User blog:DesertStorm11/Blood Moon: Chapter Two

The sun rose, like it always did. Birds chirped and the cock crew as everyone woke up. The town grew in activity as everyone went about their daily routines.

Eclipsa woke up at nine on that sunny Tuesday morning, ready to start the day. She showered and ate breakfast, getting ready to go to the town hall later. That's where the daily meetings were held, typically just used to talk about future events in the town.

She opened her door to leave, and nearly stepped on a yellow envelope that sat on her doorstep. Picking it up, she saw that it was completely blank. She looked out to the street, and thought she saw a shadow around the corner, quickly moving away. Eclipsa closed the door, heading back into her kitchen to open the letter.

A single paper was pulled out. Eclipsa's eyes went wide as she read the words.

"I know what you are. I know what you can do. And your friend Addfire is better off dead if you do anything. Don't talk to anyone or you'll end up the same."

Eclipsa didn't fully understand what the letter meant, but it mentioned Addfire getting hurt. She needed to find her, and soon. Just to be sure that she was safe. She would probably be at the town hall by now.

Eclipsa rushed out the door, heading toward the town hall. Thoughts of Addfire being injured completely clouded her mind, until she nearly began to cry. She stumbled to a nearby tree and took a deep breath as she leaned against it, collecting whatever thoughts she could.

"Your friend Addfire is better off dead if you do anything." The words ran through her head again and again. "I know what you are. I know what you can do." How could this person figure that out? She didn't know who this person was or could've been, but apparently they knew a lot about her. Her abilities. Why would they even want to hurt Addfire? Or herself? As she kept to herself, looking down at the grass she stood on, she heard someone call to her from behind.

She nearly cried in relief when she saw Addfire, running to catch up to her. All her fears left as they hugged each other in the shade of the tree.

"Hey Eclipsa!" Addfire said. She noticed the worried look on Eclipsa's face. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I am now." Eclipsa said, jumping a little when she heard a rustling of leaves above her. She looked around. No one else was near them. She sighed inwardly. That stupid letter was making her paranoid. Clearly Addfire was okay. So why be scared?

"Because someone knows what you are." She thought. That was scary in and of itself. With information like that, you could do a lot to a person.

Eclipsa finally noticed that Addfire was trying to get her attention.

"Earth to Eclipsa." Addfire booped Eclipsa's nose, causing her to flinch. "You okay?"

"Y-yeah." Eclipsa nodded and smiled awkwardly. Then she mentally face-palmed. "Sorry, I'm just not in it today."

"Maybe you need to go nap or something to clear your head..." Addfire put her hand on Eclipsa's shoulder. "Just make sure you're at the town meeting later today."

Addfire twiddled her fingers and smiled as she left, leaving Eclipsa on the street by herself. Eclipsa watched her go, then sighed as she turned around. She started walking, spacing out as she headed toward her home.

Addfire was okay. That was her first priority. Now all she had to do was figure out who might want to hurt her or Addfire.

All of a sudden, she felt a hand grab her shoulder. Before she could turn around, she felt the cold metal of a knife press against her neck. She yelped in surprise.

"Like I said," a voice behind her spoke, "better off dead."

"Who are you?" Eclipsa demanded. "What do you want from me!?"

The knife pressed harder into her neck. "Shut up. I will not hesitate to kill you if you speak again."

That kept her quiet. She looked down at her shoes. Sweat trickled down her face as the person behind her continued.

"The Mafia wants change. This stupid town has no leadership, no justice. If they don't want to do anything with it, then we will. And we'll destroy anyone who stands in our way."

Eclipsa gulped in fear.

"If you talk to anyone at all, then you're dead. I'll be watching you. Remember that."

The knife moved away from her neck, and she was able to breathe again. She only had a second before a sharp pain came to her temple as he smacked her, causing her head to spin as she fell to the concrete sidewalk.

Eclipsa turned to hopefully see who it was, but the man had disappeared. Her vision was too blurry anyway; she could only see colors as she looked around. She groaned as the pain lingered, and laid back in the grass, trying to focus. Her emotions rose inside her as she almost started to cry, but she took a deep breath, calming herself down. Her eyes closed as she faced away from the sun, and her head pounded, forming a headache.

She really did need that nap now.

Eclipsa lay there, listening to the sounds of mid-morning. Her senses came back to her after a few minutes of calm. The dizziness was fading, along with the pain. She attempted to stand, using a nearby tree for support. The headache was still there, but she could see clearly and the pain had ceased slightly.

She began her short walk home. Most houses had their drapes open, as their owners were already out and about in the town.

But one didn't. The drapes were closed, as if the owner wasn't up yet. Eclipsa would've just passed by, if not for the fact that it was Shadow's house.

"Figures." Eclipsa thought. "Might as well go wake him up again." Shadow was often up late, and therefore slept in a lot.

Eclipsa crossed the street and headed up the walkway to the front door, taking out her key for his house. They were next-door neighbors, and he had given her a key, coincidentally for times like this when he hadn't woken up yet.

Eclipsa unlocked the door, stepping into the front hall. The house was quiet. She headed down the hallway, toward Shadow's room as a new feeling settled over her.

Then she saw it.

The sight of dry, dark red blood soaked into the carpet.

The scent of malicious death in the air.

And the body.