Fated By The Blood Moon

Chapter 2: The Search Commences

There was instantaneous and overwhelming turmoil in the diner. People rushed to the exits as chairs screeched against the floor, and shouts broke out.

With Rita's heart thumping, she immediately dodged as glass fragments fell.

"Get moving!" Oliver's authoritative and piercing voice broke through the panic.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet with incredible strength. "What the hell was that?" she stumbled behind him as he led her to the back door of the diner. He growled, his laser-like eyes searching the room. "Not right now," he said.

With a composed efficiency that belied the turmoil surrounding her, Mia was already at the door, escorting the few lingering customers out.

When her piercing green eyes locked with Oliver's, an unspoken exchange took place. "Here, I'll take care of things," she stated firmly. "Get her out of the way."

Oliver nodded curtly and pulled Rita in the direction of the alley behind the diner. She shivered as the mist grew thicker and coiled around her ankles like smoke, the chill night air akin to a slap.

But she soon yanked her arm free in protest and said, "Wait! You must provide an explanation before you can simply drag me around. What is happening?”

Oliver's silver eyes glowed dimly in the low light as he wheeled to face her. "Are you looking for answers? All right. It wasn't human, that monster back there. And you will become like the others if you don't start listening to me, okay?”

"The others?" She tried to remain calm, but her voice faltered and her eyes widened.

"The ones who vanished," he murmured somberly. "They were taken, not simply disappeared. Do you understand now?"

Despite the horror tearing at her chest, she forced herself to ask, "By what?" Her journalistic instincts took over.

Oliver started to reply but was cut off by a deep, rumbling growl. It sent a chill down Rita's spine as it reverberated around the alley.

Oliver stepped in front of her and commanded, "Stay behind me."

Rita paused, gasping for air as the growl intensified. A humanoid with lengthy limbs and brilliant yellow eyes appeared when the mist broke.

It was like a puppet with unseen threads controlling its jerky, unnatural movements. Her voice was barely heard as she mumbled, "What the hell is that?"

Oliver remained silent. Rather, he moved forward, his stance changing. Rita briefly believed she saw a ripple appear on his skin, but it vanished before she could confirm it.

Oliver moved more quickly than she believed she could as the thing lunged. His fists slammed into its twisted body as he confronted it.

The impact made a horrible sound, a combination of something wet and strange and the crunch of bones. He yelled, "Run!" over his shoulder.

Rita paused, caught between the intense urge to comprehend what was occurring and the need to protect herself.

Another figure, smaller but as eerie, appeared out of the mist before she could make up her mind.

It charged after focusing its luminous gaze on her. It was instinct. Turning, she ran down the alley, her boots slipping on the wet concrete.

The sound of footsteps, no, claws, scraping the ground became more and more audible with every step she took.

With her chest heaving, she rushed out onto the main street. The mist was heavy and oppressive, and the town square seemed hauntingly deserted.

The streets were empty as she turned, looking for some indication of assistance.

"This way!" Mia's voice pierced the mist. The proprietor of the diner was standing in a doorway, gesturing for Rita to come closer as she spun around.

Without hesitation, she ran in her direction. Mia slammed the door and locked it as soon as she stepped through the entrance.

They were in a small, darkly lit room with shelves of supplies and a subtle herb scent.

"What's happening?" Rita's voice trembled as she demanded.

Mia took a moment to respond. She walked over to a table in the middle of the room that held a little assortment of vials and jars.

Her hands mixed something with trained accuracy. Finally, in a calm but stern tone, she remarked, "You're lucky you were with Oliver. You would have been torn apart by those things."

"What are they?" Mia continued without stopping. "Shadowlings," she answered her question, without raising her gaze from her task. "Dark magic-born creatures. Hunting in packs, they never rest until they have captured their target.”

As she tried to comprehend what she was hearing, Rita gazed at her. "Dark magic? Shadowlings? What are you talking about? How is that even possible?”

Mia stopped and looked into Rita's emerald eyes. She explains slowly, “Miss Blake, you're in over your head. Silver Hollow is not like other towns. There are things here that are beyond the comprehension of the majority of people.”

"Try me," Rita retorted, her apprehension turning to annoyance.

But the door sprang open before Mia could reply and Oliver stumbled in, blood streaming from a cut across his forehead.

He slammed the door shut behind him and muttered sadly, "They're regrouping. We're running out of time."

With her hands already examining his wounds, Mia moved to his side. She said, "You shouldn't have brought her here."

Oliver retorted, flinching as Mia applied a bandage to his wound, "She was already a target. In any case, they would have located her."

As Rita struggled to understand their words, her mind whirled. "What makes me a target? What do they want with me?”

With his glittering eyes finding hers, Oliver paused. "Because you're asking inappropriate questions in inappropriate contexts. They now perceive you as a threat.”

They all froze as there was a loud crash outside. Rita's blood froze when she heard claws scraping across the wood.

Mia's voice was tense as she replied, "They've found us."

Oliver turned to face Rita, his face stern. "You will follow my instructions to the letter if you wish to survive. No hesitation, no questions, okay?”

Rita's heart was racing as she gulped deeply and blinked repeatedly ."What if I don't?"

Oliver's eyes became gloomy. "You will be torn to shreds, just like the others.”

Something heavy banged against the door, causing it to quiver as the scraping became louder. Oliver's voice was firm and quiet as he continued, glancing at Mia, "Get ready. This isn't finished yet."