Curse Within

Sasha woke up the next day feeling tired. Her body was sore, and her head hurt. She remembered running into the forest last night and seeing the big wolf with glowing yellow eyes. It felt like a dream, but she knew it really happened. She also remembered the man with the same glowing eyes who told her to leave.

But now, it was quiet. The rain was gone, and the sun was shining through the window. Everything looked normal, but Sasha didn't feel normal.

Sasha slowly got out of bed, feeling her legs wobble a little. She went to the mirror and looked at herself. Her eyes were tired, and her hair was messy, but something else felt different. She touched her skin. It felt warm, almost too warm.

After getting dressed, Sasha decided to take a walk around town. She needed to clear her head. As she walked, she kept thinking about the wolf and the man. She couldn't forget those glowing eyes.

Silver Creek was a small, quiet town. People waved at each other, and everyone knew each other's names. Sasha liked that about the town, but now she couldn't stop thinking about the forest. It was like a secret hiding right next to the town, and no one wanted to talk about it.

While she was walking, she saw a big sign near the town center. It said, "Blood Moon Festival – Coming Soon!"

Sasha looked at the sign and felt a strange shiver go down her spine. The Blood Moon? What was that? She hadn't heard about this festival before.

An old woman was sitting on a bench nearby, so Sasha decided to ask her.

"Excuse me, what's the Blood Moon Festival?" Sasha asked, trying to sound calm.

The old woman looked up at her with sad eyes. She shook her head slowly and said, "The Blood Moon is a bad time, dear. It's when the moon turns red in the sky. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, strange things happen in the town."

Sasha felt a chill. "What kind of strange things?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.

"People disappear," the old woman whispered. "Animals go wild. And some say... that the wolves come out."

Sasha's heart started beating faster. Wolves? Was the woman talking about the same wolves she saw in the forest?

"Is it just stories?" Sasha asked, trying to sound brave.

The old woman didn't smile. She looked serious. "It's not just stories. You'll see for yourself when the Blood Moon comes."

Sasha thanked the woman and walked away, feeling even more confused. Wolves, the Blood Moon, people disappearing-what was going on in Silver Creek?

As she walked home, Sasha kept thinking about what the old woman said. She decided to go back to the forest. She had to know what was happening. She had to find that man again and ask him why he told her to leave. Maybe he knew something about the wolves.

When Sasha reached the edge of the forest, the trees looked tall and dark, like they were guarding a secret. She felt scared but also curious. She took a deep breath and stepped into the trees.

The forest was quiet, just like the night before. Sasha walked slowly, listening to the soft crunch of leaves under her feet. She didn't know where she was going, but she hoped she would find answers.

Suddenly, she heard a noise. It was soft at first, but then it got louder. Sasha stopped and looked around. The sound was coming from behind her. She turned around quickly and saw the man from last night.

He was standing there, staring at her with those same glowing yellow eyes.

"You again," Sasha whispered, feeling her heart race.

The man didn't say anything for a moment. Then he spoke, "You shouldn't be here."

"I know," Sasha said, her voice shaking. "But I need to know what's happening. What is this place? Why are there wolves with glowing eyes? What's the Blood Moon?"

The man's face stayed serious. "The Blood Moon is a curse," he said quietly. "When the moon turns red, the curse becomes stronger. The wolves are not just animals. They are... people. People like me."

Sasha's eyes widened. "You're a werewolf?"

The man nodded slowly. "Yes. The curse of the Blood Moon changes us. It makes us dangerous. That's why we stay hidden in the forest. We don't want to hurt anyone."

Sasha couldn't believe what she was hearing. Werewolves? Curses? It all sounded like something from a fairy tale, but here it was, right in front of her.

"But why do people disappear?" Sasha asked. "What happens to them?"

The man looked sad. "Some of us can't control the curse. When the Blood Moon rises, they turn wild. They hunt. And sometimes... people get caught in the middle."

Sasha felt cold inside. "Is that going to happen soon?"

The man nodded again. "The Blood Moon is coming in two days. You need to stay away from the forest when it rises. Stay safe."

"But why did I see you?" Sasha asked. "Why do I keep having dreams about wolves?"

The man stepped closer, his yellow eyes glowing brighter. "Because you're connected to us, Sasha. You've always been connected."

Sasha took a step back, feeling confused. "What do you mean? I'm not a werewolf."

The man shook his head. "Not yet. But the Blood Moon will change that."

Sasha's heart pounded in her chest. "No, that can't be true."

"It's true," the man said softly. "You're one of us. You just haven't awakened yet. But when the Blood Moon rises, you will."

Sasha felt dizzy. She couldn't believe it. She wasn't a werewolf. She was just a normal girl. But now, everything was changing.

"What am I supposed to do?" Sasha asked, her voice shaking.

"Stay away from the forest," the man said. "When the Blood Moon rises, stay inside. It's the only way to stay safe."

Sasha didn't know what to say. She felt scared and confused. Everything she thought she knew was falling apart.

The man turned to leave, but before he disappeared into the trees, he looked back at her one more time. "Be careful, Sasha. The Blood Moon brings danger. And it's coming soon."

Then he was gone, and Sasha was left alone in the quiet forest, feeling more lost than ever.