Chapter 23: A Bloody Night

The bloodthirsty creature drew closer and closer to Ethan. And yet, he remained frozen in place, unable to move even a step.

Suddenly, the creature leapt into the air and landed swiftly on the ground, now standing face to face with Ethan. She inhaled deeply, taking in the air around him like it was the most delicious thing in the world.

Only now did Ethan get a clearer look at the creature's face.

Ignoring the blood smeared across it, the sharp fangs poking out of her crimson lips, and the ghostly pale skin lined with purple-pink veins along her neck, forehead, and jaw that made her look monstrous…

Ignoring her sinewy arms with long, clawed fingers…

She was still undeniably beautiful and elegant, with a delicate nose and a pair of blood-red eyes that gave her a dangerously seductive aura.

And the most fortunate thing, the very reason Ethan had stood his ground instead of fleeing: Was that she bore no resemblance to her. Not in face, not in height. In fact, she looked more mature.

The floral scent she carried, though hard to place, was definitely not lily.

All doubts in Ethan's mind evaporated. He let out a sigh of relief in a situation where panic and retreat would have been far more appropriate.

But that brief moment of relief was brutally short-lived.

In the blink of an eye, the creature lunged at Ethan like a wild beast pouncing on its prey, sending him crashing to the ground.

A sharp pain shot through Ethan's skull as it hit the pavement. On reflex, he reached behind his head.

His hand came away wet and sticky.

Blood.

The scent of Ethan's blood only further awakened the creature's predatory instincts. She grabbed his bloodied hand and licked at it greedily, hungrily.

Ethan tried to push her off, but it was useless. The tall boy she'd just drained of life lay in a pool of blood nearby, utterly powerless. What hope did he have?

Angered by Ethan's resistance, the bloodthirsty girl raised her clawed hand…

… And slashed at Ethan's arms, again and again, leaving long cuts as he tried to shield his body.

The fresh blood gushing from those wounds sent the creature into a frenzy.

She pinned Ethan down: her left hand twisted his head to the side, her right hand pressed against his chest. His arms, covered in bleeding gashes, could no longer fight back.

She lowered her head, baring those razor-sharp fangs, ready to sink them into his neck.

As he felt her foul, blood-scented breath against his skin, Ethan thought: he didn't want to die like that boy: Meaninglessly, his life ending in the belly of this grotesque predator.

He struggled with everything he had, even as the fangs drew closer, about to pierce his artery and suck away his life.

No way!

He wasn't ready to die.

There were still so many things he hadn't done, so many words he hadn't said.

Ethan closed his eyes. A face suddenly appeared in his mind.

Do your whole life's memories really flash before your eyes when you're about to die, like they say?

Thankfully, Ethan never got the chance to find out.

Because the one who was supposed to deliver his violent, blood-soaked end was suddenly kicked off him in a powerful flying double kick, sending her flying into a nearby brick wall, where she lay completely still.

In the air, the creature's strange floral scent was being slowly replaced by a familiar one: lilies.

A small hand gently patted Ethan's cheek again and again. When he opened his eyes, he was met with a pair of warm, brown eyes, sparkling like autumn lake water, filled with worry, looking down at him…

Autumn wrinkled her nose, trying to breathe as little as possible to avoid inhaling the metallic scent of blood flowing from Ethan's shredded arms, ripped open by the claws of the bloodthirsty creature.

She gently helped Ethan sit up and leaned him against the nearby wall.

"Are your legs okay, Ethan?"

Ethan shook his head. He was still too dazed and in pain to speak.

"Listen carefully. I'll hold it off until help arrives. You need to run. Now."

Autumn's voice was firm, her words crisp and commanding.

"N…No! I can't leave you here alone with that thing."

"Idiot! If it drinks your blood and powers up, I won't stand a chance. So please, just go, hide somewhere safe!"

The bloodthirsty creature began to stir. She suddenly sprang to her feet, then paused, realizing her head was twisted nearly 180 degrees from her neck.

Crack! Crack!

She twisted her head back into place with a chilling sound, then tilted it side to side, checking the mobility of her neck joints.

Ethan had barely stood up when Autumn shoved him aside just as the creature lunged forward.

Autumn intercepted her with a swift kick. But this time, the creature was ready. Though the kick landed cleanly on the side of her head, it wasn't enough to harm her.

Autumn launched a rapid barrage of punches at the creature's torso, but they barely made a dent. The creature stood firm.

She calmly caught Autumn's leg mid-kick, then slammed her down and hurled her against the brick wall nearby.

Autumn crashed into the shattered wall. But without wasting a second, she sprang to her feet, leapt onto the creature's back, and locked her arms around its neck in a chokehold. Her slender but strong arms tightened around the creature's throat.

Ethan watched in stunned silence as Autumn's transformation revealed itself. She had chosen to use her own kind's weapon: her fangs, now growing long and razor-sharp.

The creature tried to shake her off, but Autumn clung on. Just as her fangs neared the creature's carotid artery, the creature made a risky move.

She launched herself into the air, soaring at least 10 meters high with Autumn still clinging to her back.

Autumn realized what she was planning, but the creature had already gripped her wrists tightly, there was no escape.

The creature let herself fall, crashing down onto her back, with Autumn underneath.

The impact was brutal. The pavement cracked open. Autumn was pinned beneath the creature's full weight. For a moment, it looked like she'd passed out. The creature got up and began walking toward Ethan.

"Ethan, you idiot! Run!"

Autumn stirred and screamed.

Though she couldn't get up, she reached out and grabbed the creature's ankle, trying to hold her back, buying Ethan precious seconds.

Annoyed by Autumn's persistence, the creature turned back. In a flash, she pinned Autumn down and sank her fangs deep into her neck.

Ethan's heart clenched at the sound of Autumn's piercing scream.

Blood gushed from her neck in a crimson spray. The creature had struck her carotid artery.

But something strange happened.

The creature abruptly let go of Autumn, clutching her mouth in agony. She writhed on the ground, thrashing like she'd been poisoned.

Then… her body began to change. The pinkish-purple veins crisscrossing her face and neck faded. Her claws and fangs began to shrink.

The bloodthirsty creature… was reverting to her human form.

Suddenly, she froze eyes wide with confusion, as if waking from a nightmare.

Her eyes, now deep black, filled with tears, like a person struck by overwhelming guilt. She looked down, stunned, at the girl lying beneath her, barely clinging to life.

When she noticed Ethan staggering toward them, she turned and bolted into the darkness, vanishing into the night.

She left behind a brutal scene: a lifeless boy sprawled in a pool of blood, a dying girl with blood-soaked skin, and a boy whose heart had just been shattered into pieces.