The city slept peacefully.
Asteria City, which was usually filled with noise and endless activity, had finally begun to settle down after another busy Friday night.
Cars still moved along the streets, though there were fewer than before.
Neon signs continued to glow, painting the roads in shades of blue, pink, and purple.
Music still echoed from bars and clubs that had not yet closed.
A few people laughed as they walked home.
Others sat in late-night cafés, sipping coffee and talking about their plans for the weekend.
Nothing seemed unusual.
Nothing seemed out of place.
Except for the moon.
High above Asteria City, the crimson moon shone brighter than before.
Its bloody light stretched across the sleeping city like a scar.
It looked unnatural.
Almost alive.
As though it were silently watching every building, every street, and every sleeping soul beneath it.
Then—
A cold wind swept through the streets.
The temperature suddenly dropped.
People walking outside shivered and rubbed their arms.
Streetlights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then they steadied again.
Dogs began barking.
One barked.
Then another.
Soon, barking echoed from different parts of the city.
Birds resting on trees suddenly flew into the sky.
Their wings beat frantically as if they were fleeing from something unseen.
Cats hissed and disappeared into dark alleys.
For a brief moment, everything became silent.
No laughter.
No music.
No traffic.
Nothing.
Then the moon pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
A crimson wave spread across the heavens.
It moved silently, like ripples across water.
No one saw it.
Everyone was asleep.
Everyone except one person.
Inside her bedroom, Trisha Hunters suddenly opened her eyes.
She sat upright.
Her heart was pounding violently against her chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
She pressed a hand against her chest.
She didn't know why she had woken up.
Her room was dark.
The digital clock beside her bed read:
3:33 AM.
She frowned.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
She looked toward the window.
The red moon stared back at her.
She frowned.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
It wasn't fear.
Not exactly.
It was something else.
Something she couldn't explain.
She looked toward the window.
The red moon stared back at her.
Its crimson glow slipped through the curtains and painted her room in shades of red.
She slowly got out of bed and walked toward the window.
The city looked beautiful from here.
Everything looked peaceful.
Yet...
Something was wrong.
Too quiet.
Even for this hour.
She placed a hand against the glass.
The moon glowed.
For a second—
She heard whispers.
Thousands of voices.
Ancient.
Distant.
Unknown.
She quickly stepped back.
Her breathing became uneven.
"What was that?"
Silence.
Nothing.
The voices were gone.
Trisha frowned.
Maybe she was imagining things.
She rubbed her eyes.
She had danced for hours tonight.
Of course she was tired.
She turned away from the window.
Just as she reached her bed—
A voice echoed inside her head.
Wake up.
Trisha froze.
Her eyes widened.
She slowly turned around.
Nobody was there.
Wake up.
The voice came again.
Soft.
Ancient.
Almost gentle.
Fear crawled down her spine.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
Then—
Darkness swallowed the moon.
Everything went black.
Her room.
The city.
The stars.
Everything.
Trisha couldn't see anything.
Not even her own hands.
A chill spread through the air.
Then she heard it.
A heartbeat.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
It sounded enormous.
As though something gigantic was alive in the darkness.
Then two golden eyes appeared.
Trisha gasped.
They were huge.
Far bigger than a human.
They glowed like molten gold.
The eyes stared directly at her.
She couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
The creature slowly lowered its head.
And then—
It spoke.
The Heir has awakened.
BOOM!
Trisha's eyes snapped open.
She was lying on her bed.
Sunlight wasn't pouring through her curtains.
No.
There was no sunlight at all.
She sat upright, breathing heavily.
Her clothes were soaked with sweat.
"A dream?"
She looked around.
Everything was normal.
Her bedroom.
Her desk.
Her books.
Her phone.
Everything.
Except...
Her curtains.
They were still dark.
She frowned.
How long had she slept?
She grabbed her phone.
8:17 AM.
Her eyes widened.
Impossible.
It should be bright outside.
Why was it still dark?
Her phone suddenly rang.
Liam.
She answered immediately.
"Hello?"
"Trisha."
His voice sounded strange.
"Are you awake?"
"Yeah."
Silence.
Then—
"Look outside."
Her heartbeat quickened.
She slowly walked toward the window.
Then she pulled the curtains open.
She froze.
Darkness.
The entire city was still covered in darkness.
No sunrise.
No blue sky.
No sun.
Only darkness.
And high above the city—
Three enormous crimson rings floated in the heavens.
They looked like giant eyes watching the world.
Trisha forgot how to breathe.
"Liam..."
"I know."
"What happened?"
"I don't know."
Neither of them spoke.
Outside, people had started appearing on balconies.
Some were pointing at the sky.
Some were screaming.
Some were recording videos.
Car horns filled the streets.
A dog barked endlessly.
Then another.
And another.
Fear slowly spread across the city.
"Liam..."
"Yeah?"
"I have a bad feeling."
Silence.
Then his voice softened.
"Stay there."
"What?"
"I'm coming to get you."
"Liam, you don't have to—"
"I do."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
"I don't know what's happening, but I want you where I can see you."
Despite everything, Trisha smiled.
"Okay."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
"I'm leaving right now."
"Drive safely."
"No promises."
"Liam."
He laughed softly.
"For you, I'll try."
The call ended.
Trisha continued staring at the sky.
The three crimson rings remained motionless.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
A deep sound echoed through the world.
DONG.
The windows shook.
DONG.
The ground trembled.
DONG.
The sound seemed to come from everywhere at once.
And suddenly—
Every electronic screen in the city turned black.
Phones.
Televisions.
Computers.
Billboards.
Everything.
Then crimson letters slowly appeared.
WELCOME, HEIRS OF THE BLOOD MOON.
Trisha's face turned pale.
More words appeared.
THE FIRST NIGHT HAS ENDED.
THE AWAKENING BEGINS.