Chapter 8:The Mark
515 Words
"I think... it's her."
Lucien's words echoed through the ruined library.
I turned to Mia.
She looked completely confused.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Why would anyone come after me?"
Lucien opened his hand.
The black feather had changed.
A strange symbol glowed faintly along its edge.
"It's a Mark of the Shadows," he said quietly.
"Once someone is marked, the creatures will keep hunting them until they get what they want."
Mia's face turned pale.
"There has to be a way to remove it."
Lucien didn't answer.
The silence told me everything.
"There isn't..." I whispered.
"There is," Lucien finally said. "But it's dangerous."
Before I could ask another question, sirens echoed outside the school.
Teachers and emergency workers rushed into the building.
Students gathered in frightened groups, whispering about the shattered windows and damaged library.
Mr. Harrison hurried toward us.
"Luna! Mia! Are you two alright?"
"We're fine," I lied quickly.
He looked around the destroyed room.
"I don't understand what happened here."
Neither did anyone else.
Because no ordinary person had seen the shadow creatures.
To everyone else...
It looked like an unexplained accident.
That evening, I walked Mia home.
Neither of us spoke for several minutes.
Finally, she broke the silence.
"Luna... tell me the truth."
I stopped walking.
"What truth?"
"The truth you've been hiding since Emma died."
Tears filled her eyes.
"I know something is wrong."
I looked down at the glowing pendant around my neck.
"I wish I could explain everything."
Mia gave me a sad smile.
"You don't have to protect me alone."
For the first time in days...
I didn't feel completely alone.
Later that night, my phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
My heart raced as I opened the message.
THE MARK GROWS STRONGER AT MIDNIGHT.
A second message appeared.
COME TO THE OAK TREE IF YOU WANT TO SAVE HER.
I grabbed my jacket and ran out of the house.
The streets were empty.
The old oak tree stood in silence beneath the moonlight.
Lucien was already there.
"You came," he said.
"I wasn't going to let Mia die."
He nodded.
"Then listen carefully."
He knelt beside the roots of the ancient tree and brushed away the leaves.
Hidden beneath them was a heavy iron door built into the ground.
My eyes widened.
"What is this?"
Lucien looked at me with a serious expression.
"The entrance to the place where all of this began."
He pulled the rusted handle.
With a loud groan...
The door slowly opened.
A freezing wind rushed out.
Stone steps disappeared into complete darkness below.
Lucien picked up an old lantern from beside the entrance and lit it.
"There are answers down there," he said.
"But once we go inside..."
"There may be no turning back."
I stared into the darkness.
It felt as if something deep below was waiting for us.
I took a deep breath.
"I'm coming with you."
Lucien gave a slow nod.
Together...
We stepped into the darkness beneath the old oak tree.
Behind us, the iron door slammed shut on its own.
- Writer
