Chapter 2: Blood and Shadows

Ethan's encounter with Peter and Gwen left him reeling. As the afternoon sun began its descent, his hunger sharpened, gnawing at his insides. The world around him seemed to slow, every heartbeat, every rush of blood, an echo in his mind.

Desperate for distraction, he slipped away from the bustling campus, finding solace in a deserted alley behind the gym. With a deep breath, he tested his newfound strength—crushed bricks beneath his fingers, leapt effortlessly onto a fire escape, moved with a predator's grace. But frustration bubbled beneath it all.

"Of course, I get the vampire that sparkles but doesn't have a real power," he muttered, the joke a thin veil over his unease.

As he moved through campus, the scent of blood became an all-consuming temptation. His vision wavered, edges tinged with red, as the Crimson Code seemed to taunt him with predatory instincts, whispering cold and mechanical promises of power through predation.

"Go on... Just a taste," the Crimson Code's voice slithered through his mind, its tone devoid of warmth. "One bite, and the hunger will fade."

A shiver ran down Ethan's spine. It wasn't just a system prompt—it felt alive, like a serpent coiled around his thoughts. The hollow, robotic cadence of its voice sent an icicle of fear through his chest.

Driven by necessity, Ethan made his way to the medical wing, slipping into the shadows. He located the blood bank and drained a bag quickly, the taste euphoric yet unsettling. As the blood flowed through him, his amber eyes shifted, turning a deep, glowing crimson—a clear mark of a vampire who had tasted human blood.

A new sensation washed over him—a sixth sense, like a low hum at the edge of his consciousness. He could feel the presence of others nearby, not just by sight or sound, but through some instinctive awareness. The system chimed again:

[Skill Unlocked: Blood Sense I ] [You can now sense supernatural creatures at same level as you and those with potent life forces.]

His hunger sated, but his humanity felt further away. The coldness of the Crimson Code lingered in his mind, an unsettling reminder of what he was becoming.

As he left, he nearly collided with Dr. Curt Connors. The professor's curious gaze lingered. "What are you doing here?" Connors asked, his voice both puzzled and suspicious.

Ethan's mind raced. "I... got lost. Needed a quiet place to clear my head."

For a moment, the professor's expression remained unreadable. But then, almost unnaturally, his suspicion seemed to fade. "Alright. Be careful, then."

Ethan couldn't help but wonder if his vampiric charm had influenced the professor's response. It was a small but potent reminder of the powers at his disposal—and the dangers they posed.

With his hunger controlled, Ethan turned his focus to the system's directive. He needed to learn more—about this universe, its heroes, and its threats. The night held secrets, and he intended to uncover them before they found him first.

The crimson hue of his eyes lingered in his peripheral vision, a constant reminder that he was not the man he once was.