Hunger and Bonds
The Beast Awakens
The night after the brutal alley fight, Logan Lee, like a predator, stalked down the deserted streets. In his stomach, the sting of defeat bubbled into a burning hunger. It started as a faint ache in his gut… then grew into a consuming desire.
Logan: (clutching his stomach) "This… this feeling… I need more."
A drunken man staggered out of a bar. The sound of one heartbeat drew Logan closer-a moth to flame. In the alleyway, under that sickly glow of the streetlight, the beast within him burst free.
With a monstrous growl, Logan clamped down on the man, tearing flesh and swallowing it down as would some starved animal. The sound was brutal. The scene was horrific. Rising, crimson streaked down his chin, his eyes shining with a sickly glow.
Logan: (breathing deep) "More… I need more."
As the night waned, Logan felt it deep in his bones: stronger, faster, tougher. The more he fed, the stronger he would be. It was a line that no longer separated man from beast.
Meanwhile… The Next Day at School
Morning sun glimmered over the gates at J High. The air was tense, the whispers about the vicious beatdown between Logan and Marcus still hanging around.
Marcus walked down the hall, tired but wary. Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him — tall, composed, dressed sharply. Jay Hong. Jay said nothing as always, long blonde bangs obscuring his eyes, but he fell into step beside Marcus.
Jay said nothing, asked no questions, looked for no answers. Instead, he nodded quietly and pulled out a sleek custom fingerprint bag. From that, he retrieved a drink-an expensive energy drink-and handed it to Marcus. No words, just a simple gesture.
Marcus: (surprised) "Uh… thanks?"
He glanced over at Jay, trying to read the quiet boy's unreadable expression.
Marcus: "Why are you doing this?"
With a tilt of his head, Jay brushed a hand across the Chrome Heart rings adorning his fingers and gave the faintest hint of a smile before turning away and disappearing down the hall. To Jay, Marcus was not just a boy with a secret but a boy worth getting to know, a boy worth standing beside.
The Hunger Grows
As Marcus watched him go, a thought bubbled deep inside; he clenched his hand and felt the faint warmth stir in his blood.
Marcus: (whispering) "Logan… wherever you are, you're getting stronger. But so am I."
He didn't know of the terrible scene that unfolded the night before. He didn't know of the crimson-streaked beast that Logan embraced. But deep inside-deep within the marrow of the beast inside him-he felt it.
Marcus: "The next full moon… that's when this ends."