[Center][h2]Dakota Rhett[/h2] [sub]November 29th? - Entertainment Hall[/sub] [hr] [/Center] Dakota looked back at Vincent for a moment, pupils dilating from the idea of being chased by a giant bird. "You [sub]think?[/sub]" He muttered, another gust of rage-filled wind nearly toppling him over. That being said, this was all his idea anyways. And he chose to come here... So it was only right to be the bait, yeah? As fucked up as it sounded, he nodded along. "Yeah, I've got it. Just don't take too long!" He insisted, turning back to the creature in front of them. Nick went off too, and for that moment, the creature took pride in the scrambling students. [b]"You can't escape, you'll be stuck running in fear until I finally pin you down!"[/b] It remarked, a flap of it's wings blowing the curtains up for a moment in a violent gust. It barely got a look at the others, though, instead becoming distracted as a loud voice interrupted his taunting through the form of a still-functioning microphone. "We're not done yet!" Dakota insisted, feeling a chill go down his spine as he caught the creature's attention. This thing knew a lot about him, and while he hated that, it could be useful here. Fortunately, or unfortunately, this bought Nick enough time to get back. To which Dakota nodded back to him, giving him a few cautious words away from the mic. "Let's try to not stay too close together, might swat us both." He quickly stepped closer to the end of the stage, deciding to play his part as bait first and foremost. The last thing he wanted was to see anyone hurt, after all. Especially considering their conditions already. What were the right words? What would piss it off in particular? He had to think quickly. "You act like singing's the only quality I ever had," He commented, catching the creature's glare. "What happened to looking after bandmates? Other people? It's not selfishness, it's genuine!" [b]"Bullshit!"[/b] The creature's voice echoed, talon swiping across the outer area of the stage, possibly needing Nick to back away, but Dakota himself had to panic and roll off to dodge, a few of his dyed hairs getting cut from the narrow escape. They fell in front of his face at the front of the stage, bringing concern, but he couldn't hesitate now or he was definitely dead. [b]"We're genuine, alright! Genuinely angry, with those bandmates, and the world! When we turned down Micki, do you think that was kindness? We're spiteful and wanted him to just get lost, or suffer."[/b] This brought Dakota pause, but as the shadow of a looming talon brought him back to reality, he quickly began scrambling down the straight path in front of the stage. as it crashed down, swiping down the narrow alley after him. [b]"Why would they need OUR help? We're the ones that got fucked over! That was the first time we let our true self out in a long time...! That moment was what gave me the chance to sift through the cracks and bring us to this point! Where the facade will die, and we'll live as we truly should!"[/b] Dakota's attempt to flee was met with a slash across his back, causing him to cry out and trip, shoulder smacking against the stage before he crashed down to the floor. Thankfully it was clear this creature's size was a hinderance, has it had struck him at the last possible moment, and now had to shift itself on stage to get a grab at him again. It laughed, confident it could just pluck him up and finish him off. Though, his voice brought momentary pause to the beast. "I'm fine!" He'd call to inform the others, though his voice was shaky. A form of bravado, perhaps. He was trembling as he pulled himself up, scrambling farther along to make the creature turn further. Giving Vincent time for his plan, at whatever cost was necessary. "Yeah, I didn't help him when he asked..." Dakota admitted through his pain, unsure if the tears welling in his eyes were from the pain or the fact this thing made sense in a sick way. "I can't help everyone. I have to look after myself, too! I'm not entirely selfless." He genuinely couldn't do it, but, if it spited someone who he felt betrayed him...? Was that a justification for not being able to? Such frustration had brought him momentary relief, and that made him angry. Thinking he might have something in common with this beast after all. A change of pace happened in the form of the turning creature stretching it's head out, attempting to tear at Dakota's flesh with it's large and threatening beak. He barely skimmed out of the way, but heard the voice of the creature behind him. [b]"That's right! We're not selfless at all. We're not heroes, we're just filled with spite! Accept this, and die already! And then your true self can be unleashed!"[/b] Dakota stopped in his tracks. His head turned to glare back at the eagle-head of the monster who took his name, gritting his teeth with one clear emotion: Anger, just what the thing wanted. Gripping the mic stand in his hands, he lifted it as he turned, feeling pent up stress from this whole ordeal peaking. "How's [i]this[/i] for spite?!" His words rang out as he thrusted the makeshift weapon forward with both hands, stabbing the beast in the eye. An ear-piercing screech filled the entire room as it recoiled, stomping the stage as a black substance poured from it's eye socket onto the stage, wriggling but seemingly doing nothing else of note. During this, something was more obviously revealed: There was a marking of some sort, on the lower stomach area of the beast. It almost looked like a comically obvious weakspot, but after it's rant about physical issues beforehand, it might've made a bit of sense to Nick that it was there. It practically oozed with the same substance that leaked from it's now empty eye-socket, the mush of it's eye falling into that shadowy muck, bubbling alongside it. [b]"You..."[/b] The anger in it's voice filled the room, it's front talons stomping as it was now fully dedicated to stamping Dakota into nothing but paste. [b]"I'll tear you [i]apart![/i]"[/b] Each crash was destructive, crashing the stage and bringing holes and craters to the surrounding area, shaking the area up. The very foundation of the stage was becoming damaged, and the lights above shook violently. If Vincent was to make a move, now seemed as good a time as any. Dakota, figuring he'd have to run into the seats now to keep away, quickly found it was no longer an option. A large wing swept in front of the stairs, sweeping him back and nearly slamming him into the stage again. Thankfully, by gripping the creature's wing, he managed to pull himself up enough to roll onto the stage, even if it did cost him his microphone. This left Dakota with little room to run, but he made use of what he could: Scrambling backwards to avoid the large talons of the beast, it's cries of violence making it clear it's full attention stood on him. Where it had toyed with it's food before, now being injured it realized that Dakota's swift death was necessary to ensure things went as planned. This meant that as a distraction, Dakota was actually doing pretty damn good! The beast was fully turned in the opposite direction, too. Meaning the others were, at least Dakota hoped, safe. Without help, however, his little cat and mouse game would come to an end very soon, as his amount of space to avoid the approaching violent stomps was quickly dwindling.