BLood Bond

4:12 AM. Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney.

The generator hummed. White lights. And outside, the black moon was still there.

Ethan Cole stood by the window. On the street below, 2 infected were still wandering. But the light from the Black Moon was starting to fade. Morning was close.

Lily was asleep on his back. Her fever was gone. The nurse had said, "She'll be fine. Just needs rest."

Ethan exhaled. They survived the first night.

"Can't sleep?"

A voice from behind.

Selena Voss. Her black jacket was still stained with blood. Hair down. Eyes normal now. Deep brown. But exhaustion was clear on her face.

Ethan shook his head. "Not really. Every sound feels like footsteps."

Selena leaned against the window next to him. One foot of space between them.

"The first night is always the worst." She said quietly. "After that... you get used to the fear. Or you die."

Ethan looked at her. "How many nights have you been doing this?"

"11 months." Selena said. "The first Black Moon hit Melbourne. I was the only one who survived. My brother... he lost control."

She showed the old cut marks on her arm. "Every night I do this. Cut myself. Drink my blood. Keep control."

Ethan’s throat went dry. "And if one day you lose control?"

Selena looked straight into Ethan’s eyes. "Then you keep your promise. Put the katana through my neck."

Silence.

Only the generator humming.

`[DING!]`

The same sound in both their heads.

`[SYSTEM NOTICE]`

`[PROXIMITY ALERT: FIGHTER + INFECTED]`

`[BLOOD BOND AVAILABLE]`

`[EFFECT: Share stamina. Share pain. Infected gains control boost. Fighter gains night vision.]`

`[RISK: If one dies, the other suffers 50% stat penalty for 7 days.]`

`[DO YOU WISH TO FORM A BLOOD BOND? Y/N]`

`[REQUIREMENT: Mutual consent + Blood exchange]`

Ethan blinked. "Did you get that too?"

Selena nodded. For the first time there was hesitation on her face. "A Bond... this is dangerous. I’ve never made one with anyone before."

"Why?" Ethan asked.

"Because if you die, I die halfway. And if I turn into a monster... you won’t be able to stop me." Selena said.

Ethan looked at Lily. Sleeping. Safe.

Then at Selena. Tired. Alone. Fighting for 11 months.

He held out his hand. "Y/N?"

Selena thought for 3 seconds. Then placed her hand over Ethan’s.

"Yes."

`[BLOOD BOND INITIATED]`

`[STEP 1: EXCHANGE BLOOD]`

Selena pulled out her katana. Cut her finger. A red drop fell.

Ethan cut his own hand too. His blood was red.

They pressed their wounds together.

`[STEP 2: SEAL THE BOND]`

A wave of heat. Fire in Ethan’s chest. Like a thread was connecting his heart to Selena’s.

Selena’s breath caught. Her eyes closed. Then opened. They weren’t red. But there was a blue glint inside. Ethan’s color.

`[BLOOD BOND FORMED: ETHAN COLE + SELENA VOSS]`

`[BONUS UNLOCKED: SHARED STAMINA, NIGHT VISION, EMPATHIC LINK]`

Ethan closed his eyes. And weird... he could feel Selena’s exhaustion. 11 months of no sleep.

And Selena... she opened her eyes. "Your pain... your fear for Lily. I can feel it."

Ethan clenched his fist. "And I can feel your fear. The loneliness."

They looked at each other.

"This is weird." Selena said.

"Yeah." Ethan replied. "But in this night... it’s a good kind of weird."

Outside, the first light. 5:01 AM.

The black moon slowly started turning normal. Like the ink was washing off.

On the street below, the infected stopped. Like their power was gone. They hid in the corners of alleys.

Selena took a long breath. "It’s over. Day has started."

The tension left her face. Eyes normal. Hands stopped shaking.

Ethan felt it. The hunger and restlessness in her body was now 40% less.

"It works." Selena said. "The Bond reduced the hunger by 40%."

Ethan smiled. First time that night. "So we’re officially partners."

"Officially." Selena gave a small smile too.

A nurse came in. "Miss, your sister is stable. Room 204. You can rest there."

Ethan picked up Lily. Selena followed him.

The room was small. 2 beds. Morning light from the window.

Ethan laid Lily on the bed. Ran a hand through her hair.

When he turned, Selena was leaning against the door, eyes closed.

"Sleep." Ethan said. "You haven’t slept in 11 months."

Selena opened her eyes. "Not used to it. I’m scared to sleep at night."

Ethan gestured to the other bed. "I’m here now. Even if you lose control... I’m right here."

Selena looked at him. Then slowly sat on the bed.

2 minutes. 5 minutes.

Then she fell asleep.

Ethan watched her. Because of the Bond, he got faint glimpses of her dreams. Her brother’s face. Blood. Loneliness.

Ethan closed his eyes too.

---

6 PM.

Ethan woke up. Lily was sitting on the bed drawing. The doctor said, "She's perfect now."

"Bro, who’s this aunty?" Lily pointed at Selena.

Selena was still sleeping. Hair over her face.

"She’s... a friend." Ethan said.

Then Selena’s eyes snapped open. Instantly alert. Like there was danger.

She looked at Ethan. "Nothing. Just a dream."

Ethan nodded. Because of the Bond, he knew. Selena dreamed of her brother.

`[DING!]`

`[SYSTEM QUEST UPDATE]`

`[NEW QUEST: GATHER CRYSTALS]`

`[DETAILS: Infected drop black crystals when killed. 10 crystals = Level Up. Crystals also reduce Bloodlust for Infected.]`

`[WARNING: Night 2 begins in 6 hours.]`

Ethan told Selena.

Selena sat up. "Crystals. Yeah. That’s what I need. Without them I won’t make it to the next Black Moon."

She pulled out a map from her bag. "3 blocks from the hospital there’s a pharmacy. I saw 4 infected there the first night. If we kill them..."

"That’s 4 crystals." Ethan said. "Let’s go?"

Selena looked at Lily. "Her?"

"The nurses will watch her. 1 hour job." Ethan said.

Selena nodded. "Okay. But remember. Be back before 11 PM. After that... I’ll be different."

---

9 PM. The ruined streets of Sydney.

Ethan and Selena were running. Both armed. Because of the Bond, their movements were in sync.

4 infected outside the pharmacy.

Ethan signaled. "Left 2 are mine. Right 2 are yours."

Selena nodded.

The fight started.

Ethan’s Combat Instinct was active. He knew where the attack was coming from before it happened. Knife. Kick. Throat.

`[+10 EXP] [+10 EXP]`

Selena was fast. 2 seconds with the katana and it was done.

4 bodies on the ground. And where their hearts were... black crystals. Small. Glowing like dust.

Selena picked up all 4. Her hands were shaking. "Shit. The hunger..."

She crushed 1 crystal in her hand. It turned to powder and absorbed into her body.

Her breathing steadied. Eyes stable.

"Better." She said.

Ethan took her hand. Through the Bond he could feel it. The hunger was still there. But under control.

"Let’s go back." Ethan said.

10:45 PM. Near the hospital.

Then a voice from behind.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

8 people. Black clothes. Guns and swords. The Black Moon symbol on their faces.

The leader stepped forward. Around 30. Bald head. Red eyes. But in control.

"An Infected." He looked at Selena. "And a Fighter. You’re new?"

Selena stepped forward. "Who are you?"

"We are the Cult of the Black Moon." The leader smiled. "We believe this apocalypse is a rebirth. And you... you’re valuable to us, Infected girl."

He raised his gun. "Give us the crystals. Give us the girl. And you might live."

Ethan stepped forward. Knife out. "Try me."

The leader laughed. "A Fighter? Cute. Boys, take them."

8 attacked.

Ethan and Selena stood back to back. Bond active.

Ethan: Took down 3.

Selena: Cut down 2.

But 3 were left. And the leader.

The leader aimed a gun at Ethan.

_Bang_

The bullet hit Ethan’s shoulder.

"ETHAN!" Selena screamed.

Pain. The shock of Ethan’s pain hit Selena directly through the Bond.

Selena’s eyes went completely red. Veins bulging.

"No..." Ethan said. "Control..."

Selena screamed. And in the next 10 seconds... the leader and his 3 men were pieces on the ground.

Silence.

Selena was shaking. Blood on her mouth. Katana in hand.

Ethan held his wound. "Selena... look at me."

Selena looked up. Eyes still red.

"Blood... I need more blood..." her voice was heavy.

Ethan held out his wounded arm. "Take it. Take mine. But don’t lose control."

Selena stared for 2 seconds. Then shook her head. "No."

She cut her own arm. Drank her own blood. Then crushed 1 crystal.

Slowly her eyes went back to normal.

She collapsed to her knees. Shaking.

Ethan caught her. "Good job. You did it."

Selena buried her head in his chest. "Your pain... it was too much."

"We’re partners, right?" Ethan said. "We share the pain."

`[QUEST COMPLETED: GATHER CRYSTALS]`

`[REWARD: 200 EXP, 4x Black Crystal]`

`[BOND LEVEL UP: LVL 2 - Pain Resistance +10%]`

11:00 PM. Back at the hospital.

Lily ran to him. "Bro!"

Ethan picked her up. Bandage on his wound.

Selena stood behind, exhausted. But alive.

The nurse asked, "What happened?"

"Nothing." Ethan said. "Just... it was night."

2 AM. Ethan was awake. Selena was sleeping on the bed across from him.

Through the Bond he could feel it. Selena was having a nightmare.

Ethan slowly took her hand.

Selena’s breathing calmed in her sleep.

5 AM. The Black Moon was gone.

Selena opened her eyes. First she looked at Ethan’s hand. Then at his eyes.

"Still here?" She asked.

"Yeah." Ethan said. "Told you. We’re together."

Selena gave a small smile. "Blood Bond... maybe the best decision."

Ethan nodded. "So what’s next?"

Selena looked out the window. Sydney was still half ruined.

"Find crystals. Level up. And... find the source of the Black Moon." She said. "Why is it coming every year."

Ethan nodded. "Then let’s go?"

Selena stood up. Picked up her katana. "Let’s go. Fighter."

Ethan stood too. Gripped his knife tight.

Lily looked at both of them. "Where are you going?"

Ethan ruffled her hair. "To save the world, Lil. You stay safe here."

Selena opened the door. Morning light outside. And the ruined city.

"Night 2 in 20 hours." Selena said. "Get as many crystals as we can before then."

Ethan nodded. And both walked out.

The Bond between them glowed. Blue and red.

[DING!]

[LOOT DROP: BLACK CRYSTAL x4 FROM CULT MEMBERS]

Ethan picked them up. Warm.

Selena froze. She pulled a paper from the leader's pocket.

It read:

[PROJECT: BLOOD BOND]

[SUBJECT: FIGHTER + INFECTED PAIR]

[STATUS: RARE. CAPTURE ALIVE FOR RESEARCH]

Selena's hand started shaking. "They weren't here to kill us. They were hunting us. Like lab rats."

Ethan's phone buzzed. One message from the hospital nurse.

[NURSE: Ethan, 3 men came asking about a little girl named Lily. We said no one here. Come back fast.]

[WARNING: HOSPITAL LOCATION COMPROMISED]

[NEW QUEST: PROTECT LILY - TIME LEFT: 45 MINUTES]