Zilong leaned against the ship's railing, staring at the seemingly endless stretch of the ocean before him.

The cool breeze whipped through his blonde hair bringing with it the salty tang of the sea.

He took a deep breath..

"Zilong, there you are! I've been looking for you everywhere." A girl came up to him excietedly.., Zilong looked at her smiliing..

Today was his golden day, he was going to continue his education and maybe—just maybe—become someone able to provide for his little sister.

Zilong's father, Godwin, died when a bridge he was working on collapsed, His  mom had died when his little sister was born and since then he had to step up and tak care of his family who just consisted of him and his sister.

Zilong's name was unusual, a rare choice bestowed upon him by his devout grandparents, who believed he was born by the grace of God. Zilong, however, didn't share their faith. He never believed in such religious notions.

He was 15 years at the time his parents and grandparents passed away, as so he couldn't take any jobs,

He survived as a pickpocket, roaming the streets of his hometown just to make daily bread for him and his little sister.

Hos little sister was naturally against the motive of stealing but what could he do?..

Throughout the last 3 years their life had been nothing but struggle, stuggle for survival.

In the midst of that chaos he was given an offer, a golden opportunity, to study abroad. Normally Zilong would've dismissed it as a scam but turns out... it wasn't, he still couldn't believe it until today.

Only now, standing on the deck of a luxurious cruise ship bound for Japan, did it finally start to feel real. He was on his way to a new life, a place where he would receive an education—free of charge. "Free!" The word echoed in his mind like a promise he never thought would be kept.

'Oh well looks like I'll have to practice my Japanese after all...,' he thought smiling.

"Come on," A voice behind him rang out.

"I'm coming," Zilong replied, scratching his head with a nervous grin.

He glanced at his sister, Ava. She had always been beautiful, but their harsh life on the streets for the past three years had hidden that beauty under a layer of grime and hardship. Now, with the luxury and care provided by the organization that had taken them in, her true beauty was beginning to shine through, revealing the grace and elegance that had always been there, waiting for the right moment to blossom.

She had long beautiful white hair, and beautifully grey eyes, a round face, and a delicate figure, she was born after their granparents died, so she didn't get the chance to be given a life destroying name. Everyone who heard the name Zilong  instantly becomes annoyed or disgusted for some unknown reason but Zilong had to leave the name as it is, not daring to change it.

Zilong felt a mix of excitement and disbelief coursing through him as he stood on the ship's deck, the solid wood gently swaying under his feet with the rhythm of the waves. The bright sun reflected off the water's surface, casting a dazzling light all around him, making the world feel expansive and full of possibilities.

The fresh sea breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it a sense of freedom he had never known before, he was filled with a growing hope  that this journey might indeed be the start of something new and wonderful.

"Hello Mr Zilong, ", Zilong  looked back to see a scrawny looking tall man with white skin approaching him, "Good morning professor Shelly," Zilong bowed respectfully.

This was the man that recruited Zilong to the opportunity to study abroad.., Zilong was stunned at first so he was a little skeptical.

But after he was invited in this luxurious giant, all sense of disbelief withered away without a trace.

Mr Zilong the opportunity you took will be your best choice yet,"welcome to the I.shells program, were we turn street rats of society to well polished individuals," he said as he bowed his head.

Zilong looked at him, incredulous.

He didn't know if he was actually insulting him or being polite.. well Zilong is used to such a treatment so it didn't bother him too much.

They walked around the ship, admiring the luxurious and glamourous site.

Suddenly the surrounding areas became cold... Almost chilling.

Zilong shivered as he looked at the sun, which appeared to be setting, casting warm shadows around the dock, the warmness filled Zilong with a joy that he himself couldn't describe.

....

As night fell, Zilong gazed at his reflection in the mirror. A young boy stared back at him, with a striking combination of blonde hair and gray eyes that was as unusual as it was captivating. His pale skin gave him a fragile, almost gaunt appearance, yet his reflection was one of unexpected happiness. The day had only just begun, and already he felt a surge of joy he hadn't felt in years. Mr. Shelly had even gifted him a few new clothes to wear to the night's gala.

Even Zilong was surprised; he never imagined a gala could be held on a ship. This particular gala was to celebrate the ship's 69th anniversary, and the very engineer who had designed this magnificent vessel was present. Zilong was curious to see him. "Ah, the spoils of wealth," he muttered to himself as he slipped into the suit Mr. Shelly had given him. He and his sister made their way to a large, elegantly decorated space, escorted by a well-dressed butler. Zilong's eyes widened at the sight of the glamorous party. The music played softly, creating an atmosphere that felt foreign to him. The warm lights screamed wealth, and the guests, neatly dressed and polished, were engrossed in their conversations—discussing either trivialities or business matters, he couldn't tell which.

Zilong sighed when he spotted Mr. Shelly in the distance. As he approached, Mr. Shelly smiled and said, "Ah, Zilong, you've made it." He placed an arm around Zilong's shoulders. "I want to introduce you to someone." They walked over to a man in a blue tuxedo, and Zilong could almost smell the wealth radiating from him. "Hello, Mr. Aaron," Mr. Shelly said as they exchanged pleasantries.

As the night went on, Zilong did his best to avoid interacting with people. He wasn't social and preferred to keep it that way.

---

Boom.

---

A loud bang echoed across the ship, causing everyone, including Zilong, to stumble. "Wait, what? Is this supposed to happen on a ship?" Zilong wondered, confused. Voices around him erupted in panic.

"What's going on?"

"Did the ship hit something?"

"Why did the lights go out? Is this a power outage?"

Zilong had never been on a ship before, but the rising confusion around him mirrored his own. "Zilong, what's happening?" Ava asked from behind him, her voice trembling.

"Nothing," Zilong tried to reassure her, though he wasn't so sure himself.

Then, a heavy silence fell over the ship. No one spoke, and not long after, even the faint sounds of movement ceased.

*Creak* *Creak.*

A chilling creak reverberated throughout the ship, sending a shiver down Zilong's spine. The air grew thick with tension, and he could barely make out the still figures around him. Perhaps they were all waiting for the lights to come back on. Then a voice crackled through the ship's intercom, but it wasn't the captain's voice, nor any sailor's voice they were used to hearing.

*FEAR.*

The single word screeched like metal against metal, sending shivers down Zilong's spine and plunging his mind into a state of panic. His hands trembled, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

"Is this part of the event?" he wondered.

"I'm scared," Ava whispered, gripping his suit tightly.

"Don't worry," Zilong reassured her, trying to sound calm. Her grip loosened slightly, but Zilong remained on edge, eyes darting around, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Then, he felt it—a presence, an indescribable and overwhelming sense of bloodlust.