Cult Of the Black Moon

6:15 AM. RPA Hospital, Sydney.

Ethan shut the door and leaned against the wall. His breathing was still fast.

The 4 cult members from last night... their bodies were still in his head.

"Bro are you okay?" Lily held his hand.

Ethan forced a smile. "Yeah Lil. Just tired."

Across the room, Selena sat on the bed. Katana on her lap. Eyes closed. Meditating.

`[BOND LINK ACTIVE]`

Ethan could feel it. Anger and fear still inside Selena. Last night she almost lost control.

Ethan said quietly, "You did good. You saved me."

Selena opened her eyes. "No. I almost... I almost drank your blood."

"But you didn't." Ethan said. "The Bond worked."

Selena nodded. Then placed 4 black crystals on the table.

`[SYSTEM]`

`[BLACK CRYSTAL x4 DETECTED]`

`[USE: ABSORB FOR EXP OR BLOODLUST REDUCTION]`

"Here." Selena pushed 2 crystals toward Ethan. "You level up. I only need 2 to reduce the hunger."

Ethan picked up the crystals. Warm in his hand.

`[ABSORB? Y/N]`

"Yes."

Heat hit him.

`[LEVEL UP! ETHAN COLE - LVL 2 FIGHTER]`

`[STATS: STR +1, STA +1, NEW SKILL: BLADE DANCE LVL 1]`

His body felt lighter. The knife felt sharper.

Selena crushed her 2 crystals. The redness in her face faded.

"Better." She exhaled. "Now about those guys."

"Cult of the Black Moon." Ethan said. "What do they want?"

Selena walked to the window. Sydney was ruined outside.

"11 months ago in Melbourne it was the same." She said. "First month was just chaos. Then they showed up. They say the Black Moon is a 'gift'. They say humans need to evolve. Become Infected."

She turned to Ethan. "They're collecting crystals. A lot of them. I think they're planning a big ritual."

`[DING!]`

`[NEW QUEST: INVESTIGATE THE CULT]`

`[REWARD: 500 EXP, LOCATION: CULT HIDEOUT CLUE]`

Ethan looked at Lily. "But we can't leave her alone here."

Selena called the nurse. "Can you watch her for 3 hours? We need to check something."

The nurse nodded. "Safe room. We'll lock it."

Ethan hugged Lily. "I'll be back in 3 hours. Promise."

Lily nodded. "Come back fast bro."

---

10:30 AM. Under Hyde Park. Sewer.

Ethan and Selena moved quietly. Because of the Bond, their breathing matched.

"I smell it." Selena said. "Blood and... incense."

Ahead was an iron door. Black Moon symbol carved on it.

Ethan pressed his ear to it. Voices inside.

"...tonight we need 20 more crystals. The High Priest said the second Black Moon will be stronger..."

"...that Infected girl and the Fighter. Capture them alive. The Priest wants to study the Bond..."

Ethan and Selena looked at each other.

"Study?" Ethan whispered.

Selena's jaw tightened. "Let's go back. We can't fight now. There's 20+ of them."

They started to leave when—

_CREAK_

The door opened.

2 cult guards walked out.

"Intruders!"

They had to fight.

Ethan used Blade Dance for the first time. The knife spun so fast the 2 guards were down in 3 seconds.

`[+20 EXP] [+20 EXP]`

Selena killed the other 2.

But the noise was made. Footsteps from inside.

"Run!" Selena said.

They bolted through the sewer. 10 cult members chasing behind.

Because of the Bond they moved together, dodging together.

They stopped in an alley, breathing hard.

Selena punched the wall. "Fuck! Now they'll hunt us."

Ethan grabbed her hand. Through the Bond he felt it. She wasn't scared for herself. She was scared for Lily.

"We'll get stronger before they do." Ethan said. "How many more crystals?"

Selena thought. "20 to reach Level 5. Then I can unlock a new skill. Blood Shield."

Ethan nodded. "So 20 crystals. 18 more."

Then his phone buzzed. Message from the nurse at the hospital.

`[EMERGENCY. SOME MEN ASKING ABOUT A GIRL NAMED LILY. WE SAID NO ONE HERE.]`

Ethan's blood went cold. "They found the hospital."

Selena drew her katana. "Run."

---

11:45 AM. RPA Hospital.

3 cult members stood at the gate with guns.

Ethan and Selena came from behind.

"Plan?" Ethan asked.

Selena winked. "You left. Me right. 3...2...1..."

Attack.

Ethan used Blade Dance and cut the first man's arm. The gun fell.

Selena took the second man's head off.

The third tried to run.

Ethan threw his knife. Hit him in the back.

`[+30 EXP]`

Inside, the nurse was shaking. "They... they were asking about Lily."

Ethan ran to room 204.

Lily was fine. Hiding under the table.

"Bro!" She hugged him.

Ethan picked her up. "Let's go. This place isn't safe."

Selena closed the door. "We need to move. The Cult knows we're Bonded. They want us."

"Why?" Ethan asked.

Selena pulled out a paper from a guard's pocket.

It read:

`[PROJECT: BLOOD BOND]`

`[SUBJECT: FIGHTER + INFECTED PAIR]`

`[STATUS: RARE. CAPTURE FOR RESEARCH]`

Ethan tore the paper. "So we're lab rats?"

"Looks like it." Selena said. "Which means we need to get stronger."

She held out 6 crystals from the fight.

"Take these. Absorb."

Ethan absorbed 4.

`[LEVEL UP! ETHAN COLE - LVL 3 FIGHTER]`

`[NEW SKILL: IRON WILL - Pain Resistance +20%]`

Selena absorbed 2.

`[LEVEL UP! SELENA VOSS - LVL 8 INFECTED]`

`[NEW SKILL: BLOOD SHIELD - Absorb 1 attack]`

7 PM. New safehouse. An abandoned shop.

Ethan, Selena, Lily. Just the 3 of them.

Lily was asleep. Ethan and Selena on watch.

"18 more crystals." Ethan said. "Then you can use Blood Shield."

Selena nodded. "And you can get Blade Dance to Level 3. Then we raid their hideout."

She looked at Ethan. "Scared?"

Ethan told the truth. "Yeah. But less with you."

Selena gave a small smile. Through the Bond she felt his fear, and his trust.

"We'll fight like this for 100 nights." Selena said. "Until we kill the source of the Black Moon."

Ethan held out his hand. Selena put hers on top.

Outside, night was coming. 9 PM. 3 hours left.

`[WARNING: NIGHT 2 INCOMING IN 3 HOURS]`

`[PREPARE]`

Selena stood. Picked up her katana. "Let's go. Crystal hunting."

Ethan stood too. "Let's go. Partner."

They walked out the door. Lily sleeping behind them.

Ahead was darkness. And in the sky... the moon was starting to turn black again.