Blood Drip

Episode 2:Nowhere to Hide

Rain continued pouring over the city, water running through the streets and down the sides of old buildings. Neon lights flickered in puddles while distant thunder rumbled in the sky.

Inside an abandoned apartment building, Kakaido and Julo climbed through a broken window and collapsed onto the dusty floor.

Julo: Okay… okay… I’m officially done running for today

Kakaido stood up immediately and looked out the window toward the alley they came from.

Kakaido: We’re not safe yet

Julo groaned and rolled onto his back.

Julo: Of course we’re not

The room around them looked like it hadn’t been used in years. Broken furniture was scattered across the floor and the walls were stained from water damage.

Julo slowly sat up.

Julo: So… maybe now would be a great time to explain why that guy wants your blood

Kakaido stayed quiet for a moment.

Julo noticed.

Julo: You do know, right?

Kakaido: I know enough

Julo: Which means you’re not gonna tell me

Kakaido looked away from the window and leaned against the wall.

Kakaido: If you know too much, you become a target

Julo blinked.

Julo: I’m already a target! The guy literally called me your human friend!

Kakaido sighed.

Kakaido: Fair point

Julo crossed his arms.

Julo: So start talking

Kakaido looked down at his hands for a moment.

Kakaido: My blood… isn’t normal

Julo: I figured that part out when the psycho vampire started hunting you

Kakaido shook his head slightly.

Kakaido: If someone else had it… their body would regenerate almost instantly

Julo froze.

Julo: Wait… like healing?

Kakaido: More than that

Julo slowly stood up.

Julo: You’re saying if someone injected your blood into themselves…

Kakaido: They’d almost never die

Julo stared at him.

Julo: That’s… actually insane

Kakaido: Exactly

Julo rubbed his face.

Julo: And that guy out there wants that power

Kakaido: Yes

Julo paced around the room nervously.

Julo: I’m starting to see why this is bad

Kakaido: That’s why you should stay away from me

Julo stopped walking.

Julo: Oh no

Kakaido: What?

Julo pointed at him.

Julo: We are NOT doing the dramatic “you need to leave me behind” thing

Kakaido frowned.

Kakaido: Julo—

Julo: Nope. Too late. I already helped you escape a murder clown

Kakaido: He’s not a clown

Julo: He laughs while trying to kill people. That counts

Kakaido almost smirked but stopped himself.

Then suddenly—

A loud metal crash echoed from somewhere in the building.

Both of them froze.

Julo whispered.

Julo: Please tell me that was just a raccoon

Kakaido’s eyes sharpened.

Kakaido: Stay behind me

Slow footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the room.

Julo: That’s not a raccoon

Kakaido slowly walked toward the door.

The hallway light flickered through the cracked doorway.

Then a familiar voice echoed down the hall.

Kikuda: Kakaidoooo

Julo’s face dropped.

Julo: Oh come on

Kakaido clenched his fists.

Kakaido: He found us already

Kikuda’s footsteps echoed closer.

Kikuda: You really thought a building would hide you?

Julo whispered.

Julo: I kinda did

The door slowly creaked open.

Kikuda stood there smiling like he had just walked into a party.

His clothes were soaked from the rain, but he looked completely relaxed.

Kikuda: There you are

Julo slowly raised his hands.

Julo: Before this gets violent, I’d like to say I’m just the roommate

Kikuda tilted his head.

Kikuda: Oh I know

He pointed at Julo casually.

Kikuda: The human friend

Julo: Still weird

Kakaido stepped forward.

Kakaido: Leave him out of this

Kikuda laughed.

Kikuda: You’re in no position to make requests

He slowly walked into the room.

Kikuda: I’ve been searching for you all night

Kakaido: Then stop searching

Kikuda grinned wider.

Kikuda: Why would I do that?

In an instant—

Kakaido lunged forward and swung a punch.

Kikuda leaned sideways, barely dodging it.

Kikuda: Oh good, we’re skipping the small talk

Kakaido attacked again.

This time Kikuda grabbed his arm and threw him across the room.

Kakaido crashed through a broken table.

Julo jumped back.

Julo: Yep! Definitely violent!

Kakaido quickly rolled back to his feet.

Kikuda cracked his neck slightly.

Kikuda: You’re faster than most humans

Kakaido: I’m not most humans

Kikuda’s eyes gleamed.

Kikuda: Exactly why I want your blood

Kakaido charged again.

This time their fists collided.

The impact shook the room and cracked the floorboards beneath them.

Julo stared in disbelief.

Julo: Okay… that’s definitely not normal

Kakaido pushed forward, forcing Kikuda back toward the hallway.

Kakaido: Julo! Go!

Julo: What?!

Kakaido: Now!

Julo hesitated.

Kikuda laughed again.

Kikuda: Running again? That’s boring

Kakaido swung again, knocking Kikuda into the hallway wall.

Kakaido: MOVE!

Julo finally ran for the stairs.

Kikuda watched him leave.

Kikuda: He’s loyal

Kakaido: Focus on me

Kikuda smiled.

Kikuda: Gladly

The two rushed toward each other again as the fight exploded into the hallway.

Downstairs, Julo sprinted toward the exit.

Julo: Why is this my life now?!

Upstairs—

The battle between Kakaido and Kikuda continued, shaking the old building.

Kikuda laughed through every strike.

Kikuda: This is fun!

Kakaido: I’m not playing your game

Kikuda grinned.

Kikuda: Oh but you already are

Outside, thunder crashed across the sky.

And the night had only just begun.

End of Episode 2

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