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You feel the thirst for blood… You are now a vampire.
Luigi felt… different.
He didn’t know what had changed... But he could sense that something was off.
Where his eyes once shone a beautiful emerald green, there was now a deep hue of red.
“Luigi..?” He met the eyes of Bry. Something was seriously wrong.
Proper stood beside him, looking equally frightened.
“I don’t know what happened,” he stammered. He stared down at the mythical in his hand, Crazy Slots. It was supposed to be powerful. Able to mimic the powers of the other fantastical items on the server.
But not like this. Never like this.
“What had he done?”
Before he could respond, he smelled something. It made him freeze, looking up at the strange sensation.
He closed his eyes, honing in on the foreign feeling. When he opened them, he met the gaze of… Proper.
Why did he smell so good?
He felt a sense of nausea overcome him as he stared at his friend.
Blood.
Drink.
Make him bleed.
He grabbed his arms, eyes widening in fright. “Something is wrong,” he stammered. “Very wrong.”
Bry took a step forward, making Luigi’s attention snap to him. He looked frightened. Because of Luigi.
He felt guilty. He didn’t want to make his friends afraid.
But…
He closed his eyes as he felt a sudden sense of hunger. But not for food. He once again met the gaze of his friend, but this time his eyes were filled with longing. Lust.
If he just…
No. These were his friends. He couldn’t hurt them!
But… they smelled so good.
“Luigi? Are you okay?” Bry took another step forward, raising his hand up in a reassuring manner. Luigi quickly diverted his eyes, forcing down a wave of nausea.
“Please s-step back,” he managed to say, squeezing his eyes shut. He raised his hands to cover his ears, falling to his knees from the effort.
Blood.
Drink.
Don’t be afraid.
Bite them.
Bite them, Luigi.
“NO!” He yelled. “No, I won’t. I won’t.”
Tears fell openly down his cheeks, staining the wood beneath him.
“Luigi, please. Tell us what’s going on,” Bry’s pleading voice trickled through the roaring in his head. He gasped, eyes opening wide once more.
“No. Get away. Please, Bry.”
He didn’t want to hurt his friends.
You won’t.
No, he couldn’t attack them. He couldn’t.
They will understand.
He couldn’t just… take their blood!
If you just bite them… then they will be like you. You won’t be alone.
That’s wrong. He couldn’t.
Then you will all be together.
They could still be together, regardless. They were his friends.
But you could be so much more.
He was… he was fine as he was.
Just accept the hunt. Then you can all be together.
Bite them, to save them.
“I can’t. I can’t.”
It’s for their own good.
“I can’t just… a-attack my friends!”
You aren’t attacking them. You’re liberating them.
They’ll be free.
Of worry.
Of stress.
Of humanity.
“That– that isn’t freedom!”
You’ve never felt what true freedom feels like.
But you can.
Just give in.
“Give in?”
Give in. To me.
Then all your worries will disappear.
“I don’t want to hurt them.”
They won’t be hurt. Your friends will be fine.
Just give in.
Give in to the hunt, Luigitoan.
“I…” he trailed off. “I don’t know.”
He startled from a hand on his shoulder. And there was Proper, looking on in worry. Bry stood beside him with a similar expression plastered across his face.
He stared blankly for a moment. Not into their faces. No, not at all. His eyes were trained on Bry’s uncovered neck.
What was one bite?
“Luigi, please. You’re scaring us here.”
He looked up at Bry.
Drink.
“I’m sorry.”
It’s for their own good.
“What do you mean?”
Give in.
In a blink, Luigi was moving, lunging for Bry’s neck. Before either one could react, Luigi had Bry pinned to the ground, fangs bared.
He had always been the strongest of the trio.
For a moment, he saw the genuine fear in Bry’s eyes. He heard the pleading in his voice.
But then the voices reassured him.
Just one bite. Then you’ll be free. You all will be free.
His fangs dug deep into Bry’s neck. Underneath him, his friend ceased his struggles and remained still. Transfixed.
When he rose, his friend lay on the ground, unmoving.
He’s free now.
And then he turned to Proper.
Just one more.
His friend stared at Bry. He did not try to run. He did not ever seem to notice Luigi’s approach.
“It’s for your own good,” he echoed.
Proper met his eyes. He smiled.
“I forgive you.”
The bite was quick. At the end of it all, Luigi felt refreshed. Whole.
They’re free.
He grinned.
Now they will join the hunt.
His eyes glimmered, the same red as the blood that stained the floorboards.
Spread the infection.
He turned, away from the bodies, and towards the empty altar.
Save them all.
He unsheathed his sword, raising it high above his head.
It’s for their own good, after all.
He looked towards the sky.
Vanquish the rot that hides beneath the surface.
The moon shone on him, casting a ghostly light on the boat.
Liberate them from their humanity.
He turned, seeing his friends wake from their slumber.
They will understand in the end.
Their eyes glowed the same red as Luigi’s.
Perservere, Luigi.
He offered his hands, helping them both rise to their feet.
It will not be easy.
They stood in a circle, together, human no more.
But if anyone can do it, it will be you.
“We have lots of work to do.”
Welcome to the hunt, LuigiToan.