Crimson Bonds: A tale of siblings amidst the apocalypse

Chapter 1: The Trails of the disaster

Ethan navigated the bustling streets of New York City with practiced ease, his movements fluid and unassuming. It was the New Year. The crowds provided the perfect cover for his activities, allowing him to blend in and disappear at will. His fingers were nimble, and his eyes sharp, always scanning for the next mark.

Ethan was 19 years old. He wasn't a bad person. He didn't steal for the thrill or out of greed; he did it for survival. His younger sister, Lily, lay in a small apartment a few blocks away, sick and in need of expensive medication. Without insurance and with mounting hospital bills, Ethan had turned to the only skill he had honed since childhood—pickpocketing.

As he slipped through the crowd, his eyes fell on a well-dressed man engrossed in his phone. Ethan's heart pounded as he approached, but his exterior remained calm. With a light touch, he lifted the man's wallet from his jacket pocket, an act so seamless that the man continued walking, unaware.

Ethan ducked into an alleyway, quickly counting the cash. It was enough for Lily's medication for another week. Relief washed over him as he pocketed the money and discarded the wallet, removing any trace of his involvement.

Returning to their apartment, Ethan found Lily lying on the couch, a book in her hands. Her face lit up when she saw him.

"Did you get it?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope.

Ethan smiled and handed her the money. "I got it. We'll get your medicine tomorrow."

Lily's smile faltered, replaced by a look of concern. "Ethan, you can't keep doing this. It's too dangerous."

"I'll be fine," Ethan reassured her. "I know what I'm doing."

They spent the evening together, watching TV and talking about their dreams for the future. Lily dreamed of becoming a writer, her stories an escape from their harsh reality. Ethan, on the other hand, only dreamed of a day when they wouldn't have to worry about money or illness.

The next morning, Ethan woke early and made his way to the pharmacy. As he walked, he noticed an unusual number of police cars and ambulances racing through the streets. There was a palpable tension in the air, an undercurrent of fear that hadn't been there before.

At the pharmacy, a crowd had gathered, and people were talking in hushed tones. Ethan overheard snippets of conversation—rumors of a strange illness spreading through the city, people collapsing in the streets.

Ethan's stomach tightened with anxiety as he hurried home with Lily's medication for the day. The world felt like it was teetering on the edge of something terrible, and he couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were about to change in ways they couldn't imagine.

As he approached their apartment building, he saw a group of people gathered around a television in a store window. Curious, he joined them and watched the news broadcast. The anchor's face was grim as she reported on the rising number of unexplained attacks and the subsequent lockdowns being implemented across the city.

Ethan's mind raced. He needed to get back to Lily, to keep her safe. He pushed through the crowd and sprinted the last few blocks to their apartment, praying that whatever was happening wouldn't reach them.

But deep down, he knew that their world was about to be turned upside down. And he feared that this time, his skills might not be enough to protect them.

Ethan ran home immediately. As he approached his building, he saw Mrs. Patterson, the lady who rented him the apartment, collapsed on the ground. He rushed to her side, trying to wake her up, but his breath caught when he noticed a lot of blood pouring from her neck. Panic surged through him as he pressed his hands against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Suddenly, Mrs. Patterson began to move.