The Blood Moon Pact

nd a stone altar in the middle of clearing, the hooded figures moving in a slow, synchronized circle. Th

rything in its ominous red glow. The wind whispered through

ned vines. Her eyes fluttered open, confusion and terror swirli

etched with strange symbols. His voice rose above th

he pact. By this life, we

round her wrists, cutting her skin. Her drip

or a moment, the blood

ding her breath for hours. Sweat clung to her skin, her sheets wer

hispered to herself.

lingered. The chanting. The dagger. The blood Moon. She

ge of the bed. Her bare feet touched the cold wooden floor, sending a shiv

n the hallway seemed to shift. She stopped, sta

e muttered. "It'

tood on end. She hurried into the kitchen, flicking on the l

she caught a glimpse o

e dark crimson symbols. The

ered. " No,no,n

est. The marks wouldn't fade. They weren't drawn or

hen ligh

corner of the room seemed to stretch toward her, growing

me the

begi

inside her head. It echoed, twisting into a distant

he counter. The sudde

s, she grabbed it

w me

nder?

over the notification. The message

rom destiny. The

her throat. Her visio

no,

zed again. An

oon rises. H

psed to floor, clutching her pho

oming ?.

ain plunging the room

back on a figure s

It was a familiar voice, but

ing...

her against the corner. " Who...

ile playing at his lips. " You shou

ld react, the l

consumed

ess, the whi

un

kness swallowed the room. Her pulse thundered in her ea

u

way toward the front door. Her trembling hands reached

owhere to

s Caleb's - or somethin

pered, her voice

hills down her spine. Slowly, she tur

kin was pale, veins visible beneath the surface. His eyes, once a war

forward, and An

th and mocking. "You made the pact, Anne. You s

I don't know what y

el smile playing on his lips

the windows, and the air turned icy. The shadows w

he freezing air. "This isn't real," she whisper

in widened

wrist burned with searing pain. She screamed,

r the chant? It wasn't just a dream. It was

d the blood moon filled her vision. She saw herself lying there

don't remember... I do

a chilling whisper. "The blood moon will rise

rs streaming down her fa

voice was barely audible, a haunting w

ncient

ront door flew open, torn off its hinges by an unseen force. Anne stum

the world in a crimson glow. The wind carried dista

grabbing her wrist. His grip was ice-cold, an

y, Anne," he hissed. "You

ran into the night. The wind whipped around her, ca

, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal hands. Her feet pounded

ct is s

ill c

annot

to the ground. Pain shot through her knees

was tall, its form barely human. Its eyes glowed a d

heart s

voice a chorus of distorted

e figure lunged toward her,