Blood moon's shadow's

The small town of Black Hollow greeted Lena Grey with the faint scent of pine and rain-soaked earth. The horizon was painted with dusky clouds, and the sun hung low, casting golden streaks through the thick canopy of trees that loomed over the town like ancient guardians. The bus hissed to a stop, and Lena stepped out, her boots crunching against the gravel.

She inhaled deeply, letting the crisp mountain air fill her lungs. It was a stark contrast to the choking smog of the city she'd left behind. Black Hollow was quiet-too quiet-its streets nearly empty as though the townsfolk had retreated indoors long ago.

Lena pulled her jacket tighter around herself and glanced at the slip of paper in her hand. "Ravenwood Inn, Main Street," she whispered. Her aunt had scribbled the address before Lena left. With one last look at the bus as it rumbled away, leaving her alone in the unfamiliar town, Lena picked up her suitcase and began walking.

The Ravenwood Inn was an old, sprawling Victorian building with a front porch that creaked under her weight. A bell above the door chimed as she stepped inside, and the sudden warmth made her shiver. The lobby was dimly lit and smelled of aged wood and lavender. A woman sat behind the front desk, her head snapping up as Lena approached.

"Hello. I'm Lena Grey. I've got a reservation," Lena said, her voice softer than she intended.

The woman's eyes narrowed slightly, but a smile quickly masked the expression. "Welcome to Ravenwood, Lena. I'm Margaret." Her voice was warm, but Lena couldn't shake the feeling that Margaret was studying her a little too closely. "You'll be in Room 9, upstairs. Breakfast is at seven. There's soup on the stove in the kitchen if you're hungry."

"Thank you," Lena replied, forcing a smile as she took the key.

As she climbed the narrow staircase, a strange sensation prickled the back of her neck-like someone was watching. She paused and turned, but the lobby was empty. The old chandelier swayed slightly as though disturbed by an unseen breeze. Lena's pulse quickened, but she shook off the unease.

"Get a grip, Lena. It's just an old house," she muttered.

That night, sleep came fitfully. Lena tossed and turned, her dreams fragmented and strange. Shadows flitted through darkened forests. She could hear the thudding sound of footsteps-heavy and relentless-chasing her. The full moon glared down like an unblinking eye as branches clawed at her arms.

And then there was a howl-low, guttural, and filled with pain. Lena bolted upright in bed, sweat slicking her skin despite the chill in the room. Her breath came in short gasps as she looked around. The room was dark except for the silvery glow streaming in through the window.

A movement outside caught her eye.

Lena froze.

Through the thin curtains, she saw it: a figure, tall and shadowy, standing at the edge of the forest. Its eyes-two points of faint amber light-seemed to pierce through the darkness straight at her. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She stumbled out of bed and fumbled with the curtains, pulling them closed in one quick motion.

When she dared to peek out again, the figure was gone.

The next morning, Lena found herself wandering through Black Hollow's lone coffee shop. The place buzzed softly with conversation, but as she entered, the room seemed to hush for just a moment-enough for her to notice the stares. Small towns, she reminded herself. Outsiders always get attention. She ordered a coffee and sat by the window, watching as the town slowly came to life.

"New around here, huh?" a deep voice said.

Lena looked up to see a man standing near her table. He was tall, with dark hair that fell in slight waves and amber eyes that seemed too intense for the morning light. A faint scar cut across his left eyebrow, but it did nothing to diminish his rugged handsomeness. He wore a black jacket that looked worn, yet tailored to his broad shoulders.

"I just got in last night," Lena replied cautiously. "Passing through."

"That's what they all say," he murmured, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Name's Darius."

"Lena," she said. She took a sip of her coffee, suddenly wary of how his gaze lingered. "So... do you make it a habit to interrogate every newcomer?"

"Just the ones who arrive on the eve of a full moon."

Lena frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Before Darius could respond, the shop door opened, and Lena felt the atmosphere shift. A new figure entered-a man with sharp features, silver-streaked hair, and eyes so pale they looked nearly colorless. He scanned the room like a predator, his gaze briefly locking on Darius before settling on Lena.

"Ronan," Darius said, his voice suddenly cold.

"Darius," Ronan replied, the name dripping with mockery. His smile was all teeth as he turned to Lena. "And you must be the visitor. Welcome to Black Hollow. I'm sure you'll find our little town... unforgettable."

Lena shifted uncomfortably as the tension between the two men crackled like static in the air. Ronan's smile widened before he turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him.

"What was that about?" Lena asked, looking back at Darius.

"Nothing you need to worry about," Darius replied, though his jaw was tight. "But if I were you, I'd stay out of the forest at night."

Something in the way he said it made Lena shiver. She wanted to ask more, but Darius was already walking away, his broad figure disappearing into the crowd. She watched him go, her mind racing.

Stay out of the forest.

But the forest was calling to her-she could feel it deep in her bones.

The town of Blackwood Hollow was the kind of place people rarely stumbled upon by accident. Nestled in a valley surrounded by endless forests and jagged mountains, it felt like the edge of the world. Lena Grey had never heard of it until a week ago when her aunt's letter arrived, urging her to come.

She could still hear her aunt's words in the back of her mind: "There's a place for you here, Lena. A fresh start. Just trust me."

A fresh start. That's what Lena needed after the city had wrung her dry-after the job that fell apart, the friends who slipped away, and the empty apartment that had become a haunting silence. So, here she was, suitcase in hand, standing at the edge of the town's only bus stop as the last of the sunlight faded.

The bus driver gave her a long look before pulling away, as though silently asking if she was sure she wanted to stay. The engine rumbled down the winding road and disappeared, leaving only the soft whistle of wind through the pines.

Lena pulled her jacket closer and took in her surroundings. The town was small-barely a handful of streets-lined with worn brick buildings and cozy cottages. The forest loomed everywhere, a wall of shadow and green that seemed alive with secrets. Blackwood Hollow was eerily quiet, save for the caws of distant crows. She found herself listening, waiting for something-she didn't know what.

"Ravenwood Inn," she murmured, checking the address her aunt had scrawled on a slip of paper. She picked up her suitcase and started walking.

The inn sat at the edge of town, where the forest pressed closest. It was an old Victorian structure, its once-white paint faded to a weary gray. Vines crept up its sides, and the windows glowed faintly with warm light. The Ravenwood Inn didn't look inviting, but something about it felt... familiar, as though it had been waiting for her.

Inside, the place smelled of woodsmoke and lavender. The lobby's dark wooden floors groaned under her boots as she approached the front desk. The woman behind it glanced up, her face framed by a silver-streaked braid. Her name tag read Margaret.

"You must be Lena Grey," Margaret said, her tone matter-of-fact. "Your aunt mentioned you'd be arriving."

Lena blinked. "You know my aunt?"

Margaret didn't answer directly. "Everyone knows everyone in Blackwood Hollow, dear. Here's your key." She slid a brass key across the counter. "Room 9. Up the stairs and to the left. Breakfast is at seven sharp. And if I were you, I'd stay indoors tonight."

Lena frowned. "Why?"

Margaret's gaze flickered toward the window, where the last of the light was vanishing behind the trees. "The woods aren't as quiet as they look."

Before Lena could ask more, Margaret turned and disappeared into the kitchen. The strange warning sat heavy in Lena's mind as she climbed the narrow staircase to her room.

Sleep didn't come easily that night. The walls of Room 9 were thin, and the wind outside seemed to carry sounds-distant rustling, low creaks, and, once, something that sounded like a howl. Lena tried to ignore it, convincing herself it was just the wind. But when she finally drifted off, the dreams came.

In the dream, she was running. The world around her was dark and wild, the moon so bright it seared her vision. Shadows flitted through the trees, moving fast-too fast. She could feel them closing in, the ground trembling beneath their weight. A deep growl rumbled behind her, and when she turned, she caught a glimpse of them: golden eyes burning in the dark.

A howl split the air, so loud it vibrated in her bones.

Lena shot up in bed, gasping for breath. Her heart thundered in her chest as she looked around the room. The wind outside rattled the windowpanes, but everything else was still. Except...

Lena's breath caught as she noticed movement outside the window. Slowly, she climbed out of bed and approached the curtain. When she peeked through, her blood ran cold.

A figure stood at the edge of the forest, half-hidden in shadow. It was tall-unreasonably tall-and broad-shouldered, its stance unnaturally still. Even from this distance, Lena could feel its gaze. Two faint pinpricks of amber light burned where its eyes should be.

Lena stumbled back, her pulse pounding in her ears. What was that? She pressed her back against the wall, heart racing. When she dared to look again, the figure was gone

Morning came like a reluctant apology, the sun barely breaking through the thick clouds. Lena found herself in Blackwood Hollow's only coffee shop, trying to shake the lingering unease. The place was small but cozy, with worn leather chairs and the smell of fresh pastries in the air. She ordered a coffee and sat by the window, watching as the town stirred to life.

The door opened with a chime, and Lena barely looked up-until the presence of someone nearby drew her attention. A man stood at her table, watching her with an unreadable expression.

"New face," he said, his voice low and smooth.

Lena looked up and blinked. The man was tall, his black jacket fitted across broad shoulders. He had dark, slightly wavy hair and striking amber eyes-eyes that looked oddly familiar.

"Just passing through," Lena replied, wary.

The man smirked faintly. "They all say that." He slid his hands into his pockets. "I'm Darius. You?"

"Lena," she said, studying him. "Do you always introduce yourself to strangers?"

"Only the ones who arrive right before a full moon."

Lena paused mid-sip. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Darius opened his mouth to reply, but the door chimed again. The air seemed to cool as a second man entered. Lena glanced at him and immediately felt her stomach twist. He was tall and lean, with sharp features and silver-streaked hair, but his pale blue eyes were what unsettled her most-icy, predatory, and devoid of warmth.

"Ronan," Darius said, his tone dropping like a stone.

The man-Ronan-smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Darius," he replied, his voice soft yet cutting. Then he turned to Lena, his gaze lingering a little too long. "And you must be the newcomer. Welcome to Blackwood Hollow."

Lena shifted uncomfortably. "Thanks, I guess."

Ronan's smile widened. "I'm sure you'll find this town... interesting." With that, he turned and left as quickly as he'd come, the door slamming shut behind him.

"What was that about?" Lena asked, looking back at Darius.

Darius's jaw tightened as he watched Ronan disappear down the street. "Nothing you need to worry about." He turned back to Lena, and for the first time, his gaze softened. "But take my advice: stay out of the forest at night."

Lena frowned. "Why?"

For a moment, Darius didn't answer. Then he said quietly, "Because the forest doesn't forget those who wander too far."

Lena didn't know what that meant, but something in his voice sent a chill down her spine.

Outside the window, the forest loomed dark and still, but it felt like it was waiting.