It had been a tough match, the Ripper had already chaired and killed Helena and Martha. With two ciphers to go it was just him and Mike. They were both hurt and norton was pretty sure the ripper was chasing the acrobat. A loud noise sounded throughout the map signalling Mike being knocked down. Strangely the Ripper didn't place Mike on a rocket chair but left him on the ground bleeding out. Norton made his way towards the incapacitated boy, slowly and carefully because the ripper was still out there somewhere.

As soon as he reached the Acrobat he regretted not running straight to Mike, maybe then he could have done something. The scene was horrific, there was blood splattered everywhere and lying lifeless on the ground was Mike. Norton sprinted over to him and dropped to his knees. Scooping the boy up into his arms he noticed the weak heartbeat.

Mike realising something was happening opened his eyes. Everything was so painful he almost couldn't feel anything anymore, yet he recognised the arms wrapped around him. He'd longed for this embrace, how unlucky for it to come as he was lying in a pool of his own blood dying.

Mike had been trying to seduce the Prospector for a while, not that he'd ever noticed or reciprocated the Acrobat's feelings. Mike loved everything about the Prospector; his personality, his terrible dancing, his body and the way the fabric clung to his muscles. Yet not once had the Prospector realised his affections or fell for his attempts at seduction.

Now that he was dying he didn't want any regrets, any what ifs, with weak hands he reached up to pull norton down into a kiss. If he was going to die he might as well be happy as he draws his last breath.

It shocked Norton as his lips touched Mike's. He'd enjoyed Mike's company as a friend but now he realised that maybe there was something else; it burned bright now amongst the worries and sorrow. God he liked Mike and now it was much too late.

Then Mike's body went limp.

Norton scrambled to pull his glove off and check for a pulse, but with his hands violently shaking and heartbeat ringing in his ears it was impossible to tell. But really he knew deep in his heart it was pointless, there was no way Mike would have been able to survive this mutilation by the Ripper.

The realisation that he would never speak or see Mike again hit him. Norton crumpled in on himself and cried, sitting there curled around Mike's lifeless body as the blood caked on his hands started to dry.

Norton had given up.

The pounding of his heart grew louder signalling the approach of the hunter. He looked up to face the Ripper right as the blades were raised, a small smile appeared on his face as the weapon came swinging down.

A small blonde haired boy bounced up to him and smiled, "Hi! I'm Mike, the Acrobat. What's your name?"

Norton who had ostracised himself from the other inhabitants of the manor as soon as he arrived felt himself smiling at the boy, in a gruff voice he responded,

"Norton Campbell. Prospector"