b][h3]~ ~[/h3][/b][/sub][/sup][/center]

The walk from his home to his workplace at The Lamp was one Elwood had been practicing for the last year; the imperfect paving of the sidewalk and the various traffic hazards were well-worn into his mind, but the rain, the rain was new. A solid month of torrential downpour, never ceasing between days or nights. Unusual, unnatural, unsettling almost - but like many other things, Elwood ignored it, an unwelcome distraction from his inner turmoil, and there was plenty 'unnatural' and 'unsettling' with Elwood already. He didn't need to look to the weather for something that unnerved him. Interaction hit close enough for him, let alone his outstanding 'condition'. Instead of thinking about the rain, it was hood up, earphones in, and maintaining a steady pace to work while he summarily ignored it.

As best as he could, at least, as the thick raindrops still drummed rythmically against the outer lining of his coat. He sunk deeper into its wool insulate, turning up his phone as he focused on his feet and the music and the underlying Hunger that haunted every waking hour, and many of his sleeping ones. Traffic - pedestrian and vehicular alike - was mostly light, few people braving the downpour unless absolutely essential. Elwood preferred his days with minimal interaction; it was less exhausting that way. Less energy spent on simultaneously focusing on remaining engaged in the conversation while supressing foreign, murderous impulses.

Elwood rounded the corner and looked up. His boss, Jonathan Lafferty - owner of The Lamp, a small curosities/trinkets/antiques/knick-knacks store - was just stepping out, pulling a key out of his coat pocket with one hand while the other held a folded-up newspaper over his head as a makeshift umbrella. Elwood watched him hover the key over the lock, and then saw him look up and down the street before he did anything else. Elwood waved when Lafferty looked his way, and he quickly pocketed the key as Elwood jogged up.

[color=7B68EE]"Mr. Dowd! I thought you had finally decided you liked your job less than a few drops of rain."[/color] Mr. Lafferty took up an aloof, sarcastic air, but it was one Elwood had dealt with for the entire 12 months of his employment under the quizzical, enigmatic man. 
[color=BDB76B]"I'm sorry, Mr. Lafferty. My grandmother...cornered me...with some lunch..."[/color] Elwood trailed off, aware of how flimsy his excuse sounded. Lafferty merely raised an eyebrow.
[color=7B68EE]"Yes, well, you're here now, and we haven't lost any customers in the debacle. Damn ghost town all week."[/color] He handed Elwood a key - Elwood swore that it had come from a different pocket than the other had gone into - and then pulled out a car key, clicking it a few times while relaying instructions. [color=7B68EE]"Floors need a sweep. Cash drawer's been balanced so don't touch it unless you get a buyer. If the phone goes, I've got a Mr. Mulligan lookin' to sell some gear and I can meet him next Tuesday. [i]Don't[/i] break anything, lock up at five, and polish the brass cupboard after you've done the floors."[/color]

Elwood pocketed the key quietly and nodded. [color=BDB76B]"Sure thing, Mr. Lafferty."[/color] He mumbled to Jonathan's back as he walked over to his car. Elwood slunk into the shop and watched his boss' car rumble off into the rain, brakelights pitiful dots of red against the grey torrent. Elwood stood there, watching the empty street with splattered rain washing away debris and detritus, alone and unusually quiet for a few minutes, before he ventured to the back of the shop in search of the alleged broom.