As writers we all have voices in our heads, voices that become characters in the stories we write. We get to know our own characters so well that they almost become our friends. Sometimes they are as good as being our friends. We know them so well that we probably know them better than we know anyone in the real world and in a way, they know us better than anyone in the real world could. For parts of us, parts of who we are ... go into creating these characters. We reveal things about ourselves through our characters, things we would not reveal to anyone in the real world.

So, writing, storytelling and reading too are escapes, but what happens when our real world and our escape world collide?

Just the other day there was a knock to my front door, I answered by opening the door wide and I was greeted by a man with whom I have never met before though at that I did instantly recognize him.

'Hello there neighbour' he said being the first one of us to speak.

'I'm sorry, do I know you?' I asked in somewhat of a state of disbelief for surely this man before me could not be the man I assumed he was.

'You cannot say with all honesty that you don't know me now, can you? I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.'

'Well, if you are who I think you are then won't you please come in and join me for some tea.'

'I most certainly will and thank you so much for your kind offer.'

I must be losing it, not only was I greeted at my front door by a man who should not exist, but I also invited him in for tea. Who is this man who has come for tea? His name is Henry Augustus Crew.

Henry Augustus Crew also known as Gus has been around for a while now. He is a character from a notepad. There are so many thoughts and ideas in notepads that I have that I may never get round them all, so I set Gus up as a challenge, a challenge for others to sink their teeth into. I hadn't planned on doing my own take on a Gus story but out it came all the same so to physically see Gus on the couch in my living room is and was a very surreal thing indeed though quite a pleasant thing to witness at the same time.

Gus stayed for a good hour or so before thanking me for having him over. Not sure why I got the thanks, it's not like I invited him over but then again maybe on some level I did. Oddly enough, I thanked him for coming. I opened the front door him and watched him leave. I also watched him vanish into wherever it is characters vanish to when a focus is not upon them, and he did vanish before getting far enough to reach the grounds gates.

With what had happened with Gus, I began to think to myself. Would there be any more visits like this? Would any of my other characters physically appear before me? If so, then who would I like to get a visit from? There are quite a few answers to that but at that there is one name in particular that stands out for me.

The character I would like to physically meet the most also gives me the hee bee jee bees to some degree despite the fact that he is somewhat a peaceful person if indeed person is the right word to use. He wants peace to exist between those to which it doesn't exist.

You see Gabriel Grimmel is more than a man, he is more than human, he is a Vampire, a day-walking Vampire. He can move around in day light though he is not completely immune to its effects. Gabriel was someone I had wanted to write about for a while before I did actually sit down and write about. He has a look of power about him which can be intimidating, and his look is a look which almost demands respect.

I once described Gabriel to a graphic artist friend of mine who drew Gabriel for me based on what I told him about Gabriel and my friend got him spot on. He drew Gabriel exactly as I imagined him to be. I can tell you right here and right now that now long after saying goodbye to Gus I did in a way get to physically meet Gabriel.

How appropriate was it that just as day was becoming evening, I would see a man standing at the gates to the grounds I live on just as darkness was beginning to descend. Although it was more of a silhouette that I could see, I just knew that this person was Gabriel. He began to walk away, and I could feel a chill in the air as soon as I opened my front door, so I grabbed a jacket and went after Gabriel. This is Gabriel, he doesn't so much come to you than you go to him.

Just as I thought I'd lost Gabriel and lost that chance to physically meet him, I felt a presence. Needless to say, just what or who this presence was. He stood behind me in a place almost completely surrounded in darkness. I turned slowly and struggled to calm my heartbeat. Surely, I did not fear what I had created. This is what I tried to tell myself.

Gabriel smiled and I watched him show me his fangs as his smile grew wide. I also watched his eyes turn from a bright blue to a dark red and then to a strong amber colour. He nodded then he himself began to turn and walk away. Fairly soon and just like Gus, Gabriel had vanished. To say I stood in awe would be an understatement.

I stood alone for a moment taking in as much as I could about what that had happened to me before heading home. Will I get any more visits? I certainly hope I do. What I had experienced was very interesting indeed to say the least. The one thing on my mind right now is who is next? .....