Bite Back or Break Down?

Night had a way of calling out strange creatures, and tonight was no exception. On a shadowy path, two beings, each distinctly unlike the other, stood face-to-face in the eerie glow of the moon. One, human but with a monstrous appearance, and the other, a striking woman with a stillness that hinted at something unearthly.

Noah knew this was no mere coincidence. He remembered a conversation he'd had recently with the Punisher, something about the city's bloodsucking problem. Now, seeing this woman with the unmistakable scent of blood on her, the truth settled in.

"Ah, so you're a vampire," Noah mused, squaring up, his left hand out front as if shielding himself, his right hand ready at his waist.

The woman snickered, her eyes narrowing. "And you're human," she scoffed, looking him up and down. "Ugly, too. No wonder you're on this lonely road, avoiding scaring anyone else off."

Noah's scarred face didn't flinch, but his fingers tensed. He watched her clawed hands twitch, her feet bracing as she lunged toward him with a speed most would never see coming. She was aiming right for his throat, teeth bared and claws reaching to tear flesh.

But Noah was already on the move. His right hand shot up with a Glock he'd had ready for just such an encounter. He leveled it at her throat and fired off a rapid series of shots, each louder than the last in the stillness of the night.

The sound echoed through the empty woods, startling roosting birds from the trees. A series of five clean hits struck her throat, lodging bullets deep into her spine. The vampire faltered, eyes widening in surprise.

Noah lowered the weapon, his lips twitching in a small grin. "That's American martial arts for you." The whole exchange had taken less than a second.

The vampire staggered back, and Noah glanced briefly at his stat panel, which had conveniently logged the woman's data after her attack.

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Name: Kaili Camilla

Strength: 1.9

Agility: 1.7

Constitution: 4.3

Spirit: 1.6

Charisma: 1.3

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"Not too impressive," Noah thought, scanning her stats. Her strength and agility were below his. But the Constitution—4.3? He watched her carefully as her flesh began to knit together, squeezing the bullets out. "Healing factor, huh? That makes sense."

He stepped back, crossing his arms. "I have a question for you. Do vampires also have unlimited stamina? Never tire, never wear out?"

A flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she quickly resumed her haughty expression. "Of course. We're not weak like humans. Why?"

Noah's smirk spread. Her confidence only confirmed what he needed to hear. This vampire, with her regenerative abilities and eternal endurance, was exactly the sort of tool he needed.

Before she could register the shift in his demeanor, Noah lunged, his arm darting out like a steel vice, clamping down on her forehead and smashing her against the tree behind her.

"Let's make a deal," he began, his voice darkening as he felt her skull crunch slightly beneath his fingers. She struggled, but he held her firm. She'd hurt her prey tonight, and now she'd found herself in a situation with zero chance of escape.

"You're coming with me. I could use someone with your abilities." He chuckled, watching her recoil with a flash of fear. "Or we could do this the hard way—where I keep breaking you until you beg me to let you join me."

Her lips twisted into a snarl, revealing sharp fangs. She attempted to bite, lunging forward to sink her teeth into his hand. Noah simply tightened his grip and brought his other hand down hard against her ribs.

Crack.

She screamed, her voice carrying through the woods as he drove his fist into her stomach, twisting it slowly. She hissed in pain, and he leaned in close, his voice a low whisper in her ear. "Your choice, fang-girl. Either come willingly or…."

The vampire coughed, blood splattering from her mouth. "Don't flatter yourself," she spat, her tone mocking but her eyes betraying a flicker of fear.

Noah only grinned wider, twisting his fist to grind the bones even more, enjoying the grimace of pain that crossed her face. "Oh, you will," he whispered.

The sounds of their scuffle echoed, an oddly poetic horror under the night sky. The vampire, faced with an unbreakable human and his unwavering brutality, could feel her regenerative powers wane under the relentless assault. In a final act of desperation, she tried to break free, her claws slashing wildly. Noah stepped back for a moment, giving her a chance to decide.

"I've seen a lot of people break, Kaili. You're no different," he said, crossing his arms with a bemused smile. "You're stubborn now, but everyone has their breaking point."

Her eyes darted to the side, a flicker of fear showing for just a second before she masked it. But Noah's sharp gaze caught it. A thrill shot through him.

With every punch, every step forward, he broke down her defenses bit by bit, his taunts wearing at her pride. His tactics were simple but effective, wearing her down as he offered no option but submission or suffering.

Finally, breathing heavily and clutching her abdomen, Kaili looked up at him with something different in her gaze. Fear.

He let out a low chuckle. "Looks like the mighty vampire isn't so mighty after all," he taunted, tapping her forehead lightly with his finger.

But then he offered his hand. "Join me, and you won't have to run from humans. Imagine the blood you'll get without hiding in the shadows."

She eyed him warily, skepticism flickering in her eyes, but the pain was etched into her body, and there was a growing recognition that he was right. The struggle had worn her down in more ways than one.

"Fine," she muttered, gritting her teeth as she finally extended a shaky hand to his. "But I'm not a dog, you understand?"

"Of course not," he smirked. "You're my very capable... associate." He took her hand, ignoring her glare.

Noah finally stepped back, taking a satisfied breath as he looked her over. "Welcome aboard."

He pocketed his gun, stepping back into the night with his new ally by his side, ready for what lay ahead. He had no doubt that she would be an asset—someone to soak up hits, endure the worst, and maybe even amuse him along the way.

As they walked away from the scene, Noah couldn't help but think that maybe this night had delivered exactly what he needed. A loyal, if reluctant, ally. And he'd never have to break his own endurance in the fight again—not with her around.

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Yes, I'm not dead. I'm just struggling with my life. My PC is still on suicide watch and not fixed, but I still have exams starting on the 20th of November. So pray for me. I'm still depressed and now am sick, so I took 1 day off. 

PLEASE GIMME SOME STONES! (.づ◡﹏◡)づ.