Bloodlust: Cain's Eternal Curse

Episode 4: Born to Howl

At Hwy 61, under the pale glow of the moon, two young people were cruising along the winding road. Lee was behind the wheel, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel as a soft tune played on the radio.

"You know," Lee began, casting a sidelong glance at Dawn, "I really liked your mom. She's got that warm, welcoming vibe."

Dawn laughed, shaking her head. "Stop it, Lee. What about my dad?"

Lee snorted, his lips curling into a wry smile. "Your dad? He's a real pain in the ass, Dawn. No offense."

Dawn rolled her eyes, nudging him playfully. "You just need to get to know him better. He's not so bad once you get past the gruff exterior."

Lee smirked. "Yeah, well, that exterior feels like Fort Knox."

The car hummed along the deserted highway, their conversation filling the otherwise quiet night. The headlights illuminated the road ahead, casting fleeting shadows as they drove. Lee was about to make another witty remark when he saw it-a shadowy figure standing in the middle of the road, illuminated by their headlights.

Dawn's eyes widened in horror. "Lee, watch out!"

Lee's heart pounded as he slammed on the brakes, the car screeching as it swerved violently. The figure didn't move, just stood there like a ghostly sentinel. The car came to a screeching halt just inches away from the figure.

Breathing heavily, Lee turned to Dawn. "Are you okay?"

Dawn nodded, her eyes still fixed on the figure. "What the hell was that?"

Lee squinted through the windshield. "I don't know, but we're about to find out."

As the adrenaline surged through their veins, Lee cautiously opened the car door, stepping out into the eerie silence of the night. Dawn followed, her heart racing.

The figure remained motionless, cloaked in shadows. Lee took a step closer, his voice trembling slightly. "Hey! Are you okay?"

The figure finally moved, stepping into the light. It was a young woman, her clothes torn and dirty, eyes wide with terror.

"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You have to help me. He's coming."

Lee and Dawn exchanged bewildered glances. "Who's coming?" Dawn asked, her voice shaking.

The woman looked over her shoulder, as if expecting someone-or something-to emerge from the darkness. "The man... the one who took me... he's coming. We have to go. Now."

Lee didn't hesitate. "Get in the car, quickly."

As they all scrambled back into the car, Lee floored the gas pedal, the tires screeching once more as they sped away. Dawn turned to the woman in the backseat, her mind racing with questions. "Who are you? What happened?"

The woman took a deep breath, her eyes darting between Lee and Dawn. "My name is Julia. And we're not safe here. We need to get as far away from this place as possible."

Lee's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his jaw set. "Hang on, Julia. We'll get you out of here."

The car roared down Hwy 61, the night's terror chasing them into the unknown.

As they sped down the highway, Lee glanced into the rearview mirror, his curiosity piqued. "What happened to you?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Julia, her eyes distant, whispered, "I don't remember clearly... someone attacked me."

Dawn, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to look at Julia, her face pale with worry. "Attacked? How?"