Victoria Year 350, February 3rd, 4:00 AM.
The girl lying on the wooden bed opened her eyes, as if waking from an extremely terrifying nightmare, she abruptly got up.
Before she could think or carefully listen to the chaotic murmurs in her ears, Mel's attention was seized by the crimson red that filled her vision.
The girl raised her head, following the direction of the crimson light, and her amber pupils suddenly contracted.
She opened her mouth, wanting to scream, but found herself unable to make any sound.
It was as if an invisible hand was choking her throat, leaving her to helplessly watch the red full moon hanging quietly in the night sky, unabashedly dispying its brilliance.
A red... moon?
Just as Mel was feeling incredulous and terrified by the scene before her that defied all logic, the murmurs in her ears suddenly grew louder.
As if unwilling to be outshone by the crimson full moon, they so rudely asserted their presence.
Mel buried her head between her knees in agony, bending the pillow to cover her ears, trying to block out the damnable murmurs.
But the murmurs were like countless invisible insects, crawling and biting inside her ear canals.
Countless voices, indistinguishable by gender, age, or even species, echoed incessantly in her ears.
They said—
【You are the chosen shepherd】
They said—
【Go and kill the impure mbs】
They said—
【Go and shepherd the lost souls】
"Who are you?"
Mel's voice trembled as she tried to converse with the voices in her head.
But the voices did not respond to her, merely repeating their words over and over.
"What are you... Get out of my head, stop making noise...!"
They said—
【■■■■■■....】
As an indescribable whisper sounded, Mel's brain felt as if struck by lightning.
In that instant, she seemed to comprehend everything, only to forget it all in after a short while.
When she came to her senses, only a deathly silence remained.
—And a bone-chilling fear.
"Don't... Get out of my head..."
Mel pleaded in a faint voice.
As if hearing her plea, the indescribable voice disappeared.
But the remaining voices continued to repeat themselves, each repetition clearer and louder than the st.
Her temples throbbed violently, as if someone was hammering away at them.
The crimson moonlight bathed her, making it seem as if she was drenched in blood.
"Stop... Please stop... Stop chanting..."
Mel curled up in pain, her frail body trembling violently, like a withered leaf in a storm, teetering on the edge.
At that moment, a soft knocking sound came from outside the door.
"Knock knock knock—"
The knocking wasn't loud, but it drowned out the murmurs.
"Mel, are you asleep?"
A gentle voice came from outside the door, tinged with concern.
"Sister..."
The girl gasped for breath, reaching out towards the door less than five meters away.
Like a drowning person grasping at straws.
"Save me..."
The sound of footsteps gently echoed outside, the wooden floor emitting a faint creak.
Veronica gently pushed open the door, and the warm glow of candlelight seeped through the crack, dispelling some of the gloom in the room.
When she saw her sister curled up on the bed, Veronica was immediately startled.
"Mel!"
She hurried forward, pced the candlestick aside, and then pulled Mel into her arms, gently stroking her sweat-drenched forehead and patting her trembling body, which was shaking from fear and pain.
"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
Veronica's voice was gentle, and Mel instinctively clung tighter to her.
Seeing this, Veronica pulled the bnket over her sister.
"It's okay now, I'm here..."
She patted Mel's shoulder while softly humming a lulby in her ear.
The pleasant melody was like a gentle beam of moonlight, softly enveloping Mel's trembling body.
Veronica's voice was soft and distant, as if it could transcend time and space, soothing all pain.
The girl clung tightly to her sister, burying her face in Veronica's chest, greedily inhaling the familiar scent.
The annoying whispers in her ears seemed to lessen, and the throbbing pain in her temples began to ease.
After what felt like an eternity, Mel leaned against Veronica and fell into a deep sleep.
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As the first ray of sunlight filtered through the window into Mel's bedroom, it shone on her face. Mel frowned, then raised her hand to cover her eyes and sat up in bed.
The room was filled with the faint smell of burnt-out candles, mingled with the musty scent of old wooden furniture.
She was alone in bed, but a few strands of golden hair on the pillow and the candlestick on the table indicated that someone had been there.
Mel rubbed her head, then instinctively gnced out the window. Memories of the previous night flooded back—the terrifying whispers and the blood-red full moon seemed to linger before her eyes.
But thankfully, everything seemed unchanged.
Dunk City was still Dunk City, an industrial city.
And she was still herself—
Mel Rossetti, sixteen years old, living at 26 Iris Street with her sister Veronica Rossetti, attending a government-funded public school.
Their parents had passed away five years ago due to lung disease, but they had left behind an inheritance of one hundred pounds.
This sum was enough to cover Veronica's university tuition and her own high school expenses.
Although her grades weren't exceptional, Veronica was still very intelligent.
Once she finished university, she might even secure a government job, and their lives would take a qualitative leap.
But that was all in the future.
For now, she needed to wash up and have breakfast.
She still had to go to school ter.
As for everything she had experienced st night, it was just a nightmare—so real it felt almost tangible.
That was all.
Mel took a deep breath, feeling the chill in the air, and couldn't help but shiver.
She walked barefoot on the cold wooden floor, enduring the icy sensation under her feet, and made her way to the windowsill, pushing open the window.
The hinges creaked softly, and a mix of coal smoke, the aroma of bread, and damp earth wafted in.
On either side stood rows of brick and stone buildings of varying heights, each with pointed roofs and intricate decorations. Chimneys dotted the skyline, occasionally releasing wisps of gray smoke.
The streets were already bustling with pedestrians. Gentlemen in bck suits and top hats hurried past, their canes tapping rhythmically against the ground. Maids in simple long dresses carried baskets, rushing toward the market. Occasionally, a carriage would pass by, the ctter of hooves echoing crisply on the cobblestone road.
Mel looked up at the sky, which was shrouded in a thick yer of gray. It wasn’t a natural cloud cover but the result of countless factories working in unison. The sunlight filtered through the haze, turning dim and hazy, casting a somber tone over the entire city.
Somehow, this gray sky reminded Mel of the red moon from st night. Despite the weather making even the sun barely visible, that red moon had been so clear and radiant.
At the thought, Mel shivered. The feeling of being watched by something unseen returned, and she instinctively gnced around. But there was nothing except the familiar streets and buildings.
Just then, a gentle breeze carried the distant tolling of a church bell. The melodious sound reverberated through the air. Mel counted the chimes—seven in total, signaling that it was now seven in the morning.
As the bell rang, the streets grew busier. Workers trudged wearily toward the factories, and vendors began setting up their stalls. The city was like a massive machine slowly coming to life.
Mel took a deep breath, feeling the pulse of the city. Despite the overcast sky and the industrial scent in the air, the familiar scenery offered her a sense of comfort. The fear from st night seemed to be fading, repced by the mundane routines of daily life.
At that moment, the clinking of dishes and the faint aroma of food drifted in from outside the room. Veronica was preparing breakfast.
Mel took one st look at the view outside the window before turning to the wardrobe. She changed into a khaki-colored dress, ready to start the new day.
Mel gently pushed open the door to her room. Veronica stood by the dining table, dressed in a deep blue gown with a white coat over it. Her golden hair was neatly pinned up, revealing her delicate profile.
Hearing the door open, Veronica turned, a gentle smile on her face. "Good morning, Mel," she greeted softly. "Go freshen up, and then we’ll have breakfast. I’ve already called the school to excuse you for today. As for the missed lessons, I’ll help you catch up ter. It won’t be too much."
"Good morning, sister," Mel nodded, then headed into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Veronica followed her in, picking up a comb and gently smoothing out her sister’s messy gray hair. "Honestly, what will you do when I’m not around anymore?" Veronica teased affectionately as she combed through Mel’s hair, the teeth of the comb lightly grazing her scalp, sending a tingling sensation.
When spring comes, Veronica would be leaving for university in a neighboring city, and Mel would be transferring to a boarding school.
However, Mel, who had grown accustomed to being with Veronica, seemed unable to accept the impending separation.
Hearing this, Mel's expression darkened slightly. She lowered her head and silently continued brushing her teeth.
Seeing this, Veronica smiled helplessly, then picked up a small hair tie and began tying her sister's hair into a ponytail.
"By the way, did you have a nightmare st night?"
Mel paused for a moment, then nodded.
"I..." Mel mumbled, her mouth still full of toothpaste foam, "I had a strange dream..."
She spat out the foam, then rinsed her mouth with cold water.
Veronica's hand stopped, the comb hovering in mid-air.
"A strange dream?" she repeated, her voice tinged with curiosity. "What kind of dream?"
"I dreamed... the moon turned red."
Hearing this, Veronica was momentarily stunned, looking at her sister with some confusion.
"Mel, what are you talking about?"
She asked.
"The moon has always been red, hasn't it?"
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New author here, seeking recommendations and collections. Thank you, meow~ (TN: Decided to keep this here cause I love the meow :3)
